Sole Focus

News, Views, Rantings & Ramblings by Carey Parrish

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Location: Georgia, United States

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Cher Returns To The Big Screen in Burlesque

"It takes a legend to make a star."

So is the tagline for Cher's newest movie. Burlesque stars the Oscar winner alongside acting newcomer Christina Aguilera. As the owner of a burlesque club, Cher is struggling to keep her business afloat. A retired dancer, she knows what she's looking for and when Aguilera shows up, green and hungry for the spotlight, Cher isn't sure the girl has what it takes.

Until she hears her sing. And sees her dance.

The plot may sound formulaic but the trailer sizzles. Even if Aguilera doesn't measure up in her onscreen debut, there is no doubt that Cher can pull this one off on her own star power. It looks to be her best role in many a moon.

Burlesque opens nationwide November 24th.


Wednesday's Author

CJ West has been delighting readers for the past few years. His novels Sin and Vengeance, Taking Stock, A Demon Awaits, and The End of Marking Time have created a vast following for his work. His fans eagerly await each new book in his library and they are also some of the most devoted fans out there. Why? CJ gets involved with his readers. He is a genuinely nice guy who goes out of his way to let someone know he cares. There aren't many guys out there with his commitment to the people who support him.

CJ lives in suburban Massachussetts with his family. His novel Sin and Vengeance has been optioned for a major motion picture and he also writes interactive murder mysteries that are preformed live. He's one of the busiest authors around today. The guy just has it going on. Check him out.

http://www.22wb.com/


Leonid Meteor Shower Ends November 18

From Yahoo! News.

The Leonid meteor shower of 2010 is peaking this week and the best time to see the sky show is now.
The annual Leonids should be at their best through Nov. 18, according to skywatching experts. Avid meteor gazers graced with clear skies may see between 15 and 20 meteors per hour.
Skywatchers should look toward the constellation Leo in the eastern sky to see "shooting stars" from the Leonids, which appear to radiate out of the constellation. The best time to try to see the Leonids are in the last two or three hours before sunrise, when the moon has set.

"From the time of moonset until around 5:15 a.m. -- when the first streaks of dawn begin to appear in the east -- the sky will be dark and moonless," advises Joe Rao, SPACE.com skywatching columnist. "That interval will provide you with your best opportunity to see any Leonid meteors."

Another tip: Make sure to stay warm and get comfortable.
"If you have a lawn chair that reclines, use it during your search for Leonid meteors since it will help keep your neck from getting stiff as well as make it easier to look at the night sky," Rao said.
The Leonid meteor shower is an annual event that returns every mid-November. The shower is caused by material left behind the comet Tempel-Tuttle when it passes near Earth's orbit during its regular trip through the solar system.

When the Earth passes through these knots of comet material, the gas and dust flares up in the atmosphere, creating spectacular meteors.

Every 33 years, the Earth encounters a dense knot of material -- most recently in 2002 -- to create dazzling displays of shooting stars. During those showers, it can be possible to see hundreds or thousands of meteors per hour.
That isn't the case this year because the Earth is passing through a less dense area of Comet Tempel-Tuttle's trail, Rao said
Still, the Leonids retain a reputation for offering impressive meteor displays.
But with fewer meteors expected this year, you may want to travel a bit to find the best spot. Meteor-gazing from a rooftop in suburbia doesn't always offer the best view.

"For your best view, get away from city lights. Look for state or city parks or other safe, dark sites," advise the editors of StarDate magazine at the McDonald Observatory in Texas. "Lie on a blanket or reclining chair to get a full-sky view. If you can see all of the stars in the Little Dipper, you have good dark-adapted vision."

Wednesday's Flashback

Australian born Rick Springfield first tasted mainstream US chart success with 1972's Top Forty hit Speak To The Sky. It would be another nine years before he would discover the superstardom that defined his career.

As an actor, Springfield had become a household name playing Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital. Then, in 1981, he released the album Working Class Dog and shot to Number One with the mega hit Jesse's Girl. The hits just kept on coming after that. With 1984's big screen release Hard To Hold, he scored another platinum album with the soundtrack and had one of the biggest hits of his career with Love Somebody. A rocking little tune with a driving bass line and a guitar solo that sizzled, Love Somebody shot to the top of the charts and the video was an MTV staple for months.

I still love this song. After twenty-five years, it makes me feel young again and I always find myself wanting to get up and dance whenever it comes on the radio. Here's the video from You Tube. Prepare to rock. Mr. Springfield always packs a punch.

Thought For Today

"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." - Andy Warhol