How David Blaine Held His Breath For 17 Minutes

Fantastic Mr. Fox DVD Due On March 23rd

Fox Home Entertainment has announced DVD ($29.98) and Blu-ray/DVD Combo ($39.99) releases of Fantastic Mr. Fox for the 23rd March. The only extra material on the DVD release will be a From Script to Screen feature, a Still Life (Puppet Animation) feature, and A Beginner’s Guide to Whack-Bat. The Blu-ray/DVD Combo release will include that, along with a 6-part Making Mr. Fox Fantastic documentary (“The Look Of Fantastic Mr. Fox”, “From Script To Screen”, “The Puppet Makers”, “Still Life (Puppet Animation)”, “The Cast”, “Bill And His Badger”), a Fantastic Mr. Fox: The World Of Roald Dahl featurette, and a digital copy.

Coachella 2010 Line-Up: The Nightmare Version

Replaced…

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Crayola Color Chart 1903-2010

Weather Sealed is featuring a great Crayola Color Chart that shows how the number of colors has been doubling every 28 years from 1903-2010.

Bourne Trilogy Flips for DVD/Blu-ray Combo Disc

Making an economy-sensitive move, Universal Studios Home Entertainment on Tuesday repackaged the Jason Bourne movie trilogy on a set of have-it-both-ways discs. The so-called “flipper disc” enables spy fans who don’t own a Blu-ray player to watch the films now on standard DVD while archiving the product in a high-def format for future use.

Starring Matt Damon, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum deserve repeat viewings for their collective role in jump-starting the espionage action genre during the ’00s.

Sold individually (suggested retail price $30, $15.50 on Amazon.com), each double-duty package includes the entire movie plus bonus features on both sides of the disc.

Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, said in a statement: “Universal’s flipper discs are the perfect way for consumers to future-proof their collections while still enjoying their favorite movies on their existing DVD players.”

All three Bourne releases come with deleted scenes, commentary and featurettes. The Blu-ray side offers additional extras such as character dossiers, battle-strategy games and interactive applications.

The 100 Cheesiest Movie Quotes of All Time

You Dropped Food On The Floor. Do You Eat it?

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The White House Launches App for iPhone

The White House has released its new official application for the iPhone and iPod touch. The app offers access to whitehouse.gov’s White House Blog and Briefing Room news areas, including photo and video content, and also offers live video streaming of White House events, including the President’s public events, web chats with Administration officials, key speeches, and press briefings. Notably, the live streaming feature will also allow users to watch next week’s State of the Union address directly on their device. The White House official application for iPhone and iPod touch is available now as a free download from the App Store.

It’s Official Marc Webb to Direct Spider-Man

Marc Webb, the director of the Golden Globe-nominated Best Picture (500) Days of Summer, will direct the next chapter in the Spider-Man franchise, set to hit theaters summer 2012, it was jointly announced today by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios.

Written by James Vanderbilt, Webb will work closely with producers Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin in developing the project, which will begin production later this year.

Commenting on the announcement, Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures, said, “At its core, Spider-Man is a small, intimate human story about an everyday teenager that takes place in an epic super-human world. The key for us as we sought a new director was to identify filmmakers who could give sharp focus to Peter Parker’s life. We wanted someone who could capture the awe of being in Peter’s shoes so the audience could experience his sense of discovery while giving real heart to the emotion, anxiety, and recklessness of that age and coupling all of that with the adrenaline of Spider-Man’s adventure. We believe Marc Webb is the perfect choice to bring us on that journey.”

2010 Movie Preview

It may be hard to believe, but a brand new year is already upon us. As we bid farewell to 2009, it’s already time to look ahead: what does Hollywood have to offer us in 2010? Rotten Tomatoes created this handy little guide to the most anticipated flicks, the surest box office bets, the movies you’ll be looking back on fondly a year from now.

As usual, the forthcoming year’s slate leans heavily on sequels and remakes. But that’s not a bad thing: such surefire hits as Toy Story 3, Iron Man 2, and the first part of the conclusion to the Harry Potter franchise are all locked and loaded. Getting the reboot treatment are Tron and Nightmare on Elm Street, to name a couple. Plus, the new year promises the latest films from Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, and Michel Gondry, among others.

Everyone’s a Suspect

Clever ad for the Clue game: Soap dispensers in public restrooms are filled with red colored soap, so it looks like you’re washing blood off your hands.

Food Face Kid’s Dinner Plate

Let your kids play with their food and exercise their creativity at the same time! Bring on the mashed potatoes and peas, the Food Face Kid’s Dinner Plate ($13) sure makes meal time fun!

Food Face is mid-sized (9-inch diameter) and crafted from the highest quality, food safe, high fire ceramics. Individually gift boxed with lots of inspirational food art.

New Video Game Releases Jan. 18th – Jan. 23rd

This week might seem a little light, but don’t let the numbers fool you.  Tuesday lets loose with the first title in a steamroller assault of huge and anxiously anticipated AAA games leaking out over the next few weeks.

The must play of the week is definitely Dark Void.  Capcom takes us on a wild jet-pack ride straight to the center of the Bermuda Triangle for a collision course with aliens, robots, Nikola Tesla, and an alterna-history cold war.  It’s got all the elements, so I’m hoping it adds up to something really unique.  I spent a little time with the demo last week and flying around with the jet pack is really awesome.  It conjured up every memory of that summer I spent when I was a kid trying to build a real Rocketeer suit.  Jumping of the roof with mom’s mix-master strapped to my back may not have been the greatest idea back then, but this week I’ll finally live that dream.  Dear Capcom, thank you.

This week’s count: 10 new games.

Monday (Jan. 18)
Glory of Heracles (DS)
Starship Patrol (DS)

Tuesday (Jan. 19)
Dark Void (PC, PS3, 360)
Dark Void Zero (DS)
Fast Food Panic (Wii)
Orb and the Oracle (PC)
Satisfashion (Wii)
Shepherd’s Crossing 2 (DS)
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (PS2, PSP)

Saturday (Jan. 23)
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction (DS)

(Written by Nick Creature)

The 67th Annual Golden Globes Winners

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association presented the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards Sunday night and you can view the winners HERE.

Apple Event Scheduled For January 27th, 2010

Apple just announced an event on January 27th to show off something the company is calling their “latest creation.” The proceedings will take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, and will get underway at 10AM Pacific. Hopefully this will be the tablet announcement we all have been waiting for.  The Fire Wire will report on the event and update you on the next shiny must-have object from Apple.

Cuisinart 7 Quart Stand Mixer

The new Cuisinart 7 Quart Stand Mixer (SM-70) has the power, capacity and precision to handle any mixing job your recipes require.

Housed in durable die-cast metal (color choices are white, stainless and black), this stand mixer features a powerful 1,000-watt motor that can handle the heaviest mixing tasks. Its extra-large, 7-quart, stainless-steel bowl accommodates big batches–even double or triple recipes. The unit also provides 12 mixing speeds, along with a 15-minute countdown timer and automatic shutoff, for maximum precision. Choose the slow-start function to eliminate splatter or the ultra-gentle fold function to carefully blend in delicate ingredients. The mixer’s tilt-back head allows for easy access to the mixing bowl and makes attaching accessories simple.

Accessories include a chef’s whisk, a flat mixing paddle, and a dough hook, as well as a splashguard. The whisk aerates ingredients to increase volume or can also be used on slow speed to gently combine dry ingredients. Contoured to reach the bottom and sides of the bowl, the flat mixing paddle ensures thorough mixing. The dough hook makes hand kneading obsolete, while the splashguard offers an extra-wide pouring spout for easily adding ingredients. The stand mixer also contains three power outlets, including a high-speed outlet for its optional dedicated attachments (meat grinder, citrus juicer, blender, food processor, or pasta maker–all sold separately). The stand mixer measures 15-1/2 by 11 by 14-1/2 inches, carries a three-year product warranty and a five-year motor warranty and retails for $399.

The Cuisinart 7 Quart Stand Mixer is quiet, efficient, beautifully designed and has great features (the fold, slow-start, timer, etc.). The simple fact that the bowl is narrow at the bottom means that I can use it even with smaller recipes. The splatter shield is also very well designed.

Product Features include:

Tilt-back Head
Top Cover
3 Power outlets
7 Quart Stainless Steel Bowl with Handles
Head-lift Release Lever securely locks stand mixer head into raised tilt-back position
On/Off, Fold and Speed Control Dial
12 speeds for precision mixing.
15-Minute Countdown Timer with Auto Shutoff
Chef’s Whisk
Flat Mixing Paddle
Dough Hook
Splashguard with Pour Spout

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Hits DVD and Blu-ray March 20

One of the most talked about films of 2009, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, will be released on a Two-Disc Special Edition DVD and Special Edition Blu-ray on March 20, 2010 – a Saturday street date that will allow for fans across the nation to celebrate at retailer’s midnight release parties before taking home the film at 12:01 a.m.

Already a worldwide literary phenomenon, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, a post modern Romeo and Juliet story filled with action, suspense and the supernatural, took in an estimated $300 million domestic at the theatrical box office and had the third largest opening weekend box office in movie history at $142 million.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Two-Disc Special Edition DVD has a suggested retail price of $32.99, while the Special Edition Blu-ray is set at $34.99. Both are packed with bonus features that are sure to please even the most-hard core fans, including a revealing Audio Commentary with Director Chris Weitz and editor Peter Lambert; a riveting 6-part documentary that takes you behind the scenes; exclusive band rehearsal footage with Muse; and music videos from Death Cab for Cutie, Anya Marina and Mute Math.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning, Michael Sheen and Anna Kendrick. Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Nikki Reed, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone and Kellan Lutz return to their roles in the Cullen family.

Beaba Babycook

The Beaba Babycook is a one-of-a-kind, patented compact countertop appliance that functions as a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster to prepare fresh, healthy meals for baby. It starts by steam cooking vegetables, fruits, and meats in less than 15 minutes, while preserving their vitamins and flavors. It then purees or blends them to the desired consistency. Parents can also use it to quickly reheat or defrost precooked foods. BPA-Safety Tested.

The Babycook includes a 2 1/2-cup plastic bowl, cooking basket, spatula and recipe booklet.

This simple to operate device is a must-have item for the parent that cares about what their infant is eating.  You know what’s in the food because you make it yourself. The bowl and basket are dishwasher safe and the exterior of the machine can be wiped with a damp cloth. You can purchase this exceptional item at Williams-Sonoma for $150 HERE.

L.A.’s Original Farmers Market Cookbook: Meet Me at 3rd and Fairfax

At the L.A. Farmers Market, shoppers can select from the best farm-fresh goods representative of Southern California’s bounty, but the market, a favorite among tourists and locals almost since its 1934 founding, also hosts dozens of small restaurants, bakeries and stalls selling prepared food. In time for the market’s 75th anniversary JoAnn Cianciulli, a food writer and Food Network producer, collects recipes from 48 of these eateries, some that have been around since the market’s beginning or close to it, others more recent and reflective of L.A.’s diverse, ever-changing population. Cianciulli divides the book (258 pages) into four categories (breakfast, sandwiches and light bites, main meals and desserts), with such dishes as La Korea’s Korean-style short ribs, a Middle Eastern falafel sandwich at Moishe’s and Breadworks’ toothsome Hungarian cinnamon loaf. Cianciulli prefaces recipes from each place with a brief history, an introduction to the lively owners and an evocative description of the atmosphere it generates, so reading feels like a walk down the bustling market aisles. Though most of the recipes use ingredients available from the farm stands, the farmers and the ideal of sourcing food locally are not the book’s focal point, which may disappoint some readers. Most, however, will be thrilled to have access to such a wide array of favorite recipes and to help celebrate the long life of this vibrant institution. L.A.’s Original Farmers Market Cookbook: Meet Me at 3rd and Fairfax can be ordered at Amazon HERE for $15.61.

10 Ways You Can Donate to Haitian Earthquake Victims

Thousands are feared dead in Haiti after the massive earthquake that rumbled through Port-au-Prince last Tuesday, but now aid groups are struggling to assist the living. The country, which is the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere, already had a large humanitarian presence, but many workers from the United Nations are missing or feared dead. The country has no electricity or phone service, and hospitals and aid centers have been reduced to rubble.

Now, Americans are wondering what they can do to help. President Obama, in a Wednesday-morning speech, pledged U.S. aid and resources. He also urged Americans to open their wallets to the citizens of Haiti, saying, “This is a time when we are reminded of the common humanity that we all share.” The Center for International Disaster Information recommends financial donations, rather than supplies, as the best way to make a difference. If you’re interested in donating, all of the organizations HERE have pledged relief for Haiti.

Also, in response to this week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti, Apple has begun accepting monetary donations for the American Red Cross directly through iTunes. According to the donation page, 100% of the donation will go to the Red Cross to support emergency relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake. Due to iTunes not sharing user information with the organization, the Red Cross will be unable to further acknowledge any donations made, and an email receipt will serve as the only record of the donation. Donate buttons are available in denominations of $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, and $200; Apple has also posted a direct link to the iTunes donation page on its company homepage at apple.com.

Knowing Darkness: Artists Inspired by Stephen King

Centipede Press just released Knowing Darkness: Artists Inspired by Stephen King, with an original introduction by film director Frank Darabont.

This 448 page oversized hardcover book measures 11 x 15 inches and features over 500 illustrations.  30 pages are double-page foldouts.

In addition to the wealth of previously published artwork, new works of art have been commissioned especially for this book: Michael Whelan leads the way with a magnificent front cover, and a new interior piece illustrating The Dark Tower. The newly commissioned interior pieces include art illustrating “One for the Road” (Stephen Gervais), It (Bob Eggleton), The Shining (Douglas Smith), ‘Salem’s Lot (John Picacio), Hearts in Atlantis (Les Edwards), Duma Key (Don Maitz), “The Lawnmower Man” (Jason Eckhardt), The Tommyknockers (Alex McVey), Black House and Cell (Zach McCain), “Weeds” and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (David Ho), and others.

Shot from the originals or the artist’s original color-corrected computer scans, free of distracting type or design, the artwork in this book is printed on heavy matte paper and varnished for protection. Every artistic medium is represented: scratchboard, oils, watercolors, pencils, collage, photographs, and digital art. The text, written by King critic George Beahm, looks back at 34 years of King in print. It provides a detailed look at the writer and his life, supplemented with interviews with Michael Whelan, Bernie Wrightson, Drew Struzan, John Cayea, Dave Christiansen, and many others.

I have never seen a more lavish production in regards to the eye popping artwork that has filled Stephen King limited and trade edition books. Information on how to order the book can be viewed HERE.  If you are a King collector, this book would be a welcome addition to your library!

Apple Releases MobileMe Gallery App for iPhone and iPod touch

Apple has released its new MobileMe Gallery application for the iPhone and iPod touch. This new application lets MobileMe users access all their galleries, including those that are password protected or hidden albums, view friends’ gallery photos and movies, access previously view photos when offline, share links to albums directly from the iPhone, and also supports flick and pinch-to-zoom gestures. MobileMe Gallery requires a MobileMe account and iPhone OS 3.1 or later, and is available as a free download from the App Store.

Video Games By The Numbers

Something, Something, Something, Dark Side DVD

Something Something Dark Side ($12.99 at Amazon) is a delightfully irreverent parody of The Empire Strikes Back and a strong followup to Blue Harvest. There are a lot of quality Star Wars references and quips which work well but there are also some references to older episodes of the series which may not work with some viewers who are unfamiliar with the show.

Darth Vader (Stewie) is hunting the rebel Luke Skywalker (Chris) and his troops relentlessly across the galaxy. On the ice planet Hoth, Luke has a vision of his late mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi (Herbert), telling him to go to the Dagobah system to learn the ways of the Force under Jedi Master Yoda (Carl). Meanwhile Princess Leia (Lois) finds herself taking a shine to the scruffy pilot Han Solo (Peter) and, against all odds, the two soon fall in love. But an encounter with Han’s old friend Lando Calrissian (Mort) lands them in the clutches of the Empire. Envisioning this, Luke chooses to forgo his Jedi training to save his friends. It all comes to a head in a climactic confrontation with Darth Vader himself…

Whether you are a Star Wars or a Family Guy fan this DVD includes superb animation coupled with Seth MacFarlane’s subversive humor.

Like Blue Harvest, you really have to hand it to these guys for the spot on animation. The ships, the space combat and even the imperial walkers are really well done!

The Family Guy: Something, Something, Something, Darkside  DVD is presented in full screen aspect ratio featuring English 5.1 Dolby Surround, Line 21, English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, English, Spanish, French, and Brazilian stereo and subtitles. Special features include:

● Audio Commentary

● Deleted Scenes

● Behind-The-Scenes Featurette – “The Darkside of Poster Art”

● Animatics

● Pop-Up Video