One minute, the Pevensie children are standing at a subway, and the next, they are rocketed through space to land in a deserted country, with only the ruins of an old castle to give them clues to its former inhabitants. Within three swift seconds, they had returned from England to Narnia, the land where Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy once were kings and queens.

Expectations for this movie were even higher than those of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and the award-winning cast fulfilled them well. While slightly darker than the previous film, Prince Caspian managed to bring C.S. Lewis’s Narnia to life.

In spite of their nobility, the Pevensies now find themselves on the wrong side of the law, fighting against the Telmarines for control over Narnia. Joining forces with the escaping Prince Caspian, the former kings and queens rally an army to storm the Telmarine castle. Though they are elated to be back in Narnia once again, the children find their beloved land quite different from when they left.

“You may find Narnia a more savage place than you remember…” Trumpkin the Dwarf explained after Susan shot down a bear that was about to attack her sister. Though the Pevensies are wary of their new allies, Minotaurs and other creatures that had fought fiercely against them in previous battles, they have united against a common enemy: the conniving, silver-tongued king of the Telmarines, who stole Prince Caspian’s right to the throne. The Pevensie’s only comfort is that they don’t have to be afriad of their former opponent, the White Witch, since she was destroyed in a long-ago battle ……Or was she?

Telling this epic story the way author C.S. Lewis would have wanted it, Prince Caspian ignites an adventurous spirit in even the most timid of viewers. Featuring both humorous and stoic characters, this film masterfully depicts another world in a crystal-clear way. Watching Prince Caspian will leave viewers on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the next Narnian story.

Lines, Vines and Trying Times is also expected to incorporate a wide variety of musical instruments that hadn’t been previously used in their albums such as horns, harmonicas, and peddle steel guitars. The sound is also going to be a bit different, as the album contains diverse styles of music, like “old school” and “funk”.

“The overall message is its the same old Jonas Brothers, in a sense, but we’re adding more and more music, including different musical instruments that are going to add and build to the sound we already have,” Kevin explained. The brothers tell fans to be ready for more great pop songs as well.
Paranoid, the first single of Lines, Vines and Trying Times, was released to the public on May 8th. While most consider it to have little or no significance in the Jonas Brothers’ real life, some critics speculate that it might be a response to Taylor Swift’s song Forever and Always, about her breakup with boyfriend Nick.

On May 17th, the brothers are embarking on a world tour, with approximately 76 different locations. In between visiting most of the major cities of the U.S., the band will also be giving concerts in England, Brazil, Mexico, Switzerland, France, Spain, and Ireland, to name just a few of the foreign countries included.

Although in these “trying times” the Jonas Brothers aren’t sure of their future, one thing is certain: they will convert new fans wherever they go.

Father’s Day presents don’t have to be expensive to be appreciated. Although your dad might want a waterproof shower radio, he could be just as happy with a container full of homemade cookies.

Before you spend half your savings on a Swiss Army Knife, consider making him something by hand. There are many ideas for homemade presents on the internet, including: framed collages, personalized calendars or photo albums, hand-painted T shirts, or a slideshow of your family’s favorite pictures, burned onto a CD.

Gifts don’t have to be handmade to be inexpensive. For those of us that aren’t so talented in the “arts and crafts” area, there are cheap options you can pick up at stores.

Instead of getting a bland father’s day gift, think about matching the present to his hobbies. If your dad enjoys gardening, try buying him some seed packets, or some tools. If his sport is golfing, some tees and a new bag of golf balls might be just what he wanted.

If you do have some extra money, or have been saving it for this occasion, a wide range of more expensive items are available. Some of the top-selling gifts for last year’s Father’s Day were: Hammocks, leather jackets, dress watches, fishing gear, grill supplies and tickets to baseball or football games. Although these items might be too pricey to purchase on your own, your siblings or mother could pitch in and make the special gift something from the whole family.

Even without a present, you can make Father’s day special for your dad by surprising him with a clean car or garage, or making him a delicious homemade dinner, complete with his favorite food.

Although expensive items are always appreciated, all dads agree: The best gifts come from the heart.

Under the kind supervision of her peaceful teacher, Master Chen, Red Bird learns the Chinese language, reading, writing and history, so she can aid her forest clan in their dealings with their Chinese neighbors, who speak different dialects.

In one of his creative homework assignments, Master Chen asks Red Bird to write a history of her people, resulting in the creation of her diary, which she carries throughout her adventures. In the midst of her mundane problems, a real issue suddenly arrives.

Red Bird finds herself caught in a war between her clan, and their rivals, the fierce Dog Head Tribe. Now, Red Bird is sent back to school at the Chinese settlement, and must face the difficulty of protecting the family that hosts her from the Dog Head raids on the colony. Red Bird bravely uses the fighting skills she was taught in her clan, which only serves to frighten the Chinese and convict them of her savageness.

When her wise, heroic father is killed in a bloody skirmish, Red Bird must return to her tribe and watch her brother – who is only a year older than she – struggle with the new responsibility of leadership that has been thrown on his shoulders. Taking up arms in a daring, resourceful way, Red Bird courageously attempts to defeat the Dog Heads, using an unlikely group of old men, women and little children.

Princess Red Bird’s stoic valor comes alive through this fascinating novel, which beautifully depicts the Ancient Chinese culture. The peace that Red Bird strives for is also much-needed in today’s world, making this story a relevant and thoroughly entertaining book.