Wizard Academy

Mr. Mysto’s Wizard Academy: Simple Magic & Stunts
as revealed to John Carney
Illustrations by Stephanie Gladden
ISBN #0-9701287-2-X
80 pp., B&W, 2011 Carney Magic

The book boldly describes its own purpose for occupying space on your book shelf, which is to “fool family and friends with these great tricks from the self-proclaimed king of magic!”
Simply laid out and always with a sense of humor and fun, the tricks, one suspects, are probably harder to perform successfully than might be implied by the easy manner in which the information is presented. Still, Mr. Mysto, frequently encourages the macgic student to “practice, practice, practice.” Almost every page features Stephanie Gladden’s charming and informative illustrations of Mr. Mysto and his feline assistant Nepomuk.

Available online for $20 postpaid NorthAmerica.
CarneyMagic.com

stephaniegladden.com

Silent Orchid Studio

on Etsy.com
Monsters, robots, and freaks.. oh my!
Handcrafted plush toys, dolls, and other wonders made by Lindsay Mays.

Shop:  SilentOrchidStudio.etsy.com
Blog:  silentorchidstudio.tumblr.com
eMail:  silent-orchid@hotmail.com

Uko Smith

 

The Collection of the Ultimate Uko Girl, vol. 1
by Uko Smith
36pp. B&W, 2011 Kenyatta Design
Contains nudity. 

 

A sketch book collection of pencil drawings of the female form by artist Uko Smith. Many of the the featured work seems influenced by the Art Nuevo style or at least by the contemporary work of Adam Hughes. Other pieces echo in their detail the styles of comic book artists Jim Lee and Marc Silvestri. All of the work, however, has an essence original to Mr. Smith.

Available online for $20 + s/h domestic
www.ukosmith.com

Amazing Spider-Man

Amazing Spider-Man [PG-13]

2012 Sony Pictures

Directed by Marc Webb

Grade: B+

Up-graded from B.

+1: Emma Stone (as Gwen Stacy).

+1: Peter Parker (played by Andrew Garfield) in High School.

-1: The mystery of Peter’s parents.

par: The Lizard (Rhys Ifans).

par: Spider-Man (-1: on the ground, +1: swinging though New York City).

Bonus scene after main top credits.

[Overview on Fandango]

Moonrise Kingdom

Moonrise Kingdom [PG-13]

2012 Focus Features

Directed by Wes Anderson

Grade: A+

Up-graded from B

+1: Cast (Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton).

+1: Kids going berserk

+1: Simple love story.

+1: Khaki scouts’ camp morning inspection.

+1: Soundtrack.

Musical Bonus: musical track, Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op.34 (themes A-F)”, running over the credits.

[Overview on Fandango]

“Moonrise Kingdom”: Wes Anderson's animated take on the film’s imaginary books

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/06/07/moonrise-kingdom-animation/

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln

Disneyland, Anaheim, California, U.S.A.

“Disneyland Goes to the New York World's Fair (Part 2)”

(Uploaded by fireurgunz on Dec 9, 2008)

http://youtu.be/mvfjvBO2l2Y

(Uploaded by shoeface25 on Jan 8, 2011)

http://youtu.be/AwJP5h2ESAg

The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing ⁱ⁾.

What constitutes the bulwark of our liberty and our independence?

It is not our frowning battlements, our bristling sea coasts. These are not our reliance against tyranny. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere . Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors. ²⁾

At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some trans-Atlantic military giant, to step the ocean, and crush us at a blow? 

Never!

All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.

At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected?

I answer: that if it ever reach us, it must spring from amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we, ourselves, must be its authors and finishers. As a nation of free men, we must live through all times, or die by suicide. ³⁾

Let reverence for the law be breathed by every American mother, to the lisping babe that prattles on her lap. Let it be taught in the schools, in the seminaries, and in the colleges. Let it be written in primers, in spelling books and almanacs. Let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice. And in short, let it become the political religion of the nation. And let the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay, of all sexes, and tongues and colors and conditions, sacrifice unceasingly at its altars. ³⁾

And let us strive to deserve, as far as mortals may, the continued care of Divine Providence. Trusting that, in future national emergencies, He will not fail to provide us the instruments of safety and security. ⁴⁾ Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations against us, nor frightened from it by the menaces of destruction to the Government nor of dungeons to ourselves! ⁵⁾

Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it. ⁵⁾

Version from 1999 (Uploaded by asdTubeU on Sep 22, 2008):

http://youtu.be/psgIXqyB_iQ

Transcript of the show:

http://www.nywf64.com/illinois07.shtml

¹⁾ --April 18, 1864 Address at Baltimore

²⁾ --September 11, 1858 Speech at Edwardsville, Illinois

³⁾ --January 27, 1838 Lyceum Address

⁴⁾ --Eulogy on Henry Clay, July 6, 1852 (CWAL II:132)

⁵⁾ --February 27, 1860 Cooper Union Address

Abraham Lincoln Online.com:

http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln.html

Golden Dream

from EPCOT Center’s “American Adventure, World Showcase”

by Randy Bright and Robert Moline

Performed by the Voices of Liberty, American Adventure

(Uploaded by coteetine on Jan 12, 2007)

http://youtu.be/PXcs3vQGr9o

America, spread your golden wings
Sail on freedom’s wind, across the sky.
Great bird, with your golden dreams
flying high, flying high.

Restless one in a world of change,
keeping dreams aloft in the rain.
Spirit free, soaring through the clouds
of time, of time.

America, you must keep dreaming now
Dreaming the promised vow of your pioneers
America, keep on flying now.
Keep your spirit free.
Facing new frontiers.

America, spread your golden wings
Sail on freedom's wind across the sky.
Great bird with your golden dreams,
Flying high, flying high,
Flying high, flying high!