Friday, August 31, 2012

Blockbuster Labor Day Sales


Labor Day sale from Tues. Aug. 28 through Mon. Sept. 3.   To help celebrate the long weekend, Blockbuster is slashing 50% off of all previously viewed movies -- family favorites, action and drama films are available for as low as $4.98.

Popular DVD and Blu-ray titles are available with this 50% off promotion and include hit movies such as: “The Time Traveler’s Wife”, “The Holiday”, “A Christmas Carol”, “Cloud with a Chance of Meatballs”, “Angels & Demons”, “District 9”, “Despicable Me”, “Bounty Hunter”, “Monsters VS. Aliens”, “Date Night”, “Shutter Island”, “Toy Story 3”, “It’s Complicated”, “Role Models”, “Red”, “Due Date”, “Cloverfield”, “Little Fockers”, “Black Swan”, “G.I. Joe”, “The Rise of Cobra” and “The Happening”.

As the end of summer quickly approaches and folks are making last minute holiday weekend plans, why not make it a Blockbuster night? The Labor Day holiday is a day of rest from work and school, and what better way to spend it than with a relaxing movie night with your family! As you can see, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Visit your local Blockbuster store to pick up these and other great movies for as low as $4.98.

Wish there was one close to me because we want, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Despicable Me, Monster's VS Aliens, and Toy Story 3

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood Starts Labor Day

Catch a sneak peek of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood here!

Interview with Executive Producers
Kevin Morrison and Angela C. Santomero

This fall, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, an engaging new animated series for preschoolers, will pounce onto PBS KIDS (check local listings).  The first television show from The Fred Rogers Company since Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and inspired by the enduring legacy of children’s television innovator Fred Rogers, the vibrantly colorful new program invites viewers to explore the imaginative Neighborhood of Make-Believe with 4-year-old Daniel Tiger and his best friends as they learn important skills and strategies necessary for growing up.  Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood also features an activity-rich website with free, interactive games for preschoolers, online resources for parents and teachers and other valuable and fun cross-platform content.  Below is a conversation with the series’ Executive Producers, Kevin Morrison, Chief Operating Officer of The Fred Rogers Company, and Angela C. Santomero, Co-Founder of Out of the Blue Enterprises.
Q.        After so long, why return to Mister Rogers’ beloved neighborhood now?
K.M.   A few years ago, The Fred Rogers Company set out to produce a new series for a new generation of children.  We developed a number of different program ideas, but Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, based on characters familiar to generations of children, was always everybody’s favorite.  Although the series uses the latest production techniques and looks beautiful, its essence is based on Fred Rogers’ timeless techniques. 
Q.        What made Fred Rogers a pioneer in children’s entertainment?  How is his trademark approach evident in Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood?
A.S.     Fred Rogers has been both an inspiration and a major career influence for me.  In effect, he created a blueprint for children’s television that works.  And, with this new show, we embraced the great level of respect that Fred had for children, the way he communicated with them, his gentler pace and his “interactive” inclusion of his young “neighbors” at home.
K.M.   Fred was a pioneer in the way he used the camera.  In the 50s and 60s, children’s presenters were addressing an audience.  When Fred spoke, there was no doubt that he was talking just to you.  At that time, this was revolutionary.
Q.        Are there elements of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood?  How is the new series fresh and different?
A.S.     There are nostalgic nods of “love” to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood throughout each episode of the new show.  The characters are the children of the beloved puppets from Fred’s Neighborhood of Make-Believe and our series star, Daniel Tiger, is the son of Daniel Striped Tiger, Fred’s first puppet.  Like Fred, Daniel wears a red sweater and sneakers and speaks directly to preschoolers to include them in his day.  Fred’s music can be heard, in some cases as cover songs, and in others as inspiration for new musical strategies.
K.M.   That being said, this is a brand-new series with a very different look and feel.  It’s animated instead of live-action and focuses on the adventures of a 4-year-old and his friends in an exciting and very different Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
Q.        How have Fred Rogers’ groundbreaking concepts been updated to appeal to a whole new generation of young viewers and their parents?
A.S.     Fred’s curriculum is timeless.  But our approach to his curriculum was planned with today’s preschoolers in mind because we wanted to make sure that we were reaching them most effectively in terms of appeal and learning.
Q.        Why choose animation instead of live action?
A .S.    We wanted to animate the Neighborhood of Make-Believe to put a unique spin on the “neighborhood” with this new series.  Plus, animation allows us to make our stories visual – for example, we can let viewers peek inside Daniel’s colorful imagination.
K.M.   We considered live action, but animation gives us powerful tools for storytelling.  Our research-based curriculum is wrapped inside engaging stories for the very youngest children.
Q.        How did you develop the characters for the show?
A.S.     Although the characters were initially based on the puppets in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, our goal was to give them a multi-dimensional feel so they’re true to the personalities of preschoolers.
K.M.   We want children to feel that they’re friends with the characters – and hopefully aspire to be like them so they are engaged and learning the strategies right alongside Daniel and his cohorts.
Q.        What role does music play in Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and why do you think using song-based strategies is so effective?
A.S.     Music is an integral tool for learning in Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.  Our musical strategies are unique and catchy.  Parents and children will be singing them all day long!  For preschool viewers, music propels the curriculum forward, ensuring that they truly understand why a particular strategy was needed and how it helped our characters. 
K.M.   And couching a key strategy in an easy-to-remember song makes it very simple for parents to help their children incorporate that new skill into their daily lives.
Q.        Recent research shows that early development of solid social and emotional skills leads to success later in life.  How did this help inform the creation of the show?
A.S.     Pro-social values have been shown by numerous studies to be imperative to later social and academic success for children.  Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood helps hone the skills that prepare young viewers to be optimal learners in kindergarten and beyond.  Encouraging children’s self-confidence, combined with the ability to regulate their impulses and appreciate adult guidance, gives them the solid foundation they need going forward.
Q.       How can Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood be a useful tool for parents and preschoolers beyond the television screen?
A.S.     Moms and dads who have previewed the show have called it “A user’s guide for today’s parent!”  We’re finding that parents and caregivers are writing down our strategies and using them when they need to encourage their kids to be patient, when they’re nervous about a new experience or when they’re disappointed.  We hope to have a useful strategy for every situation a parent could find themselves in!
Visit Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood at: pbskids.org/daniel

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

FX's Sons of Anarchy Ride For Charity

 I am happy to report on one of my favorite shows although we are always a season behind!

On Aug. 26, FX’s Sons of Anarchycast led the morning motorcycle charity ride with 450 riders/300 passengers following behind as they traveled from Route 66 Classic Grill in Santa Clarita to Happy Endings bar in Hollywood

Proceeds from the ride and rally tickets purchased as well as on-site merchandise benefits The Boot Campaign, which looks to raise funds for military personnel returning home from combat
All ride and rally tickets were completely sold out by the Thursday prior to the event as the venue was already sold to complete capacity (1,400 rally attendees) – a huge leap from last year’s inaugural event

The event celebrated Sons of Anarchy Season4 on Blu-ray & DVD with a giant DVD promotional stand prominently placed on the red carpet and press line and the riders/passengers received the Blu-ray in their VIP rider packs
 After the ride and the VIP meet and greet, the cast of Sons of Anarchy walked the red carpet chatting with press and posing for photos for promotions and fans alike. 

Those in attendance included, Ron Perlman, Theo Rossi, Charlie Hunnam, Kim Coates, Kurt Yeager, William Lucking, Ryan Hurst, Winter Avezoli, Chris Reed, Dayton Callie, Mark Boone Junior, Tommy Flanagan, Maggie Siff, Chris Browning, Emilio Rivera, Michael Ornstein, and more. Additional red carpet appearances were made by After party will feature a live performance by hit artists, Blackberry Smoke Leeann Tweeden (Fox Sports); Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch including Matt Bradley, Edgar Hansen, Mike Fourtner, Scott Hillstrand and Sig Hansen; Blackberry Smoke
After red carpet arrivals, Boot Ride and Rally event ambassadors Theo Rossi and Kim Coates introduced the party portion and announced performing band Blackberry Smoke who played hits from its new album The Whippoorwill

Home Improvement Gift Card Giveaway for National Preparedness Month



Hurricanes, winter storms, the season is coming!

Are You Prepared?

•September is National Preparedness Month!

•With Hurricane Isaac nearby, and only one year since Hurricane Irene, we are reminded emergencies can happen anytime

•OEM (Office of Emergency Management) is urging New York residents to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s official emergency notification system.

Subscribers receive text messages, e-mails, phone calls or Tweets about significant citywide events, as well as smaller events happening in their own neighborhoods.

These notifications cover topics such as severe weather, school closures, subway disruptions, and traffic advisories in all areas of the city.

•Anyone can sign up and customize the alerts they would like to receive by visiting nyc.gov/notifynyc or following @ Notify NYC

•To learn more about Notify NYC and OEM, please check us out on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @ Notify NYC, or visit nyc.gov/oem.

Giveaway: • One $50 Gift Card to a National Home Improvement Store, for purchasing home preparedness supplies


The winner will be chosen on or around 9/12/12 through Rafflecopter and will have 48 hours to respond to notification email or another winner will be selected. US ONLY!



Disclaimer: OEM (Office of Emergency Management) is providing the prizing and information for this giveaway. No monetary compensation was received.

Tips for Walkers and Drivers as We Head Back To School


Reading, writing and arithmetic may be on the minds of kids heading back to school, but walking safely?

According to a study released today by Safe Kids Worldwide and FedEx, child pedestrian injuries are the highest in September. 

The study, which examines 15 year trends in child pedestrian injuries and deaths in the U.S., reported some positive findings and some startling ones; overall, the number of children injured or killed is down, but the most kids at risk today has shifted to a surprising demographic: teenagers.

**Infographic on the key survey findings**

Key Report Findings

·         Back to school time requires extra vigilance for kids and drivers
o    More children are hit by cars in September than any other month
o    The number of injuries is highest in months when most students end and begin school (June, August and September)

·         Teenagers are now the most at-risk youth for pedestrian injuries
o    This is a shift from 5-9 year olds to 16-19 year olds in the last 15 years
o    The death rate among older teens is now twice that of younger children
o    Safe Kids hypothesizes that distractions from digital devices could be a cause
o    The youngest walkers, those 1 and 2 years old, are also vulnerable because of their new mobility. Death among children in that age group are second only to teenagers. 

·         Overall, the number of children injured or killed while walking has decreased in the last 15 years
o    Child pedestrian deaths are down 53% and injuries are down 44%
o    Still, more than 61 child pedestrians are injured every day and 500 killed every year

Tips For Walkers

·         Developmentally, most kids can’t judge speeds and distances until at least age 10, so younger kids need to cross with an adult

·         Did you know most walking injuries happen mid-block or someplace other than intersections?  Whenever possible, cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks

·         Look left, right and left again before crossing the street, and keep looking and listening while crossing

·         Walk, don’t run, when crossing the street

·         It’s always best to walk on sidewalks or paths, but if there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible

·         Remove headphones when crossing the street

·         If you need to use your phone, stop walking

·         Distraction among drivers is at an all-time high today, so try to make eye contact with the driver before you step into the road

Tips For Drivers  

·         Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods and school zones, before and after school hours

·         Most walkers are injured mid-block, not at intersections, so watch out for kids who may dart into traffic or cross where they shouldn’t

·         Give pedestrians the right of way at a crosswalk

·         Using cell phones, even hands-free, makes it harder for drivers to be alert to walkers who may also be distracted on cell phones


** The report was the third in a series sponsored by FedEx, who has collaborated with Safe Kids on the Walk This Way program to teach drivers and child pedestrians about safe behaviors and create safer, more walkable communities