“ALIENS ATE MY HOMEWORK” AVAILABLE ON DVD, DIGITAL AND ON DEMAND MARCH 6th #AAMH

January 18, 2018 By Marijean

GOLDEN GLOBE^® WINNER WILLIAM SHATNER LENDS HIS VOICE

TO THE DELIGHTFUL INTERGALACTIC ADVENTURE

FROM UNIVERSAL 1440 ENTERTAINMENT

ALIENS ATE MY HOMEWORK

AVAILABLE ON DVD, DIGITAL AND ON DEMAND MARCH 6, 2018

Universal City, California, January 10, 2018 – Unexpected extraterrestrial guests team up with a pair of middle schoolers to prevent the destruction of the planet in Aliens Ate My Homework, coming to DVD, Digital and On Demand on March 6, 2018, from Universal 1440 Entertainment, a production entity of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. A humorous and suspenseful intergalactic adventure, Aliens Ate My Homework follows the whimsical members of the Galactic Patrol on the trail of an evil alien criminal hiding out on Earth.

Based on the first book in prolific author Bruce Coville’s globally renowned “Galactic Patrol” series published by Aladdin Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, Aliens Ate My Homework features the voice of two-time Emmy Award winner William Shatner (“Star Trek”) and comes from director Sean McNamara (The King’s Daughter). The film also stars Jayden Greig (The Shape of Water), Lauren McNamara (“Summer of Dreams”), Kirsten Robek (The Edge of Seventeen), Dan Payne (Star Trek Beyond, Watchmen), Ty Consiglio (Wonder) and Alex Zahara (“The Man in the High Castle”).

Aliens Ate My Homework is a suspenseful family comedy which follows the adventures of sixth-grader Rod Allbright (Greig) and the extraterrestrial lawmen known as the Galactic Patrol. When a tiny spaceship flies through his window and lands on his science project, Rod and his cousin Elspeth (McNamara) meet a group of friendly aliens, including Phil, a talking plant (voiced by William Shatner). The earthlings quickly join the aliens’ adventurous mission to help defeat an evil alien criminal. After discovering the evil alien is disguised as a human – someone he knows all too well – Rod and Elspeth race to save the world from total planetary disaster.

BONUS FEATURES on DVD and digital

Not of This World: Creating Alien Life Forms – A look at creating some of the film’s Alien characters, showcasing the work of Emmy-winning visual effects maestro Todd Masters and his creature effects team. Viewers will get a peek at what it takes to bring the creatures to life on-set through the magic of prosthetic make-up, as well as practical effects techniques like oversized sets and puppetry.
Aliens Ate My Homework: From Page to Screen – This piece will give viewers a peek at the process of turning the novel into a film – from concept to production and visual effects. Featuring behind the scenes footage plus interviews with the cast, filmmakers, and author Bruce Coville.
On the Set with Bruce Coville – The beloved author gives viewers a peek at life on the set of Aliens Ate My Homework while providing details on the origins of the Galactic Patrol book series.
The Galactic Patrol Wants You! – A closer look at the members of the Galactic Patrol featuring Grakker, Madame Pong, Rod Allbright, Elspeth, and Phillogenous Esk Piemondum, aka Phil. In this featurette, the intrepid crew of the Starship Ferkel will reveal details on their current mission and will inform viewers on what it takes to become a member of the Galactic Patrol.

Aliens Ate My Homework will be available on DVD and Digital.

DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.
Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.
Movies Anywhere is the digital app that simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers. Consumers can also redeem digital copy codes found in eligible Blu-ray^TM and DVD disc packages from participating studios and stream or download them through Movies Anywhere. MOVIES ANYWHERE is only available in the United States. For more information, visit https://moviesanywhere.com.

Website: http://uni.pictures/AliensAteMyHomework

Trailer: http://uni.pictures/AliensAteMyHomeworkTrailer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliensAteMyHomework

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliensAteMyHW

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliensatemyhomeworkmovie

#AAMH

FILMMAKERS:

Cast: Jayden Greig, Lauren McNamara, Kirsten Robek, Dan Payne, Alex Zahara, Ty Consiglio, Sean Quan, William Shatner, Tristan Risk

Casting By: Jackie Lind, _CSA

Music By: Brandon Moore

Edited By: Tony Dean Smith

Production Designer: Bob Bottieri

Director of Photography: Adam Sliwinski

Co-Producer: Todd Masters

Executive Producers: Harvey Kahn, Sean McNamara

Produced By: Roger Lay Jr. and Eric Carnagey

Based on the book series ‘Rod Allbirght Alien Adventures by: Bruce Coville

Screenplay By: Judith Reeves-Stevens & Garfield Reeves-Stevens

Directed By: Sean McNamara

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:

Street Date: March 6, 2018

Selection Number: 63187246

Layers: DVD 9

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen

Rating: PG for some rude humor, mild action and thematic elements

Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French Canadian, French European, Latin American Spanish

Sound: English, French European, and Latin American Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1

Run Time: 1 hour, 29 minutes

About Universal 1440 Entertainment, LLC:

The Universal 1440 Entertainment banner develops and produces live-action and animated non-theatrical productions directly for distribution in all media worldwide. Since its formation in 2005, the group has assembled an exceptional roster of animated family fare, including the Daytime Emmy^®-winning Curious George television series for PBS Kids and Hulu; as well as the beloved The Land Before Time film series and the all-new animated family film Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You. The group also has successfully built upon some of Universal’s highly celebrated live-action, comedy and drama franchises, Scorpion King, Jarhead, American Pie, Honey and Bring It On as well as the terrifying Chucky movies. Projects currently readying for release include the newest installment of the epic sci-fi adventure hit Tremors, the next chapter in the gritty action franchise Death Race and an exciting new film from the popular Honey franchise.

Universal 1440 Entertainment is a production entity of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (www.uphe.com). Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios. Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

SeaWorld Offers Free Admission for Florida Preschoolers

January 16, 2018 By Marijean

SeaWorld Offers Free Admission for Florida Preschoolers

Popular Preschool Card returns for year-round fun in 2018

Now through December 31, 2018, Florida kids ages five and younger can enjoy all the excitement of SeaWorld Orlando for free by registering for the SeaWorld Orlando Preschool Card.

SeaWorld offers an ocean of experiences that are perfect for pint-sized guests, from up-close animal encounters to breathtaking live shows. The Preschool Card also includes popular SeaWorld events such as the Seven Seas Food Festival, Electric Ocean, Halloween Spooktacular, and the fan-favorite Christmas Celebration.

This spring, preschoolers and their families can dive into Just For Kids, an event crafted especially with young guests in mind. From April 21 to May 13, families can spend their weekends dancing to the beat and learning together along with everybody’s favorite furry, finned and flippered friends during this special event.

Parents can add Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark, to their child’s Preschool Card for only $59.99 to enjoy two parks all year. From Walkabout Waters to Kata’s Kookabura Cove, young guests can explore endlessly on interactive play structures, splash zones, and miniature slides designed just for them. With the upcoming opening of Ray Rush, a new family raft ride, the Preschool Card presents a great value for families with young children in 2018.

The 2018 Preschool Card is now available for registration exclusively for Florida residents. Advance registration must be completed online and is only valid for children ages five or younger at the time of redemption at the park. Please note registration is required by May 13, 2018.

To learn more and to register for the Preschool Card, Florida residents can visit SeaWorldOrlando.com/PreschoolCard.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Everyday Education – 7 Wise Ways To Take Your Child’s Learning Outside The Classroom

January 16, 2018 By Marijean

Everyday Education – 7 Wise Ways To Take Your Child’s Learning Outside The Classroom

Image via thinkstockphotos.com

When it comes to learning experiences for your child or children, there’s no reason for information to begin and end with the classroom. Opportunities to expand your child’s desire to learn and engage with information exist in your everyday activities – from cooking to Saturday sports.

For more ideas on how you can incorporate and encourage more active learning in your child’s everyday routines, read on…

Fun & Games

Board games are one of the most time-honoured ways to spend evenings as a family – and for good reason. Board games can help your child develop reasoning skills, tactical skills and other problem solving tools.

In order to gain the greatest benefit from time spent playing board games, try to introduce a game which will continually challenge and test your child. Games with buildable or modular content are particularly great for this, and will ensure that your child doesn’t become quickly bored or restless with the routine.

Come Together

Another way to encourage and develop your child’s passion for learning is to provide them with an environment of like-minded children, such as a program designed for encouraging talented or gifted education.

These programs give children an opportunity to discuss and explore their ideas in an open, non judgemental environment, where there are other children who share their passion for learning and new ideas.

Cook Up A Storm

Cooking provides an excellent opportunity for you to help teach your child about how to balance seemingly disparate elements, while also encouraging their creativity.

Depending on the age of your child, you may be able to set an evening or afternoon each week aside where they are given full responsibility for cooking the household meals. A task like this can encourage your child to plan (resource plan, task plan) and to actively problem-solve.

If your child is younger or not quite ready for such a task, it might be more ideal to provide them with an appropriate cookbook and attempt to guide them through the process.

Get Involved

Involving your child in everyday household decisions and processes can also help them to understand the challenges involved in maintaining a family and a home, while also giving them a sense of personal responsibility.

Some everyday decisions and tasks in which you can encourage the input of your child include: home maintenance, decoration, gardening and budgeting. Each of these will require a different set of skills from your child (for example, budgeting will require some maths and problem solving skills, while decoration will encourage their artistic and creative skills).

Learning Journeys

Travel is an excellent way to teach your children about life outside of their own small community. Travel can provide your child and your family a good opportunity to discuss larger issues as you see them, and to provide context to their understanding of the planet.

Travel can be as short and uncomplicated as a camping trip or weekend away, or as complex as an overseas vacation. New experiences, new cultures and new locations all present wonderful opportunities to undertake a learning journey.

Have A Ball

Team sports are not only a great way to ensure your child is active and healthy, they also provide an extra opportunity to learn transferable skills such as goal-setting, team building and tactical approaches.

Try providing your child with a selection of different team sports and see which one (or multiple) they are most drawn towards. Some children will thrive on the fast pace of sports such as hockey or basketball. Other children may prefer the pace and tactical approach of a longer form game like cricket or baseball. If your child is new to a sport be sure to do your research to make sure they are wearing the right size gear. You can do this by looking at a baseball bat buying guide or a hockey stick sizing chart, for example.

Learning devices and electronic/haptic technologies can also provide you with a convenient, take-anywhere way to keep your children moving forward in their learning journeys.

Devices such as iPads and tablets are able to be filled with apps designed to augment the school learning processes, and to expedite knowledge in core learning areas (numeracy, literacy, comprehension). Use of these devices at home can help to build confidence in your child, while also providing a fun and portable way for them to learn.

Creating spaces and opportunities for your child to learn is not as complex as you might imagine. Simple strategies such as involving your child in everyday household processes, and encouraging the uptake of games and sports can help to trigger and nurture a lifelong love of learning.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Magical Fun Day or Night with Playbrites!

January 15, 2018 By Marijean

Light up fun with Playbrites!

Playbrites are available in six different popular animal varieties. Each come with accessories such as a nose, mouth, ears etc…Think a cooler and light up version of Mr. Potato Head! The accessories easily store inside the animal so everything stays together and your child doesn’t lose any pieces (or Mom doesn’t step on any of the pieces!). The top of the animal comes off so your child can light up their room or play tent with cool color features! Plus, it comes with a carry handle for easy transport to a friends house, grandma’s house, room to room…..travel possibilities are endless! Retail price on playbrites.com is $19.99 each. They do take 3 AA batteries which are not included.

Here are the cool features of Playbrites!

Changes six colors
Turns any ceiling into a light show
Magical tap light works night or day
Playbrites play faces pieces are mix and match
Handy travel handle included
Pieces store inside body
Alleviate fear of the dark
Promote restful sleep
Long lasting LED lights
Automatic shut off

My review:

Let me start out by saying, these are so much fun! My 9 year old daughter and 6 year old son are having a blast with them. At first, when I looked them up quickly, I thought they were to only be used at bedtime. How cool is it to have a light up toy to use at bedtime, but to also play with during the day?! My daughter was thrilled to receive the Unicorn since she is very much obsessed with them at the moment. My son loves dinosaurs, so he was excited to receive the Dino Dragon. After assembly which was super easy, the kids got right to creating their animal with the included parts. They really are adorable! I love how you can mix and match if you have more than one Playbrite. They are available in 6 different animal varieties: Unicorn, Dino Dragon, Bunny, Shark, Kitty and Puppy.

Just press down on the unit to go through the many bright colors (red, blue, green, pink, orange and white). Turn your child’s room or tent into a magical light show! It was so fun seeing my children’s faces light up with the colors and designs on the wall and ceiling. They come with long lasting LED lights, so I am glad I won’t have to change the batteries every day so my kids can enjoy this. It also automatically shuts off, so you don’t have to worry if your child has left it on when you go out, or when they fall asleep.

In conclusion: I think Playbrites are wonderful for all children. I love how you can play with them during the day, and then have a magical light show at night. They are perfect for children who are afraid of the dark and parents do not need to worry because they have an automatic shut off. These would make the perfect gift for a birthday party and even for the upcoming Easter holiday.

You can purchase Playbrites at: playbrites.com, toysrus.com and in Toys R Us stores.

*I received two Playbrites in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Scaffold Safety Protocols for a Commercial Building Project

January 2, 2018 By Marijean

Scaffold Safety Protocols for a Commercial Building Project

Many commercial property rehabilitation, renovation, and remodeling projects require the use of scaffolding. On the one hand, scaffolding represents one of the most widely used pieces of equipment in commercial construction projects. On the other hand, a considerable number of business owners, and associated contractors, neglect to implement suitable safety protocols when it comes to using scaffolding on a commercial building project of some type.

There are some very definite safety standards and protocols that must be followed when it comes to using scaffolding on a commercial building rehabilitation, renovation, or remodeling project. For additional information on the safety protocols discussed here, a business owner or contractor can access resources via the website maintained by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA.

Proper Scaffold Assembly

One of the most common types of accident associated with scaffolding involves the failure of planks or support structures. More often than not, these injury-causing scaffolding failures occur because the scaffold was not properly assembled in the first instance, or was assembled using poor-quality products. Domestic hex nut manufacturers, like Dyson Corp, have grown to become leading manufacturers of critical fasteners for use in the construction industry. It is vital that good quality products like these are used, and used correctly, to prevent accidents in the workplace.

More than a few business owners, and a surprising number of less experienced contractors, presume that assembling a scaffold is a minor task. In fact, by its very nature, a scaffold consists of numerous pieces and parts. The failure to properly connect even a seemingly minor component of a scaffold can have dire consequences in the form of planking, or a similar type of, failure.

Scaffold assembly should not be something either a business owner or contract should garner experience through “on the job training.” Rather, in the absence of specific scaffold assembly training, and prior experience, a business owner best ensures appropriate safety standards through the use of scaffolding by outsourcing assembly.

Securing Sides and Edges

Another common danger zone potentially associated with scaffolding is unprotected sides and edges. Time and again, those involved in a commercial construction endeavor of some nature intentionally limit suitable guards and railings designed to secure and protect the sides and edges of scaffolding. The primary rationale for minimizing this type of side and edge securement is because of the belief that it interferes with efficient completion of tasks associated with the placement of the scaffolding in the first instance.

The failure to utilize appropriate securement associated with sides and edges jeopardizes the safety and wellbeing of workers. Beyond scaffold plank failure, falls represent another of the common types of accidents associated with scaffolding at commercial construction sites.

In addition, improperly secured sides and edges presents a hazard to third parties as well. The lack of suitable side and edge securement enhances the risk that equipment and materials will fall from a scaffold and injure a third party. The risk particularly can be significant when scaffolding is part of a remodeling or renovation project at a commercial property, a business in operation during the project. Customers or clients entering and exiting the premises are put at risk when scaffold sides and edges are not properly secured.

Proper Scaffold Use Training

In addition to ensuring that the physical securement and safety needs of scaffolding fully is satisfied, anyone involved a commercial building project necessitating the utilization of a scaffold must be thoroughly trained. Training must not be undertaken in a haphazard manner. Rather, a business owner or contractor should access a professional training course or protocol. For example, scaffolding use and safety training materials and resources are available via OSHA, at no charge.

Appropriate Liability Insurance

When scaffolding will be utilized on a commercial building project of some type, both the owner and contractor need to make certain that appropriate liability insurance is in place. The owner of a business or commercial property cannot slough off the necessity of maintaining suitable liability insurance that covers the utilization of and risks presented by the use of scaffolding. The legal reality is that the business or commercial property owner could be determined to share responsibility for losses, damages, or injuries sustained as the result of some sort of scaffolding mishap, even when a contractor is undertaken the actual work on a project.

Before commencing any type of project at a commercial building, the property or business owner should consult with an insurance professional. Typically, a commercial property or business owner will already have a connection with an insurance agent or broker that can examine existing coverages to ensure that proper protection is in place. If some sort of policy adjustment must be made to cover the utilization of scaffolding on the premises, the associated cost is far less than what a commercial property or business owner would face in the event of a scaffold accident without suitable coverage.

Jessica Kane is a professional blogger who writes for Scaffold Store, the favorite and trusted scaffold supplier of the largest contractors.