Mean Mickey Mouse?

This afternoon, an article titled "Mickey Mouse gets his edge back" appeared in AOL.COM. As a huge Disney fan and daughter of an ex "cast member" of Disney Corporation, I couldn't help but click and find out what it was all about.

The article explains that in a new Wii game, Mickey will appear in his original black-and-white scheme, designed by Walt Disney himself, through a series of Disney movies. I couldn't help but think: "Oh no! Another Coke disaster!," and sure enough, the reference comes up toward the end of the article. There is a concern that this plan for a plain Mickey will backfire. However, if it is just for the game, I think it will be fine. It will get kids asking mom and dad why Mickey looks funny in the game, and therefore encourage the parents to share a bit of Disney history with their kids.

Fall Fashion For Less

Women are always looking for the latest fashions. We love shoes, accessories, handbags and everything in between. But in these tough times, it's hard to look good without breaking the budget. For that reason, a number of discount and sales websites have gained popularity.

One such website is thefifteendollarstore.com , which offers everything from jumpsuits to shoes for one flat price. However, if you are looking for a little more quality, Hautelook and RueLala offer designer clothing, accessories, and even home goods at a fraction of the price. Another website that has been gaining popularity is Spiegel, which also offers daily discounts on different brands.

Additionally, stores that used to be considered too cheap for” fashionistas” are now carrying recognizable designers who have made lines specifically for the stores (Target, Payless)

For women like me, this is a win-win situation!

John Mayer's New Album In Stores Nov. 17, 2009

Three years after the release of his last solo album, Continuum, John Mayer has set a release date for his new album, Battle Studies.
During these three years, Mayer has made tabloid headlines, tweeted anything and everything that you can think of, and written, composed and produced what promises to be yet another album full of soulful music.

During a concert this summer,Mayer said that Battle Studies is like "a handbook. A heartbreak handbook." After listening to short clips from the 12 track album and reading the titles of the songs, such as "Heartbreak Warfare," I am personally anticipating to see a gloomier side of the artist. Still, no matter what the topic of his songs seem to be, he always manages to express his feeling poetically, honestly and effortlessly.
Battle Studies also includes a cover of Eric Clapton's "Crossroads" and a collaboration with Taylor Swift.

Mayer's first single, "Who Says," was released on iTunes Oct. 27,2009. His video is the first to use augmented reality technology, which allows the viewer to become part of the video if they have a web cam and printer (see examiner.com)

click here to watch "Who Says" video.

sources: John Mayer website

PC World Releases List of 100 Best Products of 2009

This week, PC World released their annual list of 100 Best Products of the year. The list included software, laptops, web browsers, cameras, and other surprises.

At the top of the list was the Apple App Store, a place well-deserved. Whether you are a Blackberry lover or an iPhone fanatic, there is no denying the originality in the myriad of apps available to iPhone users. The top ten included a Canon digital camera, a Samsung television, and even the Beatles Rock Band game!

The top 20 featured Windows 7, the Amazon Kindle-2, and Facebook. Clearly, the list was varied and covered all aspects of new technology. In fact, they even had browsers, like Google Chrome, on the list.

Out of the Top 100, I can recommend a few items. First, the Avira Antivirus Personal software. I have the antivirus on my laptop and have been safe so far (knock on wood.) Also, Intuit Mint, a software that helps you keep track of your spending. Of course, like most people who spend time on the computer, I can also recommend Facebook and Twitter

One personal observation, however, is that I was surprised to see that the Palm Pre received a better spot than the iPhone 3G, especially considering that the App Store came in as number one.

source: PC World

Michael Jackson's 'This Is It ' Brings in Big Bucks

In the first five days since the world-wide release of "This Is It," the movie has generated $101 million. Originally set to only have a 2-week run in theaters, it has now been extended through Thanksgiving domestically. The movie has received great reviews. In fact, rottentomatoes.com certified it as “fresh.”

Last weekend, I decided to go check out the movie and was amazed. Frankly, not really setting my expectations high, I went into the theater with a blank mind. The movie was two hours of pure entertainment. It was a compellation of footage from a series of rehearsals of “the big show” that showed a completely different side of “The King of Pop.” On stage, he was professional, respectful, and untiring. He knew more about his music than the lead musicians there. He knew more about his choreography than any choreographer or dancer there. He knew more about how he wanted the show to be carried out than any stage manager or producer there. When interviewed, everyone in each of the above categories seemed to agree with my observation. They had a level of respect for Jackson, as a performer and as a person that was impossible to hide.

I have to agree with the critics. The movie is an enjoyable experience, whether you were a huge fan of Michael, or just a fan of music and dance in general.

other sources: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33577272/ns/entertainment-movies/