TFATD: An Interview with Lillian Brummet

Hello everyone! The Falcon and the Dove is back, well at least Falcon is! I (Dove, aka Areya) am away at college (but on break at the moment). So we both now present Falcon's (Steph's) interview with Lillian Brummet, just in time for the holidays!

As for our regular show, it looks like Falcon will take over and post an article on the blog when she can. We won't be able to record together because I will be more than 700 miles away from her most of the time. Therefore, we have arranged this compromise. Falcon is an excellent writer, and she hopes to provide the same valuable information that we both brought you through the podcast! But for now, enjoy her interview with the charming and wonderful Lillian Brummet!

This show, Stephanie (Falcon) speaks with Lillian Brummet, co-author with her husband Dave of 'Purple Snowflake Marketing - How to Make Your Book Stand Out in a Crowd', 'Trash Talk - An Inspirational Guide to Saving Time & Money through Better Waste & Resource Management', and 'Towards Understanding - A Collection of 120 Poems on Society, the Environment & Overcoming Trauma'. They disuss writing, drumming, music, gardening, the environment, and much more! Enjoy!

- Check out The Many Hats of Dave and Lillian Brummet, their website!

- Check out Dave and Lillian's radio show, Conscious Discussions on BlogTalkRadio!

- Also, check out Lillian Brummet's MySpace Profile!

My Review of SpringHouse Greenhouse

Originally submitted at All Greenhouses

The SpringHouse is perfect for improving climatic conditions in all geographic locations. The greenhouse environment makes it easier to keep your plants green. Now your plants can bloom earlier with a head start on the Spring and Summer months and you can garden year-round! The SpringHouse design i...

SpringHouse Greenhouse

Great Greenhouse

By Steph from Pittsburgh, PA on 11/3/2007

 

5out of 5

Pros: Weather Resistant, Keeps Animals In/Out, Attractive Design

Cons: Difficult to Set-Up

Best Uses: Protect Garden, Storage

Describe Yourself: Gardening Addict

The greenhouse is sturdy, and portable. It has its own carrying bag! The UV plastic is excellent grade, so you do need more than one person to set it up. The anchors are great, and I love the doors on each side. I put in my solar light, and I was set. Keeps animals out, plants secure.

(legalese)

TFATD 31: TIFF, Tolkien, and Recalls

Episode 31 of The Falcon and the Dove: TIFF, Tolkien, and Recalls! This show, we talk about the new films at the Toronto International Film Festival, climate change, never-ending recalls, a possible iCar, anniversaries, and more! Enjoy!

- Overview
- The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) schedule was released! There are a wide variety of films this year, with some great picks from Warner Independent!
- Bo Diddley is in stable condition after a heart attack.
- Among the nauseating amount of recalls this past month, spinach has been recalled after salmonella was found.
- Will climate change flood our homes? There is a way to find out online!
- New residential solar technology goes for good looks and low prices!
- Apple Inc. and Volkswagon discuss a deal for a possible iCar!
- Senator Larry Craig, Republican from Idaho has resigned after pressure to leave.
- August 31st was the 10-year anniversary of Princess Diana's death. MSNBC re-airs Diana's funeral, and her sons, Princes William and Harry, attend a memorial.
- September 3rd is the 34-year anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien's passing. We discuss the Lord of the Rings author's life, including little-known details about him.
- The Quote of the Week. Books and ideas.

Download Episode 31 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 5 minutes; Size: 59.8 MB)

TFATD 30: Ice, Windmills, and Summer Reading

Episode 30 of The Falcon and the Dove: Ice, Windmills, and Summer Reading! This week, arctic sea ice melting reaches a record low, controversy surrounds a windfarm due to 'environmental concerns', a teen hacks into the new iPhone, summer books, and much more! Enjoy!

- Overview
- Special thanks to Harry and the Potters and Draco and the Malfoys - wizard rock bands who just finished a 70 city U.S. Tour, with their final show in Pittsburgh. Great music about literacy, unconditional love, and standing up for what you believe. You guys really rock!
- Artic Sea ice has reached a recond melt in July and will pass the hottest year on record with the greatest melt in 2005. At this rate, by September (the time considered to be the greatest time for melting), there may be as much as 800,000 square miles of additional melt since 2005.
- IJGT Junior Golf Organization. International Junior Golf Tour: Mike Trino is the membership contact. www.ijgt.com
- Shaffer Mountain windmill hearing set for Aug. 28 - A windfarm with 30 windmills is being constructed on Shaffer Mountain in Somerset County, PA, but not everyone agrees with the project, stating possible environmental and hunting problems. There will be a public hearing on the initiative on Sept. 28 at 6pm at Shade High School, McGregor Ave. Cairnbrook, PA.
- Two takes on some good summer reading: Tony Norman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette lists some of his favorites in non-fiction, and J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, is interviewed by "O" (Oprah) Magazine and mentions some of her inspirations. Read the J.K. Rowling interview!
- Teen hacks iPhone before college
- Ebert tells ABC/Disney to not use the 'Thumbs Up' or 'Thumbs Down' until a new contract is in place with his movie review show. Although he has been in poor health, the show has had guest reviewers. The two new shows recently recorded will not be allowed to use the "Thumbs" until a new contract is signed.
- The Quote of the Week. Good books.
- And more!

Download Episode 30 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 15 minutes; Size: 68.6 MB)

TFATD 29: Hurricanes, Preschools, and Lemonade

Episode 29 of The Falcon and the Dove: Hurricanes, Preschools, and Lemonade! It's finally here! This week, we explain the delays and promptly catch up on the many stories of the past few weeks! We discuss, Hurricane Dean, Michael Vick's plea, miracle and inspirational stories, keeping your pets cool during travel, bad drivers and much more! Enjoy!

- Overview
- The federal government cut the prime rate last Friday...just what Jim Cramer asked Ben Bernanke to do!
- Hurricane Dean hits the southern islands, killing at least 9. What to do if you're in the path of a hurricane.
- Rumor: J.K. Rowling may be writing a Scottish crime novel. UPDATE: This ended up being a joke made by the author's neighbor that got out of hand. The rumor appears to be false, although Rowling has stated that she intends to continue writing novels.
- Football player Michael Vick pleads guilty to dog-fighting. A dog chew toy has been made in his...uh, honor.
- The Nine Traffic Circles of Hell. One reporter's take on bad drivers.
- Teen survives a 6-story fall with only scrapes. We discuss window saftely measures.
- How to travel the RIGHT way with your pet!
- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, an organization established by a young girl with rare children's cancer, has raised over $12 million for cancer research! You too can hold your own lemonade stand to raise money for this charity! (Note: the web address we give in the show is incorrect. This is the correct URL: www.alexslemonade.org)
- Preschool has become very expensive, to over $10,000 a year! We discuss alternatives like free Parent Co-ops, nannies, homeschooling, and more, including reading aloud to your child. The best preschool is great parenting.
- The Quote of the Week. From Jim Cramer's Rant.
- And more!

*We also attended a special concert this past weekend featuring Harry Potter 'Wizard Rock' bands, Harry and the Potters, and Draco and the Malfoys. These two groups are probably the most popular of over 100 Wizard Rock bands out there, spanning genres and stories other than Harry Potter as well.

This concert was held at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Oakland, and was attended by over 400 people. What is so awesome about Wizard Rock is not just vast and diverse community it attracts and the books that it's based on, but the fact that it gets so many people, including kids and teens, into reading. Carnegie Library's summer reading program attracted hundreds, and over 6,000 books were checked out by them!!! Great job everyone! Prizes were also given out at this special event. The Falcon and the Dove was there, and we recorded most of the concert. We'll post some sound clips from that concert soon! Congrats to Harry and the Potters, Draco and the Malfoys, and the hundreds of people who read this summer and made this event so special. It is people like you who make the world rock!!!*

Download Episode 29 Here! (Length: 1 hour; Size: 55.6 MB)

Sorry, more delays...

Hi guys! I apologize for the lack of news this week. Unfortunately, we're afraid Episode 29 of The Falcon and the Dove will be delayed until at least Monday. We're just as disappointed as you all probably are. With the big storms last week coupled with our already saturated schedule, we just have not been able to find, nor make the time.

I'm also heading to college in two weeks, which has added tremendously to our to-do list. We highly respect all of our listeners, and are dedicated to bringing you valuable information and as well as entertainment. Hopefully, once things settle down with all of the college plans, there will not be so many delays, which annoy us to no end. We hope that you will bear with us. Once again, our sincerest apologies, and we invite you to please listen to and enjoy the previous episodes of our podcast in the meantime.

We hope you all enjoy the rest of your summer!

Episode 29 will be released next week

Hello folks! Due to ridiculously intense storms that crossed our area this week, Episode 29 of The Falcon and the Dove will not be released this week. Don't worry, it's nothing serious! Tune in next Sunday for Episode 29!

If you are new to The Falcon and the Dove podcast, check out our previous episodes in the meantime! We appreciate all of your patience, and we apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you!!!

TFATD 28: Bridges, Cramer, and Climate Changing Destinations

Episode 28 of The Falcon and the Dove: Bridges, Cramer, and Climate Changing Destinations! This week, we focus on destinations around the globe to be possibly permanently changed by global warming, we discuss the bridge tragedy in Minnesota, and more! Enjoy!

- Overview
- The West 35 bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota collapsed on August 1st, killing at least 5 people, and injuring over 100 others. The search is now on for more people trapped in the rubble and fallen cars.
- We discuss how the bridge may have collapsed, and how safe our own bridges may or may not be.
- We provide a list of 16 travel destinations around the world that are now in danger due to climate change, global warming, and El Niño. Some destinations may surprise you. Favorites like the Everglades in Florida, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Venice, Italy, Tokyo, Japan, Manhattan, New York, and London, England may all be changed forever, and sooner than we think.
- CNBC's colorful money analyst, Jim Cramer just about loses his mind about the federal government's inaction to bank mortgage failure. We absolutely love the people who are loud-mouths AND RIGHT!!
- We hope you all enjoyed this past July as much as we did! We give a brief preview of what's next in the coming weeks.
- The Quote of the Week. Fighting to save the environment.

Download Episode 28 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 22 minutes; Size: 75.5 MB)

TFATD 27: True Heros, MBAs, and 72 Million Books!

Episode 27 of The Falcon and the Dove: True Heros, MBAs, and 72 Million Books! This week, we cover the past hectic week's news with stories about how to attract more females to MBAs, how animals contribute to the quality of our lives, vegetarian diets, how many Harry Potter books can possibly be sold, and so much more! Enjoy!

- Overview
- Finding ways to boost female MBA students...could universities be more flexible with their schedules for women managing families while still receiving a MBA?
- Want to be healthy, live longer, AND save money? Go vegetarian! It's actually cheaper than you think!
- Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons football team could face 6 years in prison as well as fines for dog fighting. We discuss how animals affect our lives, and why they should be treated with the same respect as humans.
- Jake, the hero Labrador retriever, responsible for saving countless lives on 9/11, in the Katrina aftermath, and in other tragedies, has died at the age of 12. We thank and honor him and all the other rescue dogs in the world for their services.
- 19-year old man accused of robbing a bank to pay for his collge tuition. It really has gotten that bad...but we supply alternative ways to help pay for college. One is FastWeb.Com. You can do it!
- Severe rain has been flooding Britain. Their emergency response was incredibly fast, and to those in the United States, even enviable! Our hearts go out to those in the affected areas.
- Is climate change responsible for the floods in Britain? We think so, and give a set of scenarios for action against the climate crisis and inaction.
- Comic Con is going on this passed week! Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto are reprising the character of Spock together in Star Trek XI.
- Johnny Depp will play Barnabas Collins in a movie version of 'Dark Shadows'. Warner Brothers bought the rights from ABC-TV.
- Previews of 'Batman: The Dark Knight' (with Heath Ledger as the Joker) were shown, as well as 'Ironman'. Check out www.G4TV.com for more information from Comic Con 2007!
- A shattering 72 million copies of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' were sold worldwide in the first 4 days, making it the fastest-selling book in history! 15 million copies were sold worldwide in the first 24 hours! Dove gives her brief, SPOILER-FREE review of the book.
- The Quote of the Week. Who the hottest seats in you-know-where are reserved for.

Download Episode 27 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 12 minutes; Size: 65.8 MB)

The Final Countdown - Harry Potter 7 Midnight Show - Part 2!

The Final Countdown - Harry Potter 7 Midnight Show - Part 2. The wait is finally over!!! Ten years since the first book in the Harry Potter series was published, the seventh and final installment in the epic saga was released July 21st, 2007 at 12:01 am to millions of eager fans around the world. We at The Falcon and the Dove teamed up with Borders to hold a LIVE PODCAST at our local Eastside Borders bookstore in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on the night of the 20th, in anticipation of the final volume, and to connect with fans of all ages who know and love this wonderful series. This show is Part Two of our entire LIVE PODCAST! Enjoy the show, and stay tuned for many photos from this very special event!

- The audience gives their final thoughts on The Great Snape Debate.
- We hold a nice large costume contest! Wait until you hear who wins!
- We have more Duels and trivia contests up until 15 minutes prior to the Witching Hour that is midnight!
- Photos will be posted from this event soon!

Download the Harry Potter 7 Midnight - Part 2 Here! (Length: 47 minutes; Size: 43.1MB)

The Final Countdown - Harry Potter 7 Midnight Show - Part 1!

The Final Countdown - Harry Potter 7 Midnight Show - Part 1. The wait is finally over!!! Ten years since the first book in the Harry Potter series was published, the seventh and final installment in the epic saga was released July 21st, 2007 at 12:01 am to millions of eager fans around the world. We at The Falcon and the Dove teamed up with Borders to hold a LIVE PODCAST at our local Eastside Borders bookstore in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on the night of the 20th, in anticipation of the final volume, and to connect with fans of all ages who know and love this wonderful series. This show is Part One of our entire LIVE PODCAST; Part Two is coming soon! Enjoy the show, and stay tuned for many photos from this very special event!

- We welcome our 600+ guests, and show a short video of footage from the Waterstones Bookstore in London, where the line of fans went all around the block two days before the book release! The video is set to Europe's 'The Final Countdown'. The video also shows the books themselves being unloaded from trucks.
- We kick the show off with answering the BIG questions left to be answered!
- The audience gets into the game when we hold our Dueling Club, where we pick a catagory, and two people go back and forth, naming things in that catagory until there are no more.
- Our guests' as well as our theories about the final book are sprinkled throughout the entire show!
- We then hold a trivia contest!
- Our friends at Borders hold The Great Snape Debate. The entire room is split!!!
- Check out Part Two of our Harry Potter 7 Midnight Show to hear the rest of The Great Snape Debate!

Download the Harry Potter 7 Midnight Show - Part 1 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 39 minutes; Size: 90.6MB)

TFATD 26: Loan Tips, 'Deathly Hallows', and IBC

Episode 26 of The Falcon and the Dove: Loan Tips, 'Deathly Hallows', and IBC. In this middle-of-the-week show, we go back to our usual format following all of the LIVE PODCASTS we've been holding. In this episode, we give college graduates loan tips that can save them thousands of dollars, Falcon gives her July gardening advice, we offer our 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' book predictions just 3 days before the book comes out, and we inform you all about a rare but dangerous type of breast cancer. To learn more, have a listen to this week's show! Enjoy!

- Overview
- Seven loan tips for new college grads! How student loans got so sleazy.
- Your July Gardening Checklist!
- Spike Lee and his newest film project!
- 'Order of the Phoenix' soaring at the box office! Harry Potter 5 is #1 worldwide!
- Prior to our midnight LIVE PODCAST this weekend at our local Borders, we give our Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows predictions! We try to answer the BIG questions! This coming week, we'll see if we're right! SERIES SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOKS OR SEEN THE FILMS!!!

- We investigate ADHD symptoms in adults.

- We play a video on a rare but deadly form of breast cancer, Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). What all women (and even men) should know!

- The Quote of the Week. Art and music in your life.

Download Episode 26 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 22 minutes; Size: 75.8MB)

TFATD 25: Climate Change Talk with The Sierra Club!

Episode 25 of The Falcon and the Dove: Climate Change Talk with The Sierra Club! In a series of LIVE PODCASTS this July, this one is from a camping trip we went on with the conservation group, The Sierra Club, to bring great discussion and ideas about the planet's climate together in an effort to raise awareness about the climate crisis. We had a wonderful time, and we hope you all spread the word and participate in protecting the Earth! Enjoy!

- Outreach Coordinator, Ed Perry from the National Wildlife Federation starts the discussion, giving a general explanation of the signs of global warming, as well as a few developments going on to help stop the climate crisis.

- The discussion then opens up to people around the fire, who offer their thoughts and ideas on the issue, as well as our very own Steph and Areya!

- We mingle with the others following the discussion.

Download Episode 25 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 5 minutes; Size: 59.3MB)

TFATD Update: Delays, and Upcoming Shows!

THE FALCON AND THE DOVE UPDATE!!!

Due to ridiculously hectic events going on, I am afraid that Episode 25 of our podcast, The Falcon and the Dove, will be delayed. It is recorded; just not edited and posted yet. As long as nothing too crazy happens tomorrow, the show should be up and ready for your eager ears sometime tomorrow (July 16th).

This will be yet ANOTHER live podcast that was recorded during a camping outing with The Sierra Club, which my mother and I had the pleasure of attending. The entire show will be the round table discussion that commenced on the evening of July 14th. It was an incredible discussion on global warming and climate change, where many ideas and perspectives came together in an effort to make our world better and healthier.

We will be releasing another show in the middle of this week in our regular format so that we can get to all of the stories that have been piling up since we started these live podcasts, so stay tuned for that.

Also, STAY TUNED for, you guessed it, ANOTHER LIVE PODCAST this coming weekend, featuring a HUGE party at our local Borders Bookstore for the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (the Grand Hallows Ball), in an effort to spread reading, literacy, unity, and environmental awareness (all 12 million copies of the U.S. edition of the seventh Harry Potter book are being printed on at least 30% post-consumer waste paper). Enjoy!

Harry Potter 5 IMAX 3D Midnight Show!

In this 'mini podcast', we attend an IMAX 3D midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!!! This podcast format is different from our usual format. It is more like the Live Earth special that we had in Episode 24. You will still get Episode 25 this weekend as usual; this is just a 'bonus' podcast that we decided to do since it was such a special event.

- Overview
- We get our tickets and head into the sold-out IMAX theater. There were 2,000 people at this theater seeing 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' alone!!!
- We find prime seats, and start talking to some nearby fans, two guys, one who had read the books, the other who had only seen the films. We apologize if you cannot hear their voices very well.
- The film begins, so the recorder is turned off, but you hear some of the music from the credits when we turn it back on.
- We interview a group of fans about how they liked the film. The general response is positive!
- We, the Falcon and the Dove, discuss the film on the way home at 2:30 in the morning, while looking for a place to eat that is open.
- We also discuss how this film compares to its predecessors, as well as other franchises, such as 'Empire Strikes Back'.
- We call some reviewers out on their 'bad' reviews of the film, and how this film may be more appreciated later on. We express our hope that this film gets major awards attention!
- We talk about how rich this film is, right down to the technical aspects of it, such as the cinematography, editing, music, and more. 'All of the corners were filled.'
- The Quote of the Week. Luna: Things that you have lost have a way of coming back to you.
- Stay tuned for our LIVE PODCAST at the Grand Hallows Ball for the midnight book release of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' on the night of July 20th!

Download our Harry Potter 5 IMAX 3D Midnight Show Here! (Length: 1 hour, 17 minutes; Size: 71.1 MB)

TFATD 24: Live Earth and GreenFest 7-7-07!

Episode 24 of The Falcon and the Dove: Live Earth and GreenFest 7-7-07! It's our Live Earth show! On 7/7/07, we spent our day at the Carnegie Science Center for GreenFest 2007! This is why the podcast is one day late this week; we wanted to do a special Live Earth show! We interviewed the many green companies who were in attendance about all of the exciting things that each is doing to help stop the climate crisis! Enjoy!

- Overview
- 'Green Illusionist', Dan Kuniak, conducted a 'green' magic show, teaching the eager audience about how to recycle and contribute to the betterment of our environment. www.DankKuniak.com
- We interview a representative of the Robert A. Macosky Center at Slippery Rock University at his solar panel booth!
- We talk to a representative from Toyota who discusses three Hybrid cars, the Prius, the Camry, and the Highlander (a Hybrid SUV!).
- We discuss educational river tours with 3 people from RiverQuest! We go on one of these tours later in the day along the Allegheny River! It was awesome! Call RiverQuest at (412)-231-2712.
- We hear from the people of PPG and their current green projects, from silica tires, to 'green' paint, to auto glass that reduces the temperature in your car!
- We talk with United States Steel and what they are doing with regards to recycling steel. 100% of their steel gets recycled!!!
- The Carnegie Science Center is holding their annual SciTech Spectacular, as well as the Creating Awareness and Understanding of our Surrounding Environment (C.A.U.S.E.) Challenge (the environmental film festival that our very own Areya Simmons won 2 awards from!)!
- Dove stops briefly to check out the Buhl Digital Dome, where the concerts and short films of Live Earth are being fed into the gigantic dome-shaped screen!
- We talk with a representative from Clean Water Action (www.cleanwater.org) (pittcwa@cleanwater.org) to learn that they have removed 90% OF MERCURY FROM THEIR WATER!
- Finally, we talk with Kristy from Anderson Windows and Doors, where we learn about Anderson's Renewal program, the special materials in their windows and doors, and what they're doing to recycle!

Download Episode 24 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 15 minutes; Size: 68.6 MB)

Areya and Steph Review Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!

They're here!!! My review as well as my mother's review of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix are finished! For those who don't know, my mother Stephanie and I were fortunate enough to attend an advance screening of the fifth Harry Potter film, conducted by MySpace.Com and Black Curtain Screenings. They held these advance screenings on June 28th in 8 cities across the country, and Pittsburgh was one of them!!! Well, our detailed reviews are now finished and provided below for your reading pleasure. We also reviewed the film together on Episode 23 of our podcast, The Falcon and the Dove! Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be released July 11th in the United States.

My (Areya's) review has a few minor story spoilers in the first four paragraphs. My mother's (Steph's) review is spoiler-free.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Latest ‘Potter’ Film is Intense, Character-driven, and Best One to Date
By Areya Simmons (Dove)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth installment in the billion-dollar Harry Potter franchise, and moviegoers will not be disappointed.

The film begins in a suburb in Surrey, where the country is experiencing a summer drought. Harry and his spoiled cousin Dudley are then unexpectedly attacked by two Dementors, soul-sucking creatures who guard the wizard prison Azkaban. Harry saves himself and Dudley, but then has to go to a hearing at the corrupt Ministry of Magic for using magic outside of school. Not long before that, Harry meets the clandestine resistance that is the Order of the Phoenix, which has now re-gathered in the light of Lord Voldemort’s return. At their headquarters, Harry soon learns that the Ministry is in denial of the Dark Lord’s return and is leaning on the wizarding newspaper, The Daily Prophet, to paint Harry as a disturbed liar and smear Dumbledore as a power-seeking fool who wants the Minister’s job.

Problems continue when Harry returns to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his fifth year. The Ministry appoints Dolores Umbridge, a twisted bureaucrat, to teach the students a theory-centered course of Defense Against the Dark Arts, which leaves the students woefully unprepared for the dangers that lie ahead. Therefore, Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione decide to take matters into their own hands by teaching their fellow classmates how to defend themselves, at the risk of expulsion. They name their underground group, much like the Order of the Phoenix in miniature, ‘Dumbledore’s Army’, since that is the Ministry’s worst fear.

Meanwhile, Harry is haunted by vivid and disturbing dreams which give him an alarming insight into Lord Voldemort’s thoughts and emotions. Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Snape determine that this is because of a certain mind connection between Harry and Voldemort through Harry’s scar. To avoid catastrophe, Snape tries to teach Harry how to close his mind to Voldemort’s influence. Harry, feeling as though his mind is being taken over by Voldemort, seeks the advice of his godfather, Sirius Black.

As Professor Umbridge’s hold on the school tightens, more rights are taken away from the students, and teachers even start to get fired. Dolores will do anything to get her way. But even as the ‘High Inquisitor’ gains more power and control, more students begin to rebel. In the end, all of the individual subplots come together in a thrilling climax that will leave audience members breathless.

This film is a particularly inspirational chapter in the Harry Potter series. Director David Yates tells a gripping story while delving into a number of serious issues that are eerily comparable to real life problems. Of all of the Harry Potter films to date, this is probably the most diverse in terms of style, setting, and atmosphere. David Yates, scriptwriter Michael Goldenberg (Contact; Peter Pan), and the producers had the immense task of adapting an 870-page novel (the longest in the book series) into a 2 ½ hour film. Although many of the book’s subplots needed to be cut in order to make the film work, the filmmakers succeeded in leaving in the important parts and maintaining the essence of the novel, a great achievement in itself.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a lot more dark, gritty and raw than its predecessors. There is a lot of real, human emotion, even in the climactic action-packed scenes. This film is also the most character-driven of the five films released so far. Gone are the childlike, whimsical moments of the first two films, and in their place, a different kind of joy is integrated into the film. This movie is about resisting corruption, in more ways than one. The kind of enjoyment that an audience member will garner lies in the fact that these young characters know that they are doing the right thing, even if it means breaking the rules and possibly getting punished. There is a silent intensity about this film, preserved from the book, that draws you into the story and never lets go.

There is also a sense of truth and authenticity in this film that fans and non-fans alike will all appreciate. There are lovely touches sprinkled throughout the film that hint at something more going on underneath the surface. Just one of these fine touches is a large sign that Harry sees in the Ministry depicting corrupt Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Anyone who saw the 1941 film Citizen Kane or the 1984 Apple commercial illustrating ‘Big Brother’ will understand this moment.

It will become evident to any informed filmmaker watching this movie that David Yates was inspired by a number of other directors. Being a relatively unknown director, as well as the fourth director to enter this franchise, most people will not know what to expect from this film. It is not your typical summer blockbuster. All of the characters, even the minor ones, are three-dimensional and have their own stories. Although it is heavy with information, the story is fairly simple to follow as long as you have seen the previous four films or read the books. Even though it is compressed, it does not feel rushed, something that the adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire struggled with.

This franchise is fortunate enough to have such a talented ensemble telling its story. All of the actors, young, old, and new, really become their individual characters in this film. The younger actors are getting better and better with each installment, and with this one in particular, they seemed to feel comfortable within their roles.

Being a filmmaker myself, I strongly appreciate great cinematography. All of the technical aspects of this film were top notch. The sets, mattes, lighting, visual, and special effects all blend seamlessly, and every single corner is filled. The editing and camera angles were very unique, but never took me out of the narrative. The editing, in particular, served this installment well. Since there are many flashbacks in this story, one needs to be careful with how it is edited. Editing could very well have been the difference between making this movie work and having it completely fall apart. I am pleased to say that the latter did not occur. Furthermore, the ending was more than decent. Although it is far from the Disney-like fairytale happy ending, it is satisfying in its own bittersweet way, as it should be.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a film that can stand on its own two feet but still feel a part of those that came before it. The fact that most of the teen actors have remained constant throughout the films contributes to that sense of continuity. It is a wonderfully-made film, all around, and I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that this film will not be fully appreciated by everyone immediately, and it may take months or even years for it to receive the recognition it deserves. The book it is adapted from has probably been the most misunderstood episode in the popular series, even by its fans. Therefore, the film has its work cut out for it to win fans and regular moviegoers over. However, some fans I spoke to following our advanced screening said that even though the book was their least favorite, the film was their most favorite. This is quite peculiar, indeed, since the film, although the shortest of the adaptations so far, is pretty close to the book.

There is no doubt that this film will be successful, with such a loyal fan base behind it. The question is whether it will sustain over the long-term. Ten days after it is released, the seventh and final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will arrive and find its way into the eager hands of fans, some who have been waiting ten years to read it. I think that most of the fans who plan to both see the film and read the book will go to the movie theatre first. There may be a slight decline in box office sales when the book comes out July 21st, but I have a feeling that the people who are just the typical moviegoers will take their place at the cinema while everyone else is at home reading. The success of this film (and for that matter, the last two) may also depend on how the book series ends, specifically whether the hero will survive or not. That factor, however, is something that I will not dare predict, as the consequences either way will be momentous. In the meantime, enjoy Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. David Yates is returning for the sixth film, ‘Half-Blood Prince’, and I am sure that moviegoers will welcome him with open arms.

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Harry Potter’s 'Phoenix' is best film yet; Yates Triumphs in Bringing Complex Book to Life
By Stephanie Simmons (Falcon)

It seems like it would be a pretty tight spot. Imagine you are a director who has critical acclaim, but no blockbuster experience. Now, you have been tapped to direct not only a major blockbuster movie with a screamingly large budget, but it’s probably the most successful film series in history; a series of adaptations of beloved books. You are not the first director, but the fourth. The last one didn’t fare so well in the eyes of fans and critics, and oh yeah, your adaptation is from a book over 800 pages long and must be compressed into under three hours. Whew!

For David Yates, it was no worries as he along with David Hayman as producer and Michael Goldenberg as screenplay writer have done a stunning screen interpretation of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”. There are kids, animals, and Deatheaters, oh my, along with a host of formerly introduced characters, and important new ones. That was a lot for one plate, but the film is a four-star getaway complete with competent acting, magnificent special effects, and a compression of a complex storyline that even the most HP challenged can follow. Does it include everything from the book? Of course not; that would be a 13 and a half hour film. It includes all the important factors, introduces key characters, and captures moving moments. Unlike some previous adaptations in this series, lines from the book are spoken verbatim on most occasions. Yates clearly communed with director extraordinaire and Academy Award nominee, Alfonso Cuaron, which provided continuity in key scenes lacking in some of the other films in the series. This humble move filled in the corners of the backgrounds, and made a thoroughly engrossing world where one could believe the veil truly thin between our world and Harry’s. Yates' film influences are diverse and show their faces in large as well as subtle ways.

The Ministry of Magic is a hall full of neo-Gothic architecture and 'Citizen Fudge' (an Orsen Wells tribute I am sure) aka Cornelius Fudge displaying himself in huge HD perspective in the main atrium letting you know instantly that his ego has far overrun his wisdom, and fear and control are the order of the day. The crowd is Metropolis-like, and there is lavishness, yet coldness to Harry’s Proceeding that makes one think of The Inquisition. Without words, Yates relates a world from Jo Rowling’s imagination that terrifies us, so we know how it must feel to Harry. Even Hogwarts initially offers little relief, as it is taken over by a virus in pink polyester whose rigidity, intolerance, and willingness to actually torture young minds becomes nearly all consuming to everyone there, especially Harry. She walks on two legs, and her name is Dolores Umbridge. She unwittingly becomes an aide to the rising Dark Lord Voldemort, along with Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic with his paranoid behavior and short-sighted direction.

There is quiet introduction of characters that will surprise later on in the series, so their presence is necessary in this film: the slightly accident-prone Tonks (never call her by her first name), a House-elf serving the House of Black (fans of the books know this one well), and a Celtic delight in Evanna Lynch portraying Luna Lovegood. She and Harry can see the mystical, morbidly beautiful Thestrals, which the students will later need to ride (rather than brooms) for a major showdown at the Hall of Prophecies inside the Ministry. Onyx and glass play a huge role, as well as a snake, and channeling by Professor Trelawney.

You have probably already noticed that I am not giving a synopsis of the contents of the film. That is deliberate. If you haven’t read the books, but have seen all the films, I want you to be able to enjoy the film without having that enjoyment spoiled by my telling you critical spoilers you don’t need to know at this point. If you have read the books, you don’t know what is included (unless you have read spoiler reviews), and I don’t have to tell you how good it is as a tale; you simply need to know if the film is worthy of your attendance. Let me assure you that it is.

This film is actor driven, not special effects driven, and that is why it is so good. Yet, the special effects (delivered in spectacular form by ILM, Rising Sun Pictures, and Cinesite) are complimentary to each and every frame, and it’s been a long time since I have said that in a review. Guierrmo del Toro's “Pan’s Labyrinth” was perfect in its beauty and its horror; “Order of the Phoenix” has similar impact in the use of its effects.

This is not a film for young children, unless they have read the books. I would say age 9 and up because there are scary scenes (besides the pink in Umbridge’s office of terror), and parents should gauge their children and their viewing accordingly. It is an emotional coming of age for most of the principle teens, and that should be considered with respect to what you may want your children to see. I would take my own daughter at age 9; I would not have wanted her to see this film at age 8. You decide.

What is most impressive about this film is how it all works together. The director’s influences are apparent in the attention to detail of every frame, with organic POV in camera angles and placement. So many special effects-laden films these days show unnatural points of view of their shots; Yates was very careful to make sure that the captured angles have an authentic feel. You are there, but not intrusive. You are enveloped in the frames from a natural perspective for the characters. Sirius’ home looks like they just revived it from a sleepy grave, and that is exactly what it should look like (pay close attention to the family tree on the tapestry he shows Harry). Gary Oldman is a very good Sirius Black, and demonstrates his loyalty and compassion as a Godfather in this film. Harry is torn between his good thoughts, and the possible interference from Ralph Fiennes’ Voldemort, but it may be Harry’s heart that may be the most lethal to his enemy, not his wand. Hermione’s transformation from follower to co-leader is also impressive.

The tone of the film is dark, but the times depicted are dark. This is not a morose film, though; it is inspiring. In our world, there are fear mongers, hypocrites, control freaks, and close friends; so there is in Harry’s world. They don’t always make the best decisions in their world; neither do we. That is what makes the story so appealing to so many people: authentic experiences and challenging scenarios to overcome. The visual telling of this tale should inspire the young aspiring directors who someday want to do a film with this budget. Alfonso Cuaron once said that the only difference between a small, independent film he directs and a larger blockbuster is the money. That is why his films like “A Little Princess”, “Y Tu Mama Tambien”, and “Children of Men” are so impressive. Clearly, David Yates subscribes to the same approach, giving “Order of the Phoenix” an intimate feel. I also sensed some Michael Apted in his frames, and he is one of my favorite directors. He also has his Hitchcock, Robert Altman, and Sydney Pollack moments in this film as well. He is going to direct “Half-Blood Prince”. I am relieved and delighted in his selection; he has done a stellar job with this one. I wish him all the best with his future endeavors. The film is the best of the series; kudos all around.

Video of London Premiere of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!

The London Premiere of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in Leicester Square outside the Odeon Cinema took place July 3rd, and we have found this very comprehensive video of the exciting atmosphere of the premiere, as well as interviews with the cast and producers of this dark and character-driven installment of the wildly successful franchise. Our personal review of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be posted in the coming days! Enjoy!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4599945301956731876&q=spellcast&total=21&start=0&num=10&so=1&type=search&plindex=0

TFATD 23: Greenfest, 'Phoenix', and Baby Boomers

Episode 23 of The Falcon and the Dove: Greenfest, 'Phoenix', and Baby Boomers. This quite eventful week, we discuss the Carnegie Science Center's plans for Live Earth 7/7/07, our incredible experience seeing 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' 12 days early, the very 'giving' Baby Boomers, Big Foot, and so much more! Enjoy!

- Overview
- The Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, in participation with LIVE EARTH 2007, will be holding Greenfest on 7/7/07, featuring the global Live Earth concert on the Buhl Digital Dome, eco-friendly activities, demos, films, and more!!
- Greenfest: All day admission and concert: $25; Concert ticket only: $15; Regular Science Center general admission also available...To purchase tickets, call 412-237-1816 or buy them online!
- Falcon and Dove were treated this week to a special advanced screening of 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', courtesy of MySpace.Com and Black Curtain Screenings! Our very own Pittsburgh was among the 8 cities across the country that were chosen for this event!
- We give our personal SPOILER-FREE review of the fifth Harry Potter film installment (it was AWESOME!), as well as the entire experience as a whole. Thank you South Side Works Cinema and MySpace! You rocked the house!
- We compare 'Order of the Phoenix' to another 'Part 5', such as Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. If you liked that, you will enjoy 'Order of the Phoenix'. In our review, it was the best of the five, which is saying something!
- NOTE: Check out Dove's editorial on Harry's psychological and emotional growth in 'Order of the Phoenix', 'You're Angry, I'm Angry'. WARNING: Major book and movie plot spoilers!
- In the coming weeks, we will be reviewing films such as 'A Mighty Heart' (with Angelina Jolie and Dan Flutterman) and Michael Moore's documentary, 'Sicko'. Stay tuned!
- Baby Boomers give care to various family members; so much so that if they were paid to do all that they do, the total would be $350 billion! However, Baby Boomers are aging, so now what?
- There is a spike in children's health issues.
- Potent Produce.
- WEIRD SCIENCE: Scientists out to prove once and for all that Big Foot is real. Finally!
- A statute of limitations on debt?
- The Quote of the Week. Life is an adventure.
- NOT DISCUSSED IN THE SHOW FOLLOWUP: The 'Your Environmental Road Trip' (YERT) Launch Party was June 30th! The Road Trip will officially launch on the 4th of July, to last one year! Tons of photos from the Launch Party will be posted soon!

Download Episode 23 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 14 minutes; Size: 68.3 MB)

TFATD 22: Baby Woods, Green Almighty, and the Academic Epidemic

It wasn't a day late afterall!! Sometimes, we underestimate our own efficiency! Episode 22 of The Falcon and the Dove: Baby Woods, Green Almighty, and the Academic Epidemic. In this very GREEN episode, we talk about carbon footprints, stealing fictional identities, dogs driving cars, living long, Tiger Woods' baby, and more! Enjoy!

- Overview
- The computer industry is to cut their carbon footprint, and thus the negative impact on the environment.
- Farm raised Salmon goes vegetarian.
- The world's oldest man is still going strong at age 111; world's oldest woman at 114. Both in Japan?
- #1 golfer Tiger Woods and his wife Elin gave birth to Sam Alexis Woods, a girl! Congratulations! Name significant?
- A new channel comes to television, Universal HD, which will have all 22 HOURS OF MUSIC FOR LIVE EARTH on 7/7/07!
- PRINCE'S PICK: Black lab drives owner's Chevy Impala into river, jumps out.
- In a related story, 2 little girls escape truck dragged into river by fishing boat.
- The movie production of Evan Almighty goes carbon neutral! Will this set a standard for future productions? Check out GetOnBoardNow.org to learn more!
- Thieves steal Herman Munster's identity. Need we say more?
- Bill Gates discusses the academic epidemic and high school drop-outs. We discuss the Gates Millennium Scholarship as well.
- FALCON'S RANT OF THE WEEK: No excuse for not getting an education...except perhaps for society not informing you. So WE WILL! Fastweb.com!
- A very wise graduation gift: investing know-how.
- The Quote of the Week. Know where you're going.

Download Episode 22 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 3 minutes; Size: 58.3 MB)

Episode 22 to be released on Monday

Yes, again. I promise, this is the last one!! It's all of these graduation parties that keep delaying the episodes. This one is actually my graduation party, so it's taking up a lot of our time; but I promise this is the last delay! No future episodes of The Falcon and the Dove will be delayed again, unless it's for a VERY good reason.

Thank you so much for all of your patience, and, once more, I apologize for any inconvenience. In the meantime, enjoy the previous episodes! Thank you!

A Global Warming Documentary

Here is an interesting documentary on global warming. If you are doing research, this is a good place to start! In short, it's true. Global warming is happening, it's mankind's fault, and it's our responsibility to fix it. On a related note, Live Earth, a series of concerts being held on 7/7/07 to raise awareness about global warming, is a wonderful place to learn what you can do to help stop global warming. Good luck!

Here is Part One of Five of the documentary:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fr5O1HsTVgA&mode=related&search

TFATD 21: iPhones, Health, and Wealth

Episode 21 of The Falcon and the Dove: iPhones, Health, and Wealth. In this week's show, we discuss kids who expect to be rich, homeschoolers in college, 100-year old whales, the incredible iPhone, and more! Enjoy!

- Overview
- Why your kids expect to be rich, and why a simple increase in research can help.
- More colleges and universities are welcoming homeschooled students! How to prepare your child for college, homeschooled or not!
- Woman dies in hospital lobby because the staff would not do anything; husband calls 911 to be taken to another hospital, but they fail as well. What is going on?
- The iPhone may crush Verizon and Sprint in the initial run, and change the industry while it's at it! Verizon and Sprint try to be prepared.
- A netted whale is found to be injured by a lance over a century ago, making the whale about 115-130 years old!
- Jim Cramer from MSNBC's 'Mad Money' says, 'Get kids interested in stocks and bonds early!'
- FOLLOWUP: A 'mini' bee update! An interview about the bee colony collapse, as well as a full bee update will come next week!!
- The Quote of the Week. Open and closed doors.
- Be wealthy. Not rich.

Download Episode 21 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 16 minutes; Size: 70.0 MB)

TFATD 20: Katrina, Comas, and Guitarists

Episode 20 of The Falcon and the Dove: Katrina, Comas, and Guitarists. This week, we discuss what hurricane Katrina has left in her wake, graduation parties, global warming technology cuts, world records, and more! Enjoy!

- Overview
- Graduation plans, commencements and parties galore!! We detail one particularly 'eventful' commencement.
- Over 5.7 million pounds of meat could be tainted with E. Coli. Yes, more contaminations. We're sick of them too.
- People are still dying from Hurricane Katrina due to physical and psycological problems. Exact numbers are unknown, but many.
- The United States is to scale back data collection from space on global warming. Falcon and Dove ask, 'ARE YOU FREAKIN' CRAZY?!'
- Mink Farm in Pennsylvania attacked; 2300 mink released, 400 killed including the family dogs. Who could have done such a thing?
- A Polish man wakes up after a 19-year coma to find that 'the world is prettier now'.
- Michael Moore's 'Sicko' comes out June 29 (same day as the Apple iPhone), and is interviewed by Oprah.
- FOLLOWUP: Smaller, organic bees are having no mite problems...and no colony collapse. What does this say about the bee crisis?
- 1,683 guitarists of all ages played 'Smoke on the Water' to break the world record in Kansas. They succeeded.
- MOVIE DISCUSSION: How Shia LaBeouf's career has flourished. His most recent films are Disturbia, Surf's Up and Transformers!
- The Quote of the Week. The crazy ones.

Download Episode 20 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 14 minutes; Size: 68.0 MB)

Episode 20 to be released on Monday

Yes, alas, another episode will be delayed by one day, due to extensive graduation activities. Today, we had a Commencement and a 5-hour party, so I apologize in advance for any inconvenience. Once these graduation plans are finished, the podcast episodes will not be as delayed. We will still get this week's episode out as usual; it will just be one day late, released on Monday instead of Sunday.

Thank you very much for your patience, and enjoy the show!

Astronomers find most massive star ever discovered

This is really cool — astronomers using the Very Large Telescope in Chile and Hubble have discovered the most massive star ever found, coming in at 114 times the mass of the Sun. This blows away the previously most massive known star, which had a mere 83 solar masses. That’s a huge star!



read more | digg story

GOP head: We need more 'attacks on American soil'

In his first interview as the chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party, Dennis Milligan told a reporter that America needs to be attacked by terrorists so that people will appreciate the work that President Bush has done to protect the country. Is it just me, or was it really bad taste to say such a thing? Please give your thoughts in the comments.



read more | digg story

Apple iPhone release date confirmed: June 29th

The Apple iPhone is yours come June 29th. The commercial just aired on 60 Minutes yesterday, and now you can finally mark your calendar!



read more | digg story

TFATD 19: Baby Geniuses, Nessie, and HP Galore

Episode 19 of The Falcon and the Dove: Baby Geniuses, Nessie, and HP Galore. In this week's COMPLETELY jam-packed episode (I know, they're getting longer), we discuss smart babies, puppies, bees, the return of Nessie, movies, a Harry Potter theme park, and sooooooo much more!!! Enjoy!

- Overview
- Babies give scientists AMAZING insights! They are a lot smarter than we think they are.
- A fallen soldier's family get a puppy from Iraq adopted by their son the day before his death.
- A swarm of 20,000 bees off of the coast of Bournemouth gets caught in a plane's engine and delays it for 11 hours.
- A breakthrough in treating H5N1 (Avian Bird Flu) has been found in Bird Flu survivors' blood.
- The Loch Ness Monster (Nessie) has again been caught on tape!
- A 1,200 lb hog was hunted in Alabama. The family found out later that the hog was someone's pet sold 4 days before the hunt.
- Cannes Film Festival Palm d'Or winners and others.
- Venus Williams breaks the record for the fastest tennis serve ever!
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be released two days earlier in the U.S. and Canada; July 11th instead!
- Universal has announced that a Harry Potter theme park called 'The Wizarding World of Harry Potter' will open in 2009 at Islands of Adventure!
- In even MORE Harry Potter news, the woman in Georgia who has been trying to get the books banned fails a fourth time! Fans rejoice.
- We give our review of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End!
- The Quote of the Week. Reading minds.

Download Episode 19 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 34 minutes; Size: 86.6 MB)

Episode 19 to be released on Monday

Due to extensive graduation plans for the Dove in The Falcon and the Dove (Areya Simmons), Episode 19 will be released on Monday, June 4th, instead of Sunday, June 3rd. Thank you very much for staying with us, and we hope you enjoy the podcast!

TFATD 18: Hydrogen, Cannes, and Graduation

Episode 18 of The Falcon and the Dove: Hydrogen, Cannes, and Graduation. In this week's totally packed episode, we discuss what is holding hydrogen fuel back, the Cannes Film Festival, ADHD, graduation gifts, college tips, the Star Wars anniversary, and much more!!! Enjoy!

- Overview
- Hydrogen fuel is completely ready to go, but Department of Energy egos are getting in the way, says Purdue Professor.
- $4 a gallon?!?!?!?! No, we are not kidding. Not only that, but it could cause a ripple effect, where other things could go up.
- FOLLOWUP: Melamine (the same thing killing pets) connected to Colony Collapse Disorder in bees?
- The Cannes International Film Festival! Michael Moore's film, 'Sicko' is well-received.
- ADHD symptoms can be lessened with the correct foods at the right time. Five good foods are: Fatty acids, Vitamin B, Protein, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, and Iron.
- The Yale Syndrome. You don't HAVE to go to an Ivy League school. You SHOULD go to the school that is right for you. Career interest first, school second.
- Cool Graduation gift ideas! In different price ranges!
- College tips. Important things to do RIGHT NOW, just before you go to college.
- May 25th was the Star Wars 30th anniversary. Falcon discusses what she did on the first day in 1977, and we talk about an upcoming Star Wars convention.
- The Quote of the Week. Dreams.
- Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson are going to be immortalized on Grauman's Chinese Theatre's Walk of Fame July 9th in Hollywood, Los Angeles, with hand, foot, and WAND prints in cement!

Download Episode 18 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 21 minutes; Size: 74.9 MB)

TFATD 17: Literacy, Star Wars, and 4 Years for Man

Episode 17 of The Falcon and the Dove: Literacy, Star Wars, and 4 Years for Man. This week, we discuss more in-depth about the disappearing bees, literacy, movies on DVD, Star Wars, and more!!! Enjoy!

- Overview
- FOLLOWUP: Genetically-modified (GM) foods could be the culprit for the disappearing honey bees. We also discuss other possible reasons and what could happen to our food if all of the bees died. A quote by Albert Einstein spells bad news for the future of man.
- We attended a literacy celebration last weekend and we give a shout-out to all of the authors who attended. Pictures will be posted soon!
- The Tony Award Nominations are released!
- Will college debt lead to a market crash?
- Shrek the Third and other new movie releases.
- Pan's Labyrinth, The Fountain, and Bobby all come out on DVD!
- A giant Darth Vader hot air balloon is launched in Ceroux, Belgium to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of Star Wars!
- The Quote of the Week. Bulls, bears, and hogs.

Download Episode 17 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 10 minutes; Size: 64.8 MB)

TFATD 16: iPods, Bees, and Mother's Day

Episode 16 of The Falcon and the Dove: iPods, Bees, and Mother's Day. In this jam-packed episode, we discuss iPods that can affect pacemakers, the declination of honeybees (and possibly our food supply), Spidey 3 spinning of web of cash, and much more! It is truly amazing that we get to all of this in an hour! Enjoy!

- Overview
- According to a new study by a high school student, iPods can affect pacemakers.
- What is happening to the honey bees? They are disappearing. Cell phones responsible? The ramifications could be huge for the human food supply.
- Extreme Makeover: Home Edition's Ty Pennington was arrested for drunk driving. What was he thinking?
- FOLLOWUP: The Chicago 7-year old boy, Ian Cahr, who we discussed last week, has now raised over $4,000 for New Leash On Life!!
- Mi Hyun Kim of the LPGA won last week in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; she donated $100,000 to Greensburg, Kansas tornado survivors.
- Spiderman 3 makes $59.3 million in one day, $151 million in three days in U.S., and $365 million in three days worldwide! Yikes!
- FOLLOWUP: The contaminated feed that infected thousands of dogs and cats was recently given to fish that humans consume.
- Farenheit 9/11 director, Michael Moore is under investigation by the U.S. Treasury Dept. for taking ailing 9/11 workers to Cuba for treatment.
- OxyContin maker, Purdue Pharma, pays $634.5 million in fines for understating OxyContin's addictive properties.
- FOLLOWUP: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has at last been rated PG-13 for 'sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images'.
- May 13th is Mother's Day. How to honor your mom.
- The Quote of the Week: The Players Championship at Sawgrass.

Download Episode 16 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 17 minutes; Size: 71.1 MB)

TFATD 15: Course Notes, YERT, and Villains

Episode 15 of The Falcon and the Dove: Course Notes, YERT, and Villains is NOW LIVE!!! In this week's episode, we discuss a free course notes resource for students, a nationwide environmental road trip, Spidey 3, and more! Enjoy!

- Overview
- A man named Chris Keenan formed a course notes resource for students in all school subjects, Course-Notes.Org. The best part is...it's FREE!!!
- TFATD EXCLUSIVE!!! We conduct an interview with Mark Dixon, who, starting July 4th, is going on an environmental road trip across the country to learn what individual states are doing for the environment and sharing his experience with everyone every step of the way! Learn more at YourEnvironmentalRoadTrip.Com! (YERT)
- Luke Skywalker’s bionic arm has become a reality.
- Spiderman 3 racks up $29 million in opening day overseas markets on Wednesday.
- We pit fantasy literature characters against each other, and discuss who would win in a duel.
- We talk about upcoming May movies, including smaller and lesser-known ones that you should look out for!
- $800 million in foreign aid never made it to Katrina victims. Only $40 million of it did. Why did this happen?
- MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Ian Cahr - A Chicago 7 year-old who makes beautiful jewelry to raise money for homeless pets.
- Pioneer Astronaut Wally Schirra dies at age 84.
- The Quote of the Week. What we know that just ain't so.

Download Episode 15 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 5 minutes; Size: 60.1 MB)

If you would like to download our EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with YERT's Mark Dixon by itself, Click Here! (Length: 21 minutes; Size: 20.0 MB)

Environmental Road Trip to Launch in Light of Global Warming

Starting this Sunday, the day Episode 15 of our podcast (The Falcon and the Dove) is released, we will start having more interviews with people of certain interests!

This week, we interviewed Mark Dixon, one of three people who are going on an 'environmental road trip' together across the country to all 50 states to see what each state is doing for the environment, in light of global warming. Mark and his partners will launch this very special road trip on July 4th, 2007, and will be on the road for one year. They will also be video recording the experience every step of the way while traveling in an environmentally-friendly fashion. Also, we intend to follow-up on this road trip, posting on this site as well as on AreyaSimmons.Com when Mark has posted a new video!

Learn more about Mark, Julie, and Ben's road trip at their website at YourEnvironmentalRoadTrip.Com (YERT), and look out for our interview with Mark Dixon in Episode 15 of The Falcon and the Dove this Sunday, May 6th!

U.S. stopped $814 million in foreign aid getting to Katrina victims

Allies offered $854 million in cash and in oil that was to be sold for cash. But only $40 million has been used so far for disaster victims or reconstruction, according to U.S. officials and contractors. Most of the aid went uncollected, including $400 million worth of oil.



read more | digg story

Arctic Sea Ice Melting Faster Than Predicted

Arctic sea ice is melting at a significantly faster rate than projected by even the most advanced computer models, a new study concludes.Please spread the word about this and how to stop global warming.



read more | digg story

Free Class Notes and College Preparation!

ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!!!

Chris Keenan from www.course-notes.org prepares class materials and preparation instruction for AP classes and college prep tests, and puts them all on his website...for FREE!!! Subjects range from Science, History, and Math, to Politics, Psychology, and English. Registration is free to everyone who would like to learn more about any school subject.

Chris Keenan also has a tribute fund for those who were affected by the shootings at Virginia Tech.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Course-Notes.Org:

In order to raise money for the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, I will be donating $1 for every 100 people who join the Official Course-Notes.Org Facebook Group. If this isn't an incentive to invite your friends to the group, I don't know what is.

This fund will provide:

Assistance to victims and their families
Grief counseling
Memorials
Communication expenses
Comfort expenses

I'm prepared to donate over $1000 to the memorial fund, I just need your help inviting more people to the group!
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We will be featuring Chris Keenan and his website on Sunday, May 6th's Episode 15 of The Falcon and the Dove! We strongly encourage all students to check out this very cool website for course notes. It's legal, and free!

TFATD 14: Free Tuition, Summer Flicks, and Women

Episode 14 of The Falcon and the Dove: Free Tuition, Summer Flicks, and Women is NOW LIVE!!! This week, we talk about women's jobs, free tuition for Pennsylvania students, this summer's incredible movies, teenage driving, and more! Enjoy!

- Overview
- MIT's Dean of Admission resigns after misrepresenting her academic credentials. Does everyone really need a college degree?
- FOLLOWUP: More contaminated pet food updates. Yes, more. It gets worse every week. Now, 6,000 hogs are now infected and so could your meat.
- Pennsylvania students could get FREE tuition for going to state universities, starting fall of 2008! Schools included are Edinboro, California, Millersville, Slippery Rock, Clarion, Bloomsburg, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Shippensburg, and York College of PA.
- 6,000 teens die in car crashes every year. What parents should consider before letting their teen behind the wheel.
- Baby Boomers are ageing, but still beautiful.
- We discuss the great films that are coming out this summer, and what to look forward to. Also, the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix trailers were released!! See the Domestic and International trailers here!
- The Quote of the Week. A strong back.
- TFATD EXCLUSIVE!!! Falcon and the Dove listeners can now receive 10% off of books from Mother Earth News, from the Living Wiser Series!

Download Episode 14 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 28 minutes; Size: 80.9 MB)

TFATD 13: Hokies, Tolkien, and a Big Announcement

The Falcon and the Dove 13: Hokies, Tolkien, and a Big Announcement is NOW LIVE!!! This week, we honor and remember those who were lost in the events at Virginia Tech on April 16th, 2007.

Episode 13 of The Falcon and the Dove: Hokies, Tolkien, and a Big Announcement. In this week's episode, we mourn the loss of the Virginia Tech students and professors, discuss J.R.R. Tolkien's posthumous book release, and a very big announcement. Enjoy!

- We begin this episode with the Tech Triumph song and read the names of the victims of the events at Virginia Tech.
- We discuss our feelings and offer ways to heal from the terrible events in Virginia.
- FOLLOWUP: Could the contaminated pet food be intentionally infected to increase sales? We certainly hope this is not the case.
- J.R.R. Tolkien's new posthumous novel, The Children of Hurìn, temporarily topples Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows from the top spot on Amazon.Com's bestseller list.
- Don Ho, singer and writer of 'Tiny Bubbles', dies at age 76.
- The Quote of the Week: True wealth.
- We almost forget to make our big announcement! Our first LIVE PODCAST!!!
- This summer will be The Summer to Remember. Read books.

Download Episode 13 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 8 minutes; Size: 62.5 MB)

Enjoy!

LIVE PODCAST at Borders for Harry Potter 7 Book Release

Big news!!! My mother, Stephanie (Falcon from The Falcon and the Dove), and I have a HUGE announcement!!! On the night of July 20th, 2007, The Falcon and the Dove will hold its very first LIVE PODCAST!!! We have teamed up with a Pittsburgh Borders to be a part of the activities and games for the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! We shall be recording the entire experience at this once-in-a-lifetime event! Learn more here!

This party is just one feature of this jam-packed Summer to Remember. Keep checking back! There is MUCH more to come!

Tragedy at Virginia Tech

We at The Falcon and the Dove want to express our deep shock and sorrow at the events that unfolded in Blacksburg, Virginia at Virginia Tech. After fatally shooting 32 people, including students and professors, the lone gunman took his own life.

We wish to offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, as well as with the students who are recovering from their injuries. We wish you all the very best, and give all our love.

TFATD 12: Invisibility, Memories, and the Summer of Sevens

The Falcon and the Dove 12: Invisibility, Memories, and the Summer of Sevens is NOW LIVE!!! This week was a huge week for news, and we think we got to most of it! As you have probably noticed, two news articles were posted before this episode. This is a new thing that we will do with news articles that we may not get to cover in the show. That way, you will be able to learn about the news that we feature, even if it isn't on the show. Enjoy!

Episode 12 of The Falcon and the Dove: Invisibility, Memories, and the Summer of Sevens. This week, we tackle the Don Imus controversy, summer events, cloaking devices, memory-modification pills, and much more! Enjoy!

- Overview.
- FOLLOWUP: 650,000 pets may have been infected by contaminated pet food.
- Radio show host Don Imus gets 2-week suspension for racial and sexual comments against the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team, and is later fired.
- FOLLOWUP: Live Earth (massive global warming rally) concert venues announced! Tickets go on sale April 16th, 2007! The event is on 7/7/07!
- Scholastic launches their publicity campaign for the seventh Harry Potter book, ‘There Will Soon Be 7’, which includes the Knight Bus Tour to 37 lucky libraries!
- Google joins with The National Holocaust Museum to create a site using Google Earth that shows the destroyed villages and personal stories in Darfur, Sudan (a country the size of Texas).
- Author Kurt Vonnegut dies at age 84.
- Water has been detected on a planet outside of our solar system for the first time. It's official: there is life on other planets.
- Scientists get £1 million grant to invent an 'invisibility cloak'.
- A study has been conducted about a pill which could alter or erase traumatic memories. Is it safe and is it wise?
- The Quote of the Week: Endurance.

Download Episode 12 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 7 minutes; Size: 62 MB)

Enjoy!

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' breaks all-time pre-sales record

Pre-orders of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows broke all-time Barnes and Noble Records at 500,000 copies with 100 days to go before it's released! They think that it will break a million before it comes out! 'Deathly Hallows' comes out July 21, 2007.



read more | digg story

“Do you think this is the first 6-year-old we've arrested?”

A 6-year old girl, arrested and handcuffed for disrupting her kindergarten class. A 13-year old arrested and handcuffed for writing on her desk. A 7-year old choked and arrested for riding a dirt bike on the sidewalk. The police state is out of control. Read more here.



read more | digg story

TFATD 11: Fears, Flares, and Birthdays

The Falcon and the Dove 11: Fears, Flares, and Birthdays is NOW LIVE!!! We made up for our short episode last week with a particularly long one this week (but not necessarily intentionally)! You're going to love it!

Episode 11 of The Falcon and the Dove: Fears, Flares, and Birthdays. In this much longer episode, we discuss dog food, birthdays, climate change, brain parasites, solar flares, and much more!

- Overview.
- April 5th was Areya Simmons' (Dove's) birthday!!!! We also made some new friends during the party!
- FOLLOWUP: The pet food recall widens to include dog biscuits. Is it just much wiser to make your own food for your pet?
- MOVIES: Our personal review of 'The Last Mimzy'! Two thumbs up!!
- HEALTH: If your baby does not respond to his/her name, could it be an early sign of autism?
- CLIMATE CHANGE: Experts issue a new global climate change warning, not to be ignored!
- A brain parasite precisely alters certain fears. Could this explain the 'unreasonable phobias' that reside in some people?
- MONEY: Federal SEOG guidelines. Make sure your student gets his/her money.
- Solar flare superstorms in 2011 could greatly disturb GPS, power grids, and more.
- The Quote of the Week: Governments and environments.
Download Episode 11 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 26 minutes; Size: 79.3 MB)

Enjoy!

TFATD 10: Homework, Mind-Reading, and Gitmo

The Falcon and the Dove 10: Homework, Mind-Reading, and Gitmo is NOW LIVE! The Falcon and the Dove is ten today!

Episode 10 of The Falcon and the Dove: Homework, Mind-Reading, and Gitmo. In this shorter episode, we discuss overworked students, the Atlantic Current, tax breaks for kids, mind-reading machines, and more! Enjoy!

- Overview.
- FOLLOWUP: Cat kibble added to the list of recalled pet food. Dry food is now contaminated.
- Is too much homework bad for students? Is homework alone bad for students? One author, Alfie Kohn, thinks so...
- Could the Atlantic Current shut off and throw us into another ice age? It's happened before, so we should be prepared.
- When could you give your kid a tax break? College-age, perhaps!
- Could machines soon read our minds? They may be closer than we think! But could they really be useful?
- A tiny rare owl not seen since 1976 was spotted in a Peru reserve, and he's adorable! But these owls are endangered...
- Guantanamo Bay inmates are eagerly anticipating the final Harry Potter book, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'.
- On a related note, the 'Deathly Hallows' book covers were released, and they are beautiful! See the U.S. and U.K. covers!
- The Quote of the Week. Books and ideas.

Download Episode 10 Here! (Length: 55 minutes; File Size: 50.6 MB)

Enjoy!

TFATD 9: Pets, the Environment, and Mimzies

The Falcon and the Dove 9: Pets, the Environment, and Mimzies is NOW LIVE!

Episode 9 of The Falcon and the Dove: Pets, the Environment, and Mimzies. In this week's episode, we discuss how to protect your pet, the fight against global warming, loan-free educations, movies, and more! Enjoy!

- Overview.
- We discuss the contaminated pet food and supply the growing list of brands to look out for.
- Al Gore testifies to the House of Representatives and Senate on how to solve global warming.
- Scholastic takes the environmental initiative by printing all 12 million copies of the last Harry Potter book on forest-friendly paper.
- The Happiness U-Curve. Why it seems that people hit a low at 45 and get happier afterwards.
- Some universities are now offering loan-free educations!
- We discuss the latest films that are coming to theaters and DVDs.
- Six kids vandalize the red Hogwarts Express train, causing $100,000 in damage.
- The Quote of the Week. Persistence.

Download Episode 9 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 18 minutes; File Size: 72.2 MB)

Enjoy!

TFATD 8: Coats, Dopes, and the Bermuda Triangle

The Falcon and the Dove 8: Coats, Dopes, and the Bermuda Triangle is NOW LIVE! When all of your St. Patrick's Day parties are done, have fun listening to this week's podcast!

Episode 8 of The Falcon and the Dove: Coats, Dopes, and the Bermuda Triangle. In this episode, we discuss coats made out of dog fur, binge drinking at colleges, an enormous sub disappearing in the Bermuda Triangle, and more! Enjoy!

- Overview.
- Iranians protest '300' and its fictionalized history.
- Humane Society wants heavy fines and confiscations of coats with dog, wolf, and raccoon dog fur against J.C. Penney, Dillard's and Macy's stores.
- San Juan nuclear sub disappears off radio, satellite and cellular phone for nearly 10 hours. Bermuda Triangle responsible?
- Education tax breaks and tax credit.
- Binge drinking and drug abuse up considerably according to a Columbia University study.
- Best fiction and non-fiction sellers go unread by Britons.
- FOLLOWUP: New PGA tournament for Fourth of July holiday.
- The Quote of the Week. Smile.

Download Episode 8 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 15 minutes; File Size: 69.1 MB)

Enjoy!

TFATD 7: Asteroids, Graphic Films, and Happiness

The Falcon and the Dove 7: Asteroids, Graphic Films, and Happiness is NOW LIVE!

Episode 7 of The Falcon and the Dove: Asteroids, Graphic Films, and Happiness. In this episode, we discuss asteroids that threaten our survival on Earth, graphic movies including '300', peace meetings, happiness tests, and more! Enjoy!
- Overview.
- Top colleges offer free online course materials, including audio and video classes and lectures!
- NASA says it needs 1 billion dollars for a killer asteroid program but they don't have the money. Sound ridiculous?
- Look out for body parts in bubble wrap. One couple mistakenly received a liver and an ear via mail.
- DUI man hits trooper’s car in South Carolina with 43 lbs. of pot in his trunk. Easiest drug bust ever.
- The film ‘300’ is a ‘blood and guts, swords and hordes, historically inaccurate, buff film.’ We discuss other graphic films, including Ralph Bakshi's 1978 The Lord of the Rings (read our EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Ralph Bakshi here!).
- Native nations convene at Peru summit in Spring to fulfill pre-Columbian peace prophecy.
- FOLLOWUP: Cherokee nation votes to revoke the membership of Freemen descendants.
- Fourth of July Tiger Woods golf tournament free to military service people and children.
- Bedford Springs Resort re-opens; has hot springs, and put in 20 acres of wetlands.
- EPA is called to task by several environmental organizations for failure to list coal ash as toxic.
- How happy are we? Is everyone capable of happiness? Is it genetic? Are you satisfied with your life? Take the 5-question Happiness Quiz and read more at MSNBC here! Learn about the science of happiness here!
- Early Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix reviews come out of Chicago! Send us your reviews if you attended!
- The Quote of the Week. Living well.

Download Episode 7 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 11 minutes; File Size: 65.2 MB)

Enjoy!

TFATD 6: Storms, Heros, and Horrors

The Falcon and the Dove 6: Storms, Heros, and Horrors is NOW LIVE!

Episode 6 of The Falcon and the Dove: Storms, Heros, and Horrors. In this episode, we discuss everything from storm preparedness, to doggie heros, to this summer's movie flicks! Enjoy!

- Overview.
- Tornado alarms and storm preparedness. ALWAYS have a plan!
- Parents beat up principal over student's grades in Italy.
- The RAND program has been eliminated from Pittsburgh Public Schools.
- 'Star Trek' tricorders become a reality! Sort of...
- Suze Orman releases a new book called 'Women and Money', on how to manage money; and it's not just for women!
- Mixed breed hound saves owner from black bear.
- Black lab keeps climbers alive on Mt. Hood. Seriously, what would we do without dogs?
- Freemen descendants may be voted OUT of the Cherokee nation, after 141 years. It's all about the money...
- The West End play, 'Equus' opens to the public. Daniel Radcliffe receives a standing ovation.
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to open (July, Friday the 13th) to 10,000 screens across the country!
- The Quote of the Week. Truth and lies.

Download Episode 6 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 19 minutes; File Size: 72.5 MB)

Enjoy!

TFATD 5: The Unabridged Oscars Show

Our Oscars reaction show is NOW LIVE! We waited a day to do this episode just so that we could give our reactions to the results of the Academy Awards, and that is the main discussion of this episode. We guarantee that this Oscar show is unlike any other show that you have ever heard (hint: we don't really discuss the gowns or the hairstyles ;)).

Episode 5 of The Falcon and the Dove: The Unabridged Oscars Show. Here is what will be featured this week:

- Intro.
- The Oscars!!! Which categories did we correctly predict? Most of them, actually!
- The importance of film and those who make them.
- The Quote of the Week. Storytelling.

Download Episode 5 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 5 minutes; File Size: 60.1 MB)

Enjoy!

TFATD 4: Dogs, Oscars, and Live Earth

Episode 4 of The Falcon and the Dove is NOW LIVE!!!

Welcome to Episode 4 of the Official Podcast of AreyaSimmons.Com, Dogs, Oscars, and Live Earth! In this particularly long episode, we discuss dogs, movies, the Oscars, and more! We hope you enjoy it. Here is what will be featured this week:

- Intro.
- The Westminster Dog Show.
- We discuss the films nominated in each category for Oscars, who we want to win, and who we think WILL win! We'll see if we're right!
- We announce the launch of Al Gore's HUGE event, Live: Earth, a global concert event to raise awareness and action on global warming and climate change. This wonderful event will take place in HUNDREDS of cities, on all 7 continents, July 7th, 2007 (7/7/07). Find out more at http://www.liveearth.msn.com/ and www.climatecrisis.net.
- The Quote of the Week. Forgiveness.

Download Episode 4 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 25 minutes; File Size: 78.3 MB)

Enjoy!

TFATD 3: Evolution, Women Presidents, and Cars

The uploading issues have been resolved! Only 1 day late, Episode 3 of The Falcon and the Dove is NOW LIVE!!!

Welcome to Episode 3 of the Official Podcast of AreyaSimmons.Com, The Falcon and the Dove 3: Evolution, Women Presidents, and Cars. We have a roller coaster for you all this week, and we hope you will enjoy it. Here is what will be featured this week:

- Intro.
- Missing children and Amber Alerts. Are they issued soon enough?
- We discuss a new documentary, 'A Flock of Dodos', which deals with the controversy between evolution and 'intelligent design'.
- Robopets!
- A car that changes color in different light? We discuss Infiniti's new G Sedan and the possible pitfalls of such a car.
- Harvard to get a woman President? UPDATE: We now know! YES!!!
- The Quote of the Week. Enthusiasm.

Download Episode 3 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 41 seconds; File Size: 55.5 MB)

Episode 3 To Be Delayed

THE FALCON AND THE DOVE UPDATE: As most of you know, today was the day that Episode 3 of our podcast, The Falcon and the Dove, was supposed to be released. However, due to uploading issues with our server, Episode 3 is going to be delayed. The episode has been recorded and edited; we just cannot get it uploaded to AreyaSimmons.Com at this time. We are currently trying to work out this technical issue, as well as seeking alternative uploading methods. We apologize for the inconvenience, and will keep you updated on when we can get the episode to you. Thank you for your patience.

TFATD 2: Equus, Global Warming, and College

The Falcon and the Dove, Episode 2: Equus, Global Warming, and College is now live!

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Official Podcast of AreyaSimmons.Com!!! We have gotten some great feedback from our first episode, so we hope you all enjoy this one as well! Here is what will be featured this week:

- Intro
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the 7th and FINAL book in the series, now has a RELEASE DATE: July 21st, 2007!!!
- Speaking of Harry Potter, new 'revealing' pictures of Daniel Radcliffe featured as Alan Strang in the revival play of Equus have appeared online!
- We honor the passing of the very great horse, Barbaro.
- NEWS FLASH!!!! Global warming is all OUR fault!!! (Duh...)
- Exxon Mobile's rather 'large' profit.
- Female school students in Texas are now required to receive a vaccine for the HPV. Other states are considering the same thing. What are your thoughts on this issue?
- TFATD EXCLUSIVE!!! We attended a college fair on Thursday and got to interview four college representatives! They offer their vital information and advice for high school students!
- The Quote of the Week. Stay inspired!

Download Episode 2 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 2 minutes; File Size: 57.5 MB)

Enjoy!

Podcast Alley

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-c044cb8dc08f1687fc2153d78cc74e94}

Episode 1 Is Now LIVE!!!

The Falcon and the Dove, Episode 1: Fantasy, Ratings, Bannings, and Art is now live!

This is the first episode of The Falcon and the Dove. We have a jam-packed show for you this week, and I hope you will all enjoy it. Here is what will be featured this week:
- Intro.
- Oscar nominations. Which films were nominated, which were over-looked? Great year for the Mexican film industry!
- Our Review of Children of Men and Pan's Labyrinth.
- Movie ratings: what makes a PG, PG-13, and R rating? Are the ratings getting stretched? Do we need more ratings in the USA?
- Our opinions on children playing roles in R-rated films. Dakota Fanning is featured.
- What we think films like Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and other adaptations will be and should be rated.
- A woman in Georgia is still trying to get Harry Potter banned in her school district after 18 months and 3 appeals. Our thoughts.
- Does Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix have too many adverbs?! Sound ridiculous? It is...
- The college process and how to afford the school of your choice! Fastweb.Com!
- An interview with Jay C. Bakari and his magnificent drawings! Scans of his paintings are coming soon!
- Beer...for your dog??? Don't worry, it's not alcoholic!
- Does your Zodiac sign tell you how good or bad of a driver you are? According to a recent study, Aries and Libras are the worst, and Capricorns and Leos are the best. Since I am an Aries, I take exception to this! ;)
- We cap our discussions off this week with a Quote of the Week!

Download Episode 1 Here! (Length: 1 hour, 5 minutes; File Size: 60 MB)

Enjoy!

The Falcon and the Dove Podcast Has Been Launched!!!

Welcome to The Falcon and the Dove podcast! The Falcon and the Dove is the official podcast of AreyaSimmons.Com. This podcast show is conducted by myself (Areya Simmons) and my mother Stephanie, and will consist of discussions on many varied topics that concern Baby Boomers, Echo Boomers, and everyone in between!

The mission of this podcast is to provide vital information which can be utilized in the real world. Our goal is to provide you with pieces of information that you did not know before-hand. Through this show, we hope to make many people's lives easier by offering information that people need to know, and providing entertaining and thought-provoking discussions on issues that are important to people in this day and age.

This podcast will be a mixed bag of topics. Everything from books, films, music, and other entertainment, to technology, the environment, censorship, a touch of politics, and maybe even the mysteries of the universe! The reason why it is so mixed is because we want to be free to discuss anything that might be important to our listeners. We do not wish to be limited by topic, which would force us to censor ourselves. In short, anything floats our boat. Therefore, if there is any topic that you would like to hear discussed on our show, please feel free to drop us an email at falcondove@areyasimmons.com, and let us know what YOU would like to hear about!

For full details of this podcast, Click Here!