Saturday, March 15, 2014

Book Blogger Hop: March 14th - 20th

Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Veronica!

 

What is the most creative thing you have ever done with a book?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 

Besides stacking books in bookshelves, closets and end tables, where they collect dust, I don't do anything creative with books, other than reading them.


Linky List:

Friday, March 14, 2014

RumbleRoller's Beastie Review

No, I didn't forget about my second installment of the RumbleRoller post/review. My time has been limited today, so I'm just now getting around to writing this. Hop on over here, to read yesterday's review.

RumbleRoller has some exciting new products from their Beastie Series. What is exactly is a Beastie? Well, the Beastie Series is an expansion of the RumbleRoller, but only more intense, versatile, portable and affordable.

The products sent to me for this review are the Beastie Original (clear) and X-Firm (green) massage balls plus bases, the Beastie Hook and the Beastie Bar + Stand!


Yes, there are other massage balls on the market, but they are either too big, too small, too hard, too soft, too absorbent, too shallow, too crowded or too sparse. The Beastie ball is meant to solve all those problems by providing the correct bump spacing and flexion. Plus, it won't absorb sweat and it won't ever change its shape. It is latex-free and phthalate-free. There are two sizes available - Original and X-Firm. The ball comes with a detachable base, which can be screwed on a wall or attached to the Beastie Wall System (No, I didn't get to review that item).

At first glance the Beastie Hook looks like a back scratchier, but it is much more than that, as it is meant to help you reach those hard to reach spots, like your back, shoulders and neck. All you have to do is snap in a Beastie Ball into the Beastie Hook's end loop. The multiple bumps on the Beastie can give you the perfect back massage.

Blu-ray Review - The Jungle Book 2

The Jungle Book 2
Director: Steve Trenbirth
Starring: Haley Joel Osment, John Goodman, Mae Whitman, Bob Joles, Tony Jay Phil Collins, John Rhys-Davies, Jim Cummings
Studio: Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 18, 2014
Retail: $36.99
ASIN: B00H2N44PK
Running Time: 72 minutes
Rating: G

Review:

In the early 1990s, Disney began releasing direct-to-video sequels to their animation classics, though the quality wasn't the same as the originals. Their direct-to-video (DVD) sequels have slowed down (except for the Tinker Bell movies) over the years, but a few of the past sequels have made their way onto the big screen, including the almost forgotten sequel, The Jungle Book 2, which is arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack for the first time this Tuesday, March 18, 2014. Bonus features include the deleted scenes "I Got You Beat" and "Braver," Sing Along Songs, Music Videos and The Legacy of The Jungle Book.

Critically panned for the cheap animation style, The Jungle Book 2 managed to take in over 135-million-dollars at the box-office. Sadly, all the original voice actors had passed away, leaving John Goodman taking over as the voice of Baloo, Haley Joel Osment as Mowgli and Bob Joles as Bagheera. The film has nothing in common with Rudyard Kipling's The Second Jungle Book.

The Jungle Book 2 picks up shortly after the original, where Mowgli is now living in the "Man Village." It is not really stated if the family that took him in are his real parents are adopted parents. (I recommend watching the alternate ending of the first movie to see what I'm referring about.) Anyway, Mowgli sneaks into the jungle from time to time to hangout with his jungle pals Baloo and Bagheera.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Blu-ray Review - In The Name Of The King 3: The Last Mission

In The Name Of The King 3: The Last Mission
Director: Uwe Boll
Starring: Dominic Purcell, Marian Valev, Raltsa Paskaleva
Studio: 20th Century Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Retail: $29.99
ASIN: B00I01FUBA
Running Time: 86 minutes
Rating: R

Arriving on Blu-ray and DVD this week is In The Name Of The King 3: The Last Mission starring Dominic Purcell, Marian Valev and Raltsa Paskaleva. The only special feature on the Blu-ray is "The Making of In The Name Of The King 3: The Last Mission."

The first and only film in the series to be released to theaters was the 2007 (released in 2008 in United States) fantasy adventure In The Name Of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, which is loosely inspired by the Dungeon Siege video game series. With an impressive cast of Jason Statham, Leelee Sobieski, John Rhys-Davies, Ron Perlman, Claire Forlani, Kristanna Loken, Matthew Lillard, Ray Liotta and Burt Reynolds and a budget of 60 million dollars, the film should have been a blockbuster, but the film is directed by Uwe Boll - one of the worst directors since Ed Wood. Despite an interesting premise, the film was a complete flop, mostly due to bad dialogue and horrible directing.

Even though a movie flops at the theaters, it doesn't mean you can't make a franchise out it, and that is exactly what happened when in The Name Of The King 2: Two Worlds went direct-to-DVD/Blu-ray. The sequel completely ignored the first film and stars Dolph Lundgren as a modern day soldier sent back in time.

Now we have another unwanted sequel, In The Name Of The King 3: The Last Mission, starring Prison Breaks' Domnic Purcell as a contract killer, Hazen Kaine, on his final mission involving a royal family. After touching an amulet, Hazen is transported back to the Middle Ages, where he must battle an entire army and a fire-breathing dragon.

Blu-ray Review - Disney's Frozen: Collector's Edition

Disney's Frozen: Collector's Edition
Directors: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Voice Cast: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 18, 2014
Retail: $44.99
ASIN: B00G5G7K7O
Running Time: 102 minutes
Rated: PG

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack on March 18th is Disney's smash-box-office hit and an Academy Award Winner for Best Animated Picture, Frozen, featuring cool bonus extras, such as "The Making of Frozen," D'frosted: Disney's Journey From Hans Christian Anderson to Frozen, deleted scenes, music videos and "Get a Horse" Mickey Mouse Short.

Inspired by the classic fairy tale, The Snow Queen, by Hans Christian Anderson, comes Disney's newest princess animated film, Frozen, but unlike Disney's other princess' films, Frozen uses computer-animation.

Frozen tells the story Elsa the princess of Arendelle, who has the unique magical gift of creating snow and ice, but after accidentally injuring her younger sister, Anna, her parents, King and Queen of Arendelle, forbid her from using her magic again. A troll removes all Anna's memories of Elsa's magical gift. Since Elsa cannot control her magical powers, she shuts herself away in her bedroom. She hides from the outside world and from Anna.

After the King and Queen's sudden deaths, Elsa must take the crown, but her magical powers cannot be controlled, leaving her to be banished, but she leaves a winter blast over the kingdom.

Review - RumbleRoller

It seems everyone is on the go these days with school, work and everyday things, including exercising, and the worst thing that can happen to you is some sort of injury. For instance, every time I get in a good workout routine, I either pull a muscle in my lower back, shoulder or knee, which it isn't a good thing.

Yes, I could go to a chiropractors, but they cost money and it's not guarantee that the injury will not reoccur in the near future. Luckily, there are products you can use at home to help with simple muscular pain.

Gold's Gym Foam Roller VS RumbleRoller


I reached out to the RumbleRoller company about reviewing their RumbleRoller foam roller. You might have heard of this foam roller before as it is used in Beachbody's P90X2 workout program. I recall seeing the foam roller in one of the P90X2 infomercials a few years ago and I went out and bought a cheap version at my local Walmart, which you can see by the comparison photo, the one I bought is a bit bulky and a little short. Yes, it did help my back, but it is awkward to use. Plus, it is easily damaged.

I was sent the Full-Size Original RumbleRoller (blue), which features firm (but flexible) bumps on the roller's surface. The roller is simple to use, as all you have to do is position your back, arms or legs over the roller and as you roller over it, the bumps knead your body and stretches the muscles. It is almost like having your own personal massage therapist, except you don't have to make an appointment.

There are many different exercises you can use with the RumbleRoller. There are a few free exercises at http://www.rumbleroller.com/foam-roller-exercises.html, or you can purchase Jeff Alexander's SMR Tips RumbleRoller & RR BeastieBlu-ray DVD, which I was sent a free copy with my RumbleRoller and Beastie products (look for my Beastie review tomorrow). Jeff Alexander gives ten to fifteen minute tips on ten different areas of the body, such as the quads, hamstrings and gluts.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Don’t Be a Fungi: Prevent Athlete’s Foot

If you are involved in any sort of gym activity, chances are that you have been exposed to Athlete's Foot. Usually caused by a fungus, this condition is contagious and gets passed from person to person when an infected person leaves spores on the floor and a healthy person walks across that same floor. The fungus can move from the feet to the hands and genitals. Fortunately, it is preventable, and the symptoms are generally not life-threatening though they are very annoying.

Ounce of Prevention

Since this condition is caused by a fungus, you should expect it to thrive in dark, moist places like most other fungi, and you would be correct. The first thing that you can do to prevent the condition is to wear cotton socks and keep your feet dry. Socks that wick the sweat away from the feet are also good. In either case, you will want to wear a breathable shoe. Some powders may also help keep your feet dry.

Since the fungus is generally passed in places like a gym, it is a good idea to keep shower shoes with you for the locker room and showers. Of course, that means that you also have to use the shoes in order for them to be effective. You can also ask about the gym’s cleaning schedule, but you really have no control over that because employees don’t always follow what is listed on the schedule.