April is National Poetry Month. The 3rd Annual "Paws for Poetry" Contest Challenges Kids to Write Sonnets to Spaniels, Prose for Persian Cats

Colorado Springs, CO (March 2, 2010) -- April marks the 14th anniversary of National Poetry Month. To help celebrate, budding Emily Dickinsons and Edgar Allan Poes are encouraged to participate in the 3rd annual "Paws for Poetry" Contest (PawsforPoetry.org). To enter, children ages 5-12 are to write a poem to, and provide a photo of, their favorite animal friend. The contest is co-sponsored by kids' virtual field trip Web site Meet Me at the Corner (MeetMeAtTheCorner.org) and Flashlight Press (FlashlightPress.com).

Original poems of any length may be submitted in one of two categories: Group One (ages 5-9) and Group Two (ages 10-12). One grand prize winner in each category will receive a $50.00 Amazon.com gift card. Two runners-up in each category will receive a $25.00 Amazon.com gift card. Children's author, poet, and Iraqi war veteran Thad Krasnesky, writer of the upcoming "That Cat Can't Stay" (Flashlight Press, 2010) is the contest judge. Krasnesky will also be providing winners with signed copies of his new book.

In addition to the prize packages, winning poems and pet photos will be highlighted in an upcoming Meet Me at the Corner video pod cast. The pod cast will be videotaped at New York's Angellicle Cat Rescue Center. Local students will present the winning poems.

All submissions should be mailed to "Paws for Poetry" Contest, c/o Meet Me at the Corner, 20 West Del Norte, Colorado Springs, CO, 80907. The contest deadline is April 15, 2010.

For more information, rules and submission guidelines, visit PawsforPoetry.org.

**Every entrant receives written script analysis** Grand Prize: $10,000 Four Finalists: $1,500 each Best UK screenplay $2500 Best screenplay from outside USA, UK, Canada $2500 Final Deadline April 1. $60 entry fee. SUBMIT YOUR SCREENPLAY: http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com ABOUT BLUECAT Founded in 1998 by award winning writer and director, Gordy Hoffman. Now in its 11th year, we have built a large community of writers passionately committed to writing original, unforgettable work. This starts with our exchange of feedback to each entrant. Additionally, through our newsletter, we provide screenwriting advice through articles, videos, and interviews to support and inspire every level of screenwriting. THE BLUECAT WORKSHOP Tour 'Full Script' and 'First Ten Pages' workshops in Philadelphia, Detroit, Minneapolis, Cleveland, DC, Kansas City, NYC, Rochester, Seattle, and more TBD: http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com/screenwriting_help/workshops.php PAST WINNER SUCCESS Ana Lily Amirpour 2007 BlueCat Grand Prize Winner - The Stones *Participant for 2009 Tribeca All Access. *Ana Lily has been invited to attend the BERLINALE TALENT CAMPUS #8 in Berlin *Recently signed with CAA. Andy Stock and Rick Stempson 2005 BlueCat Grand Prize Winner - Balls Out: The Gary Houseman Story *Starred Sean William Scott and was released by Sony in early 2008 *Second produced screenplay released last year-The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, was directed by Neal Brennan, and starred Jeremy Piven Andy Pagana and Justin Thomas 2004 BlueCat Grand Prize Winner - Man in the Rearview Mirror *2004 Nicholl Fellowship Semi Finalist. *Under option with Shirley MacLaine and Emmy-nominated director Michael Rhymer attached BlueCat Screenplay Competition Email: info @ bluecatscreenplay.com Website: http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/BlueCatPictures Facebook: http://facebook.com/pages/BlueCat-Screenplay-Competiton/140069287677

Beverly Hills, CA — “The Cove,” “Man on Wire” and “An Inconvenient Truth” will be among the 12 Oscar®-winning short and feature documentaries that will screen as part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “Oscar’s Docs, Part Six: Academy Award®-Winning Documentaries 2004–2009” beginning Monday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. The screenings will be held Monday evenings and will conclude on May 3.

“Oscar’s Docs” is a comprehensive screening series of every short subject and feature to win the Academy Award for documentary filmmaking since the category was established in 1941. Part Six, the final installment in the series, includes the films that were honored earlier this month at the 82nd Academy Awards.

The retrospective will feature the best available prints from the documentary collection of the Academy Film Archive. All of the evenings will feature panel discussions with the filmmakers (schedules permitting).

The complete “Oscar’s Docs, Part Six” screening schedule is as follows:

Monday, March 22

“Mighty Times: The Children’s March” (2004) – 40 mins.
Thousands of black schoolchildren deserted classrooms in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 2, 1963, touching off a week of mass demonstrations that shocked the nation.

“Born Into Brothels” (2004) – 83 mins.
Photographer Zana Briski helps children of prostitutes in Calcutta create their own photographs with point-and-shoot 35mm cameras.
Featuring an onstage discussion with producer-director Briski.

Monday, March 29

No screenings

Monday, April 5

“A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin” (2005) – 40 mins.
On VE Day, Norman Corwin, the “poet laureate of radio drama,” presented his landmark broadcast, which electrified the nation.
Featuring an onstage discussion with producer-director Eric Simonson and producer Corinne Marrinan.

“March of the Penguins” (2005) – 85 mins.
Each year, Emperor penguins in Antarctica journey to participate in a courtship that, if successful, will result in the creation of new life.
Featuring an onstage discussion with studio executives Mark Gill and Tracey Bing and composer Alex Corman.

Monday, April 12

“The Blood of the Yingzhou District” (2006) – 39 mins.
Children of Yingzhou who have lost their parents to AIDS find their struggles complicated as traditional obligations to family and village collide with the terror of the disease.
Featuring an onstage discussion with producer Thomas Lennon.

“An Inconvenient Truth” (2006) – 100 mins.
Al Gore discusses the science behind global warming, how it has affected our environment, the disastrous consequences of inaction, and what individuals can do to help.
Featuring an onstage discussion with director/executive producer Davis Guggenheim.

Monday, April 19

“Freeheld” (2007) – 40 mins.
Dying of cancer, veteran New Jersey Detective Lieutenant Laurel Hester struggles with local elected officials to transfer her earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree.
Featuring an onstage discussion with producer Vanessa Roth and director Cynthia Wade.

“Taxi to the Dark Side” (2007) – 106 mins.
An investigation into the homicide of an innocent taxi driver at the Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan exposes a Bush Administration policy of detention and interrogation that condones torture and the abrogation of human rights.
Featuring an onstage discussion with producer-director Alex Gibney and producer Eva Orner.

Monday, April 26

“Smile Pinki” (2008) – 39 mins.
A social worker in India travels from village to village gathering patients for a hospital that provides free surgery to thousands each year.
Featuring an onstage discussion with producer-director Megan Mylan.

“Man on Wire” (2008) – 94 mins.
On August 7, 1974, a 24-year-old French high-wire artist named Philippe Petit performed one of the most astonishing feats of the late 20th century by stringing a thin cable between the two towers of the World Trade Center and walking across it.

Monday, May 3

“Music by Prudence” (2009) – 35 mins.
A disabled Zimbabwean singer-songwriter offers a message of hope through her music.

“The Cove” (2009) – 94 mins.
In a cove near the Japanese village of Taiji, a mass dolphin slaughter yields fraudulently labeled meat that finds its way into the lunches of schoolchildren.

Tickets for this final installment of “Oscar’s Docs, Part Six” are free, but advance tickets are recommended to ensure a seat. Tickets are available by mail, at the Academy box office (8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or online at www.oscars.org.

Doors open one hour prior to the event. All seating is unreserved. The Linwood Dunn Theater is located at the Academy’s Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study, 1313 Vine Street in Hollywood. For more information call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org.

Calling All Photographers! Submit by April 10 and You Could Be Part of an Exhibition in San Francisco City Hall

Submit your photography to the International Museum of Women'sPicturing Power & Potential, a new opportunity for photographers around the world to have their work displayed in an exhibition in San Francisco City Hall in the summer of 2010 and online at IMOW.org. Picturing Power & Potential is a collaborative project between I.M.O.W. and the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery. ELIGIBILITY: All living artists worldwide working in a digital photography format. Special attention will be paid to those who submit work created in the past five years. No entry fee required. SUBJECT MATTER: We are looking for works that demonstrate how women are participating in the current global economy as leaders and agents of positive change. MEDIUM: Photographic works that can be printed via a digital file are eligible. Submit your work through the I.M.O.W. online form. Visit our Call for Submissions for details. The deadline for submissions is APRIL 10, 2010. A project of Economica, this special photography exhibition will include a global celebration of women as economic change-agents. As many as fifty works will be selected from the submissions for display in both the physical exhibition in San Francisco and in a special presentation online at I.M.O.W.'s Web site. For complete submissions guidelines, click here.

Below for some fun highlights for March. Here’s some fun highlights and Sprout activity this month:

1. Didn’t get a chance to catch the Wiggles Live on stage? Well you may be in luck. A handful of local markets are supporting the movie version at local theaters. Here’s the link to dates and markets: http://www.cinemalive.com/

2. Also at the movies this month – everyone’s favorite railroad friend – Thomas! See Thomas & Friends like never before in this new action-packed movie. Thomas Hero of The Rails will be in select theaters nationwide starting March 6^th. Here’s the link for more info: http://www.screenvision.com/s/showing/ThomasAndFriends/

3. We've all heard what they say about March: it comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Sounds a lot like our Sproutlets! Check Sprout for Parents for tips on how we can handle the snuggly love our little lambs shower us with - and the ferocious feelings they throw at us, too!

4. Just for fun I wanted to make you aware of a cute new Click and Color Game on SproutOnline.com. It’s a lot of fun and is getting great reviews so far from ourSprout families. Same goes for The Sunny Side Up Show Coloring Book Game. I’m warning you – they’re addicting!

5. Stay tuned next month for an exciting new series to launch on Sprout. Sneak peek video to come soon!

FTC disclosure: I am part of the Band of Bloggers for PBS Kids Sprout.

Need a fun activity for your kids, grand kids, newphews, nieces, or preschool class?

What better than a coloring page that shows them the importance of prayer!?

Have your kids return the colored page to us by 3/31/2010 for the opportunity to WIN over 10 WaterBrook Multnomah children's books!

Here's how to enter/participate:

1. Enter the contest here by March 30, 2010
2. Once you enter, you'll be given a link to download a PDF of the coloring sheet
3. Print the coloring sheet out on any computer printer
4. Have your kids color the sheet
5. Mail the sheet to:
   
   WaterBrook Press
   Attn: Coloring Contest
   12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
   Colorado Springs, CO 80921

Wondering what celebrity makeup artists are predicting to be the biggest trends on the red carpet? Celebrity makeup artist Christopher Drummond, who recently attended the pre-Oscar party at the Beverly Wilshire, has sent in his top trends for the Oscars.

Christopher has worked with Jennifer Lopez, Kimora Lee Simmons, Paula Patton and January Jones and has worked on fashion shows, award shows and photoshoots. At the pre-Oscar party on Wednesday night, Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol Palin sought out Christopher to have her makeup touched up.

Here are Christopher’s predictions for Sunday night:

• Eyes: Of course, the smoky look will be big as it always is for the red carpet. It is the "go to" look for celebrities when they want to look glamorous and dramatic. However, this year, I predict the smoky look will be accented with a lot of shimmery metals: bronze, gold, and silver. Also on the eyes: a focus on luxurious lashes and liner focused on the top on the eyes.

• Color: Will also be predominant on the eyes - but not heavy color. Light, whimsical shades such as pale blue, lavender and peach will all be used generously.

• Skin: Skin will be a main component of the overall look for celebrities. It's always a pre-requisite for celebrities to have glowing radiant skin, and the Oscars are certainly no exception. Luminizers and shimmer will be used on the eyes and cheeks to help emphasize that "healthy" look.

• Lips: There will be two looks: Matte, bright red or nude and glossy. Peach lips will also be a part of the look for many. Peach is always a great "go to" color for makeup artists as it works with a variety of skin tones.

In a performance that's sure to be a true crowd-pleaser, the Rockford Symphony Orchestra concludes its Pops Series with Broadway Today! at the Coronado Performing Arts Center on March 6 at 7:30 p.m. Three outstanding veterans of the Great White Way will join the RSO to perform memorable musical numbers from contemporary blockbusters like Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Wicked, Mamma Mia! and more! Tickets for this unforgettable night of musical theater start at just $18.

For more information on Broadway Today! or to purchase tickets, visit www.rockfordsymphony.com or call 815.965.0049.

Make a weekend of it! Stay at any hotel in the Rockford Region to take advantage of an exclusive Arts & Culture Offer. You'll receive four admissions to Rockford Art Museum, a discount voucher for select performances of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and a $20 certificate for use at one of three downtown restaurants. Call the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800.521.0849 with your hotel confirmation number at least 48 hours in advance of your stay to receive this great package at no extra cost! The package will be ready for you at your hotel upon check-in. Offer is limited to the first 50 respondents.

For more great deals and special offers this winter in the Rockford Region, visit winter.gorockford.com.

Beverly Hills, CA — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that, should “The Hurt Locker” be announced as the recipient of the Best Picture award at Sunday’s ceremonies, only three of the picture’s producers will be present for the celebration. The fourth of the film’s credited producers, Nicolas Chartier, has been denied attendance at the 82nd Academy Awards® as a penalty for violating Academy campaigning standards.

Chartier had recently disseminated an email to certain Academy voters and other film industry figures in which he solicited votes for his own picture and disparaged one of the other contending films. Academy rules prohibit “casting a negative or derogatory light on a competing film.” The executive committee of the Academy’s Producers Branch, at a special session late Monday, ruled that the ethical lapse merited the revocation of Chartier’s invitation to the Awards.

The group stopped short of recommending that the Academy governors rescind Chartier’s nomination. If “The Hurt Locker” were to be selected as Best Picture, Chartier would receive his Oscar® statuette at some point subsequent to the March 7 ceremonies.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. PT/ 8 p.m. ET. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.