‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, CIRQUE DREAMS UNWRAPPED AND   THE ELF ON THE SHELF® SET TO WOW GUESTS AT THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS AT GAYLORD PALMS CELEBRATION

KISSIMMEE, Fla.  – (July 15, 2015) – ‘Twas the summer before Christmas and all throughout the 4.5 glass-enclosed atrium, everyone was stirring with anticipation over the 2015 Christmas at Gaylord Palms season.  With ICE! in the tent, snow tubing in the hall and 2-million lights strung with care, everyone wondered – could there be more to this holiday affair? But of course…

Don a kerchief and get to the Gaylord Palms Resort to experience the astonishment of everyone’s favorite poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas in nearly 2 million pounds of hand-carved vibrant ice sculptures. This year’s ICE! presented by Pepsi attraction will also feature four slippery ice slides, live carving stations inside of the Artisans in Action Frostbite Factory and back by popular demand, On the Blocks, the exclusive adult-only ICE! bar.

Christmas at Gaylord Palms includes myriad offerings for every age. Guests can experience the adrenaline of Alpine Rush Snow Tubing – an 18’ 8-lane giant snow hill created with 1.5 million pounds of real Florida snow.

Not a thrill seeker? How about an elf seeker? The all new The Elf on the Shelf® Scavenger Hunt ignites the inner sleuth and takes guests on a journey throughout the holiday-clad hotel. Participants will follow clues and scan the hotel to spot the 10 scout elves who have landed at Gaylord Palms. By solving puzzles and finding all of the elves, guests will reveal the elves’ names so they can report back to Santa. All families that complete the scavenger hunt will win a special prize.

Once you have found the last scout elf, make your way over to the Emerald Bay Stage for the world premiere of the all-new Cirque Dreams Unwrapped. Guests will be dazzled by an array of seasonal characters brought to life in a dreamscape of imaginative costumes and creativity, while stunning feats of showmanship are unwrapped, performed on stage and in the air, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats.   Broadway director and Cirque Dreams founder Neil Goldberg is bringing the famed entertainment brand to Orlando for the first time in the company’s 22 years with this exclusive show. The entire family can enjoy this uniquely inspired 25-minute Christmas dream presented with the Broadway style and inventive theatrics for which Cirque Dreams is renowned.

The season’s hottest couple, Mr. and Mrs. Claus will also be a part of the festivities. Photos with Santa will take place in Santa’s Workshop located in Alpine Village and Mrs. Claus will be a part of the all-new Brunch with Mrs. Claus at the award-winning Villa de Flora.

Alpine Village, the holiday attraction hub, will also feature the Gingerbread Decorating Corner presented by PEEPS ®, Snowy’s Snack Shack and holiday shopping galore.

If that’s not enough, wander through the atrium’s lush gardens (over 500,000 plants) sprinkled with poinsettias, grand holiday displays, the famous 54-foot-tall majestic Christmas tree and more than 2 million twinkling lights.

In addition to the holiday happenings, hotel guests can enjoy fish and alligator feedings, relax at Relâche Spa with themed-seasonal treatments, plunge into Cypress Springs Family Fun Water Park and indulge in holiday dining at our eight delectable restaurants. Whether you enjoy a filet, fresh seafood, pasta or a burger – we guarantee there is something to whet your appetite.

Christmas at Gaylord Palms is open daily from November 24, 2015 – January 3, 2016, including holidays. Packages are on sale today. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to ChristmasatGaylordPalms.com.

Gaylord Palms Resort is located five minutes from the gates of Walt Disney World at 6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34746.

Be sure to “Like” Gaylord Palms on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the most up-to-date information and special deals and promotions!

 

About Gaylord Hotels®

Gaylord Hotels® is a collection of hotels and upscale resorts that affords endless opportunities for leisure travelers and conventioneers. The brand’s hallmark—“everything in one place”—provides guests with diverse dining options, quality spa and fitness center services, top-notch entertainment, on-site shopping and endless activities. Gaylord Hotels is a pioneer in the hotel and convention industry with properties in the nation’s most desirable destinations. Gaylord Hotels include Gaylord Opryland® in Nashville, Tenn.; Gaylord Palms® in Kissimmee, Fla., near Orlando; Gaylord Texan® on Lake Grapevine, Texas; Gaylord National® on the Potomac River in National Harbor, Md.; and The Inn at Opryland® in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.GaylordHotels.com.

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 4,000 properties in 78 countries and territories and reported revenues of nearly $13 billion in fiscal year 2013. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 18 brands. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at  www.Marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.MarriottNewsCenter.com.

 

About Cirque Dreams

Over 50 million people have experienced a Cirque Dreams show in theatres, casinos, theme parks, cruise lines, and on Broadway.  Now in its 22^nd Year, Cirque Dreams shows have garnered the praise of critics around the country from USA Today, Associated Press and the New York Times to CNN, Today Show and Fox & Friends.  Producer and Director Neil Goldberg has been declared “One of today’s leading theatrical impresarios” by The LA Times and “Uniquely ingenious” by the New York Daily News. The Cirque Dreams franchise is a globally recognized entertainment brand including, Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, Cirque Dreams Rocks, Cirque Dreams Holidaze and Cirque Dreams & Dinner onboard Norwegian Cruise Line.

For more information, visit www.cirqueproductions.com.

The Elf on the Shelf ® and © (2015) CCA and B, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

 

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On May 30th and 31st, the Javits Center opened its doors to the 2015 BookCon. This event, described by its organizers as a place “where storytelling and pop culture collide,” saw both an increase in attendance and size this year. With author and celebrity Q&A’s, panels, autographing areas, meet and greets, interactive events and quizzes, and special screenings, BookCon had something for everyone this year. Many publishing tables offered free posters, postcards, tote bags, and books to attendees, while a booth downstairs offered many of the invited guests’ books for sale. While there were a few organizational issues, most of the attendees had nothing but praise for the event and cited huge organizational and regulatory improvements to last year’s BookCon, including the popular wristband policy that ReedPop affected with its most recent New York City Comic Con. While the event boasted a wide range of book genres represented, it definitely felt as if the young adult crowd was the most prevalent, especially with the many Youtubers in attendance this year. Next year, the event will be moving to Chicago and will take place on May 14th. Below are some snapshots from the event.

It is easy to dismiss Australia in the grand scheme of things. I mean, they are so bloody far and when everywhere is summer, they have winter and vice versa. All joking aside however, Australia is a home for a long line of an outstanding cinematography pieces that are have easily crossed across the world borders and have been seen by millions of people. This is a short list that contains some of the most memorable, cult-classics that have been born on Australian soil. While you are at it, you can also play with these bonuses on your mobile phone, should you feel a bit aggravated by our picks. Now, let’s begin.

1. Mad Max (1979)

We wouldn’t have Mad Max: Fury Road without this classic piece of action and road rage starring Mel Gibson. In the dystopian future where the world is bereft of resources, a leather wearing-cop is out for revenge. Mel Gibson shines in the portrayal of the ex-police officer who is on a blood hunt of a murderous gang that had killed off his family. Not only is this movie impressive in terms of cinematography and stunts, it was made with such a low budget that might seem unreal today. It also helped propel the career of Gibson and cement Australia as the top countries to visit if you are a speed and adrenalin junkie.

2. The Interview (1998)
Before becoming internationally (meaning Hollywood) famous in the Matrix, Hugo Weaving had the lead role in this amazing drama-thriller called The Interview. While Western audiences might mistake this for an actual work-interview, Aussies will recognize it for what it is – a police interrogation. Intense and mind bending from the get go, The Interview sets you on a ride of mischief where a row of questions and answers lead to blurring the line between what can be, what is and what could be the truth. Weaving’s amazing performance is what makes this movie a must watch and is certain to remain a solid gem for fanatic movie goers.

3. Wake in Fright (Outback – 1971)
A movie’s portrayal of a man struggling to get by in the real world, especially since that world has chewed and spat him out. While the director of this movie was Canadian (Ted Kotcheff) the cinematography, the intense drama and cultural perception was very much Australian. We are talking a real cultural piece that exposed the dark and ugly side of Australia, with elements like racism, misogyny and violence. Audiences worldwide can view this masterpiece again since great efforts have been made to have it re-mastered and available as video on demand.

4. The Cars That Ate Paris (1974)
A film that can be considered as a spiritual predecessor of Mad Max, The Cars That Ate Paris is a fascinating story of greed and decadence. The plot revolves around the citizens of a small town in Australia called Paris (didn’t see that one coming, did you) where people have this nasty practice of setting up car crashes for salvage. It is gory, it is violent in its imagery and as the first piece by director Peter Weir, it is one you should not miss.

5. Crocodile Dundee (1986)
What, did you think we would forget about this one? The great popcorn movie that sparked the use of the line “that’s not a knife”, starred Paul Hogan as Mick Dundee and Linda Kozlowski and used the “Australian cowboy” goes to America jibe to poke fun at both the US and their perception of Australians. It was the humorous and quite excellent ride that helped garner fan acclaim throughout the world.
 

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SyFy, the infamous TV channel that gave us the monumental TV adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune / Dune Messiah / Children of Dune and the best SF series of all time, Battlestar Galactica, has failed to live up to our expectations ever since. Sanctuary and Warehouse 13 were nice shows to watch, albeit not as memorable as they should have been, and Eureka also had its ups and downs, although it was a good show at the end of the day. But while other channels gave us Fringe, The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones, SyFy was stuck at a much lower level.

The channel has promised five shows to lure back science fiction hungry audiences. Helix was a good one in the first season, but the second one was by far not as memorable. I haven’t even seen the last two episodes, choosing to play royal vegas online casino games instead. 12 Monkeys was a nice idea, but lacking the “wow” factor Terry Gilliam’s original had. The Expanse looks like something of value, but it will be a mini-series (just like Galactica was at the beginning), and it has to be very (I mean VERY) good to be picked up as a series. Childhood’s End may end up to be a treat for lovers of classic science fiction, but judging by the trailer it will only be “inspired by” the original, making it a more entertaining and possibly less philosophical than the book.

Until these two major pieces of work will be released, the channel is trying to fill the gap with two TV series which might sometime in the future become great works, but right now they are just a handful of space operas perfect for munching popcorn and downing cold ones in the evening: Dark Matter and Killjoys.

Having seen the first three episodes of Dark Matter, the only thing I have to say is “been there, done that” countless times in the past. The show has two big names behind it – Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, who gave us Stargate and Stargate: Atlantis – so it might become something of value later on. But right now it is just a collection of cliches that fail to engage, presenting its viewers with mysteries that they might not even be curious to uncover.

Killjoys has an interesting background, and has the potential to become the next Farscape, but until now it lacks that certain “je ne sais quois” that would pin me in front of the screen. It has quite a bit of action and suspense, and dark secrets in the past of one of the lead characters’ past, but so far nothing that I would truly call original. It’s like the fifth season of Andromeda mixed with a dash of Firefly (not enough by far), and has a lot of “low budget” written all over its visuals. It might become a great show if it lives long enough, but right now it’s just another lightweight summer space opera.

Hopefully this is not the best SyFy can do, otherwise us, in search of quality science fiction on TV, are doomed.

When you think of fictional places you’d like to visit, the dystopian districts of The Hunger Games’s Panem might not seem like the most obvious vacation choice. Nevertheless a walk through that world, based on the films spawned from Suzanne Collins’s wildly popular book series, is now available right in midtown Manhattan. The Hunger Games: The Exhibition has moved into Discovery Times Square where fans will be able to explore the props, costumes and interactive features through January 3rd 2016.

After a welcoming video from Elizabeth Banks both as her character Effie Trinket and herself, the exhibition takes visitors chronologically through Katniss Everdeen’s (Jennifer Lawrence) journey from the impoverished District 12 to the excesses of the Capitol and into the games and the ensuing rebellion. Each room is fully immersive and ripe with small details to appreciate. I knew I was in good hands right from District 12 when I saw Primrose Everdeen’s shirt (worn by actress Willow Shields) was left perfectly untucked.

The exhibit is a bit of a hybrid insofar as it invites fans to immerse themselves in the actual world of Panem via interactive features like sitting down with Stanley Tucci’s flamboyant Cesar Flickerman but then it also takes a step back with informative signage to look at the artistry and designers responsible for the film’s creation.

Another clever touch is the moral dilemmas the exhibit challenges guests with along the way. Much like Katniss, fans are faced with several options in how they’ll face the harsh world of Panem and they’re able to make a decision that will then be tallied in beads for the duration of the show. It will be interesting to see how those choices stack up and I appreciated how many opportunities for hands-on analogue interactions there were rather than solely relying on digital screens.

For me however, the standouts of this exhibition are really the costumes. They’re central to Katniss’s rise to power in the series (with the help of her talented stylist Cinna of course!) and the films have done justice to their importance from the humble mockingjay pin to Katniss’s jaw-dropping wedding gown from Catching Fire. That gown from designer Trish Summerville is displayed in proud contrast with her original leather get up.

Like all good tourist attractions, you inevitably exit through a gift shop that’s just as thought out as the exhibition, with no district left unrepresented–I confess as a Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin) fan, I picked up a District 4 pin and left just a little more hyped that the finale of the films is yet to come.

The Hunger Games: The Exhibition is open now through January 3rd 2016 at Discovery Times Square, 226 West 44th Street NYC. Tickets range from $22.50-$29.50.
The final film in the series, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, opens in the US on November 20th.

 

The most hotly-anticipated event in the video gaming world has come and gone for the twentieth time, leaving in its wake a gaggle of fan-boy adoration, critique and hope for the next year of gaming, touted as to be one of the best seen in years. If you haven’t been up to date on the events, announcements and showcases that made up the Electronic Arts Expo (E3) however, don’t worry; here were the best bits of the trade fair!

In terms of huge, ground-breaking releases, E3 was truly a sight to behold! We had DICE’s beautiful-looking Star Wars: Battlefront, where both thrilling co-op and multiplayer game modes were shown in breathtaking detail, and Rainbow 6: The Siege, where players will be given a hearty dose of strategy at a time when many shooter fans are growing tired with the over-the-top, arcade-y approach driven by titles such as Call of Duty.

Then there was the announcement that RPG fans would soon be able to play through a twenty-first-century remake of the utterly popular Final Fantasy 7, plus a remake of the much-derided, but critically-appraised Doom. There was a lot of this sort of nostalgic leaning at E3 2015, with Sony bringing back The Last Guardian (produced by the makers of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus) and kicking off a Kickstarter campaign for Shenmue 3, that despite the exciting prospect, did make one wonder why a tech giant was asking for funding from the public-at-large. Perhaps this is the moment that crowd-funding went corporate?

There wasn’t much shown from the online casino gaming world, a glaring omission given the utter, ever-growing popularity of sites such as Royal Vegas Casino. These sorts of sites, where players are afforded access to virtual versions of casino games, are booming worldwide, with the industry as a whole set to be worth nearly $60 billion by 2018. As such, it’s hard to see why such developers have yet to be invited to E3. Nevertheless, fans of casino thrills will have to wait until the iGaming Super Show later this month in Amsterdam to find out the new developments within this skyrocketing gaming sub-industry.

Fallout 4 was, for many, the highlight of the show. Fans of the series have been waiting for years for RPG-extraordinaire Bethesda to create a new iteration of the utterly popular post-apocalyptic franchise, but were treated with a gloriously long trailer and gameplay reveal that did much to reignite the hype!

Sci-Fi fans were also bestowed with a healthy crop of releases. Mass Effect: Andromeda looked set to continue our love affair with all things alien; Star Fox Zero – unfortunately one of the few Nintendo showcases at E3; and the still-hazy No Man’s Sky, which seems to appear more and more gorgeous every time we ravenously lap up another shred of gameplay footage!

The future of gaming was also spelled out at E3 in two letters – V.R. Facebook’s Oculus, Sony’s Morpheus and Microsoft’s HoloLens were all present, showing the gaming public that gaming is about to get all the more immersive. HoloLens was perhaps the most promising though; instead of taking gamers out of the real world it aims to project the game on to the real world, something that might satiate the fears of those who fear the escapist nature of other headsets.

So with one whole year to wait until E3 2016, what parts of this year’s show did you like most? Let us know your thoughts below!

 

This weekend at the box office, there were record ticket incomes from the new Jurassic Park movie called the Jurassic World. This movie stars Chris Pratt and has been renowned so far in all of its reviews for being amazing both cinematically and via graphic design and CGI.

 

Going the Distance With the Jurassic Park Theme

Of course, from a business perspective, you must remember that there are other things to consider when selling a movie like Jurassic World. First, there are things like promotions at Red Flush Canada where you can actually play the slots game based on the movie. But there are sales all over from other Jurassic World things as well.

Children and teenagers especially are flocking to get new Jurassic World clothing merchandise and other items. For example, you can purchase a brand-new Jurassic Park sweatshirt or T-shirt, or you might even be interested in some other paraphernalia like toys and games for children. The movie is a little bit scary just like the other Jurassic Park films, let many children and young teens still love it nonetheless.

 

A Record at the Box Office

This weekend, several other feature films debuted at theaters around the country, but none of them did so well as this movie. A new Pixar film called Inside Out was released, and it did moderately well, but again, it was no match to what Jurassic World Made.

 

The Story of Jurassic World

If you’re interested in going to see this film in the theaters, you should try to catch up a little bit about it. Many people who went to see it caught up on the last Jurassic Park films. There were three in all, and they were based on books written by Michael Crichton. Michael Crichton has written many best-selling books that were loosely based in science just like Jurassic Park.

In Jurassic World , which is technically the fourth film in the series, the story centers around a large luxury resorts that is located in the ocean near the country of Costa Rica. This is the new attempt of the owners of Jurassic Park to make Jurassic Park reliable and sellable to tourists who want to come there and see real live dinosaurs. We know that the first Jurassic Park did not work out so well, but the owners of this new park are hoping that this will be an improved version.

The actor Chris Pratt plays an animal tamer who is being paid to try to train the dinosaurs there. There’s a big difference, however, as these dinos were genetically manipulated and engineered… They are like nothing you’ve ever seen before.

The brand new Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Wireless Mobile Mouse has been billed as the “Most Advanced Portable Mouse…Designed to Work Anywhere You Do”. Being an IT guy, I love new tech. If you use computers you also realize how important mice are to your job. You need to have a good one if you want to make your life each. The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Wireless Mobile Mouse hits stores this month with a very reasonable retail price of $79.99.

We all know what a mouse is used for (hopefully), so I will discuss some of the neat features that this new “advanced” mouse has. Firstly it has an advanced Darkfield™ Laser Sensor is made to be used on physically ANY surface…that includes glass..yes GLASS!! No more mouse bad needed for those with a glass table. It has a nice compact size , a contoured shape and a rubber surface that makes it use very user friendly.

If you are a fan of Logitech mice then you will realize that the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Wireless Mobile Mouse is actually a more mobile version of their award-winning MX Master Wireless Mouse. A real important feature of the mouse is that it has dual-connectivity and connects easily to easiy Windows or Mac computers through the Pico Unifying Receiver (included) or through Bluetooth Smart technology. Either one works great and is extremely easily to connect. Another awesome feature is that you can pair the MX Anywhere 2 with up to three devices at once, this is an awesome feature if you are taking this mouse on the go and moving it from machine to machine.  With the touch of the Logitech Easy-Switch button you can easily switch.

If you are on the computer all day like myself, then you are used to scrolling non-stop through your Facebook page or through ending websites. This mouse’s scroll wheel is equipped with hyper-fast scrolling, so you can easily browse your sites easily and then shift to click-­to-­click mode for precise navigation. Lastly the most important part for a wireless mouse is do I need batteries? or does it charge? The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Wireless Mobile Mouse has a rechargeable battery lasts up to two months elimating the new for replacing batteries often. It if you need quick results only one single minute of USB-cord charging actually ends up giving you up to two hours of usage. I recommend this for sure.

We all know that SEO is very important if you are a company with web presence. If you are looking for ways to get your company raised on Google’s ranks; reaching a wider local audience online and to most importantly get more work…you are going to want to pay close attention to this below! Here is a really cool infographic for law firms for all you lawyers out there!

Via: SEOCompany.org

Remember that QWERTY keypad phone that not a log ago was a rage in India? Yes, we are talking about the Blackberry Phones. The phone, which was once a symbol of status quo and the most trusted device for business professionals, suddenly vanished into the oblivion. But it was only a matter of that Blackberry came back with a bang and indeed it came back with a thud taking the smartphone market by storm with the release of Blackberry Z10. The device runs on the latest Blackberry 10 OS is sure to give a tough competition to the iOS, Andorid and Windows phones. The major highlight of this phone is that Blackberry has ditched its signature QWERTY keypad and the trackpad and it has gone for a full touch screen design, which has become a fad nowadays.

Before we get into the features and hardware specifications of this amazing phone, you must know that although the phone comes loaded with a range of useful apps and many more available from the Blackberry store, it is best advised to download and install the Freecharge app. This app allows you to get quick recharge for your phone as well as allow you to pay your mobile and other home utility bills with ease. Additionally, when you pay your bills through the app you can use the freecharge discount coupons that lets you get discount each time you recharge or pay your bills.

Coming back to the features, here are some reasons why this phone will help BB regain its lost market share:

Design and Built
When you unbox the phone, the design and built of the phone will surely take you by surprise. The smart design, compact size and superior quality finish will give you feeling that you are holding a premium phone. The good thing is that Blackberry has not blindly followed the trend of producing phones with enormous screen size, instead it sports a 4.2 inch screen that is pretty decent and for browsing, watching videos and playing games. Plus, the phone snuggly fits in your palms and it is comfortable to carry in your pockets. If the design of the phone tempts you to buy it, you may buy it online but make sure that you check the best deals and offers at couponraja and you would get valuable savings on your purchase.

High Quality Screen
The LCD Screen has a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels gives you sharp and crisp display output. The colours appear real and it gives you awesome viewing angles. Critics suggest that the brightness is low as compared to other premium phones but it more than makes up with a display that doesn’t cause any strain on the eye.

Camera
The phone features an 8MP rear camera that is capable of recording full HD videos. For people who love video conferencing the 2 MP front camera comes in handy. Besides the touch to focus feature helps you click picture with pin-point accuracy.

Software
The new BB 10 OS is a compelling upgrade and offers the users an excellent alternative to the typical android phones. You can carry out your usual tasks like browsing internet, use emails, browse FB and twitter with ease.

Final Verdict
With a price tag of Rs. 43, 490/- the phone is certainly a great buy considering its amazing features.

Planet Comicon, one of the best and biggest fan-driven conventions in the country, ended another great session this past weekend in Kansas City.

With such celebrity guests as Cary Elwes, Michael Rooker and Scott Wilson, the lines for autographs were long (but moved quickly) and there were plenty of vendors ready to work a deal or two. Whether your love was movies, television, comics or toys, there was plenty to see and plenty to do. As in other years, many guests came in the guise of their favorite pop culture characters.

The “Behind the Mikes” podcast team of Moviemike, Loaf and Brett “Movie Quote” Coker, along with photographer Dan Lybarger, worked the vast expanse of Kansas City’s Bartle Hall, speaking with fans and capturing the sights of the event. Fans of every genre’ were encouraged to get on stage for trivia, hosted by a gentleman in an amazing looking suit!

A huge THANK YOU to Chris Jackson and his Planet Comicon staff for making this annual event one of the most anticipated each year!

Moviemike, Loaf and Brett (l-r) bright and early in the morning. Midwest Wonder Woman

 

The artist with her signed painting The Walking Dead’s” Scott Wilson Photog Dan Lybarger and Michael Rooker The trivia quiz master and his assistant. Lady Avengers Three of a kind

 

“Thank you, Walt Disney” trying to raise money to restore Walt’s original Kansas City studio.

Los Angeles, CA, February 28, 2015 – Just in time for Easter, there’s a new stackable, collectible and oh so loveable plush line debuting on store shelves, courtesy of Funrise Toy Corporation.

Stackins Stackable Friends™ is a collectible line of animal-themed stackable plush with adorable features, available in two sizes, small and medium. These plush pets are perfect for stacking in Easter baskets, trading and sharing with friends or just snuggling!

These furry friends will launch exclusively on the shelves at tween retailer Justice beginning in March 2015, with additional characters to stack the shelves throughout the year. Stackins will also expand into Walmart and other retailers late this summer.

“Stackable plush is the hottest new collectible, and we’re so excited to introduce these adorable, Stackins pets to fans,” said Kathy Hawk, Vice President, Marketing, Funrise. “While Stackins certainly have a cute factor, they also have a purpose and identity that kids will love collecting.”

Funrise has big plans for Stackins, including an interactive microsite at StackinsFriends.com that will launch in the coming weeks and Stackins animated webisodes coming soon that will follow the fun antics of these furry friends. Ages 3+, SRP $4.99 for small, $12.99 for medium.

Socialize with us on Instagram at funrisetoys, Twitter @Funrise_Toys , #stackins, and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FunriseToys

 

Growing up being an Orlando Magic fan, you gotta give it to Shaquille O’Neal man. The guy is long retired from the game of basketball and yet his presence is no less important in the business. Like Air Jordan’s the Shaq Attaq is back and still just as cool. The shows are just slick looking. No BS either. They are blank and simple black and white and they own it. It is a bold shoe for a bold person.

I love the high-top look and I am happy that it has never gone away. These sneakers are Insta Pump-equipped with leather and mesh upper for comfort, support, and breathability. The Pump P107 collar technology is a nice way to add custom fit for the shoe and I really enjoy this feature. These also have a hexalite cushioning system for supreme underfoot comfort.

I am usually not huge on signature sneakers but Reebok really delivers these with a good price of around $140 bucks, which ain’t too bad. They also sport the retro Shaq’s signature “dunking” logo on the tongue and the Reebok logo on the ankle as well. These are shoes that will be you some attention I guarantee it. I have never or will never be a basketball player but these shoes are hot and I can’t wait to show them off.

 

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Despite what the thermometer says for many in the country, spring is just around the corner. And with spring comes flowers, warmer weather, children playing outside and Gazillion National Bubble Week (March 8^th  – 14^th).

National Bubble Week originated in 2000 as a way to celebrate spring. Because bubbles are such an iconic, fun outside toy, it’s only natural to use these floating spheres to usher in the season synonymous with outdoor play, laughter and sunshine.

Here are some ways everyone can celebrate!

First, get some bubbles! Gazillion Bubbles solution makes the biggest, brightest and most colorful bubbles around! And ramp it up with awesome bubble toys!

o   Gazillion Bubble Monsoon — create a skyward storm of bubbles instantly! Simply replace the cap on the bottle of bubble solution with the auto-feed cap (included), attach the solution bottle to the machine, press the button and watch in amazement as the sky fills with bubbles!

o   Gazillion Bubbles Tornado — This machine may be small, but once you pour in Gazillion Bubbles solution, you’ll instantly see an endless flurry of bubbles with the Gazillion Bubbles Tornado!

o   Gazillion Bubbles Bump-N-Go Bubble Car – Fuel the car with Gazillion Bubbles solution, turn the car on and watch as it drives around, blowing bubbles on the go! Don’t worry if it bumps into something, it will change direction and keep moving while a trail of bubbles follows in its path.

Try out some bubble tricks! How do bubbles work? Are bubbles always round? What happens to bubbles when you change the temperature? Test out these questions and more with fun, easy bubble experiments.

o   Find all the bubble experiments here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bh3rgf7lp8wzt53/Bubbleexperiments.pdf?dl=0

Take the bubble test! Did you know:

o   A Bubble Gets Its Color From Iridescence: As waves of light pass through the bubble, it gets distorted by reflecting off different layers of soap film.

o   You Can Freeze Bubbles: A bubble’s shell is composed of a layer of water molecules surrounded by two thin layers of soap. Technically, a bubble will freeze below 32 degrees Fahrenheit like all water. The only problem is that bubbles tend to burst after a few seconds, so in order to see a bubble freeze, the temperature needs to fall to a temperature that will freeze water molecules more quickly.

o   Why Do Bubbles Burst?: Anything that fractures the tenuous layer of water molecules can cause a bubble to burst. For example, a gust of wind or an object (like your finger) will easily cause a bubble to burst. Also, a bubble will burst if enough of the water molecules evaporate.

o   Many Bubbles Makes A Foam: When many bubbles are joined together, it becomes a foam. From cappuccinos to the foam on the top of your beer, bubbles are all around us.

Gazillion Bubbles are loved the world over by people of all ages.  There’s even a Gazillion Bubble Show in New York City (http://gazillionbubbleshow.com/), and an exhibit at the So Cal Children’s Museum focused on them.  For kids, bubbles are pure fun for spring and summer outdoor frolic.  For adults, (where you’ll find them at events such as proms, weddings and more,) they symbolize peace, harmony and beauty.

Our suggestion:  start BUBBLE SEASON right, and pop into a store today to stock up.  And don’t forget to share your bubble memories and enter the annual photo contest with prizes monthly March 1, 2015 to August 30, 2015 www.facebook.com/funrisetoys.

Socialize with us – #BubbleWeek – @GazillionBubble, and www.facebook.com/funrisetoys

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 2, 2014) — Orlando MegaCon, the Southeast’s largest comic book, anime, gaming and multi-media event, is returning to the Orange County Convention Center April 10-12.  The popular event promises to be bigger and better than ever with more events, exhibits and the announcement of celebrity guests including comic book icon, Stan Lee (Saturday and Sunday only).

The weekend starts off with the First Annual MegaWalk at MegaCon 2015, hosted by the Hero Initiative. This event will take place on Friday, April 10 at 11 a.m. with all proceeds going towards the Hero Initiative. The Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for comic creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. The walk’s grand marshal will be comic book legend George Perez.

The festivities continue on Friday night at The Cosmos Party. With DJ performances, dancing, laser light show, VIP celebrities and costume contest, The Cosmos Party is the official launch of MegaCon. The Cosmo Party takes place in Ballroom D and tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.  Attendees must be 18 or older with proper ID to attend this event.

MegaCon’s avid attendees come first and foremost to see the all-star line-up of comic book guests including George Pérez, Ed McGuiness, Mike Perkins, Marv Wolfman, Allen Bellman, Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, Frank Cho, Ethan Van Sciver, Andy Smith, Darwyn Cooke, Drew Geraci, Rob Hunter, Katie Cook, Bob Layton, Chuck Dixon, Andy Price, Mike Lilly, Sean Chen, Greg Horn, Dan Parent, Sergio Cariello, Billy Tucci and Brian Pulido

Also big draws at MegaCon are the “media guests” (stars of TV, film and professional sports).  Media guests include:

• Norman Reedus, Michael Rooker, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies – The Walking Dead
• Ron Perlman (Hellboy) and Mark Boone Junior – Sons of Anarchy (Saturday and Sunday only)
• Hulk Hogan – Professional wrestling icon (Saturday and Sunday only)
• Cary Elwes – The Princess Bride
• Karen Gillan – Doctor Who, Guardians of the Galaxy (Saturday and Sunday only)
• Jenna Colman, Arthur Darvill – Doctor Who (Saturday and Sunday only)
• Summer Glau – Firefly, Arrow (Saturday and Sunday only)
• Adam Baldwin – Firefly, Chuck
• Alan Tudyk — Firefly
• David Ramsey – Arrow
• Lou Ferrigno – The Incredible Hulk
• Sean Patrick Flanery, David Della Rocca, Clifton Collins, Jr. – The Boondock Saints
• Jeremy Shada, Olivia Olson – Adventure Time
• Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell and Trey MacNeille – The Animaniacs and professional voice actors
• Grey DeLisle and Troy Baker – professional voice actors

Other weekend events include the MegaCon video gaming with the Supercon 2K series and an arcade room by Freeplay Florida.

MegaCon 2015 Showroom Dates and Hours:
Friday, April 10:        12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 11:   10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 12:     10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

MegaCon 2015 Ticket Prices:
Online:  Friday – $30, Saturday – $35, Sunday $30, 3-day – $70
Onsite:  Friday – $35, Saturday – $40, Sunday $35, 3-day –$75

MegaCon 2015 Location:
Orange County Convention Center
West Building – Exhibit Halls A4 through B4
9899 International Drive
Orlando, FL  32819

Saturday tickets are expected to sell out, so guests are encouraged to consider attending MegaCon on Friday or Sunday.

About MegaCon

MegaCon has grown to become one of the largest comic book and sci-fi conventions in the nation with attendance increasing each year. Designed to appeal to all ages and interests, MegaCon allows attendees to meet and mingle with their favorite comic book artists and TV/film stars, buy amazing collectibles from hundreds of vendors and artists, enjoy gaming events, and participate in numerous activities throughout the weekend.

The MegaCon guest list is constantly growing. Check www.MegaConvention.com frequently for more updates.

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Editor’s Note:

Guest appearances, events and times are subject to change or cancellation. For current information, visit www.megaconvention.com.