Tom Green Special ~ Yuk Yuk's Ottawa ~ June 13 ~ 15~!!

TOM GREEN SPECIAL

Yuk Yuk's On Elgin / 292 Elgin St.

Thu Jun 13 / 7:30pm

Fri Jun 14 & Sat Jun 15 / 7:30 & 9:30pm

Tickets $35.40 plus tax

For Information Or Reservations Call 613-236-5233

SPOTLIGHT: Mark Poolos ~ Unbridled Enthusiasm Comedy Album

Mark Poolos ~ Unbridled Enthusiasm

Mark Poolos was born and raised in Edina, MI.  To start his career he co~starred in two independent films, "Attack of the Killer Snow Cone Zombies" and "Joanie Loves Furbies".  

After his final performances in those two films there wasn't a person who didn't know his name.  He did more films, some commercials and some theater but it wasn't enough.

Mark needed instant connection.  So, he began his stand~up comedy career.

In Marks comedy routine he melds observational humour, one~liners, family humour and homorous original songs with guitar accompaniment together, to create his own unique style of comedy.

He has been compared to the likes of Adam Sandler and Louie Anderson.

Mark is a true road dog, performing in over 40 states including Nevada, California and New York.  

Mark hopes to do a film in the future people have actually seen.

Check out Mark Poolos Website~!!

Find him on Twitter~!!

Grab a copy of Unbridled Enthusiasm

SPOTLIGHT ~ Don Friesen's Comedy Album "Ask Your Mom"

Don Friesen's new comedy album, "Ask Your Mom".  Friesen is a rarity ~ hilarious and clean.  100% of the album is FCC friendly.  The release of "Ask Your Mom" coincides with the debut of Friesen's new special on Showtime, which airs June 22.

Fresh, frenetic, and self~deprecating to a fault, Don Friesen's comedy is outrageously physical yet thoroughly relatable.  Don's willingness to admit his flaws and exploit them for maximum comedic potential has a way of not only entertaining, but at the same time tapping into the humanity in all of us.  It's a uniquely fun, clever, and clean act with an incredibly broad appeal ~ an act that has earned him rave reviews and die~hard fans throughout the country.

Don Friesen: Ask Your Mom

BOOK REVIEW: I Didn't Ask To Be Born by Bill Cosby

I Didn't Ask To Be Born (But I'm Glad I Was) is a Literary Comedic look on life by Comedian, Bill Cosby.

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Center Street (Nov 1 2011)
• Language: English

In this hilarious collection of observations, Cosby brings us more of his wonderful and wacky insights into the human condition that are sure to become classics. In the tradition of Fat Albert, I DIDN'T ASK TO BE BORN offers a host of new characters, including Peanut Armhouse and Old Mother Harold. Not since Mushmouth, Dumb Donald, Bucky and the Cosby Kids has there been such a memorable cast.

Over the past century few entertainers have achieved the legendary status of William H. Cosby Jr. His success spans five decades and virtually all media-remarkable accomplishments for a kid who emerged from humble beginnings in a Philly housing project.

In the tradition of his bestselling books, Fatherhood and Cosbyology, the doctor of comedy holds forth on everything from first love to the Bible. Bill Cosby may not have asked to be born, but we're sure glad he was.

I loved the wit and humour shared within these pages and found my giggling over some of the thoughts and antics of Mr. Cosby.  This book delivers the same punch at jokes as only Bill Cosby can deliver.  I loved his viewpoints on God and death and found myself chuckling over his thoughts more than once.

His veiws on fatherhood and the discipline of his children was shared in such a manner that anyone can relate to his anecdotes.  The story about Peanut Armhouse was a very strange tale but worthy of the read, like Mr. Cosby, to this day I wonder whatever happened to Peanut.

Each of the stories shared from his past are down with great visual representation and you can feel yourself traveling along his trip down memory lane.

I thought this was a very decent read and would give it a four out of five stars.  I would've liked to have seen more comic approach in his words but I was delighted with what was shared nonetheless.  And as always, Bill Cosby gets the last word and you'll need to read more to find out why.

  "Reviewed by me...as I see it~!!"

BOOK REVIEW: Donations To Clarity by Noah Baird

Donations To Clarity is a Fiction Comedy.

The U.S. Government has a plan.  They want to naturalize the mythical creatures such as Bigfoot, little green men, Loch Ness etc. However, they need to make a smooth transition, afterall, you couldn't have them make their appearance during Super Bowl Sunday without any kind of forewarning to the zombies, er, people in society.  Using hoaxes and subterfuge they work to make the transgression as easy as possible.

Three hapless characters, Earl, Patch and Harry, are unwittingly drawn into the government scheme when they are approached by three MIB's and asked to plant fake Bigfoot material in the woods around their town.  The three, believing they are about to make a fortune, agree.  At first they plant foot prints and the like but become bored with the procedure and decide to buy themselves a Chewbaca costume, open a Bigfoot Sighting Tour company and play on the fears and hopes of the populace.

At first their plan seems successful until Ian King, in his third year of graduate work at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, turns up missing.  Now, Police Chief, Flan Paan, who believes he is the reincarnation of Elvis; he also dresses, walks and talks in Elvis song prose and Deputy O'Boogie, a dope smoking, Julian Lennon wanna be, are on the case.  Investigating the disappearance of Ian, they run into something strange things in the woods, from Chief Paan being shot to Earl being kidnapped by Bigfoot to be Bigfoot's love slave, the antics are a wild ride of crazy adventure as all the characters rush to their roller-coaster conclusion.

I thought this was an intelligently written piece of literature.  I loved the wit and the comedic sense that was shared with the reader.  When Earl first met Bigfoot, there were tears rolling down my face from laughter and it was hard to continue reading in such a manner.  I was tad disappointed that the hilarity did not continue, my imagination took me to another outcome and I had to put the book down for a few moments to collect myself.

I enjoyed the back stories and the secondary characters and thought they worked well with the plot.  I thought Bigfoot was hilariously written though its no wonder the poor thing has troubles with women, he totally has it wrong or else is hanging out with the wrong women. 

I loved the insane asylum chapters and enjoyed reading about Ted Carp and all his persona's, he was well placed in the book in order to bring about the end results.  I thought the pieces on Elvis was perfect, being a conspiracy theorist I could totally imagine the narrative shared as being believable to the story. 

I didn't mind there being a lot of "guy" humour dispersed throughout, it was not offensive to myself anyhow, and thought it was fitting of the characters as they were written.  If you are offended by profanity and vulgar antics, then you may wish to steer away from this one, however, it's not written in an offensive way whatsoever.

I would give Donations To Clarity a four out of five stars.  While I enjoyed the read, I felt there could have been more zany and more crazy, I wanted it to keep me laughing to the very end and found it came in spurts.  When author Noah Baird is on, you will fly through the witty, captivating passages until he allows you to leave, however, I wish there had been more of it.  Great read and highly recommend if you enjoy the offbeat.

SYNOPSIS:
The plan was simple: hoax bigfoot, then sell tours to bigfoot enthusiasts. The plan wasn’t brilliant, and neither were Harry, Earl, and Patch. The three chemical-abusing friends only wanted to avoid the 9 to 5 rat race, but their antics attract the attention of a real bigfoot. When the misogynistic Earl is mistaken for a female bigfoot by the nearsighted creature and captured; it is just the beginning of their problems. The U.S. Government has a plan to naturalize the mythical creatures living within the U.S. borders. The problem is the plan needs to be carried out carefully. You can’t just drop little green men and Sasquatch in the middle of Walmart without warning Ma and Pa Taxpayer. The naturalization program is not ready to be set into motion, and the rogue bigfoot is bringing too much attention to itself, including a feisty investigative reporter who uncovers the truth of the government conspiracy and two bigfoot researchers. No longer able to contain the situation, government agents are tasked with eliminating the bigfoot and all witnesses. Between bong hits and water balloon fights, Harry and Patch come up with a plan to save Earl and the lovestruck bigfoot. Where do you hide a giant, mythical creature? In an insane asylum, because who is going to listen to them? Along the way, the three friends learn Star Wars was a government training film for children, the truth behind Elvis meeting President Nixon, and the significance of the weight of the human turd.

 

 ** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **

SPOTLIGHT - Noah Baird author of Donations To Clarity

Join Noah Baird, author of the humor book, Donations to Clarity (South Wind Publishing), as he virtually tours the blogosphere November 1 – December 16 2011 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

About the Book...
The plan was simple: hoax bigfoot, then sell tours to bigfoot enthusiasts. The plan wasn’t brilliant, and neither were Harry, Earl, and Patch. The three chemical-abusing friends only wanted to avoid the 9 to 5 rat race, but their antics attract the attention of a real bigfoot. When the misogynistic Earl is mistaken for a female bigfoot by the nearsighted creature and captured; it is just the beginning of their problems.

The U.S. Government has a plan to naturalize the mythical creatures living within the U.S. borders.  The problem is the plan needs to be carried out carefully.  You can’t just drop little green men and Sasquatch in the middle of Walmart without warning Ma and Pa Taxpayer. The naturalization program is not ready to be set into motion, and the rogue bigfoot is bringing too much attention to itself, including a feisty investigative reporter who uncovers the truth of the government conspiracy and two bigfoot researchers. No longer able to contain the situation, government agents are tasked with eliminating the bigfoot and all witnesses.

Between bong hits and water balloon fights, Harry and Patch come up with a plan to save Earl and the lovestruck bigfoot. Where do you hide a giant, mythical creature? In an insane asylum, because who is going to listen to them?

Along the way, the three friends learn Star Wars was a government training film for children, the truth behind Elvis meeting President Nixon, and the significance of the weight of the human turd.

About the Author...
Noah Baird wanted to attend the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, but his grades weren’t good enough (who knew?).  However, his grades were good enough to fly for the U.S. Navy (again, who knew?), where he spent 14 years until the government figured out surfers don’t make the best military aviators. He has also tried to be a stand-up comedian in Hawaii for Japanese tourists where the language barrier really screwed up some great jokes. On the bright side, a sailboat was named after the punchline of one of his jokes.

He has several political satire pieces published on The Spoof under the pen name orioncrew.  Noah received his bachelors in Historical and Political Sciences from Chaminade University, where he graduated magna cum laude. He knows nothing about hoaxing Bigfoot. Donations to Clarity is his first novel.

You can visit his website at www.noahbaird.com 

Noah Baird's blog at www.noahbaird.wordpress.com.

Connect with him at Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Noah-Baird-Writer/100193913390453

In Noah's Own Words...

The Joys of Lying to Children
By Noah Baird

I am a bad parent. I lie to my children.

I lie to my children nearly everyday. I’ve told them lies, they have repeated my lies in school, and I get phone calls from stern-sounding teachers wanting to discuss their concerns about my fibbing children. That was another lie; my ex-wife gets phone calls from the teachers. Then I get the talk.

I once told my son, who was attending preschool at a Presbyterian church, the reason we celebrated the Easter Bunny was because when Jesus died and was buried in a cave, an egg-shaped rock was placed in front of the cave so Jesus couldn’t get out. The Easter Bunny pushed the rock away from the cave and saved J.C. The chocolate symbolizes the wood of the crucifixion.

We got a very nice phone call from the school to discuss what I’m teaching the children.

Sometimes I lie because my children ask far too many questions for their size. I have two little boys, 4 and 7, who are bubbling fountains of questions. Sometimes I lie because I don’t know the correct answer, but usually I lie because it’s a lot more fun.

One day while shaving, flanked by both boys quizzing me on my shaving ritual, my oldest asked me, “Dad, why do you grow hair all over your body and mommy doesn’t?” I crouched down to their level, looked them both in the eyes, and very seriously explained to them I was a werewolf. I had to shave because some people are afraid of werewolves, and I didn’t want to scare them. I watched as their eyes grew big. They both nodded obediently when I explained this was a big secret and they shouldn’t tell people I was a werewolf.

Here are the facts as I described them:

• 
  My hair is brown when I’m a werewolf (they asked).
  
• 
  I don’t transform in front of them because I’m afraid it would scare them.
  
• 
  I won’t eat the dog.
  
• 
  I became a werewolf when I was bitten by a werewolf when I was a boy. That makes me a 2nd Generation Werewolf.
  
• 
  They may also be werewolves, but they usually won’t show until they are teenagers. They would only be half werewolf because their mother doesn’t like this werewolf business. That would make them 3rd Generation Werewolves.
  
• 
  They may show signs early. I instructed them to check their feet when they woke up after a full moon. If their feet were dirty, then they were out howling at the moon.
  
  At this point, the reader should expect a story about frightened children who could not sleep; afraid of the werewolf dad prowling around in the dark. My lie had the opposite effect: it stopped the bad dreams, monsters in the closet, and moving shadows on the wall. I hadn’t made the connection until I overheard the boys playing. My oldest, speaking as the elder statesman of the two, wished the boogyman would break into our house so they could watch me transform into a werewolf and scare him away. My youngest speculated I would only need to show the boogyman my claws and roar, and the boogyman would never scare another kid again.
  
  My double life as a werewolf has been the answer to numerous pre-pubescent concerns. Vampires? Werewolves and vampires don’t bite each other’s children because we are equally strong. A vampire attacking a werewolf’s pups would be inviting an attack on their children. Peace is maintained through equal power; the Cold War with fangs. Zombies? Werewolves don’t taste good to zombies so they stay away from us. Of course, no self-respecting werewolf would ever eat a zombie. That’s just disgusting.
  
  My oldest is now at the stage where he’s excessively fascinated with guns, war, and all about my military experience. Enter the werewolf; I fought in the Great Werewolf-Zombie War. Werewolves and Vampires rounded up all of the zombies and locked them into underground bunkers (because you can’t kill zombies. Duh!). You try to explain the U.S.’s foreign policy in the 21st century to a four year old. There are people running for president who can’t explain why we’re in Libya.
  At dinner one night, my oldest gravely told me his teacher had explained to his class that dragons weren’t real. The child was upset with the thought that dragons didn’t exist in his world. So, like any bad parent would do: I moved dinner into the living room, and streamed a documentary on Komodo Dragons. Now, in case you don’t know, Komodo Dragons don’t breath fire, but they do have pretty nasty mouths which might as well be venomous. We couldn’t find a documentary on fire-breathing dragons because they’re hard to film. They keep melting the cameras. Armed with new knowledge, my son happily marched into school the next day and informed his teacher dragons do exist.
  My question to the well-meaning adults out there: Why are your lies better than my lies? Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy are permissible lies because they fall into an agreeable construct we’ve all accepted? Open the imagination box wide. Better yet, kick the lid clean off. Let the kids have their imagination. It just might do you some good too.
  **Great post Noah...thank you for sharing your wit...well, er, maybe it could be better put as insanity...but hey, what's in a word?  However, you need to correct your son's information...it could mean life or death one day...but Zombies can too be killed, I am prepared to share my wondrous tale...you HAVE to hit the AMYGDALA in order to stop the Hypothalamus from feeding the Thalamus...or else you'll just have snapping heads without any bodies attached...chaos and frenzy would ensue...so, remember...it's NOT the brain you must sever...it is what lies UNDERNEATH that gooey gory mass~!!  WHEW...glad I was able to enlighten you...I hang out with a LOT of zombies...heh heh~!!  
  And parents, PLEASE stop telling your children there is a Santa Claus...Virginia was wasn't telling the whole truth~!!  Stop the lies...start at home~!!  :P
  
  We, here at The Marsh, wish you a spectandacular ride on the literary train...feed them brains Noah~!!**
  
  
  
  

10 Old Movies to Make You Laugh

With the booming entertainment business, movies come and go in the theaters in just a matter of weeks. We have somewhat lost the value of a good-quality movie in the wake of special effects, digitization, and 3D. Here is a list of old movies that will not only bring a smile to your face and a laugh to your lips, but are movies that you can truly appreciate for their classic cinematic value.

1. The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. Don Knotts, anyone? This hilarious film made in 1966 follows a classically clumsy small-town news reporter as he unravels a local mystery. (And finds a bit of romance along the way. Who can resist those charmingly skinny arms?)
2. White Christmas. Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney (yes, George Clooney's aunt), and Danny Kaye star in this Christmas classic. But don't be fooled by it's holiday-focused name. The movie is full of other fun moments, mostly brought on by the comical stylings of Danny Kaye.
3. It's a Wonderful Life. Jimmy Stuart steals the show as the self-centered George Bailey who is forced to learn how to be grateful for the things he has in life. Nothing will make you chuckle so much as when his love interest, played by Donna Reed, finds her self caught in the bushes wearing only her birthday suit.
4. My Fair Lady. Even though Audrey Hepburn had to get a singing double for this film, you can't deny that her cockney accent is entertaining, as are her superficial mistakes in trying to fit her street-wise personality in with the upper class.
5. Glass Bottom Boat. There's nothing like a sarcastic Doris Day movie to give you a good chuckle. In this screwball comedy, Doris plays a “mermaid” who gets up to all sorts of mischief when she meets the handsome millionaire, Bruce Templeton.
6. Gidget. In this little flick you will find the epitome of 1950s beach movies. Sandra Dee stars as a tomboy who learns the fine art of capturing beach bum college men, especially one named Moondoggie (played by James Darren). Follow Gidg as she learns how to be a “real woman” of the 50s.
7. Singin' in the Rain. Enjoy Debbie Reynolds' singing and dancing debut in this fast-paced comedy about how to make it in show biz. “Make 'em Laugh” is a bit of an overdone gag, but other classics like “Moses Supposes” will get their snappy tunes stuck in your head for days.
8. What's Up Doc?. Made in 1972, Barbara Streisand tears up the screen as a quirky runaway that always seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Your gut will need a laughing break by the end of watching her on-screen shenanigans.
9. The Scarlet Pimpernel. If you haven't seen this movie yet, you are missing out on a world of fun! Anthony Andrews plays a divine Sir Percy Blakeney, a rich, overly dramatic fop of society who secretly disguises himself in various costumes to help prisoners of the French Revolution escape Madame Guillotine.
10. Thoroughly Modern Millie. Taking a very different role from that of a nun, Julie Andrews stars as a “modern” of the flapper era, complete with bobbed hair and rouged knees. Mary Tyler More plays the perfect ditzy heiress as become entangled with a group of white slave traders.

About the Author Tiffani Azani is a freelance writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps students find an online school that can help them earn a college degree and be prepared to work in any of the top careers available on the job market today.

Spotlight - Artemis Hunt author of The Body Snatcher Wears Lipstick

About the Book...

The Body Snatcher Wears Lipstick
By Artemis Hunt
Genre: Romantic Comedy with Paranormal Elements

SYNOPSIS:
Abby Watson is about to move in with the man of her dreams. Too bad the body she wears isn't hers.

Abby Watson's life is an airtight box of a dead-end job, a skinflint boss, and a best 'frenemy' who thinks Abby has the fashion sense of a tubeworm. When a lab experiment at work blows up in Abby's face, she develops the ability to jump into other people's bodies. Suddenly it's goodbye frump, hellooooo . . . anyBODY gorgeous.

Abby's leaping into the bodies of heiresses, her best 'frenemy', anyone who has ever been mean to her in high school, her scrooge boss, and even the President of the United States (!).

When a chance encounter with the Ferrari of her childhood idol -- stunning movie A-lister, Jake Carradoc -- leaves one of her beautiful bodies in the hospital, Abby feigns amnesia . . . then a spot in Jake's home as his indefinite 'houseguest'.

But Abby's real body is dying in her soul's absence. What must she do to get and keep Jake, the only man she's ever loved with all of somebody else's heart?

Get it at: Amazon and Smashwords

About the Author...

Artemis Hunt has a husband who thinks all fiction is nonsense and all writers of fiction should get their heads checked for situational delusions. At any one time, they have 16 to 20 dogs, many of suspicious virtue.

Artemis frequently wishes she has telekinesis, so she doesn't have to lift a finger to change the room temperature. She's constantly glued to her computer, which serves as her gateway to her friends, books, movies, TV serials and sometimes husband, even though they're sitting on the same bed two feet apart.

Artemis writes under the name of A.R. Hunt for the adult thriller and suspense genre.

BOOKS BY ARTEMIS HUNT
The Body Snatcher Wears Lipstick
The Hunt for the Catalyst (Ether World Chronicles)
Snow White and the Alien
The Ether World Chronicles: Beginnings

Books by A.R.HUNT
Psychotic

WEB LINKS:
http://artemishunt.blogspot.com/
www.artemishunt.org
Twitter handle: @ArtemisHunt1

Read the Excerpt...

I‟m on Cloud Platinum.

Jake Carradoc is beside me, driving his red Ferrari 599 GTB (personalized and customized) – the very Ferrari which floored me into procuring the very litigious medical diagnosis of retrograde amnesia – and we are cruising to his home in Beverly Hills where I‟m going to live!

That‟s right.

I‟ll be staying with Jake Carradoc (!) until such time I recover my memories and decide I want to go back to my life. He has very kindly offered me food, shelter, money, and his complete hospitality until I get my memories back, or if someone with a similar backpack from a rat-infested, one-star „the bar soap on the grimy sink is as thin as an insurance agent‟s promise‟ motel ultimately claims me.

This is so incredible I have to literally cradle my bladder from shooting out a squirt of excited pee every time we navigate a bump.

Jake, of course, completely believes I have severe amnesia.

“We‟re. Now. Going. To. My. House,” he says slowly, enunciating every syllable just in case I‟ve forgotten the specifics of English grammar. “Do. You. Remember. What. A. House. Is?”

Since leaving the hospital, we have conversed no more than three very prolonged sentences in this manner.
“How. Are. You. Feeling. Today?”

“This. Is. My. Car. This. Is. The. Key. That. Unlocks. My. Car.”

“This. Is. A. Seatbelt.”

I‟m going to let Jake continue to think I have complete amnesia, but not so severe we‟d have to descend to smoke signals to get communication across.

“I remember what a house is,” I tell him. “I remember the meaning of words, and grammar, and what things are. I just don‟t remember specifics. Like where my house is. Or my street address.”

I‟m tempted to add it‟s just like Samantha Who, except I remember I‟m not supposed to remember who Samantha Who is.

“That‟s great.” He is visibly relieved. For a long-accused-to-be-monosyllabic actor, he doesn‟t like monosyllables.

He gives me a sidelong glance. “Do you know who I am?”

This is the time to decide once and for all how much of a sham I want this to be.

In Artemis' Own Words...

I started indie publishing exactly 2 months, 2 weeks ago. It has not been an easy journey for me, because my husband basically doesn't like me to write as I tend to get so absorbed in it. My writing has been the bone of contention between us for years, almost culminating in near-divorces. But I can't help it, I HAVE to write.

I find it strange, because the stories I write have so much hope in them, and love . . . when I find that the more successful an author I am, the worse my personal life becomes.

Since starting 10 weeks ago, I have sold almost 1800 works under my 3 pen names, either books or short stories. I am told that's really quite good in the publishing world. 2 of those works have hit the Top 50 Bestsellers in Bookstrand. 7 of those works have hit the All Romance Ebooks bestseller lists, and I'm proud to say that this includes THE BODY SNATCHER WEARS LIPSTICK.

I'm even more proud to say that to date, everyone who has read it loved it. Good reviews mean as much to me as sales, because it means I have touched someone's heart out there.

So . . . onward to writing. I shall journey on, like my characters, and weather whatever it is my personal life throws on me. And that in an essence is why we read books - to believe that we too can triumph no matter what adversity we encounter.

Artemis Hunt

**  Thank you most kindly for stopping on by The Marsh and sharing your thoughts with us all~!!  I wouldn't worry to much about hubby...he'll come around whence you are a superstar...hehe  We wish you all the best in success Artemis...may your star shine~!!  **

Puss in Boots - Another Remake Worth Watching

Late seventeenth century French writer, Charles Perrault wrote the story Master Cat a/k/a The Booted Cat which in turn became popularly called Puss in Boots. 

It is the story of a deceitful cat that creates diversions and deception to advance his impoverished master's life into a world of prosperity as well as marriage to the land's princess. It is a celebrated tale that has been re-told in many different languages throughout many different cultures. It has not only been entertaining to children worldwide but inspired a slew of artists including composers, musicians, painters and choreographers throughout its existence. 

Recently, the story was released as a 3D computer animated film version by the company DreamWorks as a prequel to the highly successful Shrek 2 which was released in 2004. It stars the voices of Billy Bob Thornton, Salma Hayek, Amy Sedaris, Zach Galifianakis and Antonio Banderas as the cat. It is directed by Chris Miller director of Shrek 3.

A Good Crack at a New Theme
Puss in Boots offers a refreshing diversion from the Shrek franchise that comes in at a total of four movies. This prequel is in 3D that is well executed and raises the bar on some other not so technologically advanced animated 3D genres as of late. It uses the age old story of Puss in Boots as a template for a remade plot that incorporates the stories of Jack and Jill, Jack in the Beanstalk, Humpty Dumpty and The Golden Goose.

The story is fast moving, humorous and clever with enough action to keep tiny eyes widened and adults pleasantly delighted. It steers away from over-the-top inside joke ridiculousness that seems to be a running theme for the past several years and especially accommodates the large constituency of Spanish speaking families due to Mr. Banderas' charming, Mediterranean wit. It takes place in what seems like a cross between districts of Spain and Mexico with sprawling, picturesque imagery that is not only visually impressive but full of color and detail. The characters are repulsively likeable as well as heroically intriguing allowing the audience to cheer for the struggle toward good vs. evil with an all-in-good-fun attitude.

The story involves Puss overwhelming and stopping the evil outlaws, Jack and Jill by taking magic beans in which they stole. He uses the seeds to grow the beanstalk and obtain the Golden Goose. This takes them to yet another impressive backdrop of a vibrant, paradise only to come face to face with The Terror which guards the Golden Goose. After much finagling they take the goose but the Terror (really the Goose's mother) follows them to the town. Puss and his girl friend Kitty Softpaws fight off The Terror and save the town. Sequel scenarios run through the last minutes of the film indicating what is on the horizon as a potential, blockbusting, spinoff, franchise.

Overall, Puss in Boots is an enchanting tale with a modern twist. The soundtrack and choreography add to the story with plenty of laughs to go around.

 About the Author: Matt T. knows how tough it can be to find good movies for the kids (and family) to watch. When he's not keeping his children entertained he can be found writing about writing career guides and helping friends use a local temp staffing service to find new work.

Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer Slumber Party ~ PART 2

Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer Slumber Party~!!

Movie Details:

• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Relativity Media
• DVD Release Date: October 11, 2011
• Run Time: 91 minutes

SYNOPSIS:
Get ready to score extra thrill points and mega-laughs with this irresistible family comedy based on the best-selling book series! Feisty, fearless Judy Moody is looking forward to the most super-duper, double-rare summer vacation ever. The trouble is, her parents are called out of town and her BFFs are going away with their own families. That leaves Judy trapped at home with her pesky brother Stink under the watchful eye of Aunt Opal (Heather Graham). But with a little playful planning - and a lot of imagination - Judy turns a snoresville summer into the way-not-boring adventure of a lifetime!

Present Time~!!

My daughter was hostess to her VERY own Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer Slumber Party.  She had 12 friends stop by and share in her delight~!!  We laughed, we danced and we played loads of games and when it was time to get quiet and settle down, the popcorn was made and the television fired up for an hour and a half of fun and hilarity as we engrossed ourselves with Judy Moody and her wild and crazy antics!!

It JUST happened to correspond with her 8th burfing day and she was THRILLED to have such a memorable event happening~!!

Judy Moody Peace~!!

The kids LOVED the movie and laughed their heads off at all the jocularity that was to be found...in their opinion, the movie was a HUGE hit~!!

 We had a "talent show" in which everyone was awarded points for their crazy actions...just like in the Judy Moody movie.  We figured, those who were shy didn't necessarily have to perform and no one was excluded.  Then all the points were added up and the winner declared.  It was a HUGE success as each of the were trying to outdo the other, even the shy kids took part...YEEEAAA~!!  We love bringing folks out of their comfort zones~!!  :D

As each of the children dropped off to slumber, tired from their Judy Moody event, we were rewarded with smiles upon their wee faces.

Thank you to EVERYONE over at Think Jam, especially Marcela...my daughter gives her the BIGGEST THANK YOU for making her day totally groovy~!!

Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer

** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **

Spotlight - Jason Krumbine author of The Dead Couple

Join Jason Krumbine, author of The Grym Brothers Series, Two and a Half Dead Men, The Dead Couple and Better off Dead (One Stray Word Books), as he virtually tours the blogosphere November 1 – 23 2011 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

 

 About the Book...

Jack and Cindy were a happily married couple. She was an elementary school teacher. He was an aspiring children’s book author. They had the perfect life together, until the day they decided to kill themselves.

Suicides, by their very nature, tend to head directly into the afterlife.

Jack and Cindy’s souls never arrived.

Grim Reapers are real. They are governed by the Council of Reapers. Reapers are responsible for the capture and containment of dead souls that refuse to or cannot move on to the afterlife.

Thane and Mort Grym are two such reapers.

You can visit his website at www.jasonkrumbine.com.

 About the Author...

Jason Krumbine is the author behind the pulse pounding, wisecracking Alex Cheradon Series, the dead soul hunting Grym Brothers Series (including Two and a Half Dead Men, The Dead Couple and Better Off Dead), and the tongue-in-cheek paranormal romance “A Graveyard Romance.”

You can visit his website at www.jasonkrumbine.com or visit him at Twitter at www.twitter.com/jasonkrumbine and Facebook at www.facebook.com/jmkwriter.

You can also email him at onestrayword@gmail.com.

In Jason's Own Words...

Dealing with Death

By Jason Krumbine

My Dad died two years ago and since then it’s been something that’s been lurking in the back of my mind. Death. Specifically, how we deal with it.

There are no real guidelines for dealing with death. I mean, everyone’s different so therefore everyone’s going to deal with it differently, right?

I spent five years as a 911 dispatcher. I had all sorts of 911 calls, from the suicidal to the infant drowning in the pool. You might say I became a bit desensitized to tragedy. Actually, even before I worked in 911 I had a certain sense of black humor that not many people appreciated. Because of this I always wondered how I would deal with the death of a loved one. Unfortunately, the death of my father gave me the opportunity to find out.

Turned out I wasn’t quite the heartless bastard I thought I was. Okay, so maybe I’m being a little hard on myself. True, when I heard my dad was dead the first thing I did was make a joke. I didn’t do this out loud, mind you, but in my mind. In fact, I came up with several jokes. But later on, after I had time to process it and I had returned to the privacy of my home, I cried. So, like I said, not quite as heartless as I thought I might be.

At the time I was writing and drawing a webcomic called “Rupert & Me.” I funneled my grief, my sadness, all of my feelings into that comic in the most literal way possible: I did a series of strips based on my father’s death and funeral.

That’s how I deal with death. I write about it.

It’s two years later and maybe the Grym Brothers books are another way I’m still dealing with my father’s death. On the surface it has the all earmarks of urban fantasy series. It stars two brothers who work as grim reapers, hunting down renegade dead souls. It’s exploring characters that are down in the mud, doing the dirty work. It carries the mystery of a father that disappeared two years ago and hasn’t been heard from since. But at the end of the day, the Grym Brothers books are really just about death and people who have to deal with it. 

**  Thank you Jason for sharing your thoughts on Death with us all...and if you EVER get your books into print copy, please keep me in mind for a review...I love your genre~!!  May all that you do bring you nothing but success~!!  **

The Door To Far-Myst by Mike Dicerto

The Door To Far-Myst:  The Adventures Of Rupert Starbright a Fantasy Adventure.

Rupert Dullz lives in Graysland where everything is colourless.  The children of Graysland, when they are not attending school, they are raking leaves, all day, every day, it is their only source of fun.  The people of Graysland are not very imaginative and lead dull and boring lives.

Rupert's grandmother has the coffus, a horrible and debilitating cough that only leads to death.  Rupert is frantic to save her and on the day that Pie'O'Sky arrives in his huge and colourful Bagoon, Rupert's life is about the change.

Pie gives the children of Graysland two days to find their imagination and create a way in which to open the door that he shows them.  He tells them of wondrous creatures and fanciful flights of imagination and none of the children of Graysland have a clue what he is yammering on about.  Most of them think its stupid but a few try their hand at the feat.

A few of the children try blowing it up or using another key, they even try scolding the door, however, only Rupert can solve the riddle and when he realizes he has done so, he is whisked through the door into the far-away land of Far-Myst.

Rupert cannot believe his eyes, everything in Far-Myst is in colour, he has never seen such shades or variations.  Nothing is what is appears and Rupert shares his observations with Pie after they called for a hole to come and get them and Rupert explains that holes just sit and wait for folks to fall in them back in Graysland.  Pie is appalled to hear this and scolds Rupert for starving them.  Another anomaly is the Chairmen who love to race you through the streets.  Rupert tells them that chairs are used for sitting upon and they never ever move, unless you move them yourself.

When Rupert is taken to meet Queen Chroma it is there that he learns about the fate of Far-Myst.  It seems an evil man, Murkus, wants everyone to remain in darkness and he steals the children of Far-Myst and hides them away, as only children have the Imaginings and can create their imagings at will.  Rupert is there because he is a great Imaginor, though he doesn't realize it.

When the castle is attacked by Nightwingers and everything begins to turn gray, Rupert is whisked away from the battle by Weaver, the greatest gardener in all of Far-Myst.  Weaver doesn't believe Rupert should be in Far-Myst and as he mourns for his own missing children, he protects and vows to return Rupert to his own home.

As everything comes together and all hope looks to be lost, only Rupert and his Imaginings can save the day.  The only problem with that is, Rupert has no imagination.

I thought this was fantastical and curious read.  I found it to be charming and delightful and I eagerly read the pages.  I appreciated that the author wrote with intelligence, it is not easy to world build, let alone create a whole different way of seeing everyday items.  I was blown away with the author's imagination itself and really enjoyed reading it.

I loved all the characters in the book from Rupert himself to Slog, Murkus' minion, who I would've loved to have seen more from, I just got a kick out of reading him.  I would love to try out one of the Poetry peppers...they sound delicious and rewarding to boot.

I enjoyed reading Rupert and his growth.  How he went from a dull and lifeless being to Rupert Starbright, a child who wishes to believe his thoughts could be created into reality.  We watch how Rupert struggles with the adults around him and the quest he has set himself upon.  Truly, all Rupert wishes is to find a cure for his grandmother's Coffus.

I would give The Door To Far-Myst a four and a half out of five stars.  There were a few minor editorial issues and truthfully, I would've liked to have seen more of Far-Myst and more of the characters.  I truly look forward to another adventure by Rupert Starbright and the imaginings of author, Mike Dicerto.

SYNOPSIS:
Rupert Dullz isn't very happy. His grandmother's coffus is getting worse, school is boring and there's nothing to do on his days off but rake up endless piles of leaves. Everything in Graysland is, well, gray, and every day is just like the one before it, and the one before that. That is, until a strangely dressed man named Pie O'Sky swoops out of nowhere in his multicolored bagoon and offers a special reward to whoever can open his mysterious door. When Rupert succeeds, he's thrilled when Pie O'Sky carries him beyond it to the brilliantly colored land of Far-Myst. Adventure calls, and Rupert discovers a wonderful world full of something he's never heard of before--imagination. But Far-Myst is in danger, and it may be that only Rupert has the power to save it. Is he the one whose imagination is powerful enough to stop the evil that is destroying the beautiful world beyond the door?

** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **

Spotlight - Davis Aujourd'hui author of The Misadventures Of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude

Join Davis Aujduvd’hui, author of the humor/satire book, The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude (Outskirts Press), as he virtually tours the blogosphere October 3 – 28 2011 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

 About the Book...

Are you ready for a class in Advanced Holiness for people from all walks of life? Then, perhaps you’re ready to take a trip to the Have A Heart convent in Bucksnort, Wisconsin. There, you’ll meet a nun you’re not likely to forget – Sister Mary Olga Fortitude.

The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude is a satire with a spiritual message, but there’s a lot of hanky panky going on here. Sister Mary Olga is an irreverent nun who has some unique spiritual views that differ from those of the Pope. She’s a great believer of “to each, one’s own.” She also loves her Marlboros and her bourbon. Just don’t let the Reverend Mother in on her secret. The next class in Advanced Holiness may be canceled.

Here in Bucksnort, you’ll meet a zany cast of all-too-human characters. There’s a lot of secret-keeping going on here, but Sister Mary Olga will be sure to deliver the goods in order to provide you with good and bad examples of holiness.

The Reverend Mother is a former prostitute. The convent’s chef is a gay cowboy. Priscilla Bunhead is the town busybody who opens some other closet doors. She, along with the other folks on Dinkledorf Drive, serve up examples of what not to do.

One thing’s for sure. These characters will lighten your load and help you to not take life so seriously. Get ready for non-stop laughs.

 About the Author...

Davis Aujourd’hui is the author of the Sister Mary Olga Fortitude series of hilarious satires. The first book is entitled “The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude.” It was followed by “Babes in Bucksnort.”

Davis possesses a rich life experience that has enabled him to draw from it in order to create a colorful canvas upon which to paint very human lives. He is a retired social worker, having worked for Adult Protective Services in New York State for nearly twenty years. He developed the characters within his series of books in order to entertain a colleague by using the gift of humor.

As will be the case with Sister Mary Olga in his third book, he is a recovering alcoholic. He also happens to be gay as are several of the endearing and humorous characters within his novels. He can speak from his own experience. He has possessed all of the foibles of his cast of characters who are naughty, nasty, and nice.

Davis lives in Upstate New York where he is currently sharing his life with his partner of seven years. He is socially-minded and spirituality is the most important ingredient in order for him to maintain a happy and successful life.

         DON'T LET THE JUDGMENT BE ON YOU

by Davis Aujourd'hui

How human it is to judge! It seems to be a fact of life. Unfortunately, it can lead to warped perceptions of others and of what is. The road to being free of judgment is to come to a place of acceptance. That always begins within.

As humans, we often find ourselves comparing ourselves with others. If we hold someone in high esteem, we may end up feeling diminished ourselves. If we are full of ourselves, we tend to judge others as inferior. Don't let the judgment be on you!

It's a tricky business. In comparing ourselves to others, we may not realize what we are doing. Our egos are leading the way to conflict – within or without. What we tend to judge in others is something we need to take a look at within ourselves. It may not be that we have that same issue, but we may have something else that we need to look at.

As an example, we may look at someone who has an addiction to alcohol with disdain. We may think that they should be able to exercise willpower. Unfortunately, that doesn't tend to work when it comes to addiction. Addiction is a disease. The thing we need to look at for ourselves is how we may be addicted to something else that may or may not be as destructive.

For example, we may be addicted to toxic relationships. We may be addicted to work, sex, compulsive gambling or compulsive buying. When we judge the alcoholic, we think we are better than him or her in order to avoid looking at our own issue. This is denial!

I have developed a series of satires that contain ornery characters who like to judge others. Priscilla Bunhead is a case in point. She judges anyone who is different from herself as being “less than.” She looks at my main character, Sister Mary Olga, with disdain. That's because Sister Mary Olga likes to tip her bottle of bourbon with fervor and to smoke her Marlboros with a passion. Because Priscilla doesn't do these things, she thinks she is better than Sister Mary Olga.

When Priscilla Bunhead looks at people who are gay, she judges them as perverts. She doesn't have any comprehension that they were made that way. It's not a matter of choice. They just happen to have a different sexuality than her.

Unfortunately for Priscilla, she has no outlet for her sexuality. She is an old maid who has never had sex. Perhaps her judgments are fueled by envy of those who have healthy outlets with which to express themselves.

She also doesn't like African-Americans. She basically doesn't like anyone who is different than herself. She has no ability to appreciate the diversity of people. She probably doesn't even like the different colors of the rainbow. Poor Priscilla! She happens to be a very unhappy person.

You may or may not see it, but you may have some aspects of Priscilla Bunhead within yourself. Your vision may be clouded because we all have blind spots. This is where careful self-examination is important. Just don't take this or yourself too seriously. Life is meant to be about joy.

A better road would be to find the ability to laugh at yourself. A good vehicle to do this would be to read my books and take a look at yourself as you laugh at my zany characters. Just don't be surprised if the laugh is on you!

Visit this blog for information on the series:

http://bestsatireseriesofthedecade.blogspot.com

Visit this blog for information on the author:  

http://authordavisaujourdhui.blogspot.com

Connect with him on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davis-Aujourdhui/138584429540046