4entertainment
Twilight
Totally Kyle
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Families have lost cooking
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y favorite meal is my mother’s potato soup on a cold day or my father’s Greek salad smothered in feta cheese and croutons. In fact, some of my best memories as a child are based around the Kyle Keith dinner table. I was shocked when I discovered that most American teenagers consider a home-cooked meal a rarity. I was appalled when I found out that most “average families” eat out two to three times a week. Paula Deen, with her cotton candy hair and over-the-top Southern cackle, pays for her multimillion dollar Savannah waterfront estate by wishing her audience, “Love and best dishes from my kitchen to yours,” at the close of every show. She’s made a killing by whetting viewers’ appetites, clogging arteries with triple chocolate chunk brownies and selling her merchandise: cookbooks, pots, pans and cake mixes. If we’re buying her deepfried nonsense, then why isn’t everyone making their own butter biscuits? According to msnbc.com, Ruby Tuesday’s “Fresh Chicken and Broccoli Pasta” has 2,060 calories, more than what’s recommended for most people in an entire day. It’s yet another reason to cook at home instead of dying of cardiac arrest from a calorie overload from one bowl of pasta. Not only is eating at home more health conscious, but it is also more economical in our tough economy. Actually buying the ingredients to cook a meal at home costs significantly less than eating out. Most importantly, I can’t stress enough the personal benefits of eating at home. You will become much closer to your family. I am not going to try to wish you “best dishes,” like Paula Deen or promise you a terrific meal in 30 minutes like Rachael Ray, but I can promise the benefits of good old fashioned home cooking. Break out the whisk or mixer and try your hand at cooking. Take a walk on the culinary side and eat at home. I know I can’t wait to see what’s on the menu for tonight at my favorite restaurant, my house.
Zone
Hit teen novels help spark American vampire craze Kiersten Ellsworth Asst. News Editor
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n audience is captured with fear as an on-screen creature emerges from the dark. Pale skin contrasts against a black trench coat and dark, mangy hair as the creature stalks forward searching for prey. Closing in on a young girl, the vampire lunges toward her neck ready to bite. The victim’s scream pierces the air as suddenly, another vampire enters the scene. It’s a new type of misunderstood vampire with an urgency to save the day. “When I think about vampires, I think that they are polite and protect people from danger,” sophomore Becky Gamsky said, describing the evolving image of vampires. Vampires have evolved since the first printing of Bram Stocker’s Dracula 112 years ago; it portrayed a dark, dangerous and deranged vampire out to suck blood with obstacles of garlic, sunlight and crosses. More recently, the vampire image has changed from scary to sexy and popularity has soared with book-to-screen productions of Twilight, “True Blood” and “The Vampire Diaries.” These heartthrob “good guy” vampires have taken the spotlight in pop culture as the rush of a vampire sensation floods the lives of teenagers and adults alike. The premiere of the new CW series, “The Vampire Diaries,” was watched by 4.91 million viewers, more than any other debut in the network’s history. “The original vampire, Nosferatu, was a grotesque monster who fed upon the living,” junior Leela Livis said. “Recently, there has been more of a dark hint to the vampires and of course there are all sorts of different personalities, just like with humans and other monsters.” The craze hit hard with the popularity of the Twilight series and later film adaptation of the first book in 2008, followed by its sequel, New Moon, that took in $140.7 million in its opening weekend — the third best opening weekend of all time. The series portrays the adventurous love story of teenager Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, an intelligent and good-looking vampire. Other on-screen productions over the years include Count Von Count on “Sesame Street” and the ’90s TV show, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” These “creatures of the night” have left their mark with
vampire magazines, blood drinks, clothing lines, video games and even wedding ceremonies. “I’ve read all the books and seen Twilight, and I’m ready to see New Moon. I think that it’s a good thing for kids to see because it’s a fantasy world,” freshman Lauren Jones said. “I think it’s a good way for you to look at a different world. I’ve seen the previews and ‘Vampire Diaries’ looks really good as well.” The department store Nordstrom recently jumped into the vampire craze, releasing its own line of Twilight fashions and jewelry available online and in stores. “I’ve read all four books and seen the movie six times. I like the books because they’re more of a love story than anything else,” senior Molly Corhn said. “I also have a shirt that says ‘Team Edward.’ I like the current vampire popularity, but it all came from Twilight.” A new line of cosmetics, Luna Twilight, is also available through Nordstrom. The make-up was inspired by the female characters from the Twilight series. “I have a couple of Twilight shirts and a poster,” Gamsky said. I’m more of an Edward fan because werewolves, I’m not a huge fan of at all.” Other companies looking to capitalize on the trend have introduced a new energy drink called Blood Energy Potion. The drink comes in a blood bag similar to the kind used in hospitals and has a similar nutritional makeup, color and consistency to real blood. “I’d go for real blood instead,” Livis said. “There are several cultures in the world where an entire tribe lives on nothing but blood of humans. And of course there is Japanese blood sausage and blood pudding.” From the popular vampire movies to new unorthodox vampire trends, this craze has got people talking. Some people have been accused of taking the trend too far. An Ohio couple was made up as pale-faced vampires for their recent “scare-emoney” wedding in a haunted house near Cleveland. The groom arrived in a coffin inside a hearse. After the vows were exchanged, the minister ordered the groom not to kiss his new bride but instead to bite her on the neck. “There are entire underworld cults in Europe and America,” Livis said. “They are basically rave and underground party places where there are all sorts of vampirism and such.”
Bram Stoker harnesses vampire mass hysteria and writes Dracula into eerie existence.
Edward leaves Forks to protect Bella, who finds consolation in her friendship with Jacob Black. She discovers that he is a werewolf, and he tries to protect her from the vampire Victoria. Edward, convinced that Bella has killed herself, goes to Italy to provoke the dangerous Volturi vampires to kill him. Victoria has created an army of newborn vampires in order to get revenge on the Cullens. Edward proposes to Bella, and as she tries to balance her future with Edward and her friendship with Jacob, Jacob and his pack of werewolves join forces with the Cullens and their friends to combat Victoria’s army. With immediate threats gone, Bella and Edward marry. But when Bella unexpectedly gets pregnant, her life is in danger. To save her life, Edward must change Bella into a vampire. The Volturi come to Forks to destroy the Cullens, who join together with vampires from all over to defend themselves. (Art used with permission of Brown & Company Publishing House)
The sparkling and sensual immortals of Twilight make the undead appealing to teenagers.
“Sesame Street’s” Count Von Count brings out the sillier side of vampires by teaching children everywhere how to count their numbers in new and exciting ways.
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Go Falcon Basketball! Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC Member FIRA/SIPC is a registered broker-dealer and separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company Insurance products are offered through Wachovia Insurance Agency, Inc.
More ‘Twilight’ Books
Vampires through history: From feared monsters to sex symbols
1922
1997
2008
The silent film Nosferatu takes the creepiness of Gothic blood-suckers to the silver screen.
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” wipes out demons while wearing high heels and puts vampires on TV.
TV vamps up bloodsuckers’ new popularity with the sultry hit “True Blood.”
Etowah Florist Corner of S. Rugby and 64 in Horse Shoe
wingspan • december 11, 2009
Michael L. Cole
Financial Advisor Senior Vice President Investments Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC NC2642 2373 Hendersonville Road Arden, NC 28704 Tel 828-692-1673 Fax 864-255-8302 Toll Free 877-558-6357
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