Haddon Sundblom's Santa

Before the 1931 introduction of the Coca-Cola Santa Claus created by artist Haddon Sundblom, the image of Santa ranged from big to small and fat to tall. Santa even appeared as an elf and looked a bit spooky.

Red Ryder's Blue Steel Beauty

Jimi's Birthday!

November 24th. 1942-2011 Jimi Hendrix would have been 69 years old today. The music lives on.

Remembrance Day 2011

Remembrance Day 2011. Spent too much time with facebook® this year to post this in time. Better late than never!

The Raven

The filming of The Raven began on November 9, 2010 in Belgrade and Budapest. Jeremy Renner was originally going to star in the film but he dropped out so that he could star in Mission Impossible 4. Ewan Mcgregor was also in talks for a role, but he also dropped out. On 28 August 2010 it was confirmed that John Cusack will play Edgar Allan Poe in the film. Joaquin Phoenix was also approached to star at one point.
The first images from the set were revealed on November 15, 2010. A trailer for the film was released online 7 October 2011. This date is significant because it also marks the anniversary of Poe's death at age 40 in 1849.

Great Battles Medieval

History -- Great Battles Medieval is set against the background of the historic Hundred Years' War, spanning various conflicts between England and France in the 14th and 15th centuries. History Great Battles Medieval allows players to assume complete control of huge armies with more than 40 different units. From knights on horseback to infantry, French crossbowmen and English longbow archers, all units of the two warring factions are represented in the game, historically correct. Whether in campaign mode, a brief skirmish, or multiplayer mode, History Channel's Great Battles Medieval offers precise, realistic recreations of medieval battles.

Anonymous

Anonymous is an upcoming drama film directed by Roland Emmerich. It stars Rhys Ifans and Vanessa Redgrave. It will be released theatrically in the United States on 28 October 2011.[2] It is produced by Centropolis Entertainment and Studio Babelsberg, and distributed by Columbia Pictures.
In Elizabethan England, political intrigue abounds between the Tudors and the Cecils for the succession of Queen Elizabeth I (Vanessa Redgrave), as the Essex Rebellion moves against her. The film follows the involvement of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans), as not only the incestuous lover of Queen Elizabeth, but also the true author of the works of William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall).

2011 World Championships

The World Championships in Fencing is an annual competition organized by the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime or FIE, (International Fencing Federation in English). The World Championships are, after the Olympic Games, the most prominent international competition in the sport of fencing. Contestants may participate in foil, épée, and sabre events.

Pirate Latitudes

Pirate Latitudes is an action adventure novel written by Michael Crichton. The book was published posthumously by HarperCollins on November 24, 2009. It is an adventure story concerning piracy in Jamaica in the 17th century.
The novel stars the fictional privateer Captain Charles Hunter who, together with the governor of Jamaica, plots to raid a Spanish galleon for its treasure. Johnathan Burnham's review states that it is "thoroughly researched...packed through with great detail about navigation and how pirates operated, and links between the New World and the Caribbean and Spain.”[
The novel was discovered on one of Crichton's computers by his assistant after the author's death, along with an unfinished novel, Micro, now scheduled to be published in 2011.

1911 Revolution

1911, also known as Xinhai Revolution and The 1911 Revolution, is a 2011 Chinese historical drama film. The film is a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution. It is also Jackie Chan's 100th film in his career. Besides starring in it, Chan is also the executive producer and director of the film. Co-stars include Chan's son Jaycee Chan, Li Bingbing, Winston Chao, Joan Chen and Hu Ge. This film was selected to open the 24th Tokyo International Film Festival.

Pistol Annies

Pistol Annies is an American country music supergroup composed of Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley. The trio was formed on April 4, 2011 during the Academy of Country Music's broadcast of a "Girls' Night Out" special.
The band released its debut album, Hell on Heels, on August 23, 2011 via Columbia Records. Its title track has also been released as both a single and a music video which began airing on Great American Country in July.

Son of a Witch

"When a Witch dies—not as a crone, withered and incapable, but as a woman in her prime, at the height of her passion and prowess—too much is left unsaid. What might have happened had Elphaba lived? Of her campaigns in defense of the Animals, of her appetite for justice, of her talent for magic itself, what good might have come? If every death is a tragedy, the death of a woman in her prime keenly bereaves the whole world.
Ten years after the publication of Wicked, bestselling novelist Gregory Maguire returns to the land of Oz to follow the story of Liir, the adolescent boy left hiding in the shadows of the castle when Dorothy did in the Witch."

The story's very gripping right from the get-go with dead bodies and ripped off faces hurtling you into this yarn at breakneck speed. I only wish I'd read Wicked when it came out ten years ago. Ah well, I started the Hood trilogy with Scarlett (book 2) and enjoyed them all thoroughly anyway. I'm lovin' this novel!

O.A.R.

O.A.R. (short for Of a Revolution) is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge (vocals, guitar), Chris Culos (drums, percussion), Richard On (guitar, backing vocals), Benj Gershman (bass guitar), and Jerry DePizzo (saxophone, guitar, percussion, backing vocals). Due to massive online distribution over campus networks, the band has become a hit among college students, with many songs relating to the band members' personal lives at Thomas S. Wootton High School, growing up in Rockville, Maryland and attending The Ohio State University.

Imagination Library

More than 40,000 free books have been donated to children in Scotland by a foundation headed by country singer Dolly Parton.
The singer was in Glasgow on Sunday to mark the success of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which aims to give looked after children free books every month until they are five.
Children in Scotland have benefited from 40,092 books, with more set to follow.
The Scottish Government has been working with the Scottish Book Trust and the Dollywood Foundation to bring the singer's Imagination Library to Scotland. Scottish Government funding will enable the Imagination Library to provide 12 free books every year for all 3,341 looked after children in Scotland.
Children's minister Angela Constance, who met Parton in Glasgow, said: "I am delighted to be able to personally thank Dolly Parton for working with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Book Trust to ensure that Scotland's most vulnerable children are able to benefit from her innovative Imagination Library.
"Research shows that children whose parents and carers who spend time reading and talking with them frequently have better language skills than those who do not. That is one of the underlying principles of our Play Talk Read campaign. The provision of books from the Imagination Library will have a positive impact and help looked after children discover the joy of reading."

SuperHeavy

SuperHeavy is a rock supergroup consisting of Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, Damian Marley, and A. R. Rahman. Stone and Stewart had collaborated in the past with Jagger. The band's formation was announced on 20 May 2011. Jagger said of the band, "We wanted a convergence of different musical styles... We were always overlapping styles, but they were nevertheless separate". Jagger wanted SuperHeavy to showcase different musical styles, with music ranging from reggae to ballads to Indian genre. Make sure you check out the video for Miracle Worker by clicking the link!

Captain America

"Cap has always been about potential. He was punching Hitler right in the jaw on the cover of his first comic book in 1941, months before America actually entered World War II. Obviously, his costume has always been bad camouflage for a war hero, since there’s no terrain out there made of stars and stripes. But, he’s always been a symbol of the good in people, a reliable champion whose character more than his abilities makes him superhuman. Here’s a man who has reached his potential and then is doing something worthwhile with it, even if he looks a little corny in the process..."

Blackie & The Rodeo Kings

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings—Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson—will celebrate the June 14 release of their long-awaited collaborative album, Kings And Queens, with a performance at The Living Room (154 Ludlow Street) in New York City. Three years in the making for the acclaimed Canadian supergroup, Kings & Queens pairs the band with legendary and iconic female artists including Rosanne Cash, Exene Cervenka, Holy Cole, Emmylou Harris, Amy Helm, Janiva Magness, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Sam Phillips, Serena Ryder, Pam Tillis, Sara Watkins, Lucinda Williams, Cassandra Wilson and Patti Scialfa.
The concept for Kings And Queens was a random idea that came out of a late-night conversation in a van about “various artists we’ve all had the privilege of working with,” says Colin Linden.

New Spider-Man

Marvel has announced a new Spider-Man whose secret identity will be a mixed-race character.
A part of its Ultimates line, a series of comics that focus on contemporary reinterpretations of its famous heroes, Mile Morales, a half-black, half Hispanic teenager will become the new Spider-Man, and will make his first appearance in Ultimate Fallout. It was released yesterday.

Red Tails

Red Tails is an upcoming January 2012 film directed by Anthony Hemingway, from a script by John Ridley and story by executive producer George Lucas. It is based on the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American combat pilots during World War II, and is the first Lucasfilm Ltd. production since Radioland Murders (1994) not to be associated with the Indiana Jones or Star Wars franchises.This movie looks like an incredible experience, check the trailer to see how far CGI has advanced special effects. The dog fights look really spectacular!

Janet Wetterberg

Janet Kay Wetterberg (nee Sharp) was lost to Cancer on July 25th in Calgary.
Sexsmith and Peace River were home to Janet in her youth, with her twin sister Carol and younger brother Bob. Janet was happily married to her husband Jim for 49 years. Together they raised Donna, Don, Shelley, and Shannon and celebrated the joys of having seven grandchildren.
Janet supported the family, and her community in so many activities, charities, and volunteer pursuits, including a deep involvement in the sport of fencing where she dedicated endless support, guidance and enthusiasm to the many people she touched with her efforts.
Graduating Nursing at Royal Alec Hospital in Edmonton was where Janet began the journey of her many careers throughout her life. Her enthusiasm and vibrant energy took her into other occupations such as the travel and construction industry later. Janet had a lifelong passion for gardening in the summer.
Enjoying summer evenings sitting on the deck with a glass of wine and admiring nature's beauty were among her favourite pastimes. Janet shared with us her endless love of life and valued keeping friends and family close to her heart no matter where they were. You will forever be in our hearts and we will find comfort in knowing that you will be with us always in spirit.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made directly to the Alberta Cancer Foundation (c/o Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331 – 29 Street NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N2).
A gathering of family and friends of Janet will take place later in August. Details will be posted within the next week at www.fencingcanada.ca.

Japan Wins FIFA World Cup

Japan stunned the United States in a riveting Women’s World Cup final, winning 3-1 on penalty kicks Sunday after coming from behind twice in a 2-2 tie. Goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori made two brilliant saves in the shootout.
Japan, making its first appearance in the final of a major tournament, hadn’t beaten the Americans in their first 25 meetings, including a pair of 2-0 losses in exhibition games a month before the World Cup.

England Keep My Bones

England Keep My Bones is the fourth studio album by London-based singer-songwriter Frank Turner, released on June 6, 2011, on Xtra Mile in the United Kingdom, and on June 7, 2011, on Epitaph Records worldwide. The album was produced and mixed by Tristan Ivemy, who had previously mixed Love, Ire and Song, Rock & Roll and Campfire Punkrock.
The album's title is taken from William Shakespeare's play, The Life and Death of King John, with Turner noting, "I knew that the album was, for the most part, about mortality, and about Englishness. Shakespeare seemed like a good place to go hunting for some pearls of wisdom, and with a little help from my friend Ben we came across this one, and it just seemed to fit the work really well."

Coriolanus

Coriolanus is a 2011 film adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy Coriolanus directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes. It marks Fiennes's directorial debut. Shooting began in March 2010 in Belgrade, Serbia. Watch out Kenneth Branagh you could have some new competition in the directing of Shakespeare's plays department. Look for a Christmas 2011 release date!

The Eagle

The Eagle is the final novel in the A Dream of Eagles series (published in the United States as the Camulod Chronicles). The Eagle follows the continuing story of Clothar (Lancelot) from when he meets Arthur Pendragon, and up to King Arthur's death and beyond. Not to be confused with the film of the same name (based on Rosemary Sutcliff's novel Eagle of The Ninth) this is a wonderfull yarn for anyone interested in the Arthurian Legends. Like Lawhead's Hood series it takes a different look at the ageless legend of Lance, Quinevere & King Arthur, great summer reading fun!

Bargain Shop Panties

Little Miss Higgins - BARGAIN SHOP PANTIES .

War Horse

War Horse is a film directed by Steven Spielberg and is intended for release in North America on 28th. December 2011 and in the UK on 13th. January 2012. It is based on both War Horse, a children's novel set during World War I, by Michael Morpurgo, first published in the United Kingdom in 1982, and the 2007 stage adaptation of the same name.

Brave

Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane). Look for this film next summer 2012!

FIFA Women's World Cup

Finally the long wait has come to an end. Hosts and defending champions Germany are hoping to kick off the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011™ with a bang this Sunday in front of a record crowd at the legendary Berlin Olympiastadion. Victory is anything but a foregone conclusion, however, with opponents Canada determined to spoil the party on the back of their CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup triumph in 2010.....Go Canada!

Tupac's 40th.

Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), known by his stage names 2Pac or simply Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. Shakur had sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world. In the United States alone he has sold 37.5 million records. Rolling Stone Magazine named him the 86th Greatest Artist of All Time.He would have been forty years old today had he not died tragically in 1996. His music's still alive & well though!

The Battle of Quatre Bras

The Battle of Quatre Bras, between Wellington's Anglo-Dutch army and the left wing of the Armée du Nord under the legendary, Marshal Michel Ney, was fought near the strategic crossroads of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815.The battle cost Ney 4,000 men to Wellington's 4,800. Although a tactical draw, the allies had been unable to send forces to the aid of the Prussians at the Battle of Ligny. Wellington's Anglo-allied army, upon learning of the Prussian defeat, was forced to retreat north along the Brussels road further away from the Prussians, who retreated north-east towards Wavre.
There has been much debate of what would have happened if d'Erlon's I Corps had engaged at either Ligny or Quatre Bras. As he did not, Napoleon chose to follow Wellington with the bulk of his forces, and two days later met him at Waterloo.

Operation Overlord

The Invasion of Normandy was the invasion and establishment of Allied forces in Normandy, France, during Operation Overlord in World War II. The invasion was the largest amphibious operation in history. The Normandy invasion began with overnight parachute and glider landings, massive air attacks, naval bombardments, early morning amphibious landings on five beaches codenamed Juno, Gold, Omaha, Utah, and Sword and during the evening the remaining elements of the parachute divisions landed. The "D-Day" forces deployed from bases along the south coast of England, the most important of these being Portsmouth.

Sons of Anarchy

Sons of Anarchy is an American television drama series created by Kurt Sutter about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in Northern California. The show centers on protagonist Jackson "Jax" Teller (Charlie Hunnam/Nicholas Nickelby), the Vice President of the club who begins questioning the club and himself.
Sons of Anarchy premiered on September 3, 2008 on cable network FX. Its second season debuted on September 8, 2009, and its third season began on September 7, 2010.

Sarah's Key

Sarah's Key is a French drama starring Kristen Scott Thomas and follows her journalist's present day investigation into the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, and a story of a young girl's experiences during the Nazi occupation of France. It is an adaptation of the novel Elle s'appelait Sarah by Tatiana De Rosnay and has been critically well-received, currently holding an 88% fresh rating on the film review site Rotten Tomatoes.

Huffington Post Canada

The Huffington Post is an American news website and content aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring various news sources and columnists. The site offers coverage of politics, media, business, entertainment, living, style, the green movement, world news, and comedy, and has news, blogs, and original content. The Huffington Post was launched on May 9, 2005, as a commentary outlet and alternative to news websites like the Drudge Report. On February 7, 2011, AOL acquired The Huffington Post for US$315 million making Arianna Huffington editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group.

Ken Kesey's Bus Trip

The counter cultural equivalent of an archaeological dig, "Magic Trip" is Alex Gibney and Allison Ellwood's reconstruction of the LSD fueled, bus trip-cum-rolling revolution of Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters, long pinpointed as the start of the psychedelic '60s. Fans of the subject matter, especially students of the Beat era, will find this revisionist reconstruction indispensible; others will share the same tedium claimed by some of the principals on the bus. Nevertheless, this doc is like a hipster's King Tut's tomb, and History Films' involvement assures cable exposure. Arthouse openings also seem likely.

Go The F**k To Sleep

The F-bomb plea on the minds of every parent at one point or another is the title of a buzz magnet of a book parody written in kid-friendly rhyme. Beware, parents, it's decidedly unworthy of a bedtime readaloud.
Not yet out, the 32-pager from a tiny Brooklyn publisher has hit No. 1 on Amazon.com and has sold more than 100,000 copies in pre-orders since it surfaced less than a month ago. After bootleg copies leaked, Akashic Books moved up publication from October to June 14, for Father's Day. Here's a sample: "All the kids in day care are in dreamland. The froggie has made its last leap. Hell no, you can't go to the bathroom. You know where you can go? The f**k to sleep."

Scott Brothers Do Gettysburg

For the 150th anniversary of America’s deadliest war, Ridley Scott and his brother Tony are teaming up with the History Channel to produce Gettysburg, a new feature documentary which reinvents how we look at the historic battle. In the four years of conflict between the Union and Confederate armies, over 600,000 American lives were lost. So it’s quite fitting that the Gettysburg is being described as “a visceral, terrifying experience.”
The Scott brothers plan to use re-enactment footage alongside CGI in order to tell the story of the soldiers on the ground. Gettysburg will be one part of a week-long theme event dedicated to the Civil War on The History Channel. This commemoration will be an annual event on the channel for the next four years.

Wii Epee Fencing!

Glee Rumours

So I've had lots of folks tell me to watch the show Glee. Last night I saw the Rumours episode. I saw the 'kids' performing songs from the classic Fleetwood Mac album and I thought it was pretty cool. However, I'll have to wait for the dvd because I can't abide live tv's commercial breaks....they drove me nuts....so I'll start watching the dvds. I'll pick up the first season today!

Sir Henry Cooper Dies

Heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper, one of Britain's most popular sportsmen who was best known for knocking down Muhammad Ali while he was still known as Cassius Clay, died today. He was 76.
The first boxer to be knighted and receive the title "Sir" from a British monarch, Cooper died just two days before his 77th birthday, the British Boxing Board of Control said. He died at his son's house in Oxted, Surrey, in southern England, after an extended illness.

Sarah The Riveter

Sarah Palin has morphed into the classic WWII poster, often called Rosie the Riveter.
That original poster was created by J. Howard Miller for Westinghouse's War Production, in 1942, from a photo of Geraldine Boyle, a Michigan factory worker. Consequently, with government-commissioned works, the poster is in the public domain.
Rosie was also a 1943 Saturday Evening Post cover, painted by Norman Rockwell. The original sold for nearly $5 million in 2002. His Rosie is a little more classical in her proportions, and she's crushing a copy of Mein Kampf under her work boot, not the Idiot's Guide To The Constitution as in this Dan Nance parody!

Pinkerton's Secret

Allan Pinkerton's story opens in Chicago on the eve of the American Civil War. After battling con men, train robbers, and vicious gunmen, Pinkerton senses that change is in the air. Already committed to the abolitionist cause and the Underground Railroad, he allies himself with John Brown's radical antislavery crusade. Upholding the law with one hand, he unapologetically breaks it with the other.
Kate Warne joins the Pinkerton Agency and quickly takes her place as Allan's closest confidante. He asks Kate to join him, and she embraces his cause in all its contradictions and extremes. Together they save the life of Abraham Lincoln on his inaugural journey to Washington, root out Confederate spies within the Union government, and establish the nation's first Secret Service.

L.A. Noire

L.A Noire is an interactive detective story set in the classic noir period of the late 1940’s. L.A. Noire blends action, detection and complex storytelling and draws players into an open-ended challenge to solve a series of gruesome murders. Set in a perfectly recreated Los Angeles before freeways, with a post-war backdrop of corruption, drugs and jazz, L.A. Noire will truly blend cinema and gaming.The release date is May 17th. 2011

Undead Nightmare

Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare is the fifth and final downloadable content (DLC) pack released for Red Dead Redemption. It was released for the PlayStation 3 and for Xbox 360 on October 26, 2010. Undead Nightmare follows the exploits of John Marston, as he looks to find a cure for an infectious zombie plague that has swept across the American Old West.

Steampunk Palin

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Specifically, steampunk involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain—that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc. This technology may include such fictional machines as those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne or real technologies like the computer but developed earlier in an alternate history.

Red Dead Redemption

America, early 1900's. The era of the cowboy is coming to an end.
When federal agents threaten his family, former outlaw John Marston is sent across the American frontier to help bring the rule of law. Experience intense gun battles, dramatic train robberies, bounty hunting and duels during a time of violent change.
Red Dead Redemption is an epic battle for survival in a beautiful open world as John Marston struggles to bury his blood-stained past, one man at a time.
Developed by Rockstar San Diego, Red Dead Redemption is now available for PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360®.