Retro A to Z Challenge: Y – Yes 1987 (plus May Movie Preview and Lord of the Clones!)

Yes – Big Generator – 1987

Their follow up to the hugely popular 90125, this album is every bit as brilliant. It had so many standout tracks – Love Will Find a Way, Shoot High Aim Low, Rhythm of Love. Like its predecessor, this album owed much of its success to the influence of guitarist Trevor Rabin.

1987 fun facts –
*Average income - $24,350.00.
*Private 1st Class Army income - $9.385.20.
*Average cost of new car - $10,305.
*Cost of gas - .89 cents
*The US population was estimated at 244.6 Million
*The World's Population reached approximately five billion
*A supernova was observed, the first "naked-eye" supernova since 1604
*Fox Broadcasting Company made its prime-time TV debut
*Work on the Channel Tunnel joining UK and France began
*1987 was shortened by 1 second to adjust to the Gregorian calender
*Disposable Contact Lenses became available for commercial distribution
*Kitty litter was invented in the USA
*The Simpsons debuted on television

Movies released –
The Princess Bride
Evil Dead II
Lethal Weapon
The Untouchables
Predator
Spaceballs
Empire of the Sun

Music released – 
Rush – Hold Your Fire
Dokken – Back for the Attack
U2 – The Joshua Tree

Games released –
The Legend of Zelda
Metal Gear
Street Fighter

And why is 1987 special?
It’s the year Julie Kemp got married and Medeia Sharif was ten years old!

Julie is a writer from Chicago. She blogs about her travels, life, and her sons who have left the nest. Her smile and joy come through in every word she writes and she’s just a delight. Julie blogs at Empty Nest Insider.

Medeia is an author and an avid book reader. She features authors and books every week on her blog, giving back at every opportunity. She’s a beautiful young lady with a heart of gold. Find Medeia HERE

Cover Reveal!

Bella’s Point

By Elizabeth Seckman
 
Release date – June 2014

May Movie Preview Part One

Here is part one of the upcoming theatrical releases for May! (Part two tomorrow.) As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

2 –

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 
Peter Parker runs the gauntlet as the mysterious company Oscorp sends up a slew of supervillains against him, impacting on his life.
Director: Marc Webb
Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Paul Giamatti
Really liked the first one – hope he’s still amazing.

16 –

Godzilla 
The world's most famous monster is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.
 Director: Gareth Edwards
Stars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe
 Are you kidding?? It’s freaking GODZILLA!!!!!

Who will be Lord of the Clones?

Visit Father Dragon Al and cast your vote today!!

I need your help! The dwarves have conspired against me to fix the contest. Judge Jeff has been bribed. I need a good score.

If you can't do it for me, do it for Mini-Alex...

Fan of Yes? Following Julie and Medeia? Excited about Elizabeth’s upcoming book? Either May movie strike your fancy? Will you vote for me? (I can send Hot Tamales.) And what do you remember best about 1987…?

One more day! Who will be the last featured blogger...?

Retro A to Z Challenge: U – Underworld 2003 (plus updates on Godzilla, Jurassic World, and Bioshock Movies)

Underworld – 2003

Released in January, usually the dumping ground for movies, this film was a complete surprise. Following a war between vampires and werewolves, it featured a sexy, leather-clad Kate Beckinsale. (I still want that outfit for my wife. She still says no.) Three sequels have followed (with another in the making), but nothing beats the fun and adventurous original.

2003 fun facts –
*Cost of a new house - $246,300.
*Cost of gas - $1.83
*The Do Not Call Registry was implemented
*The Concorde made its last commercial flight
*Apple launched iTunes, selling ten million songs in the first four months
*The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their first Super Bowl

Movies released –
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions
X2
Finding Nemo
School of Rock
The Italian Job
Elf

Music released –
Rush in Rio (live)
Anthrax – We’ve Come For You All
OSI – The Office of Strategic Influence

Games released –
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

And why is 2003 special?
Because 2003-2004 Angela Brown’s life was wonderful and she was blessed with her daughter, the Chipmunk!

Angela is an author and has a daughter she fondly refers to as the Chipmunk. She helps with several other blogs and publishes books under a second name, Rayven Godchild. Angela is just a delight, and so thoughtful and caring. Find her blog HERE

Three New Books!

Pat Hatt just released three more Tarsier Man books.
Not one, not two – three!
Get the full scoop on all of them at his site.
Congratulations, Pat!

Movie News

The game Bioshock’s road to the big screen seemed doomed. However, JoBlo reported yesterday:
Kotaku has noticed that about a month ago, Sony registered multiple domain names with the words "Bioshock" and "movie" in the URL. While this is far from a confirmation that the movie is back in development, it is definitely intriguing. Unlike specific domain names with subtitles, this clearly has the word "movie" which means we cannot misconstrue it as another video game or other type of project.

Jurassic World News – there may be sequels!
From Blastr:
Director Colin Trevorrow, who takes over the franchise with the upcoming Jurassic World, told the print edition of Empire they’re already eyeing plans for more sequels to this semi-reboot of the franchise.

And in Godzilla News –
From The Epoch Times, a few words from director Gareth Edwards about the time and care that went into designing Godzilla:
He said creating Godzilla–one that appears fresh and original–took about a year. “Forget the giant monsters,” he told them. “If this really happened, it would be a life-changing experience. You have to take it seriously.”
“I grew up watching Spielberg movies,” he said, referring to director Steven Spielberg. “What they did so well — as well as having epic, fantastic spectacle — they made the characters feel real and human. We were trying to do the same thing here.”

Fan of Underworld? Following the talented Angela Brown? Picking up Pat’s books? Think we’ll ever see a Bioshock movie? Do you want more Jurassic World films? As excited as I am for Godzilla next month? And what do you remember best about 2003…?

I’m also at the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website today!

Epic 2000 Follower Giveaway! Plus Genre News, 18 Truths, and Ninja News

Genre News

Blastr posted photos of a wall in London covered with Alien graffiti.

The cast of Godzilla recently talked about the film. It’s been confirmed that part of the 2014 Godzilla movie will take place in 1954, the same year the very first Godzilla movie was released. You can read more at KpopStarz.

And on JoBlo, they confirmed that Amazon Studios will be making a Barbarella television series.

18 Truths

In celebration of her upcoming release, 18 Truths, Jamie Ayres is hosting a special blogfest this week and it includes prizes:
Players tell two truths and one lie. The object of the game is to hop around the blogs and determine which statement that each blogger posted is the false one. Anyone who posts for the Can You Handle The TRUTH? blogfest between January 22nd-28th can enter to win a number of prizes donated by 18 terrific people.

My two truths and one lie:
1 – I saw Rush five times on one tour alone.
2 – I partied with the band Night Ranger at a bar.
3 – I got to jam with Rik Emmett of Triumph once.

Which is the truth and which is the lie? Answer on Monday.

Ninja News

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Online Marketing Symposium on Monday. There were some awesome ideas. All links lead directly to the symposium posts, so check them out. Special thanks to my fellow co-hosts, Arlee Bird, Yolanda Renee, and Jeremy Hawkins.

Juliana Haygert’s latest is out - Cup of Life. This novella takes place between book 2 and book 3 of The Everlast Trilogy. Congratulations, Juliana!

Cherie Reich revealed the cover for her upcoming novel, Reborn, Book One of The Fate Challenges.

To save a kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.

Is that not a stunning cover? Congratulations, Cherie.






 

C. Lee McKenzie is participating in a contest and if she wins, she’ll sell one hundred copies of Alligators Overhead. She just needs a few more votes at Linked In

Tara at Feel of Something New just released a new book - Hands-on Therapy. Congratulations, Tara!

The Epic 2000 Followers Giveaway!! 

This blog is nearing 2000 GFC followers and to celebrate, I’m hosting a giveaway!

Here’s the rules: 

Must be a GFC follower. (If you’re following in another manner, time to click that GFC button!)
Open to everyone.
Open until the magic number 2000 is hit and holds for one day.

To enter:

Leave a comment. Current followers get five entries, followers after 1962 get ten entries, and follower number 2000 gets twenty entries. (One comment per person.)

Tweet about it – five entries.(@alexjcavanaugh)

Blog about it – ten entries. (Leave a link here. Bonus five entries for creativity!)

Prizes:

First place – Signed copy of one book, $10 iTunes card, and one book donated to the library (middle school, high school, public) of your choice.

Grand prize – Signed copy of all three books, $10 iTunes card, t-shirt of your choice from Neat-O-Rama, designed by Retro Jeremy Hawkins, and three books donated to the library of your choice.

There you have it! Bribing allowed – Hot Tamales always welcome.

Think the Graffiti is cool? Can you guess the lie? Learn a lot from the symposium? And are you feeling lucky…?