New Dan Brown book The Lost Symbol is found!

The Horse has been following rumors of the new Dan Brown book since The Da Vinci Code came out in 2003. Back then, Dan Brown said that he had started working on a new book about Masonic Symbology and Washington DC. So, the official word is finally out, and the word(s) is The Lost Symbol. The date is September 15th and you can preorder from Amazon here at about a 50% discount!:

What is the book going to be about?
According to early rumors from Brown's website, the new book (now The Lost Symbol) will be about Freemasonry and the way it influenced the founding fathers, the Revolutionary War and the founding and layout of Washington DC.

There was also an alleged plot leak that has been confirmed by Doubleday Publishing. The plot leak concerns George Washington and the secret reason for the American reverses (?) early in the Revolutionary War. Also a scholar discovers a secret in Washington's tomb and is murdered by the CIA.

"Brown's promotional website states that puzzles hidden in the book jacket of The Da Vinci Code, including two references to the Kryptos sculpture at CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, give hints about the novel's story. This repeats a theme from some of Brown's earlier work. For example, a puzzle at the end of the book Deception Point decrypts to the message, "The Da Vinci Code will surface."
(from Wikipedia)

One other evidence is some of the books that were published a few years ago that hinted at possible plot lines that Brown might use for The Lost Symbol. One of the better books that I read during this time that I definatly recommend, was David A. Shugarts' Secrets of the Widow's Son. This book goes into the complex layout and symbology of Washington DC and details the early American Freemason practices from founding father's like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

Leave me a comment here if you hear any more plot leaks or rumors about The Lost Symbol and give us a quick review of your thoughts on the book after you read it. (If you can read it quicker than I will be reading it!)

Movie trailers for winter 2008 and summer 2009

~ The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ~

I remember seeing a teaser for this during the Olympics. This is coming out Christmas day 2008. Adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards... right up my alley!



~ Angels & Demons ~

According to IMDB the official release date for the new Dan Brown movie based on the best seller is going to be May 15th 2009. As you all may know, I'm a HUGE DB fan and I've been anticipating this movie since the rumor started shortly after Da Vinci Code came out.

Super sneaky secret website! I heard a rumor about this so I investigated and found it. Apparently one of the trailers for A&D has the words "Altars Of Science" hidden in the Illuminati logo. If you Google that phrase you'll find a paid link (the first link) that will lead you to the hidden website. I'm not going to give you the link here because that would ruin the fun. But definitely go check it out if you're a fan to find a video feed.

Still no official word from Brown or Doubleday (Brown's publisher) about his new manuscript tentatively tittled The Solomon Key. The subject matter will deal with the history of the Freemasons and their influence on our founding fathers in the U.S. and possibly Skull and Bones or other secret societies. Robert Langdon will return as the main character as well.


~ Valkyrie ~

Also releasing Christmas Day 2008. This is going to be a tough choice. I'm also a huge Tom Cruise fan... and I love "based on a true story" movies. This looks great! Well acted, filmed and great production design and costuming.

Other upcoming films of interest to me are:

Terminator Salvation (Terminator 4)
Watchmen (based on the classic graphic novel)
(trailers by Comingsoon.net)

Kelly Clarkson sighted at Cheesecake Factory

Hot medium-rare celebrity gossip coming from The Horse today!

Original American Idol winner and super diva rock star Kelly Clarkson was sighted at The Cheesecake Factory this afternoon as she was out shopping with her "posse" at the Summit in Birmingham, AL. According to Reba.com, Clarkson and Reba McEntire will play Birmingham's BJCC tonight (probably as I'm writing the blog) as part of McEntire's "2 Worlds 2 Voices" tour.
As a noteworthy detail, Clarkson left (my friend) Matt a $50 tip, a very noble gesture and Clarkson gets top rank in my books as "nicest celebrity". (She's hot too! :-)

Most of you know that I work at The Cheesecake Factory and we are known as somewhat of a hub for celebrities when they come into our humble town. Not to brag too hard or anything but, anyone who's anybody comes to eat at Cheesecake. The reasons why are technical and I won't go into it here but, we have been mentioned on more than a few sitcoms. Ones that I know of are: Big Bang Theory, Friends, and King of Queens. Oprah Winfrey regularly visits our Chicago store and raves about our food.


photo by Josh Self, Dullas, VA featured on Schmap.com

I have personally hosted and waited on John Cena, Kenny Chesney and members of the Washington Redskins. We also get locals like Charles Barkley, Mayor Langford and Representative and Obama staff shortlister Artur Davis is a regular. (He's in at least twice a week).

So, stop by for lunch one day... You never know who you might be eating with!

Josh

Narnia 3 starts pre-production

Variety Tue., Jun. 19, 2007, 12:30pm PT

Apted to direct 'Narnia' sequel
'Dawn Treader' starts shooting in January
By PETER GILSTRAP






Disney Pictures and Walden Media have tapped Michael Apted to direct "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," the third installment in the series. Mark Johnson will produce along with Andrew Adamson, who directed the first two.
Returning cast members include Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley and Skandar Keynes.
"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," the second in the trio, will be released in 2008. "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" will begin lensing in January for a release on May 1, 2009.
Recent directing credits for Apted, who's prexy of the Directors Guild of America, include the soccer doc "The Power of the Game" and the feature "Amazing Grace" (for Walden Media sister company Bristol Bay Prods.).
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" saw worldwide grosses totaling $738 million.

Mo Rocca visits to add punch to 'Piece of Cake'

al.com: Search: "Mo Rocca visits to add punch to 'Piece of Cake'
Sunday, June 25, 2006
BOB CARLTON
News staff writer
Comedian Mo Rocca, all dressed up in his groomsman's tux, walked up to the bridesmaid and pulled up a chair.
'You're a knockout,' he told actress Alison Britt. 'Would a really hot chick want to dance with a dork?'
She said yes, and they hit the dance floor while the Birmingham band Silk E Smooth and a couple of dozen extras swayed to a disco beat in the background.
The bespectacled Rocca, formerly of Comedy Central's 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart' and currently a correspondent on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,' is in Birmingham this weekend shooting scenes for the independent short film 'Piece of Cake.'
It's a comedy about the events leading up to and surrounding a wedding, and Rocca plays Gordon Stints, the brother of the bride. Friday, he filmed the wedding reception scene at Park Lane in Mountain Brook.
'I'm a lawyer with the social limitations that oftentimes come with being a lawyer,' Rocca said between takes. 'I know a lot of unhappy lawyers. Any story involving a lawyer with a happy ending is very special.'
Birmingham filmmaker Jennifer West, the film's writer-director, said she wanted Rocca to appear in her picture after seeing him perform earlier this year at the Alys Stephens Center.
'I've always been a fan of Mo's,' West said. 'I went to see his show to see if he would be approachable. I definitely wanted a name actor to kind of propel this for (film) festivals.'
Rocca - who's also a panelist on the National Public Radio quiz show 'Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!' - joked that he must have impressed"