J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII

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It's official! 

Ubergeek J.J. Abrams is going to be at the helm of the new Star Wars movies. I, for one, am thrilled. As much as I love Muppets, I don't need them mixed up in my Star Wars universe. I want some serious galactic battle and rebel snark that my kids can grow up with and I think Abrams will provide that nicely. Given his credentials with strong-but-sexy female characters, I'm dying to see how the next (kinda) Disney Princess will be portrayed.

Here's the press release, for the full skinny:

J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.

“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” said Kennedy. “J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.”

George Lucas went on to say “I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller.  He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.”

"To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,” J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid."

J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.

Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg.  Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm’s preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.
 

It Can Wait - AT&T Samsung Galaxy III Giveaway

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A few months back, I wrote about AT&T's It Can Wait campaign. Hopefully you've signed the No Text on Board pledge by now but if not, let this be another reminder. We are all busy these days but there is nothing as important as arriving alive. Keep your eyes on the road, people. This video shows texting and driving from a unique perspective: the phone's.


As part of the It Can Wait campaign, I received the care package pictured below, featuring the Samsung Galaxy SIII Android phone, a No Text on Board tee and case, stickers and jelly rings. 

I was tempted by its shiny candy apple red finish but I have to admit, I'm a diehard Apple girl so I passed the phone on to my friend Cindy who is a big Android user so she could give you a more in-depth review:

When the Samsung Galaxy S III landed in my hands, I wasn't shopping for a new phone. I was somewhat satisfied with my third HTC Android phone and particularly uninterested in adapting yet another phone to my specific needs. Getting the hang of a new phone always sounds like an easy, fun, worthwhile process until you get far enough into the transition that it's too late to turn back. Kind of like having additional children.


The first glimpse of a shiny red phone with a crisp, bright display had me hooked. I use my phone to take a lot of photos of my kids and dogs to share on a variety of social sites. I was surprised to find the flash on the Galaxy S III actually makes for better photos rather than washing out the subject with too much light. I used to rely on apps to clean up my photos but I don't need that anymore. Another surprise was the lack of shutter lag. Now the photo I end up with the one I expect to see. I am still getting used to the 4:3 aspect ratio which is quite different from 16:9 on my previous phone.


My fears about setting up the phone to suit my needs were quickly allayed. Once I signed in with my Google account, my apps started downloading and my contacts were accessible. It's no longer a struggle with getting Facebook events to show up on my calendar. Adding my work email was also a breeze. I still have loads of features to explore. Since I have my phone with me everywhere and the battery holds up amazingly well, I have abundant opportunities to play with the options and learn how to make everyday tasks easier. Most recently I figured out how to capture a screen shot. You swipe across the screen with the side of your hand. It's quite clever and not the clumsy process other Android phones use.


Would I be open to upgrading to a new phone now? Unlikely! The Galaxy S III is perfect for my needs, looks sharp, and holds up well.

I have to admit when I saw her photos start popping up on FB, Twitter and Instagram, I was impressed. The clarity and color of the images are really nice. It made me want the new Samsung Galaxy camera!

Anyway, AT&T has generously offered to give one of my readers the same package. Enter to win using the form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am an AT&T customer and received the items pictured for review purposes. No compensation was provided for this post. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

Sneak Peek: The Lone Ranger Preview and Game Day Sweepstakes

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See the full 90 second preview during Sunday's pregame show! Yes, I know, it's a preview of a preview. But it looks super cool, doesn't it?!

In conjunction with the release of the new footage, Disney will hold a sweepstakes that offers participants a chance to win prizes provided by SUBWAY® restaurants and Kawasaki.

To participate in The Lone Ranger “Who Will You Ride With on Game Day” Sweepstakes* and get a chance to win prizes for “You and Your Kemosabe,” tune in and follow @LoneRanger on Twitter. For a chance to win, after the sneak peek airs answer trivia questions about the spot correctly and use #LONERANGER in the reply. All correct entries will be entered in a blind drawing for a chance to win a prize pack, such as Kawasaki helmets, SUBWAY® gift cards, and more. Each prize pack includes two prizes, one each for “You and Your Kemosabe.” The sweepstakes will end February 4, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. PST. For official rules: https://www.facebook.com/notes/the-lone-ranger/the-lone-ranger-who-will-you-ride-with-on-game-day-sweepstakes-rules/10151431178693373.


The Lone Ranger hits screens on July 3rd.
“Like” THE LONE RANGER on Facebook: www.facebook.com/theloneranger
"Follow" THE LONE RANGER on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneypictures  

M·A·C Archie’s Girls Collection

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I love M·A·C. Ever since I bought my first tube of Russian Red, I've been hooked. I love their surly makeup divas, their impossibly glamorous products and their kooky collaborations. Their new collection, M·A·C Archie’s Girls, is the cutest thing I've seen in ages. I've been a huge fan of Archie comics since I was little and - as if you couldn't guess - I was always firmly Team Veronica. So much so that I even named my first child Veronica Roo. True story.


Anyway, the whole collection is super adorable. The online-only white patent cosmetic bags and heart accessories remind me of vintage Ponytail gear and the actual makeup packaging is stellar. Love the cotton candy pinks and corals of Betty:

Of course, I'd be much more likely to wear the drop-dead reds and wines of Veronica:

Spend $75 or more on any online order and receive an exclusive M·A·C Archie’s Girls pin, while supplies last, no offer code necessary.


These would make an excellent Valentine's Day gift. For me!

Find Your Way to Oz

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You won’t need magical powers to take a journey down the Yellow Brick Road; just point your favorite browser to the latest Chrome Experiment, “Find Your Way to Oz.” Developed in collaboration with Disney and UNIT9 in anticipation of the upcoming film, Oz The Great and Powerful, this experiment takes you through a dusty Kansas circus and leads to a vibrant land, following in the footsteps of the Wizard himself.

Warning: If your computer is old and crotchety like mine, you might not be able to participate in the interactive environment. I got an error message saying I lacked a graphics card, which is not something I usually expect from an iMac. It made me sad, especially when I saw the walkthrough demo, which is beyond cool.



Like any good circus, there’s plenty to keep you entertained: compose your own music, play with a fun photo booth and create your own movie with a zoetrope. The path to Oz also involves confronting an ominous tornado; surviving it completes the journey, enabling fans of the movie to watch an exclusive unreleased clip from the film.  

Chrome Experiments like “Find Your Way to Oz” would have been impossible a few years ago. Since that time, the web has evolved and allowed developers and designers to create immersive beautiful experiences. For “Find Your Way to Oz” the 3D environment was built entirely with new technologies such as WebGL and CSS3. It’s enhanced by rich audio effects thanks to the Web Audio Application Programming Interface (API). The photo booth and zoetrope were built using the getUserMedia feature of WebRTC, which grants webpages access to your computer’s camera and microphone (with your permission).

For the best experience, you’ll need to use an up-to-date computer built to handle intense graphics. It also works best with a webcam and a modern browser that supports WebGL and WebRTC, like Chrome. The experience also works best on For tablet or smartphone users, we have a smaller scale yet equally enjoyable experience that you can try with the latest Chrome browser on your Android device, iPhone or iPad.

If you want to learn more, or run away and join the developer circus, you can get an explanation of the technologies used on the Chromium blog or in Google’s technical case study.

Start your journey towards the yellow brick road at www.findyourwaytooz.com.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am posting this information (largely replicated from a Disney Pictures press release) simply because I think the movie looks cool and this program is nifty. I also live in Kansas, so I have more than a passing interest in things Oz-related. No compensation was provided for this post. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

Mrs. Prindable's Gourmet Jumbo Caramel Apples

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Take a peek at the highlights from a MomImpact (my company) blogger tour at Mrs. Prindable's. The factory is located just outside of Chicago in Niles, in the same facility that produces Affy Tapple taffy apples. However, Mrs. Prindable's features its own production line and a more labor-intensive process. Each hand-dipped is apple is an individual work of edible art. With layers of caramel and chocolate smothering a ginormous, tart apple, Mrs. Prindable's apples are delicious treats that can be shared with up to ten people.
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Hershey's Milk Chocolate Drops

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At first glimpse, we thought Hershey's came out with an M&M wannabe snack. In reality, these drops are about twice the size of M&M's without the colorful coatings. According to the packaging, there is no candy shell, but rather a "light shiny finish" that keep them from melting in your hands.The melt occurs much more quickly than with M&Ms resulting in immediately chocolate satisfaction. The sweet taste is similar to a Hershey's Kiss.
My .6 oz sample pack had 5 large drops, but from a psychological standpoint, 10 M&Ms might feel like a more satisfying indulgence.