Healthy diet, healthy heart…you’ve heard the phrase before.  Yet according to the Center for Disease Control, heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the United States.

I get extremely passionate when I talk about this topic because of a promise I made to my grandmother, Ethel Lee Edwards, when I was just 16.  I vowed to spend my life making healthier choices to avoid facing the consequences of cardiovascular disease.  See, my grandmother, and I were the best of friends.  She started having strokes, heart attacks and was diagnosed with diabetes when I was in my teens.  Sadly, she was in her early 60′s when she died.  There were many factors but mostly the complications of my grandmother’s death resulted from a poor diet and high-stress lifestyle.   Seconds before she died, she once again encouraged me to take control of my health –heart and soul.

It’s a promise that I have honored, volunteering with the American Heart Association, participating in organizing several walks, and fundraising.  This year I wanted to raise the bar and challenge myself even more.

February is National Heart Awareness month.  It’s a time to recognize the many milestones accomplished in fight against cardiovascular disease, and also bring awareness to the steps we still need to take to truly make a dent in what remains to be Americas burden.

On the first Friday in February, also known as Go Red Day, women across the nation wear red to show their support to wipe out heart disease.  I decided not only to wear red that Friday but everyday of that month.  To say the least, it generated conversation.  Everyday someone asked me, why do you keep wearing red…you must really like that color.

Lenise Ligon, Fox10News Meteorologist Chasity Byrd

To be clear, red is NOT a color I like, but I wanted to do something…create a spark and it worked!  People were engaged and energized about wiping out heart disease.  I received several pledges for fundraising dollars and commitments to join the cause.  In my heart and soul, I believe my grandmother would be proud.

Not a day goes by where I don’t wish my grandmother was still here with me.  She would have been 89 today.

This year the Alabama Gulf Coast Heart Walk will take place on September 22, 2012, at the University of South Alabama.  I certainly hope to see you there!  Cardiovascular disease forever changed my life, but together we can triumph over this chronic illness.

A storm system organizing over Texas will head our way Friday night and Saturday. The stronger upper level low creating the rain will weaken, but we still expect the chances of heavy rain here across our area. Deep layer moisture and enhanced lift from the slow moving wave could bring soaking rains. The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center forecast predicts up to 7 inches in some areas through early next week.

Before there was a Twilight saga or the Underworld franchise; before there was a True Blood or Vampire Diaries or Moonlight or Forever Knight; there was the classic late 1960s TV soap opera that started the rage of having a romance with a “vampire”.  The name of that show is called Dark Shadows.  From 1966 to 1971 this 30 minute ABC serial captivated the TV viewing audience in the afternoon. 

 With all the classic vampire and Dracula movies starring Christopher Lee (one of the best to play the count) series creator Dan Curtis struck out on the ideal that what if they produce a series that focuses on the torment of a man who only wants to find love and rejoin his family …. now add to that the man is cursed by a woman he once loved who happens to be a witch … well she gets P.O.ed turns him into a vampire.  And one last twist …. this all happens in the year 1795.  Now you fast forward to the 20th Century and the late 1960s.  A young lady named Victoria Winters rides on a train to come to work for the Collins family who reside on top of Widows’ Hill in a house called Collinwood in Collinsport, Maine.  Soon she would find the man known as Barnabas Collins, played excellently by the late great Jonathan Frid, and thus began the love affair that has become cult favorite here in the U.S. and around the world that is known as Dark Shadows.

Now, in the year 2012, one such fan of the series has embark on revisiting & reimagining the mystic that is Dark Shadows.  That fan’s name is director Tim Burton.  That’s Right!  Tim Burton is at his old tricks again … but as always … That’s Good.  You have remember he was the one that brought Batman back to the Big Screen which led Christopher Nolan to relaunch it into The Dark Knight trilogy which will wrap up this July.  And of course when you have Tim Burton to direct …. he gets Johnny Depp to be the star.  Johnny is now the new Barnabas Collins.  A fan of the TV series himself, Johnny Depp is putting his own spin on the character and it’s been getting some really good reviews.  We will see how good it will do at the Box Office when it opens Friday, May 11th.  Going up against Marvel’s The Avengers if it can’t be No#1 in theaters this weekend to be a strong No# 2 will not be a bad thing this Summer Blockbuster Movie Season this year.

Now if you are a fan of the original TV soap opera series there are some DVD sets that are out in stores now.  And Die Hard Cult Fans you can own the Entire Series – all 1225 episodes – in a special DVD collection ( the package the DVDs come in is a coffin – Way Cool! ).  So if you have the $599.00 to spend on this treat Go For It!

My good friend, co-worker, and fellow Movie expert Joe Emer – Host of Studio 10, had an interview with to of the castmates of the original TV series talking about the show and the new movie in which they make cameo appearances.  Here’s a link to that interview with  Lara Parker & Kathryn Leigh Scott here on our web page ( and you can always go to the Studio 10 tab here on this site) ……

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/more_studio10/celebrities/dark-shadows-past-and-present?ref=scroller&categoryId=10032&status=true”>Dark Shadows, past and present: fox10tv.com</a></p>

The Summer Blockbuster Movie Season is now going to the bats …. we’ve already had Underworld: Awakening, now on Blu-Ray and DVD, and soon Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter will come into play later this year.  And let’s not forget our favorite bat … man … The Dark Knight Rises is coming soon (July 20th).

If you like vampires or you like Tim Burton movies or Johnny Depp in a Tim Burton movie. or all of the above; go check out Dark Shadows.

Marcus Jackson, The WALA / WFNA Resident Movie Guru here.  Now when I said let’s all assemble together and check out Marvel’s The Avengers I knew that it would be a Blockbuster hit …. But Man ….. The American Movie Going Public ”Hulk Smash“ed the movie receipts out the known Marvel & movie universes.  OVER $200 MILLION Dollars at the Box Office this past weekend.  That’s beats last year’s Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2 weekend openings of $162 Million.  I can just see Walt Disney smiling with a Mickey Mouse grin because Disney owns MARVEL COMICS.  Also with The Amazing Spider-Man & Disney -Pixar’s Brave coming out later this summer Disney Studios could turn out to be the big winner in the Summer Movie Race.  But now back to The Avengers.

 Now if you did what I suggested to you and you went back and saw Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger in this particular order you would have been all caught up and ready for this movie event.  However if you didn’t Marvel’s The Avengers can stand alone on it’s own.  The film does a good job in getting you all caught up with all the characters leading up to the call for them to “assemble” into action to as Tony Stark said in the movie, paraphrasing, …. “If we can’t protect the earth we surely will avenge it.”  From start to finish The Avengers delivers what had expected in a Marvel Superhero film.  And as for all the comic book fans of the series you may have seen some hints throughout the film that sometime in the near future of the movie series that there may be a “Civil War” a brewing …. Maybe “East Coast” / “West Coast“ …. but this first film is suppose to be the origin of how they come together  to help save the Earth from an invasion led by Loki, The Asgard God and Thor’s half brother, as he leads an alien race of warriors to conquer mankind.  The battles within the group in the movie – in particular Iron Man vs Thor … before Captain America steps in and Thor vs. The Hulk are great fight scenes before they get ready for the final showdown towards the end.  It’s Funny, It’s Action-Packed, It’s Thoughtful & Compelling with a couple of Self-Sacrificing moments that you may have saw coming but when they come they hit you hard …. we like that.  Also be on the lookout for the Stan Lee cameo he always does in the Marvel films.

And One More Thing ….. this is a Marvel Superhero Movie ….. DO NOT LEAVE THE THEATER WHEN THE CREDITS ROLL …. If you do you are going to miss not one but TWO End Credits scenes that will set you up for what The Avengers 2 will be able and something that Tony Stark says in the movie.  By now somebody may have bootlegged these two scenes over the web by now but go ahead and see the movie and stay for the end credits scenes.  You are paying good money the see this history making film … get your money’s worth.

Now it’s time for me to be the “Music Guru”.  The soundtrack for this film way cool.  Especially the theme song from SoundGarden called “Live To Rise”.  This will be the No#1 downloaded iTunes song very soon beating out Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know”.

Here’s a link to the song / Official Video from the movie on YouTube ….. http://youtu.be/D3ZNtOcY_1A

If you haven’t seen this movie yet …. what are you waiting for.  Finish reading my blog entry you’re already online so find movie ticket website and buy your tix and GO TO THE MOVIES and see this film.  More Summer Movies Blockbusters Are Coming.  In my next blog entry I’ll give the heads what’s up later this month of May with “Dark Shadows”, “Battleship”, and “Men in Black 3″.

Have Fun … Stay Safe … And We’ll “ASSEMBLE” Again At The Movies.  The Summer Movie Blockbuster Season Had Just Begun!

Heavy rains have flooded roads in many parts of the area. The most significant flooding has been reported near Eight Mile and Whistler. Areas along HW 45 have seen nearly 8 inches of rain in a short period of time. A trained weather spotter reported water over a foot deep near Bearfork Road. Most of Mobile County was under a Flash Flood Warning this evening.
A mid level low pressure trough is slowly moving across Louisiana. Abundant moisture is streaming up form the Gulf of Mexico. We continue to see slow moving rain bands, with locally heavy downpours. While we have seen some flooding, the overall severe weather threat is low, and we don’t expect dangerous winds or tornadoes. Rain chances continue into Thursday. Friday should be much drier.

This is Marcus Jackson, The Resident Movie Guru here.  In 2008 when Marvel gave the green light to bring Iron Man to life on the Big Screen I knew we were in for a treat.  Robert Downey, Jr.  became a  bonafide ”Box Office Draw”.  Now some of my friends were told and saw on the internet at the time to NOT to leave the theater after the credits had rolled because you would see a scene that will change the course of the film for a sequel.   MAN …. What A Scene That Was.    To see Samuel L. Jackson as “Nick Fury – the Director of S.H.E.I.L.D.” talking to Tony Stark about he has entered a universe of superheroes that will need him to be a part of “The Avenger Initiative” program.  Check out this link from YouTube to that scene to refresh your memory ….

http://youtu.be/9o2lJ19qML0

Now it is 2012 and a few movies later, namely The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: the First Avenger, “The Time For that Initiative Has Come!”  It’s Time For ….. Marvel The Avengers … To Assemble!

May 4th, 2012 …. This Friday!  This is the moment we here in the States have been waiting for.  Also, Marvel The Avengers will open on the weekend that is the official start of  The 2012 Summer Blockbuster Movie Season.  I’ll get into that on my next blog entry.

Now if you are like me you might be getting all caught up to get ready for Friday by watching the aforementioned movies above.  I’ve watched Iron Man on DVD today (Sunday)  Later this week I’ll get to The Incredible Hulk then Iron Man 2 then Thor and Captain America.   They are all out on Blu-Ray and DVD and I know that a lot of the cable and satellite subscribers can order these film on demand in the comfort of their own homes.

Check out this link to the Trailer for Marvel the Avengers from YouTube …. http://youtu.be/tY9DnBNJFTI

This movie event is getting whole lot of very good buzz.  A Midnight showing or or opening day matinee or night or over the weekend.  Go by yourself or go with your family or group of friends … Just Be An Avenger and Just Assemble and Go To This Movie and be a part of movie history because this film is gonna be HUGE … like the Hulk.

So On May 4th, This Friday, when you here the Call, the Battle Cry …. “Avengers Assemble!”  Join Me At The Movies to Watch  Marvel The Avengers Come To Life.

My wife and I just enjoyed some vacation time that included a visit to New York City.

The trip was full of surprises, including a chance get-together with former WALA co-worker (and now, WABC-TV senior meteorologist) Bill Evans, who happened to be walking down the street as we were having a cup of coffee at an outdoor cafe across from Lincoln Center.  It led to tour of his studio about 2 blocks away.

Another surprise?  We had just left a show when we spotted Larry Bird and Magic Johnson at the opening of a show about them, called “Magic Bird”.

I hadn’t been back to New York City since 9/11, so we wanted to pay a visit to the World Trade Center site as well as some of the fire stations that lost so many crews that day.  One fire station is right across the street from where the twin towers stood.  There is a huge memorial on the side of that fire station, and an immense construction project underway where the new towers are being built.