An estimated 80 million people in 60 countries regularly watch House, M.D., the medical mystery TV series featuring Dr. Gregory House who is unconventional, arrogant, rude and void of bedside manner, but brilliant at diagnosing rare diseases. In her widely read columns on blogcritics.org, Barbara Barnett dissects and comments on the intricate subplots and the complexities of the heroic but flawed Dr. House. Her comprehensive new book, Chasing Zebras, the Unofficial Guide to House, M.D., solidifies her reputation as an authority on the series. Chasing Zebras is a resource for seasoned fans, an atlas for new viewers, and a guide for students of television, film and pop culture. It combines Barnett s insights with details from her numerous interviews with the show s writers, producers and actors. She notes that the medical storyline of each episode is merely the framework for a character study of Dr. House and his relationships with staff members. Several chapters explore the show s thought-provoking presentation of ethical dilemmas, religious beliefs, knowing the right thing to do, hiding the truth, and other issues. The book is an in-depth analysis of Dr. House s words, actions, troubles and motives, but also profiles key characters. Barnett explains how stories are conceived, describes the parallels to Sherlock Holmes (House=Holmes), and points out how every detail contributes to the themes. The title Chasing Zebras comes from the medical axiom, When you hear hoofbeats, you think horses, not zebras. When Dr. House observes peculiar symptoms, he looks beyond the logical causes.
Chasing Zebras By Barbara Barnett $17.95 US $19.95 Canada ISBN 978-1-55022-955-4 ECW Press Available in bookstores nationwide and online. For more information visit www.barbarabarnett.com Barbara Barnett is a television and film editor for Blogcritics magazine and writes the regular feature, Welcome to the End of the Thought Process: An Introspective Look at House, M.D. She has degrees in biology and political science, and currently works as an educator of children and adults. She lives in a suburb of Chicago.
Dean King on WEBE Radio (Bridgeport, CT)
with host Robby Bridges
Unbound: A True Story of War, Love, and Survival
by Dean H. King. (Little, Brown and Company 2010)
In October, 1934, the Chinese Communist Army found itself surrounded by hundreds of thousands of Nationalist soldiers, facing annihilation. Rather than surrender, 86,000 Red Army soldiers including future leaders Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, and Zhou Enlai embarked on a three year, 4,000 mile epic march to safety. In their ranks were 30 determined women. The journey was horrific, with nine out of ten marchers dying or left on the road. Remarkably, almost every woman lived and became leaders of Communist China. Why did this happen and what was that journey like? This is the first tale about Mao's march that focuses on the women.
Lance's Journal: Biking For Music, Feb. 8, 2010
Wahoo Patricia Starr believes life has no limits and living her life as an example to others has earned her a national award. This Wahoo native has bike more than 5,000 miles since the age of 67.
Posted: 7:54 PM Feb 8, 2010
Reporter: Lance Schwartz
Email Address: lance.schwartz@1011now.com
Your Book is Your Hook on WomensRadio
Host: Jennifer S. Wilkov
Guest: Lynda O'Connor
O'Connor Communications
Your Book Is Your Hook! - Publicist & Fiction Novelist's Dream Come True
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, Host of Your Book Is Your Hook!
Your Book Is Your Hook! is designed to serve and support authors, writers and readers of books and other writing mediums. It showcases industry professionals and authors who share insights, experiences and wisdom about writing, marketing and publishing your book.
Lynda O'Connor arranged for Adolph Kiefer to be filmed by WGN-TV
November 18 - 1936 Gold Medalist Adolph Kiefer
Olympic Gold Medal Winner
Now the font size is 2.Soon to be available for public viewing, "Olympian for Life" revisits the day Adolph Kiefer learned to swim as the result of a near fatal accident. Kiefer recalls falling into a Chicago drainage canal, "I didn't lose my head. I rolled over, kicked my feet, and slowly but surely worked my way up to the parapet. That was the first time in my life ever swimming--swimming the backstroke."
Despite the loss of his father and the onset of the Great Depression, young Kiefer followed his father's encouraging words that one day he would be the "best swimmer in the world." By the age of 15, Adolph Kiefer met the challenge. At the Lakeshore Athletic Club where Kiefer worked as an elevator operator to support his family, the coach timed Kiefer's backstroke. According to the coach, Kiefer had surpassed the world's record.
At the age of 17, Kiefer won the gold medal for the 100-meter backstroke in the 1936 Olympics. Ultimately Kiefer participated in over 2,000 races in which he only lost twice. Although Kiefer's Olympic career was limited due to the onset of World War II and the cancellation of the 1940 and 1944 Olympic Games, Kiefer's life-long journey of promoting safety, health and fitness was just beginning.
As a videographer, producer, and photographer, Michal McClure has traveled extensively throughout his life, capturing cultures, people, and nature through the lens of a camera. However, for this video McClure didn't need to look far for inspiration. Kiefer and McClure are neighbors. "Every morning at about 8:30, I can see Adolph, his wife Joyce, and their golden retriever pile into the car for another day at the office. That picture stays with me. And, I don't even need to capture it on film."
Chasing Zebras By 
