Why So Serious; The Dark Knight

John and I went to see Batman: The Dark Knight a few days ago. It's one of my new favorite movies. Disturbing, moving, dark, thoughtful...

Heath Ledger's death has been weighing on me... Strange. I'm not sure why. I was looking at the wikipedia entry for him and see he was born the same year I am. Now it's going to weigh on me more...

I found this article about the The Dark Knight pre-release hype (pretty cool, but crazy;)

While marketing and advertising in the film industry is nothing new (trailers promoting upcoming movies have been around since the 1960s), movie studios are continuously looking for new methods to generate buzz for upcoming releases. The current trend: the creation of highly-targeted and interactive programs designed to engage niche audiences. Warner Bros. has taken this tactic to new heights with the viral campaign behind one of this year’s most anticipated movies, The Dark Knight.
Dubbed in a recent LA Times article as “one of the most interactive movie-marketing campaigns ever hatched by Hollywood: a multi-platform, hidden-in-plain-sight promotional blitz,” the team behind promoting the newest Batman adventure has kept the movie community buzzing with its provocative and tantalizing campaign for nearly a year.

The first half of the program was centered around one of Batman’s most iconic and infamous antagonists, The Joker, portrayed by the recently departed Health Ledger. Fake Websites, scavenger hunts and staged events ignited the curiosity of fans…. but the real shining moment of the program, the “master-stroke” as stated by the LA Times, was the campaign’s “clown-cake giveaway.”

“In December, conscientious followers noted a mysterious countdown on WhySoSerious.com (a viral site created for the film) that instructed viewers to travel to 22 real-world addresses in cities from coast-to-coast to pick up a ‘very special treat’ under the name ‘Robin Banks’ (get it?). Turns out the addresses were bakeries in possession of a number of cakes bearing phone numbers spelled out in icing. Many of those who called the number recoiled in confusion when the cake in front of them began to ring — cellphones encased in ‘Gotham City Evidence’ bags had been baked directly inside, each containing a phone charger, Joker paraphernalia and explicit instructions to keep the phone with them at all times. In addition to enlisting the players as the Joker’s minions, the devices conveyed invitations to special screenings of newly cut ‘Dark Knight’ Imax trailers.” Cool? Very, very cool.
(courtesy of http://identitypr.com/blog/?p=78)

Lawnmowers can Kill!

No, but really, they can! John was mowing the lawn last week and shot a baseball sized rock out from under it. It flew a good 30 feet, and smashed the windshield of our new Jetta. (Thank goodness for glass coverage!) If this had hit anyone, human or animal, they would have been killed. Please, do NOT let your children and pets around you while you're mowing!

WhatBird.com Identifier

I often find myself laying in bed in the morning, listening to bird calls. I really have no idea what many of them are. So I check out http://www.whatbird.com/ and have been able to find all the sounds I've needed.

I realized that I was hearing a Pileated Woodpecker some mornings. (Sounds a bit like a monkey to me.) http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/183/_/Pileated_Woodpecker.aspx

This morning, I heard a Northern Cardinal but didn't know what it was for sure. I confirmed that this is what it is just from listening to the sound clips! http://identify.whatbird.com/mwg/_/0/attrs.aspx

This is a pretty cool tool to have.

Homeschooling for Pagans

Found this cool link while looking into homeschooling:

http://barbooch.homestead.com/PaganHomeschool.html

Work From Home

I have been thinking I need to work from home, but have been thrown down by hour of looking, day after day, applying and still haven't found one. There's a good article from ABC News. I didn't find anything, but maybe some of you will.

THe Sims 2: Apartment Life with Witches!?

Okay. So I truly hate to admit, but I've gotten into the Sims over the past couple of years. I really like the ability to control everything. Ha! When I was working on my restaurant, I found the build capabilities very useful for visualizing the space in 3D. The architects I brought our business plan to couldn't believe I had generated an floorplan image. They would ask "what program do you use?" and I would admit like the dork that I am "are you familiar with ea games and the sims?" *grin* I have most all of the expansion packs, but am looking forward to Apartment Life because I hear they are bring back witches! Yahoo! Check out this awesome detailed preview of the expansion pack. Good, bad, neutral, ugly, pretty...

I still use the build feature mostly. I upload my creations to my sims page every now and again. I'm a little frustrated that they delete them after a month, but I understand they need to make room. It's awesome they allow free uploading at all!

GreaseCar Kit of the Jetta!

We finally got our GreaseCar kit for the Jetta! We're going to be installing it soon!

So you may ask, how does the Greasecar system work?

The Greasecar system is a two tank fuel system. The vehicles existing diesel tank and filter will supply diesel fuel to the engine at start up and shut down. After start up radiator fluid will transfer heat from the engine to the heat exchangers in the Greasecar fuel system. These heat exchangers will heat the vegetable oil in the fuel filter, lines and fuel tank. The heat will reduce the viscosity of vegetable oil so that it is similar to diesel and can be injected into the engine properly. When the vehicle is being shut down for a period long enough for the fuel to cool the vegetable oil must be purged from the fuel system and replaced with diesel for the next start up.

More info about the system and biofuels at GreaseCar.com

Market America Isotonix Solution

I spent the day yesterday learning about Market America and their products. I really like the Isotonix products. Here's what's special about them:

A free radical is an atomic structure with an unpaired electron in its outermost shell. These unpaired electrons tend to be highly reactive, resulting in chemical reactions such as oxidation. Because they have one or more unpaired electrons, free radicals are highly unstable. They scavenge the body to grab or donate electrons, causing damage to cells, proteins and DNA. Free radicals are naturally occurring; however, air pollution, stress, smoking, heavy exercising and aging all contribute to the creation of harmful free radicals. Free radicals can cause oxidative damage to the body, potentially leading to serious health problems. Normally the body is able to protect itself from the damaging effects of free radicals, but if antioxidants are unavailable, or if free radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur.

Antioxidants are natural cell protectors, neutralizing free radicals by pairing an electron to the outermost shell of radical oxygen molecules, rendering them harmless. Antioxidants are nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, and enzymes that are capable of counteracting the damaging, but normal, effects of the physiological process of oxidation in bodily tissues. Antioxidants work in two ways, chain breaking and prevention. A chain-breaking antioxidant such as vitamins A, C and E, stabilize free radicals or cause them to decay into harmless atomic structures. A preventative antioxidant prevents the oxidation process by scavenging free radicals.*

Isotonix® OPC-3® is an isotonic-capable food supplement that is made from a combination of bilberry, grape seed, red wine, pine bark extracts and citrus extract bioflavonoids, all found to be potent antioxidants. Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) are bioflavonoids (complex organic plant compounds) found in fruits, vegetables and certain tree barks that provide exceptional nutritional benefits to the human body. Studies have shown OPCs to be up to 20 times more powerful than vitamin C and 50 times more powerful than vitamin E in neutralizing free radicals. Isotonix OPC-3 contains the only isotonic form of Pycnogenol® in the world. Pycnogenol is a natural plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, and the most clinically researched and potent bioflavonoid.*

Isotonic, which means “same pressure,” bears the same chemical resemblance of the body’s blood, plasma and tears. All fluids in the body have a certain concentration, referred to as osmotic pressure. The body’s common osmotic pressure, which is isotonic, allows a consistent maintenance of body tissues. In order for a substance to be absorbed and used in the body’s metabolism, it must be transported in an isotonic state.

Isotonix® dietary supplements are delivered in an isotonic solution. This means that the body has less work to do to obtain maximum absorption. The isotonic state of the suspension allows nutrients to pass directly into the small intestine and be rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. With Isotonix products, little nutritive value is lost, making the absorption of nutrients highly efficient while delivering maximum results.**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Katy Perry!

Okay. So I browse the web a lot. Okay. A LOT! Here is the influence for my website. I liked the old school tattoo look of her site. Also, "I Kissed a Girl" has been stuck in my head! Arg. Check it out.

Market America

Today I learned from a friend about Market America. We had a nice chat about how it all works. Trying to free your family from the bonds of working a "45-year plan." I'm going to look into it more. In case you're intersted:

MarketAmerica.com

Emily's Raw Foods Blog for Raw Recipes

There have been so many requests for raw recipes from people I run into, that I've decided to start a raw blog, where I can keep all of you up to date on new stuff!

http://emilysrawfoods.blogspot.com/

Star Wars Exhibit

A few days ago, there was a pilgrimage to the St. Paul Science Museum for the Star Wars Exhibit. It was a blast! Stokes, Anne, Cadence, Liam, John, Isobelle, Victoria and I all spent the day poking around. Many cool exhibits. Victoria really liked the dinosaurs. Isobelle was interested in the mummy and the double headed turtle. Yup! The boys liked the Star Wars costumes and props. Very fun day. Check out the pics:

http://thewhitefamily.homestead.com/starwars.html

Insomnia is the Mother of Invention

Yahoo! The new site navigation is finally up. Www.EmilyJayne.com If I'm going to suffer from insomnia, might as well get something done.

I keep going back to this blog, but feel like I'm wasting my time. I've decided to type something for no more than five minutes a day...

Even that seems too much time to waste...

A Place For Narcissism

Just thinking on blogs, as I am new to it. Just a form of narcissism?


Narcissus, who was doomed to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool of water.

These Are Not My Hips!

Okay. *takes a deep breath*

Here goes nothin'!

There are so many blogs out there, and I'm feeling a need to leave my mark on the world wide web. Ha! Feeling my mortality and all. I'm working on a new navigation menu for my website (Www.EmilyJayne.com) where I'm already leaving a dent, but somehow feel that with all I create, I should start a blog. I'm not generally into doing things because they're hip, but these are not my hips!

Here's to a start. We'll see if I fizzle.