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The movie "Miami Vice", starring Colin Farrell, knocked "Pirates of the Caribbean" into second place. "Miami Vice" is fast paced with drug lords, murders and romance. It is based on the TV hit series. "John Tucker Must Die" came in 3rd and Monster House" dropped to 4th. Topeka area movies.
Have you ever in your life heard of a 12 year old running for President of the U.S. Well, Judson Moon is. He is 12 years old and with the help of his best friend Lane Brainard he is running for President. But can he win? He does not even know his first lady that well. And he is just a kid. Will they even let him run? You will have to read the Kid Who Ran for President to find out. This his second book. I personally thought that they were both great.I’m afraid only on a London stage.
From CNN.com:
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe will strip off for his London stage debut as a psychologically disturbed stable boy in "Equus."
The 17-year-old, currently making the fifth Harry Potter film, will star alongside Richard Griffiths, who plays his grumpy uncle in the wizard sagas.
Radcliffe will play Alan Strang, a stable boy who is interviewed by a psychiatrist after he blinds six horses with a metal spike. In Peter Shaffer's controversial play, the role requires the actor to ride naked on his horse.
Continue reading this article here.
The Madison Finn Series
This is a good book series, by Laura Dower, for young women because many of us can really relate. She is a normal teenager living a normal life that is crazy and hectic just like ours. She goes through many of the same things we do and it could actually help readers through there own problems. I would deffinately suggest this series to other readers because I really have enjoyed the series and I know others will to.
I read Kristen Snowbound by Janet Shaw. I give it 2 1/2 stars out of 4. It was an interesting book about kids snowbound to their house while their parents were gone. They had troubles through out the story.
Recommended by Braydi
Murder On the Orient Express by Agatha Christie is a thoroughly entertaining mystery novel. The main character is a detective who is traveling by train when an unexplained murder occurs. Through reasonable deduction, interviews of the passengers, and searches he is able to discover who the murderer is.
Reviewed by Ashley
I am reviewing the book Al Capone Does My Shirts. It was an AWESOME book!! I really LOVED it! The book was about when a boy and, named Moose and his family: sister, mom, and dad when they moved to Alcatraz and because his dad worked in the jail house. Moose did not like living there at the island because he missed his friends in his old neighborhood. And the story goes on about his adventures on the island. Moose's sister has autism. And Moose has to watch over his sister while the mother is teaching kids piano. This book is very good and I am sure you will like it if you read it!!
Recommended by Katelyn
Premonitions by Jude Watson was about a girl who had visions. That was the time her friend disappeared and her visions were the only thing that would lead her to her friend.
Recommended by Kelsey
Teens of all ages picked up their feet and learned dances from around the world.
Alessandra, from the Topeka Folk Dancers, provided the instructions that sent the participants hopping, twirling & leaping to the beat of music from Israel, Romania & France. Look for more programs featuring folk dancing in the future.
Almost everyone enjoys the chance to pet a wild animal. The outreach people from the Topeka Zoological Park gave 40 teens and 15 adults the opportunity to touch the plates of Nefertari, the Plated Lizard and feel the scales of Lucille, the Ball Python. Although, Beni, the Quaker Parrot made an appearance she didn't enjoy being petted. Ratna & Chris shared their knowledge of "life at the zoo" and all the fun activities that are available for teens. Did you know that ball pythons only need to eat every three weeks? Or tropical parrots that once were pets and were turned loose have adapted to our warmer North American regions? We all learned many interesting facts about the animals that reside at the zoo.
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If you played Lego Star Wars and enjoyed the unique combination of reliving favorite scenes from the movies with humorous and often addictive game play, then you owe it to yourself to prepare for Lego Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy.
Nothing can compare to classic Star Wars scenes depicted with Lego characters. This game is designed for kids but many teens and adults have been drawn into the Lego Star Wars universe.
Nothing can prepare you to see Darth Vader, light saber in hand, menacingly mumble “Luke, I am your LEGO”. Have a look at some favorite moments from this funny sequel.
For the 3rd week in a row the movie, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead
Man's Chest", is at the top of the box office charts. It has made a
total of $322 million in the 3 weeks it has been showing. The new movie
"Monster House" & "Lady in the Water" came in 2nd & 3rd. "You, Me and
Dupree" was 4th and "Little Man" was 5th. Check movies and times.
Attention Yu-Gi-Oh duelists! Sign up for the opportunity to duel
other Yu-Gi-Oh players. Walk-ins are allowed if there are open
slots, but a reservation guarantees a seat.
Who: 11-18 years
When: Monday July 31st
Time: 3-5 pm
Where: Lingo Story Room
Registration required. Please call 785-580-4565 to reserve your seat today!
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
Graphic novels aren’t just about superheroes. Persepolis is a fantastic autobiography of independent, sassy, hilarious Marji growing up during the Islamic Revolution in Iran. This is a girl who dreamt of being a guerilla fighter and admired political prisoners. This is a girl who loved Michael Jackson’s music (back when he was cool) and denim, but she had to buy them on the black market AND had to wear a veil in public or be beaten. (I guess you wouldn't have to worry about a bad hair day.) As Marji struggles to understand her country, the world, and her own beliefs, the reader learns what it was like to live in Iran in the late 70s and early 80s.
Check out Satrapi’s website for samples of her writings and drawings from the novel. I like the one titled, The Veil. Wikipedia has a short but good article on Satrapi that you might want to read too.
So what do you do now that you have destroyed the first Halo, defended the earth from a Covenant assault, and fought through to the infuriating ending of Halo 2?
Prepare to broaden your knowledge of the Halo universe with the Halo graphic novel. Much of the novel is packed full of a side story for the video game plot; however, the Master Chief will make a cameo appearance for all you Chief freaks!
Interested?
Pay homage to the chief and read this Halo graphic novel review!
Opportunities await! Find out what goes on behind the scenes at
the Topeka Zoological Park Zoo. There will be an interactive
program with live zoo animals. Information will be shared about
careers and volunteering at the zoo.
Who: 11-18 years
When: Thursday, July 27
Time: 2-3 pm
Where: Marvin Auditorium
Registration required. Call 785-580-4565 to reserve your spot today!
Harry and the Potters (who rocked the library so hard last summer that is was like a punch in the face) are coming to KC on August 7th! In preparation of getting your face rocked off, the HPs are challenging you to read a book off their summer reading list!
Two of Hollywood’s most beautiful women are in the news, one for a break-up and the other for a make-up (and impending marriage).
Comic-Con International 2006 starts tomorrow in San Diego! Comic book and graphic novel aficionados (and let’s face it, geeks- which isn’t necessarily a bad thing) the world over have already started flocking to the end-all-be-all mecca of super heroes and villains.
Daniel Clowes! Rosario Dawson! Christopher Paolini! The cast of The 4400! Yoshihiro Tatsumi! Amanda Conner! The special guest list for this year’s conference is insane!
Can’t afford the road trip or your parents simply won’t let you go? Hang out in David J’s place, grab a stack of graphic novels and chill out in the a/c.
Like to play poker? You have two new ways to deal coming this fall.
Those of you who have an XBOX 360 should look to pick up Microsoft’s arcade release of Texas Holdem available for download in late august.
If you prefer your competition live and in person keep your eyes raised for our Texas Hold'em tournaments coming to David J’s Place this year at your Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.
Raise and Call ya!
Looking for something good to read? Try one of these high school stories!
This fun filled workshop will allow students to explore art using pencils, markers, watercolors and collage. Students will receive instructions and begin four projects. For those who speed, they will cross the Finish Line. Those who drive a little more cautiously will have four
projects they may finish at home.
Who: 11-18 years
When: Monday July 24th
Time: 1-3 pm
Where: Lingo Story Room
Registration required. Call 785-580-4565 for your spot today!
From MSN Music News:
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" once again was 1st on the list of box-office favorites. The new release "Little Man" came in 2nd with "You, Me and Dupree" trailing a close 3rd. "Superman Returns" and "the Devil Wears Prada" are still on the list of popular movies. Check movies and times in the Topeka area.
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Ember was created 240 years ago as a completely isolated society. The city has no factories, no computers, no cars, or anything requiring electricity except for lights. Although the Builders provided canned goods and other necessary items for future citizens, the city is now running out of supplies and the lights are becoming more and more unreliable. People are starting to panic, because they don't know how to get help or if there is even a world beyond the city. Outside the city limits is complete darkness, and no one has a portable light source. Two kids discover a secret message that may unravel the mystery of the Builders and the outside world. Unfortunately the message was partially destroyed, and they will have to guess what the missing words are. This will lead them to an adventure that will take great courage but may save the citizens of Ember.
The story of Ember continues in The People of Sparks. Unshelved added The City of Ember to their Book Club comic strip.
Okay, so we have all had the hair from the pit day. You get up late, grab the comb, then the brush, and try the gel and water options on the way out the door. Of course none of this works as you self consciously suffer through the next twelve hours with the dreaded bed head and the lame looks from your peers. At least you have an excuse. Check out this IGN top ten list of worst dos for a video game character. It will make your hair day from hell seem oh so much better!
Elizabeth McKinley, 17, became the "Fiesta Idol" on Thursday night at 
Fanboys and fangirls the world over are in mourning at the possibility that Weezer will never put out another album. Can this really be it?
From CNN.com:
NEW YORK (AP) -- Rivers Cuomo says that, for now, Weezer is "done."
Cuomo, the band's bespectacled songwriter and frontman, told MTV that while he remains in touch with his bandmates, "we've never mentioned getting together."
"Really, for the moment, we are done," he said. "And I'm not certain we'll ever make a record again, unless it becomes really obvious to me that we need to do one."
Continue reading this article here.
So how do you get a tennis ball to stay up in the air? Or how do you keep the soccer ball rolling around the circle?
Just ask the participants of the Thursday afternoon team building program. “Man, this is hard,” remarked one participant as she fell off the mat. The goal was to have a dozen people on a mat and turn it over without anyone falling off. Another activity was to figure out which rope was looped through the other five ropes. Leroy Russell, Shawnee County 4H Agent lead the group in these and other team building activies at the Driven to Lead program.
Mark your calendars—it is exactly one year from today when Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix hits theaters! It has also been rumored that Scholastic is trying to pin down J.K Rowling for a 2007 release date.
I know, it’s a long time to wait. In the meanwhile re-read the series (the audiobooks read by Jim Dale are fantastic), re-watch the first four movies, check out all the fan sites, write your own HP fanfic, perfect your Aragog costume (going as a muggle simply won’t suffice), play quidditch or wizard chess, listen to Harry and the Potters new album (listen to it on their myspace)… The year will simply fly by!
What happens when the world’s smallest criminal gets into a diamond heist that goes terribly, horribly wrong? Well, it might look a little something like Little Man (out in theaters this Friday, check for movie times here). The Wayans brothers (last seen together in White Chicks) are back and the critics are less than thrilled.
Review by Joel Meares:
This latest attack on the human soul from lowbrow maestros the Wayans Brothers is unfathomably awful. Its central conceit, that a 75 cm tall actor should run around with the face of Marlon Wayans and that everyone in the film should accept said creation as a genuine baby, is a coarse plausibility pill to swallow, and nothing the actors or filmmakers do assist in its digestion.
Ouch. Here’s your chance to rebuttal! See it this weekend, write a review and post it to Graffiti.
Watch out world—Jay and Silent Bob are back in theaters on July 21st! Also returning in Clerks II are Dante Hicks and Randal Graves, this time working at everyone’s favorite fast-food chain, Mooby’s. (For those of you in the know, you’ll remember Mooby’s made it’s first appearance in Dogma, the choice eatery of Rufus, the 13th apostle.) Check out Kevin Smith’s video diary on making Clerks II, read character bios and check out their myspace pages (make sure you add them as a friend!).
Park Ranger, Gabriel Diaz, from Brown v. Board presents 
Civil Right’s Music and its effects in America.
Who: 11-18 years
When: Thursday, July 20
Time: 2-4 pm
Where: Marvin Auditorium
Registration required. Call us at 785-580-4565 to reserve your seat today!
If you are into real time strategy (RTS) gaming, you may have noticed the lack of quality titles available for console gamers. This is no longer the case with The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth II from EA games.
Electronic Arts has done a fantastic job converting this PC title over for the XBOX 360, with the same great graphics, game play, and updated interface displayed on a high-end PC. So drop your keyboard, pick up your controller, and battle for Middle Earth on your 360!!!
Move to the music, shimmy, shimmy, shake. Learn Zodiak & Balagon. Come enjoy dances from around the world, bring a friend and have some fun!
Who: 11-18 years
When: Wednesday, July 19th
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Where: Marvin Auditorium
Registration required. Call 785-580-4565 to get the party started!
Looking for something good to read? Try these magical stories.
Looking for a summer job? Want training for the perfect job? The Team 
Dress Rehearsal contestant Eric Giroux & teammate Tom Rosen were one of the seven policy debate teams that went undefeated in preliminary rounds and finished as one of the top 25 teams in the country out of 189 policy debate teams. Eric was the emcee and gave an informative speech at the March 1, 2006 Dress Rehearsal. Both students are from Topeka High School.
High school ambassadors will take you to a new level of interactive, team building. Two hours of activities, fun and snacks.
Who: 11-18 years
When: Wednesday June 7th at 6:30-8:30pm & Thursday July 13th at 2-4pm
Where: Marvin Auditorium
Registration required. Call 785-580-4565 for more information.
Attention Yu-Gi-Oh duelists! Sign up for the opportunity to duel
other Yu-Gi-Oh players. Walk-ins are allowed if there are open
slots, but a reservation guarantees a seat.
Who: 11-18 years
When: Monday July 17th
Time: 3-5 pm
Where: Lingo Story Room
Registration required. Please call 785-580-4565 to reserve your seat today!
From MSNBC.com:
LOS ANGELES - Johnny Depp's boozy, woozy buccaneer Jack Sparrow has plundered the box office, with "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" taking in a record $132 million in its first three days, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Disney's swashbuckling sequel sailed past the previous all-time best debut, 2002's "Spider-Man," which took in $114.8 million in its first weekend.
"Dead Man's Chest" also did nearly three times the business of its predecessor, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," which took in $46.6 million over opening weekend in 2003.
Keep reading here.
The lines were long but the movie was worth the wait. The movie
favorite was "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest". "Superman
Returns" dropped to #2 followed by "The Devil Wears Prada", "Click"
& "Cars". Go here for current movies and times.
Fat Kid Rules the World by K L Going
Troy Billings is the Fat Kid. He’s a 300 pound high schooler who is overly self-conscious and contemplating suicide when he meets the legendary, local punk guitarist, Curt MacCrae. Curt, on the other hand, is also a high school student (sometimes), homeless (most of the time), filthy (all the time), and ridiculously skinny. Curt decides that Troy should be his drummer even though Troy hasn’t played drums since seventh grade and wasn’t very good then. But Curt is a legend, and how do you say no to a legend? Troy is desperate for a friend and suddenly the headlines he makes in his head about what others think of him, become more positive. Instead of Fat Kid Messes Up or Fat Kid Gets Pummeled by Mob, he starts thinking Exultant Fat Kid Rejoices. This is a fabulous book: a go-ahead-and-try-not-to-laugh-but-I-bet-you-at-least-smile type of book! Be warned though, it’s full of sharp edges, rough language and hard truths.
You can also read the story behind the book in an interview with the author or read her blog.
for teens, by teens
Leslee, age 11, thinks you should:
Read this! Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe
Watch this! The Musketeer
Click this! http://www.miniclip.com has free games and shows
Listen to this! Gretchen Wilson, especially the song Here for the party
"Can I have that recipe?" was a frequent request from the teens at 
the Driven to Create program said Gayle Lolley, Young Adult Librarian. "This is so cool and tasty!" commented on participant. Shaquinton displays the book she won and the crafts she made. Fantastic Pens was one of the most popular booths. Other booths were decoupaging, decorative mirrors, wall hangers and refrigerator magnets.
Stephanie won the Driven to Read t-shirt. Many thanks to the volunteers that assisted at each station. Read further for more photos and the ice cream recipe.
Rock n’ Roll Ice Cream
What you need:
§ 3 pound empty coffee can
§ 1 pound empty coffee can
§ 1 pint half & half
§ ½ sugar (the best part)
§ Rock salt
§ Ice (‘cuz it’s ice cream)
How to make it
1. Be sure empty cans are clean and free of any smell or residue for soap
2. In a small can, mix half & half with ½ cup sugar. You can add a small amount of vanilla or any frozen fruit you like.
3. Place small can inside big can. Add enough ice to cover small can. Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of rock salt to ice. Be sure can lids are secure!
4. Now comes the FUN!! Put a sheet or other large covering on the floor. Everyone have a seat on the floor and start rolling the big can to each other. This takes about 10-15 minutes of time. Look at the ice cream to see if it is hard enough. If it is not, continue to roll a little longer.
5. Eat the ice cream and enjoy!
Say, here are some websites featuring fun and fascinating facts about ice cream:
www.foodsci.uoguelph.ca/dairyedu/icecream
www.icecream.com
www.icecreamusa.com
Did you love the movie Night of the Living Dead?
Where you thrilled by the sequel Return of the Living Dead?
Did the video game Stubbs the Zombie give you tingles and goose bumps all hours of the night? Look no further for your next fix!
Check out Capcom’s Dead Rising for the XBOX 360.
What would it be like to be a reporter trapped in a shopping mall with thousands of zombies hoping to rearrange your brain into their stomachs? Experience all the brain chomping fun this fall on your 360!
Over 50 people enjoyed the Country-Rock music of local band Percival last night. The band was playing as part of the Driven to Read events for teens this summer at the library.
Percival performed an 11 song set, including all of the songs from their new CD Indian Summer. Oliver’s guitar solos were popular with the crowd, as was the song “Milwaukee” which was about a girl (not a beer). Brett (who is also a library employee) was described as “crazy versatile” by an observer. Brett alternated between playing pedal steel, guitar and a grand piano. With Mark playing bass and Tom providing a dance-able beat on the drums, the sound was complete.
Towards the end of the show, Justin took requests from the audience – although not for songs. Teenagers in the audience called out different things for an improvised song he and the band would make up on the spot and perform. A song about refried beans, giant otters, I don’t know, and the library was born. And judging from audience comments, it was a success! “That’s honestly the best otter-related song I’ve ever heard,” said one listener.
Not only did the band end with a Johnny Cash cover, but they added useful advice – more information about Cash and his music could be found in the library’s 780’s section, or under B-Cash for biographies. 
A girl waiting to get her new Percival CD autographed by the band members described the experience: “It’s just the way those guys work together to make music. It’s like magic.” 
Percival is Justin Klinksick, vocals, acoustic guitar; Oliver Zeltner, vocals, electric guitar; Tom Reid, drums, vocals; Mark Harvey, bass, vocals; Brett Resnick, pedal steel, keyboards, guitar.
Visit Percival's website