Tuesday, January 22, 2008
-=skAnDaR aMiN cAspeR kEyNeS=-
Date of Birth
5 September 1991, London, England, UK
Birth Name
Skandar Amin Casper Keynes
Height
6' 1" or 1.85 m(!!!)
Mini Biography
Skandar Amin Casper Keynes (born 5 September 1991) is an English actor best known for starring as Edmund Pevensie in the 2005 film adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He will return in the role of Edmund in the film's sequel The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, which is currently scheduled for release in the summer of 2008.
Keynes was born in London to writer Randal Keynes and Zelfa Cecil Hourani and has a sister called Soumaya. Through his father, Keynes is the great-great-great grandson of the famous scientist Charles Darwin. His great grandfather Edgar Douglas Adrian, 1st Baron Adrian won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1932.
His maternal grandfather, Cecil Fadlo Hourani, is a famous writer of Lebanese descent, and the brother of Albert Hourani, also a well-known writer and professor. Keynes attended the Anna Scher Theatre School from 2000 to 2005 and currently attends the all-boys City of London School.
Trivia
**He grew six-and-a-half inches while filming The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). He had to get his armor fixed weekly.
**Can ride a horse.
**Plays the cornet and flute.
**Attended Anna Scher Theatre School, 2000-2005.
**Studies tae kwon do.
**The name Skandar is of Turkish origin meaning Alexander; oddly enough his character Edmund Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) is obsessed with a delicacy called Turkish Delight.
**He auditioned for the role of Simon in Nanny McPhee (2005), prior to being cast as Edmund in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). Thomas Sangster won the role of Simon.
**Is the great-great-great grandson of naturalist Charles Darwin, and son of author Randal Keynes. (!!!)
**He has an elder sister named Soumaya.
**He is the son of 'Zelfa Cecil Hourani' (who is of Lebanese descent) and Randal Keynes.
**He attends the City of London School, a private all-boys school.
**Attends the same school as actors Daniel Radcliffe and Harry Michell. As of September 2006 to July 2007, both he and Harry are in Fourth Form (Year Ten) with Dan in Senior Sixth Form (Year Thirteen).
**Was banned from eating sugar products on set during the filming of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) due to hyperactive tendencies.
**Plays cricket.
**Loves playing video games.
**He was trained to sword fight by sword trainer Allan Poppleton while working on the film The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and also learned to ride a horse.
**Enjoys playing football and is a supporter of Arsenal Football Club.
**Despite his mother's Lebanese roots, his family's practice of vacationing in Beirut every summer, and his years of weekend language classes, he admitted to The New Yorker magazine that he "doesn't speak Arabic all that well."
**His father is the great-nephew of famed economist John Maynard Keynes.
**A piece in the July 31, 2006, issue of The New Yorker magazine reported that Keynes and his family had flee Beiruit shortly after arriving there for their annual summer vacation when the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict started. The family decided to leave when Skandar's grandfather had men, possibly Hezbollah militants, come to the house and asked him about the identities of the British visitors.
**A descendant of Charles Darwin.
Personal Quotes
"When it's all over I won't miss the bruises he gave me to impress girls, or the occasional scar which will give me a story to tell my grandchildren, but I'll definitely miss the pranks and the laughing and all the making fun of each other. I'll miss the funky advice he gives me about everything -- football, girls, video games, clothes. Most of all, I'll miss having an older brother." (on costar, William Moseley)
"For safety reasons during the rehearsal we had to use a rubber ball, which has a really strange bounce that made it hard to hit. Then when we were finally using the real ball for the scene, Will bowled it wide of me every single time so I couldn't hit it. I was furious. Then Andrew started to doubt that I could actually play cricket, and he asked me to pretend to hit the ball for the rest of the rehearsals. On the next ball, I hit it as hard as I could. It smashed into some of our lighting, and the crew yelled, "Skan-DAR!'" (on the cricket scene)
"He's magical. He's great with children. Amazingly fun and cool and funny. Lots of hair too." (about director Andrew Adamson)
"When I first met Georgie, she was very eager to talk. Georgie is great. She's small and hilarious. To laugh at. I mean with - to laugh with."
"I can counter everyone but Andrew. One day, because he's always taking the mick out of me, I'm going to have the best comeback ever. I'm going to call him up thirty years from now and say, 'Hey, Andrew, remember when you said this? Well...'"
"Well, let's see. Edmund is the black sheep of the family, the outcast. He's always trying to get up to the level of the older two by putting down Lucy. He's very immature and full of resentment." - on his character, Edmund Pevensie, in the Chronicles of Narnia
I prefer my character over all the others. I really think I have the best character. Of course, he's a lot like me. He is the tyrant of the family, which I am, and, yep, he succumbs to temptation very easily. Edmund is the black sheep of the family, always teasing Lucy. But, in the end, Narnia makes him good. He goes through the most radical change, starts to appreciate his family. The adventure really changes him into a better person.
..SKANDAR AMIN CASPER KEYNES-- the name of my new inspiration.. uh.. okei.. crush.. whatever.. he's so cute right..?? especially in the "CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE".. aaannnddd.. before i forgot.. don't ever forget to watch his new movie..!! support my prince..!! ppllleeeeaaaassseee..!! its the "CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN" coming this may 2008..!! you'll see his new mature look..!! of course.. uh.. 1-2-3.. he'll be turning 16 by sept. 5, 08.. don't forget.. okei..!! but always remember.. he's mine..!!
-=cHriStMaS aNd sAnTa cLaUs=-
Reasons to Not Celebrate
Some brethren argue that Christians should not celebrate Christmas at all. Though that may seem very odd to some (i.e. Christians not wanting to celebrate the birth of Christ or participate in a holiday named for Christ), there are some pretty good reasons for this position. Neither Jesus nor the apostles ever asked us to commemorate Jesus’ birth. We were never told when Jesus’ birthday was. The date chosen for Christmas was apparently selected because it coincided with a pagan Roman holiday (an attempt to displace the pagan holiday).
It is also noted that some Christmas traditions are from the prior pagan celebration and have nothing to do with Christ. Some also look to the New England Puritans and those coming out of the Reformation who refused to celebrate Christmas, regarding it as a pagan holiday.
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Reasons to Celebrate
On the other side, are arguments that there is no Biblical prohibition against celebrating Jesus’ birth. Two of the gospel writers gave us many of the details of Jesus’ birth, giving us a "Christmas story" to recount and remember. Certainly Jesus’ coming to earth was a great event, long prophesied beforehand, and one especially announced by God to a select few. When the focus is truly on God’s great gift and Jesus’ great sacrifice - coming to earth to live and die as a man, what could be wrong with remembering these events and giving thanks to God?
The acceptance of Christmas as a national holiday also creates opportunities to reach out to others with the gospel. For example: through acts of charity, with Christmas cards containing a gospel message, by inviting folks (who otherwise wouldn’t come) to church or a church Christmas presentation, and by creating more opportunities to bring up Christ in conversations with unbelievers.
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Differences Over Whether to Celebrate
The Apostle Paul had to deal with differences such as these in Romans 14. Besides the issue of food, there was the issue of whether to observe certain days. Perhaps the celebrations in dispute were the Jewish festivals, or perhaps they were even secular ones in their community. In such matters it is good to remember Paul’s words:
"Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s." - Rom 14:4-8 (NAS)
Let’s each examine and consider these things and become convinced in our own minds, but let’s not make them an issue of contention, nor separate from our brothers over them.
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If You Celebrate, How to Celebrate?
Customs, Meals, Decorations. If you do choose to celebrate Christmas, there remains the question of how to. Many customs surrounding Christmas have little or nothing to do with Jesus’ birth. Some of these customs may seem good for any sort of holiday – such as gathering the family together and sharing a special meal. You may choose to eat traditional foods just to keep the tradition, whether they have any other significance or not. What about Christmas decorations? Again many have absolutely nothing to do with Christ. Some will choose to only include those that remind of Jesus’ birth. Others will retain certain decorations merely for tradition’s sake. Does the decoration take away from celebrating Christ’s birth by focusing us on something else? If not, does it make any difference?
Giving Gifts. Then there is the custom of giving gifts. Though the Magi brought gifts to the baby Jesus, and though Jesus may be seen as God’s gift to us, these are not the reasons for giving gifts at Christmas. Yet, there is certainly nothing wrong with giving gifts to others – acts of selfless generosity and kindness are appropriate at any time of the year. So is there anything wrong with choosing to give gifts at Christmas? There is no Biblical command to not give to others, but Biblical wisdom might lead you to approach holiday gift giving somewhat differently than the world around you.
For most in our culture, Christmas is all about getting, not giving. The total focus of the holiday has become materialistic and commercial. People are encouraged to spend large sums of money giving gifts, whether or not the gifts are really useful or needed. It is taken to excess, especially with gifts given to one’s own children. For children especially, the focus of Christmas often becomes the gifts received – encouraging greed. It doesn’t have to be this way, but if we follow too closely the practices of our culture, it can easily become so.
I believe we can give gifts, in moderation, while still maintaining a strong focus on Christ’s birth as the reason for the celebration. Some families decide that it is best not to give gifts at all to each other. Others may purposefully limit the number and/or dollar value of gifts given. Still others may limit the type of gifts, such as requiring that all gifts be things you yourself have made, or focusing on specific needed items (i.e. clothing). Families can plan their Christmas celebration in a way that emphasizes Christ and de-emphasizes gifts. Children can be encouraged to focus on giving good gifts to others rather that on receiving themselves.
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Santa Claus
Lastly, we must address the Santa Claus tradition. It seems that there was a man named Nicholas who did good deeds from which this tradition first sprang. However, the Santa Claus of today bears little resemblance to St. Nicholas and is portrayed as a super or supra human being. A great many children are told that this man is the source of many of the gifts they receive, and that in a single night, he distributes these gifts all over the world. He is somehow able to gain entrance into all homes (by chimney or otherwise), he knows just what gifts are desired by each person, and knows all about the good and bad that each child has done. (Consider this message of rewards based on "being good," rather than unmerited gifts given in love).
Santa Claus seems to have replaced Jesus as the focus of Christmas. Xmas may be a better name for the sort of holiday many celebrate in late December. If we, as Christians, choose to celebrate Christmas at all, I think it is best to make Jesus the main focus, not a fictional Santa.
We have not had "Santa" at our house. Others may accuse us of denying our children a great source of fun and excitement. Perhaps, but we believe there are more important things than such fun and excitement. Our policy has been to always speak truthfully to our children. We tell them clearly what is make believe and what is not. We do not deceive them with "fairy stories" of any kind. We make it very clear when something is fiction or fantasy, from the earliest age. So this reason alone would have been sufficient for our family not doing Santa Claus.
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My Experience with Santa Claus
Sure, I was excited about gifts at Christmas and this guy Santa Claus really sounded neat – until I thought about it more, and finally learned that it wasn’t true. I may have been the one-in-a-million, but I reacted very badly upon discovering I had been deceived about Santa Claus. I felt my parents had violated my trust. I depended on them to teach me about this world and to teach me truly. They had purposefully lied to me and deceived me, though with good motives.I wondered whether what I had been told about God was also a lie. Santa Claus and God were two persons I had been taught about that I had never personally seen. Santa Claus had almost god-like abilities to know all the children of the world and to somehow go to all of their homes in one night. Was God also a fairly tale made up for children?
As a child, I had increasingly struggled with the concept of Santa Claus. I totally believed because my parents said it was so – the same parents who had taught me not to lie. Yet things just didn’t make sense! When I learned it was a lie, I felt my whole understanding of the world had been distorted and delayed by this lie. I was also so embarrassed that I had believed such a lie and that some other children had been told the truth earlier than I.
Perhaps such a reaction is exceedingly rare. Nevertheless, consider its seriousness. I was very close to throwing out both my belief in God and my belief in my own parents. If I had gone just a little further and stepped off of that cliff, I shudder to think what might have become of me.
So when I became a father, I never wanted to so damage my credibility with my children. I decided to always answer them truthfully and never to purposefully lie to them for the sake of fun or fantasy. I want them to have a true understanding of this world, never a false one. Yes, there are some evils of this world that I am not too quick to tell them details about, but neither do I hide that such evil exists (just as the Bible does not hide it). I see it as my duty, as their father, to teach them wisdom and understanding and do nothing to distort or hinder a proper understanding. They should know that they can depend on me to speak truthfully, even when all others are speaking lies.
I know others may think Santa Claus is so much fun and such a delight, that they want their children to have this experience. I’m not denying the fun and excitement of Santa. But is the fun worth the price? And what sort of excitement are we encouraging? Is it a selfish, lusting excitement – based on what good things I am going to get from Santa? Is this the sort of spirit and enjoyment of Christmas we truly want to engender in our children? I also think it is best when children know that their gifts are gifts of love from their own parents.
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Conclusion
I am not writing to condemn anyone’s celebrating or not celebrating, or celebrating in one way versus some other way. My purpose is to help you think through this issue for yourself, stepping a little outside the frame of reference of your own culture, and perhaps seeing this holiday and its traditional practices through the eyes of others who may see things very differently from you. Whatever you decide for your own family, if you celebrate the day or do not celebrate, or if you celebrate one way, but not another way, let all that you do be for the Lord and for His glory.
-=aNoTheR gOoD tHiNg bEfOrE iT bEgAn=-
How do I say goodbye to you
When we never really said hello?
Is it any easier to walk away from the seeds of a friendship
Never given time to root and grow?
(Grow into what – a bigger friendship? I don’t know.)
And how is it possible to miss someone
I hardly ever see?
How can I know if you were my hero,
When you rode into the sunset
Long before the credits rolled.
How can there be a formal end to something
Which had no real beginning?
I can only thank you for the rainbows you brought to my storms;
For the silver lining you stitched in my clouds.
It was refreshing to find,
In this Sea of Skepticism,
Another fish peering at the world through a prism.
So, thank you for the laughs we had
And those that might have been.
I really cannot say goodbye.
Please, always be my friend.
. . . NancySue Krenrich Hamm
..LESSON: **if you want your relationship to work.. KEEP your COMMUNICATION OPEN..!!
**NEVER enter a relationship if you know that you can't handle it.. in short.. wait for the right time..!! don't be too excited.. remember.. there's always time for everything.. right..?
..ahh.. i almost forgot.. for more cutie love poems.. please visit:: http://www.runwiththewolves.com/poetry.htm
..the poems are cute..!! promise..!!