The thought of working with a hot-shot producer and her TV crew is about as appealing to Abby as sticking her hand in a bucket of leeches. But "Reality Check" is a program that claims to turn American dreams into the real thing, and Abby figures that if anyone deserves that kind of bonanza, it's Emma Lopez, who has been raising her three younger siblings since her mother disappeared. Abby is determined to help Emma realize her dream of a reunion-even when it becomes clear that someone out there doesn't believe in happy endings.

Heck Thomas, Chris Masden and Bill Tilghman, the Three Guardsmen and E. D. Nix have been considered some of the best lawmen of the Old West. Heck Thomas came closest to the legend but he had a reputation of shooting first and serving papers on the corpse. Chris Masden's reputation as a "Trigger Marshal" is largely undeserved and Chris spent considerable time in prison himself. Bill Tilghman ran saloons and bawdy houses and did as much to break the law as he ever did to enforce it. The true story of Tilghman's death is completely at odds with what previous biographers have said. E. D. Nix billed himself as the "Fighting Marshal" and took a lot of credit for wiping out several gangs of outlaws in Oklahoma. What Nix did really best was cook the books. When his expenses for the U. S. Marshal's office rose from $25,000 to $218,000 per quarter federal inspectors were sent to examine the books. Nix was soon relieved for the public good. Samuelson tears away the veils of myth, legend and outright lies that have surrounded these four early Oklahoma lawmen. The truth is far more interesting than the legends. A must have book for anyone interested in outlaw-lawmen history. Shooting Star Press, 8962 Canberra Dr., Sacramento, CA. 95826. Phone: 916-363-9175.

Shortly before Wyoming’s Alan K. Simpson was elected majority whip of the United States Senate, he decided to keep a journal. “I am going to make notes when I get home in the evening, as to what happened during each day.” Now the senator’s longtime chief of staff, Donald Loren Hardy, has drawn extensively on Simpson’s personal papers and nineteen-volume diary to write this unvarnished account of a storied life and political career. Simpson gave full authorial control to Hardy, telling him, “Don, just tell the truth, the whole truth, as you always have. Leave teeth, hair, and eyeballs on the floor, if that results from telling the truth.” Taking Simpson at his word, Hardy shows readers a thrill-seeking teenager in Cody and a tireless politician who has thoroughly enjoyed his work. Full of entertaining tales and moments of historical significance, Shooting from the Lip offers a privileged and revealing backstage view of late-twentieth century American politics. Hardy’s richly anecdotal account reveals the roles Simpson played during such critical events as the Iran-Contra scandal and Clarence Thomas’s confirmation hearings. It divulges the senator’s candid views of seven American presidents and scores of other national and world luminaries. Simpson is a politician unfettered by partisanship. Among President George H. W. Bush’s closest compatriots, he was also a close friend and admirer of Senator Ted Kennedy and was never afraid to publicly challenge the positions or tactics of fellow lawmakers, Democratic and Republican alike. Simpson’s ability to use truth and humor as both “sword and shield,” combined with his years of experience and issue mastery, has led to an impressive post-Senate career. In 2010, for example, he co-chaired President Barack Obama’s Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. Shooting from the Lip portrays a statesman punching sacred cows, challenging the media, and grappling with some of the nation’s most difficult challenges.

This new edition has 60 new quips and quotes. Praise for earlier editions: "Fully illustrated and funny... difficult to put down. Great stocking stuffer." -- Hockey News "This is a fun book, sure to have even non-hockey fans chuckling." -- HockeyBookReviews.com Shooting from the Lip is full of the off-the-cuff comments that keep millions of fans watching games and avidly reading the sports pages. These wise, sarcastic and hilarious quotes are fresh, frank and all about hockey. For example: You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take. (Center Wayne Gretzky) I was kind of hoping it would straighten it out. (Center Rod Brind'Amour, after suffering his fourth broken nose) I'm not dirty, just aggressive. Fighter pilots have machine guns. I have only my mask and stick. (Goalie Gerry Cheevers) I don't want to tell you half truths, unless they're completely accurate. (Coach Alain Vigneault) This new edition is bigger and now features new NHL stars like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, for a total for more than 350 quotes representing 60 years of hockey. The quotes and quips are enlivened with colorful graphics and photographs of the featured players, coaches and other personalities. The book covers a wide range of topics, including attitudes, blowouts, coaching and fans, hockey hair, injuries, feuds, penalties, goons, taking shots, and of course winning and losing. Whether consumed in random nibbles or devoured in one sitting, Shooting from the Lip will entertain hockey fans of all ages.

Music.

Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video, Fifth Edition is the definitive book on the subject for the serious film student or beginning filmmaker. Its unique two-fold approach looks at filmmaking from the perspectives of both the producer and director, and clearly explains how their separate roles must work together to create a successful short film or video. Through extensive examples from award-winning shorts and insightful interviews, you will learn about common challenges the filmmakers encountered during each step of filmmaking process—from preproduction to production, postproduction, and distribution—and the techniques they used to overcome them. In celebrating this book’s twentieth anniversary, this edition has been updated to include: Two all-new, in-depth cases studies of esteemed short films—Memory Lane and the Academy Award-winning God of Love A revised chapter progression that reinforces the significance of the actor - director relationship Interviews with the filmmakers integrated alongside the text, as well as new images and behind-the-scenes coverage of production processes Revamped sections on current financing strategies, postproduction workflows, and the wide variety of distribution platforms now available to filmmakers A "Where are They Now" appendix featuring updates on the original filmmakers covered in the first edition An expanded companion website (www.focalpress.com/cw/rea) containing useful forms and information on distributors, grants and financing sources, film and video festivals, film schools, internet sources for short works, and professional associations