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I'm a reader who enjoys posting comments and recommendations about the books I read. You will not find a synopsis with my recommendations because you can just click on the book title for a link to www.goodreads.com for a synopsis and reviews by other readers. I prefer the 3 Reason format: the reason I chose to read it; the reason I liked (or disliked) the book; and the reason I recommend it.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Panama Canal Transit Cruise




The Panama Canal Transit cruise gave us the opportunity to see amazing things for ourselves.

We left from Ft. Lauderdale, a new embarkation port for us.

We chose the excursion at Montego Bay to see more of the countryside of Jamaica as we traveled to Dunns River Falls. Host preferred to take pictures of the Falls and the surrounding park area. I joined a group assembled by a Falls guide. This guide had a group of twenty-five people hold hands to climb the Falls. Last year we did something similar at Mahoe Falls and I felt safe with a smaller group. I did not enjoy the walk up the Dunns River Falls the way I did at Mahoe Falls, and I removed myself from the group about a third of the way up. For any of you who have done this before, I climbed up past the point where you must climb under the low bridge.

Our visit to Cartagena, Colombia was historic: our ship was the first Royal Caribbean Cruise Line ship to dock there in six years. We nearly met El Presidente Uribe as he participated in a ceremony to greet our ship and came aboard the ship. Dignitaries, Juan Valdez with his mule as the symbol of 100% Colombian coffee, an orchestra, folklorico dancers and a gifts of a long-stemmed rose were available to greet us. The return of cruise ship tourism is a symbol El Presidente Uribe stabilized the country and reduced its violence. Our tour group was photographed by CNN. Our tourist dollars bought two straw hats for $20, three t-shirts for $10, and an emerald ring for Host.

Host was at the front of the ship before dawn with other photographers, and he took the photos from that position through the first set of three locks. While the ship was on Lake Gatun, we walked on other decks for shots from other perspectives. Don took the shots of the four Millaflores locks from the rear of the ship to watch those gates close behind us. We went to deck 13 for some shots of Panama City and its bridge.

Our days at sea were restful. We were excited when we spotted dolphins, porpoises, and sea turtles. There was dancing for us every evening: ballroom dancing in Starquest Disco on deck 13. (Club dancing happened there after we went to bed.) Three live bands played throughout the day and evening so we could dance at poolside, the Centrum or the Colony Club. I participated in an activity called Thai Chair. The cruise activity guy, Florin, wanted to combine the arm movements for Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan from a seated position to give people an introduction to tai chi chuan and still provide stability to them on a moving ship. Not every passenger has an inner gyro that works as well as the ones in the billiard tables! If Florin was not leading the class, other cruise activities personnel led the class through a Sit to Be Fit routine.

Our next four ports were ports of the Mexican Riveria: Hualtuco, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas. All of our excursions at these places were for land and sea as we wanted the best photo opportunities on our first visit to these places. Hualtuco is a Mexican National Park planned and designed to attract tourism for the nine-bay area. The original excursion we planned for Puerto Vallarta was a hike in the Sierra Madres, and it was cancelled by the tour provider in time for us to replace it with an excursion to Las Caletas. We had a 45-minute catamaran ride to that bay for some beach activities (some people snorkeled with a trained sea lion) and a nature hike that took us through three micro-climates: coastal, tropical rainforest with its palpable humidity, and high desert. In Acapulco we watched the cliff divers, a show I wanted to see for myself since watching Wide World of Sports. At Cabo San Lucas, we saw a humpback whale breach even though we were officially late for whale-watching season.

We disembarked in San Diego and flew back to Dayton via Atlanta.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Preparing for Vacation

April began a two-week push to finish projects once and for all times. My deadline was the start of vacation; my purpose gave urgency to the removal of clutter of ambivalence and postponement. Yes, again, my office looked worse before it looked better. I donated 3 boxes of books to Goodwill. Some books represented projects I finished before and no longer needed as reference. Some represented projects that I no longer wanted to do.

When I pack for a trip, I spend as much time considering my reading materials as I spend considering clothes. The reading material has to be light enough to carry in my backpack because time available in airports and in the airplane is a minimum of a 2+hours block. My unread subscribed magazines are usually my first choice. I cut off the address label before leaving so I may discard them as I finish them. Two issues of both National Wildlife and National Parks and a book from my library, Nine-Headed Dragon River by Peter Matthiessen were my final selection. As I removed clutter of ambivalence and postponement, I planned reading projects for my return after vacation, and I have many to pleasurably anticipate.

I spent more time on clothes selection since 2006 was an anabolic year. I postponed shopping trips because I did not want to buy clothes a size larger. I wanted to wait and buy them a size smaller and I wanted to wait until I had money that was not earmarked for other payments. In the meantime, I kept eating whenever and whatever I wanted until my "current size" was stretched beyond reality. Finally, Host gave me an urgent deadline and his help. Host and I shopped at Kohls, Elder-Beermans, JCPenney and Dillards for shorts, skirts, sundresses and new formal wear. I enjoy shopping with Host because Daughter has him trained to carry packages and pull out his charge card. He tells me which clothes he prefers to see me wear without responding to provocative questions such as, "Does this make my butt look fat?" And then he likes to eat out when we are finished!

Thursday, April 12, 2007

What Hostess Did in March

My work in March continued the project of taking action on ideas from a section of The Organized Writer each day. Some sections revealed more weaknesses in my craft than I can correct in an hour a day. Working to strengthen those weaknesses will become different projects to schedule later.
I continued the project of putting my notes into prose until I completed all
thirty-five individual "Stock Analysis" Word files. Having a template from which to work helped me move past the dread of starting a new file and beginning to write something new about another stock. The structure of a template gave me a place within each file to hang the notes. I could copy and paste directly from my online research, and I could find information I wanted as easily as opening a file.

An unrelated project surfaced in March. Ohio State Board of Pharmacy reminded Host and I 2007 was the year to report our completion of the continuing education requirement for licensure. I took the information I kept in an Excel worksheet and transferred it into the online form available from BoP. Host was fine because he manually totals his hours. I felt bewildered when my totals did not agree with their form. A reality check on my Excel template revealed I added a subtotal in a formula for calculations which had the effect of counting a column twice. My actual total was fifteen continuing education units short. I started to do the free lessons from my stockpile. These were free lessons I graded online and printed the certificates I needed. My next reality check verified my possession of the certificates for the reporting hours. Oops, nine certificates were missing. These certificates were from a subscription service, Pharmacist Letter, a benefit from Kmart. Those certificates are mailed to the pharmacists once a year. I forgot to follow-up in 2005 when the 2004 certificates were not mailed to my home. In March 2007, I was denied access to their website with my former username and password. Before I met the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy requirements, I needed nine more continuing education units. Those were finished the next week. These 24 units also satisfied some of my requirements for my Indiana license, due December 31, 2007. Once I finished Ohio, I continued doing one lesson a day until I finished my Indiana requirements.
I used all this daily reading of continuing education for my practice of The Organized Writer lessons. I analyzed the articles for a possible template and reviewed the publication guidelines. I came to the conclusion pharmacy continuing education is not a market for which I want to write. Academic writers for pharmacy continuing education are not reimbursed directly by the publishers of Jobson Publications or Ascendmedia; an honorarium is made to their university. Writing these continuing education lessons is a requirement for the academic salary. The publisher's honorarium payment shows up on the income statement as a tax-deductible donation. If a publisher has the choice between paying for my article with an ordinary expense or an academic writer with a tax-deductible expense, I know which choice her accountant prefers. Another reason this is not my market is my anticipated dread at just the thought of reading 15-40 peer-reviewed research articles for each potential article.

I returned to the March Cincinnati Investors Business Daily meetup because the members have discussions beyond IBD and its CANSLIM strategy for investing. Only two other members attended that meeting because the organizer was unavailable. One discussed his preference for trading options and the other discussed his preference to diversify his portfolio with up to 100 stocks at a time. Hostand I switched our primary meetup to Dayton IBD. We let go of choosing between Dayton and the Richmond IN meetup every month. Eighteen people attend Dayton meeting and our discussions are only for the strategy of CANSLIM.

The managing editor of www.fictionfactor.com started a Writers Workshop in Eaton. One other writer came for a total of three. Our initial meeting was a meet-and-greet to discover the genres we prefer. The format will be similar to that of Ohio Valley Writers Group: prior to the meeting we email an attachment to the group for critique, discuss each others work at a coffee shop, and then return home to write until the next meeting.

Our contract with Arthur Murray dance studio was completed in 2006. Host found a DVD series, "How to Be a Good Dancer" with Emilio and Blanche Librero. He bought three DVDs for my Christmas present. We practiced with one of the DVDs for our morning exercise before Host’s work. Since our cruise will be in tropical climes, we emphasized the merengue, the cha cha and the rumba in March. We bought three more: blues/slow, samba and salsa.

Of the movies we watched in March, I recommend Mrs. Palfrey at the
Claremont, The Devil Wears Prada, Little Miss Sunshine, An Inconvenient Truth and Thank You for Smoking.

I only have one book to recommend, Mr. Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth
Ashton. The story is based on the premise that Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett have five daughters to introduce to London society. If you like Pride and Prejudice and all its re-tellings, this may be to your liking.

Friday, March 30, 2007

High Fructose Corn Syrup Takes Another Hit

I hope family members and friends take the time to read this article which is copied here in its entirety. The author does an excellent job of explaining why I avoid high fructose corn syrup in my food selection. Buying products without high-fructose corn syrup is more difficult every day. HFCS is in most breads. Even bakery-fresh bread may have it, if the baker uses frozen dough. HFCS is in most crackers. The trips to the grocery take me longer than ever as I find it in more unexpected products. I don't know how Mott's Original Recipe can call itself original when HFCS is now an ingredient.

Beware of high maltose corn syrup. Another corn processor makes that and markets it to other food companies.

I wish corn processors would listen when I tell them where to stick their overly processed corn by-products, "Put it in the ethanol and not in our food!"


High Fructose Corn Syrup Takes Another Hit
by Craig Weatherby
Courtesy of Vital Choice Seafood
The rise in America’s obesity rates parallel the rise in consumption of high-fructose corn syrup, which occurred as manufacturers replaced costlier cane sugar (sucrose) in drinks and snacks with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

HFCS is produced by processing corn starch to yield glucose, and then processing the glucose to create a syrup that is usually about 45 percent fructose and 55 percent glucose.

Since sucrose (cane sugar) consists of one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose (i.e., 50 percent each), you'd think its effects would be similar to those of HFCS. But sucrose behaves very differently in the body, compared with glucose, fructose, or HFCS.

Conversely, the body’s digestion, absorption, and metabolism of fructose differ from the ways it digests, absorbs, and metabolizes glucose or sucrose.

The HFCS-obesity hypothesis

American’s consumption of HFCS increased by more than 1,000 percent between 1970 and 1990, far exceeding the changes in intake of any other food or food group (Bray GA et al 2004).

HFCS now represents more than 40 percent of caloric sweeteners added to foods and beverages and it is the sole caloric sweetener in soft drinks in the United States.

The increased use of HFCS in the United States mirrors the rapid increase in obesity, and the way in which the liver metabolizes fructose favors creation of new body fat.

In addition, unlike glucose, fructose does not stimulate secretion of insulin or leptin: hormones that act as key signals in the regulation of food intake and body weight (Teff KL et al 2004).

These epidemiological and experimental findings explain why many researchers believe that dietary fructose may promote increased calorie intake and weight gain.

The rise in HFCS intake also correlates with the rise in rates of metabolic syndrome: a condition linked to increased risks of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease and characterized by abdominal obesity, hypertension, and impaired glucose (blood sugar), fat, and insulin metabolism.

Tellingly, HFCS produces signs of metabolic syndrome in animal and human studies: especially elevated triglycerides and altered fat metabolism.

Almost one in three Americans have symptoms of metabolic syndrome, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), some 2.3 billion adults will be overweight by the year 2015 while more than 700 million people, many of them children, will suffer from obesity.

There are some problems with claims that HFCS is a major cause of obesity or metabolic syndrome:

The rise in America’s obesity rates also parallels the rise in consumption of soybeans and soy oil, which are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which promote inflammation and other obesity-fueling effects.
Obesity is also rising in countries where cane sugar still dominates.
Most studies of the effects of fructose have been in rodents, and those in humans have produced mixed results with regard to insulin resistance: a key pre-diabetic, obesity-promoting condition.
Still, the evidence against HFCS seems to be mounting.

As researchers at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh wrote recently, “High-fructose consumption is associated with insulin resistance and diabetic dyslipidemia [unhealthful blood-fat profiles]…” But, as they also said, “… the underlying mechanism is unclear.” (Qu S et al 2006)

New research from Spain may shed some light on the mystery.

Barcelona study details fructose effects on the liver
The authors of an animal study in Spain report some disturbing findings about the way in which fructose is metabolized: outcomes that may bolster the accusations made against HFCS, and increase calls to remove it from foods and beverages (Roglans N et al 2007).

Researchers from the University of Barcelona found that liquid fructose changes the way the livers in rats metabolize fat. Fructose affects a genetic switch called PPAR-alpha in ways that impair the liver's ability to break down the sweetener.

As the Spaniards noted, “Because PPAR-alpha activity is lower in human than in rodent livers, fructose ingestion in humans should cause even worse effects, which would partly explain the link between increased consumption of fructose and widening epidemics of obesity and metabolic syndrome.” (Roglans N et al 2007)

PPAR-alpha is believed to help regulate the burning of body fat (fatty acid oxidation).

Researchers led by Dr. Juan Carlos Laguna fed lab rats a fructose- or glucose-sweetened liquid (10 percent sugars by volume).

The livers of the animals drinking the fructose-sweetened liquid metabolized the syrup differently, yielding a calorie overload to which the animals’ bodies could not adapt.

Dr. Laguna’s team report that dietary fructose increased fat synthesis in the animals' livers and also acted on the PPAR-alpha receptor to reduce breakdown of the fructose.

As he said, “The most novel finding is that this molecular mechanism is related to an impairment in the leptin signal. Leptin is a hormone that plays a key role in the body's energy control; among its peripheral actions, it accelerates fat oxidation in the liver and reduces its synthesis.” (Roglans N et al 2007)

The Spaniards also observed that fructose decreased fat-burning in the animals' livers (thereby increasing levels of blood triglycerides and body fat) and activated the pro-inflammatory (hence, pro-obesity) genetic switch called NF-kappaB: two negative changes not observed in the glucose-fed rats

No weight differences seen: short study duration blamed

The Spanish scientists found no significant differences in weight between the rats drinking liquids with glucose or fructose, possibly because this study was too short for such changes to be measurable.

Even though manufacturers call fructose “fruit sugar” -- to mislead and lull consumers of added fructose -- most fruits have much more sucrose than fructose, and the implications of this study have no bearing on the fructose in fruit.

As Dr. Laguna said, “Fruit is healthy and its consumption is strongly recommended. Our study focuses on liquid fructose intake as an addition to the ordinary diet.”

Sources:

* Roglans N, Vila L, Farre M, Alegret M, Sanchez RM, Vazquez-Carrera M, Laguna JC. Impairment of hepatic Stat-3 activation and reduction of PPARalpha activity in fructose-fed rats. Hepatology. 2007 Mar;45(3):778-88.
* Bray GA, Nielsen SJ, Popkin BM. Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Apr;79(4):537-43. Review. Erratum in: Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Oct;80(4):1090.
* Teff KL, Elliott SS, Tschop M, Kieffer TJ, Rader D, Heiman M, Townsend RR, Keim NL, D'Alessio D, Havel PJ. Dietary fructose reduces circulating insulin and leptin, attenuates postprandial suppression of ghrelin, and increases triglycerides in women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Jun;89(6):2963-72.
* Qu S, Su D, Altomonte J, Kamagate A, He J, Perdomo G, Tse T, Jiang Y, Dong HH. PPAR{alpha} mediates the hypolipidemic action of fibrates by antagonizing FoxO1. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Feb;292(2):E421-34. Epub 2006 Sep 19.
* Le KA, Faeh D, Stettler R, Ith M, Kreis R, Vermathen P, Boesch C, Ravussin E, Tappy L. A 4-wk high-fructose diet alters lipid metabolism without affecting insulin sensitivity or ectopic lipids in healthy humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Dec;84(6):1374-9.
* Wei Y, Wang D, Topczewski F, Pagliassotti MJ. Fructose-mediated stress signaling in the liver: implications for hepatic insulin resistance. J Nutr Biochem. 2007 Jan;18(1):1-9. Epub 2006 Jul 18. Review.
* Le KA, Tappy L. Metabolic effects of fructose. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2006 Jul;9(4):469-75. Review.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

How Bears Hibernate

The harsh February weather kept me inside where I did more than hibernate. I worked on investing research projects I postponed until I had my broadband internet connection at home. While at my parents’ Florida home in January, I waited until after 9 P.M. to use their Internet-phoneline connection to download the data from screens Investor’s Business Daily published only once during January and its weekly screens. When I returned to Ohio, I had data from 22 screens with 40-100 stocks per screen to research.

The task seemed daunting.

Yet, with all that data in one pile, I could see patterns evolving that I might have missed had I looked only at one day’s screen at a time. I could see the same stocks occurring time and again. If the stock was not going to meet my fundamental due diligence once, it was not going to meet it, even if it were in a different screen. I prepared a list of Stocks to Avoid to compare with screened data, and one step of my due diligence became a game of “which of these things is not like the other”. Failing my due diligence screen does not mean someone else can’t make money investing in those stocks; these are simply stocks that I don’t want to keep in my Universe watch-list.

Investor’s Business Daily screened 12,000 stocks down to 880-2200 stocks from which to choose and I chose 35 for my Universe watch-list. I researched those 35 in depth for both fundamental research and technical analysis.

I felt overwhelmed when I considered ways to keep my current notes straight for 35 stocks at a time. I was also stuck on other writing projects due to my inexperience. February 12, I found an e-book by Julie Hood and its website called The Organized Writer, and it has been useful to me for my writing project, Stock Analysis. I followed her suggestions for choosing simultaneous projects and setting up a filing system.

As is the way with so many first steps of an organizing project, both my office and our study looked worse before they looked better. I emptied my file drawers of all project files, discarded what was no longer relevant to the work I wanted to do, put some of my stuff into long-term storage in the garage, and aligned my computer files to match my research files.

I was half-way through The Organized Writer when the February 27 stock market correction occurred. The focus of my writing had to change. This new system helped me adapt when urgent changes and closer deadlines occurred. One priority for my daily writing changed from the project, Portfolio Maintenance, to Trade Evaluations, writing post analysis of the completed trade. Now I am “in cash” until the next market rally begins.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Help with Medicare Part D Coverage Denial

Family members who are Medicare Part D recipients will find a useful form at this link,
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PrescriptionDrugCovGenIn/Downloads/ModelCoverageDeterminationRequestForm.pdf

The form helps you gather the information you need to request a review of denied prescription drug benefits.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Fish Can Be Healthful

I found Mom’s published cookbook useful when I cooked for my parents after Mom’s surgery. Her cookbook is filled with her own good cooking and their favorites from family members and friends. Her cookbook was published in 2001, ten years after I became a vegetarian; and, they still considered my choice enough of a fad to include my original chili which they preferred and not zucchini chili. Her cookbook overcame some fears of Mom and Dad when I announced I would cook supper for them. I picked Aunt Carolyn’s Oven Fried Chicken and Brian’s Post Roast with Vegetables. They were familiar with the taste of my choice of recipes. They agreed with my choice because those foods were unlikely to taste as if the food were something prescribed for them. They trusted I could still follow a good recipe, even if I had not cooked meat in fifteen years. Mom and Dad agreed those meals were tasty, even if they teased me with the comment, “It’s so good. You should cook meat more often.”

Mom is not required to change her eating or cooking habits for two months after her open-heart surgery which included two by-passes of coronary arteries. Now is the time for us to share our favorite low-fat recipes so she can eagerly anticipate trying some of our favorite recipes. Mom’s published recipe is Deep Fried Crappie or Bass. Two other favorites from friends are Beer Batter Halibut and Cajun Breaded Deep Fried Halibut. She uses the fillets from fish Dad catches. His catch is usually bass, blue-gill, and a fish similar to what we Buckeyes call crappies.

Fishermen of this family, what are your favorite healthier recipes?

I do most of my fishing from the freezer case at Sam’s Club. Once or twice a week, I’ll bake or broil fish to eat with my vegetables. Here are my favorite recipes.

Baked Tilapia with Corn and Peppers (serves 2)
1 cup corn (canned or frozen)
¼-1/2 cup thinly sliced or diced onions
½ cup thinly sliced or diced red or green bell pepper
2 serving-sizes of tilapia (sometimes the fillets are small; 4 oz/person)
Salt, pepper and chili powder to taste.

Toss the vegetables with a bit of Olive Oil-flavored Pam® Spray and season with salt, pepper and chili powder. Spread this in a baking dish with a lid. Season the fish with your seasonings. Lay the fillets on top of the vegetable mixture and cover the baking dish. I bake it a 350 degree oven for about 20-30 minutes, or until the fish is fork-tender and the vegetables are warm.

Glazed Salmon Fillet (serves 2)
1 Tablespoonful reduced-sodium soy sauce (look for tamari sauce because it is naturally reduced sodium)
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
pinch of ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon (or less) of sesame oil
2-4ounce salmon fillets

In a bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Coat broiling rack with non-stick cooking spray before turning on the heat. Baste the fillets. Broil 4-6 inches from the heat for 5-6 minutes on each side or until salmon flakes easily with a fork, basting frequently with glaze.

Friday, February 16, 2007

Snowstorm of 2007


I want to hear your snowstorm stories about the storm of Feb. 13-14, 2007. This was the biggest storm since Christmas 2004. Your snowstorm stories don’t have to be for this year. Blizzards of 1950 or 1978 make for some good stories too.
Host took two days off work.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Movie Recommendations from 2006

Movie watching is a favorite hobby of mine. Has it gone beyond a hobby to obsession if I admit I watched 214 movies in 2006?

I started to document the titles of the movies I watch in 2004, when I first subscribed to Netflix. After a review of that list, I decided Netflix was worth the monthly fee to give me access to some movie genres I prefer and that I cannot get from cable or satellite subscriptions, from a local video store or the public library. Netflix allowed me to watch a movie once and that kept me from buying lots of movies that I did not need to keep in our home DVD library . The In-Demand feature that came with cable movie channels was a nice feature that freed me from their broadcast schedule. The pause feature on DVRs is the handiest thing since the bookmark!

Keeping a film list is as useful to me as the book list is (See Dec 18 posting). A list reveals some preferences for genres and some dislikes. My list won't have gory horror movies. I also hate movies that put women and children in jeopardy and treats them as victims for the sake of a plot device.
In 2007, I plan to annotate my list to include who recommended the movie to me or how I heard about it. I'm also planning to add a note about how long I watched before I said, "This is a lousy movie" and turned it off.

This list is 20% of the movies I watched in 2006. There is no ranking to the list. I made this list with the hope that you may find something you like.
Dear Frankie
Must Love Dogs
Bride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice
Wedding Crashers
Zathura
Harry Potter: The Goblet of Fire
The Thing About My Parents
North Country
L4Yer Cake
Madagascar
Rabbit Proof Fence
Walk the Line
40-Year Old Virgin
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
The Chronicles of Narnia
Love, Ludlow
Shaun of the Dead (more parody and satire than gruesome zombies)
My Date with Drew
The Widow of Saint Pierre
DaVinci Code
A Love Song for Bobbie Long
Transporter II
Tristan and Isolde
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
The World's Fastest Indian
In Her Shoes
Memoir of a Geisha
Wallace and Grommit: The Curse of the WereRabbit
The Producers
Just Friends
Transamerica
Lucky Number Slevin
Capote
Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story
16 Blocks
Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School
Madison
Duma
Mrs. Henderson Presents
X-Men III
Casino Royale
Superman Returns
Eragon
Akeelah and the Bee