Sneakers on Media Mikes? That’s right you are reading correctly. We are in the midst of a huge expansion and New Balance was the first to back us up with this new expansion. If it wasn’t for companies like this, we wouldn’t be able to pursue our plan. When I started Media Mikes in 2010 (then called only Movie Mikes), I emailed for an interview with a little known celebrity named Denzel Washington. He was completely out of my reach and I thought I would have no chance but I ended up getting it and it helped launch the site and set it above every other starter site. Almost five years now have past and we are expanding again!

Anyway back to New Balance’s amazing new sneaker, the Fresh Foam 980 series. This running shoe was only released a few months ago yet is already an award winner. It was awarded “Best Ride” in the Competitor Magazine Spring Shoe Guide (March 2014) and “Best Neutral Running Shoe” by Running Network (March 2014). The cushioning is very impressive. The Fresh Foam 980 is a really stable shoe and yet doesn’t smother you. You have plenty of room to breath through its mesh lining.

If you are looking for a sneaker that has amazing performance in speed, cushioning, stability and control, then you need to look no further. I went on a mission to find a “good pair” of sneakers earlier this year and honestly, I failed miserable. I ended up bunch a brand of sneakers that were “expensive”, so it had to be good right? Wrong! i ended up returning them within a few weeks. I wish these would have been released when I was looking earlier this year. Luckily now, I am able to spread the word and make it easier for others to make a good decision.

Thanks to New Balance, we received these amazing new sneakers in the color Silver with Lime & Navy, which look quite awesome. But it doesn’t end there since they have ten different colors options. There is Blue with Green Gecko & Neon Orange, Dark Heather Grey with Red & Yellow, White with Cobalt Blue & Green Gecko, Black with Lime Green & Blue, White with Neon Green, Orange with Blue, Black with Metallic Silver & White, Lead with Laser Blue & Black and Grey with Black.

There is something about the look that is actually very pretty, as my two year old daughter again. I love the color fad line leading above the sole, it looks so awesome. The soles have a solid strong color, which is just as bold as the shoe is and is made out of blown rubber. So if you are looking to get back to running after the summer and looking for a good sneaker to accompany you, I believe I easily help make your search process much shorter…the hardest part will be to figure out which awesome color you want.

When the very first iPhone came out, I traded in my old flip phone for what at the time was the best smart phone on the market. It stood the best for quite a while in my opinion. After the iPhone 4, I lost interest in the future development of Apple and its product. I decided to cross over to the dark side as iPhone users says and go the Android route with the Samsung Galaxy S4. WOW! Was my world expanded! Convinced that I would never switch back to iPhone again, I decided to see what else is out there.

In this article, I will be discussing three new smartphones besides the Samsung Galaxy and the iPhone, which always thought to be the two strongest options in the market. Are phones even phones anymore…the phone part is the bonus with these devices. What is more important these days to be is the speed, the size and most importantly the apps! The first of the three is the LG G3, which I feel is no question the strongest of the bunch.

This is a phone, I would honestly switch over to if I had the option. The device comes with a 5.5-inch Quad HD IPS display. I am a big picture guy, so the camera is very important. This phone is equipped with a 13MP ultra fast laser auto focus camera. This is a big improvement over the Samsung Galaxy S4 camera for sure! I felt that I always got blurry photos but this comes with Optical Image Stabilization, which reduces blurry photos that result from shaking.

The carrier we tested this phone on was with Verizon. With that the LG G3 comes XLTE Ready, which is a good feature and let’s you take advantage of the latest advancement to America’s largest and most reliable 4G LTE network. It is double the 4G LTE bandwidth in cities coast to coast, which allows you to do much more with your smart device. The device also comes with a Smart Keyboard as well as your own Virtual Personal Assistant. It’s not Siri, I mean what is, but it is quite snazzy.

Finally since I am an IT guy, I can’t help but to throw some tech specs in here. The OS come with Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat). The Chipset includes is a Qualcomm MSM8975AC Snapdragon 801 with a CPU of Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400. Th screen is made up of Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Most important, and something an iPhone can not do at all is, expandable memory, this includes the option to expand with a microSD card, up to 128 GB, while the internal options are 16 GB, 2 GB RAM / 32 GB, 3 GB RAM. My only major complaint is the volume button and main button are located on the back. This is annoying at first but you get used to it. Overall a pretty rad phone!

Next up is the Nokia Lumia 1520, which last month was made available at AT&T in matte green! This phone is definitely big and quite bold, especially with that green back cover. The Lumia 1520 also offers the latest Windows Phone 8.1 software update. That is a great thing…if you like Windows. I use Windows 8 for work, so I know how to work it but it honestly fails to impress on the phone. The app store is also terrible. There is a big issue for me since I rely on all my apps to run my day and a bunch of them are MIA.

I see the Lumia 1520 working well with the trendy kids of today looking to have the biggest phone with all the good gadgets. It is a college phone. I wouldn’t recommend this phone for the general office environment for sure. The phone does come with Microsoft Office built in, so you are able to access Microsoft Word, Excel etc. I knew that this phone was going to be the biggest challenge to impress me and I really wasn’t blown away.

The Lumia 1520 does have a wicked camera, which is the best of the bunch. The 20MP camera is quite the powerhouse and using Zeiss optics, it is one of the most sensitive and powerful cameras included in recent smartphones. Though, with my smartphone I need more than just a strong camera to sell me.

Though camera aside when comes to technical it falls behind the top the LG G3. The screen is only Corning Gorilla Glass 2 for its six-inch HD display. It can only be upgraded to up to 64 GB with an additional of an microSD. The internal options are different also giving options of 16 GB (RM-940 only) and 32 GB, 2 GB RAM. Lastly, the chipset is Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 and the CPU is Quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400. I would just expect more from such a big phone.

Last one of the bunch this time around is the HTC One (M8) from Sprint. This was a decent phone but not a fan of the service from Sprint at all when the other phones were sporting 4G LTE, this phone barely stayed at 3G, when it wasn’t saying it was roaming. Right away, I was turned off. It also features the worst camera, I have seen on the smart phone in today’s market. There is only a 5MP camera on the front camera, which is laughable in today’s market of 13MP and 20MP camera.

The screen has decent specs though coming wit Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It is expandable with a microSD, up to 128 GB and comes with an internal storage options of 16/32 GB, 2 GB RAM. The OS is Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat), upgradable to v4.4.3 (KitKat). It’s Chipset is Qualcomm MSM8974AB Snapdragon 801 and the CPU is CPU Quad-core 2.3 GHz in the US but the Asia and China markets for this phone get a 2.5 GHz Krait 400, so that is a bummer if you are in the US.

So if you read all the above, you might agree with me that the LG G3 is the obvious winner of the trio of alternative smart phones. The Nokia Lumia 1520 has the best camera but suffers from its Windows OS and a terrible lack of apps in their store. The HTC One is a decent phone also but just lacks any wow features that really drew me in despite having terrible service from Sprint. Hopefully next time, we will be able to feature the new Amazon Fire Smartphone and the iPhone 6 in our next Smartphone comparison.

What is Running Press you ask? Whenever you go to a book store or any entertainment store and go to check out it is impossible to pay at the check out without passing their products. They consists of little toys, gadgets and mini-books. Check out below some of their recent releases, which I wanted to highlight to all of our fans!

Doctor Who: K-9 Light-and-Sound Figurine and Illustrated Book
Kit includes a miniature figurine of K-9, the Doctor’s trusty robotic canine, complete with audio of his catchphrase, “Affirmative, Master!” and light-up eyes. Also included is a 48-page book on Doctor Who and K-9, featuring full-color photos.

Everyone is in Doctor Who fever right now with the entrance of the new Doctor this month! But let’s not forget the classic characters like “K-9”. He is really cool. I love the “Affirmative, Master!” catchphrase, but I wish he had a few more saying though since my daughter loves to push the button…ALOT!

Elf Snow Globe with Magnets
Buddy the Elf is a Christmas classic! Keep him around all year long with this kit containing a snow globe featuring Will Ferrell as Buddy. Also included are two magnets featuring artwork and two of Elf’s most famous quotes: “I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite!” and “Son of a Nutcracker!”

Fall is here and that means Christmas is just around the corner. What is Christmas without “Elf”!? This is a must own for any Christmas fan…if not then consider yourself a Cotton-Headed Ninnymuggins! That’s right I said it 😉

Harry Potter Voldemort’s Wand with Sticker Kit: Lights Up!
This commemorative kit includes an 8-inch light-up replica of the wand belonging to the evil Lord Voldemort. The kit also includes a book of photographic stickers highlighting the most memorable battles with the Dark Lord.

Let’s give some respect to the Dark Lord. He is not only bad-ass but also packs a kick-ass wand. This item is some high quality craftsmanship…and looks so dark cool. Did I also mention it lights up?!

Planet of the Apes: Mini Replica of Statue of Liberty Scene
George Taylor’s discovery that the strange planet ruled by apes was earth all along is a classic moment in movie history. Recreate the scene with this kit! It includes: Mini replica of the Statue of Liberty, Audio of the movie’s last lines, Packet of sand with mat, Figurine of Taylor on horseback, 32-page book of quotes and full-color photos

YOU MANIACS! YOU BLEW IT UP! OH, DAMN YOU! GODDAMN YOU ALL TO HELL! I can listening to this all day long! Great job Running Press, this is like a mini Zen garden…with Apes.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutagen Ooze and Illustrated Book
This kit includes a canister of green glow-in-the-dark mutagen ooze, ten temporary tattoos, two magnets, and a 48-page full-color book on the history of TMNT.

TMNT is one hot topic right now. My daughter, who is two, makes it her duty to stick anything she can find in the ooze every night before bed. Super cool for any TMNT fan!! Ninja ninja rap!…sorry…couldn’t help myself!

Transformers: Light-Up Optimus Prime Bust and Illustrated Book: With Sound
This collectible kit includes a miniature bust of the iconic and powerful leader Optimus Prime, with eyes that light up and a sound feature that plays seven of his classic lines! Also included is a 48-page book with quotes and illustrations from the 1980s animation.

Optimus Prime the coolest dude ever…when it comes to Transformers! This awesome toy plays some great clips. I just wish it would have, I don’t know maybe, transformed a little or something 😉

 

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It’s September, which means the coming of Fall and also back to school for the kids. Having a teacher for a wife, I learn to stay in line with the requirements in order to get ready for the new year of school. If you are looking for that perfect back-to-school printer, I would look no further than the Expression Home XP-410 from Epson. It is very small in size yet still packs a solid high quality output. It is also great and very user friendly for students of all ages.

In today’s technology everything needs to be wireless, the XP-410 is a complete wireless solution. It comes Wi-Fi Certified, as well as Wi-Fi Direct, and equips with Epson Connect, which is a great solution to wireless printing from smartphones and tablets. If you are on the go and need to print quick, the XP-410 doesn’t even need a computer. You can use it’s supported Android printing (KitKat 4.4), which will allow mobile users to easily print documents, images or web-pages to Android mobile devices. So you can pretty much take the ability to print with you wherever you are.

When you are in front of this one-in-one printer, where you are printing, scanning or copying, the 2.5″ LCD and touch panel is very user friendly and easy to use. When I think about one-in-one printers, I always worry about the ink cartridges. You spend $60 dollars on a printer and then hundreds on ink. Luckily, the XP-410 comes equipped with very affordable individual ink cartridges and give you the option to replace only the color you need. For this unit there are four DURABrite Ultra Ink cartridges (one Black ink cartridge and three color ink cartridges: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow).

Spending all the time on the cool features, I don’t want to forget to discuss the actual printing process. I was very impressed with the remarkable print quality from this device. It is extremely fast and yet still delivers very crisp and sharp color in it’s photos and documents. Also included are better image enhancement tools like red-eye removal, photo restoration and correction of over/underexposed images, which are very handy. Lastly, this printer also allows you to print customized & borderless photos and of course you can also use the built-in card slots for PC-free printing.

So if you are nervous or excited to head back to school, this little handy device will save you a ton of worry. Plus did I mention it runs for around $50-60 dollars, which is quite cheap for such a powerful all-in-one. On the other hand, if you are looking for something with a little more oomph, you can check out the next model up, which would be the Epson Expression Premium XP-810 Small Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner, Copier and Fax. Hopefully we will be reviewing this unit next, so stay tuned to Media Mikes!

Loot Crate is a epic monthly subscription box for geeks and gamers for under $20. You are getting at least $40+ Retail Value in every crate, most of the contents are exclusive to Loot Crate! So be sure to subscribe to have bragging right against your friends. You also have a chance to win Mega Crate with $750+ Value! This is the first time that we have received Loot Box (and hopefully not the last). I came across an ad on Facebook and couldn’t help but requesting one and helping spread the word.

Loot Crate isn’t messing around with its partners either. They only have the best including Capcom, Marvel, DC Domics, Star Wars and Nintendo. So you are guaranteed to get something amazing each month for sure. This month focus is on Villains, so if you dig that be sure to check out our video unboxing below to check out what great goods is included in August’s box.

There are three ways to sign up for Loot Crate:
1 month plan $13.37/mo + $6 S&H
3 month plan $12.37/mo + $6 S&H
6 month plan $11.67/mo + $6 S&H

Click here to sign up your own Loot Crate subscription!

Click here for our video unboxing of this latest Loot Box:

Since last month’s Loot Crate was Villains, it is only right that this month’s is Heroes! Since the movies this summer have been taken over by the Guardians of the Galaxy and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you can expect some goodies from them. I AM GROOT! But this is not just stuff you can get anywhere…this is EXCLUSIVE loot only available here! Inside the August pamplet, there is a cool feature article on the “Origin Of Heroes” by Joshua Brown. There is another great article called “What Makes a Hero?” by Candice Shane. This is no three line article either, it is a solid essay like article. Very cool stuff. .

In case you don’t feel like watching the video, here are the items included in this month’s Loot Crate:
1. TMNT Ooze Action Figure – Glow in the Dark Series – Raphael
2. Exclusive Funko POP! Groot – Glow in the Dark
3. TMNT Mask Glasses (I got Michaelangelo)
4. The Flash Shoe Lightning Bolts by Schwings
5. Sonic, Mega Man or Proto Air Fresheners (I got Sonic)
6. Deadpool – Chimichango’s Magnet
7. Bonus Exclusive Digital Loot

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL (August 2014) – There is still time to make plans to experience the special events being conducted at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Central Florida this summer and fall, such as Night of Joy, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival, and the Eat To The Beat Concert Series at Epcot®. A great way to experience these events, and/or to check out the recently expanded New FantasylandTM at Magic Kingdom® Park, is by taking advantage of the special “Make Some Memories Rates” that are being offered by the seven Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotelsthrough October 31, 2014.

In addition to their ideal location an easy walk to the shopping, dining and entertainment venues at theDowntown Disney® Area, these seven Official Walt Disney World® Hotels also provide complimentary shuttle transportation every 30 minutes to all four Walt Disney World® Theme Parks, two water parks, and to the Downtown Disney® area. As a bonus, guests at these hotels also receive the “2014 Downtown Disney Deals” booklet that features exclusive discounts and specials from over 30 merchants on Downtown Disney® area dining, entertainment and shopping.

 Available for stays through October 31, 2014, the Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotels’ “Make Some Memories Rates” are: 

• B Resort & Spa – now open – rates from $89 per room, per night
• Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel – rates from $69 per room, per night
• Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa – rates from $75 per room, per night
• DoubleTree Suites by Hilton – rates from $99 per suite, per night
• Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista – rates from $79 per room, per night
• Holiday Inn Orlando – Lake Buena Vista – rates from $94 per room, per night
• Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort – rates from $69 per room, per night.

 For more information on the “Make Some Memories Rates,” or to make a reservation, visit www.DowntownDisneyHotels.com/pr-make-some-memories, specifically.  Rates are based on availability and some blackout dates may apply. The rates do not include the Resort Services Fee or daily parking fee (if applicable), taxes or gratuities. The offer is not valid with any other special offers, promotions, existing reservations, or for groups.

 Taking advantage of the special rates also will enable you to enjoy such other benefits of staying at one of the seven Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotels as: 

• Disney tickets available to purchase at each hotel
• Advance tee times and discounts at all Walt Disney World® golf courses
• Disney Merchandise store located in each hotel
• The ability to book advance dining and dinner show reservations for all restaurants across the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Special events at the Walt Disney World® Resort include:

• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party – select nights September 1-October 31, 2014, at Magic Kingdom® Park
• Night of Joy – September 5-6, 2014, at Magic Kingdom® Park
• Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival Presented by Chase® — Sept. 19-November 10, 2014, at Epcot®.
• Eat To The Beat Concert Series – September 19-November 10, 2014, at Epcot®
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – now open at Magic Kingdom® Park

In addition to these special events you also could take in the wonders of the recently expanded New Fantasyland, which is the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom® Park. It offers more immersive enchantment and interactive experiences, and features two new themed areas: Enchanted Forest and Storybook Circus. Enchanted Forest attractions and experiences include Under The Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid; Be Our Guest Restaurant; Enchanted Tales with Belle; Ariel’s Grotto; Gaston’s Tavern; and the crowning jewel of New Fantasyland Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Storybook Circus attractions include: The Barnstormer; Dumbo The Flying Elephant; Casey Jr Splash ‘N’ Soak Station; Pete’s Silly Sideshow; andFantasyland Station.

Among the many coupons featured in the “2014 Downtown Disney Deals” booklet are discounts at Rainforest Café, T-Rex, Wolfgang Puck Express, Steve Baker Caricatures, Lego Imagination Center, Planet Hollywood Downtown Disney®, House of Blues® Restaurant, La NoubaTM by Cirque du Soleil®, Bongo’s Cuban Café®, and Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop.

“This is a great time to visit the Walt Disney World® Resort,” said Steve Garner, chairperson of the Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotels’ marketing committee. “The attendance at the theme parks is often lighter, and all of the special events at the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks are wonderful. Taking advantage of the special ‘Make Some Memories Rates’ is a great way to experience the many offerings of the Walt Disney World® Resort.”

Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotels (www.DowntownDisneyHotels.com) is a consortium of seven hotels located in the Walt Disney World® Resort that includes: the stylish B Resort & Spa, opened in June 2014 with 394 newly renovated guest rooms and suites, the full-service B Indulged® by AVEDA spa (opening in September 2014), and a zero-entry pool; the 18-story Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel, surrounded by 12 acres of lush tropical landscaping, and offering 325 spacious rooms and suites, and complimentary WiFi; the newly renovated and sophisticated Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa, featuring 1,014 guest rooms and suites, a 10,000-square-foot spa, three pools, and five restaurants and lounges; the luxurious and spacious 229-suite Doubletree Suites by Hilton, the only all-suite resort hotel in the Downtown Disney® Resort Area; the deluxe 814-room, full-service Hilton Orlando Resort, featuring seven on-site restaurants and lounges and the new Hilton Fitness by Life Fitness® Center; the Holiday Inn Orlando – Lake Buena Vista, the only Holiday Inn located in the Walt Disney World® Resort Area and featuring elegant rooms with modern Florida décor; and Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort, featuring 626 guest rooms which each feature a refrigerator), the Oasis Aquatic Playground with two pools and interactive water features, and six dining options.

With nearly 30 food and beverage outlets and restaurants, more than 3,600 rooms and scores of amenities, the Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotels offer a rate, space and menu to please every guest. Located in the heart of the Downtown Disney® area, these properties are within walking distance of some of the area’s best shopping, dining and entertainment.

For reservations, or more information, visit www.DowntownDisneyHotels.com/pr-make-some-memories.

 

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Reservations now being accepted for the new LEGOLAND® Hotel, opening Summer 2015

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (August 19, 2014) – It’s less than one year before LEGOLAND® Florida Resort opens the doors to its new LEGOLAND® Hotel, and the window is now officially open for guests to book their rooms! Opening Summer 2015, the five story LEGO® themed hotel will feature 152 brightly colored and highly themed rooms and suites, thousands of LEGO models and interactive play areas! The addition of the Hotel gives guests the opportunity to extend their stay and explore LEGOLAND Florida Resort for more than one day giving them the ultimate family experience.

To book your reservation to LEGOLAND Hotel, visit: www.LEGOLANDHotel.com.

Construction is going strong since the November groundbreaking and LEGOLAND Hotel recently reached its “topping off” milestone as the concrete was poured onto the roof. Emmet, from “The LEGO Movie,” dusted off his construction hat to help with the placing of the Merlin flag. Merlin Entertainments, the parent company of LEGOLAND Parks, is the number one attraction operator in Europe and the second largest in the world with more than 100 attractions in 22 countries and across four continents.

Located at the main entrance of LEGOLAND Florida, the Hotel includes a pool, restaurants including a kid-size buffet, interactive play areas and is truly designed to inspire imaginations and create memories for all visitors. Hotel guests will have early access to the Park and be treated to nightly entertainment.

Families can choose from one of three popular LEGO toy lines as their room theme: Pirate, Kingdom or Adventure. All rooms include two separate sleeping areas, with a king-size bed for grown-ups, and a separate sleeping area for up to three little ones, complete with a bunk bed, pull-out trundle bed and their very own TV! An exciting new room theme will be announced at a later date. Room rates start as low as $249, varying by season. For the most updated information, visit Florida.LEGOLAND.com.

 

About LEGOLAND® Florida Resort:

LEGOLAND® Florida Resort is a 150-acre interactive theme park with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, a Water Park and The LEGO® World of Chima presented by Cartoon Network all geared to families with children ages 2 to 12. Recently announced, The LEGOLAND Hotel will open in 2015 featuring 152 highly themed rooms and suites, LEGO décor, interactive play areas, a pool and a restaurant. There are currently five other LEGOLAND Parks in the world – LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND Deutschland near Günzburg, Germany and LEGOLAND Windsor outside of London and LEGOLAND Malaysia —the sixth LEGOLAND Park and first in Asia. The LEGOLAND theme parks are a part of Merlin Entertainments Group, the second largest attractions operator in the world. For the most current information, log on to www.LEGOLAND.com.

 

About Merlin Entertainments:

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS plc is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment. Europe’s number one and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates 104 attractions, 10 hotels/3 holiday villages in 22 countries and across 4 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its almost 60 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 20,000 employees.

Merlin has twenty three attractions and one hotel in North America  – including two stunning LEGOLAND Resorts – LEGOLAND Florida with its theme park, water park, and LEGOLAND California theme park with water park, SEA LIFE Aquarium and themed hotel; Madame Tussauds celebrity wax attractions in New York City, Washington D.C., Las Vegas; Hollywood; and San Francisco; LEGOLAND Discovery Centers in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Kansas City Missouri, Atlanta, Boston; Westchester and Toronto, Canada; a Dungeon in San Francisco; and SEA LIFE Aquariums in Phoenix, Arizona; Kansas City, Missouri; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, the Mall of America in Minneapolis and Charlotte underlining the company’s position as the world’s biggest global aquarium operator.  Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

 

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Lauren Bacall, whose seven-decade career made her one of the greatest stars in Hollywood history, died this evening in her New York home a month shy of her 90th birthday.

Born Betty Joan Perske on September 16 (a birthday we both shared) 1924, she set out to become a dancer before turning her sights to acting and attending the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts after her graduation from high school. While appearing in the occasional off-Broadway production she began modeling and, at age 19, caught the eye of film director Howard Hawks’ wife, who saw her on the cover of a magazine and suggested she be given a screen test. So impressive was her test that she was cast opposite Humphrey Bogart in the film “To Have and Have Not.” It was in this film that she introduced one of the most quoted lines in film history when she said “You know how to whistle, don’t you? You just put your lips together and…blow.” Despite their 25 year age difference, the two fell in love and were married a year later. The marriage would last until Bogart’s death in 1957.

She continued to co-star with Bogart in such classic films as “The Big Sleep,” “Dark Passage” and “Key Largo.” In 1953 she tried her hand at comedy, co-starring with Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable in “How to Marry a Millionaire.” She spent the next decade or so alternating between film and television before heading to Broadway, appearing in the musical “Applause,” for which she won the Tony Award as Best Actress.

In 1973 she reprised her role in the television production of “Applause” and then returned to the big screen as part of the all-star cast of “Murder on the Orient Express.” She also starred opposite John Wayne in his last film, 1976’s “The Shootist.” In 1980 she appeared in the Robert Altman film “HealtH.” This movie was filmed in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida and I can remember some friends and I trying to sneak our way into the Don Cesar Hotel, where the film was shot, in the hopes of meeting Ms. Bacall, who my friend Scott Gilbert had a major school boy crush on. We were not successful.

She continued to work at her leisure, appearing in such films as “The Fan,” “Misery,” “Pret-a-Porter” and “The Mirror Has Two Faces,” for which she received her first and only Academy Award nomination, as Best Supporting Actress. Though she did receive the Golden Globe for her performance, the Oscar went instead to Juliette Binoche. . As the 21st Century loomed she began contributing her voice to various animated projects, including “Madeline: Lost in Paris,” “Howl’s Moving Castle” and was actually heard earlier this year in an episode of “Family Guy.”

In 2010 she received an honorary Academy Award in recognition of her central place in the Golden Age of motion pictures.

This is going to be tough. I’ve had the great fortune, followed by genuine sadness, in the past to see a young talent break through, shine brightly and then die. Two people that come to mind are River Phoenix and Heath Ledger. Both great talents and both taken way too soon. The fact that I have been entertained by Robin Williams for almost four decades only makes the pain of his passing hurt more. Williams died earlier today, with the cause of death pointing toward suicide. He was 63.

I can remember Williams’ appearance on “Happy Days,” where he first gave life to Mork, the alien from the planet Ork. With his brightly colored suspenders and soon to be catchphrase “Nanu nanu,” Williams, like Mork, invaded our televisions and made them his own. I can still remember gathering at my friend Scott Gilbert’s house, just after my 18th birthday, with other friends to watch the debut of the new comedy “Mork and Mindy.” I can still remember the laughter, which peeled from the living room throughout the house. The show, and Williams, were such an instant hit that within a few weeks the movie theatre I was working at brought back an R-rated sketch comedy called “Can I Do It ‘Til I Need Glasses,” trumpeting in the ads that the film “starred” Robin “Mork” Williams. Williams really only had two brief appearances in the film, but that fact wasn’t enough to keep people from paying their money and selling out the opening weekend performances.

In 1980, the studios came calling properly, with Williams playing the title role in Robert Altman’s “Popeye.” Two years later, he showed he was much more than a funny man when he took the lead in the film version of John Irving’s classic novel “The World According to Garp.” He continued filling theatres in the 80s with a series of comedies, including “The Survivors,” “The Best of Times” and “Club Paradise.” In 1987, he teamed up with director Barry Levinson and earned his first Academy Award nomination (for Best Actor) for his role as Airman Adrien Cronauer in “Good Morning, Vietnam.”

Oscar nomination number two came in 1989 for the Peter Weir directed “Dead Poets Society.” He starred opposite Robert DeNiro in Penny Marshall’s “Awakenings” and alongside Kenneth Brannagh and Emma Thompson in “Dead Again.” He even managed a small cameo in his friend Bobcat Goldthwait’s film “Shakes the Clown.”

1991 saw him star as the grown up Peter Banning in Steven Spielberg’s “Hook.” That same year he earned Oscar nod number three opposite Jeff Bridges in “The Fisher King.” The next year he exploded (literally) as the voice of the genie in the animated Disney hit “Aladdin,” So acclaimed was this performance that the Hollywood Foreign Press presented Williams with a special award for his work. He later amazed audiences when he donned a fake bosom and gray wig to portray everyone’s favorite housekeeper, “Mrs. Doubtfire.” During this time he would also show up in small cameo roles in films like “Shakes the Clown” and “To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.” In 1996 he co-starred with Nathan Lane in Mike Nichol’s “The Birdcage” and as a young man who grows up too fast in Francis Ford Coppola’s “Jack.” The next year saw him co-star opposite two young actors who found work by writing their own script. The writer/actors were Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and Williams received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the duo’s “Good Will Hunting,” which also won Affleck and Damon an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Williams continued working in a mixture of comedies and dramas, including “Patch Adams,” “Bicentennial Man,” “One Hour Photo” and “Insomnia.” He also contributed his voice to such popular animated films as “Robots” and “Happy Feet.” He appeared as President Theodore Roosevelt in “Night at the Museum” and it’s sequel (and had just completed work for the third installment). He returned to episodic television last year opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar in the CBS series “The Crazy Ones,” which was recently canceled. Last year he also appeared as President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the critically acclaimed film “Lee Daniels’ The Butler.” This past May he starred opposite Mila Kunis and Peter Dinklage as a man who is mistakenly told he has 90 minutes to live in “The Angriest Man in Brooklyn.” The Internet Movie Data Base lists three remaining projects (including the third “Museum” film) to be released.

I’ve tried my best to sum up the highlights of a thirty-six year career in these past six paragraphs. I’ve hit the high notes of a career that also had low times. Williams, along with Robert DeNiro, were with the late John Belushi the night the comedian overdosed and died, and that experience supposedly scarred Williams straight for quite a while. He recently had a couple of return trips to rehab, which proves nothing except that he was human. But I’ve chosen to remember the best about Robert Williams. To me he will always be the young man in the bright suspenders, standing on his head on the closest chair and exploring the world with the wide eyes of a child. He had so much to learn, and so much to teach us. Good night, Robin. God bless you!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie SpoilerCast – TPP Episode 32 – August 8, 2014
CLICK HERE TO DIRECT DOWNLOAD THE mp3

SpoilerCast!!! They dive shell first into the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie! Make sure you watch/listen to this show AFTER you’ve watched the movie. They analyze this TMNT movie from every angle and try to help you the Fellow Turtles Fan understand its impact.

Official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Website:
www.teenagemutantninjaturtlesmovie.com

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KISSIMMEE, Fla. (July 18, 2014) — The magic of the Christmas season comes to Gaylord Palms Resort from November 15, 2014 – January 4, 2015.This year, guests can indulge in holiday merriment like never before.

 

ICE! Featuring The Nutcracker

Dreams of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Mouse King will come to life in a full-on frozen wonderland this winter during Christmas at Gaylord Palms. On Nov. 15 scenes from everyone’s favorite ballet, the Nutcracker, will be reimagined in nearly 2 million pounds of hand-carved vibrant ice sculptures. ICE! will feature four slippery ice slides and live carving stations inside of the Artisans in Action Frostbite Factory.

 

New in 2014

That’s not the only exciting happening during this year’s annual Christmas at Gaylord Palms.  Guests can now experience the rush – Alpine Rush Snow Tubing – an 18’ 8-lane giant snow hill created with 1.5 million pounds of real Florida snow. Children and adults of all ages will frolic with delight as they speed down these snow covered hills.

 

The Christmas Experience

Christmas at Gaylord Palms is a mystical experience that boasts the true nature of the season all under a glass enclosed atrium.  Lush gardens sprinkled with poinsettias, grand

holiday displays and more than 2 million twinkling lights. Don’t forget the famous 54-foot-tall majestic Christmas tree; character dining and meet and greets; delectable holiday dining; Cookies with Mrs. Claus and awe-inspiring live entertainment that crowds have grown to love including the rhythmic Luminescence show.

With so much to see and do, the best way to experience Christmas at Gaylord Palms is to spend the night with us. Packages are now on sale at ChristmasatGaylordPalms.com.

ICE! is open daily from Nov. 15, 2014 to Jan. 4, 2015, including holidays. The Christmas experience begins Nov. 21, 2014. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com.

 

About Gaylord Hotels®
Gaylord Hotels® is a collection of hotels and upscale resorts that afford 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 near Dallas, Texas; Gaylord National® on the Potomac in National Harbor, Md.; and The Inn at Opryland® in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, please visit http://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.

 

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Loot Crate is a epic monthly subscription box for geeks and gamers for under $20. You are getting at least $40+ Retail Value in every crate, most of the contents are exclusive to Loot Crate! So be sure to subscribe to have bragging right against your friends. You also have a chance to win Mega Crate with $750+ Value! This is the first time that we have received Loot Box (and hopefully not the last). I came across an ad on Facebook and couldn’t help but requesting one and helping spread the word.

Loot Crate isn’t messing around with its partners either. They only have the best including Capcom, Marvel, DC Domics, Star Wars and Nintendo. So you are guaranteed to get something amazing each month for sure. This month focus is on Villains, so if you dig that be sure to check out our video unboxing below to check out what great goods is included in July’s crate.

There are three ways to sign up for Loot Crate:
1 month plan $13.37/mo + $6 S&H
3 month plan $12.37/mo + $6 S&H
6 month plan $11.67/mo + $6 S&H

Click here to sign up your own Loot Crate subscription!

Click here for our first video unboxing of this latest Loot Box:

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You can tell that a lot of planning went into this loot crate. Who doesn’t love Villains. Even though they are bad guys doesn’t mean they are bad guuuuyysss (Anyone see “Wreck it Ralph”?) Inside the July pamplet, there is a great interview with Marvel Artist Skottie Young. There is a listing of Loot Crate’s Top 5 Video Game Villains. It is unveiled which treats were included in the Mega Crate for this month including a 60″ LED TV 1080p and a Marvel Labbit Venom Figure and more, so congrats to those subscriber that got that.

In case you don’t feel like watching the video, here are the items included in this month’s Loot Crate:
1. Joki Villain T-Shirt (Mash-Up for Loki and Joker)
2. Exclusive Rocket Raccoon Comic
3. Harley Quinn & Joker Posters
4. Deadpool Socks
5. Necessary Evil: Super Villains of DC Comics DVD
6. Darth Vadar Key Chain
7. Bowser 3×3 Magnet

After experiencing the ASUS Transformer T100, I wanted to see what else ASUS had new to offer. I came across the ASUS MeMO Pad 7 7-Inch 1 GB Tablet, but from the moment I took it out of the box, I knew I wasn’t thrilled. The tablet takes quite a while to turn on, which is probably since I have been playing with a Acer Chromebook, which boots in a mere seconds. The tablet is too big for one hand and too small for two hands, so I felt awkward trying to maneuver it in my hands. ASUS is saying that this is one of their thinnest and lightest MeMO Pads, so it is definitely small but in terms of lightness, I felt that it had a little extra weight to it then I actually expected. If I take my iPad Mini compared this, it is not much lighter.

The technical guts of the device are as follows: 1.33 GHz Quad-Core Intel Atom processor, Android 4.4 KitKat. It comes with an 16 GB Storage expandable by 64 GB with micro SD, 1 GB RAM. There is also a 2 MP Front Camera and 5 MP Rear Camera with Auto focus (1080p Video Recording). Besides the boot time, the device is otherwise pretty smooth since it comes with a powerful Intel Atom Quad-Core processor. The picture quality on the device is also solid. The colors are vibrant, clear and bright with the IPS Display with 170-degree wide viewing angles.

Some of the features that are included with this are ASUS HomeCloud, which is a one-stop destination to access your video and music streaming across cloud storage. It also auto-uploads photos from your device. The camera has several different neat features including Time Rewind, which allows you to rewind your photos and never miss an important moment. All Smile, which gives you to the option to pick the perfect smile. Smart Remove gives you the option to easily remove unwanted moving objects from your photos like photo bombers. Last is Auto Selfie, which takes high resolution selfies with the rear camera without worrying about missing a person.

Other features at the ASUS MeMO Pad 7 include is a brand new interface called ASUS Zen UI. It is customizable to your own personality. It comes with eMusic to play and download music with your given 75 complimentary music downloads from ASUS. Also includes is Zinio, which gives you access to 5000+ digital magazines from around the world and you even get 6 free Mini-Subscriptions to your favorite magazines and a $10 voucher at registration. Lastly since this is only 16GB storage, there is the ASUS WebStorage Service available, which allows to you get 500GB of online storage free for 2 years. So you see that there are some decent features included with this device but I personal wasn’t very wowed. I would rather stick with a slightly larger and more functional Samsung Galaxy Tab.

I have been testing numerous tablets, laptops and other computer-like devices recently and I have been trying to find the perfect device for me to use as a backup to my desktop and smartphone. Well, I think I have found it with the Acer C720P Chromebook, which is actually Acer’s First Chromebook with Touchscreen. It is 11.6 inches, measures only 0.78-inches thin and weighs only 2.98 pounds. This is great device to take on the road and be able work remotely.
Acer already has the industry-leading Chromebook line and they are only sealing the deal by adding a 10-point touch display, which only makes this more convenient. Even though this has a mouse track pad and keyboard included, I like the option of being able to tap and swipe your way through navigating on it. In fact, the Chrome OS also has custom gestures built-in, so you are able to tap, swipe, and pinch to zoom just like you would do on your tablet or smartphone.

The device lasts up to 7.5 hours of battery life and boots literally in a mere seconds. I mean this thing is lightning fast. It includes the latest Intel® Celeron® processor based on Haswell micro-architecture. This device also has a fantastic tilt angle of up to 145° which gives the best view of the screen since I am usually lying down when working. It also has the option to extend to a bigger screen or television using the HDMI port.

So all this talk about how great this device is but in case you don’t know Chromebooks are not laptops and they are not tablets. They are basically used for browsing the web and also come with popular Google products built in: Search, Gmail, YouTube, and Hangouts. You are able to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations and drawings with apps like Google Docs, Zoho and SlideRocket. Plus the Chrome Web Store offers thousands of free apps, themes, and extensions to help you make the most of your Chromebook.

The Chronebook comes with only 2GB of space but you are able to take advantage of up to 100GB of free storage on Google Drive the first 2 years after purchase. The Acer C720P Chromebook also connects with dual band Wi-Fi and even comes with 12 free Gogo Inflight1 passes, which is worth about $150 bucks and can be used on continental U.S. flights of participating airlines. Another thing that I love is that these machines are virtually virus, malware, spyware, adware free and being an IT guy myself that is always a bonus.

So I have been shopping various Chromebooks in the last few months and this Acer C720 Touch is easily the best that I have seen on the market. If you are looking for something that is light, powerful and very easy to use that I cannot recommend this anymore. Plus this device only would run you around $299.99, which is much cheaper than a laptop or any iPad. Highly recommend this for sure! Another great Acer product.