Title: Lam-ang Description: Eponymous hero of the Ilokano epic Biag ni Lam-ang

Gender: Male Region: Philippines

Folk Literature
Biag ni Lam-ang
Summary of the story of lam-ang Centuries ago, there was a great warrior who was widely known in Ilocos as a hero who fought the Igorots. When Lam-ang was born, he had the most unusual ability to speak immediately at birth. He immediately asked where his father was, and, upon being informed that his father was killed by Igorots, Lam-ang vowed revenge: A vendetta was born. Lam-ang grew up immediately, and went up into the mountains to take his vengeance. Alone, he fought off dozens of Igorot warriors, defeating them all. He cut off the ears of the warriors, as trophies, and returned to Ilocos. He then met and was captivated by a beautiful woman named Ines, and he immediately fell in love. He pledged her all of his gold, land, and livestock. Naturally, as the most beautiful woman in the province, Ines had many suitors, but all quietly gave way to Lam-ang, since they knew that they could not compete with him for her affections. All except a giant of a man, named Sumarang, who would not yield. So, Lam-ang and Sumarang fought, and Lam-ang won, easily defeating Sumarang. Lam-ang and Ines were married with the largest wedding feast that ever been seen in the province. In order to secure the union s blessing, Lam-ang was informed that he must dive down to the very depths of the sea and retrieve a pearl from a magical oyster, otherwise the marriage would have bad luck. So, Lam-ang dove into the sea and, on his way down, was eaten by a shark. Heartbroken, Ines went into mourning, as did most of the town, as Lam-ang was their hero. The next day, Lam-ang s rooster, who had magical powers (Lam-ang also owned a magic dog and cat), spoke to Ines, and told her to have Lam-ang s bones fished out of the sea. Ines did as she was instructed, bringing Lam-ang s bones before the rooster, who then blew on them. Lam-ang was resurrected immediately, embraced Ines, and the town had its hero back.

Short Story
Who am I?
by Jacqui Mehring Alice clutches the steering wheel of her Hummer as she peers out at the Highway speeding beneath her wheels. Yes, she is sure-almost sure, she is perfectly safe in the Hummer. She lists in her head all the reasons why the Hummer is the safest car for her: It has automatic transmissionno need to worry about changing gears when there is traffic. It has a framework of steel-or something even stronger than steel-whatever that framework is made of-it is built like a tank. Yes, a tank. In this day and age, all women need a tank to drive around in-to feel safe, to feel really safe. Should anybody-and there were lots of crazy people on the roads now-should anybody crash into her, this framework of extremely strong metal-would protect her from being horribly injured. Then, the beauty of four-wheel drive! Should there be any kind of severe weather-snow, ice, blizzards, -she could drive through them all without hesitation, without fear, because the four wheel drive would give her traction on those awful treacherous surfaces at all times. Should she-heaven forbid-have to drive off road for any reason-to evade a stalker- (Alice glances up to look into her rear mirror. Her eyes narrow. Was that red car the same one she had seen back in Raleigh, an hour ago?)-The Hummer could drive off-road as easily as driving on the Highway.Yes; it could scale mountains, ford fiords and circumnavigate ravines. Her headlights, with the extra headlights mounted on the top of the roof racks, plus the fog lights (-dont forget the four fog lights) could light up the night sky brighter than the brightest sunniest day, in summer. So there is no problem driving at nights, in the dark-no problem whatsoever. Yes, yes, she is safe-as safe as she can be, given the state of the World as it is, now. Her exit is coming up. She thinks she might go off one exit early just in case-just in case the car behind her-the red one, has been following her. She does nt want to lead the perpetrator to her door-right to her homeso she is going to swing through a gas station first, pretend to buy gas and see if the car follows her off the exit. Off she goes-off the exit-into the gas station-oh no, this looks like a very bad station, the kind of place where people scatter nails and sharp things on the ground deliberately to try cause punctures and breakdownsLuckily the wheels of her Hummer are set so high off the ground and are so tough, they are practically indestructible. She pulls into a parking space in the gas station. A little red car pulls in right beside her. Alice reaches down into her glove box and pulls out her nice, dependable colt 38.

Biography
Leslie Moonves Occupation: broadcast executive Born: New York City, October 6, 1949 Education BA, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, 1971

Career Devel. executive Catalina Productions, Burbank, California, 19801981; vice president devel. Saul Ilson Productions Columbia Pictures TV, 19811982; vice president movies and miniseries 20th Century Fox, LA, 19821985, Lorimar, Inc., Culver City, 19851988; executive vice president creative affairs Lorimar-Telepictures, 19881990; president Lorimar TV, Burbank, 19891993, Warner Brothers TV, Burbank, 19931995, CBS Entertainment, LA, 19951997; executive vice president CBS/Broadcast Group, 19951997; president, CEO CBS TV, 19982003, chairman, CEO, 20032004; co-pres., co-COO Viacom Inc., New York City, 20042006; president, CEO CBS Corp., 2006 Career Related Board directors KB Home, 2004, Westwood One, 20042006 Creative Works Developer, producer (TV series) Dallas, Dark Justice, Guns of Paradise, Knots Landing, Midnight Caller, Sisters, Family Matters, Full House, Perfect Strangers, Family Man, I'll Fly Away, Reasonable Doubts, Step by Step, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, The Jackie Thomas Show, Crossroads, Homefront, Going to Extremes, Shaky Ground, It Had To Be You, Time Trax, Against the Grain, Lois & Clark: The Adventures of Superman, Cafe Americain, How'd They Do That, Living Single, Family Album, Getting By Awards Named Showman of Year, Variety, Most Powerful Man in Hollywood, Entertainment Weekly; recipient Gold Medal award, International Radio and TV Society, 2003, Career Achievement award, Casting Society Am., Sherrill Corwin award, Am. Jewish Committee Civic Board directors LA Free Clinic; co-chair LA board governors Paley Center for Media (formerly Museum of TV and Radio); board trustees Entertainment Industries Council; trustee National Council for Families and TV, Am. Film Institute; member leadership adv. board NCAA Memberships Mem.: National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (executive committee), Hollywood Radio & TV Society (board directors 198891, president 1991) Political Affiliation Democrat Religion Jewish

Family Son of Herman and Josephine (Schleifer) Moonves; Married Nancy Wiesenfeld, December 17, 1978 (div.); children: Adam, Sara, Michael; Married Julie Chen, December 23, 2004; 1 child Charlie. Address Office: CBS Corp 1133 9th St Unit 207 Santa Monica CA 90403-5254

Memoir
Under a Cruel Star
Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague 1941-1968 was published first under this title by Plunkett Lake Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1986. The memoir was written by Heda Margolius Kovly and translated with Francis and Helen Epstein. It is now available in a Holmes & Meier, New York 1997 edition and in a Plunkett Lake Press 2010 eBook edition. (Prague Farewell is the book title in the UK). The memoir was originally written in Czech and published in Canada under the title Na vlastn k i by 68 Publishers in Toronto in 1973. An English translation appeared in the same year as the first part of the book The Victors and the Vanquished published by Horizon Press in New York. A British edition of the book excluded the second treatise and was published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson under the title I Do Not Want To Remember in 1973. Heda Margolius Kovly was born in Prague, spent the years of the Second World War in concentration camps, escaped from a death march and took part in the Prague Uprising against the Nazis in May 1945. After the war, she worked at various Prague publishing houses. In November 1952, her husband, Rudolf Margolius was convicted in the Soviet staged Slnsk Trial and executed on December 3, 1952. She has translated number of books by distinguished German, British and American authors and written one novel Innocence (Nevina) in Czech in 1985. In his book Cultural Amnesia: Necessary Memories from History and the Arts (2007), Clive James admired Kovly's "psychological penetration and terse style" and bestowed a remarkable praise: Given 30 seconds to recommend a single book that might start a serious student on the hard road to understanding the political tragedies of the 20th century, I would choose this one." Other reviews of the book: Anthony Lewis, New York Times: "Once in a while we read a book that puts the urgencies of our time and ourselves in perspective, making us confront the darker realities of human nature." San Francisco Chronicle-Examiner: "A story of human spirit at its most indomitable one of the outstanding autobiographies of the century." Alfred Kazin: "An extraordinary memoir...written with so much quiet respect for the minutiae of justice and truth that one does not know where and how to specify Heda Kovly's splendidness as a human being... It is impossible to read her book without the deepest admiration for her quiet, fierce documentation of the ordeal of the Czech people in our time." E. J. Graff, Brandeis Womens Studies Research Center, Columbia Journalism Review: "Under A Cruel Star is the most remarkable book for a variety of reasons: because Kovly has such a keen street sense for individual motivations; because her writing is so precise and beautiful: and, most of all, because she conveys such a ferocious and visceral sense that an individual life is just as important and just as powerful as governments, militaries, and political might." New Statesman (UK): "A truly unforgettable book." The Sunday Times (UK): "One does not review a book like this. One weeps, and prays Beautiful evocation of lovely Prague." Josef kvoreck: "Written with the sophistication of a litterateur and the immediacy of a survivor."

Essay

Here is a sample of a descriptive essay about an owl: Like his twisted feathers, his many scars, the reliable old owl chose the gnarled, weather-beaten, but solid branch oftenit being a companion to the wise alone with the night and the last branch to creak in the heaviest wind. He often came to survey the fields and the clouds before his hunt, to listen to the steady sound of the stream passing through reeds under the bridge, while combing his feathers for the unwantedswhatever they might be. This is an exposition excerpt: This family was a victim of a problem they could have avoided-a problem that, according to Florida park rangers, hundreds of visitors suffer each year.Several times a month," ranger Rod Torres of O'Leno State Park said, "people get scared and leave the park in the middle of the night." Those people picked the wrong kind of park to visit. Not that there was anything wrong with the park: The hikers camped next to them loved the wild isolation of it. But it just wasn't the kind of place the couple from New Jersey had in mind when they decided to camp out on this trip through Florida." Finally, here is part of an argumentative essay about gun control: Gun control has been a controversial issue for years. A vast majority of citizens believe that if gun control is strictly enforced it would quickly reduce the threat of crime. Many innocent people feel they have the right to bear arms for protection, or even for the pleasure of hunting. These people are penalized for protecting their lives, or even for enjoying a common, innocent sport. To enforce gun control throughout the nation means violating a persons Constitutional rights. Although some people feel that the issue of gun control will limit crime, the issue should not exist due to the fact that guns are necessary for self defense against crime, and by enforcing gun control is violating a citizens second amendment right to bear arms.

Speech
When Tom asked me to be his best man, at first I was over the moon, firstly that he was going to marry the woman that he loves, and secondly that he had asked me to be his best man. Then a few pints later, it dawned on me. The speech. Choking on my beer at the realisation that I would have to stand up and talk in front of his family and closest friends, I started shaking and told him that I didn't think that I could do it. Then he reassured me, he said, "all you have got to do is stand up, look a little idiotic, tell a few jokes and be confident." Taking this on board, here I am. Firstly a few thank-yous I have been asked to make. Firstly, to all who have helped in the service, and this lovely party. Whether you have brought food, or helped decorate this place, or just come to support the happy couple, thank you. Secondly to the bridesmaids, you have done a magnificent job helping the bride today, and you all look amazing, so a big thanks to you too. Finally Tom would like me to thank his beautiful new wife for turning up today. I saw him this morning when he was worrying, and it wasn't a pretty sight. He has asked me to tell you how happy you have made him by becoming his wife, something that I am sure he will go into in more detail in his speech, but still, thank you. Now, I have known Tom for X amount of years now. I know all his little habits and how annoying he can become after a few pints, just a little warning to you all there! But Tom has helped me through some hard times over the duration of our friendship. He has always been there and supported me, something that I am sure he will do for his beautiful new wife, Susan. I have been asked to keep the story about Tom clean, and to try not to embarrass him too much. But there have been numerous times I have laughed until I cried at Tom. As some of you will know, he is always up for a laugh, and loves to live life to the max. I remember when we were-( insert a funny event that really has happened to you and the groom). Before Tom met Susan, he found it hard to talk to women. He could chat them up great, but when it came to more normal conversation, he found it harder. Until he met Susan that was. Susan has changed his life for the better. He has been happier, more energetic, easier to talk to and more responsible in the way he acts. These are just a few of the many ways Susan has had a positive effect on Tom. I am sure he knows many more that we don't know about! Somebody once told me that Love can easily be affected by physical appearance. I am sure that when Susan first saw Tom, there were no confusions. Tom told me that before Susan he didn't believe in love at first sight, but after meeting his now wife, that has all changed. Finally, I would like to say another thank-you to everybody for coming and joining the newly married couple in their celebrations. And I am sure you will all agree they make a fantastic couple. Ladies and Gentlemen, please all join me in a toast. To the happy couple, long may their love last! Cheers!

Folk Literature
THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW
By WASHINGTON IRVING I N a sequestered cove of the Hudson lies the drowsy valley of Sleepy Hollow-once a remote, enchanted region, abounding in haunted spots and twilight superstitions. The dreamy, visionary Dutch folk, descendants of the early settlers, were given to marvelous beliefs. Many were their fireside tales of ghosts and evil spirits. The most awesome wraith of this bewitched neighborhood was a headless figure on a powerful black charger, which at midnight rode forth from the church graveyard. At every country fireside were told blood-curdling stories of the weird and ghoulish pranks of this headless horseman of Sleepy Hollow. Perhaps the most superstitious soul through-out the valley, in the days just following the Revolution, was the country schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane. Tall, lank, long-limbed, he was a grotesque figure, yet not lacking in conceit. As was the custom he led an itinerant life, boarding with the farmers whose children he taught. Since he brought the local gossip and helped with the chores, his periodical visitations were welcomed by the housewives. He also enlivened the long wintry evening with direful stories of witchcraft. In a snug chimney corner before a crackling wood fire there was fearsome pleasure in these blood-chilling tales. But for this gruesome enjoyment, how dearly he paid when out alone at night ! What menacing shadows beset his path ! Every snow-covered bush stood a sheeted specter in his way. However, it was not only these phantoms of the night that disturbed his peace, for his days were haunted by the most bewitching of all witches-a woman. In his weekly singing class was Katrina Van Tassel, only child of a substantial farmer. Famed for her beauty and vast expectations, the enraptured Ichabod became her ardent suitor. Gloatingly he surveyed her father's rich meadowlands, the overflowing barns, and the great, sloping-roofed farmhouse filled with treasure of old mahogany, pewter, and silver. All these rich possessions made Ichabod covet the peerless Katrina. The most formidable of his many rivals was the roistering Brom Van Brunt, nick-named, from his Herculean frame, Brom Bones. He was the hero of all the country round, which rang with his feats of strength and hardihood. A reckless horseman and fore-most in all rural sports, he was always ready for a fight or a frolic. Yet even the old dames, startled out of their sleep as he clattered by at midnight, looked upon his wild pranks with more good-will than disfavor. This rantipole hero had chosen to lay siege to the blooming Katrina. And when on a Sunday night his horse was tied to Van Tassel's palings all other suitors passed on in despair. Ichabod, however, in his role of singing-master, made frequent visits at the farm. Neither old Van Tassel, an easy, indulgent soul, nor his busy housewife interfered with the pedagogue's suit; yet his wooing was beset with difficulties. Brom Bones had declared a deadly feud, and as Ichabod shrewdly avoided a physical combat, he became the object of whimsical persecutions by Brom and his boon companions. They smoked out his singing school, broke into and turned topsy-turvy his schoolhouse, and, still worse, taught a scoundrel dog to whine as a rival instructor in psalmody to the fair Katrina. One fine autumnal afternoon Ichabod, in a pensive mood, sat enthroned on the lofty stool from which he ruled his laggard pupils. The buzzing stillness of the school-room was broken by a galloping messenger, who brought an invitation to a "quilting frolic" that evening at Van Tassel's. Promptly dismissing school, Ichabod furbished up his only suit of rusty black, and soon rode forth-a gallant cavalier to this bidding of his lady fair. Gunpowder, the bony old plow-horse, borrowed from the farmer with whom Ichabod was domiciled, was a suitable steed for hiP long, gaunt frame. Jogging slowly along, it was after sundown when he reached Van Tassel's, where were gathered the farmer folk of the surrounding country. However, it was not the buxom lasses which held Ichabod enthralled; it was the sumptuous abundance of the supper-table. Such luscious ham and chicken, and heaping platters of doughnuts, crullers, and ginger cakes! Ichabod's rapacious appetite did ample justice to this repast, while he gloated over the opulence of which some day he might be master. Soon the sound of fiddling bade all to the dance.

With Katrina as his partner, smiling graciously at his amorous oglings, the lank but agile Ichabod clattered triumphantly about, while Brom Bones, sorely smitten with jealousy, kept broodingly aloof. Later, Ichabod joined the sager folk, who sat smoking and spinning tales of ghosts and apparitions, and of the headless horseman that nightly tethered his steed among the churchyard graves. Most terrifying were the adventures of those who, on dark nights, had met that gruesome specter. Even Brom Bones testified that once, overtaken by the midnight trooper, he had raced with him to the church bridge, where the horseman had vanished in a flash of fire. When at a late hour the revel broke up Ichabod lingered for the customary lovers' talk. What passed at that interview with the heiress was never known, but when he finally sallied forth it was with a dejected, chopfallen air. Had Katrina's encouragement been only a coquettish trick to secure her conquest of his rival?It was near the witching midnight hour that the crestfallen Ichabod pursued his solitary travel homeward. All the stories of ghosts and goblins told that evening now crowded hauntingly upon him. The night grew deeper and darker as he approached the lonely churchyard-sombrous scene of many of the tales. Suddenly through the leaf-stirred stillness came the clatter of hoofs! Something huge and misshapen loomed above the crouching shadows. In quaking terror Ichabod dashed ahead, but the unknown followed close. Then the moonlight, through a rafting cloud, revealed the headless horseman ! More ghastly still, his head rested on the pommel of his saddle ! Away they flew, Ichabod madly spurring Gunpowder, while the sinister horseman came galloping after. As they reached the haunted road, turning off to Sleepy Hollow, the girth of Ichabod's saddle broke. Gripping his steed around the neck, as the saddle slipped from beneath him, he still plunged on, with the ghostly rider pursuing him. The church bridge, where in Brom Bones's tale the specter had vanished, was just ahead. Another moment and old Gunpowder was thundering over the resounding planks. Here Ichabod, casting a backward glance, saw the goblin rising in his stirrups and in the very act of hurling his head. The horrible missile crashed against Ichabod's cranium and he plunged headlong into the road-while Gunpowder and the ghostly horseman swept on. The next morning the old horse was found, saddleless, grazing at his master's gate. But no Ichabod! In the road by the church was found the saddle. Farther on was the trampled hat of the unfortunate pedagogueand close beside it a shattered pumpkin ! The whole neighborhood was aroused. Brom Bones's story and all the other weird tales were called to mind, and the good folk sagely concluded that Ichabod had been carried off by the headless horseman. Soon the school was removed to a less haunted section. Another pedagogue reigned, and Ichabod became only a legend. It is true that several years later an old farmer, returning from New York, brought news that Ichabod was still alive; that fear of the goblin and chagrin at his dismissal by the heiress had caused his flight; that in another part of the country he had taught school, studied law, and become justice of the Ten-pound Court. Brom Bones, who, shortly after his rival's disappearance, had led the blooming Katrina to the altar, was observed to look exceedingly knowing whenever the story of Ichabod was related. At the mention of the pumpkin he never failed to laugh heartily, which led some to suspect that he knew more about the matter than he chose to disclose. The old country wives, however, maintain to this day that Ichabod was spirited away by the headless horseman. And many gruesome tales of the pedagogue's fate are still told round the wintry firesides of Sleepy Hollow.

12 Major Gods of Ancient Greece

Aphrodite - Goddess of love, romance, and beauty. Her son was Eros, god of Love (though he is not an Olympian.)

Apollo - Beautiful god of the sun, light, medicine, and music. Ares - Dark god of war. Artemis - Independent goddess of the hunt, the forest, wildlife, and the moon. Sister to Apollo. Athena(Athene) - Daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts. Demeter - Goddess of agriculture and mother of Persephone (not considered to be an Olympian.) Hephaestus - Lame god of fire and the forge. Hera - Wife of Zeus, protector of marriage, familiar with magic. Hermes - The speedy messenger of the gods. Hestia - Calm goddess of home and symbolized by the hearth which holds the continually-burning flame. Poseidon - God of the sea, horses, and of earthquakes. Zeus - Supreme lord of gods, god of the sky, symbolized by the thunderbolt.

Mythology
The term mythology can refer to either the study of myths, or to a body of myths. For example, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece. In the study of folklore, a myth is a sacred narrative explaining how the world and humankind came to be in their present form. Many scholars in other fields use the term "myth" in somewhat different ways. In a very broad sense, the word can refer to any traditional story.

Nature of myths
Closely related to myth are legend and folktale. Myths, legends, and folktales are different types of traditional story.[16] Unlike myths, folktales can take place at any time and any place, and they are not considered true or sacred by the societies that tell them.[9] Like myths, legends are stories that are traditionally considered true, but are set in a more recent time, when the world was much as it is today.[9] Legends generally feature humans as their main characters, whereas myths generally focus on superhuman characters.[9] The distinction between myth, legend, and folktale is meant simply as a useful tool for grouping traditional stories.[17] In many cultures, it is hard to draw a sharp line between myths and legends.[18] Instead of dividing their traditional stories into myths, legends, and folktales, some cultures divide them into two categories, one that roughly corresponds to folktales, and one that combines myths and legends.[19] Even myths and folktales are not completely distinct. A story may be considered true (and therefore a myth) in one society, but considered fictional (and therefore a folktale) in another society.[20][21] In fact, when a myth loses its status as part of a religious system, it often takes on traits more typical of folktales, with its formerly divine characters reinterpreted as human heroes, giants, or fairies.[10] Myth, legend, saga, fable, folktale, or marchens are only a few of the categories of traditional stories. Other categories include anecdotes and some kinds of jokes.[17] Traditional stories, in turn, are only one category within folklore, which also includes items such as gestures, costumes, and music.