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In his new novel, 'The Exorcist' author balances philosophy and thrills
Manny Acta's philosophy is easy to find in Indians' Opening Day roster: Terry Pluto's scribbles
Caring for Your Easter Bunny With the 4-Square Philosophy of Success

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In his new novel, 'The Exorcist' author balances philosophy and thrills

Posted: 31 Mar 2010 06:19 PM PDT

In the annals of demonology, William Peter Blatty falls somewhere between St. Augustine and Joss Whedon.

He isn't the first person who's ever written about demons and demonic possession, but he has provided us with one of the genre's most memorable novels, 1971's "The Exorcist." There had been disturbing stories before, but nothing -- especially when Blatty teamed up with director William Friedkin for the 1973 screen adaptation -- so terrified audiences about the possibilities of the diabolical in ordinary people's lives.

For Blatty, though, the story's success remains beyond his wildest expectations.

"I honestly thought I was writing just a one-shot," the 82-year-old author said in a recent phone interview from his Maryland home. "At the time, comedy writing was over for me, and nobody would hire me to write anything dramatic. What I had left to write was the idea for 'The Exorcist.' I never imagined what would happen."

What happened was a mega-bestseller: More than 13 million copies, according to some estimates, have been sold in the United States alone. Several more novels -- and films -- followed, giving Blatty more opportunities to explore the workings of divine redemption and demonic evil. His new novel, "Dimiter," published in March, is similarly preoccupied with good and evil, with the mysterious and the miraculous, although it is also something of a departure.

Set in the 1970s, "Dimiter" introduces us, in a riveting opening scene, to an enigmatic inmate in an Albanian prison during the gray days of Enver Hoxha's regime. The man coolly withstands unbearable torture and then escapes, vanishing like a phantom . . . only to later turn up in the Holy Land. He becomes a shadowy presence in the lives of several people, including an Arab Christian policeman and a Jewish doctor, both of whom puzzle over several mysterious deaths somehow linked to this figure, who is named Paul Dimiter.

If you look more closely, the story also makes a sly, theological nod to the essential mystery of the Gospels that Christians everywhere will celebrate on Sunday: the Resurrection. Blatty has taken a message of religious faith and enfolded it within a fast-paced plot for a basic reason.

"I had to make a page-turner," he says, "or else who would want to read it?"

The demonic is a hot commodity today, but don't try to credit Blatty as the elder statesman of this surge in horror movies, books and TV shows. He wants no part of it.

"When I look around the culture, it makes me want to projectile vomit," he says, recalling that infamous moment in "The Exorcist." "The more blood, the more chain saws, the better. The studios have so debased the tastes of kids that that's all the kids want now."

This might sound strange coming from the author of a story associated with harrowing uses of puke, spinning heads and a crucifix, but Blatty's brand of horror has always been about more than shock effect. Characters wrestle with metaphysical doubts even as the bodies pile up.

Some people forget the philosophy -- just as studio execs forgot Blatty's abilities as a comic writer after "The Exorcist."

"Their eyes glazed over when I pitched comedy ideas. It was as if I had done nothing else before 'The Exorcist,' " says the man who wrote the screenplay for "A Shot in the Dark" and other film comedies. "It was as if I had landed on this planet just with that book under my arm. It made me insane."

Blatty's voice is warm and generous -- it's easy to catch the inflection of the New York City streets where he was born, the son of Lebanese parents. He's passionate about his Roman Catholicism: It has carried him through many personal trials, including a bout of cancer 15 years ago and the loss, in 2006, of his 19-year-old son, Peter, after a sudden illness. "Dimiter," in fact, is dedicated to him.

Today, Blatty's faith is, to use a familiar religious adage, rock solid.

"I don't think I'm on a search anymore," he says serenely. "I've come to virtually a complete rest in my faith."

The author sounds very much like Moses Mayo, a truth-seeking neurologist in "Dimiter." Like Blatty, Mayo is humbled by the universe's mysteries. Where others find a conflict between science and faith, Mayo sees a glorious complementarity. He marvels at how "in the subatomic world . . . electrons, like saints with bleeding hands, are reportedly seen in two places at once." Mayo's early morning musings, as he walks the halls of Hadassah Hospital, form a quiet counterpoint to the tightening circles of intrigue as Dimiter's story slowly comes into focus.

The germ of "Dimiter" dates to the filming of "The Exorcist." Blatty recalls sitting in Friedkin's office reading in the New York Times about a Jesuit priest executed in Albania for baptizing infants in a prison camp.

From this, the near-mythological figure of Dimiter started to take shape. Other ideas came along -- the story of Saul's conversion into St. Paul, narrative inconsistencies among the four Gospels and the geography of Jerusalem. Blatty traveled there and conducted countless interviews with doctors and lepers, and with local police about crime lab procedures and ways to poison someone without leaving a trace.

When he was finished, Blatty had a giant stack of notes, typed, single-spaced. But no sense of organization.

"Writing had never been a problem for me," he says. "A comedy novel? I could get it done in six weeks. You need a screenplay? Sure, six weeks. Then 'Dimiter' came along and took years."

Other projects intervened in the years that followed. When he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Blatty says, he prayed to the Virgin Mary, promising to finish the novel if he recovered. He did, but he stalled on his promise -- that pestering question of organization again. Then, two years ago, as he and his wife Julie were attending Mass, the book's structure came to him in a flash of insight.

"I felt like I had received a gift," he says, "or maybe it had been there in my unconscious all along. Who knows? It's all a mystery."

Mystery -- it's everywhere in "Dimiter," which Blatty hopes to bring to the big screen with Friedkin as director. But religion isn't the only medium in which mystery exists -- you find it in science and secret intelligence, as well as simpler things, such as the love between friends and family. All of these overlap in "Dimiter," although Blatty insists it isn't necessary to understand every level to appreciate the story.

"You can read it just as a thriller and that's great," he says. "If you have faith, though, it might strengthen it a little more. If you're agnostic, it might give you a few clues you never had before. The message is there if you need it."

nick.owchar@latimes.com

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Manny Acta's philosophy is easy to find in Indians' Opening Day roster: Terry Pluto's scribbles

Posted: 31 Mar 2010 03:12 PM PDT

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

March 31, 2010, 6:08PM

Terry Pluto GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Scribbles in my Tribe notebook as the Indians put together their final roster...

1. I like the looks of the roster because it's the same one that I'd have picked. The key decisions were Michael Brantley starting in left field, Mark Grudzielanek as the backup infielder and Austin Kearns as the reserve outfielder. It also was wise to keep veteran Jamey Wright in the bullpen.

2. Some Tribe fans were convinced the Indians would do another "Michaels/Dellucci" even after Russell Branyan went down with a bad back, moving Matt LaPorta to first base and opening up left field. Manager Manny Acta immediately became enamored with Brantley, and played him often. By the middle of camp, Acta was pushing hard to keep Brantley -- and the front office was buying into the idea.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerFollowing a sunny spring in Arizona, Michael Brantley will be the Indians' starting left fielder against right-handed pitchers when the season begins next week.3. Some fans remember how Ben Francisco had a couple of strong springs, but was cut in favor of the veteran Jason Michaels/Dave Dellucci platoon. If the Indians were so determined to keep Brantley in the minors (and save days toward free agency and arbitration), they could have made the case that Kearns should start in left. After all, he is one of the few experienced right-handed hitters in camp. They could have kept switch-hitting Trevor Crowe as the extra outfielder. At the start of camp, Antonetti told me several times, "We are going to keep the best 25." They did.

4. Now, I'm getting emails from a few fans who are sure that when Branyan is healthy, Brantley will be sent to the minors. That's hard to believe if Brantley is playing as he did last September, when he batted .313 in Cleveland. Or is the guy who hitting .333 this spring. The Indians are very pleased that Brantley has more walks (nine) in 45 spring at-bats than he did last season (eight in 116 at bats) with Cleveland.

5. While the Indians are known as an organization driven by the front office, the final roster reveals GM Mark Shapiro and assistant Chris Antonetti allowed Acta real influence. It was Acta's idea to bring in Kearns as an outfielder. He was with Acta in Washington for 2 1/2 seasons. Kearns, 29, had a strong spring (.325, 1.017 OPS). He's had a lot of significant injuries the last two seasons, hitting only .205, but Acta insists that if the outfielder is healthy, he can be an asset.

6. Travis Hafner singled and homered off Chicago's Freddie Garcia, who looks terrible (10 runs, 3 2/3 innings). But Hafner attacked those pitches, a great sign. This spring, Hafner leads the team in homers (3), RBI (14) and walks (11). He has struck out only six times. Last spring, he had 14 strikeouts to four walks. He had only four extra-base hits.

7. Andy Marte (.250, .880 OPS) made the team. Acta said, "He has value. He can play first and third base, and is above average at both. We can't play LaPorta every day at first [as he's still not 100 percent after toe and hip surgery], so we need Andy. ... I know it seems like he's been around for a long time, but he's only 26."

8. One big advantage Acta has brought is a set of fresh eyes. The same is true of coaches Tim Tolman (Seattle), Steve Smith (Philadelphia) and Sandy Alomar (Mets). Pitching coach Tim Belcher and hitting coach Jon Nunnally came from the minor-league organization, but at least they were not in Cleveland. This is not a knock on former manager Eric Wedge and his staff, but after seven years, it makes sense that new coaches would offer some new insights.

9. Grudzielanek batted only .233 (7-of-30), but the Indians saw enough of the 39-year-old second baseman in minor league games and drills to think he can play the same role as Jamey Carroll last season, along with providing insurance at second in case Luis Valbuena falters.

10. David Huff had a strong outing when he needed it the most, allowing one run in seven innings Tuesday. It will take a while, but the Indians are expected to announce Huff as the fifth starter.

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Caring for Your Easter Bunny With the 4-Square Philosophy of Success

Posted: 31 Mar 2010 10:41 AM PDT

SOURCE: Purina Mills

ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwire - March 31, 2010) - With Easter quickly approaching, families can't wait to get a hold of a bouncy, floppy-eared bunny for themselves. Rabbits can be fun, interesting and compassionate companions for adults and families, but potential pet owners must first learn to properly care for their rabbits.

Purina Mills continues to provide Rabbit Chow^® Feed backed by more than 80 years of industry-leading nutritional research, but they also help ensure rabbits get the kind of care they deserve by developing the 4-Square Philosophy for Success. Purina's 4-Squares gives rabbit owners the essential basics to raising healthy, happy rabbits focusing on better breeding, feeding, management and health.

"Nobody is as dedicated to the health of the rabbit and the rabbit industry than Purina," remarked John Zeloski, marketing manager for the company. "Our founder, William Danforth, had tremendous vision. He knew nutritional research was the key to producing feeds that made a difference in animals' lives. And based on the research we do today, our customers and their animals continue benefiting from that industry-leading vision."

Better Breeding
The first square of raising a healthy rabbit is practicing good breeding or buying quality animals. When buying a new rabbit, whether or not it's for breeding purposes, pet owners should get the best quality animal they can afford. Animals from a reputable breeder will be worth the cost in the long run.

For those breeding rabbits, a key tip to good breeding is to take the doe to the pen of the buck. If the doe does not accept the buck, consider it a red flag that the doe may be in poor condition or health. When the doe is pregnant, increase feeding gradually and be sure to watch for any signs of problems. Keep a clean, dry nest after the litter is born, and remove any dead kits immediately.

Better Feeding
Feeding rabbits the right amount of nutritious food is essential to taking proper care. Rabbits should be fed once a day at about the same time with the same amount of feed. The diet should be fully consumed in about 20 to 30 minutes. Without proper feeding techniques, rabbits can easily become overfed or underfed.

The nutrient requirements of rabbits vary based on age and function. Purina has recently introduced a new Rabbit Chow™ Feed that is nutritious and perfect for every type of rabbit. The new feed, Natural AdvantEdge™, is made from only fresh, natural ingredients and is free of fillers, preservatives, artificial colors, medications or hormones -- ideal for rabbits of all types.

Better Management
The better management square in the Philosophy of Success means keeping up a good habitat for the rabbits. Rabbitry should be well sanitized and allow enough room for every rabbit to hop around comfortably. The rabbitry should also be well-ventilated, cool and out of direct sunlight.

A good sanitation program is one of the most important aspects of keeping rabbits. One easy way to ensure a clean rabbitry is establishing a weekly cleaning plan and sticking with it year round. Fresh feed and water should be provided daily to every rabbit, and the old feed that remains in the feeder or feed bowl should be disposed of. Washing the water bowl daily will decrease the buildup of algae.

Better Health
Better health is the final square in the proper care of rabbits, and the key to good health is sanitation. Practicing good management techniques will prevent most illnesses. If one rabbits does get sick, it is important to handle the situation in a way that ensures other animals aren't infected as well. The sick rabbit should be quarantined and always fed, watered and treated last. A veterinarian should also available for consultation when needed.

Purina^® Rabbit Chow^™ Natural AdvantEdge^™ Feed
By using the 4-Square Philosophy of Success and the new Natural AdvantEdge™ formulas in Purina^®Rabbit Chow™ premium foods, rabbit owners everywhere can properly care for their pets.

Natural AdvantEdge™ formula contains fresh, natural, wholesome grain products, and high-quality plant proteins loaded with natural nutrients found only in plants that optimize vitality and support immune function.

"We're very excited about these new formulas," said Purina rabbit nutritionist Dr. Gary Lynch, who formulated the diets. "Purina has a strong history of researching, formulating and testing rabbit diets to offer owners the finest nutrition for their animals. We're very proud of these new formulas."

Purina's Animal Nutrition Center is located on 1,188 acres of rolling Missouri farmland, where they perform feed studies with many species of animals including horses, beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine and rabbits. But the company doesn't only do research on animal feeds, they also research the marketplace seeking consumer acceptance of their nutritional research ideas before launching new products.

For more information about Purina's new Natural AdvantEdge™ diets for rabbits or to learn more about the proper care of rabbits, visit www.RabbitChow.com. To find a Purina dealer or to ask questions about these new products, call 1-800-227-8941.

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Philosophy

Thursday, April 1, 2010