The Breakroom

Twilight Spoiler - Long Version

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 19:07:00 +0000

The book begins with Bella (Isabella) Swan leaving the homeof her mother Renee in Phoenix, Arizona to move in with her father, Charlie who lives in Forks, Washington where the residents rarely see sunshine and it seems to rain every day.

She’s stayed with her father before, but only during summers since her parents divorced. Bella decided to do this to give her mother freedom to spend time and travel with her new husband, Phil Dwyer who plays baseball in the minor league.

When she gets there she is greeted by Charlie and finds that he has purchased her a pickup truck from their old Indian friend Billy Black whose son is an old friend of hers named Jacob. Billy is in a wheelchair, but has a very positive attitude and doesn’t see himself as being disabled.

She’s very nervous when she arrives at her new school in her truck. She feels very out of place and self conscious. A few girls and some of the boys introduce themselves and she seems to somewhat fit in. A couple of the boys are a little too friendly.

Even with her newfound companions Bella is bored living in Forks. Her life consists of going to school, then heading home to cook for Charlie. She is appreciative of the fact that Charlie pretty much leaves her alone and doesn’t force her to talk, but Renee keeps wanting to know how she’s settling in and panics if she doesn’t answer right away.

In biology class she has been partnered with a boy named Edward Cullen who seems to be revolted by her presence. He grips the table, has a pained expression and moves away from her. He even gets up to leave the class after just before the bell rings. She can’t seem to figure out what she’s done to upset him and worries about it constantly.

Edward is a member of the Cullen family which is a group of teenagers adopted by a local doctor, Carlisle Cullen, and his wife Esme. They sit apart from everyone else in the lunch room and are extremely attractive as if they just emerged from a fashion magazine. Her friends, especially the girls, explain that they are reclusive and Edward never notices any of the girls at the school. They think he's too conceited and thinks that the girls aren't good enough for him.

One day as she’s carefully watching her step while walking in the recently iced up parking lot of the school she notices Edward standing on the other side of the parking lot and tries not to look at him. From out of nowhere a van loses traction and begins to skid directly towards her. The next thing that she knows Edward is next to her and seems to have held the van back from hitting her.

Later at the hospital after being checked out by Edward’s father, the doctor and hearing multiple apologies from the driver, who is a friend of hers from school, she decides to confrontEdward. She wants to know how he gotacross the parking lot so quickly and mentions that the van was dented and should have killed her. She lets him know that she knows something is different about him. He tries to evade the accusation and advises her to stay far away from him.

While spending time at a lake with her friends, Bella takes a walk with her friend Jacob who is from the local Quileute tribe and he tells her a story about a treaty made between the Indians and the Old Ones. He never uses the words vampire or werewolf, but the story stirs her imagination and curiosity.

Bella and Edward keep bumping into each other and fall deeply in love. Bella confronts him about her belief that something is unusual about him and he tells her to just say what she thinks. When she says that she thinks he’s a vampire he asks if she’s afraid and when she tells him that she’s not he suggests thats he should be.

One of their favorite places to spend time is an open field in the forest. Edward picks her up and carries her so quickly that she feels dizzy. When they get there he allows her to see what he looks like in the sunshine. His skin begins to sparkle as if it’s made of glitter or cut diamonds. Even knowing that he could kill her in only a heartbeat Bella wants nothing more than to be there with Edward.

Bella discovers that Edward was not repulsed by her in class, but just the opposite. Her scent is one that had a very strong attraction to him and he was craving her blood, but didn’t want to harm her. It was like heroine to him. He and the other Cullens have chosen to be "vegetarians" and not hunt human. Instead they go into the forest and hunt animals. Also, Edward has the ability to read the minds of those around him, including other vampires, but he was unable to read hers and it puzzled him.

Edward is constantly warning her that he is no good for her, but he’s so in love that even though he’s pushing her away he wants to be with her.

Edward takes her to the Cullen home to introduce to the rest of the family and she’s very nervous. She’s willingly entering a den of vampires and doesn’t really know what to expect.

What she finds is a very loving and close knit family with impeccable manners. She met Carlisle at the hospital after the accident with the van and has seen the others at school,but has not actually spent time with them. Carlisle has overcome his craving for human blood and is able to treat patients, but some of the others are newer and are still struggling, especially Jasper.

She meets Esme, the doctor’s wife, who is the surrogate mother of the group and likes her right away. Esme lost a child of her own once and loves Edward as if he were her own child. She learns that Alice, the smallest of the group, has the ability to see the future. Alice can’t remember her life before becoming a vampire like the rest of the Cullens and it seems to bother her. Her mate is Jasper who has the gift of affecting people’s emotions. He can walk into a room and soothe tensions. She and Bella bond almost immediately. Rosalie is the mate of Emmett, but she was originally meant to be Edward’s. She is upset that Edward has brought her home and she knows their secret.

While attending a baseball game played in an open field in the forest by the Cullensin during a rain storm three nomad vampires arrive. The Cullens attempt to hide Bella, but James smells her scent and they are forced to rush her into a car and leave immediately. They attempt to confuse the other vampires by exchanging clothes, but James is a tracker and is able to find them.

She quickly packs her things and then leaves her home telling Charlie that she doesn’t want to be stuck in the small town which is the same thing that her mother told her dad when she left him. She hated hurting him, but did this to keep him from following her and ending up in danger.

Unfortunately, even though they flew to Phoenix, Bella is quickly located by James who tells her that if she doesn’t show up at the dance studio where she took lessons as a child he will harm her mother, whose voice she can hear over the telephone. The stipulation is that she cannot tell anyone else where she is going, so the first chance that she gets she slips away. Bella knows that she will die, but goes willingly to save her mother’s life.

When she arrives at the studio she discovers that her mother isn’t there and the voice that she heard on the tape is an old recording. James begins breaking her bones and records her cries of pain to show to Edward to torture him.

Thanks to Alice’s ability to see the future Edward arrives just in time to save the day. He begins fighting with James and then the other Cullens help to finish the job. They kill James and burn his body.

Unfortunately, Bella has been bitten and is in horrible pain. Edward is forced to suck her blood out to remove the venom and prevent her from turning. It works, but she is left with a crescent shaped scar that will forever feel cold.

Bella passes out and when she awakes she finds herself in the hospital with Edward feigning sleep next to her. Her mother is there and she discovers thatthe Cullens have told her parents that they came to check on her and that she had fallen down a flight of stairs and was badly injured. Since she is constantly getting injuries they accept this excuse.

The story ends with Edward and Bella attending the prom. Bella is dressed to the 9s except for the cast on her leg. When they arrive at the dance, they are met by Jacob who has a message from Billy warning Bella about her relationship with the vampires.

Breaking Dawn Spoiler - Long Version

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:57:00 +0000

At the beginning we see Bella driving around in her shiny new Mercedes Guardian sedan and she can feel everyone staring at her because the car is so flashy. Edward gave it to her and this model has never been seen by anyone there before because it’s not even sold in the United States. Her truck had somehow stopped working at just the right moment.

Bella’s thoughts were consumed with her upcoming wedding. She was also, in normal Bella fashion, worrying about her best friend Jacob who had disappeared at the end of Eclipse after shucking his clothing and becoming a werewolf again.

She arrived back at home in time to see Charlie, her father, being coerced into a “monkey suit” by the wedding planner, Alice, who is also her future sister-in-law. She’s just in time to be subjected to her own final dress fitting. The dress is reminiscent of the times of one of her favorite books,“Wuthering Heights” which coincidentally is also the era when Edward became a vampire. The veil is made with antique lace. Bella tries to keep from thinking about everything too much and spends her time concentrating on positive thoughts.

On the eve of the wedding the lovebirds are snuggling in her bedroom and becoming very passionate. The time is near for Edward to keep his promise and make love to her while she’s still human. This was one of the requirements that Bella had when she agreed to marry Edward in Eclipse.

Emmett and Jasper arrive and retrieve Edward for a vampire version of a bachelor party. Jasper uses his powers to try and help Bella relax before he leaves. After he’s gone, though the calming effects begin to fade.

While she’s alone, Bella recalls a story she heard from Carlisle about the Immortal Children. These were the children who were turned into vampires and the reason that the modern world had no children in it. The children were too young to train and became uncontrollable. When the Volturi heard about them they not only killed the children, but also those who turned them. Tanya of Denali clan’s own mother had created a child in secret. Needless to say, thinking about it led to more nightmares when she was finally able to sleep.

After a very restless night because of the dreams, Bella woke to find her day being managed by the always organized and efficient Alice who takes her home with her to get ready for the wedding. Even with the perfect dress, makeup and with her friends and family there to support her Bella is worried that with her usual clumsiness she will trip and embarrass herself during the wedding.

Fortunately she is wrong this time and the wedding at the Cullen house is perfect if not surreal. During the reception she is shocked when her missing friend Jacob arrives. Edward politely thanks him for accepting the invitation that he sent to him because he knows how much this will mean to Bella even though he's aware that Bella is in love with Jacob as well. In Eclipse we learned that if Edward had not arrived and things were normal Bella and Jacob would have spent their lives together, but once she met Edward nothing could seperate them.

Jacob and Bella dance and everything is peaceful until Bella slips up and lets Jacob know that she plans to consummate the marriage with Edward while she’s still human. Jacob freaks out and threatens to kill Edward. Sam, Seth and Edward drag him away from Bella just as he’s trying to phase into a werewolf.

Edward and Bella leave for their honeymoon on an island called Esme which is a private island given to its namesake from Carlisle and is located near Brazil. After succumbing to the passions that they have both been fighting back during their relationship Edward realizes that he has left Bella bruised and feels terrible guilt.

Bella begins to change. Her nightmares have increased in intensity, she’s fatigued and is craving eggs. After waking up from another bad dream and being comforted by Edward she finds that she’s extremely nauseas. Bella wonders if it’s possibly food poisoning, but then remembers that her period is late. When she tells Edward he becomes extremely distressed because he realizes that this could kill Bella.

He contacts Carlise and together they plan to abort the fetus. When Bella realizes their plans she waits until Edward is gone and calls Rosalie for help. Rosalie has always wanted to have a child of her own and the idea of ending this pregnancy is unacceptable. She agrees to protect Bella and the baby.

Now it’s time for Jacob to give his side of the story. He’s decided to visit Bella to see for himself if she’s still human or has been turned into a vampire against the treaty provisions. He finds that she’s pregnant and already quite far along. At this rate the entire pregnancy will only last for a matter of weeks.

Edward explains hisconcerns to Jacob who begs Bella to allow the child to be aborted, but she refuses to agree. Rosalie will not leave her side and will not allow anyone to harm the child.

Believing that they still have awhile before the due date, all the vampires except for Edward and Rosalie leave to hunt. The baby decides to make an unexpected appearance and they, along with Jacob, have no choice but to do whatever they can to save Bella’s life. This is the end of Jacob’s story.

During the delivery Bella has her spine broken by the baby who is trying to fight its way out and Edward is forced to bite through her stomach to remove it. Her heart stops beating and they try both CPR and injecting her with vampire venom, but nothing works. Edward forces Jacob, who is freaking out, to leave the room and he bites her all over her body which turns her into a vampire.

To help ease the pain she is given morphine, but it doesn’t relieve it. It only paralyzes her. She tries to hold back the cries because she doesn’t want to add to Edwards’s guilt.

She finally wakes up and is afraid that she’ll act crazy like the other newborns, but it doesn’t happen. In fact she surprises everyone with the level of control that she seems to have. When she and Edward are out hunting she smells a human and after beginning to run towards them realizes what she’s doing and stops midway and heads back. When Edward tells the family about this they are amazed at her progress.

Renesmee, a combination of the names of Edward and Bella’s mothers, has an unusual gift. She can touch anyone and instead of reading their minds she lets them read hers. After they are sure that Bella is safe to hold the baby, she experiences this when Renesmee lets her see her birth from her own viewpoint and lets Bella know how much she loves her.

This is also when another strange thing occurs. Apparently Jacob has finally imprinted, but when Bella realizes it’s with her newborn daughter she tries to kill him. He chooses not to phase and just stands there and Seth is hurt trying to keep her from him. The others pull her away just in time and Carlisle treats Seth.

Jacob sneaks away and goes to see Charlie who has noticed that something has changed with Bella. He’s been told that she was sick, but has Jacob tells him the truth. He explains that the world is much more complicated than Charlie realizes and even phases in front of him. Charlie finally gets to meet his granddaughter.

In only a few months Renesmee has grown into the body and mind of a five year old. The family is happy and everything is finally going well until they receive a message from the Volturi expressing their wishes to see Bella. She plans to make the trip to Volterra by herself so that they won’t find out about her daughter. Unfortunately, Irina of the Denali clan discovers the truth and turns the Cullen family into the Volturi saying that Renesmee is an Immortal Child.

Alice has a vision about Irina’s meeting with the Volturi and that they have sentenced the Cullen family to death for the birth of Renesmee. Jasper and she choose to leave, saying that this is the only way they’ll survive. The Cullens by this point have contacted all of their vampire friends to bear witness that Renesmee is not an Immortal Child when the Volturi appear. Most of them agree and begin to get ready for the upcoming battle.

When Bella was a human they found that Jane had no affect on her and Edward was unable to read her thoughts. Now that she’s turned into a vampire they find that she has a much bigger talent. She can protect those around her and shield them from the powers of the Volturi including those of the twins, Alec and Jane.

While this is going on, there are problems with the werewolves who have found out about the existenceof Renesmee and plan to kill her. There has been a split because Jacob refused an order of Sam and could do so because he is the true chief since he’s the grandson. When the others realize that Jacob has imprinted on Renesmee end the aggression because they cannot attack someone that a werewolf has imprinted on.

When the Volturi show up they present their case for destroying the Cullen family and have come with witnesses of their own. The Cullens are very worried because they are outnumbered, but then the werewolves appear. There are more of them than before and even the Volturi are afraid.

This does not stop them, however and they continue trying to kill Renesmee even though they have no proof to base their decision on. Bella is forced to protect everyone with her gift. Jane and Aro’s talent are useless against hers, but things are still not going well.

Just then Alice appears and presents undeniable proof that Renesmee is not the only child of her kind. She has brought with her a witness who is an adult, but was once a child like Renesmee. With this the Volturi have no choice but to retreat.

The story ends with a “happily ever after” theme. Jacob is forever attached to Bella’s child and will protect her with his life if needed. Sue Clearwater, the widow of Charlie’s friend who died of a heart attack earlier has begun a relationship with none other than Charlie himself.

THE END

Easy Weight Loss for FREE

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 10:30:00 +0000

We are bombarded every day with advertisements for weigh tloss products promising to curb your hunger and increase your energy. Most of these are proven later to either not work or they are recalled after the side effects become too well known or possibly that someone has died.

After giving birth to two children I began to put on the pounds. I tried every diet I could think of to lose the weight. You may have heard of them: the Adkins diet, the vegetable diet, the citrus diet, the low fat diet, the no sugar diet and combinations of all oft hem. They never worked and my energy decreased as the weight increased.

Finally, after my weight rose to a whopping 317 pounds I got serious about finding the answer. I began watching documentaries and studying online. I didn’t just want to know how people were losing weight, but how people who wanted to GAIN weight (such as Sumo wrestlers) were putting it on. With this information I found the truth.

Have you been skipping breakfast and eating only one meal a day to lose weight? BAAAD idea. It is very important to start your day with a full stomach. Eating your larger meals earlier in the day and something light at the end will increase your ability to burn calories and will give you energy.

Should you watch what you eat? Yes and no. Eat whatever you want, but instead of focusing on what you can’t eat, focus on what you can add to your diet that’s healthy.

What am I talking about? If you want a piece of pie, go ahead and enjoy. Just try to eat a lot of vegetables and grains as well. Also, instead of drinking a sugary soda pop drink a glass of tea or a diet soda. In otherwards, try not to drink your calories. Did you know that a small glass of orange juice has over 150 calories? You could eat an orange instead and it would be better for you. Stay as close to the natural state of the food as possible and you can't go wrong.

That’s another thing. How much water do you drink in a day? Doctors suggest that we drink at 8 glasses a day, but very few people actually do that. We take water for granted, but it’s what our bodies are mainly made of and we need to replenish our bodies daily. It will also make you feel fuller.

Speaking of feeling full, how much should you eat? We’re talking the dreaded portion sizes here. The rules are confusing at best. Remember the deck of cards analogy? I’ll make it easy for you. A normal stomach is the size of a fist. Ball your fist up and you will see that it’s equal to about a cup. That should be the only portion size you think about.

When we go out for dinner they bring these huge plates filled with food and we feel obliged to eat it. (Remember your mother telling you about the starving kids?) We feel guilty if we leave food on the plate. DON’T. It does less damage on the plate than on your hips. Anyway, you can get a doggy bag and eat it later.

What I started doing is asking for a saucer on the side and whatever would fit on the saucer is what I would eat. It didn’t matter what it was, but there was a limit to the amount.

Whoa there! You’re starting to think that you won’t be full and you will starve to death. That’s where all of this research makes a difference. This isn’t your one meal of the day or even your one of three. You are allowed to eat every 3 hours (every 2 hrs when you first begin). This keeps up your metabolism, keeps you from getting so hungry that you crave unhealthy food and you will feel satisfied. Just remember to always eat only a saucer full of food. (Not piled 6 inches high….LOL)

This is how people lose weight on programs like Jenny Craig and Nutrasystem. They are prepackaged foods that control your portion sizes. They also control calories and other things, and you can do that if you wish, but this is simpler and is FREE. Lapband surgery does the same thing. It forces you to eat smaller portions. The problem with that is the side effects and they will never go away.

Should you exercise? It’s good to exercise, but if you are severely obese you may not feel comfortable going to a gym and working out in front of the blonde Barbies. I’ll give you an alternative. Get a dog.

My daughter in law gave me a little Chihuahua and I walk her every day so that I don’t feel self conscious. At first I could only go for about a block before getting winded, but now we walk for at least a mile every day. She loves getting the exercise and I enjoy seeing her happy. The only thing people are staring at is how cute she is in her little outfits. Burning calories is just a wonderful side effect. So are the endorphins that help make you feel happier.

If you’re not into dog walking, you can also make small changes to your life. Park further from the door at the store. Take the stairs instead of the elevator in buildings. When you’re watching a show on TV get up during the commercials and walk a circle around the room or walk to another room in the house and back. Just move!

And this will shock you, but it’s scientifically proven. If you want to lose weight you must get enough sleep. No joke! People who get enough sleep burn more calories than those who don’t. Not only that, but you will do a better job at work, have a better attitude and will have more energy. It’s a no-brainer.

After awhile when the pounds begin to come off and you are feeling better about it you can begin a workout routine. Remember to modify the movements and stretch first or you will end up in pain and give up. It’s better to start off slow and stay with it than to go in full steam ahead and give up.

And that’s the whole idea behind this “diet”. It’s a lifestyle change and now I don’t even think about it. I’m not hungry and I’ve lost 32 pounds so far without pills, weighing food, counting calories or restricting what I eat. It’s so simple that I wish that I’d known about this 20 years ago. Now you do, so try it out and then pass it on.

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/lose-weight-while-sleeping

http://www.peertrainer.com/diet/what_a_portion_size_really_is.aspx

http://www.caloriesperhour.com/news_051130.php

http://health.msn.com/fitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100124160

http://www.shapeupshop.com/weightloss/water-weight-loss.html

Will.i.am is Paying it Forward

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 05:19:00 +0000

If you’re on this site it’s either because you like online games or videos. If you a music fanatic like I am you’ve probably heard of the Black Eyed Peas and Will.i.am.

William James Adams, Jr was born March 15, 1975 in Los Angeles, CA and was raised by his mother who made him the man he is today by supporting his interest in music and encouraging him to be an individual and to think for himself instead of bending to peer pressure and conforming to the actions of those around him.

At age 16 Will began his career as a rapper under the name of Will-1x. He performed with many artists before becoming an integral member of the Black Eyed Peas. He also attended school at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles and designed his own clothing line. He has designed a denim collection of i.am clothing that debuted at Project Las Vegas in 2009 and designs clothing for the Black Eyed Peas.

This is all impressive as resumes go, but why am I telling you what you would be able to find out just by doing a quick Google search? Well, as you guessed, that’s not the entire story.

You could never tell by his performances, but Will.i.am is surprisingly very quiet, extremely generous and shy. When he made an appearance on his friend Oprah Winfrey’s talk show he barely spoke and looked a bit embarrassed as she extolled his virtues.

He started the i.amhome fund because he said that having a home was central to his own personal dreams. He said that, “Growing up I dreamt that one day I’d be able to buy my mom a house and take care of my family. I realized that dream and experienced the positive effect giving back had on my family. Now I am compelled to help others who are in jeopardy of losing their homes and inspire others to join the movement.”

Will.i.am also has an i.am scholarship program that provides financial assistance to future leaders and innovators in Film and Television, Journalism, Computer Sciences and New Media. It provides financing for the entirety of their post secondary education and opportunities at DipDive.com when they complete their studies.

On his blog, Will.i.am wrote “What is Homeland Security when the youth cannot afford education to secure a future?” He went on to add, “I want to change what Homeland Security means…and…I don’t want to write a song about it…I want to act on it…and put my money where my mouth is.”

These words should inspire us all to help others. It’s one thing to talk about the problems with society, but it’s another to use your own money to make a difference.

If you would like more information or would like to make a donation, please visit his website at http://iamscholarship.dipdive.com/

Bret Michaels - Celebrity Apprentice

Mon, 24 May 2010 06:45:00 +0000

Bret Michaels has confirmed once and for all that corporate America is due for a revamp. With all of the controversy surrounding Wall Street and the banking industry which led the way to record unemployment rates, perhaps it’s time that businesses rethink their hiring structure and policies.

When the Celebrity Apprentice show began Bret was considered to be an underdog who was cast for entertainment value alone. He was a bandana wearing rocker with long hair who at the start of filming the Apprentice appearing on the show was still attempting to keep concert dates and this caused him to oversleep on occasion.

The frontrunner, Holly Robinson Peete, was structured, professional and dressed for the role of an executive. She was familiar with the business world and had experience both in fundraising and in presentations. There appeared to be no similarity between the two players and no one thought Bret would last long.

As the weeks progressed and the tension increased we learned that Bret was a inspired, resourceful project manager who produced masterpieces out of disorder. When things went wrong, such as with the undelivered camera dolly and the misplaced script on the final show, he didn’t blame anyone or get upset. He coolly analyzed the problem and came up with a resolution.

Holly, on the other hand, was quick to throw others under the bus and became frustrated when things didn’t progress according to her well organized plans. She stifled the creativeness of her teammates and refused to work outside the restrictions of her comfort zone. Her assignments were concluded in a timely and professional manner, but they lacked the imagination that was continually witnessed with Bret.

What does this have to do with corporate America? Everything. It is the case in point of what went wrong and how to repair it. According to human resource experts the ideal employee will be one with fashionable hair, manicured nails, professional clothing and an air of self-assurance. As Donald Trump said time and time again, he was searching for passion.

Having a professional appearance is mandatory in most positions because the business desires to give the impression they are capable of handling whatever undertaking it was created to do and nearly all companies have dress regulations to make certain that this happens. Originality and innovation are subdued. Imagination is overlooked or pushed to the side and anyone suggesting ways of improving or altering the status quo is assumed to not be a “team player”.

Bret Michaels has verified that the customary way of doing business requires revamping. He has proven that fitting into the corporate scene has no bearing on how dynamic and productive you can be. Bret remained flexible, motivated those around him in a encouraging way and in the midst of all the back stabbing and blame gaming he remained unruffled. He spoke eloquently, held chairs and doors for the ladies (even when they spoke negatively of him) and constantly used excellent manners. The audience came away with a sense that this rocker could do anything if he chose to.

Take note Corporate America! Times are changing. Stop hiring the plastic employees who fit into your prerequisite mold, but who have absolutely no life experience or common sense. Instead, start employing the obese older women, the rockers with multiple piercings and dyed hair, the handicapped or the ZZ Top lookalike. Our uniqueness is why we make an innovative workforce. We think outside of the box. We are slower to criticize others and most of us have learned more from life experiences than from ten college degrees.

Some opinion columns have said that Bret won because of sympathy for his illness. Those who watched the show every week know that wasn't the case. Bret was an incredibly hard worker who treated those around him with respect and who knew how to utilize the talents of his team members and motivate others to be their best.

He is also are a courageous man who came through the rigors of a strongly competitive contest with his dignity intact and then because of numerous medical conditions faced his own mortality. Against his doctor's advice he once again surprised us by appearing at the finale show where he heard those memorable words, "Bret, you're hired !".