Oh and Leo’s favorite player just happens to be Messi.

Soccer may not be a big deal here in the States but everywhere else it is huge and this kid is the equivalent of Lebron James. He is young and being sought out and purely raw talent. Who knows what will happen to this kid in the coming years but Real Madrid is placing their future in this young kid. All it takes is a slip and fall on a play ground somewhere for this kid to roll and ankle and never be the same. I surely hope not but this is a lot of pressure and responsibilities to put on a kid who is probably just learning to tie his cleats himself.

So keep an eye out for this boy on the world stage because in the upcoming years he could be the biggest thing since sliced bread.

Director Zach Snyder is looking to reboot the franchise after the Bryan Singer version, Superman Returns, failed at the box office.  Snyder has been at the helm for some of the biggest comic book movies such as 300 and Watchmen.  His style is perfect for the genre and he should do a great job with this Superman.

Christopher Nolan (director of the new Batman franchise as well as Inception) is also involved and will make sure this new series will follow in the steps of Batman and be more “realistic” with a few changes to make it more accepting to mainstream audiences and not just comic fans.

With this movie, the Batman franchise, Green Lantern movie and upcoming Flash movie the next logical step is for a Justice League movie that will follow.  Hopefully DC doesn’t fall too far behind of Marvel who already has their major hero group movie, The Avengers, coming out next year.

The official press release is here:

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures have provided the first look at the new “Man of Steel,” revealing star Henry Cavill as Superman in the film from director Zack Snyder. The film also stars three-time Oscar® nominee Amy Adams (“The Fighter”) as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, and Oscar® nominee Laurence Fishburne (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”) as her editor-in-chief, Perry White. Starring as Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Oscar® nominee Diane Lane (“Unfaithful”) and Academy Award® winner Kevin Costner (“Dances with Wolves”).

Squaring off against the superhero are two other surviving Kryptonians, the villainous General Zod, played by Oscar® nominee Michael Shannon (“Revolutionary Road”), and Faora, Zod’s evil partner, played by Antje Traue. Also from Superman’s native Krypton are Lara Lor-Van, Superman’s mother, played by Julia Ormond, and Superman’s father, Jor-El, portrayed by Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe (“Gladiator”).

Rounding out the cast are Harry Lennix as U.S. military man General Swanwick, as well as Christopher Meloni as Colonel Hardy.

“Man of Steel” is being produced by Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder. The screenplay was written by David S. Goyer, from a story by Goyer and Nolan, based upon Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.

Currently in production, “Man of Steel” is slated for release on June 14, 2013 and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

A young Arizona Diamondbacks’ fan, Ian, was at a game where a player threw the ball into the stands after an inning was over.  The ball went directly to an even younger fan, Nicholas, who ended up dropping the ball.  The ball then was given to Ian who ran up the stairs with his prize.  But once he noticed Nicholas, he recognized the situation and did the absolute right thing; he gave up the ball.

Watch the heart warming exchange and see what a true act of kindness looks like. 

Ian was not left empty handed though.  Not at all.

The Diamondbacks recognized his excellence by awarding him with a visit to the announcer’s booth where he got to be on TV and everything.  He was given autographed memorabilia as well as future game tickets.  A nice reward for doing the right thing.

You may notice that Ian is directed by an usher to give up the ball but that doesn’t mean much to me.  He does it without hesitation and doesn’t give it a second thought.  The usher has no real power and can’t force him to give up the ball.  Ian did what he had to do because it was the right thing.

I tip my cap to you Ian.

• Beavis and Butthead will return to television and MTV has released the first peek at America’s favorite idiots.

• New footage for the new Batman game, Arkham City, has been revealed and it should get your kids very excited.  This is the follow up to 2010’s Arkham Asylum which was one of the best video games ever.
• Lucasfilm has shown a teaser for some of the deleted scenes from the original Star Wars trilogy that will be available on the Blu-Ray box set coming out later this year.
• LEGO has announced that they will be making DC and Marvel Superhero playsetsand figures.  Now kids can build LEGO machinery for their favorite super heroes and villains.

As you can see in the video they are just skating along when they are frantically asked to help and they all spring into action.  They try breaking windows with their boards but to no avail.  Then one of them picks up what looks like a parking post and uses it as a battering ram, eventually breaking the window. 

The mom is able to secure her kids and cool them off.   She got really lucky that these kids were close by and they were able to do what they did. 

It’s nice to see some young people springing to action to help others.  They often get a bad rap for their behavior but this is one group that certainly did their good deed for the day.

She knew of the failed test on July 16 but then for some reason decided to get high again the very next day AND EVEN TOOK PICTURES.   She has absolutely no respect for her new responsibilities in life and the fact that she needs to raise her kid right now and not be smoking it up.

Check out all the pics here, coutesy of TMZ.

We can all thank MTV for making these girls stars and giving them a sense of entitlement because they are on TV.  I don’t care about the girl, what I do care about is her kid who is going to be thrown into all of this and will be able to read all about this in the years to come.  It is unfair that that child should have this thrown at him before he has a chance to even talk.

This trailer was leaked to the Internet on Tuesday, a few days before it was set to be released along with the Capt. America movie (another Marvel Studios movie staring Chris Evans).  So Marvel decided to just go ahead and allow it to be released and start the buzz already.

Check it out and see what the new Spider-Man is going to be like.

Story Synopsis:

Orphaned at an early age, Peter Parker lived in Queens, New York with his beloved Aunt May and Uncle Ben. Peter leads the life of a normal high school student, but after being bitten by a genetically altered/radioactive spider, Peter Parker’s life becomes complicated. Able to cling to any surface, shoot webbing from his wrists, and the with the proportional strength of a spider, Peter devotes himself to fighting crime as Spider-Man–his guiding principle, “With great power, comes great responsibility.”

How great will family car rides be when you can interact with the windows and the environment around you.  This is only the tip of the technology too.  I would imagine games and applications will be developed and then eventually it will all be connected to WiFi and you’ll basically have a computer screen on your window.

Kids can be kepts entertained and parents would get some peace and quiet (perhaps) during those long highway miles.  I would imagine movies will eventually be able to play on the windows as well.  Plus this also paves the way for completely clear computer monitors.  Technology is amazing.

My favorite thing is how the drawings move across the window as if they were stationary.  Something about that is just so cool.

What could you do with this sort of technology?  What sort of fun games would you want for your car window?

Christian was the lucky guy who snagged New York Yankee Derek Jeter’s homerun ball which also happened to be Jeter’s 3,000 major league hit; a major milestone and has been accomplished less than 30 times.  After the 1998 season when Mark McGwire’s homerun balls were going for hundreds of thousands of dollars, it was estimated that this baseball would be worth at least $200,000.  So when Christian ended up with the ball everybody assumed he would make a mint.

Instead, Christian did the right thing and simply wanted to give the ball back to Derek.  This gesture absolutely floored sports fans and the Yankee organization who was ready to hand over a big check.  After all was said and done Christian walked away with numerous autographed memorabilia and game tickets for the rest of the season in a luxury suite.  He didn’t ask for any of that but the Yankees gave it to him in appreciation.  Christian got to meet Derek and get an unprecedented look in the Yankee clubhouse and front office.  It would be every Yankee fan’s dream to not only get all that stuff but to forever be remembered in Yankee history.

But then the punishment loomed its ugly head.

The IRS stepped up and said that Christian (who was already deep in student loan debt) would be responsible for the taxes on the items.  They estimated the total to be anywhere from $4,000 – 14,000.  Again, Christian went against the grain and simply said that the IRS is doing their job and he would find a way to pay the taxes.  He didn’t complain or seek help, he just took it.

Well now other companies are stepping up and rewarding Christian for everything.  Miller High Life is going to pay any taxes that may come up.  Mitchell Modell, CEO of Modell’s Sporting Goods (a company that sponsors the Yankees) is giving Christian his 2009 World Series ring.  Then along with his friend Brandon Steiner, CEO of Steiner Sports, guaranteed Lopez at least $25,000 each towards his student loans.  Steiner is setting up auctions now to help raise even more money for Christian.  The baseball card company Topps has also stated that they will issue a limited edition baseball card of Christian.  How cool is that!?  He gets his own baseball card.

So this time a good deed was punished but then a mob of public support saved it from turning bad.  This whole thing has been a perfect display of humanity at some of its better moments.  People doing the right thing and then others doing the right thing by helping him out of the jam.  Thank you America.  Sometimes good will can defeat greed.

The Mini Stars measure three inches in diameter and are made of opaque plastic. Each star has six circular knobs protruding from a ring-shaped center. Edushape only makes Mini Stars in red, green, yellow or blue colors which are included in this recall. The Mini Stars do not have any markings, codes or logos stamped into the plastic. They were sold in sets of 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 pieces.

These products were sold at stores nationwide including Toysrus.com, Amazon.com and Walmart.com

Anyone who purchased one of these products should stop using immediately and keep out of reach from children.  Contact Edushape at 800-404-4744 for a free replacement set or credit towards a future Edushape product.  You may also reach them at their website.

Indiana is taking the first steps towards what I believe will be a nationwide movement in removing cursive writing from its teaching curriculum.  This Fall they will no longer be teaching the long hand form and will instead focus on keyboard typing skills.  They are the first state to actually take the teaching out of their curriculum although 41 states have declared that cursive writing is no longer a “core standard”.

I beleive this is long over due.  States should have started doing these things years ago when it was clear that the Internet was no passing fad and that the only time people ever use cursive is when signing their names.

Now I know there will be plenty of people out there (most likely over the age of 40) that will find this outlandish and against tradition.  Well…..deal with it.  The world is moving on and pencil and paper just no longer cut it.  Teachers don’t want to have to translate scribbles written on paper made to look like actual words.  They want to clearly be able to read a paper and typing is the easiest way for that to happen.

Cursive writing is going to go the way of caligraphy.  It will be an elective class in high school and used very minimally until it is simply forgotten.  This is how things work.  We have eveolved into this technological society and this is just another step.

What do you think about the movement away from cursive writing?  Will you want your children to learn cursive?  Why do you think we should keep it?

It is a great little video that won’t take more than 7 minutes.  Watch it.  Be amused and then go out and get the book yourself.

‘I could not care less what people think about me. People think of the pole as a sexual object, but does this mean kids are not allowed to slide down a pole on a climbing frame? There are bad people out there who will have dirty thoughts about what Poppy is doing, but I will always protect her from men like that. ‘There are no paedophiles while she’s pole dancing, there’s no risk.,” said The Human Barbie.

But what if Poppy is naturally blessed with big boobs?

“If she develops naturally big boobs, she can have something else done with it,” said Sarah.

Oh, and because no kid wants just a piece of paper for her birthday, Poppy also received a new computer, pink Swarovski crystal ring and necklace set and a $6,500 day at a luxury day spa.  Wow.  That’s more than I think I’ve gotten in all my birthdays combined.  I don’t need to know this girl to already know that she is a spoiled brat being exploited by her mother for a continuing 15 minutes of fame. 

So this girl is only 7-years-old and she already has an affinity for fake breasts, day spas, expensive jewelry and pole dancing?  Way to go on that one mom.

All American Girl Crafts Pearly Beads & Ribbon Bracelet Kits with the SKU number of 30-585331 are affected by this recall.  The SKU number is located on the back of the package in the lower right corner. The kit contains 56 pieces. The beads in the jewelry kit are pink, blue, orange and white. Some pink beads have darker pink butterflies imprinted on them. The ribbons in the kit are orange, red, blue and purple.  These products were sold at Michael’s Stores and other stores nationwide from September 2009 – June 2011 for around $18.

Anyone who purchased one of these products should immediatly stop using, take away from children and contact the company or place of purchase for a full refund.  You can contact EKSuccess Brands at 855-535-2099 or visit their website for more information.

Students completely disrespecting teachers to the point where violence is the teachers only recourse.  Do you think the teacher was right to resort to hitting her student or did the student deserve it?  How would you feel if your child attended a school where not only students physically confronted teachers but teachers also physically confronted students? 

Our nation’s educational system is already low compared to other nations and this does nothing to enhance our image.  What can be done?

The shorts were produced as part of class presentations, and Christie says no teacher had previously complained about the animations. However, once he uploaded the videos to YouTube, Christie was promptly suspended, and even had the cops called on him by the school.

“They’ve unfairly judged me and judged my character based on something I made for entertainment,” Christie told The Globe and Mail. “I have the right to post videos on the Internet on my own time.”

In a short statement, Durham District School Board spokeswoman Andrea Pidwerbecki said, “If something is considered detrimental to the positive moral tone of the school, it doesn’t necessarily have to happen inside the school [for us to get involved].”

So now the school is stepping into kid’s private lives and disciplining them for the extracurricular activities.  This is a huge case of a school over-stepping its bounds and disciplining out of its jurisdiction. 

Christie was allowed to attend the school prom last Friday, and will be able to take his final exams but to miss out the last couple weeks of school for posting videos to YouTube is not right.  Those are the best times of year when things are more relaxed and kids can only discuss their plans for what they will be doing after school lets out.  Not letting him participate in these times is wrong.

According to experts, more than one-third of children and more than two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese.  This new Food Plate will help people understand better just exactly what they should be putting on their and their children’s meal plates.  This new design makes it easier to see that half out plates should be filled with fruit and vegetables while the other quarters should be proteins and grains, all washed down with a glass of milk for dairy.

The Plate also helps reflect the new Dietary Guidlinesreleased back in January.  For more information you can visit the USDA’s newest site www.ChooseMyPlate.gov setup specifically for this new icon.   There you can find more details about the categories as well as recipes, tips and other useful information to get you and your family eating better.

“It’s an opportunity for Americans to understand quickly how to have a balanced and nutritious meal,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “It’s a constant reminder as you look at your own plate whether your portion sizes are right, whether you’ve got enough fruits and vegetables on that plate.”

The biggest change is that grains are no longer as prominent in our daily diet.  But that in no way means we should put less emphasis on carbohydrates.

“Nutrition-wise, carbs make up the bulk of our diet,” said Marisa Moore, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. “Fruits are a source of carbohydrates and most starchy vegetables are carb sources in addition to pasta and rice. They’ll still be represented. It’s more of an emphasis on fruits and veggies.”

Please do not go around recording every bad driver you see now.  That will result in more accidents and your video will then prove to the police that it was 100% your fault.  DON’T USE ANYTHING BUT YOUR CAR WHILE DRIVING:

Super cute!

Bonds has never been really popular outside of San Francisco and will forever be tainted by steroid allegations and years of not getting along with the media.  He is often seen as arrogant and stand-offish with little patience for reporters and fans alike.  But this time he is doing everything right by not making a big deal out of it and not having a big press conference to announce his generosity and how great he is.  By keeping it under wraps he doesn’t get the donation labeled as a PR move and get more negative press about this.  This is a classy move by a guy who likes to stay out of the spotlight now.

When San Francisco Giants’ fan Bryan Stow was severely beaten by a pair of Los Angeles Dodgers’ fans Opening Day everything changed for him and his family. He is still in critical condition, coming in and out of a coma in the hospital and will most likely never recover fully from this horrible assault.

Walmart has received a total of 58 incident reports: 24 reports of the food processor operating without the lid in place, of which 21 resulted in injuries to fingertips; and 34 reports of the unit smoking, including 3 reports of fires.

These products were sold from September 2009 through February 2011 and retailed for around $50.  Anyone who purchased on of these units should immediately stop using the product and return it to Walmart for a full refund.  For more information you can call Walmart Customer Service at 877-207-0923 or visit the website here.

Here is the official synopsis:

When an evil oil man discovers black gold beneath Muppet Theater, Kermit recruits a Muppet super-fan and his two best friends to help gather up the gang for a telethon that will save the venue from being razed and replaced with a giant oil pump. Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) never met an oil field he couldn’t suck dry. So when Tex discovers a bountiful reservoir right underneath Muppet Theater, he begins drawing up plans to claim the land and start drilling. Little does Tex realize that devoted Muppets fan Walter is currently in Los Angeles with his best friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams), and that he’s not about to let one man’s greed spoil a good thing for everyone. With Kermit by their side, Walter, Gary, and Mary hatch a plan to put on a big telethon that will help them raise the ten million dollars needed to keep Muppet Theater standing. But rounding up the gang won’t be easy, because these days Miss Piggy’s got a posh job at Vogue Paris; Fozzie has landed a gig at a Reno casino; Gonzo has become the owner of a successful plumbing company; and Animal is dealing with anger management issues in a Santa Barbara clinic. With the drilling deadline fast drawing near and Tex wringing his hands in anticipation, the gang races to put on the performance of a lifetime and save Muppet Theater from certain destruction.

Look for the movie to come out on November 23, around Thanksgiving!

“Through this initiative, the public health community is rallying behind a simple message to McDonald’s: stop making the next generation sick — retire Ronald and the rest of your junk food marketing to kids,” said Steven Rothschild, a professor at Rush Medical College and a backer of the resolution.

This wouldn’t be the first time McDoanld’s has come under fire by groups saying that its marketing and food product is not healthy for kids.  In California a group sued to stop McDoanld’s from producing Happy Meals because the toys encourage kids to eat the unhealthy food.  A group of nuns in Philadelphia is seeking an investigation into McDonald’s “policy response” to concerns about the link between fast food and childhood obesity.

All these law suits and legalities are because parents can’t simply say “NO” to their children.  Instead of being strong enough to simply tell the child they can’t have the food, the parents are blaming a corporation for their policies.  Teach your kids to eat healthy and when they want unhealthy things, JUST SAY NO.  You can do it! Corporations aren’t raising our children, parents are.  Teenagers are not being lured in by a clown and toys, little kids who dont’ have the means to buy their own food like that stuff.  The parents are the ones actually purchasing these things and letting their children have them.  McDonald’s is not holding a gun to any one’s head. 

If parents can’t stand up to their children then that is their fault.  Keep the clown!

Adam Mansbach’s words along with Ricardo Cortes’ illustrations make this book a must have for any frustrated parent just trying to get their kid to sleep so they can go watch their shows in peace. It hasn’t been officially released yet but a piracy leak along with word of mouth through the Internet have lead this unpublished book to already be at the top of Amazon’s Bestsellers List. That kind of popularity only attracted the studios and Fox 2000 has already optioned it for a movie deal. All for a book that hasn’t even officially hit the market yet.

An advanced PDF copy was sent around and was leaked to the Internet so the buzz has only added to the book’s momentum.  Copies have been popping up all over, including this video of someone reading the book to you.  Check it out to see what it will be like but make sure to get a copy for yourself when it does come out.

Here are a couple reviews from people who have had a chance to see it:

“Total genius.” — Jonathan Lethem, author of Motherless Brooklyn, father of two

“A children’s book for grown-ups! I really did laugh out loud–hilarious!” — David Byrne, musician, father of one

“I wish this book had been around during my daughter’s overly protracted sleep rituals! Finally, someone tells it like it really is. This is no-guilt funny and a godsend!” — Cristina Garcia, author of The Lady Matador’s Hotel, mother of one

“This is the most honest children’s book ever written. And it’s f*cking hilarious.” — A.J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically, father of three

“Go the Fuck to Sleepis the secret anthem of tired parents everywhere. Adam Mansbach’s homage to the tropes of bedtime stories is pitch perfect, and Ricardo Cortes’s stunning illustrations will keep grown-ups and kids alike returning to these pages again and again!”– Bliss Boyard, author of One Drop: My Father’s Hidden Life

Here is the quote as it read throughout the Internet on Facebook statuses everywhere:

“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.

But the problem was that Dr. King never said the first sentence. A woman, Jessica Dovey, wrote the first sentence on her own and then quoted Dr. King who actually said the rest of the quote. 

It all started when Jessica posted her status which clearly differentiated between her words and Dr. King’s but when her friends re-posted it the quotation marks got moved around and before you knew it, everybody was putting words in Dr. King’s mouth and it spread.

Eventually it was all worked out and now the explanation (like this) is making its way around.  But it just goes to show you how connected everybody is now and how technology is clearly a double edged sword that could be used in negative ways.  Make sure your kids know that what they say can come back to bite them even worse now that there are online networks for these words to spread.  Their Facebook status posts may only be words to them but the things they say can spread and rumors become truth.

the old game of Telephone where people whisper a message from person to person, passing along the same thing but in the end the phrase is something completely different.  That game has now been changed to Internet and it is being played in real-time.  Our words no longer disappear, they just get cut and paste.