Today’s movie review is “Rise of the Guardians”. This movie is a 2012 action-fantasy film directed by Peter Ramsey and written by David Lindsay-Abaire. The film is actually based on the original book series “The Guardians of Childhood”. The film is produced by the infamous DreamWorks Animation. This film has an incredible cast of voice actors: we have Chris Pine as the main character, Jack Frost; Alec Baldwin as Santa Claus; Isla Fisher as the Tooth Fairy; Hugh Jackman as the Easter Bunny; and Jude Law as the Boogeyman, otherwise known as Pitch Black. The movie was released on November 21st, 2012, and made an outstanding $306.9 million dollars on a $145 million budget but was sadly considered a loss due to the 87 million in marketing and distribution.

The story begins with Jack Frost emerging from the cold depths of a frozen pond with severe amnesia, finding himself invisible to the people around him. He is unaware of what has happened, but he does know that the Man in the Moon is the cause of what is happening, and the Moon does not tell him why he is still alive. 30 years later, Santa Claus discovers that Pitch Black has returned and is seeking revenge; he wants to continue his reign of infecting children around the world with nightmares. Santa gathers the fellow Guardians: Easter Bunny, Sandman, and the Tooth Fairy. As they gather, they discover Jack has been sworn in by The Man in the Moon to be the next Guardian to join them. As Jack explores town, causing mischief with the kids, Bunny kidnaps Jack and brings him back to the North Pole, where Jack learns that every Guardian has a “center”, which is something they foster in children. Jack is hesitant to become a Guardian and knows nothing about his center. 

Santa receives a message from the Tooth Fairy that her palace is under attack by Pitch Black. The Guardians and Jack Frost get together and go to the palace and manage to chase away Pitch; unfortunately, Pitch kidnapped the Tooth Fairy’s fairies, which are like her little minions, and they are like one big family. Pitch has also stolen all of the children's teeth; this starts to sway the kids' belief in the Tooth Fairy. Jack learns that the children's teeth hold childhood memories of the owner. The Tooth Fairy tells Jack that she has Jack's teeth from when he was a child and before he turned into Jack Frost. This motivates Jack to help all of them to get back the fairies and the children's teeth so he can reclaim his memories. Since the children are starting to question their belief, the Tooth Fairy is affected by this and is no longer able to fly, and without her fairies, she can't collect the children's teeth. So the Guardians and Jack gather to help the Tooth Fairy and collect the children's teeth. As they collect, they come across a boy named Jamie, who still holds onto his belief and sees all of the Guardians except for Jack. As the Guardians make their way back to the North Pole after a successful mission, they are ambushed by Pitch and his nightmare horse army. They put up a strong fight, but it isn't enough; Sandman is cornered off and is killed by Pitch… 

OMG WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!?!? I don’t know, you'll just have to watch the movie… hehe. This movie is excellent, and I love it so much; it is once again another banger and is available to watch for free on YouTube, even on the school laptops. So go give it a watch, and I promise that you will enjoy the movie! Image

Today’s movie is “Horton Hears a Who!” A 2008 animated adventure comedy film that is actually based on the original story under the same name written by the infamous writer Dr. Seuss. The movie was produced by 20th century Fox animation and Blue Sky Studios. The film was directed by Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino. This film stars Jim Carrey as Horton the Elephant and Steve Carell as Ned; there are also other notable actors like Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, and more. This movie was very well received and was honorable for its writing, visuals, and quality. The movie made a whopping 298 million dollars in the box office while on an 85 million dollar budget. 

In the wonderful land of Nool, we are greeted with Horton the Elephant, an exciting, wondrous, outgoing teacher. As Horton wanders throughout the jungle, he hears a tiny yelp coming from… a speck of dust? Horton watches the speck of dust fly away and believes that there is a microscopic society of people living on the speck of dust “yelping”. Horton grabs a flower and places the speck of dust on a pink flower. Turns out that this speck of dust actually does have people living on it; these people live in the city of Whoville, they are called the Whos, you would have never guessed that. Whoville is led by Mayor Ned McDodd, who has a family of 98, 96 of those are his daughters, one is his wife, and the other is his son, Jojo. 

Horton decides that he is going to take this speck on his adventure with him. As Horton carries the speck, the town of Whoville begins to experience strange phenomena, so Ned makes contact with Horton via a giant mega phone. After Ned makes contact with Horton, he advises Horton that Whoville is in great danger, and they need Horton’s help by getting them to a safe and stable place or else Whoville will be destroyed. Horton decides to place the speck atop Mt. Nool, the safest place in the Jungle. The head of the Jungle, the Sour kangaroo, refuses to believe that there is a society on a speck of dust, and she demands Horton to give up the speck, but Horton refuses. Eventually, the Kangaroo recruits a sinister vulture by the name of Vlad to get rid of the speck by force. After several failed attempts, Vlad finally manages to get the flower and speck away from Horton, dropping it into a giant field of the same pink flower. Horton now must scourge through the millions of flowers to find the speck and he must get his revenge. 

This review was shorter than usual and I apologize but this had to be quick and easy. Thank you guys for reading and I hope you guys consider giving this movie a watch! I love this movie so much and it's a must watch for all.  Image

Everywhere at the End of Time is a six-stage album series by James Leyland Kirby. It was created over three years, from 2016 to 2019. Kirby is a musician who works with electronic sounds and instrumental music. His goal was to portray the decline of one's body, mind, and soul as Alzheimer's disease takes them. He achieved this by sampling distorted 1920s and 1930s ballroom music, along with heavy reverb, record crackles, and eerie loops, to make his point. This is a musical technique that came to be known as “Huantology,” which is the idea that everything from the past haunts the future as we know it. The use of this technique shows Kirby's drive to accurately display the emotions as best he could through sound. It also ties in the themes of degrading as a person, as previously mentioned. The different stages of the album represent the different stages of Alzheimer's as it progresses. Stage 1 starts as a dusty and sweet, almost familiar tune. By stage 6, though, all sounds are fuzzy, disoriented, and even, in some cases, just pure white noise. This album is an incredible way to help portray what inner feelings can be like for someone who doesn't suffer from the disease. Source 

Released in 1977, Fleetwood Mac's album Rumors is a powerful example of how personal conflict can shape art. Since its release, it has sold over 40 million copies worldwide. However, the melodies and lyrics aren't the only interesting parts. During the recording of the track list, the band was falling apart internally. Lead vocalist Stevie Nicks and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham were in the midst of a messy breakup. Along with that, Bassist John McVie and Christine McVie were finalizing an 8-year-long divorce. Even drummer Mick Fleetwood was dealing with his own relationship problems due to his wife's infidelity. Yet, even with all these factors added up, the band never split like fans thought they would've. Instead, they used the anger, sadness, and chaos to their lyrical advantage. They started writing songs about each other using the truths they felt they were unable to express. For example, Buckingham wrote “Go Your Own Way” as a resentful goodbye to Nicks. She then, in turn, responded with the song “Dream,” which conveys the haunting words of retaliation she had. The genius of this album relied solely on the inconveniences of the members' relationships as they navigate heartbreak in different manners. This album is full of resentment, heartache, resilience, as well as jealousy. This is what gives this album such an authentic touch. The live shows of this album are even more tension-inducing, as the members had to sing those songs they made about each other, at each other. This work remains an amazing album for the pure strength that was held by these people. A lovely example of how emotions influence art. Source    

The song “Dark Necessities” by Red Hot Chili Peppers speaks about the beauty of our dark sides and how much creativity and growth can actually come out of those struggles. The song explains how even our most difficult struggles can bring out a side of us that no one else can see. A line from the main chorus of the song says, “You don’t know my mind, you don’t know my kind. Dark necessities are part of my design.” This line from the song suggests that we truly don’t know what is going on in the minds of those who struggle. We never know what they could be thinking, or what could be happening that causes people to do the things they do. People who may not make their character look very positive could be the ones going through the most. However, embracing our dark sides can also be the key to growth in creativity. Being imperfect makes each person who they are. If we were all perfect, no one would be truly unique. Overall, this song explores the idea that our darkest moments create the light within every person, making them unique and their own individual. Picture source 

The song, “Oceans” by Pearl Jam tells the story of longing for one’s lover from a distance. It is about having that belief that they may reconnect someday, while avoiding life’s uncertainties. The ocean is used as a metaphor to describe the distance between two people. The ocean stops them from reconnecting. A line from the song says, “The sea will rise, please stand by the shore.” This line explains the vocalist’s feelings of longing for this person. He tells her to wait by the shore, so they can hopefully be reunited someday. Pearl Jam is known for writing songs primarily about love and longing for one’s lover. It is easy to assume that these songs are written for specific people in Eddie Vedder’s (lead singer) life. Another line from the song says, “The currents will shift, glide me towards you.” This line is in the very beginning of the song, and makes it obvious that the vocalist has hope that he will find his way to his lover someday. Even though this song is quite short, it still has a meaning that can connect with anybody, and make them feel the same way the vocalist must’ve felt while writing this song.  Picture Source

Looking for a fun way to spend time with friends and family? LeElla Lanes in Wellston, Ohio, is a great place to enjoy some friendly competition, practice bowling skills, and make lasting memories. Whether you are an experienced bowler or just picking up a bowling ball for the first time, there is fun for everyone! Bowling is a popular activity because it brings people together while allowing everyone to participate at their own pace. Friends can compete to see who earns the most strikes, challenge each other to beat their highest scores, or simply enjoy a relaxing afternoon away from their usual routines. Even when the bowling ball does not go exactly where you want it to, the laughs and memories make the experience worthwhile. LeElla Lanes offers a local entertainment option for people in the Wellston area who want something enjoyable to do without traveling far from home. It can be a great destination for a weekend outing, a family activity, or a fun get-together with friends. Bowling also encourages teamwork, patience, and good sportsmanship as players cheer each other on. The next time you are searching for something entertaining to do around Jackson County, consider planning a trip to LeElla Lanes. Grab a bowling ball, lace up your bowling shoes, and get ready to aim for a strike. At LeElla Lanes, the goal is simple: have fun, enjoy the competition, and keep those pins falling! Source 1. 

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As autumn arrives in Ohio, the Hocking Hills Fall Scenic Train Ride offers families, students, and visitors a unique way to enjoy the beauty of the season. The train takes passengers through the scenic Hocking Hills region, where colorful leaves, wooded hills, and peaceful landscapes create a memorable fall experience. One of the most interesting parts of the trip is stopping at an old-fashioned 1800s village, where visitors can get a closer look at what life was like long ago. Guests can walk around the village and explore the historic homes and buildings while learning about everyday life in the 1800s. People dressed in traditional clothing are inside some of the homes, demonstrating and explaining the tools, objects, and activities that people used during that time. This gives visitors an opportunity to learn about history in a hands-on and entertaining way. After exploring the village, passengers can continue enjoying the train ride and take in the beautiful fall scenery surrounding Hocking Hills. The colorful trees make the trip especially enjoyable during peak fall foliage, when the landscape is filled with shades of red, orange, and yellow. The experience is a great activity for families and friends because it combines history, nature, and relaxation in one trip. Visitors can take pictures, explore the village, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the countryside. With its beautiful autumn views and glimpse into Ohio’s past, the Hocking Hills Fall Scenic Train Ride provides an exciting way to experience fall while learning about life in the 1800s. Source 1. Source 2. Picture Source 

The flying car has been a dream of many people throughout history and has often made appearances in books and movies as a depiction of the future. But could it ever be made? The answer is not technically. Flying cars are complicated.  Aerodynamics, the wind resistance, weight, and weight balance all come into factors when making such a exotic car. As technology advances, we get closer to making flying cars. As our knowledge expands, it gets easier to fix problems. Early on, inventors going back to the 1900s could never think of something like this. Early inventors like Henry Smolinski crashed in a test flight in 1973 taking his life. However, it was still a start, and the book “Blade Runner” featured police cars that could both fly and drive on pavement, so it was clear it was sought after. Even earlier, in 1947, Henry Drefuss developed the ConvAirCar; the automobile had wings and a propeller which also crashed and resulted in a fatal blow. But being decades later, the cars are growing closer to the dream of many old inventors; though with the new vehicle comes new challenges. Winds and airborne traffic would be a nightmare to control and regulate accurately. Being a flying automobile, you'd still have to contact nearby towers for airway traffic and navigate; crashes would always result to be fatal without extensive security measures. But nonetheless, as technology grows, we will surely be able to make this dream come true. Source 1  source 2   

The steam engine was the starting influencer for the modern engines. Nicolas Joseph Cugnot built the first self-propelled vehicle using one of the steam engines. Cugnot's steam engine was the startup to the early development of the now automobiles. Oliver Evans and Richard Trevithick both are well known for further improving the steam machine. As we know, the automobile didn't just start up quickly as more and more patents and engines evolved, each one producing their own struggle that newer models improved and grew with over 100,000 patents from several different inventors. With the first known one being made in 1769 invented by Cugnot, it was a military tractor, and it moved only 2 miles per hour and hauled artillery. Along with that, every 10-15m it had to stop to build steam power; it was so inefficient that it was denied military service. He then wrecked one of his road vehicles into a stone wall being the first ever to get into a motor vehicle accident. Many historians believe Nicolas to be the first inventor of the automobile despite the many flaws in his designs he eventually was never given funding as the idea died out and left him dry.  Source 1 

The Bornean orangutan is one of the great apes known for its reddish-orange fur, intelligence, and ability to live among the trees. Native to the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, this species is facing a serious threat to their population. The Bornean orangutan is currently classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, largely because of habitat loss and human activities such as poaching.

One of the greatest causes of the orangutan's decline is deforestation. Forests are being cleared for the construction  of palm oil plantations, agricultural lands, for logging, and mining. This destroys the trees orangutans depend on for food. In addition to this, they also seek these trees for shelter, and raising their young. According to the World Wildlife Fund, Bornean orangutan populations have declined by more than 50% over the past 60 years due to hunting and illegal wildlife trading.

Despite these challenges, conservation efforts are being put in place to help protect the remaining populations. Wildlife organizations and local communities are working to preserve rainforests, restore damaged habitats, and rescue orangutans affected by deforestation. However, orangutans reproduce slowly, with females typically giving birth to one infant every several years, making population recovery difficult. Preserving their natural habitats and stopping illegal hunting will be an essential aspect to preventing these astounding animals from disappearing in the wild.

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The Tasmanian devil is a carnivorous marsupial native to the island of Tasmania.  Despite its important role in the ecosystem, the species has experienced a dramatic drop in population. One of the biggest threats to its survival is a deadly disease that has spread through the wild population of this marsupial species.

One of the main causes of the Tasmanian devil's decline is the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). This contagious cancer spreads between devils through biting, often during fighting or mating. The disease causes tumours around the face and mouth, making it difficult for infected animals to eat. According to Tasmania's wildlife authorities, devil populations have declined by more than 80% in many affected areas.

Other variables that cause their decline in population include habitat loss, and competition with other animals. These dangers make it even harder for the remaining population to recover.

Despite these challenges, conservation efforts are helping protect the species. Scientists are studying this infectious disease, monitoring wild populations, and maintaining protected groups of healthy devils for breeding. Additionally, these programs offer hope for the Tasmanian devil's future, but continued research and habitat protection are essential. Without ongoing conservation efforts, this unique animal could face an even greater risk of extinction. Picture Source

If you haven’t figured out the theme yet, I am doing the holidays every Friday of the month or any bigger holidays  so that by the time you or anyone reads this it hopefully hasn’t passed. Oct. 16 is a Friday, but it also has a few holidays such as: National Dictionary Day and National Liqueur Day. I found it amusing that these two landed on the same day considering that the dictionary is usually considered boring and liqueur not so much. National Dictionary Day on October 16 is the birthday of Noah Webster and emphasizes the importance of using the dictionary to increase one’s vocabulary skills. In 1806 Noah Webster published his first dictionary “A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language.” Immediately after writing his first dictionary, he began compiling an expanded and fully comprehensive dictionary called “An American Dictionary of the English Language” in 1807; it took twenty-seven years to complete. Webster learned twenty-six languages, including Old English (Anglo-Saxon), German, Greek, Latin,  Italian, Spanish, French, Hebrew, Arabic and Sanskrit. All this just to write a book with word definitions, but nonetheless it’s a very useful book. National Liqueur Day is all about celebrating the different liqueurs from the creamy ones to aromatic herbal concoctions. The word liqueur comes from the Latin word liquifacere which means to liquify. Most liqueurs start from vodka, rum or whiskey that is flavored with ingredients such as fruit, creams, syrups, herbs, flowers, sugar, spice or nuts. You might think that liqueur is just another spelling for liquor, but they actually have a few key differences; liqueur is sweeter than the typical North American liquor and usually has a lower alcohol level. 

P.S. Don’t drink liqueur if you aren’t over the age of 21; drink some juice, kid.

Picture source:https://nationaldaycalendar.com/october/16?ref=date_calendar

In this spooky month, there can also be sweet things such as candy! There is National Pro-Life Cupcake Day and National Moldy Cheese Day, which both occur on October 9. National Pro-Life Cupcake Day is all about exchanging cupcakes as you talk about an emotionally charged topic. This day can also help spread awareness. Although most topics will be controversial to others, they can still choose to join in or not participate at all. Whilst this holiday is probably very controversial to have here, it is something that people have opinions on and things that happen in life. This holiday isn’t just about pro-life; you can also talk about other things in the world while you exchange your cupcakes with your friends or even strangers who butt in. National Moldy Cheese Day is all about the mold that grows on cheese, not the bad kinds which appear to be streaks of red, brown, black mold or fuzzy green spots that are seen on hard cheeses. The good molds are usually more artistic streaks of blue, grey and green mold. These molds are purposefully introduced to cheeses to give them a bold flavour and creamy texture that some people love. The molds themselves are specific strands of  Penicillium (like Penicillium roqueforti or glaucum). A few ways you can celebrate this day is by talking to your local deli or cheesemonger about the different cheeses that contain mold; you can do taste testing with a friend or clean out your fridge to make sure there isn’t any bad,  moldy cheese in there. Picture source: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/october/9?ref=date_calendar