Scrutiny by the Masses

Darius Goes West

I was recently sent this email, and thought you all might be interested in the information:

My name is Collin Shepley. I am a senior in the University of Georgia's special education program, and I also work with a documentary film called Darius Goes West...I'm writing to you because I strongly believe that Darius Goes West is a story relevant to the content you publish.

DGW began in 2004, with me and some friends deciding to take our friend Darius on a cross-country road trip. Darius has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a 100% fatal genetic disease that took his Darius's brother's life at age 19. The goal of our trip was to spread awareness for DMD and wheelchair accessibility across the country. With some help from friends and film majors at the University of Georgia, we documented our trip in a feature-length film. Last year, Darius Goes West won 28 film festival awards, making it the most cumulatively-awarded film of the year.

 

Now, Darius has turned 19, and to celebrate we are working full-time over the next year to raise $17 million for DMD research. To do this, we're selling DVDs for $20, $3 of which buys more DVDs and covers foundation costs and $17 of which goes to DMD research. We are back on the road, traveling to schools, universities, conferences, and theaters to try to reach our goal.

Daryn Kagan, a former CNN anchor and host of CNN Live Today, featured a trailer of our film and an endorsement for the movie on her website DarynKagan.com, in which she is pitching the Darius Goes West DVD as the end-all-be-all of holiday gifts this year. Here is Ms. Kagan's blog: http://darynkagan.com/darynsblog.html (look at the post on October 13th).

 

We hope that Daryn Kagan's endorsement gives us the legitimacy as a foundation to reach out to blogs like Mom To the Screaming Masses for support.

We at the Darius Goes West Foundation are hoping that you will consider helping us reach our goal by telling our story to your readers. Darius Goes West is a genuine story that brings hope, motivation, and unity to people of all ages and backgrounds without being a run-of-the-mill depressing documentary. Seeing it, of course, is much more convincing than reading about it, so can I send you a link to an on-line copy of the film, or a DVD, for you to make your own decision?

 

Here is a trailer for the film, as well as our website address: www.DariusGoesWest.org (click the video for it to play).

 

Also, here is a short clip we made that features Darius receiving a 10,000 person standing ovation at his high school graduation. I think you'll enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwe1vw8rebQ

Finally, here is a clip of Darius on the Ellen DeGeneres Show: http://www.dariusgoeswest.org/press/

Inkheart

Based on the best selling trilogy by Cornelia Funke, Inkheart is a family-friendly fantasy adventure that sends a father and daughter on a quest through worlds both real and imagined. It's in theaters nationwide on January 23th.  I saw the previews for this movie last month, and it looks A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.  Seriously, I can't wait to see it - it's on my calendar!  My kids loved the books, and the movie promises to be every bit as exciting and thrilling.  And, hello/  Brendan Fraser?  YUM-O!

New Nintendo DS Game Makes Every Day The Fourth of July

In exchange for a copy of the newest Nintendo DS game, I agreed to post information on the game. I haven't yet played the game - but it sounds REALLY great and I am anxious to have it in my hot little hands.  It'll be available in stores January 20, at a suggested retail pricesof $19.99.

A challenging new twist on the retro shooter-style game, Big Bang Mini, developed in conjunction with Studio Arkedo, offers Nintendo DS™ players the opportunity to create their own fireworks displays. Players send up rockets with a sweep of the stylus while avoiding the burning fallout from fireworks which miss their targets. The aim of the game is to collect stars which fall when an enemy is defeated and progress through the game’s 90 levels.  

In the single-player ‘Arcade’ mode, players move through ten worlds, each with nine challenging levels and a fearsome enemy boss guarding access to the next world. Only when the boss is defeated is the next world unlocked. Players can also enter the ‘Challenge’ mode and link to a high score site through the Nintendo DS’s integrated WI-FI. 

The innovative ‘Versus’ multi-player mode in Big Bang Mini requires just a single game cartridge yet lets two players compete on separate Nintendo DS units. Parents, in particular, will appreciate not having to invest in a second copy of the game to allow friends and siblings to enjoy multiplayer games. In this mode, players launch fireworks at each other’s targets, holding the DS unit like a book, and watching the rockets fly from one screen to the next. 

‘Mission’ mode adds a new degree of difficulty to challenges found in the various worlds and requires excellent speed and accuracy to complete tasks. In sharp contrast, the ‘Relax’ mode lets players enjoy a computer-generated fireworks display or create their own, just for fun. The game also offers utilizes the Nintendo DS alarm clock feature so players can wake to sounds from the game’s award-winning soundtrack. 

Rated E for Everyone, the game is a ‘shoot ‘em up’ that will make long journeys pass in a flash – whether sat in the back of a car driven by mom or dad, or on the train while commuting to work, such is the game’s appeal to players of all ages. The tutorial arms players with the basic skills quickly, as play is controlled entirely by the stylus. Fast, strategic moves are required to send up fireworks, collect stars and move to safety from falling debris.

A Mother's Promise

“A Mother’s Promise” is a Facebook community supported by Evenflo, and it’s focused on bringing moms together in a quest to keep children safe while on the road. With so many people traveling for the holidays, it seems like the perfect time to raise awareness. Supporting “A Mother’s Promise” is free, super simple, and only takes a moment.

If you already have a Facebook account, just visit “A Mother’s Promise,” and post on the Wall, pledging to your children to do everything within your power to protect them. (There’s also a really cool video of other moms making their individual promises – it definitely made me a little teary!) If you don’t have a Facebook account yet, now’s the time! Once you’re a member, just search for “A Mother’s Promise” and post your promise.

Then, invite all your friends and family – other moms, dads, grandparents, and neighbors inside and outside the Facebook community – to do the same.

Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S., but together, we can make a difference.

Links:

Download the video to your site here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2BHzd_CuGE

Visit the Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/A-Mothers-Promise/49179387384?ref