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Elizabeth Fais

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Elizabeth Fais

Tag Archives: Al Pacino

The “Dog Days” Get a Royal Makeover

29 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Animals, Dogs, Humor, Summer

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Al Pacino, Bulldog, Butterfly, Canis Major, Dog Day Afternoon, Dog Days, Dog Days of Summer, Dog Star, Elizabeth Fais, equinox, Greeks, heliacal rising, precession, Romans, Royal Makeover, Sirius, Summer

Ah, the lazy days of summer…

Bulldog and butterflySummer’s almost over and I haven’t done an official “summer” blog post, yet. It just seemed wrong to let the season that’s known for strawberries, road trips, fairs, amusement parks … and so much more … slip by without an official shout out.

This post will set things right.

Last year I tipped my hat to historic roller coasters, the ultimate “summer” experience. This year I wanted to do something different, to turn a summer standard on its ear … or nose, as the case may be.

The “Dog Days” of Summer

What is up with that expression, anyway? I mean, seriously. It never made any sense to me, so I did a little research…

I discovered that Dog Days refers to the sultry days of summer, which in the Northern Hemisphere is July and August. I also learned that the Dog Days go back to Greek and Roman times. The Romans associated the hot weather with the star Sirius, also known as the “Dog Star” — the brightest star in Canis Major (Large Dog). That’s because originally, the Dog Days marked the time when Sirius rose just before, or at the same time as, sunrise (heliacal rising). This is no longer the case due to the precession of the equinoxes.

Back in the 1800’s, the Dog Days took a dark turn. People believed the Dog Days were a time of great evil, when the sea boiled, dogs went mad, and people went flippin’ nuts. Hence, the title of the film “Dog Day Afternoon” starring Al Pacino.

Bulldog and butterfly

Personally, I think the Dog Days are due for a royal makeover. I vote for happier, friendlier Dog Days…like the puppy in following clip. How about you?

The Bulldog and the Butterfly


A New Breed of Badass

25 Sunday Mar 2012

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Badass, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Elizabeth Fais, Emmie Mears, Femme Phenom, Paranormal, Supernatural, The Matrix, Vampire, Young Adult

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Al Pacino, Bruce Lee, Bruce Willis, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Carrie Anne Moss, Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Die Hard, Dirty Harry, Emmie Mears, Femme Phenom, Hunger Games, Joss Whedon, Paranormal, Rambo, Sarah Michelle Gellar, supernatural, Sylvester Stalone, The Matrix, Trinity, Young Adult

Badass looked like this…

That is, until Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

Buffy was a new breed of badass … the Femme Phenom. (As in, phenomenal. Come on people, keep up.) Joss Whedon created Buffy, because he was tired of the  pathetic female characters in horror films who maybe screamed before letting themselves get killed.

So not Buffy. She saved the world. A lot. And always did it with a witty quip, while rocking the hottest fashion. She wasn’t just tough, she was feminine and had depth of character. Buffy continues to save the world, as Emmie Mears so aptly points out.

I mean, would there have been a Trinity (of The Matrix series) if Buffy hadn’t blazed the Femme Phenom trail? Not to mention the other terrific Femme Phenoms, in fiction and film?

Take Katniss Everdeen of the Hunger Games (the heroine of the uber-popular book series, now a movie), an awesome Femme Phenom. She’s strong physically, mentally, and emotionally. She has to be to survive the horrific Hunger Games. Check out May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor, if you haven’t read the books or seen the movie.

So… in honor of Buffy, Trinity, Katniss, and all the other hot badass chicks, I declare this National Femme Phenom Week! And to celebrate, I’ll be hosting a phenomenal giveaway! A book with a truly badass Femme. You won’t be disappointed. Promise!

Sign up to follow this blog so you don’t miss out!

Badass is the New Awesome…

At least … during National Femme Phenom Week!

So, tell us … who’s your favorite badass … in film or fiction?

And for the record, badass guys are a total hot commodity in my book.

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