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Do you want phenomenal sound quality from Bose but aren’t willing to shell out $300+ for those Quiet Comfort 2 headphones?

Fret not, Bose offers affordable Tri-Port headphones with large earcups for $150. That itself may seem like a hefty amount, but it is an excellent investment. Here’s why.

First of all, true Bose products are of the highest quality, producing deep bass and true treble sound as if you were listening to a rich subwoofer or sweet tweeter. Although slightly expensive, Bose delivers performance sound.

Bose headphones are also extremely comfortable. If you look at cheap imitations (which cost anywhere from $20-80) they have the same size cups, but only fuzz to cushion your ears. Their sound quality is also quite inferior. Bose has full size earcups to drown out most unwanted noise coming from your surroundings. The cups themselves are very soft and swivel to accommodate any size head.

When you have these headphones on for an extended period of time, it’s easy to forget that they’re there. With a total weight around 5 ounces; they are one of the lightest high-quality headphones around.

The rich sound quality emanates from tiny ports in the earcups combined with Acoustic Equalization to provide the listener with a complete audio experience.

And along with the headphones Bose provides a gold-plated 5’ extension cord to complement the already lengthy standard headphone cord. In addition to that you receive a similarly gold-plated ¾” stereo connector. All tucked neatly inside a plush drawstring bag.

Besides providing an exceptional product, Bose is an exceptional company as well. I obtained my original Bose Tri-Port headphones over four years ago while in high school. In early 11th grade I accidentally broke my Bose Tri-Port headphones, along with my CD player. Since both were broken I set them aside and forgot the incident.

In college a friend of mine acquired a pair of Bose Tri-Port headphones and I was reintroduced to their captivating quality. I still had my broken headphones so I called Bose to see if they were likely to repair them (The limited warranty had expired). Initially the serviceperson was going to charge $50 to have the headphones repaired, but upon learning which parts were damaged simply said Bose would ship me a new set for free.

Ready to pay the $50 fee, I was overjoyed at the turn of events. I eagerly sent my damaged headphones out and waited. And waited, and waited. It turns out that my headphones had been lost in the mail – a worst case scenario.

However, after a few days of evaluation I received a call from Bose when they told me they had just shipped a second set out – again at no cost to me.

So you see why $150 is a bargain price for these headphones! Even with the warranty expired, this company sent me not one, but two pairs of headphones at no cost to me. Granted I didn’t receive the first one, but that only makes Bose an even better company.

One caveat before I leave you. Because the name Bose is known as quality, there are imitations of Bose Tri-Port headphones out there. Do not be fooled. Only the original, sold at licensed Bose retailers and select other stores, is the true Tri-Port headphone and under Bose warranty. For more information please visit Bose online.

My husband and I have differed over our bed comfort for the past 30 years. Years ago we did the fashionable water bed thing. We had the big old king size free- flow slosher, complete with heater. He complained that I tried to cook him, while I thought he wanted to freeze me for posterity! My husband outweighed me by quite a bit, so when he moved, or got up, I got quite the tidal wave.

I also have a bad back, so all of that squishy, sloshy movement left me in pain and grouchy every morning. So, we tried a baffled, foam inserted water bed liner as a sort of compromise. I still tossed and turned. He decided I was so miserable and sleep deprived, he would relent and give up his water bed. Enter the regular king size bed with a nice firm mattress. I was finally sleeping like a baby, and now he was grouchy and sleep deprived.

After a couple of years of trying to figure out a solution, short of the “Ricky and Lucy” twin beds, I started checking into the Select Comfort Sleep Number beds. I thought they were a little pricey, and was really leaning towards twin beds or separate rooms! Finally, I gave in and got on line and ordered a king size dual controlled mattress and frame. I didn't even have to pay for it, because Select Comfort quickly gave me a line of credit to purchase their Sleep Number bed with.

UPS delivered within days and deposited these rather large boxes on my porch. I dragged them into the living room and started accessing the situation. There certainly were a lot of boxes. I wondered how big a jigsaw it would be. Deciding I would like to surprise my husband, I started ripping open boxes looking for instructions. They looked pretty easy and understandable.

In defense of the Select Comfort Sleep Number bed, I must say that it went together pretty simply. The main problem was having the room to open everything, as it didn't seem to be packed in any kind of order. I had to put together the bottom frame, or box board that the mattress would sit on. I was a little upset that it was nothing more than hard plastic slats and six square plastic pieces that slide together for the top. This part sits on your bed frame, much like a box spring for a mattress.

The black box for the Select Comfort Sleep Number bed came with a cover that hides the fact that it is a black plastic box. This was a nightmare to get on by myself, but I finally managed. Putting together the sleep number mattress was pretty easy. I just had to lay out the mattress lining and start inserting pieces of foam, the air bags, and more pieces of foam. I had to snap the air hoses in too. I thought this was pretty easy, but later found out I had them reversed. Apparently, I was facing the wrong way when I hooked them up and my right was opposite of their right!

The top of the mattress zipped on, all of the way around. This was hard to do, especially by my self, but I finally got everything stuffed in and zipped shut. It was starting to look like a bed again. The pump has to sit where there is room for the air hoses to reach the Sleep Number mattress and an electric outlet. Luckily there was room under the head board. It clicks and whirs when it needs to pump, so this takes some getting used to.

My husband wasn't to pleased that I had tackled the bed all by myself, but I assured him it hadn't been hard. Actually, the hardest part had been dragging in the heavy boxes and sorting the various parts. We were both anxious to try it out and find our perfect sleep number.

I started out with my side of the Sleep Number bed set at 60, because I wanted firmness. My husband chose 30, as he likes his side soft. After a few nights, he had adjusted to 25, and was sleeping like a baby. Me, I was nearly wearing the controller out, going up and down the scale of numbers. The only thing disturbing my husband was the click and whir, and my tossing and turning.

The bed did come with a 90 day sleep guarantee. If you didn't love it, after trying it for that length of time, you could send it back. I should have sent it back, because I hated that bed. I didn't because my husband was sleeping so good on that Sleep Number bed, that I didn't have the heart to take it away from him. Besides, I thought I would eventually find my perfect sleep number.

I just kept hoping, by some miracle, that I would find a number on that dual numbered controller that I would like. After nearly 2 years, I have given up hope and resign myself to tossing and turning, while he snores peacefully away. Oh, that and I get great pleasure in calling Lindsey Wagner a liar, every time I see the commercial on television for the Select Comfort Sleep Number bed.

I'm not sure why I can't find a number on the Sleep Number bed controller that I like. I just know that I am continually adjusting the numbers, giving it a few days and then adjusting again. Maybe because this particular bed has the regular twin size air mattresses, and the air is not controlled that well to the head, middle or foot. Most people are heavier in the middle, so that the middle of the bed is pushed in more. The air goes to the foot and head, causing a curved affect.

I have noticed recently that the Select Comfort Sleep Number bed has a model that has 6 different air chambers for the foot, middle and head. This may be a better sleep option, but I don't think I'll be trying it any time soon. We have thought of different option to assure we both have a better night's sleep, but right now my husband enjoys his selected sleep number while I continue to try to hunt for my perfect sleep number. I don't think it exists.

While my husband would recommend the Select Comfort Sleep Number bed, I certainly would not. The best I can tell you, if you are interested in a Sleep Number bed, is to pay close attention to the time frame they allow you to try it out. If you haven't found your perfect sleep number by then, you aren't going to.

Sources: My own experiences

www.selectcomfort.com

If your child has been diagnosed with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), then you know how frustrating it can be. Between medicines and therapy and teachers calling about behavior, ADD can leave parents in a world of hurt, not sure where to go or what to do.

Essentially, ADD affects a person’s ability to concentrate. Their mind wanders constantly, and it is hard for them to focus on tasks that don’t interest them. Often, they have no trouble with hobbies or interests that keep them occupied, but when sitting in class, for instance, they might not be able to stay focused on the lesson.

Behavioral problems are often associated with ADD because children with the disorder act out when they get frustrated. Trying to do math homework, for example, might be next-to-impossible because they don’t enjoy the subject and it requires acute concentration. When they get frustrated, they might yell or throw tantrums or refuse to complete the assignment.

ADD is not significantly debilitating to have special classes for students, but regular learning techniques do not always work. Teachers who aren’t trained in ADD and who don’t understand the effects of the disorder will just assume that the student has a behavior problem, which couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Many parents resort to medication like Ridalin and Attoral, which I think are more detrimental than beneficial. Given the smallest discrepency in dosage, these drugs can drain your child of personality and render him or her almost incapable of functioning in a normal capacity. They might become listless, and want to sleep all the time. They will lose interest even in those things that they used to love.

My advice, as always, is to get to the root of the problem. ADD affects the ability to concentrate, so help your child to concentrate.

First, try teaching word association tricks. If your child needs to memorize something for class, show him or her how to make it exciting. This will focus them on something other than just regular memorization, and might allow them to overcome their ADD (not permanently, but for this assignment).

I also recommend hiring a tutor for your child, and be sure to find someone who has experience with kids who are troubled by ADD. Let the tutor work with your child two or three days every week to be sure that schoolwork is completed and that concepts are understood. That way, if your child misses something in class, they can always work on it with their tutor.

It is important that you play an active roll in your child’s development. Keep on top off his or her progress at school, and talk with teachers if necessary. If there is a problem with a particular subject, then have his or her tutor concentrate on that for a few weeks until your child catches up.

In case your doctor hasn’t emphasized it enough, ADD is not a ‘mental disorder.’ It doesn’t mean that your child is retarded or slow or even incapable of learning as much as any other child. ADD is a learning disorder that impairs the brain’s ability to concentrate, as I said at the beginning. And just with all learning disorders, there are ways around the problem.

You should also remember to be your child’s “defender.” If teachers, principals, or other adults make disparaging remarks about children with ADD, take it upon yourself to educate them. Ignorance about the subject is a common source for depression among children with the disorder, and people who are involved with children should know what they are talking about and be educated on the subject.

You might also want to get involved with other parents who have children with ADD. There is nothing like a support group to keep you motivated and positive, and you can share ideas with one another that everyone may not have already considered. Keeping yourself under control and not letting stress get to you will greatly improve your relationship with your child, and your positivity will rub off on those who have the disorder.

And finally, if you have other children who do not have ADD, make sure that they understand what it is so that they don’t become frustrated as well. It can be tough for siblings to understand why their brother or sister has difficulty in school, and you want to eliminate the possibility of teasing and cruelty among siblings.

In the final sequences of Stanley Kubrick's landmark Cold War satire Dr. Strangelove, we see the world seemingly being destroyed by machines of its own creation. It appeared Kubrick's outlook on the fate of mankind was clear: we're all in
deep trouble. But in the four years following nuclear war, things changed drastically. 

In 1968, Kubrick gave us 2001: A Space Odyssey. A dazzling mixture of experimental film, science fiction, and social commentary (In some aspects it can be seen as an update of Strangelove for an imagined future) that still looks ahead of its time today. 2001 remains a landmark achievement, not only for the 1960's, but for the entirety of the motion picture industry's history.

In 1964, despite its popularity, Dr. Strangelove was seen as a controversial piece when it was released in America; some even alleged it glorified communsim. Stanley Kubrick, already an expatriate living in England and undettured by this criticism, had already begun a reworking, of sorts, as the film made its US debut. Several key themes would be revisited in 2001, despite the fact that the two films have very little in common on the surface. Strangelove is dim and dreary throughout, shot in black and white. 

2001 is the visual polar opposite. If Strangelove's color is meant to lull the viewer into a dreary demise, 2001 is attempting to overwhlem them with a visual spectacular from the future. Despite this, many ideas can be seen as a kind of continuation.One of these, which is abundantly clear, are the sexual undertones in each. From the “refueling sequence” during the opening credits to Sterling Hayden's impotent cigar enthusiast Gen. Jack D. Ripper, Strangelove is rife with sexual imagery, much of which seems to favor the side of inadecquacy. 2001, however, does not suffer from this problem. 

From the phallic spaceships docking in their vaginal ports to the deployment of pods likes ovaries in the uterus, the film dictates not only sexuality but the physical process of copulation. The idea of birth is central throughout. In fact, there are several birthdays that act as intricate milestones in the development of Kubrick's elaborate plot. 

The birth of mankind eventually leads to the birth of super computer HAL which leads to the birth of the Star Child; the ultimate being, in evolutionary terms, and the perfect conclusion to this fascinating story. In the world of Kubrick's Strangelove impotence signals the world's forthcoming demise, but in 2001, sexual vitality serves as the springboard for human life's transition to the next intellectual and physical level. 

Another parallel to the two films, one that exists on a conscience and deliberate stage, is the presence of the Russians and an ongoing political rivalry which has now stretched four decades. He even goes as far to suggest that this form of competition is four million years old (ie; the prehumans struggle for supremacy at the watering hole). The scene in which Heywood Floyd meets with Russian diplomats to discuss the “problem” at the space station is reminiscent of the war room struggles in Strangelove, but also the Cold War fears that continued to grip America in 1968. 

The inclusion of a mechanical character, inheriently flawed and destined to thwart mankind's drive to stay alive in an everchanging dangerous world, is also present in both films. Dr. Strangelove is not technically 100% machine, but his
idealogy and actions are certainly as computerized as any real robot. 2001's robot, however, is very real and actually displays more human emotion than Strangelove. 

Perhaps, this is telling because ultimately it is Strangelove who is the successful one in developing and following through with a plot to destroy mankind's advancement on planet Earth and beyond. One glaring difference between these two films is the obvious end results. If Dr. Strangelove is Stanley Kubrick's way of saying societys' problems are capable of undoing life as we know it, 2001 is his vision of humanity's answer. Though it is human flaws that lead to the quandries in both films, it is human resilence, present in 2001, which lead to redemption. 

Although, that is not to say that this was accomplished without any help. The idea and inclusion of the messianic Monoliths are the missing link when it comes to the knowledge needed to overcome otherwise overwhelming dilemmas. Each time a Monolith emerges from thin air, life is awarded with the intelligence needed to progress to its next stage (ie; the herbivore prehuman apes become violent tool weilding killers and Hank Bowman becomes the Star Child).

Although 2001 does touch on the Cold War fears of the 1960's, it is probably best known for its conceptual vision, special effects, and its use of music. Kubrick took home the only Academy Award of his career for it, Best Visual Effects. The first peice of dialogue is nearly thirty minutes into the film, and there's hardly any speaking throughout. A good deal of the film is silent (accurately depicting the absence of sound in space), set to music, or with the sound of human breathing within a spacesuit. Kubrick's sci-fi experiment intended to present its story almost purely with visual imagery and auditory signals with very little communicative human dialogue.The film's use of music is also a milestone in film. 

Because so much of the movie features long, wordless, visual displays the selection of classical compositions are key to fully interpreting the scene. For the shots of the spaceships, probes, and satellites floating in space Kubrick uses The BlueDanube Waltz by Johann Strauss, a famous and recognizable peice that adds even more to fluidity to the dance of the elaborate models shot against a green screen. During each Monolith sequence, he uses several avant garde peices by György Ligeti; a contemporary composer know for his innovative use of atonal scales and vocal arragments (the result is down right scary, and it does not sound like human voices). 

But the most famous peice of music used is the one thatbookends the film, Thus Spake Zarathustra by Richard Strauss. This epic peice might be one of the most recognizable aspect of any part of 2001. Another of the most recognizable parts of Kubrick's masterpeice is the psychadelic “slit-scan” sequence. When Dave Bowman begins his transformation to eventually becoming the Star Child, he his sent spiraling through a portal in his pod. The technology for this scene was brand new to major films and had only been used before in so-called “acid” films of the earlier 1960's. 

The dazzling array of colors and lights signifies the end of dialogue in 2001 and beginning of the transformation of human life, both literally and figuretively. In closing, while 2001 will not be best remembered for its Cold War undertones and Dr. Strangelove parallels, those connections and similarites are there and worthy of dissection. Stanley Kubrick's 1968 landmark will remembered for exactly what it is, a genre defying epic which takes on questions that no living human could possibly answer. It is Stanley Kubrick's greatest and most elaborate peice of cinema…until his next. 1

971's A Clockwork Orange will again defy what a movie is supposed to be, and it will stir (arguably) more controversy than the two before it. And look no further than the very last shot of 2001 to see that Kubrick wants the viewer to notice these connections in his films. The closeup of the Star Child's face is not-so-strangely similar to that of the closeup of Alex which begins A Clockwork Orange. Stanley Kubrick did not just make movies in the 1960's, he helped define them.

It was Friday, April 2, 2004. Payday for some. The beginning of a fun weekend for others. For me, 8 PM was a duty I had to perform. I had time to stop for a quick snack before the AA meeting. There is a lull in New York City between the time businesses close, the subways are crowded, and dinner or the theatre begins. I slowly walked to the community center behind the church in Queens. Three other people came to the front door at the same time I did. We nodded, but it was like a secret handshake. No names. No real information. Just that shared knowledge we were there for a healing process that would take the rest of our lives.

As usual, there was a huge coffee urn, with paper cups, plastic spoons, packets of sugar and Equal. Half a dozen people were filling their cups. Not that they were thirsty. Just that they wanted something to hold, some form of comfort that was not alcoholic.

Eight o'clock. A fifty-ish, bulky gray-haired man stood up. He rapped his knuckles on a table in front of the group, which now numbered about thirty. Good evening. My name is Jim. And I'm an alcoholic. On cue, the audience replied “Hi, Jim”. He looked around, and began a little preamble to the meeting- to the adherents who were friends of Bill W. “Today is the beginning of the weekend. For some people, it's a time for fun, for a few drinks and laughs. For us, we can have the fun and the laughs. But no drinks.” There was appreciative, if a little forced, laughter. “So, grab your coffee, and lend an ear. Who'd like to begin?”

There was a brief pause, and finally a young woman rose and walked to the front of the room. “Hi. My name is Rosemary. And I'm an alcoholic” Everyone greeted her back: “Hi, Rosemary”. She told a story of how she had started drinking at age 12, all through school, and how it hurt her in losing several jobs. And how she finally decided “God helps them who helps themselves”. Jim, our moderator thoughtfully added, “…and friends of Bill W.” I looked around and most in the audience seemed to nod in agreement. There were eight other people who got up to begin with their names and “I'm an alcoholic”. Most of their stories were mundane. It was only when most of them recited the number of days, or weeks, that they had been sober, that the audience reacted with applause and even a few whistles.

The uninitiated come to the meeting expecting some sort of grandiose confessions, as if they were seeing a re-run of 'DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES” or 'THE LOST WEEKEND”. The speakers were often as ordinary as their talks and they were encouraged principally by the applause they received when mentioning their days of sobriety..

When the meeting ended in about forty-five minutes, some of us gathered at the coffee urn, which served as sort of a conversation magnet. There was Andrew, dressed in what looked like an expensive three-piece suit (a stock broker?). There was Gus, whose biceps flashed a number of tattoos. There was soft-spoken Greta, a middle-aged woman with a European accent. There was Horace, who proudly showed uo a Polaroid of his new grandchild. We all ooh-ed and ahh-ed. I counted only about three or four people who attended who seemed to be under thirty. All of them hurried out quickly, as if they had just come from some clandestine meeting and were afraid someone they knew would spot them and guess why they were there.. But, then I figured they were hurrying home to their children, or a wife waiting for a late dinner in the oven, or a husband concentrating on a TV basketball game.

I left the meeting feeling that maybe those dissenting psychologists were mistaken- that there were people for whom it was a blessing and relief to mingle with people who had the same problems, but who were anonymous enough not to be a burden or bother. I looked around, wondering if all the people I saw and met would stay sober, what the percentage of recividism would be. In my heart I wished them all good luck and God speed. At least someone, or a group of someones, cares enough to DO something about their addiction. Not only were they “friends of Bill W.” but in a way they shared an unspoken friendship among each other.

Are there any truly scary horror movies being made any more? I scare easily but lately I haven't seen a movie that truly scared me to the point were I couldn't get the creeps to go away when I went to bed.

I remember when I saw The Shining in 1980 by Stephen King it was about Frustrated writer Jack Torrance who took a job as the winter caretaker at the ominous, mountain-locked Overlook Hotel so that he could write in peace. When he arrives there with his wife and son, they learn that the previous caretaker had gone mad. Slowly Jack became possessed by the evil, demonic presence in the hotel. It scared me to death and still today is my all-time favorite scary movie.

The Exorcist made my heart race to, the first one not the second. In 1973 this was a deeply horrifying masterpiece that led to religious boycotts, fainting and nauseous audiences, and a commercial success that forever changed Hollywood. Linda Blair played Regan, a 12-year-old girl possessed by the devil. 

After exhausting all the options of science, psychology, and medicine, Regan's mother realizes the supernatural nature of her daughter's condition and resorts to a religious solution, turning to Father Karras for an exorcism. Aided by the mysterious Jesuit exorcist Father Merrin, Karras must confront not only supernatural phenomena but also his own inadequate faith and displaced guilt over his mother's recent death, a personal torment Regan uses to manipulate him, but with disturbing results.

When I was about twenty I went to the drive-in to see a double feature with friends. I don't remember what the first movie was I fell asleep in the back seat (obviously I wasn't interested), but the second film I will never forget I awoke during it with a terrifying start. The sounds I heard scared me to death the screaming and yells for help were ear-piercing. The movie was The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Inspired by 1950s mass murderer Ed Gein, Tobe Hooper's debut feature opens with five unsuspecting teenagers driving in a van through sun-scorched rural Texas. 

After a terrifying exchange with a demented hitchhiker, the group ends up at an old farmhouse. At first, the house appears to be abandoned, but soon, the evil residents begin to wreak havoc on the youngsters' lives. With her friends and wheelchair-bound brother Franklin disappearing one by one, the terrified Sally Hardesty must summon the strength to escape from the ghoulish family of mass murderers, who are led by the gruesome, chainsaw-wielding Leatherface. 

I watched the movie and was scared to be outside in the dark for a long time afterwards and you could have never gotten me to go anywhere near a old ran down shack. But the second Chainsaw Massacre wasn't what I was hoping for it didn't compare to the first at all.

I remember the Friday the 13th movies and they scared me They were about Jason Vorhees and Camp Crystal Lake, which closed after a series of bizarre and unexplained deaths. Now someone is lurking in the woods, spying on the happy campers, and plotting a gory, grisly revenge on those who would disturb the camp's slumber. No matter how often Jason was killed he always came back to plot revenge on more unsuspecting people.

The Nightmare on Elm Street Movies scared me to. By Wes Craven a hellish, razor-fingered monster enters the dreams of the teenage residents of a bucolic town and systematically slaughters them in their sleep.

So when I heard about Freddy verses Jason coming out I was very excited this movie was about A group of teenagers finding themselves stuck in the middle of a battle between two forces of evil: silent stalker Jason Voorhees and gabby dream master Freddy Krueger as the battle wages from Elm Street to a climactic finale fought at Camp Crystal Lake. 

When I saw it even though there were a few jumps in my heart I ended up rooting for Jason to win. Ummm since when do horror movies cause you to want a villain to win? I remember my kid's arguing over who would win and then cheering when I considered Jason the winner.

There has been a couple that scared me in recent years such as Scream which was about the sleepy little town of Woodsboro who woke up screaming. There's a killer in their midst who's seen a few too many scary movies. Suddenly, nobody is safe, as the psychopath stalks victims, taunts them with trivia questions, then rips them to bloody shreds.

Final Destination is a another scary one about Alex Browning, who is embarking on a trip to Paris with his high school French class. In the plane's cabin, buckled-in and ready for take-off, Alex experiences a powerful premonition. He sees the plane explode in a fiery blaze moments after leaving the ground. 

Alex panics and insists that everyone get off the plane. In the melee than ensues, seven people including Alex, are forced to disembark the ill-fated aircraft. Back in the departure lounge, Alex and his friends Billy and Todd; Clear a young woman who instinctively heeded Alex's warning; Carter, whose derision of Alex's paranoia had him and his girlfriend Terry thrown off the plane; and Ms. Lewton, the teacher who volunteers to stay with the disembarking students, all watch as Alex's horrific premonition proves tragically accurate when the plane explodes in a catastrophic fireball. Ironically, even though Alex's intuition saves lives, after the crash he is plagued by both guilt and suspicion. 

Ominous portents of doom as well as the FBI, dog his every step. Alex comes to believe that somehow, he and the other survivors have briefly cheated death, but will not be able to evade their fate for very long. Clear befriends Alex, but no one, not even she, really believes his macabre theory - not even as one by one, these fugitives from fate fall victim to the grim reaper.

But in most recent years the scariest I have seen weren't even considered actual Horror movies. The ones that scare me the most now are movies like,

Sum of all fears starring Ben Affleck in the role made famous by Harrison Ford. In this installment, European neo-Nazi terrorists acquire a nuclear device and plan to use it at the Super Bowl, blaming the attack on Russia in the hopes of rekindling the Cold War. Luckily, CIA analyst Jack Ryan is on the case. This one has exceptional effects.

And The Left Behind series, Left Behind: The Movie (2001)

In an instant, dozens of passengers on an international airline flight disappear into thin air. Pilot Rayford Steele discovers, to his horror, that millions worldwide vanished at the same instant including his own wife and son. While the world reels from the cataclysmic event, Steele bands with others who have been “left behind” to discover who or what is responsible for the disappearances.

Then there was Left Behind II: Tribulation Force

Second in the ongoing series of Christian films based on best-selling novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, TRIBULATION FORCE follows up where the enormously popular LEFT BEHIND left off. Confusion and chaos ensue after the mysterious vanishings of millions of people, and U.N. Secretary General Nicolae Carpathia seeks to pacify the world with a new temporal ideology, one in which religion would be made obsolete. 

A group of rebels, cognizant of the nefarious Carpathia's true identity, form the Tribulation Force to combat his foretold rule of darkness and to save as many souls as they can. As prophesied in the Bible, witnesses of God have descended to Earth in Jerusalem, and Carpathia refuses them a public audience. 

The reporter Buck Williams, played by Kirk Cameron (TV's GROWING PAINS), and pilot Ray Steele infiltrate Carpathia's tight circle of power to inform the world of God's message - via live television. Interwoven throughout the film is the budding love story between Buck and Chloe Steele, Ray Steele's daughter, although the two exchange no more than a kiss on the cheek. A science-fiction story at its core, TRIBULATION FORCE offers a vision of the future as according to Revelations, perhaps most resonant with viewers of Christian faith.

Maybe these movies sacre as horror movies because these movies show things that can and will happen some time in the future if the world keeps on the path were on.

I do like this type of movies to but they leave you wondering what is going to happen in the future and how it will affect your life and those life's of the ones you love. This is good we all need to think about the future and the way we live life. But I want to see a truly good scary movie that I know can't happen but still scares the wits out of me.

Bo Diddley sadly died at the age of 79 today. I remember my husband and I fell in love with Bo Diddley when he released the song “Say Man” and “You Can't Judge a Book By the Cover”. These empowering songs accompanied with his lovely voice soothed me and allowed me to fall asleep on nights. I remember going to a small concert and hearing him sing in 1965.

I was amazed by his overwhelming amount of talent that just provided a sense of amazement when hearing him perform songs. I will always remember seeing him nicely dressed with his guitar and microphone. I also saw him in concert in 2005. He did not lose any of his talents and it brought back several memories from the 1960s. I still to this day cannot get enough of his singing and music.

My parents had tapes that had him on The Ed Sullivan Show where he performed songs and crossed the color barrier line. He was more than a singer, he was a person who united everyone, black, white, or yellow from his music. Nobody could deny that Bo Diddley was not an amazing and talented singer. He is such a distinguished artist who could play guitar, volin, synthesizer, piano, percussion, and drums. I remember he played all of those instruments during one of his concerts in the 1970s which was televised. Simply put, Bo Diddley during concert surprised everyone that one man could play all of those instruments. I remember him commenting over the microphone at the concert that “anyone could do it if they put their mind to it” although I believed he was supernatural!

Bo Diddley was definitely one of the patriarchs of rock and roll. I remember visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when he was inducted. There were thousands of people there clapping and supporting Bo Diddley. He was one of a kind who undoubtedly deserved to be in the Hall of Fame. There are pictures that I had from a kid in my room of Bo Diddley. I ironically was looking at them a month ago, which I have not done in quite a few years. They brought back nostalgic memories of hearing Bo Diddley's voice over the radio when I should have been sleeping. This prompted me to download Bo Diddley's songs over iTunes. There will never be a man who sang with such passion or ability.

Reason Number Ten: Motrin is expensive. It all depends on where you live and where you shop, but I have found that Motrin costs between $8.00 and $9.00 for 100 of the 200 mg tablets. And to be quite honest, I don’t see why it needs to cost so much. It only has one active ingredient, not a magic blend.

Reason Number Nine: Motrin is an NSAID (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drug) which can cause stomach bleeding. The carton and the insert are both covered with warnings about how it can cause severe stomach bleeding, especially in older people (who often have need of pain relievers). Your risk is higher if you take blood thinners. It is also higher if you have three or more alcoholic drinks a day. And it is higher if you take any other NSAID product, such as aspirin, naproxen, or ibuprofen, according to the label.

Reason Number Eight: Motrin can cause severe allergic reactions such as asthma hives, and shock. You are also supposed to be carefully monitored if you have any of a whole host of medical conditions including poorly controlled diabetes, dehydration, serious heart problems, swelling of the hands, feet, or ankles, high blood pressure, history of stroke, blood clotting problems, stomach or bowel problems (such as bleeding or ulcers), history of tobacco use or alcohol use, kidney problems, liver problems, blood or bleeding problems, asthma, nasal polyps, any allergies (especially history of angioedema with symptoms of lip, tongue, throat swelling), pregnancy, or breast-feeding. That’s a bunch!

Reason Number Seven: It can cause serious stomach upset, which seems reasonable if you consider that persons taking Motrin are at increased risk for bleeding stomach ulcers, also other kinds of bleeding in the stomach and bowel. The pharmacist I spoke to suggested taking Motrin with food or milk if it has caused any digestive upset, a common side effect. But he also said that even if the food prevents stomach upset, it may not prevent stomach bleeding. Sounds pretty upsetting to me . . .

Reason Number Six: Long term use of it can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. And apparently this is not a casual risk, but a fairly significant one, especially in people already at risk for these conditions. That’s enough to give me a headache, not cure one!

Reason Number Five: Motrin can cause problems with delivery if taken during the last three months of pregnancy. Things like bleeding to death during delivery, for one. Ouch!

Reason Number Four: It can also cause problems with the unborn baby if taken during the last three months of pregnancy. One warning found on an online pharmacy’s Motrin/Ibuprofen page says this product has been linked to fetal and newborn death! They don’t tell you THAT in the commercials.

Reason Number Three: It does not do a good job of relieving some types of pain, at least for some people. I have tried Motrin more than once to relieve a headache and was never able to tell I had even taken it. The pain went on and on, until I took some Tylenol.

Reason Number Two: Motrin has a whole bunch of additives that don’t do anything to help with your pain – they call them Inactive Ingredients, just there to make the tablet look and feel better. Things like Carnauba wax, corn starch, FD&C Yellow #6, hypromellose, iron oxide, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, silicon dioxide, stearic acid, titanium dioxide. Do you really need all that stuff?

Reason Number One: If you really MUST use ibuprofen, the only active ingredient in Motrin, why not just buy the generic version? You get the same active ingredient for far less than the cost of the brand name stuff. I have gotten generic ibuprofen at my local super center store for under $5.00 for 200 tablets. That’s almost a quarter of the cost of the Motrin. If you do decide to use ibuprofen, go for the generic. The only difference with Motrin is the advertising. Who needs it? Your pain won’t know the difference!

Health care services are essential for both treating and preventing illness. There are a number of excellent hospitals located throughout the Bowling Green, Kentucky, area.

Commonwealth Regional Hospital is located on 250 Park Street, Bowling Green, KY. Commonwealth Regional is an acute care hospital for patients with medically complex conditions requiring stays beyond 14 days. Admission recommendations are required and may be made by physicians, social workers, and family members. Hospital services include respiratory care, nutrition management, rehabilitation and diagnostic imaging. Additional information can be found at www.regionalspecialtyhospital.org. General information may be obtained by calling (270)-796-6200.

Southern Kentucky Rehabilitation Hospital is located on 1300 Campbell lane, Bowling Green, KY. The hospital is a 60-bed facility, which assists patients with a rehabilitation regimen. Rehab specialists work with each patient in an effort to recover from serious injury or surgery. Rehabilitation services are offered for a number of conditions including brain injury, spinal coed injury, stroke, amputation and trauma. Patients will receive therapy anywhere from 3 to 5 times per week. A pre-admission assessment is required for each patient prior to admission. Please visit the website at www.skyrehab.com. Email inquiries may be sent to rlinden@skyrehab.com. Admissions may be reached by calling (270)-782-6900. Southern Kentucky rehabilitation Hospital is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation facilities (CARF).

Greenview Regional Hospital is located on 1801 Ashley Circle, Bowling Green, KY. Greenview is a 211-bed medical surgical facility serving central Kentucky. Services offered include behavioral health; sleep disorders, wound care, cancer treatment and emergency services. The hospital has a staff of over 300 highly trained and skilled physicians as well as a team of nurses and respiratory care professionals. Emergency services are always available. Additional information may be available at www.tristarhealth.com. General information is available by calling (270)-793-1020.

Rivendell Rehabilitation Center is located on 1035 Porter Parkway, Bowling Green, KY. The 125-bed facility specializes in child and adolescent behavioral disorders, drug addiction and alcohol abuse. The hospital offers both an in-patient and out patient chemical dependency program. In addition, patients have the option of taking part in the Choice or Courage program. These programs have been designed to help patients cope with everyday life once their rehabilitation is completed. Please visit the website at www.riverdellbehavioral.com. The admissions department may be reached by calling (270)-843-1199. Most health insurance plans are accepted.

The Boy Scouts of America is perhaps the finest organization any boy can belong to. While some small minded fools decry the Boy Scouts for being sexist, panderers of religion and conformist, the fact is that Boy Scouts have done more for the country than all the feelings and sensitivity that these fools preach. But in any case, here is what the Boy Scouts can teach you. The Boy Scout motto is simply 'Be Prepared'. Those simple words are the answer to every problem that anyone will face in life.

In this time of economic difficulty, Be Prepared could have saved thousands of people suffering and anguish. If homeowners were prepared for rising interest rates (did they not know what variable meant?), if factory workers were prepared for their jobs to end (did they not watch the news?), and if bank officials were prepared for housing defaults (could they not read their own books?), then the nation would still be in a strong position. Being Prepared is a simple little slogan, but it is something that we all can do to strengthen our position in life.

Here are some examples of emergencies that you can avoid simply by being prepared. Do you live in an earth quake zone? Are you prepared? Do you have water stored in your home in separate locations? Do you have batteries to run flashlights and radios? Do you have canned food stored in separate location in your home? Have you taken steps to strengthen your home to withstand the quakes? An earthquake will come, be prepared for it.

Are you in a troubled / abusive / dysfunctional relationship? Are you prepared to be on your own. Whether you or the other party leaves, you need to be prepared. A supply of cash, a plan to live with family or friends, important documents stored in a safe yet quickly accessed location? If you are physically prepared, it will make the metal stress of this situation much easier to handle.

Are you in danger of losing your job? Are you prepared to deal with this possibly devastating situation? Are you saving money? Are you looking for a new job? Are you spending money on only the necessities? Moving may have to happen, is your home for sale? If the layoff comes being prepared will help you survive, if it does not come, then you are still in a stronger financial situation.

Being prepared is the only way to live life. Very, very few things happen to people that was not to be expected. Think about the exposures to difficulty that you have in your life and be a good Boy Scout, and be prepared.