Pheaturing Anna Brooke Higdon

PHIRST OF

Rabbit, rabbit. I can't believe it's the first of December already. This year flew by. Anyway, hey there, welcome to the Phile. I have a really good entry for you, I promise. The White House Christmas tree was unveiled. Actually, it was a regular tree that snuck in past security.

I think we should give the Secret Service a break over this security breach the other night. When they heard there was a crazy couple in the White House, they just assumed it was the Bidens. When I say the Bidens are crazy, of course I mean Joe Biden. Mrs. Biden’s not crazy. So, raise your hand if you're sick about hearing about Tiger Woods and his car crash. So, Okay, in the next few weeks for the holidays I am gonna show you some gift ideas if you are having problems looking. Take a look at this new killer phone from Nokia. Just for the gangsta in your life.So, did you see that New Moon movie? I didn't, but I was told there was something odd about it. I didn't believe it until I saw this picture. Crazy, eh?

Why is there a dinosaur in a vampire movie? Okay, from the home office in Port Jefferson, New York, here is this week's...


Top Ten Changes To The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
10. New floats depicting "The Biggest Loser" contestants.
9. Every balloon has an "On Sale" tag.
8. Due to health concerns caused by sneezing, Snow White's float will only contain 6 dwarfs. 7.
7. All the balloon characters are now wearing swine flu masks.
6. Bullwinkle Moose float is pursued by Sarah Palin float.
5. It's now BYOB -- Bring Your Own Balloon.

4. To save money, Al Gore manually blowing up balloons.

3. Usual balloons replaced by over-inflated Bernie Madoff promises.

2. All balloons may or may not have a 7-year old boy inside of them.

And the number one change to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade...

1. This year it will be held in Alaska -- it's going rogue.

1934
Politburo member Sergei Kirov killed by Leonid Nikolayev on orders of Josef Stalin. The assassination is used as an excuse to commence the Great Terror in the years 1935 to 1939, in which 800,000 were executed and over 8.5 million arrested. But these figures pale in comparison to the 47 million who died from Stalinist collectivization and other purges.
1947
Aleister Crowley, the wickedest man in the world, dead in Hastings England, aged 74. He wrote that "for nearly all purposes, human sacrifice is best", and taught the Law of Thelema, "do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." Crowley also appears on the cover of Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper".
1958
An intentionally-set trash fire at the Our Lady of Angels school kills three nuns and more than 90 students in Chicago. Many of the students leaped to their deaths.
1976
The Sex Pistols appear on a British TV show to fill in the place of orchestral band Queen. The boozed-up punks are goaded by the host, Bill Grundy, to "say something outrageous." Several fucks later, the band is suddenly a notorious example for the press.
1997
A high school student in Paducah, Kentucky opens fire on fellow students during a prayer service. The 14-year-old freshman student was armed with a .22-caliber Lugar handgun and earplugs. Two Bible thumpers are killed, the rest are only injured.
1997
Motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson files suit against Anabolic Video Productions, the makers of Gang Bang #20, a hardcore pornographic film in which biker bitches are filmed having sex on the company's brand of motorcycle, and atop other promotional merchandise bearing the brand name. Harley claims that the film may confuse viewers into believing that the company authorized or endorsed the activities.
1997
Member of the Georgia Senate Ralph Abernathy attempts to smuggle marijuana into the US from Jamaica in his underwear. He is caught by a drug-sniffing canine and fined $500. Abernathy is the son of the famous civil rights leader of the same name who was Martin Luther King's lieutenant. In January he is censured by the Georgia State Senate.

Planet 51
A planet of happy green creatures who live in an anthropomorphic, idyllic, "Leave It to Beaver"-like 1950s--but with the flying cars we were promised--are visited by an alien: a red-haired, lantern-jawed, American astronaut from 2009, an unfunny Buzz Lightyear who's as freaked out by them as they are by him. Misunderstandings, perceived threats and lots of chase scenes ensue before we all get taught a lesson about believing in yourself and appreciating the differences in others. Because they don't make enough animated features that cover those bases.When even the space-fish farting jokes don't work, when you have to rely on an innuendo-laden discussion of penises as weirdly situated antennae, alien anal probes and buttplugs to liven things up for the adults in the audience, you know you're watching a movie that can't decide if it's for kids or grown-ups. Then the movie decides to forget about being very interesting for either demographic. But the chases, explosions, splats and stuff-falling-down parts will be more than enough to entertain the average six-year-old who hasn't seen Alien, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars or Pleasantville. Parents, time to flip that coin for chaperone detail. It will lot of money though, because it looks cheap. And it's mediocre. People love that kind of thing. It'll appeal to kids who plan on growing up to be the lowest common denominator. Everybody wins. What I liked about it best was the robot dog that looks like Wall-E and the other pet that resembles what would happen if the monster in Alien was a puppy. It's named Ripley, of course. See, kids, here's a joke that's going to crack you up. There's this lady named Sigourney Weaver and...

This is the third book in the P.P.B.C. It's available at Borders, Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com so go out and buy it. The author, Danny Goldberg, will be a guest on the Phile next week.

Don't forget the other two Book Club books... "Mr. Lincoln Was A Robot" by Victor Langlois and "First Generation" by Mary Tamm.

This week's guest is an upcoming singer from Alabama, who is gonna be a big star one day. Please welcome to the Phile... Anna Brooke Higdon.

Me: Hello, Anna, welcome to the Phile. So, how are you?

Anna: Thanks for inviting me! I am doing just great!

Me: First, I have to say, you seem to have been in every major music talent show in America. Ever tried for "American Idol"?

Anna: Yes, actually, I’ve auditioned 3 times. This fist time I auditioned was last season in Kansas City, and then this summer in Atlanta and Chicago. It’s very different than it appears on TV. 12,000 auditioned in Chicago, and only about 250 made it to round 2. Chicago was the first time for me to make it past the producers to round 2. I had to return to Chicago in August, but did not make it to round 3 to the judges. Maybe next year!

Me: Were you on "Can You Duet?" How well did you do, and what was the act called?

Anna: I auditioned for the first season of "Can You Duet". A friend, that I had met at the CMA "Rising Star" competition, and I decided at the last minute we’d try out for it. We practiced over the phone, and it was fun. Over 20,000 showed up to audition at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville. We named ourselves BrAvery , from our names, and figured we were brave to even be there! We didn’t make it to round 2, but as always, it’s worth the experience!

Me: You were in AMTC Orlando, Anna, I have lived in the Orlando area for over 20 years and have not heard of that. What is it, and where was it?

Anna: AMTC is the Millie Lewis Acting, Modeling, and Talent Competition. It is twice a year, and in a different location each time. That year, it was at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, and I placed 2nd overall in the Country Music division.

Me: Did you make it out to Disney World while you were here?

Anna: I’ve been to Disney World several times, but on that trip we only went to Universal Studios. We were very busy with all the AMTC activities during the 10 days we were in Orlando.

Me: Are you in college? Where do you get the time to do everything?

Anna: I’m a senior in high school, but I do plan to start college next year. I’m applying to Belmont University, Auburn University, Agnes Scott College, Georgia Tech, and Loyola New Orleans. Depending on which I actually attend, I will either major or minor in Music Business/Commercial Music and/or International Business Relations and French. Where do I get the time? Good question! My parents have always been great in getting things like that organized for me. And of course, sometimes, I don’t have the time for some things!

Me: Your parents, Anna, must be very proud, right?

Anna: Yes, I’m certain they would say yes! They are always there for me too!

Me: Okay, I have to ask you what is a People to People ambassador? You were that role to China, right? Did you get to go there?

Anna: People to People International is a student ambassador program that President Dwight D. Eisenhower created in 1956. Each year, students are selected to participate in various programs all over the world. During my travel, I studied the political history of China’s government in Tiananmen Square, discovered the heritage behind the Forbidden City, visited local students, learned how to cook at a Chinese cooking school, attended Kung Fu classes, explored the Summer Palace and the pandas, visited the Great Wall, saw the Terra Cotta Warriors, learned calligraphy, explored the ancient city of Zhujiajiao, the City of Gardens in Suzhou, the village near Kowloon Hills in Hong Kong, and engaged in many other ventures throughout Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai. I definitely want to return to China some day! Maybe I can take my music there too!

Me: Do you, or have you done a lot of traveling?

Anna: Yes, I love to travel! I’ve been to France, Japan, Mexico, British Columbia, and Great Britain with my parents. I also traveled to Ireland with a small group of friends last summer. And of course, I enjoy traveling with my family to places like Arizona, Illinois, New York, and Nashville!

Me: You're based in Alabama, right? Have you lived there all your life?

Anna: Yes, I have lived in Alabama my entire life!

Me: Your first love is country music, but you also have a love for Broadway shows. Have you ever been to New York to see one? What was your favorite?

Anna: Yes, I’ve been to "Spamalot", "Phantom of the Opera", "Mamma Mia", and "Chicago" in NYC. And, also I’ve seen "Les Miserables" in London. My favorite is "Phantom of the Opera", but I'd love to play the role of Donna Sheridan in "Mamma Mia"!

Me: You also have done a lot of acting. Any TV work?

Anna: I haven’t had anything on TV, except for the role of a schoolgirl in a small production of "Timepiece: Abbie, Girl Spy". I do a lot of community theatre in Decatur, Huntsville, and Birmingham, AL. My last role was Alice in "Batter Up", at the Renaissance Theatre in Huntsville.

Me: You were in something called "Space Ranger & The Viper Menace". What on Earth is that?

Anna: SRVM is a hilarious science fiction original musical by Chuck Puckett of Decatur, AL, and premiered at the Renaissance Theatre in Huntsville, AL. It is about Strat Lancaster who has saved the galaxy annually, ever since he graduated from the Academy. So a grateful galaxy plans to honor him at his class reunion. But things are not always what they seem. Cosmo Biggs, the most powerful tycoon in the Galactic Federation wants more than money, he wants EVERYTHING. The beautiful, yet sinister Queen Urana seems to have less than honorable intentions as well. And when Strat is grounded on a technicality, there seems to be nothing stopping the triumph of evil and greed. Add a mutating monster lurking in the background, a set of heroic Space Rangers, and lots of great tunes, and you have Space Rangers and the Viper Menace. By the way, I played Halley Oort, a Space Ranger! LOL!

Me: Anna, are you currently in the studio working on an album?

Anna: I’ve been trying, but it’s getting harder because of schedules, classes, etc. I was hoping to have something in the works by the end of 2009. Also, I’ve been working with Brett Manning in Nashville, and I have been writing more too, as well as playing guitar.

Me: 2010 is coming up fast, Anna. What big plans do you have for the new year?

Anna: My plans are to keep on doing what I love: traveling, singing, writing, and hopefully produce an album, and of course finishing high school and getting ready for college!

Me: Anyway, good luck in whatever you do, and you are welcome back to the Phile whenever you get the chance. Continued success to you.

Anna: Thanks so much! I really appreciate this opportunity to talk with you! Be sure to keep up with my work at www.myspace.com/annabrookemusic!

PHINALLY

That's the blog, folks. Thanks to Anna for a good interview and of course to Wikipedia. Like I said the Phile will be back next Tuesday with Book Club author Danny Goldberg. So, have a good week and until then, spread the word, not the turd. Bye, love you, bye.