Hey, everybody, and welcome to the second installment of the Wind's Messenger! My computer was having some problems, and I've been busy so i couldn't post this sooner.... And, on top of that, I've had this cough all week that won't go away....my mom is killing me with cough meds. TT^TT I'm sorry for the delay! Hope you enjoy! ^^

 Media

This week, in interviews, Sir Ian McKellen, one of his newer roles being the polar bear in the upcoming movie, The Golden Compass, an adaption of the book (if you haven't read it yet, and want to see the movie, GO READ IT! Even if you don't, do so anyways.XP) states why he didn't become Dumbledore.
 He says, "People say to me, don't you wish you'd played Dumbledore? I say no! I played Gandalf! The original. There was a question as to whether I might take over from Richard Harris [Gambon's predecessor in the Dumbledore role], but seeing as one of the last things he did publicly was say what a dreadful actor he thought I was, it would not have been appropriate for me to take over his part." He smiles icily. "It would have been unfair."

Speaking more about Harry Potter, the author, J.K. Rowling, has been named Entertainment Weekly's Entertainer of the Year.

 Meanwhile, the Writers Strike of America negotiation with the Producers aren't going anywhere; negotation, at the while, isn't possible. Shows like "The Office" are shut down. Writers complain that the proposals that their opponents aren't covering includes their core demands, such as an insistence on new-media compensation at a multiple times what they have received for years from DVD sales. Talks are to resume on Tuesday, and solutions are looking dim.

 Health

Its been around for a while, but, as the winter is coming along, as a reminder, chocolate is actully good for you. Cocoa, to be more specific, that is. It's rich in flavanols that help preserve the function of blood vessels. It helps you looking young; maintaining youthful blood vessels lowers the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, as well as dementia.

 Dec.1st was  World AIDS Day. See what you can do to help out those with AIDS or HIV, and how you can prevent yourself from getting it.

 Crimes and Criminals

 Usually, a car accident wouldn't count as a crime, but I'm placing this next case under crime because, well, there's really no where else to put it.....Crimes and Criminals sounds a lot better then Car Accidents.

On November 13, Soldotna, Alaska, a 73 year old woman by the name of Della Miller crashed into Tina's Hair Pro's (a hair salon) window, not only destroying the windows, but also some walls, and the outside stone work. The crash knocked a customer six feet across the room, no injuries reported. Miller was not injured nor cited for the crash, and oddly enough, proceeded with her hair appointment.

In Khartoum, Sudan, a English primary school teacher was arrested, accused of insulting Islam's Prophet by letting one of her pupils, a 7-year old, name a teddy bear Muhammad. The project was to bring a stuff animal to class, name it, and keep a journal of its "doings" or what you do with it every day. One kid needed help, so the teacher, Gillian Gibbons, aged 54, proposed that they vote, and taught the kids how. Twenty of the Twenty-five students voted for the name Muhammad. Now colleagues and supporters of Gibbons are arguing her case in her favor. Meanwhile, punishments include flogging, a fine, and/or 20 years in jail.

 Sports

Redskin football player was shot last Monday, Nov. 26th. Robbers where in his home, and, not expecting him to be there, shot him in surprise, in the groin (Which, for those of you who don't know, continues down on your leg; he was shot, basely, on the leg). He died the next day at age of 24. Thankfully, four suspects have been caught, and police are investigating the case.

 Does anyone know who won the Super Bowl?

 World Cup Ski Jumping Results from Saturday, the first individual ski jumping meet of the season:

Large hill (top 5)
 1. Thomas Morgenstern, Austria, 308.8 points (146.5-137 meters).
 2. Bjorn Einar Romoren, Norway, 306.6 (143-139).
 3. Tom Hilde, Norway, 298.9 (142-138.5).
 4. Gregor Schlierenzauer, Austria, 298.1 (147-135).
5. Matti Hautamaki, Finland, 290.1 (141.5-130.5).

Overall standings (top 5) After 1 of 28 events
1. Thomas Morgenstern, Austria, 100 points.
 2. Bjorn Einar Romoren, Norway, 80.
3. Tom Hilde, Norway, 60.
 4. Gregor Schlierenzauer, 50.
 5. Matti Hautamaki, 45.

Politics

Dec.1, Bloomberg. President Bush says funding the Iraq and Afghan Wars is Congress's top priority.
He said "Continued delay in funding our troops will soon begin to have a damaging impact on the operations of our military." And, as always, there's a feud going on in Congress between the Republicans and the Democrats over these issues.

Calender
Dec. 1: World AIDS DAY
 Dec 5: Movie release for Billy The Kid (USA) and Juno.
HANUKKAH BEGINS
Dec 7: 'Tis Autumn - The Search for Jackie Paris (NY) - The Amateurs (LA, Dallas; limited:
 Dec. 14) - Atonement
Dec 14: Alvin and the Chipmunks - Goodbye Bafana (limited) - Half Moon (NY; LA release
Dec. 24. CHRISTMAS EVE
Dec. 25 CHRISTMAS DAY
Dec. 26.) KWANZAA
 Dec. 28) - I Am Legend (conventional & IMAX theaters) - The Kite Runner (limited) - Look (limited) - Youth Without Youth (NY, LA)
Dec.30 NEW YEAR'S EVE
Jan. 1 NEW YEARS DAY
 Jan. 4) - Dirty Laundry (NY, LA) - The Golden Compass - Grace is Gone (limited) - Looking for Cheyenne (limited) - Man in the Chair (limited) - Revolver (NY, LA) - The Walker (NY, LA)

 Ending Notes and Coming Up Next....

 Again, thanks for reading. And hope you had a happy Thanksgiving, and good holidays to come (and are happing)! It was kind of boring for me, but I lived through it. I have to give credit to MSN News, Mugglenet, as well as Google for finding out all of this information. (That, and my T.V.) I've heard that the Host Club Season 2 is being aired in Japan, can't find any dubs or even evidence that it is, though. _ _ Also, please check out my fiction, I would really appreciate it! Again, please massage me any and every comments and concerns that you have; constructive advice is welcome too! Next time I'll see if I can add more things, as well get into other topics......o! and it just snowed here at my home! ^^ I love the snow, no matter how old I get to be. Till next time!
 

                                                                                                                         GinKazeRyuu