Normally I don't repeat posts, but today is not a normal day, so this post from my "personal" website for my writing career is going to appear both here and on the PopArtsPlace.com What's New page. I am doing this because I think it is wonderful in this electronic and digital age that a major corporation like Wal-Mart set aside a day to remind the youth of America that there is so much fun, and so much creativity made accessible through literacy. As for us adults... it never ceases to amaze me that people live in this country as illiterates, for there are words EVERYWHERE, and being able to read seems a skill required for survival. I have a great deal of respect for those who survive without the ability to read, because I know how hard it is for me to manage for even a few days when I travel to a country where I don't read the language, and it is made even harder when they use a different character set.

I am thankful to Walmart for supporting the organizations in this country that work with those who can't read to improve the quality of their lives, and open doors to all kinds of new and interesting literary places!

Words are your Wheels!

Participating in the Words are your Wheels program today was a lot of fun. I can't thank Wal*Mart enough for hosting such a wonderful event -- and for letting me be a part of it!

Each store had books on hand for me to read with the kids who came, and cookies and punch for the kids to enjoy while we talked about what fun reading, and writing, is.

I was also thrilled to be a part of two wonderful literacy charities receiving $1000.

I spoke at length with the folks from Literacy Austin and enjoyed it tremendously. To hear that they spend their time dealing with people who truly WANT to learn to read is wonderful. I found myself in total agreement when the Executive Director pointed out how many teenagers think of high school as a prison, and yet she deals with adults who would give anything for this chance to return to their education, and learn to read!

That $1000 that walmart gave Literacy Austin today will mean they have the money for 4 people to learn to read this year! Amazing to think a dollar a day could change another person's life.

As an aside, I had with me several fliers that mentioned the shirts I'm not selling with my "famous" quotes, and the one that got the best reaction was my personal favorite...
Don't forget I recently added items featuring the qupte:

posted by Kay Saturday, April 12, 2003

 
Tonight on Without a Trace:

"Victory for Humanity" -- Malone and the team search for a dedicated school teacher who disappears after teaching a night class in the Bronx, on a rebroadcast of WITHOUT A TRACE, Thursday, April 10 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Charlie Correll directed the episode from a script by one of the series’ executive producers and creator, Hank Steinberg.

When Josh Abrams, a young, idealistic high school teacher totally dedicated to his students goes missing, the team begins to uncover seemingly contradictory information about him. He’s wealthy from the sale of a dot com business, but a bag of heroin in his apartment indicates he may be dealing drugs. When the team learns that Josh has withdrawn a lot of cash from his bank account, they must find out whether he has disappeared by his own choice or if he might be the victim of foul play.

And don't miss a special Sunday Night Episode:
"Maple Street" – Malone and the team hope that analyzing a series of videotapes made by a 13-year old girl and her best friend will lead them to her after she disappears on the way to school, on a rebroadcast of WITHOUT A TRACE on a special night, Sunday, April 13 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. John McNaughton directed the episode from a script by Maria Maggenti. (Originally broadcast 1/9/03)

The citizens of a small Long Island town are shocked when 13-year-old Annie Miller disappears on her way to school. Then, 24 hours later, her best friend Siobhan also disappears. After Annie is found dead, Malone is sure that the girls knew the person who abducted them, and the pressure is on to find the second child before she meets the same fate at the first one.

posted by Kay Thursday, April 10, 2003

 
Looking ahead to next month... and the rise and fall of Hitler.

ALLIANCE ATLANTIS' four-hour event miniseries on Adolf Hitler, starring Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty, Angela's Ashes), filmed in Prague, Czech Republic, will air on CBS SUNDAY, MAY 18 AND TUESDAY, MAY 20.

Multiple Emmy Award-winner Stockard Channing (The West Wing, The Matthew Shepard Story), Golden Globe-nominee Jena Malone (Hope), Emmy Award-winner Julianna Margulies (ER), Emmy Award-nominee Matthew Modine (And The Band Played On), Golden Globe-nominee Liev Schreiber (RKO 281), Peter Stormare (Minority Report), and seven-time Oscar nominee and Emmy Award-winner Peter O'Toole (Joan of Arc, My Favorite Year, The Stunt Man, The Ruling Class, Goodbye Mr. Chips, The Lion in Winter, Becket, Lawrence of Arabia) also star in the miniseries.

The fact-based miniseries will explore Adolf Hitler's rise to power during the years prior to World War II and focus closely on how the embittered, increasingly xenophobic and militaristic German society after World War I made that ascent possible. The mini-series will also focus on how Hitler used his hatred of the Jews to build his popularity among the German public.

The miniseries will premiere in May 2003 on CBS in the U.S. and Global Television in Canada, and then on ALLIANCE ATLANTIS' History Television.

Carlyle will portray Hitler, the Nazi Dictator.

O'Toole plays Paul Von Hindenburg, a German Field Marshal who later served as German President from 1925 to 1934. It was Von Hindenburg who, against his own personal wishes, appointed Hitler as chancellor in 1933.

Channing plays Klara, Hitler's mother, a woman so totally devoted to her young son that she was unwilling or unable to acknowledge her son's unstable emotional behaviour.

Malone plays Geli Raubal, the daughter of Hitler's half-sister, with whom Hitler became enamoured and brought to live with him. Over time, Geli became despondent and was desperate to get away from Hitler, which ultimately led to her death.

Modine portrays Fritz Gerlich, a German journalist who was decidedly opposed to Hitler and who, very early on, put his life on the line to expose the truth about Hitler to the German people. Gerlich, like most others who opposed Hitler, was ultimately murdered.

Margulies and Schreiber play Helene and Ernst Hanfstaengl, an aristocratic married couple who are at odds over their support of Hitler. Ernst initially favours and supports Hitler while Helene finds him crude and unappealing. Helene is ultimately won over by Hitler and takes his side; Ernst turns against him, which ends their once happy marriage.

Stormare plays Ernst Rohm, a thug and early member of the Nazi party who formed an uneasy alliance with Hitler and led his street-fighting unit. Rohm was also eventually killed on Hitler's orders.

ALLIANCE ATLANTIS, the producer and worldwide distributor of the miniseries, initially worked with historian Ian Kershaw, writer of the book, Hilter: 1889-1936 HUBRIS. However the miniseries will not be based on Mr. Kershaw's book; rather, ALLIANCE ATLANTIS has completed an extensive research and study program that includes input from a great many books, periodicals, documentaries, archival information, and journalistic or historical accounts as well as the involvement of some of the most respected historians and educators on the subject.

From CBS: HUBRIS was the first biography to use Joseph Goebbels’ diaries, which were discovered in Moscow only a few years ago. Kershaw was also the first to put forth the concept that in order to examine Hitler, one must look at the society that brought him to power. Kershaw asks the question: “How did Hitler become Hitler?”

“I’d be lying if I said we aren’t a bit nervous about attempting to examine one of history’s most heinous characters, but in this age of megalomaniacal terrorism, we feel it is all the more important and relevant. Professor Kershaw and CBS have been courageous supporters of what is unquestionably one of the most ambitious and controversial films to date,” Executive Producer Gernon said.

posted by Kay Thursday, April 10, 2003

 
Judging Amy, Next Tuesday on CBS

Jared dies suddenly in China... mirroring the sudden real life passing of actor Richard Crenna who portrayed Jared on the show. Richard Crenna passed away in January from Pancreatic Cancer, and fans of the show have been waiting for the script in which his passing would be dealt with.

JAG and the Guardian are both repeats April 15 -- leaving Judging Amy's hopefully powerful script as the only new episode to air that night.

posted by Kay Wednesday, April 09, 2003

 
American Dreams Soundtrack hitting shelves May 6, 2003:

The soundtrack features the American Dreams theme song by Emerson Heart of Tonic.and a special rendition of "My Boyfriends Back" featuring Meg and Roxanne from American Dreams with Virgin debut artist Stacie Orrico also appears. A must have for fans of the show and music lovers alike.
Tracklisting:
1. "Generation" - Emerson Hart
2. "Heatwave" - Martha and the Vandellas
3. "She's Not There" - The Zombies
4. "Don't Worry Baby" - The Beach Boys
5. "My Girl" - B 2 K
6. "People Get Ready" - The Impressions
7. "Come Ye" - India.Arie
8. "Gone Gone Gone" - The Everly Brothers
9. "My Boyfriend's Back" - Stacie Orrico, Brittany Snow, and Vanessa Lengies
10. "Wishin' and Hopin'" - Vanessa Carlton
11. "Beyond the Sea" - Duncan Sheik
12. "That's How Strong My Love Is" - Otis Redding
13. "You Really Got Me" - The Kinks
14. "Every Little Bit Hurts" - Vivienne Green
15. "Sounds of Silence" - Simon and Garfunkel

posted by Kay Wednesday, April 09, 2003

 
April 9 on Enterprise!
"Judgment"

Archer stands trial before the Klingon Tribunal who have charged him with firing on a Klingon warship and providing aid to refugees on the run from the Klingon empire for which the punishment is death. When the prosecution paints a skewed and violent picture of the events in question, Archer challenges his appointed Klingon legal counsel to buck their cruel justice system and let him present his side of the story in the hopes that he will prevail. In the process, Archer learns that Klingons haven’t always been a warrior society and that there are Klingons who want to lead a more peaceful existence.

posted by Kay Tuesday, April 08, 2003

 
Singer Lisa Marie Presley makes her first visit to the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, Wednesday, April 9 (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on CBS. Presley will talk to Letterman, as well as perform her first single, "Lights Out," from her debut CD, To Whom It May Concern, which will be released in record stores April 8.

posted by Kay Monday, April 07, 2003

 
April 27th is the next new episode of Alias... so we thought we'd give a preview of what you're waiting for...

THE AGENCY ACTS TO STOP AN APOCALYPTIC EVENT - PROPHESIZED BY RAMBALDI
AND VAUGHN QUESTIONS DIXON'S STATE OF MIND, ON ABC'S "ALIAS"
David Carradine ("Kung Fu," upcoming "Kill Bill"),
Amanda Foreman ("Felicity") & Patricia Wettig ("thirtysomething") Guest Star
"Countdown" -- A Rambaldi artifact prophesizes that an apocalyptic event will soon take place, and Dixon's grief leads Vaughn and agency psychologist Dr. Barnett (Patricia Wettig, "thirtysomething") to question his intentions, as his thirst for revenge on Sloane intensifies. Meanwhile Sloane receives a life-changing revelation from a mysterious monk in Nepal (David Carradine, "Kung Fu," upcoming "Kill Bill"), Sydney and Dixon hunt for the killer who stole the heart from his victim, and Marshall falls for a new co-worker (Amanda Foreman, "Felicity"), on "Alias," SUNDAY, APRIL 27 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Alias" stars Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, Victor Garber as Jack Bristow, Ron Rifkin as Arvin Sloane, Michael Vartan as Michael Vaughn, Lena Olin as Irina Derevko, Bradley Cooper as Will Tippin, Merrin Dungey as Francie Calfo, Carl Lumbly as Marcus Dixon, Kevin Weisman as Marshall Flinkman and David Anders as Mr. Sark.

Guest starring are Amanda Foreman as Carrie Bowman, Jonathan Banks as Brandon, Jimmie F. Skaggs as captain, Patricia Wettig as Barnett, Danny Trejo as Vargas, Carlos Cervantes as Panamanian detective, David Carradine as Conrad, Allen Evangelista as Jandu, Ryan Honey as delta force leader and James Carraway as Proteo Di Regno.

posted by Kay Monday, April 07, 2003

 
New on ABC:

"Lost at Home"-- Michael Davis thinks he has it all - he's an ad agency superstar with a fancy title and ambition to spare. He's a great provider, and is proud of the restored farmhouse where his stay-at-home wife, Rachel, and their three kids live in a beautiful country setting. But somewhere on the road to fame and fortune, and the endless workdays it took to get him there, Michael lost touch with his family. He gets a wake-up call when Rachel announces that he's allowed to love his work, just not more than his family. She's seen a lawyer - and unless he reconnects with his family, she's going to leave.

Bright and beautiful, Rachel has tried her best to raise their kids virtually on her own. She tells Michael that he remembers the kids for who they used to be, not who they are now. He's in for a shock. The oldest, Will, is a popular high school football player whose morals are ruled by his hormones. Thirteen-year-old Sara doesn't fit in at school and has turned to an unlikely place for friendship - a huge older classman football player, Tucker, who gives her the sage attention and advice she misses from her dad. Seven-year-old Joshua is a little too perfect, trying too hard to be a wonderful student and obedient son. It's something Michael tries to take smug credit for, until Rachel tells him that the school counselor thinks Joshua's behavior is an attempt to win his absent father's attention.

Michael wants to earn back the love of his wife and the trust of his kids, but he's a fish out of water in his own house. He's been away so long he doesn't even know how the kitchen appliances work. The winning strategies that have made him a success at work are surprisingly useless at home. But he's determined to try and win back his place in the family. His boss and best friend, charismatic ad agency owner Jordan King, reluctantly agrees to give him less work. Michael begins a heartfelt journey to be defined by his success as a family man, and not just a businessman.

"Lost at Home" stars Mitch Rouse as Michael, Connie Britton as Rachel, Gregory Hines as Jordan, Stark Sands as Will, Leah Pipes as Sara, Gavin Fink as Joshua and Aaron Hill as Tucker.

posted by Kay Sunday, April 06, 2003