The Liebster Award: 2nd Nomination!

My head is spinning from all these award nominations!

Thank you so much to Eszter (felteddreams.wordpress.com) for nominating me a second time for the Liebster Award! Don’t forget to check out Eszter’s amazing felt/embroidery/quilting creations.

To view the post from my first nomination, click here.

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Rules

1. Post eleven facts about yourself.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you and create eleven questions for people you’ve nominated.
3. Choose eleven people to give this award to and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them.

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Eszter’s Quetions

1. What inspired you to start blogging?

Well, I started this particular blog to keep track of my various creative projects and to organize my thoughts a bit.

2. Is there one thing you wish you could change about yourself, what would it be?

I’m never good at answering this sort of question. Even if I could magically change something about myself, I don’t think I would.

3. If you could meet someone famous who is still living who would it be?

This is a really tough question because I don’t want to jinx my chances at Cannes.

4. What was the most interesting class you ever took in school?

Another tough question since I went to New York University: Gallatin School of Individualized Study and took a number of amazing courses including “Dante’s World,” “Virtue and Villainy: Melodrama,” and “Globalization: Promises and Discontents.” The most life-changing class I ever took was “Yellow Peril: Documenting & Understanding Xenophobia” taught by the amazing Jack Tchen. For this class, I wrote a painstakingly researched 25-page paper (plus 5 pages of works cited) about Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku Girls. Jack’s new book Yellow Peril: Understanding Fears of “the East” and What We Can Do About It is coming out at the end of February, so check it out if you’re interested!

5. What did you want to be when you were little?

I think I always wanted to be a comic book artist/graphic novelist/mangaka since I was in elementary school up through high school graduation. I drifted away from comics/graphic novels/manga in college, but as you can tell from The Poet and the Flea have regained my passion.

6. If you could decorate your work-space however you wanted, what would be your feature color?

Well, when I moved to San Francisco, I really got to decorate my workspace and I wouldn’t really change a thing (other than that it sometimes gets way too hot and there’s no air-conditioning). My room is mostly made of various shades of blue with splashes of yellow, tan, and salmon. It’s pretty funky!

7. If your life were a book, what would be the title?

Radiant Pessimist™ (this will also be the name of my future production company — I have Laurence Harvey to thank for that one).

8. What one happy memory do you have always coming to mind?

I don’t really have one memory that always comes to mind. But I recently thought of a childhood memory (when I was maybe six or seven years old) that I really hadn’t thought of for a long time — me and my dad bobbing in the ocean off of Kiawah Island. I remember that my nose was really runny, ha ha ha.

9. Do you prefer to read actual books or use an E-reader?

Actual books, hands down! It’s just not the same experience with an e-reader. The tactile feeling of a book, the smell of it, the typography and placement on the page, the action of turning from page to page… I really have a hard time reading on my iPad.

10. If you could keep only one item from your wardrobe, what would it be?

I’ve only worn it once, but the skirt of the prom outfit my grandmother made me. She died September 2011, so I’m extremely reluctant to let it go.

11. If you win some millions in lottery, what would be the first thing you buy?

I wouldn’t “buy” anything per se. I’d rather fund a full-length film of either my own script or that of a close friend.

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Nominations

Can’t I just nominate all my followers? You’re all so awesome and talented!

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My Questions

I liked the questions I wrote last time, so I’ll use them again…

1. What is the strangest dream you’ve ever had?
2. What is/was your favorite subject in school?
3. When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
4. Who is your role model?
5. What is your favorite holiday?
6. What is your least favorite vegetable?
7. What is your guilty pleasure?
8. Are you an optimist or pessimist?
9. What are your short-term goals/New Year’s resolutions?
10. What did you last eat?
11. Do you have any special and/or bizarre talents?

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas

The One Lovely Blog Award + The Very Inspiring Blogger Award!

Another award!!! I’d like to thank T. Jay Santa Ana (artbyanto.com) very very very much for nominating me for The One Lovely Blog Award + The Very Inspiring Blogger Award! Be sure to check out T. Jay’s awesome graphic design and illustration work.

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Rules

1. Thank the person who nominated you.
2. Add The One Lovely Blog Award + The Very Inspiring Blogger Award to your post.
3. Share 7 things about yourself.
4. Pass the award on to 10 nominees.
5. Include this set of rules.
6. Inform your nominees by posting a comment on their blogs.

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Facts

Check out these other posts for more than seven facts about me!

1. A Bit More About Me
2. Very Inspiring Blogger Award
3. Reader Appreciation Award
4. Liebster Award
5. The Beautiful Blogger Award

Instead of writing another “7 things about yourself” list, I thought I’d share my 7 top favorite obscure films list (in no particular order)!

I’d be interested to know how obscure these films really are (as in if any of my followers/readers have ever seen these).

P. S. I’m afraid a number of them might possibly star Laurence Harvey, aha ha ha. Threw in a few Japanese titles as well.

1. I Am a Camera (1955)
2. The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)
3. The Cat’s Meow (2001)
4. Life at the Top (1965)
5. The Clone Returns Home/Kurôn wa Kokyô wo Mezasu (2008)
6. Confessions/Kokuhaku (2010)
7. The Ceremony (1963)

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Nominations

So much talent on WordPress!

1. parametricdrawing.com
2. thecumulusfactory.wordpress.com
3. illustratedmustache.wordpress.com
4. streethearts.net
5. gehennagate.wordpress.com
6. caseprint.co.uk
7. magneticcrow.com
8. blakebradyartwork.com
9. desultorydigest.wordpress.com
10. greenhornphotos.com

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas

Brief Update

Here is a brief update on my current creative projects and endeavors…!

★ “The Poet and the Flea 100 Day Countdown to the Premiere” is underway!! Join us on Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook!

Wednesday, September 26th

1. Today, did some research about various production companies on IMDbPro.
2. Worked on inquiry letters. Dropped one in the mailbox and will be sending out a few more soon!

Thursday, September 27th

1. Continuing work on The Flea.
2. Went on a date with Wes to the California Academy of Science: Nightlife at the Academy. Saw some amazing sights (jellyfish, baby ostriches, etc.) and had a wonderful time with Wes.

Friday, September 28th

1. Today, met with Gabe and his friend, Masa — a film director. They asked me to collaborate with them on a screenplay called The Blanks. The concept is really interesting and I feel that I can use my expertise to really flesh out the characters and story. But I think I have to discuss everything further with Gabe and Masa to figure out exactly what they want.
   
2. Discussed children’s book further with Gabe. Scheduled next meeting for Friday, October 12th.
3. Watched the short film and read the short script that Gabe and Masa want me to collaborate on in order to expand it to feature length. Brainstorming ideas!
4. Reworked my résumé since it needed some updating.

Saturday, September 29th

• Worked on opening scene and ideas/notes for The Blanks. Sent to Gabe for feedback.

Sunday, September 30th

1. Today, scanned all completed pages of The Poet and the Flea!!!
2. Working on cropping scanned pages of The Flea and adding to draft posts on WordPress.

★ Goals for the coming days…

1. Draft character designs for Gabe’s children’s book.
2. Sketch out cover and first 2 pages of The First Reich. Schedule next meeting with Shannon.
3. Close out GoFundMe.com campaign and launch IndieGoGo.com campaign.

Monday, October 1st

Disclaimer: I do not own this photograph!!

1. Happy Birthday, Laurence Harvey!  If he hadn’t died of stomach cancer at the age of 45, he would have been 84 today. (Well, at least Larry’s on-screen mom Angela Lansbury is still kicking!)
2. Tonight, was supposed to attend the h. Naoto Designer Event with Wes, but had to cancel date due to stomach flu. (´Ａ｀。)
3. E-mail correspondence with Gabe.
4. Working on design for The Poet and the Flea postcards through Vistaprint in preparation for APE (Alternative Press Expo).

Tuesday, October 2nd

[Still sick... (✖╭╮✖)]

1. Happy Birthday, Mom! My family will be celebrating her birthday and mine (Oct. 19) together later this month. 〜(^▽^〜)
2. E-mail correspondence with Gabe.
3. Completed design for The Poet and the Flea postcards and ordered through Vistaprint.
4. Worked on draft for e-mail to Graphic Ladies!?.

Wednesday, October 3rd

1. Happy Birthday, Tetsuya, beloved leader and bassist of Japanese band L’Arc-en-Ciel!! You and the band have been going strong for 20 years now, and your fans can’t wait for more. (´∀｀)♡ [Watch "In the Air" from 20th Anniversary Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by3axL-3gjM]
2. E-mail correspondence with Gabe.
3. E-mail correspondence with Shannon.
4. Sent e-mail to Graphic Ladies!?.
5. Working on adding scanned pages of The Flea to draft posts on WordPress.

Thursday, October 4th

Disclaimer: I do not own this image!!

1. Happy Birthday, Jeremy Blake! This talented American artist would have been 41 today if he had not taken his life after the death of his long-term girlfriend Theresa Duncan. Read more about Blake and Duncan here!
2. Working on making plans for APE (Alternative Press Expo).
3. Working on character sketches for Gabe.

Etcetera

• The Poet and the Flea: 47 pages of written script (1 page of script = 4-6 illustrated pages), and about 36 pages (1-24, 27-30 completed, and 25-26, 31-36 in progress) of illustrated work.

To Do:

• Add blog content to The First Reich.
• Begin sketching out first few pages of The First Reich.
• Continue to work on character sketches for Gabe.
• Meet with Gabe at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 12.
• Attend APE (Alternative Press Expo), October 13 – 14.
• October 19 – 23: I will be out of town!
• Sign up with Top Web Comics: Comic Rankings.
• Sign up with OnlineComics.net.

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas

Brief Update

Here is a brief update on my current creative projects and endeavors…!

These past few weeks have been quite the roller coaster…! （⊙□ ⊙；）ノ

Sunday, June 30th

1.  Through Meetup.com, discovered The Pixel-Flick TV Actor/Filmmaker Alliance (Pixel Flick Entertainment). It seems like this production company is interested in producing short films and web series. Will attend the first meeting on Saturday, July 21st.
2. On Stage32.com, received a very nice personal message from Ben Cahan (the creator of Final Draft) inviting me to join his website Talentville.com. I created an account there, but I’m not ready to post my work yet (perhaps after I hear from all the contests I applied to?).

Monday, July 9th

1. Robots Are a Girl’s Best Friend: Unfortunately, have hit some snags and the project is on hold.
2. My full-length screenplay Who is Laurence Harvey? has advanced to the Second Round (the top 25%) of The 2012 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards!!!!!!!!! 
3. On Craigslist, have responded to a few posts about writing and creative projects. We’ll see how it goes…

Tuesday, July 10th

1. The Poet and the Flea: 37 pages of written script (1 page of script = 4-6 illustrated pages), and about 36 pages (1-10, 21 completed, and 11-20, 22-36 in progress) of illustrated work.
2. A special announcement about The Poet and the Flea coming soon!
3. Thinking of adding a “Links”page and a “Special Thanks” page to thepoetandtheflea.wordpress.com.
4. Slowly but surely working on the-poet-and-the-flea.tumblr.com.
5. Continuing to help fellow screenwriter/filmmaker Jay Dial. I’ve read his script so far, and I think it has a lot of potential!
6. Signed up with gotcast.com (www.gotcast.com/gegallas)… maybe I’ll find some more writing gigs this way?

Etcetera

1. My wonderful and talented friend just released the first promotional image from her upcoming webcomic… it looks stunning! Check it out: http://tealeaves9.tumblr.com/post/27095942591/at-long-last-the-first-promotional-image-for-my.
2. Bit by bit, working on my third full-length screenplay called The Modern Prometheus. The process has involved a lot of historical research about San Francisco. Every screenplay is a learning process!
3. I’m thinking about compiling a list of comic book-related (more on the small press side?) conventions for future reference. I would love to attend some local ones (Bay Area, California, etc.?) in the near future. And perhaps eventually fly out to other conventions. Any suggestions?
4. A while back, I created a facebook page (www.facebook.com/gegallas)… don’t forget to like me!
5. Also, a tremendous thanks to all of my followers here on WordPress and on Twitter!!

To Do:

• Attend The Pixel-Flick TV Actor/Filmmaker Alliance First Meeting (July 21st).
• Sign up with IMDbPro.
• Apply to The American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest (before August 1st).
• Apply to the Bluecat Screenplay Competition (before October 15th).

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas

A Bit More About Me

I thought that perhaps readers might want to learn a bit more about me. So I took the time to write this!

P.S. I took these questions from an internet meme… I’m not sure where they originate from, but I give full credit to whoever created them (although I edited them a little bit). Thanks!

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If you could build a second house anywhere, where would it be?

I really wouldn’t want to own or build a second house — one house is more than enough for me. But, if I could, I would love to live for a period somewhere Scandinavian. Copenhagen? Stockholm? Or maybe even in Belgium, like Antwerp. I also really need to visit England to do some William Blake research for my graphic novel The Poet and the Flea. I’ve already lived in Manhattan and Tokyo, and I hope I can return there in the future. Also, I really must visit Barcelona to see my beloved friend Elena!!

What are your favorite articles of clothing?

Umm, this is a tough question. I admire fashion as an art form, but I have a hard time finding clothes for myself. I guess a more-or-less constant staple of my wardrobe are Vans shoes. Usually quirky ones with multi-colored checkers. Right now, I have a pair with cherries, another silvery pair, and another with blue and pink hearts from St. Valentine’s Day. Also, I’ve been wearing my Vivienne Westwood orb locket for about five years now.

The Last CDs You Bought?

“The Black Belles” by The Black Belles and all of Heavenstamp‘s EPs.

What is your favorite kitchen appliance?

I practically lived off toast my final semester of college. And I’m loving all the sourdough bread in San Francisco. So I’m going to go with “toaster.”

If you could play an instrument, what would it be?

I actually used to play cello — started when I was four years old and stopped after about twelve years. I never really enjoyed playing, but the experience definitely taught me to appreciate music of all kinds. Playing the whimsical Bohemian pieces of David Popper always brought me the most joy. If I had the patience for another instrument, I might learn the piano just so that I could play Igor Stravinsky and Franz Liszt. Or, if I had been born a man, I’d like to be a bass opera singer like Samuel Ramey.

Favorite color?

Since childhood, I’ve always favored blue. But nowadays everyone would accuse me of being passionate about the color black.

Which vehicle do you prefer, sports car, motorcycle, or SUV?

Vespa. Absolutely.

Do you believe in the afterlife?

You do realize you’re asking a Jewish Atheist?

Favorite children’s book?

Not exactly children’s books per se, but I always read the works of Edward Gorey as a child. I remember being upset when he died back in 2000 (I must have been about 11 years old). Once The Poet and the Flea is up online, anyone familiar with Gorey’s work will probably be able to tell how much he has influenced my own style.

What is your favorite season?

Fall, especially October. My birthday is October 19. And there are lot’s of other awesome birthdays (Oct. 1st, Laurence Harvey’s; Oct 2nd, my mom’s; Oct 3rd, Tetsuya’s [L'Arc~en~ciel]; Oct. 4th, Jeremy Blake’s, etcetera.). Plus, I’ve always enjoyed Halloween. The only downside is what follows: winter. I love the cold, but I can’t stand the holiday season. As Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey in The Manchurian Candidate, 1962) says: “Twelve days of Christmas? One day of Christmas is loathsome enough!”

If you have a tattoo, what is it?

Not only would I be disowned if I got a tattoo, but more significantly I am 100% certain I would be allergic to not only the ink but also the needle used in tattooing (I have extremely sensitive skin and a serious metal allergy… not long ago, I tried on a metal bracelet and felt it immediately burning my skin!). But I have a lot of interest and respect for tattoos in various cultures (Maori, etc.). I mean, Eastern Promises (2007) is up there on my favorite movie list!

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

To learn every nuance of every language, and keep them all in my head.

Can you juggle?

I used to have one of those Klutz juggling books… but no.

What is under your bed?

Currently, a gigantic blue portfolio box full of valuable fine art collected by my Opah (grandfather) when he was alive. I’m talking about Reginald Marsh, Philippe Halsman, and the likes.

Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger?

You do realize you’re asking someone who lived in Tokyo for a year? Sushi, clearly. Especially the kaiten (conveyor belt) variety.

What is your dream job?

From a very young age, my dream has always been to become a comic book artist. For the past few years, I’ve dreamed of becoming a screenwriter. Now, I’m trying to make both come true.

What age do you plan to retire?

Never.

Something you would like to do that you have never done before?

Attend a film festival… especially one screening a film I wrote. I think this will happen sooner than I expect.

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Desert Island Movies (à la Stage32.com)

“What if you could only watch the same 10 films… forever?”

1. The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
2. In Bruges (2008)
3. Gemini/Souseiji (1999)
4. The Constant Gardener (2005)
5. The Brothers Bloom (2008)
6. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
7. Mystery Men (1999)
8. The Fall (2006)
9. Adam’s Apples/Adams æbler (2005)
10. Topsy-Turvey (1999)

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas

“Who is Laurence Harvey?”: Research

Over the course of researching and writing my first full-length screenplay entitled Who is Laurence Harvey? (about the forgotten international film star Laurence Harvey [1928 - 1973]), I developed a bit of a hobby.

“What hobby?” you ask.

Collecting every single last image of Laurence Harvey I can find on the internet, that’s what!!

I currently have over 450 images saved in my Laurence Harvey folder.

Here, I thought I’d share some of my favorite images. These are the images that I hope will one day influence the production/design of this film.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these images!!

(Click on images to enlarge.)

Autographed photo of Laurence Harvey

Laurence Harvey as Romeo (1954)

Laurence Harvey in “Room at the Top” (1959)

Laurence Harvey in “The Alamo” (1960)

Laurence Harvey and Elizabeth Taylor in “BUtterfield 8″ (1960)

Laurence Harvey in “The Long and The Short and The Tall” (1961)

Laurence Harvey at home.

Laurence Harvey in “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962)

Laurence Harvey and France Nuyen in “A Girl Named Tamiko” (1962)

Laurence Harvey and Sarah Miles in “The Ceremony” (1963)

Laurence Harvey in “Life at the Top” (1965)

Laurence Harvey at the Oscars.

Laurence Harvey and Elizabeth Taylor on the set of “Night Watch” (1973)

For more information about Who is Laurence Harvey?, check out this post. Or visit my homepage.

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas

Summaries

Here is some information on my works…!

Full-length Screenplays

1. No Longer Human: A story of obsession. Inspired by the deaths of the artists Jeremy Blake and Theresa Duncan.
2. Valentine: A retelling of Alexandre Dumas’s The Count of Monte Cristo, focused on the story of Maximilian Morrel and Valentine de Villefort.
3. The Man Who Never Smiled: A contemporary film noir.
4. Houdini & Conan Doyle: An exploration of the friendship, falling-out, and rivalry between the escape artist Harry Houdini and the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Short Screenplays

1. Robots Are a Girl’s Best Friend is the story of a troubled middle-aged man who attends a Halloween party dressed as Marilyn Monroe. A life-changing encounter with an “inanimate object” helps him come to terms with his identity.
2. Death Is No Bad Friend: Based on the life and works of Robert Louis Stevenson. Robert Louis attempts to escape his guilty conscience through honeymooning on Mount Saint Helena. But his illness catches up, forcing him to face his demons.

Fiction

1. “Go Jump in the Lake”: The precursor to Who is Laurence Harvey? An imagining of Laurence Harvey’s experience on the set of The Manchurian Candidate (1962). During filming in Manhattan, Larry is required to jump into the frozen waters of the Lake in Central Park. With this feat looming over his head, he questions his ability to cope with the pressure.
2. “Robots Are a Girl’s Best Friend” (See above.)
3. “Bludgeoning The Walrus”: A ‘60s period piece about a movie set designer who is fed up with his lecherous, big-shot boss.
4. “Ulysses in Hell”: An account from the perspective of the hero Ulysses as he burns in Dante’s Inferno.
5. “Coin-operated Golem”: Inspired by “A Supermarket in California” by Allen Ginsberg.
6. “The Ink Drinker”: A dystopian story about a young girl who learns the truth about an outcast of society.
7. “The Scar Still Hurts” (In Progress)
8. “The Man with a Television for a Head” (In Progress)

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For more information, please visit my homepage: www.wix.com/gegallas/writer.

For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas

Screenplays: Completed

Who is Laurence Harvey?

Who is Laurence Harvey? is a dramedy about the tempestuous life and untimely death of the forgotten international film star Laurence Harvey (1928 – 1973). This screenplay is a character study tracing the development of Larry’s public persona – the serious actor – juxtaposed with his troubled personal life, which he masked by his outrageous sense of humor. We follow Larry’s journey through interactions with his famous contemporaries, including his good friends (Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor), his enemies (Laurence Oliver, Sid James), and his illustrious costars (Shelley Winters, Angela Lansbury, Julie Christie).

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The Golden Curator

At the onset of World War II, Isaiah Austerlitz – the owner of a small Manhattan art gallery – is on the brink of financial ruin when his friend Morocco brings him a client with an offer he can’t refuse. This eccentric, nouveau riche client employs Austerlitz to track down the works of a recently deceased artist. Sent on a wild-goose chase, will Austerlitz be able to uphold his end of the bargain? Or will he be overwhelmed by his unscrupulous rivals?

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For more information, please visit my homepage: www.wix.com/gegallas/writer.

Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas