Yellow Magpie

Clint Eastwood Quotes: The Original Westerner

Yellow Magpie — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:43:09 +0000

Clint Eastwood Quotes

Here is Yellow Magpie’s selection of choice Clint Eastwood quotes.

‘I don’t believe in pessimism. If something doesn’t come up the way you want, forge ahead. If you think it’s going to rain, it will.’

‘I have a very strange gun control policy: if there’s a gun around, I want to be in control of it.’

‘Politicians have to make unpopular decisions. Schwarzenegger is going to understand the nature of his job. I wish him good luck, he’s going to need it. It’s going to be difficult for him.’

‘They say marriages are made in Heaven. But so is thunder and lightning.’

‘There’s only one way to have a happy marriage and as soon as I learn what it is I’ll get married again.’

‘I’ve never met a genius. A genius to me is someone who does well at something he hates. Anybody can do well at something he loves – it’s just a question of finding the subject.’

‘Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.’

‘I’m interested in the fact that the less secure a man is, the more likely he is to have extreme prejudice.’

‘A good man always knows his limitations.’

‘I’m suffering from oxygen deprivation. It’s overwhelming watching your career go by.’

‘We are like boxers, one never knows how much longer one has.’

‘If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster.’

‘Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect is self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt that’s real power.’

‘There’s a lot of great movies that have won the Academy Award. And a lot of great movies that haven’t. You just do the best you can.’

Visit Brainy Quote for more Clint Eastwood quotes.

Clint Eastwood Quotes: The Original Westerner

Dustin Hoffman Quotes: Rainman On Life

Yellow Magpie — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:33:15 +0000

Dustin Hoffman Quotes Photo By Garry Knight

Here is a choice selection of Dustin Hoffman quotes.

‘Acting didn’t solve much! If it did, I would have ended up much less crazy than I am today, but I’m not. At least for me, acting is a relief – a relief to be able to admit certain things about myself and disguise in my work, in my characters.’

‘I started junior college in Los Angeles because I didn’t have the grades to go to university and I didn’t want to go into the military. So in my first year of junior college I’m failing and I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to get a job, I want to be a student, and a friend says, “Take acting, because they don’t flunk you – it’s like gym, nobody gets an F.” I took it and suddenly it was the first thing I ever did that wasn’t painful. Where I held focus. And suddenly, rehearsing with somebody – learning lines – hours could pass by. And I begged my parents to let me go to this acting school, because I knew I couldn’t fail.’

‘There’s a rebirth that goes on with us continuously as human beings. I don’t understand, personally, how you can be bored. I can understand how you can be depressed, but I just don’t understand boredom.’

‘I do believe I represent a certain segment of society that find the humor in anything, because it’s the only revenge you have against mortality. If I had my choice, I’d like the die having just finished a joke that worked.’

‘A waiter is treated especially badly by people and I had a tendency to strike back, with humor. I’d give the customers some smartassed remark. But if I knew I was about to be fired, I’d go all out to get fired in style.’

Visit Simply Dustin Hoffman for more Dustin Hoffman quotes.

Check out Clint Eastwood Quotes: The Original Westerner, Meryl Streep Quotes: An Outspoken Actress and George Clooney Quotes: An Interesting Take On Life.

Dustin Hoffman Quotes: Rainman On Life

The Solar System And Beyond: A Guide To The Cosmos

Yellow Magpie — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:14:01 +0000

The Universe: The Solar System And Beyond

Here is the index for Yellow Magpie’s The Solar System And Beyond.

The Solar System

The Sun: Our Source Of Light And Life

The Inner Planets

The Inner Planets Of The Solar System: The Terrestrial ‘Rocky’ Planets

Mercury: The Strange Planet That Supported Relativity

Venus: The Harsh Version Of Earth

Our Home Planet Earth: Third ‘Rock’ From The Sun

The Moon: Vital In The Creation And Preservation Of Life On Earth

Lunar Voyages: Man’s Exploration, Strange Phenomena And The Moon’s Rewards

Nuclear Fusion: The Next Economics And Mining The Moon

The Moon: Our Lunar Fascination And A Future Gateway To The Stars

The Planet Mars: Our Infatuation With The Red Neighbour

Mars’s Moons: The Oddness Of Phobos And Deimos

Mars’s Volcanoes: A Stunningly Mysterious World With Colossal Vents

The Planet Mars And The Valles Marineris: A Wonderland Of Canyons

The Red Planet And Water: Is There Life On Mars?

Terraforming Mars: How To Create Another Home Planet

The Asteroid Belt: Striding Betwixt The Terrestrial And The Jovian

The Dwarf Planet Ceres: A Watery Life-Filled World?

The Outer Planets

The Outer World Of The Jovian Planets

Jupiter: The Local Gas Giant Of The Solar System

The Moons Of Jupiter: The Solar System Within The Solar System

Lo: Jupiter’s Volcanic Moon

Jupiter’s Moon Europa: An Ocean Of Life?

Jupiter’s Moon Ganymede: The Largest Satellite In The Solar System

Jupiter’s Moon Callisto: Gateway To The Stars?

The Planet Saturn: The Ringed Wonder Of The Solar System

Saturn’s Moon Enceladus: Contender For Life?

Tethys: Saturn’s Moon Of Mystery

Saturn’s Moon Dione: The Ice-Cliffed Satellite

Rhea: Saturn’s Mysterious Ringed Moon

Iapetus: The Two-Faced Ridged Moon Of Saturn

Hyperion: Saturn’s Irregular Moon

Titan: Saturn’s Atmospheric Moon

Uranus: The Coldest Ice Giant

Titania: Uranus’s Largest Secretive Moon

Uranus’s Moon Oberon: A Cold Unknown World

Umbriel Uranus’s Blue Moon

Ariel Uranus’s Bright Moon

Miranda Uranus’s Moon: Home Of Colossal Canyons

Neptune: The Mysterious Azure-Blue Planet

Plus there will be many more to come as Yellow Magpie updates The Solar System And Beyond.

The Solar System And Beyond: A Guide To The Cosmos

Dracula Quotes: The Legendary Creation Of Bram Stoker

Yellow Magpie — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:04:51 +0000

Dracula Quotes Gary Oldman As Count Dracula (1992)

Here is a choice pick of Dracula Quotes

‘Suddenly, I became conscious of the fact that the driver was in the act of pulling up the horses in the courtyard of a vast ruined castle, from whose tall black windows came no ray of light, and whose broken battlements showed a jagged line against the sky.’

‘No man knows till he has suffered from the night how sweet and dear to his heart and eye the morning can be.’

‘I saw the Count lying within the box upon the earth, some of which the rude falling from the cart had scattered over him. He was deathly pale, just like a waxen image, and the red eyes glared with the horrible vindictive look which I knew so well.’

‘Let me be accurate in everything, for though you and I have seen some strange things together, you may at the first think that I, Van Helsing, am mad. That the many horrors and the so long strain on nerves has at the last turn my brain.’

‘Oh, the terrible struggle that I have had against sleep so often of late; the pain of the sleeplessness, or the pain of the fear of sleep, and with such unknown horror as it has for me! How blessed are some people, whose lives have no fears, no dreads; to whom sleep is a blessing that comes nightly, and brings nothing but sweet dreams.’

‘Remember my friend, that knowledge is stronger than memory, and we should not trust the weaker.’

‘Doctor, you don’t know what it is to doubt everything, even yourself. No, you don’t; you couldn’t with eyebrows like yours.’

‘There are mysteries which men can only guess at, which age by age they may solve only in part.’

Visit Good Reads for more Dracula quotes.

You may also wish to check out Yellow Magpie’s Bram Stoker: The Famous Irish Creator Of Count Dracula, Daphne du Maurier Quotes: A Complex Writer And Woman and Daphne du Maurier: Writer Extraordinaire.

Dracula Quotes: The Legendary Creation Of Bram Stoker

Bram Stoker: The Famous Irish Creator Of Count Dracula

Yellow Magpie — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:32:09 +0000

Bram Stoker

‘As the Count leaned over me and his hands touched me, I could not repress a shudder. It may have been that his breath was rank, but a horrible feeling of nausea came over me, which, do what I would, I could not conceal.’ This chilling quote is from one of the most famous novels ever written, Dracula, by Irish writer Bram Stoker. While much has been written about Count Dracula, its author is not as well known.

The Early Life Of Bram Stoker

Bram (short for Abraham) Stoker was born in Dublin, Ireland, on November 8th, 1847, to Abraham Stoker and Mathilda Blake Thornley.

Bram was the third of seven children and was delicate and sickly as a child spending much of his time in bed. It’s understood that his mother told him a lot of horror stories and this could well have influenced his creation of Dracula.

He is quoted as saying ; ‘I was naturally thoughtful, and the leisure of long illness gave opportunity for many thoughts which were fruitful according to their kind in later years.’

By the age of seven he was deemed well enough to attend school and was sent for private tuition at an establishment run by the Rev. William Woods.

Once he recovered from his illness Bram never looked back and enjoyed robust health becoming an athlete and earning the title of University Athlete at Trinity College Dublin where he attended from 1864-1870.

The Lure Of Academia

Stoker was also extremely bright academically and graduated with honours in mathematics. In addition he was president of the Philosophical Society and auditor of the Historical Society.

Following his graduation he went on to work in the Civil Service at Dublin Castle where he remained for nine years. His time there may have been the inspiration for his book entitled The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland (1879).

He also had a lively interest in politics and believed in Home Rule for Ireland believing it could be achieved through peaceful means.

Bram Stoker had an intense love of the arts and began writing theatre reviews. He soon became a respected critic being well informed about his subject.

A glowing review of Shakespeare’s Hamlet with actor Henry Irving in the lead role led to an invitation from Irving to Stoker to join him for dinner at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. A lifelong friendship between the two began and Henry Irving invited Bram to manage his Lyceum Theatre in London, a position he held for 27 years.

London’s Calling

In 1878 Bram married actress Florence Balcombe, they settled in London and together had a son named Irving Noel Thornley.

He became acquainted with many famous actors and authors such as fellow Irishmen Oscar Wilde, William Butler Yates and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the famous Sherlock Holmes.

During this time he also continued his writing and publishing books with varying degrees of success. These included A Glimpse of America, The Primrose Path, The Watter’s Mou and a collection of short stories called Under the Sunset.

The Seeds Of Success

He wrote Dracula which was originally titled The Undead in 1897. Nevertheless, before this he had spent a number of years researching Eastern European folklore and stories about vampires.

Dracula is written in an epistolary style, composed in realistic fashion as a series of diary entries, letters, newspaper clippings and telegrams. This manner of writing has been attributed to his newspaper experience.

Dracula was not an instant hit and did not become the phenomenon we know today. Meanwhile Bram Stoker continued his writings with the Daily Telegraph with The Lady of The Shroud was published in 1909 and The Lair of the White Woman in 1911.

He died in 1912 at the age of 64. He was survived by his wife Florence and their son Irving Noel Thornley Stoker.

Dracula the film was made in 1931 and starred Bela Lugosias in the title role. It was produced by Universal and was based on a stage play of the same name.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoaMw91MC9k

The Legacy Of Dracula

To date more than 1000 novels and 200 films have been made about Dracula and the creepy character is one of the most famous and instantly recognisable images in fictional history.

Below is an extract from the book that recounts the first meeting of Jonathan Harker with Count Dracula.

Within, stood a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck of colour about him anywhere. He held in his hand an antique silver lamp, in which the flame burned without a chimney or globe of any kind, throwing long quivering shadows as it flickered in the draught of the open door. The old man motioned me in with his right hand with a courtly gesture, saying in excellent English, but with a strange intonation.
“Welcome to my house! Enter freely and of your own free will!” He made no motion of stepping to meet me, but stood like a statue, as though his gesture of welcome had fixed him into stone. The instant, however, that I had stepped over the threshold, he moved impulsively forward, and holding out his hand grasped mine with a strength which made me wince, an effect which was not lessened by the fact that it seemed cold as ice, more like the hand of a dead than a living man. Again he said,
“Welcome to my house! Enter freely. Go safely, and leave something of the happiness you bring!” The strength of the handshake was so much akin to that which I had noticed in the driver, whose face I had not seen, that for a moment I doubted if it were not the same person to whom I was speaking. So to make sure, I said interrogatively, “Count Dracula?”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlDbxogHPao

Mick The Miller: The World’s Most Famous Greyhound

Yellow Magpie — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:28:23 +0000

He was a dog that took the racing world by storm. He attracted tens of thousands of people to any race he participated in, he was in films and has become the most famous Irish greyhound of all time. Mick The Miller is synonymous with greyhound racing.

Humble Beginnings

Born on the 29th of June, 1926, Mick The Miller would go on to make greyhound history. Bred by a priest called Martin Brophy at Millbrook, Killeigh, in County Offaly, Ireland. Mick The Miller was not the strongest or healthiest pup.

For that reason it was surprising that a man called Michael Greene was adamant that the dog was to be trained. Perhaps this was due to the fact that Mick The Miller was a descendant of the legendary Master McGrath. This would turn out to be a very prudent decision by Greene. Up until 1929 Mick The Miller was trained in Killeigh.

When the dog was fit for greyhound racing, Mick Horan, a certified trainer was employed by Fr. Brophy. Horan’s knowledge of stadium racing, having worked at the new Shelbourne Park, County Dublin, undoubtedly added value to Mick The Miller’s development.

The Birth Of A Star

After being sold by Fr. Brophy to bookmaker Albert Williams of Wimbledon, England, in July, 1929, he was in turn purchased by Arundel Kempton in December 1929. It was with Kempton and in England that Mick The Miller would become internationally famous and break all greyhound records.

Mick the Miller’s short three-year racing career produced unrivalled results. Chief amongst his great achievements was winning 19 races on the trot, two English Greyhound Derby titles in-a-row and breaking several world records.

Upon hearing of his first English Derby success in 1929, the residents of Killeigh celebrated by lighting a bonfire in his honour.
Mick The Miller would go on to win his second English Derby in front of a crowd of 50,000 people.

Injuries to his shoulder and dewclaw meant that the latter half of 1930 was not as success-laden as the previous year. The 1931 English Greyhound Derby was to prove highly unfortunate for the plucky little greyhound. Despite winning the race, the original contest was declared a ‘no race’.

An exhausted Mick The Miller failed to make an impression in the re-run race. The winner a dog called Seldom Lad took the title and was given the trophy to a chorus of boos from the crowd.

The Legacy Of Mick The Miller

Mick The Miller was watched on by an estimated crowd of 70,000 people during the 1931 English Derby. Despite losing the race he made the transition from being an ordinary greyhound to a public icon. His name was written about in many international newspapers and magazines and he even featured in several films.

His final race came in the St. Leger Stakes in October 1931. He would go on to win the race beating Seldom Lad in the process. Out of a total of 68 races Mick The Miller won 51 and out of those 68 races he failed to be out of the top two on only five occasions. His racing success and the high esteem he was held in by the public ensured that he entered both the British and American Hall-Of-Fame.

A commemorative statue created by the sculptor, Elizabeth O’Kane, was erected in his honour in Killeigh, County Offaly, Ireland. The sculpture is so detailed it even has Mick The Miller’s distinctive scar that was just below his right eye.

A Sense Of Style: How To Hit New Fashion Heights

Yellow Magpie — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:32:27 +0000

A Sense Of Style Begins With Fashion Design

A Question Of Style

What is style? How do we define it? How do we acquire a sense of style? Why do some people have style and others just can’t seem to get it right no matter how much they spend on clothes?

Style is about how we dress, speak,walk, behave and carry ourselves. There is no doubt the way we dress plays an important part in our sense of style.

People With A Sense Of Style

Think of people whose names are synonymous with style? Audrey Hepburn, Kate Middleton, Catherine Zeta Jones, etc.

These women all developed their own sense of style. For example, Audrey Hepburn created a unique look at a time when large-breasted women were all the rage.

Along comes Audrey, with a wafer-thin ballet-type figure but she made the most of it with her simple yet elegant style. She wore heavy black eye-liner which emphasised her eyes and the effect was stunning.

French Chic

French women have perfected style. If you have ever been lucky enough to visit Paris you will not only be in one of the most beautiful cities in the world with its abundance of style, you will also notice how the French women stand out from the crowd.

You will rarely see Parisian women tottering along in six inch high heels which not only look ridiculous but are extremely uncomfortable and unsuitable for walking through city streets.

No, the quintessential French woman is casual. She will wear jeans, flat ballet shoes or boots, a jacket and of course the ubiquitous scarf.

However, it is not so much what they are wearing that gives them that chic it is how they combine clothes together that gives them that well-groomed put-together appearance.

A perfect example of French chic is Ines de la Fressange. Beautifully elegant while always looking comfortable in her own skin and clothes, her hair is simple and shiny. She is light on the make-up, her clothes are casual yet she is unmistakeably glamorous.

Ines has written a book called Parisian Chic here she gives a taste of how she approaches dressing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubu_EevoDkM

Let’s Start At The Very Beginning

So where do we start? Before you go shopping decide how you want to look. For example, if you are looking for a work-day wardrobe then the type of work you do should dictate what you wear.

Nevertheless, for most jobs a black trousers is a must. Combine this with a few different tops in various colours that suit your complexion. A dress appropriate for work is also a good idea. Go for a plain well-cut dress which you can accessorise if you are going for a drink or dinner afterwards.

You will also need a good winter coat and of course a trench coat. If you live in a wet country with rain falling constantly why not invest in a trendy rain hat, you can put it into your bag and pull it out at the first sign of rain. Of course a good quality handbag together with shoes and boots are also essential.

Invest in a leather bag in a neutral colour that is both classy and smart. Remember you will need a bag every day for work so choose one that is suitable for your size and shape and which will go with every outfit.

Of course every woman needs a black dress in her wardrobe. Why? Because black dresses are simple and can be dressed up or down depending on where you go. They are great for disguising any figure and are always in fashion.

What’s Already In Your Wardrobe?

For those who enjoy dressing up and always want to look glamorous whether it is for work or play, planning is crucial. Running into the shops and buying without thinking will cost you dearly. You could still end up with absolutely nothing to wear, because what you have bought goes with nothing that you have in your wardrobe.

So even though planning sounds boring when it comes to buying fashion it will be well-worth the effort and the result will be that you always have something ready to wear for every occasion.

Before you head for the shops look at what you already have in your wardrobe. What would look great with what? Or better still what would look absolutely stunning with that red coat you just bought? Or what accessories could lift that grey jumper and bring it to a completely different level?

No matter what your taste in clothes try to have your own signature style. Do not become a slave to fashion, know what suits you. Learn how colours look against your skin and find a hair style that makes the most of your face. Then learn the subtle art of make-up.

For a good place to start, watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBBbVAj-8_Q

Be Interesting

While clothes are great for making a first impression it is our personality that captivates. So learn how to be charming, mannerly, and interesting. Learn how to speak properly. There is nothing as disappointing as admiring someone then suddenly they speak and either the tone of their voice is annoying or they haven’t learned to use their voice to the best of their ability.

Then of course you must have something worthwhile to say so read the newspapers, go to films, listen to music and learn the art of good conversation.

Be mannerly say thank you and please and smile but make sure your teeth are white. Visit your dentist and have you teeth scaled and polished and always floss at home.

Take a look at this video and what people say about the style icon Audrey Hepburn. Remember if you want to become a style icon yourself (and why not?) you must develop your own individuality. This is what Audrey did and others who are known for their great sense of style.

Before you look at it though, remember that being stylish also involves being kind and compassionate. No matter how great your clothes they only serve to make a first impression for after that you must work on your personality. Being friendly, warm, caring and kind are a good place to start.

Enjoy this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxw1tLFAty8

Michelle Williams Quotes: A Talented Actress On Loss And Being Herself

Yellow Magpie — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:47:33 +0000

Michelle Williams Quotes Photo By MingleMediaTVNetwork

‘When my daughter asks, ‘What do you do?’, every movie I have a different answer. As she grows, she wants more explanations.’

‘It felt as if things were literally slipping through my fingers. Things were just streaming away from me. I lost my sense of humor. I’m still looking for that.’

‘Grief is like a moving river, so that’s what I mean by it’s always changing. It’s a strange thing to say because I’m at heart an optimistic person, but I would say in some ways it just gets worse. It’s just that the more time that passes, the more you miss someone.’

‘I experienced a lot of loss after his death. I lost my city because of all the paparazzi descending upon us. I actually lost my journal during that time, oddly enough. I literally couldn’t hold on to anything.‘ – on Heath Ledger’s death.

‘I was born with a fierce need for independence.’

‘The possibilities are endless for me — Broadway, TV, music and film,’

‘I feel like I’m watching a movie. I watch the news and the television, and I think it’s going to hit me sometime soon.’

‘I want to be like water. I want to slip through fingers, but hold up a ship.’

‘I have the usual self-loathing and body issues and yet I seem to be naked in a lot of movies. The nudity has to end somewhere. It would be really nice if the pictures did not get posted online. But then maybe that’s a reason to do it: Just get naked, and who cares if it ends up on the internet.’

‘ I am a slave to my computer. I hate myself when I email. Email is like a dopamine hit — you wait for it and then you get it. I gave up my computer during my last movie, Meek’s Cutoff, which is a period piece and I took to letter writing. My girlfriends got some great letters. But when it ended I was back on email. I’m an addict.’

For more Michelle Williams quotes check out Think Exist.

You may also wish to read Yellow Magpie’s Joker’s Quotes: On The Other Side Of Sanity and Heath Ledger Quotes: Thoughts From The Talented Late Actor.

Michelle Williams Quotes: A Talented Actress On Loss And Being Herself

Heath Ledger Quotes: Thoughts From The Talented Late Actor

Yellow Magpie — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:46:49 +0000

Heath Ledger Quotes Photo By Howie Berlin

Here is a selection of the most choice Heath Ledger quotes.

‘I’m not good at future planning. I don’t plan at all. I don’t know what I’m doing tomorrow. I don’t have a day planner and I don’t have a diary. I completely live in the now, not in the past, not in the future.’

‘If you are just safe about the choices you make, you don’t grow.’

‘I’m in control of my life, not anyone in Hollywood. I only do this because I’m having fun. The day I stop having fun, I’ll just walk away. I wasn’t going to have fun doing a teen movie again. I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life. I don’t. I don’t even want to spend the rest of my youth doing this in this industry. There’s so much more I want to discover.’

‘It’s not a disease. It’s not contagious. They should understand that it’s a story of pure love. They don’t have to be a hero. They don’t have to be brave like us. I guess a little bit of maturity is being asked for because society has been immature in the past. That’s about it.’

‘We have a few places up our sleeves, … I would much rather work in Europe than America.’

‘I had a year where I sat around on my butt and declined generous offers to do more teen movies and more of the same characters as the one from 10 Things. I was literally living off Ramen noodles and water just because I was sticking to my guns. It was very hard because they offer you so much money. It’s so easy to say, ‘Ah f**k it, at least I can live and eat’

‘All of this is so insignificant. In the grand scale of things, there have been so many before who have been in this position. I’m just another one. Life is so short. It’s like we’re already gone, really, in retrospect’

‘I love acting. Oh, God, I love it. But all this fame and all this bullshit attention. I’m not supernatural. I’ve done nothing extremely special to deserve the position. It happens every couple of years, and it’s happened to hundreds of people before me.’

‘When anything is blocking my head or there’s worry in my life, I just go sit on Mars or something and look back here at Earth. All you can see is this tiny speck. You don’t see the fear. You don’t see the pain. You don’t see thought. It’s just one solid speck. Then nothing really matters. It just doesn’t.’

‘I sat around in a hotel room in London for about a month, locked myself away, formed a little diary and experimented with voices — it was important to try to find a somewhat iconic voice and laugh. I ended up landing more in the realm of a psychopath — someone with very little to no conscience towards his acts … just an absolute sociopath, a cold-blooded, mass-murdering clown …. [given] free rein [by Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan was] fun, because there are no real boundaries to what The Joker would say or do. Nothing intimidates him, and everything is a big joke.’

Check out Wikiquote for more Heath Ledger quotes.

You may wish to also check out Yellow Magpie’s Michelle Williams Quotes: The Talented Actress On Loss And Being Herself.

Heath Ledger Quotes: Thoughts From The Talented Late Actor

Germaine Greer Quotes: The Outspoken Controversial Feminist

Yellow Magpie — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:43:35 +0000

Germain Greer Quotes Photo By Walnut Whippet

Here are some of the best Germaine Greer quotes:

‘Even crushed against his brother in the Tube the average Englishman pretends desperately that he is alone’

‘I think that testosterone is a rare poison.’

‘Evolution is what it is. The upper classes have always died out; it’s one of the most charming things about them.’

‘Revolution is the festival of the oppressed.’

‘The house wife is an unpaid employee in her husband’s house in return for the security of being a permanent employee.’

‘We in the West do not refrain from childbirth because we are concerned about the population explosion or because we feel we cannot afford children, but because we do not like children.’

‘I have always been principally interested in men for sex. I’ve always thought any sane woman would be a lover of women because loving men is such a mess. I have always wished I’d fall in love with a woman. Damn.’

‘Women have very little idea of how much men hate them.’

‘You’re only young once, but you can be immature forever.’

‘Yet if a woman never lets herself go, how will she ever know how far she might have got? If she never takes off her high-heeled shoes, how will she ever know how far she could walk or how fast she could run?’

‘I didn’t fight to get women out from behind vacuum cleaners to get them onto the board of Hoover.’

‘Developing the muscles of the soul demands no competitive spirit, no killer instinct, although it may erect pain barriers that the spiritual athlete must crash through.’

‘All societies on the verge of death are masculine. A society can survive with only one man; no society will survive a shortage of women.’

You might also like to check out more quotes on Germaine Greer.

Germaine Greer Quotes: The Outspoken Controversial Feminist

Sherlock Holmes A Game Of Shadows Film Review: Light Entertainment

Yellow Magpie — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:08:17 +0000

Director: Guy Ritchie.
Cast: Robert Downey Junior, Jude Law and Jared Harris.

Entertaining and well-acted A Game Of Shadows places Sherlock Holmes on well-defined territory while also taking the iconic figure along untried paths.

The convoluted plot of Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows is hard to follow. A series of apparently unconnected terrorist attacks and murders all lead back to Sherlock Holmes’s arch nemesis, Professor Moriarty. Holmes, spurred on by the death of the woman he loved, together with his trusted companion, Dr. Watson, undergo a circuitous journey as they track down a gypsy that seems to hold an important part in the puzzle.

The strengths of Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows lies in the way it manages to balance drama with a light, comic touch. It suffers when the action sequences and visual effects overpower the storytelling. Guy Ritchie’s overindulgence of slow-motion shots does not help the cause either.

The battle between Moriarty and Holmes is intriguing. Equals physically and intellectually, both are addicted to playing out their strategies as they fight their battle. The two characters seem to lack empathy, although Moriarty has taken this to extremes, and both seem to be narcissistic and egotistical.

‘This stems principally from the fact that even by American standards Downey Jr. has a deep voice…’

The subplots in A Game Of Shadows are intriguing and immeasurably add to the enjoyment of the film. The tension between Dr. Watson and the needy and attention-seeking Holmes produces some marvellous scenes as the doctor becomes a married man.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock Holmes voice has an unnatural English accent which is very difficult to understand. This stems principally from the fact that even by American standards Downey Jr. has a deep voice which does not lend itself well to a London dialect.

Accent aside, Downey Jr. delivers a highly competent performance as Holmes. He deftly handles the balance between being emotionally needy and comically likeable. Despite the superhuman aspects of Holmes, Downey Jr. brings a vulnerability to the role that emphases the human quality of the character.

Jude Law is more than satisfactory as the able sidekick, Dr. Watson. A much more reasonable personality than Holmes, he grounds his college and somewhat curbs Holmes’s self-destructive behaviours.

‘Standing in his way is Holmes who uses every excuse to tempt Watson with hedonistic activities. ‘

Watson is undergoing a transition as his seeks to bridge the gap between youthful irresponsibility and responsible adulthood as he gets married. Standing in his way is Holmes who uses every excuse to tempt Watson with hedonistic activities. Watson recognises Holmes’s true intentions but does not want to lose his dear friend. The resulting conflict between the two powers much of the film.

Jared Harris gives a very good performance as the menacing psychopath, Professor Moriarty. Harris does equally well in displaying Moriarty’s convivial mask with subtle dark undertones and and the full-blown psychotic menace lurking underneath. The battle of wits between Holmes and himself provides the highlight of the film.

‘despite having a fair few minutes on screen she fails to make a lasting impression…’

Noomi Rapace delivers an adequate performance as the gypsy Madam Simza Heron. Nonetheless, despite having a fair few minutes on screen she fails to make a lasting impression and is somewhat overshadowed by Rachel McAdams even though she is only briefly on-screen.

Although only her character endures an early demise, Rachel McAdams’s Irene Adler is one of the stand out members of the film. The fascinating mix of wit, charm, untrustworthiness and vulnerability is a potent cocktail and McAdams’s portrayal is pin sharp in its execution.

Unfortunately, for the viewer she is underutilised and the film suffers as a result.

‘Mycroft is charming, hilarious and a wonderful asset.’

Sherlock Holmse’s brother, Mycroft Holmes, is a most welcome addition to what may become a franchise. Played wonderfully by Stephen Fry, Mycroft is charming, hilarious and a wonderful asset. Many of the film’s best comic moments occur when he graces us with his presence.

As is the trademark of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series, A Game Of Shadows is quite difficult to follow. The plot is very convoluted and it isn’t always clear why an event is occurring. The compact nature of the film exacerbates these characteristics and at times viewers can be left wondering what is happening.

Some of the supernatural elements of the film and implausible nature of many the scenes may prove too much for some Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts. Nevertheless, when you take into account Holmes’s preternatural deductive reasoning perhaps it isn’t stretched too far.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows is a highly enjoyable and quite funny film. Is it a cinematic masterpiece? No, but few films are. What it does is provide light entertainment and good enjoyable escapism for just over an hour and a half.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UPckModN14

Sherlock Holmes A Game Of Shadows Film Review: Light Entertainment

Slow Loris: The Toxic, Misunderstood Mammal

Yellow Magpie — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:23:54 +0000

Slow Loris Photo By David Haring Of The Duke Lemur Center

Slow Lorises are still relatively poorly understood mammals. Even the dawdling characteristic in their namesake has been bestowed through error. Slow Lorises are far from slow when they really want to move.

One of the most distinctive aspects of Slow Lorises, and what has led to their human endearment and captivity, is their very large eyes.

It is their ocular characteristics that has lead to both their fame and their imprisonment.

A Toxic Predator

Slow Lorises are the only known mammal to possess a highly toxic bite, making them far from harmless. They are omnivores and have been observed to have a preference for anything that is small enough to be eaten. Given a choice a Slow Loris will always choose something living to eat.

Slow Lorises are extremely well adapted. Glands in their arms produce an oily secretion that is harmless on its own. However, when this secretion is mixed with the Slow Loris’s saliva a highly dangerous toxin is formed. The toxin is then administered through biting.

There has only been one documented case of a person dying from a Slow Loris bite. This is thought to have resulted from anaphylactic shock. Nevertheless, wounds that are caused by the Slow Loris can take a very long time to heal. Larger predators can smell the highly pungent toxin and most will retreat.

The Slow Myth

Slow Lorises are mistakenly compared to sloths. This comparison is only appropriate during daylight hours. At night these creatures are very different animals.

During the day Slow Lorises move very slowly and precisely. Nonetheless, once the Sun has set they can cover distances of up to eight kilometres or more in a straight line. This does not include the distance spent ascending and descending trees.

Slow Lorises are highly territorial but like many aspects of this mysterious creature not much is known about how they socially interact with one another.

Supremely Adapted

As already mentioned one of the most arresting features of the Slow Loris is its large eyes. The eyes provide stereo vision and also contain a reflective layer called the tapetum lucidum which allows them to see in extremely low levels of light.

To enable them to bite their prey and defend themselves they have sharp canine teeth.

Another interesting adaption concerns the capillary networks in both their hands and feet. These have adapted to be arranged in such a way as to avoid losing feeling in their limbs as they cling onto branches for hours at a time.

Both their hands and feet are capable of a vice-like grip and can hold the loris upside down for long periods of time without any discomfort.

Unlike most mammals, the spine of the Slow Loris is extra flexible which allows it to turn and twist in ways that other animals cannot. This is achieved by having extra vertebrae.

Slow Lorises have two tongues. The second tongue, or sublingua, is found underneath their tongue. It possesses serrated points that keep the teeth clean.

Threats To Slow Lorises

All of the five different species of the Slow Loris are listed as either ‘Endangered’ or ‘Vulnerable’. There are three main reasons as to why this is occurring. One is a loss of habitat while another is through the exotic pet trade. Superstition and ill-founded beliefs have also lead to the animal being in demand for traditional ‘medicine’.

Popular videos of Slow Lorises on YouTube had not helped the animal’s plight either.

Captured Slow Lorises endure horrific conditions. Their teeth are pulled out leaving them open to infection and disease. Over time captive Slow Lorises also lose their natural toxicity which also makes them vulnerable to disease and infection.

Vital Statistics

Slow Loris can be up to 40 centimetres (16 inches) in length.
They can weigh up to 2.1 kilogrammes (4.2 pounds).
Slow Loris can live to be up to twenty years old in captivity. It is not known how long they live in the wild.
They are found throughout South And Southeast Asia.

Slow Loris: The Toxic, Misunderstood Mammal

Kermit The Frog Quotes: The Green One

Yellow Magpie — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:57:59 +0000

Kermit The Frog Quotes Photo By Eva Rinaldi

Here is a selection of the choice Kermit The Frog quotes.

‘Who’s Jim Henson for God sakes? I’m up here working my tail off! I hear his name bandied about a lot, but I don’t know him. I don’t know who Henson is. He seems to have his hand in a lot of things around here, but I don’t particularly know what that means.’

‘Miss Piggy and I have a professional acting relationship. I act like a professional, and she acts like we’re having a relationship.’

‘Miss Piggy really hasn’t mellowed much. Piggy is a prima donna. And her reputation proceeds her, I’m afraid, just like her snout.’

‘It’s not easy being green.’

‘Someday we’ll find it, that rainbow connection, the lovers the dreamers and me.’

‘I’d have to say one of the memorable ones was probably the first guest we had, which was Juliet Prowse: a beautiful lady and talented performer, … She probably took a big chance coming on with a lot of farm animals.’

‘I’ve known Piggy for a number of years — a number of decades, really, though she might not appreciate that candor. But yes, there is a spark for certain, and it is still sparking. Passion, I would say. It’s passion to either extreme.’

‘Keep believing, keep pretending; we’ve done just what we’ve set out to do, thanks to the lovers, the dreamers, and you!’

‘I hope you appreciate that I’m doing all my own stunts.’

‘Me? In love with a pig? Wait ’til I tell the guys in marketing.

Visit The Internet Movie Database for more Kermit The Frog quotes.

You may also wish to take a look at Yellow Magpie’s Miss Piggy Quotes: Porky Wisdom, karl-pilkington-quotes/ and Ellen DeGeneres Quotes: Ellen On Things.

Kermit The Frog Quotes: The Green One

Planet Neptune: The Mysterious Azure-Blue

Yellow Magpie — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:16:34 +0000

Planet Neptune

An Azure-Blue world, planet Neptune is the fourth largest planet in the Solar System. It is also the farthest away from our Sun. Yet, this freezing world contains many oddities that remain for now puzzlingly unexplained.

Planet Neptune orbits our Sun from a distance of 30.1 astronomical units. Highlighting just how vast these distances are, it takes Neptune just under 165 Earth-years to complete one orbit. At over 49,500 kilometres (30,900 miles) in width, it takes just over 16 hours for the planet to complete one day.

Planet Neptune is an an icy giant with unbelievably cold temperatures. The average temperature on the surface of Neptune is minus 201 degrees Celsius (minus 330 degrees Fahrenheit).

Planet Neptune’s Interior

Planet Neptune’s internal structure is very similar to Uranus. It is differentiated into four layers. The outermost is the upper atmosphere which consists of clouds, the next layer in is the atmosphere which is composed of helium, hydrogen and methane, all in gaseous form.

The second innermost layer is the mantle which consists of water, ammonia and methane ices. The innermost layer is the core which is thought to be comprised of silicates and nickel-iron.

At its outermost layers the atmosphere of planet Neptune is comprised of 19 per cent helium and up to 80 per cent hydrogen with traces of methane also being present.

Planet Neptune’s atmosphere has many clouds at differing altitudes and Voyager 2 has captured some remarkable images.

Strange Heating

One of the most startling aspects of planet Neptune’s atmosphere is the heat of its thermosphere. Measuring 426 degrees Celsius (800 degrees Fahrenheit), it is a far cry from the Earth’s which can reach 2,500 degrees Celsius (4,500 degrees Fahrenheit) but is highly unusual for a planet so far from the Sun.

Scientists maintain that either gravitational waves emanating from the planet’s interior or an atmospheric interaction in the magnetic field must be responsible for the abnormal heating.

Fragile Ring System

In 1968, a team of scientists discovered that planet Neptune had a planetary ring system. It was not until Voyager 2′s fly-by in 1989 that a proper image of the rings was taken.

Recent evidence by observatories on Earth has shown that these rings are much more unstable than those found in other planets. It is now believed that some come and go over short periods of time, as little as a century in some cases.

Chaotic Climate

The climate of planet Neptune is very different from its sister planet, Uranus. Huge storm systems hurl winds at near supersonic speeds. Winds at the equatorial regions speed around the planet at 400 metres per second. While they only travel at 250 metres per second in the polar regions.

One of planet Neptune’s most famous features is The Great Dark Spot. Sometimes measuring roughly the size of the Earth, The Great Dark Spot is a name given to enormous anticyclonic storms.These storms are relatively short-lived in comparison to the long term feature that is Jupiter’s Great Red Spot.

The Great Dark Spot holds the record for the fastest winds found in the Solar System which were recorded at 2,400 kilometres (1,500 miles) per hour.

Unknown Heat Source

Planet Neptune is internally heated by an as of yet unknown mechanism. Despite being the farthest planet away from the Sun in the Solar System, it produces the fastest winds and radiates out more than two and a half times the energy that it receives.

Several ideas have been put forward to explain this heating phenomenon with gravity waves and radioactive decay from deep within the planet’s core heating planet Neptune being proposed.

Migratory Formation

It is thought that planet Neptune formed out of a gas disc that was left over after the formation of the Sun.

Originally much closer to the Sun, Neptune and the other giant planets are thought to have migrated to where they currently reside.

Neptune’s Moons

Planet Neptune has 13 known moons including one major moon, Triton. Yellow Magpie will soon be taking a closer look at Triton.

Voyager And Beyond

The last time a spacecraft visited planet Neptune was through Voyager 2 in 1989. So far there are no definite plans for a spacecraft to visit the planet in the immediate future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWv5eNzK28E

Highly Recommended Reading

Check out Yellow Magpie’s Uranus: The Coldest Ice Giant for more insight into the largest planet in the Solar System.

You may also wish to take a gander at The Solar System And Beyond: A Guide To The Cosmos.

Cosmos is a highly recommended book. It contains large, full-page pictures of the asteroids and writing on the subject by the highly competent author, Giles Sparrow.

Amazon.co.uk

For people living in Ireland or the United Kingdom, you can access: Cosmos from here.

Amazon.ca

For those who live in Canada, you can obtain: Cosmos here.

Amazon.de

For Germany: Cosmos.

Amazon.fr

For France: Cosmos.

Planet Neptune: The Mysterious Azure-Blue

Angelina Jolie Quotes: The Most Famous Face In The World

Yellow Magpie — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 14:39:36 +0000

Angelina Jolie Quotes Photo By Georges Biard

Here are some of the choice Angelina Jolie quotes.

‘All women do have a different sense of sexuality, or sense of fun, or sense of like what’s sexy or cool or tough.’

‘Honestly, I like everything, boyish girls, girlish boys, the heavy and the skinny.’

‘I didn’t really want to live, so anything that was an investment in time made me angry… but also I just felt sad. When the hopelessness is hurting you, it’s the fixtures and fittings that finish you off.’

‘I don’t believe in guilt, I believe in living on impulse as long as you never intentionally hurt another person, and don’t judge people in your life. I think you should live completely free.’

‘I don’t see myself as beautiful, because I can see a lot of flaws. People have really odd opinions. They tell me I’m skinny, as if that’s supposed to make me happy.’

‘I like to hide behind the characters I play. Despite the public perception, I am a very private person who has a hard time with the fame thing.’

‘I love to put on lotion. Sometimes I’ll watch TV and go into a lotion trance for an hour. I try to find brands that don’t taste bad in case anyone wants to taste me.’

‘I think all women go through periods where we hate this about ourselves, we don’t like that. It’s great to get to a place where you dismiss anything you’re worried about. I find flaws attractive. I find scars attractive.’

‘I’d like to believe that the people that have supported me in my work or identified with me in films, the people that feel they know me, they do and they don’t have misconceptions – they understand. I believe that.’

‘I’m happy being myself, which I’ve never been before. I always hid in other people, or tried to find myself through the characters, or live out their lives, but I didn’t have those things in mine.’

Check out Brainy Quote for more great Angelina Jolie quotes.

You may also wish to take a gander at Ellen DeGeneres Quotes: Ellen On Things, Tom Cruise Quotes: The Stalwart Of Hollywood and Anna Wintour: Quotes About Vogue’s Controversial Editor.

Angelina Jolie Quotes: The Most Famous Face In The World