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When Christmas time comes, many people shop for presents, prepare menu plans for the visiting family members and friends, and of course, choose Mexican Christmas traditions to make this holiday more authentic and familiar. The pi

Many in the Black community have joked for years that when a news reporter interviews a person of color they usually opt for the most inarticulate and uneducated minority they could find.

The stereotypical images of African Americans that many see is usually atypical of the Black professionals that I come across on a daily basis.

The lack of Black representation in many of the top newsrooms across this great nation is the main culprit in the negative images we see of our brothers and sisters in newspapers and television screens everyday.

“The newspaper industry must stop treating diversity as just an effort, but a vital business imperative,” said Barbara Ciara, President of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). “These veiled attempts to convince journalists of colors otherwise fall on deaf ears as hundreds of our colleagues are forced out, leaving little to no opportunity for advancement. While we applaud the few newsrooms that are making a difference, more action and less promises need to be made.”

According to the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE), newsroom staffing declined for the fourth consecutive year, making diversity efforts virtually impossible to achieve. Journalists of color left 300 media positions, lowering the number of minority journalists to 7,100 based on the figures released at the ASNE annual convention in Washington, D.C.

African Americans comprise the largest number of minority journalists with 2,790 or 5.3 percent of the entire workforce.

Statistics show that minorities make up only 13 percent of the workforce in print media, while making up 36 percent of the United States population. It is the goal of the NABJ and ASNE to have the nation’s newsrooms reflect the diversity of the country by 2025.

This effort will prove to be a crucial task over the next couple of decades because the media continues to be filled with negative portrayals of African Americans and other minority groups, which unfortunately will be detrimental to young children of color.

When I watch television networks like Black Entertainment Television (BET) and MTV, I am constantly bombarded with images of African Americans promoting violence, drugs and promiscuous sex.

Many of these media conglomerates are White-owned, including BET, and have very little minority representation in their boardrooms to show them the many facets of Black life.

Major decisions on how Black culture will be depicted are based on stereotypes and are made by some people who have not had any significant encounters with professional African Americans and are not qualified to make such decisions.

Unfortunately, their only exposure to Black life is what they see on the evening news or read in the newspaper.

It is imperative that we have people of color in the boardrooms that stress the importance of having positive portrayals of African Americans; not for other races of people to understand us but for the younger generation who need to see positive role models who look like them and come from the same environment that they come from.

Often young disadvantaged minorities believe that all options are not available to them because they do not see positive examples on a daily basis. They are surrounded by negative influences and are bombarded by negative images in the media.

We need more decision-makers at the top to show the young brother giving back to his community or the single-parent working two jobs to keep her family above water. We need the media to show them that there are alternatives to a negative lifestyle. However, that will not happen until we have more black and brown faces in newsrooms all across America.

The Grand Forks Herald, The El Paso Times, and the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group were honored by ASNE for their commitment to diversity.

Nevertheless, ASNE reported that 423 newspapers reported having no journalists of color.

We have to do better!

Todd Smith is the web master for Regal Mag The preeminent Online Magazine for African American Men

Everybody craves to look good, both man and woman. But most of the ornaments are only acceptable for women so men are always left behind. However, this bias perspective on gender had slowly vanished as time evolves. Nowadays, men can wear body ornaments such as earring that was extensively accepted starting late 80s and early 90s. Perhaps you can blame this development to famous Harrison Ford and George Michael who had been seen using them. And now, it is rampantly used at the present generation not only for style but also as a medium to show individuality most especially by people who are inclined to rock.

If you want to go with the trend, you can buy earring for men that comes in wide range of choices to suit every personality of a person. Among the most popular choice are small hoops earrings which can be worn on one earring or on both. An interesting fact about this kind is on some regions of Europe, it is worn by a person to signify sexual orientation depending upon the number of earrings worn. Hoop earring creates a masculine look among men and since it is securely lock on the ear, it is highly impossible to lose them.

For a more sophisticated appeal, stud earrings are the best choice which can be created using diamond or studs of precious metal or semi-precious stone. This can go along with any style of clothes. It can be worn during a formal gathering or merely when unwinding on a Friday night in the club. If you want to use it in your office or for professional gathering, a smaller stud would fit not to steal the scene.

On the other hand, for those who are so much into rock and punk style, ear cuffs as well as flesh tunnels are the best earrings for men. Exquisitely made pieces are carved to create a distinctive look that everyone will notice. But for those who do not want to go through the throbbing process of ear piercing, clips-on is the best option. There are those created not to look like a clip-on at all because of its minimal space between which will deceive the eyes to see it like an earring which was pierced. This is definitely a perfect accessory as it is effortless to remove and to put on. This kind only signifies how earrings for men had come too improved over the years. Back then, clip-on are only used by women since they are typically come in big size to contain the size of the clasp in the back. All the time, earrings for men like those for women comes in pair but most men would usually use only one of them. Just keep the other so that if one is lost, you need not to buy another pair again. Don’t be left behind with the fad, earrings for men will make you look hip and updated without stealing the manliness within you.

I have always loved Star Trek, from the original series beginning in 1969 to the ever present reruns on television just about any day. Admirable characters, a stern but humane Starfleet code to live by, lots of action (but no gore) and the wonder of new frontiers. Traveling in glistening starships several hundred years in the future, facing all types of dangers. Great television, but the reality we are spiraling into will be very different.

First consider the Enterprise crew; basically, they are no different than you or me. Okay, Mr. Data is the exception, but all the others are plain old biological humans, even if wearing Vulcan ears. It’s as if technology hadn’t progressed over the next centuries. Sure, the hardware is more sophisticated — phasors instead of pistols — but everything seems very familiar.

Consider Captain Picard, the leader of the Enterprise. First of all, he looks like your old high school math teacher. Medium build, medium height, hair just about gone. Nice guy, pretty smart, but no exceptional or unusual powers. Not directly linked to computer intelligence, no implants to enhance his senses, no nanobots in the bloodstream regulating biological processes. Bor-ing!

By the way, how old is Picard? I always wondered about that. With the wrinkles and the hair, he looks late forties, but it’s hard to tell. Actually, nobody in the crew seems very old. Hey, they all act age appropriate, and from their conversations, it seems everyone is in the twenty to forty range. It appears they experience about the same aging process as we do here in the first decade of the twenty-first century.

Now that’s just ridiculous. In 1900, the average lifespan was about forty-nine years, while now it’s pushing eighty. As science continues to learn more about human biological processes, we will develop cures for many of the diseases that cut our lives short. In addition, we will develop a much better understanding of the aging process, enabling us to tune up our bodies and stretch out normal lifespans. Tiny nanobots in our cells will monitor, report and regulate many of our biological processes. By the middle of this century, the average lifespan in the developed nations should be well over one hundred years.

Our bodies will change dramatically during the next few decades. Hell, it’s already happening. Look at all the mechanical replacements now available. Hip, shoulder, elbow, tooth, artery and knee replacements are commonplace. Contact lenses and hearing aids enhance our senses. Mechanical legs allow the severely injure to walk, even run, again. I’ve seen a paralyzed man control his personal computer through thoughts that interface with a network.

How much will we accomplish during the next few decades? Well, for one thing, we will be able to replace virtually any part of our skeleton system. Bone broken, joints wearing out? Replace them. Want to think faster, move with more agility? The nanobots in our cells can become a computer network that responds hundreds of times faster than our neurons. Need more and better information at your fingertips? Forget about fingertips. A wireless interface between nanobots in your brain and computer databanks will allow you pull down whatever processed information you need. How about a second heart? A mechanical heart could reduce the pumping load on your biological heart, maybe take over during a heart attack. Better yet, eliminate the need for a heart with blood cells that power their own mobility.

But that’s just the start. Artificial intelligence will eventually dominate biological intelligence. And let me cue you in, it’s a short eventually. Here’s what I mean. Your brain processes information relatively slowly. Computer hardware is already much faster and the difference is growing year by year. On a pure horsepower basis, AI beats the brain’s processing. Of course, you need much more than fast computer hardware, the software has to be in place, too.

Let’s separate AI into two classes, weak AI and strong AI. Strong AI is general purpose intelligence, the ability to handle a wide variety of tasks at the same or higher level than a human. Weak AI is designed to process a very limited number of tasks, for instance, playing chess or walking.

Strong AI is still some years away, maybe decades, but weak AI is available in many areas. Most of us know that IBM’s Big Blue computer can defeat the best human chess players. Robots can hit a baseball or dance (check out my videos), although not at the level of the best humans. Not yet, anyway.

However, it’s clear that we are only a few decades from seeing very intelligent computers approach and then exceed human intelligence. Humans will need to link into networked AI just to stay competitive with our computers. But that’s just delaying the inevitable. In the end, our biological brains won’t cut it. Blood and flesh is just too slow and inflexible. In the second half of this century, we will be able to download our personal intelligence into robots. Mr. Data isn’t too bad an example of what humanity will become.

But the story doesn’t end there. Mr. Data’s brain, while much faster than a human brain, is still constrained by limited size. A networked intelligence will outperform a single Mr. Data, so that’s the direction science will drive us. Maybe Star Trek has a pretty good example, after all. It’s called the Borg.

Please realize a networked intelligence need not be evil. The Borg could very easily be a beneficial superintelligence, with all units working toward a good purpose. Or many good purposes. Each individual would very likely retain his or her unique personality, rather than being stamped out of one mold. A diverse set of androids networked together would seem to have greater survival capabilities than one individual repeated over and over.

And it would be a lot more fun. Imagine how close you would become to the people you love. In addition to the physical intimacy we now enjoy with our flesh and blood bodies, think about the emotional intimacy of joining your lover’s mind through the net. Step aside, Vulcan mind-meld!

Misunderstandings would be cleared up, feelings and thoughts immediately transmitted and received. I could describe the sex, but it’s not that kind of article.

Maybe the future is Star Trek after all.

Dan Ronco’s expertise in engineering and computer science infuses his fast-paced techno-thriller Unholy Domain with detail and authenticity. His second novel, it warns of the looming clash between religion and advanced science. Visit Dan Ronco.

Designer clothing has been around for decades and it is likely that we will see further developments in the future in terms of designer clothing.

The fashion industry is constantly changing, and with even the current trends at the moment changing, it is hard to predict exactly what we may see in the future. There are many directions that the current trend could take over the coming weeks, and then after that it will break off into further directions. What we do know is that the shape of the fashion industry is in the hands of those who choose new fashions. Fashion designers are always looking for new ways to improve and expand the current trends and designs, and as a result we are starting to see a huge range of ideas entering the field.

If we look at the past, fashion did not used to be a huge factor in our everyday lives, we did not see clothes as something to show off, there was simply a fine line between the rich and the poor. Over the years it changed and it developed and fashion started to become a significant factor when it came to clothing and accessories. The sixties was a notable decade for fashion; with so much going on it showed promise for the future of fashion. Of course, there were good years, and there were bad years, but they were the essential building blocks to what we see today.

But what can we expect in the future? There are many possible outcomes that we may see. There are already many fashion trends in the space of a year, just imagine if the amount of fashion trends were to increase. This would mean that it would be changing faster than it already is, this would mean that a lot more profit would be made for fashion designers, however, this could be overruled considering the overall choice that there currently is. Do not forget that the future could hold many new potential fashion designers also, which means that for the customers there could me much more choice in terms of brand. This could in fact cause a drop in prices across competitors for the sake of more sales and profits. Unfortunately the fashion industry does seem to be very profit focused and this could develop into a problem if we do not act. Prices could soar and many of us could be non-the wiser and wasting away our money on fashions that may not last even a month. There are many potential high points and many potential low points, but as of yet we can only speculate.

Overall the fashion industry is in store for many changes in the future to come, the sheer rate of change in this industry just shows how different it could be in the years to come. We could see a huge increase in fashion trends in the space of a year. There are many possible outcomes based on the many directions the fashion industry is taking, but as of now we can only speculate, as only time will tell.

Visit us to get more info on designer t-shirts, designer sunglasses and designer watches.

Maine, a northeastern state in the United States of America, is home to a number of famous and remarkable people. Among these famous people are writer Stephen King, actress Liv Tyler and songwriter Dan Fogelberg.

Dan Fogelberg

The late Daniel Fogelberg was born in Peoria, Illinois, but lived in Deer Isle in Maine until his death on December 15, 2007. Dan Fogelberg is known for his classic songs like Leader of the Band, whose lyrics talk about a son’s appreciation of his father’s training him both in the family and in music.

Dan Fogelberg was born on August 31, 1951 to parents of musical backgrounds. His father, Lawrence Peter Fogelberg, was a high school band director for Peoria Woodruff and Perkin High Schools. His mother, Margaret Young Fogelberg, was a classic pianist.

As a child, Dan Fogelberg was a self-taught pianist and slide guitarist. When he reached the age of 14, he joined a Beatles cover band called The Clan. 2 years later, he would join another cover band, The Coachmen. As part of The Coachmen, Fogelberg released two singles entitled “Maybe Time Will Let Me Forget” and “Don’t Want to Lose Her.” By the 1980s, he was part of Frankie and the Aliens, who occasionally covered songs by Cream and Muddy Waters.

Fogelberg’s solo effort was not without failures, despite the success of later releases. His 1971 debut album was not received warmly, but in 1974 he bounced back with his second album “Souvenirs” which helped make him an instant hit. After Souvenirs, he released several other successful albums up until the 1980s.

In 2002, Fogelberg was one of 10 people inducted into the Performers Hall of Fame at the Red Rocks Ampitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

Fogelberg found out he was afflicted with prostrate cancer at an advanced stage after an examination in May 2004. Although it was too late to eliminate the cancer, it was stopped from spreading through therapy. After three years, he died of prostrate cancer with his wife by his side.

Stephen King

A successful writer of horror fiction novels, Stephen King is a man born and continuing to live in Maine. He was born on September 21, 1947 in Portland, Maine, just after World War 2. King was raised by his mother after his father Donald Edwin King left them in 1949.

People thought King’s apparent witnessing of a friend’s death under the tracks of a train was the catalyst for the dark nature of his novels. However, King dismisses this - he doesn’t remember the event - and says the cover art of an H.P. Lovecraft short story collection (a monster within a cavern found under a tombstone) sparked the light bulb in his head for the type of stories he wanted to write.

King’s first successful novel was Carrie, which was released on Mother’s Day in 1973. Published by Double Day, Carrie is the story of a girl with psychic powers. It earned King US$400,000, with US$200,000 of the figure going to Double Day.

The success of Carrie earned King a positive reputation. All his other novels were commercial successes and were adapted into films. Two of these novels were Pet Sematary and The Green Mile, with the latter made into a film starring award-winning actor Tom Hanks.

Liv Tyler

Liv Tyler is famous in the public eye for her portrayals as Bruce Willis’ daughter in the science-fiction motion picture Armageddon, the elf Arwen in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings film trilogy and for being the real-life daughter of Aerosmith’s vocalist Steven Tyler.

Although she was born and continues to live in New York City, Liv Tyler spent part of her childhood in Portland, Maine (http://www.topmainefsbo.com/) and attended three schools in the area. These schools are, namely, Congressional School of Virginia, Breakwater Elementary and Waynflete. At the age of 12, she moved back to New York City.

Ms. Tyler was originally surnamed Rundgren, as she was brought up to believe that Todd Rundgren was her biological after. According to her mother, Bebe Buell, she chose to hide Steven Tyler’s paternity because the Aerosmith frontman had a major drug abuse problem when Liv was born.

After discovering the secret, Liv then changed her surname to Tyler but keeping the Rundgren name as a middle name. She even appeared in the video of Aerosmith’s song “Crazy”. It could also be remembered that her father’s band wrote several songs featured in the soundtrack of Armageddon, her most successful movie next to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Aside from acting, Liv also models as part of IMG Models New York.

Opportunities to Live in Maine

You, too, may have the potential for success that these successful residents of Maine have enjoyed. Check out real estate properties up for sale in Maine, in this website: topmainefsbo.

Attila Z Jancsina is a freelance copy writer. He occasionally writes for Maine Real Estate. Website offers Free FSBO advertisement.

Have you heard about ‘medieval’ words? Medieval days are organizations and events that regularly celebrate the wonder of the middle ages. Maybe you can not live an original medieval life but there are some good ideas you can use the medieval styles as fun and hobby.

1. Decorating a home or a bedroom with the medieval tapestries

You can decorate your home or your room with medieval themes. The themes can help you turn your home into a classic castle. By using medieval tapestries, your rooms will be seem as the middle ages. Before to starting the designs, you need to select medieval themes first. You can design the scheme to match some rooms. This way can be easier and better than trying to do the designs without the scheme. For example, you can set themes of the wine harvest of the middle age to a dining room. These themes show peasants harvesting the grapes in agricultural field. You can design a home as Victorian style of the middle age. Make the home become as the older classic homes with higher ceilings and larger spaces are perfect for the middle ages. By using faux finishes, you make many rooms look older and more luxurious. For the last 1,000 years the medieval tapestries are admired as the most beautiful palaces and homes in the world. This way makes your home seems as a king palace.

2. Stay in the castles

The tourist industry has big influences to the medieval for many years. And has creative travels in that many real castles of Europe. The castles’s management allow bed and breakfast facilities for their tourists. These facilities are very fancy and expensive. And you can get the facilities as a king for many days. People hold a good fascination of the lifestyle of the medieval. By using this way, you can have fabulous experience in the modern world because the middle ages were unusual periods in our history. England, Scotland and Italy have many well-known travel destinations for the medieval. You can choose one of them. You will find a relaxed way of these lifestyles.

3. ‘Medieval’ party

In the middle ages, people’s clothing styles are depended on that their role in society. Each class had unique clothing styles. For example, the kings, the queens, the princes and the princesses had the most expensive and extravagant types of clothing. They used damask fabrics dyed, silk an diamonds in their clothing.

For the medieval events or Halloween day or other events, medieval clothings are popular choices for many lovers of the middle ages. No matter which medieval clothing you choose, prince, king, knight, princess or queen fashions are definitely be closely following your wish. These clothings come with a cowl, gloves, tunic, belt and boot. You will be fun with the medieval clothing in the party event.

4. Join To an organization

You can join to a SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) organization. SCA is an international organization established for researching and recreating the European arts of the middle ages. It always sponsors big events of the middle ages. For example, Renaissance Faires.

For more information about living history UK and school history visits.

When it comes to getting the best in cuisine, we often look to good, old fashioned favorites we grew up with. For me, that would mean taking a look at authentic Mexican recipes that bring a piece of Mexico into my home. This is a delicious cuisine that is surprisingly healthy, but I have to admit, I have a soft spot for Tex-Mex cuisine as well. Too often I get asked, “What is the difference?” The difference is actually quite profound, but both cuisines are definitely popular today, and knowing how to tell the difference can save a lot of embarrassment as well as a lot of calories.

Authentic Mexican recipes. That is a term you will see all over the internet, and quite frankly, the term is used loosely. This leads to a lot of people believing Tex-Mex cuisine is the real deal. Let us take a look at what both cuisines are, and what the difference actually is when comparing these two delicacies.

Authentic Mexican recipes are going to be filled with a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Real Mexican food is a bright coalition of healthy, fresh ingredients generally baked to perfection. The food is inherently healthy with little cheese or sour cream. In fact, salsa is one of the healthiest foods on the planet! Salsa is made without added sugars or vinegars, and this makes a real salsa a wonderfully healthy addition to any meal or snack. Add in freshly baked tortilla chips and you have a snack or addition to any meal that will tantalize the taste buds while offering vitamins and nutrients you need during your day.

Tex-Mex cuisine is generally going to be filled with a lot of the same ingredients, but you will find a lot of fatty cheeses are used. In addition, a lot of the foods will be deep fried which makes a healthy dish not so healthy. The fact is that it is not the foods or ingredients that are unhealthy; it is how the foods are prepared. Baked foods are always healthier than fried foods due to the lack of being fried in grease. While Tex-Mex cuisine is delicious and preferred by most, authentic Mexican recipes are healthy by default.

Not only are these foods delicious, but they are also brilliant in color and presentation. With vibrant greens, yellows, and reds, any meal is going to start feeding your senses as soon as it is presented. That is the beautiful of authentic Mexican recipes – they bring that vibrancy into your home for easy preparation. When you need healthy and delicious, the best foods in all of Mexico will surely be a crowd pleaser!

When it comes to comparing Tex-Mex cuisines and the best of authentic Mexican recipes, you will find that preparation is everything. You will get the real taste of Mexico in vibrantly colored dishes that will surely be a favorite for years to come. Whichever one you choose, you can rest assured you are making a decision that is best for you and your family. Whether you are appreciating the delicious of fried or baked, you are getting a delicious meal best suited to you.

More about Annie Dubois and great Mexican food or gift boxes can be found at Mexican Food & Gifts To Go.

Was it November 2006 or March 1991? Was it Rodney King all over again? The recent murder of Sean Bell by New York police officers and the Taser shooting of Houston Texans offensive lineman, Fred Weary, have some wondering were the attacks racially motivated.

For African Americans, being the victims of racial profiling is nothing new, but the tactics used by police to justify excessive force against minorities recently hit an all time low as officers attempted to assassinate the character of Sean Bell and Fred Weary, the latest victims of police brutality.

On November 25, 2006, New York City police officers fired 50 shots into a car driven by Sean Bell, 23, hours before he was to marry Nicole Paultre. Police critically wounded passengers Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield in the shooting.

Bell and his friends were celebrating his bachelor party at the Kalua Cabaret, a club under investigation for alleged criminal activities.

According to eyewitness reports, the three men allegedly got into an argument with other patrons at the club and decided to leave the cabaret.

Based on police reports, the undercover officers investigating the atmosphere at the Kalua Cabaret believed they heard someone in Bell’s entourage say they had a gun. Believing they were in imminent danger, police approached Bell’s car to question the three men.

According to one of the victims, Bell, fearing robbery, rammed his car into an unmarked police car in an attempt to get away. The police officers fired 50 shots in response.

Police claimed that they identified themselves as officers when they approached Bell’s car, but the surviving victims say that is not true.

The Police Commissioner admitted that he allowed the officers to have a couple of drinks, but believed they were still fit to perform their duties as officers.

According to the Associated Press, police found Bell drunk at the time of the shooting, which has angered many, including Bell’s family.

“There was no shooting by any of the victims, including Sean Bell. Their judgment one way or another is irrelevant, because they didn’t do anything,” said civil rights leader Al Sharpton.

“The question is, why don’t we have toxicology tests on how much the undercover police were drinking,” Sharpton added.

According to the AP, a lawyer for Bell’s parents called the allegation “another attempt to denigrate the victim of a police murder.”

Also in November 2006, Fred Weary, offensive lineman for the Houston Texans was arrested and shot with a Taser after a traffic stop near Reliant Stadium in Houston.

According to the police report, an officer pulled Weary over because of a missing license plate after following him because he looked “very suspicious.” The police report also stated that Weary pushed away an officer and police Tasered him after he stepped toward an officer after they ordered him to place his hands on the vehicle.

Police recently dropped misdemeanor charges against Weary. Many of his Texans teammates and acquaintances have stated that Weary is not the type of person who would have done anything to warrant this kind of response from a police officer.

“I don’t think it happened the way they said it happened. He didn’t commit any crime. He didn’t deserve to be Tasered twice and didn’t deserve to be arrested,” said Weary’s attorney.

When Los Angeles police officers brutally attacked Rodney King over a decade ago, the entire nation was shocked and appalled at the brutality inflicted upon what seemed to be a helpless victim.

The police justified their violence by saying that they believed King was high on PCP because of his “spaced out” look. Police officers shot King with a Taser but he still managed to get up. The officers responded by beating him over 50 times with a baton before finally arresting him.

Just like in the Bell and Weary case, police justified their excessive force by stating that victims looked suspicious or they thought they heard the victim speak of having a weapon. If police violence is justified by the way one looks, then who is to say the next victim might not be one of us.

Todd Smith is the web master for Regal Mag The preeminent Online Magazine for African American Men

This year marks the centenary of the birth of Ian Fleming, whose time spent in Naval Intelligence during the Second World War proved to be the catalyst that led to the creation of James Bond, the most iconic character to emerge from 20th century fiction.

The life of Ian Fleming

Fleming was born on May 28th 1908 in Mayfair, a wealthy district of London, and his early years were entirely privileged. However, First World War ensured that Fleming was left fatherless and from that moment on he found his life dominated by his mother, who was affectionately known as “M”.

Fleming’s education and early career were entirely unremarkable and after several false starts he was sent to Moscow to cover the show trial of a number of Vickers employees under Stalin’s regime, one of his early triumphs.

With the outbreak of war in 1939, Fleming was recruited into naval Intelligence by Rear Admiral John Godfrey, Director of Naval Intelligence as his assistant. Initially as a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) he was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant Commander, then Commander, the rank he was later to attribute to James Bond.

Although he himself saw no action during the war he was involved with some of Great Britain’s top-secret operations and directly responsible for conceiving a number of plans.

Following the cessation of hostilities Fleming went to work as Foreign Manager for Kemsley Newspapers, owner of the Sunday Times. His job was to use his contacts to create a network of reporters that rivalled Reuters and one of the key clauses in his contract allowed him two months every year on vacation.

This time was spent at Goldeneye, his house in Jamaica and it was here, in 1952 that he began writing Casino Royale, allegedly to take his mind off his impending marriage.

Casino Royale was published in 1953 and immediately attracted attention in the UK. It took several more books and appearance of From Russia, With Love on the reading list of JFK for James Bond to really take off in the United States, but there was no turning back and with the film series beginning in 1962 with Dr No the Bond phenomenon took off.

Unfortunately Ian Fleming did not live to enjoy his full success; he died on August 8th 1964, before the release of the iconic third 007 film, Goldfinger.

Centenary Celebrations

Fans of the fictional super spy have a lot to look forward to in 2008, with a number of events planned. The Royal Mail issued a special set of postage stamps featuring covers from six of the fourteen books. The stamps feature Casino Royale and Dr No as first class stamps, while airmail stamps feature Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, For Your Eyes Only and From Russia With Love.

The Imperial War Museum is currently hosting an exhibition called For Your Eyes Only - Ian Fleming and James Bond, focusing on Fleming and his creation in a historical context. It is the first major exhibition devoted to Ian Fleming and look at how his experiences in Naval Intelligence and the post war climate influenced the 007 books and stoked the James Bond phenomenon.

The day of the Fleming centenary will be marked by the publication of a new 007 novel written by Sebastian Faulks. Entitled Devil May Care, the book continues Fleming’s chronology and sees James Bond back in action in the 1960s. The book was commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd and is published in the UK by Penguin Books.

As if this were not enough for the Bond fan, 2008 will also see the return of Daniel Craig as James Bond in the new film from Eon Productions. Currently scheduled for November, the 22nd film in the series to eagerly awaited after Craig’s gritty portrayal of Bond in Casino Royale.

You can find more information about James Bond and the Ian Fleming centenary celebrations http://www.TheJamesBondDossier.com