Yahoo! Answers

Hey Guys,

I love seeing movies based on books I’ve read. 90% of the time I end up disappointed, but it’s still fun to see how Hollywood interprets the written word. And while a great number of best sellers have been adapted for the big screen, there are more than a handful of all-time classics that have never been filmed. I came across a question from John, who wanted to know what’s the most famous book never to be made into a movie.

Responders chimed in with their thoughts. One community member wrote that “The Quran,” one of the most widely read books in the world, has never been made into a movie. Another wrote that Jane Eyre was never made into a film, although that’s not exactly true. According to IMDb, the Bronte novel has been adapted several times.

In my humble opinion, the most famous example of a book not being made into a movie is “The Catcher in the Rye.” I looked into why Hollywood has never had a hand at the classic and discovered that author J.D. Salinger is the reason. Once upon a time, Salinger allowed one of his short stories, “Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut,” to be filmed. Apparently, he was “appalled” by the finished product (called “My Foolish Heart“). From that day forward, he kept Hollywood away from his creations, even though he certainly could have cashed in.

An interesting article from CBC explains that Salinger’s refusal to sell his book hasn’t stopped Hollywood from exploiting his creation, Holden Caulfield. Indeed, there are dozens of films that feature a character who is basically a carbon copy of Salinger’s angst-y protagonist. Several movies the article cites: “Rushmore,” “Charlie Bartlett,” “Igby Goes Down,” “The Graduate,” and “Juno.”

Do you guys have a favorite book that has never been made into a movie? What is it? And if so, who would you cast? Leave a comment below and let me know. Who knows? Maybe somebody from Hollywood is reading. (If so, please note that I’ll gladly sell the movie writes to “Ask Mike” for a bag of potato chips or best offer).

Thanks for reading,

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Photo by YOUscription
I need some advice.  I have a relatively new friend who has recently started smoking and I’m not sure if I should try to do something about it.  I try to practice compassion and remain nonjudgmental toward my friends and loved ones, but smoking is a huge pet peeve of mine.  Having never been a smoker myself, I view it as a disgusting, destructive habit and I simply can’t understand the appeal.  On the other hand, I’m not without my own vices, so who am I to judge anyone else for theirs?  Besides, my friend is a smart adult who has all the facts.  He’s informed of the well-publicized dangers of smoking and has chosen to go ahead and light up anyway.  Is it really my place to say something?

This isn’t the first time I’ve been in this situation.  My best friend has been smoking since before we met, over 16 years ago.  I’ve watched him try to quit at least six or seven times, without success.  His father, a chief pathologist at a well-known hospital, has warned him over and over of the dangers he’s exposing himself to, but nothing seems to be sufficient motivation for him to quit for good.  He always starts up again within a few weeks of trying to quit.  At this point in our friendship, I’ve pretty much stopped trying to convince him to give up smoking – I guess I’ve resigned myself to the fact that he’s a smoker and will always be one.  But facing this dilemma with another friend has brought the issue up in my mind once again.

What do you think?  Should I just keep my opinions to myself or should I express my concern and try to convince him to quit?  And can any of you ex-smokers share your experiences with successfully giving up cigarettes?

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Hey Guys,

Like many people over the age of 4, I hate to fly. My loathing has nothing to do with a fear of heights. Rather, it’s just the whole rotten experience. Before I really start going off in full-on grumpy grandpa mode, let me get to the point. I stumbled across a question from Woon, who wanted to know what it takes to become a pilot. I presume that like me, he wants to avoid the nightmare that is commercial aviation. Here’s what I found out…

A Yahoo! search on “how to be a pilot” yielded a slew of results from different flight schools and training programs. I wanted to get the official answer, so I glided over to the Federal Aviation Administration’s site. The FAA explains that there are two types of pilot schools: those that are FAA-approved and those that are not. “Enrollment in an FAA-approved school usually ensures a high quality of training. FAA-approved schools meet prescribed standards with respect to equipment, facilities, personnel, and curricula.”

But that’s not to say a non-FAA approved school isn’t worth your time. Again, according to the FAA, “many excellent pilot schools find it impractical to qualify for the FAA certification, and are referred to as non-approved schools.” So, what exactly is the difference? For one, FAA-approved schools require fewer hours to qualify for a pilot’s certificate. You’ll need 35 hours of training at an approved school, while a non-approved school requires 40 hours. However, since many prospective pilots go well above 40 hours anyway, the 5 hour difference often doesn’t matter.

The FAA hosts a school finder for those who are serious about obtaining their pilot credentials. But beware: Flying isn’t exactly a cheap hobby. Aside from the significant time commitment, aspiring pilots can drop some serious cash on schools and plane rentals. Fortunately, there are a few scholarship opportunities floating around.

What about you guys? Anyone out there thinking of going back to school to indulge a passion like flying? Leave a comment and let me know.

Thanks for reading,

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

If you frequent the Green Living category on Yahoo! Answers, you already know that we have an active and conscientious community looking for better ways to reduce their environmental impact by making more informed choices.

If you have a planet-friendly idea that will make our lives a little easier and the earth a little greener, share it by responding to our featured question:

“What is your idea for a do-it-yourself project that will improve our lives and help the planet?”

And if you want to take this one step further, Yahoo! Green’s Make It Green is a place where you can turn your green concepts into actual products. Submit your idea* by June 30. If it’s chosen, you could see your finished product or DIY project on store shelves, receive $2,500 and a share of the sales, and possibly appear on the TV show “Everyday Edisons.” Or just stop by Make It Green and pick out your favorite submissions to the Idea Gallery.

Good luck, everyone!

* Ideas are submitted to partner Edison Nation (Terms of Use). There is a $10 submission fee.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

In remembrance of the fallen…

Photo by Army.mil

Have a safe holiday, everyone.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!