On behalf of the entire Spunk-Ransom.com team, we would like to wish you a Happy New Year! Here is to a happy and healthy 2012 for us all! We look forward to serving you another year with the latest and most variety in Rob news! Thank you for supporting us but more importantly supporting Rob!

~ Kristin ~

First of all, we would like to thank everyone who submitted a comment to our “Water for Elephants” DVD giveaway courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment! It was not easy for us as a staff to sit down and decide on two people. You made it very difficult! We have the best fans who visit our site so your efforts did not go unnoticed! Happy Holidays to you and your family!

Now, the winners are….

Jennifer C.
Charlotte, Tennessee

Cheryl C.
Grand Prairie, Texas

Congratulations from the Spunk Ransom Staff!

Heading into 2012, Spunk-Ransom.com is pleased to announce a variety of new sister sites to add to our Spunk Ransom family! Who are they? Let’s take a look!

http://noticiasrobertpattinson.com.br/

 This site originally was an Elite Affiliate with our site. They have moved up into Sister Site status after inviting us to be apart of their family sites! They are always ready and willing to share news from Brazil and translate the information for us. We were honored to be asked. This is our 3rd Brazilian site to partner with us! We have an AMAZING following in Brazil.

http://robertpattinsoncolombia.blogspot.com/

This site is a new and up and coming fan site in Colombia. One of the fan site owners, Jolene, and I have developed quite a friendship while she worked within a Twilight fan community in Colombia. This is an opportunity for her site to branch out worldwide and meet more Rob and Twilight fans. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them! VERY fan friendly!

 http://chordoverstreet-online.com/

You may know the owner of this site already! Brian from RobertPattinson-Online! He is a very special friend to the Spunk Ransom family. Not only is he the only male fan site owner in our sister sites, not only does he now have two sites in our sister sites, but he is the only fan site that is non-Rob related in our sister site grouping. Why, right? It goes back to support. Brian has always been a huge supporter and fan of ours. He has decided to branch out his web skills in the Chord Overstreet community (GLEE). We are here to support him back in a new endeavor!

http://twilight-fan.com/

This is thee website for a regular, up to date collection of magazine scans overseas. Not to mention, the latest in all Twilight cast member news. This is the first Twilight fan site we have been asked to partner with. We will be representing the United States in their International Partnerships section. Again, we are honored to be asked to be apart of such a great community!

Visit them all today! Tell them Spunk Ransom sent you!

A tragedy has struck our little Twilight community.  One of our original TwiFans.com’s members and a avid Twilight fan’s life was forever altered when Judy Hornberger‘s very pregnant daughter, Beth, had to be rushed to the hospital on December 1st.

Judy kept us apprised of the very serious situation at the hospital and asked for all our prayers.  The baby had to be removed by emergency surgery due to lack of oxygen.  At that time, the baby was alive, but in serious condition.  Baby girl Natalie was rushed to a Children’s Hospital for the best care.

A short time later Judy was given tragic news.  She was told that her daughter, Beth, had not survived.  Bethany passed away from a cyst that had ruptured that had several arteries feeding it.  At this point everyone’s hopes and prayers shifted to baby Natalie.

The following day we learned that baby Natalie had not survived the night and as Judy put it “Joined her mother in heaven”.  Judy did get a few precious moments with her granddaughter before she passed.

Our hearts pour out to Judy, Bethany’s mother and best friend, Paul, Bethany’s father, and Dan, Bethany’s husband.

During these times of sorrow, we would like to collect donations for the Francis & Hornberger family to help with anything they may need.  All money collected will be given to Judy to use as she sees fit.  Let’s pull together and show Judy and her family how much we care.  Any little bit will help.

Please Donate to The Bethany Francis Fund!

Having been through a difficult childbirth experience myself with my son in May 2010 where there was question that either one of us would survive, this story has hit me very hard. Please take a moment to extend your condolences to Judy’s family. Thank you.

Update: Donations so far have reached $4268 as of this morning. We were pleased to hear from Judy today via Twitter. She said,

@spunk_ransom@TwiFans I am so amazed. Thankyou for keeping this going. We got our first bill for transporting the baby. $1000 !

I made a commitment to her that I would not stop sharing this story until I knew their expenses were taken care of! We can do this! I know it is the holidays, but if you have even a $1 to spare, please donate in the name of Bethany, Natalie, and her family. Thank you!

Thank you to our staffer Liz for these pictures!

We are hoping you can help a good friend and Elite Affiliate of ours Let Me Sign in their fundraising efforts for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for Cancer Bites.

They have set up a page for fans to donate in hopes of raising $1,000 for the cause. Here’s their donation page:

http://www.active.com/donate/cancerbites/letmesign

So far, they have raised $5.00. We as a fandom can do better than that! If you or someone you love has been affected by cancer, drop in a dollar or two and help support the fight against cancer!

A frequent visitor to Spunk Ransom @shiripaz from Israel made my son an Edward t-shirt. My little man is 17 months old. I couldn’t resist sharing two pictures with all of you! Mommy loves you boo-boo when you Google this someday! haha

Thanks to the lovely @shiripaz for sending this to me!

Water for Elephants Debuting on Blu-ray & DVD on Nov. 1

Hard as he might try, Robert Pattinson has trouble getting away from the ‘Jacobs’ in his life. He might have escaped his lupine rival in the supernatural Twilight world, but one of his next big roles saw him taking on the name himself as his played love-struck veterinarian Jacob Jankowski in Water For Elephants. With one film set in the fictional past and the other in the supernatural present, let’s see how Robert’s Jacobs compare!

Devastated by the sudden death of his parents at the height of The Depression, a young dreamer from the wrong side of the tracks, Jacob Jankowski (Pattinson), abandons his veterinary studies at Cornell University. With no other family, no house, and no money, Jacob stows away on a train carrying the circus performers of The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Hired as a veterinarian to care for the troupe’s animals, Jacob is temporarily filled with the promise of an exciting life that comes with a traveling circus troupe. However, as he builds a rapport and falls in love with the star of the show, Marlena (Witherspoon), they become prey to the circus’s owner, Marlena’s violent and abusive husband August (Waltz).

Fans of Fur

Any Twi-hard worth their salt will know that Jacob Black is a werewolf, a fact that gives him a rather unique viewpoint when it comes to human-animal relations. But he’s not the only one to share a close bond with the animal world! There might not be many lycanthropes beneath the tents of the Benzini Bros but there’s plenty of other animals around for Jacob Jankowski to look after. It goes without saying that vets love animals and Robert’s character in Water for Elephants is no exception. Spending almost as much time with his furry patients as he does with his humanoid circus mates, having a close relationship with animals is a trait that both Jacobs share.

Thrilling Threesomes

Jacob Black plays just one third of cinema’s most memorable love triangles in Twilight, sharing the spotlight with Edward Cullen and Bella Swan. Having fallen in love with a girl already spoken for, Jacob’s wolfish wiles often get the better of him as he fights to claim the one he loves. Jacob Jankowski faces a similar problem in Water For Elephants. Completely smitten with the beautiful and talented Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), Jacob never backs down in his pursuit to free her from her violent husband and give her the life she deserves.

Getting Back to Nature

After Jacob Jankowski’s parents are killed in a car crash and his home is reclaimed by a bank, Jacob decides to up and leave, escaping into the forest where he has only the train tracks for guidance. When the Benzini Brothers’ train comes along, Jacob jumps on and is soon swept away into a wild world completely at odds with his previous lifestyle. Surrounded by animals and constantly travelling across the country, Jacob fits right into the rustic lifestyle. Twilight’s Jacob Black also loves life on the wild side. Frequently reverting to his wolf form to lope through the woods, Jacob is as at home among the trees as he is under a roof and laps up life outdoors!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Another thing the two Jacobs’ share is their penchant for speedy transport! When Jacob Black isn’t racing through the forest on four legs, he’s shooting around Forks on his motorbike. Jacob Jankowski also hopped aboard a fast moving vehicle when he was picked up by the circus steam train which took him at great speeds across the US on an unexpected adventure.

Friend, Not Foe

As part of a wolf pack, Jacob Black’s friends mean everything to him. Extremely loyal and fiercely defensive, Jacob would fight to the death to protect his own. When Jacob Jankowski joins the Benzini Brothers, he makes a new family (maybe not the kind he was expecting!) among the circus workers, earning their trust and becoming an integral member of the railroad family.

What are you thoughts on this analysis? Leave your comments below (all comments are pre-screened to prevent spam)!

Thank you to @FoxHomeEnt for this special article for Spunk-Ransom.com!

Check back to the site on October 24th for a special “Water for Elephants” Spunk Ransom announcement!

Congratulations to Cynthia L. from Shawano, WI! She won a special edition of the book “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern!

Remember, you can still check out the book:

http://www.facebook.com/erinmorgensterbooks

http://www.erinmorgenstern.com

http://www.randomhouse.com/book/211964/the-night-circus-by-erin-morgenstern/9780385534635/

The September 2011 Spunk-Ransom.com Giveaway

We were contacted by Thinking of Rob today for support in helping their staffer and friend Shannon aka @Schelmy whose husband was injured. Here are the details,

A few weeks ago I posted how Shannon, someone who has been helping ToR and has been part of ToR from the start, was going through a rough time. Her husband fell through a skylight 25 feet to the ground. He survived but had many injuries and required various surgeries. You can see the original post here. I’ve seen pictures of her husband which I will not post because they are way too graphic.

Unfortunately they were in the process of renewing their insurance when this happened and a few days before the accident, their insurance ran out… Shannon received her 1st hospital bill this week. It’s 136,000.00$ US. This is the first of many bills. For this family, this could mean losing it all. Shannon is one of the most caring and sweetest persons I know. She always puts herself out there to help out everyone. Now it’s our turn to do the same for her. If you were in New York City at the Water for Elephants Premiere you might have met her. She was with us.

If you can help out any way possible by making a small donation, we will forward all the money to Shannon. A small bit sometimes goes a long way. Feel free to repost this on your sites. Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated.

In the coming week we’ll be auctioning off items to help Shannon. If you’d like to donate something Rob related for auction please e-mail us at thinkingofrob@hotmail.com

DreamySim1 will be auctioning a special wallpaper or banner for someone and we have some signed items to auction off as well.

Click here for all the details and donation submission area!

Update: Thinking of Rob  is auctioning of items to go towards raising money for @schelmy ‘s hubby!

(Image Copyright Thinking of Rob)

The bidding has started here! Go spend some money folks!

Update: Details on items you will DEFINITELY Be interested in!

- 1st edition, hardcover copy of Eclipse autographed by Stephenie Meyer http://torauctionsforschelmy.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/hardcover-first-edition-of-eclipse-autographed-by-stephenie-meyer/

- Remember Me Set Prop (Please don’t leave – I’ll be back) http://torauctionsforschelmy.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/remember-me-set-prop-please-dont-leave-ill-be-back-note/

- Copy of New Moon signed by Peter Facinelli: http://torauctionsforschelmy.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/new-moon-book-autographed-by-peter-facinelli/

- Entertainment Weekly Signed by Kristen Stewart: http://torauctionsforschelmy.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/entertainment-weekly-magazine-autographed-by-kristen-stewart/

- Thinking of Rob poster signed by Rob, Christoph and Francis Lawrence: http://torauctionsforschelmy.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/thinking-of-rob-poster-autographed-by-robert-pattinson-christoph-waltz-francis-lawrence/

For Americans, back on September 11th 2001, this date today has new meaning. Innocent lives of all races, faiths, socioeconomic status, etc…. were lost to a enormous tragedy orchestrated by a few intolerant, hateful individuals. On this 10th year anniversary, I would like to think that Rob’s portrayal of Tyler in “Remember Me” has brought in a new generation of young Americans (and those abroad) to appreciate those who were lost that day just doing the regular things that you and I take for granted. Please take a moment to look at those around you today and appreciate every moment because in an instant, this opportunity may be gone.

During the 1pm-2pm hour EST, Spunk-Ransom.com will be participating in a 1 hour of e-silence in reverence and respect to all who have been touched in the last 10 years by the horrific loss of human life on 9/11/01 in The United States of America. I would like to thank The Twilight Fandom Remembers 9/11/01 for creating this opportunity for the Twilight Fandom and related websites to do their parts online to honor this day.

I would now like to share with you a play written by my brother Justin Rielly about 9-11. It has been a year in the making but a labor of love. He has taken the time to write a personal introduction to this play that was inspired by close family, friends, and even some of you. Without further ado, a special introduction from my brother and playwright Justin Rielly,

Last December, while hanging out with the local theater group I write for, I realized the significance of the year to come. I realized 9/11 was going to hit its 10th anniversary in 2011. I had talked to Heather, the director of the group, about wanting to write a project based on 9/11. She liked the idea, and told me to go with it.

After some time deciding on what the play would be about, I set out to talk to people I knew – family members, co-workers, former classmates, friends, and some random people connected with my sister’s website (Spunk-Ransom.com). Nearly two dozen people contributed their stories and thoughts about where they were on that day in 2001, how they felt then, and how they felt now nearly a decade after the tragedy.

Due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control – including timing – no stage production of American Enigma was planned in time for the 10th anniversary. Maybe someday, at another point, it can be.

I originally planned to send the script over to the people who contributed their stories, which I was able to do. Then Kristin decided to ask me to post the script for her Spunk-Ransom.com faithful. After careful thought and deliberation, I decided to present the script as it is in its current state. I hope this is a good play for you to check out, and I hope many of the tales told about 9/11 serve as a reminder of how we should never forget that day – no matter how much we yearn to do so, or want to not forget.

Justin Rielly
Playwright, American Enigma
@JustinMR25
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Examiner

To read his script, PDF FORMAT // DOC FORMAT!

Please remember to leave your feedback in comments below!

That time of year is rapidly approaching when we have to pay our yearly renewal fees to keep Spunk-Ransom.com open for another year! Our yearly renewal fee is $119.40! SMALL CHANGE folks! However, we also have monthly private server costs fees ranging from $15-35 a month (or more).

Our goal is to raise $300 NOW $400 WOAH NOW $500! LAST INCREASE! This gives us our yearly renewal fee, the minimum on private server costs! In a world where money grows on trees, I would love to raise $500 to cover the maximum monthly private server costs for the year but…. (lol) Anyways, just like last year, we are going to award our highest donor with a gift!

(Open Worldwide!)

Just in time for the “Water for Elephants” DVD!

Not only that but you will also receive two special gifts from two of my current staff members!

powered by:
Easy Fundraising Ideas

DEADLINE – AUGUST 1st 2011

If you have any questions, please email me at admin@spunk-ransom.com! Thank you!

Update: We had our most successful fundraising yearly renewal EVER! We met our $500 goal thanks to a last minute donation from a generous donor in Texas! The original funraising goal was set at $300 and everytime we made another milestone, your donations kept coming! We will have another year of uninterupted Rob news on Spunk-Ransom.com! I want to thank EACH and EVERYONE of you who donated! I also want to thank those who retweeted our tweet on Twitter to get the word out. On behalf of the entire Spunk Ransom crew, Team Ransom, we love you!

With that said, we promised our highest donor a special gift from us! Who was it?

Congratulations to Suzanne from Camillus, NY for her $100 donation!