Post: #16

Author, Suzanne Collins.

Though she has a long career of writing for children's television, Suzanne Collins has seen her reputation blossom since she began to write young adult novels. She began with the New York Times bestselling five-part fantasy/war series, The Underland Chronicles. And of course, her most acclaimed and popular work to date has been The Hunger Games trilogy, which the New York Times noted "revealed [her] outsize imagination for suffering and brutality." In addition to winning her a slew of awards, the novels have made Mrs. Collins popular enough to be named one of Time Magazine's Top 100 people in 2010.

Mrs. Collins's television work has also been much acclaimed. Her work includes young adult programs such as Clarissa Explains It All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. She has also written for pre-school viewers on programs like Little Bear and Oswald. She has worked for many networks, including Nickelodeon and WB.

Ms. Collins has studied at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and at New York University, where she was awarded an MFA in Dramatic Writing. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children.

Post: #17

Suzanne Collins, here’s a real story

Jason Blackman

Unless you live in a cave, it’s hard to ignore the enormous success of this year’s breakout hit, “The Hunger Games.” Adapted from a novel by Suzanne Collins, the film has grossed over $300 million, with no sign of slowing down.

Well, great for them. I’m glad they’re all making so much money. Makes me wonder though, why the hell did every single publishing company pass on my novel of the same name nine years back?

That’s right. As part of my transition into manhood, I was required by my Hebrew school to complete a creative assignment based on my heritage. So, my 12-year-old self set out to write a novel. The end result: “The Hunger Games” by Jason Blackman, the story of one reformed Jewish family on what became a very solemn Yom Kippur.

My prodigious prose went wildly unnoticed, keeping me from ever writing a novel again. However, with a newfound sense of confidence and nothing left to lose, I’ve decided to update my story with more current references and re-release my work to the masses.

Here are a few excerpts from my novel, “The Hunger Games.”

“When I wake up, the other side of my bed is so cold! My fingers stretch out seeking Rebecca’s warmth, but find only the rough-knit blanket my grandma sent up from Florida a couple of years ago. She must have had bad dreams and climbed in bed with my mother. Of course, she did. This is the day of fasting.”

“Our part of Long Island, nicknamed Complainjew, is usually crawling with housewives in gym clothes heading out to one of many local bagel joints at this hour. Men and women with decent posture, and swollen knuckles, many of whom have long ago stopped playing Words With Friends for when they first got it they started a ridiculously overwhelming amount of games in which no human, no matter how much free time they have, can ever successfully partake.”

“But today, the nicely paved asphalt streets are empty. Shutters on split-level houses with beige vinyl siding are closed. The fasting isn’t until sundown. May as well DVR a ‘Chopped’ marathon. If you can.”

“The sun is about to set. Rebecca and I sit in the middle of a crowded junior congregation. This year Rebecca turned 12, which by our families’ standards is the first year she is expected to fast. It’s time for the drawing. Rabbi Steinstein says as he always does, ‘Ladies first!’ and crosses to a shoebox with a square cut out of the top. He takes out a small slip of paper. The person chosen must approach the front of our congregation and read a passage from the evening prayers.

“The crowd takes a deep breath. It’s so quiet you can hear a pin drop, and I’m feeling nauseous and so desperately hoping that it’s not me, that it’s not me, that it’s not me.”

“Rabbi Steinstein crosses back to the podium, smooths the slip of paper and reads out the name in a clear voice. And it’s not me.”

“It’s Rebecca Greenspan.”

“It’s three in the afternoon. There are only a few hours of the Hunger Games left. I leave my room in search of my family. My father and my sister sit in our den area, eyes fixed on ‘Man vs. Food’s’ Adam Richman as he comes one delectable bite closer to a heart attack.”

“Where’s Mom?” I ask. Then I head to the kitchen. My mother stands there with a bag of low-calorie probiotic induced yogurt.

“Mom, no!” I scream, “You’re almost there!”

“Eh, if I don’t eat something I’ll get a migraine. Just one bite.”

An ominous gong echoes through our home.

So, there you have it. Pretty good, right? If you like what you see, stay tuned for the sequel, “Catching Fire.” It’s the story of what happens when Rebecca’s denim skirt comes a little too close to an active Shabbat candle.

Post: #18

Katniss is not only a plant, but was commonly used as a broadleaf arrowhead for Native American Indians.

Cinna was a poet in one of Shakespeare's plays who tried to start a rebellion. He conspirated against the leader Julius Caesar and was thus killed... does this give us any hints?

Effie derives from the name Euphemia, or "fair speech" (eu = well, good; pheme = voice) which makes sense, because she is an escort and public speaker. However, there is more to the name Euphemia than just being able to talk well - there is a whole story behind the name that is rather shocking when compared with Suzanne's Hunger Games. Euphemia was a young christian girl who was martyred because of her faith. Where she lived, the governor made a decree that all citizens had to take part in ritual sacrifices. Euphemia, or Effie, however, refused to take part in these sacrifices, and she and her friends were thereby tortured. One of these tortures; being trapped in an arena with a wild bear; ended up killing Euphemia. So, by refusing to follow in her government's footsteps and not take part in the sacrifices, she inadvertently brought about her death.

Gale, or "Galel", is Hebrew for "The wave of God." Another form of the name, "Galen", is Greek for "Calm".

Vick is one of Gale's little brothers. His name, surprisingly, is Latin for victor, or victory. The feminine alteration of his name; Vicky; means both victor and conqueror. Hmm... any foreshadowing here?

Rory is Gale's other little brother. His name is Gaelic for "Red King."

Posy, Gale's little sister, is Hebrew for "He will enlarge."

Primrose is fairly simple - it means first rose, "prim" being Latin for "first".

Madge is Greek for pearl. Fairly simple, but let's go into detail for the heck of it. The pearl, being a circle, is a symbol of God because it has "no begininng and no end." The circle, or pearl, is known to represent love and knowledge, which, combined, is symbolic of wisdom. Also, the 12 gates of the New Jerusalem are apparently each made of pearl. 12, anyone? 12 districts? I don't know why I wanted to point that out since it's pointless.

Darius was one of the peacekeepers of District 12. His name means "to possess" and to "maintain well" or "good". However, Darius was also the name of a Great King of Persia in the 5th and 6th centuries - he was a great financier and fought against the Greeks at marathon. Note that Darius in THG was the peacekeeper who stood up for Gale when he was being whipped.

Flavius is a Latin word that means "Golden". It almost automatically makes you think of Flavius's trademark golden lipstick, no? And his bouncy orange-ish curls? As an educational fact, Flavius was also the name of a historical jewish man who survived and recorded the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70.

Octavia literally meants eighth or 8th. Not very interesting. However, Octavia was also a character in a Shakespeare play (like Cinna) who followed the relationship between Cleopatra and Marc Antony from the time of the Parthian war all the way up to Cleopatra's suicide.

Venia is Latin and short for Lavinia, the Legendary Mother of the Roman people.

Portia means pig in Latin. Plain and simple.

Peeta has no defintion or history unless you type it as "Peta". Peta is a town in Greece, and is the Buddhist word for "Hungry Ghost." PETA is also an acronym for People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals. And, we can't forget that pita bread is pronounced "Peeta" bread!

Cray (head peacekeeper) means curly-headed, and prolific, or abundant, plentiful.

Caesar *snickers* means "Head of Hair." Other than the famous ruler Caesar, that's all the relatedness I have.

Seneca means "old". Seneca was also a Roman orator/public speaker with a son, also named Seneca, who was a philosopher and a dramatist.

Plutarch was one of two priests at the temple of Apollo at Delphi. He was a great and well-known writer. Also, in addition to being a priest, Plutarch was a magistrate in Chaeronia, and held the office of archon in his native municipality. He had several influential friends, including 2 senators, and published a book called "Paralell lives". He, like Plutarch in the books, obviously was imporant and held a lot of power in his hands.

Johanna is Hebrew for "God is gracious."

Finnick, along with being a Scottish city, means a variety of things when one "n" is taken away. Finick means "to affect extreme daintiness or refinement", "to trifle or dawdle", and finnicky means "excessively particular or fastidious, difficult to please, fussy, exacting, demanding, meticulous, choosy and picky."

Cato means acute, and shrewd (insightful, wise, clever, on the ball.)

Thresh definition: To beat severely, thrash; to thrash about; toss.

Rue: to feel regret, remorse, or sorrow. To affect with grief, to repent.

Haymitch has absolutely no definition, meaning or history whatsoever. The name is comepletely made up by Suzanne Collins. However, Haymitch's last name, Abernathy, is the name of a famous Civil Rights Leader.

Cecilia is Latin for blind.

Brutus is Latin for heavy, slow, foolish. Brutus was the name of the murderer of Julius Caesar.

Chaff is the inedible, dry, scaly casings of cereal seeds and grains. In agriculture, it is used as livestock fodder or is a waste material ploughed or burn into the soil.

Blight is a disease that kills plants.

Cashmere is a kind of wool and Glimmer and Clove are self-explanatory.

Post: #19

freebyrd  Wrote:

well if this gets to the point where american idol contestants are forced to fight to the death i might actually watch that

hehehee, dumb dumb, it's random. You people laugh now, wait until the event. This year you will have your world shaken to it's core. Within the next ten years, you will be nothing but a herd to be toyed with by the elites. Karma is a b*tch bud, better start living life like it's real and not just a story online.

PS: Israel is launching planes as we type. Let us see you laugh when this nation is turned into a dog eat dog pile of crap.... A real one, like Africa.