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Slow summer: 'Guardians of the Galaxy' to the rescue?

"Orange Is the New Black" by Piper Kerman (Random House) 5. "Minding the Manor" by Mollie Moran (The Lyons Press) 6. "I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends" by Courtney Robertson (Harper Collins) 7. "My Mother Was Nuts" by Penny Marshall (New Harvest) 8. "The Sisters Who Would Be Queen" by Leanda de Lisle (Random House) 9. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou (Random House) 10."The Nazi Officer's Wife" by Edith Hahn Beer (Harper Collins) Nielsen BookScan gathers point-of-sale book data from about 16,000 locations across the U.S., representing about 85 percent of the nation's book sales. Print-book data providers include all major booksellers and Web retailers, and food stores. E-book data providers include all major e-book retailers. Free e-books and those sold for less than 99 cents are excluded.
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IMAX, which has 837 theatres across the world, specializes in large-format and immersive cinema. As a result, hopes for a box-office bump from Disney-owned Marvel's latest offering"Guardians of the Galaxy"are riding high. The film, which is released this weekend, stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and Bradley Cooper, and is directed by James Gunn. "Guardians" has received positive reviews, with a 93 percent "fresh rating" on Rotten Tomatoes. Entertainment journalist Kara Warner tweeted that the film was "the most fun I've had watching a movie this yearso wonderfully entertaining and just beautiful." In fact, Disney is so confident in the film they have announced a sequel even before its release, breaking the news at Comic-Con. Dimitrios Kambouris | Getty Images "Audience like it. People will be surprised at its results," said IMAX's Gelfond, who also downplayed the summer slowdown in box office takings. "The movie business has been around for over a hundred years - there are good years and bad years," he said. "Every time there are two good movies in a row, everybody says it's back, but if there's a downturn, people say it's over."
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‘Into the Woods’ Trailer: Fairy Tales Collide in Disney’s Musical

This one is directed by Rob Marshall, the helmsman on the Oscar-winning film musical Chicago; here, he is once again bringing an acclaimedBroadway stage musical to cinematic life. A recently-unveiled image gallery for the movie highlighted the A-list cast members and their lovely costuming, but the new teaser instead shines the spotlight on the fantasy world that Marshall helped to create onscreen. So far, Into the Woods looks pretty good, in terms of its aesthetics. Marshall previously directed Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides for Disney, but already his fairy tale musical seems to be an improvementin the visual department. On Stranger Tidestends to suffer from clunky lighting that calls attention to the artifice of the films scenery (probably because Marshall had not shot a movie in 3D before), whereas theInto the Woodsfootage shown here blends practical and digital material more seamlessly. In terms of story, Into the Woods starts off harmlessly enough; the central plot thread hasa Baker (James Corden) attempting to reverse a witchs curse that has left him and his wife (Emily Blunt) childless with a bug-eyed Meryl Streep playing the sorceress in question. Elsewhere, the classic stories ofCinderella (Anna Kendrick) and Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford) among several other fairy tale characters play out just as you remember them, only this timewe also get to see the consequences of their actions. This is where Into the Woods starts tobecome more genuinely dark. And by dark, we mean this musical very much starts to feel like the handiwork of lyricist/song writer Stephen Sonheim. (Remember, hes the same guy who gave us the musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, among other famous shows that dont end so happily ever after.) CLICK FOR LARGER VERSION Question is, how much will Into the Woods change during the jump to the big screen? Well, being released under the Disney logo means the musical will surely besomewhat more sanitized in movie form; at the same time, thescript was still written by James Lapine, who also penned the original Broadway shows musical book. As such, any changes that do take place will ultimately have been filtered through the mind of one of the shows creators.Better him than someone else, hopefully.
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Insider's Update: Setting sail from Pirate Island.. and a new freebie at Universal Orlando Published: July 26, 2014 at 10:18 AM It looks like the popular Pirates attraction in Orlando is closing... At SeaWorld. (How's that for a cheesy, broadcast-style lead-in?) SeaWorld announced this week that Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island will close August 10 . SeaWorld Orlando says that a new Clyde and Seamore show is on the way to replace Pirate Island, which has run for 15 years. In case you are wondering, SeaWorld San Diego's seal and sea lion show is "Sea Lions Live!," spoofing a variety of TV shows. No word yet on when the new Orlando show will debut. On the subject of attraction closures, a reminder that Six Flags Magic Mountain's Colossus closes on August 16 . If you can make it to the park tonight, there's an extended ride time "goodbye party" for the coaster from 11pm to 3am. Tickets are available online . Disney's gearing up for the 45th anniversary of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion with a new line of Mansion merchandise that will be available at all Disneyland and Walt Disney World. And Disney's also introducing some higher-end "Art of the Haunted Mansion" collectibles for sale and display at the Disneyana Gallery on Main Street at Disneyland, starting August 16. Tickets hyperlink go on sale this week for the various hard-ticket special events at this year's Epcot International Food and Wine Festival , including the Party for the Senses, Disney’s Dessert Discovery, and Culinary Adventures in Signature Dining, as well as this year's new events, such as the Dining Through the Decades - A Tribute to Walt Disney. Tickets go on sale on Thursday, July 31 at 7am Eastern, though Disney Visa credit card holders get a two-day head start, with reservations available to them on Tuesday, July 29. Call 407-939-3378 for tickets. You can find the complete line-up of this year's Food and Wine Festival events and food stands, including those events included with Epcot park admission, on Disney's website . Foodies can enjoy a free appetizer or dessert at the Emeril's restaurants at Universal Orlando Resort — Emeril's Orlando in CityWalk or Emeril's Tchoup Chop at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort — simply by ordering an entree and showing your Universal Orlando theme park ticket for the day. The offer is good through Dec. 30 and is good for one appetizer or dessert per table. One more discount this week: Knott's Berry Farm is now selling a new single-day "Ride & Slide" for unlimited back-and-forth admission to Knott's and the neighboring Soak City water park on the same day. They are available on knotts.com for $60 through September 14. If you just want a theme park ticket, they're available for $40 online if you buy at least three days in advance. The walk-up one-day theme park ticket is $65. Got a theme park news tip? Email us at themeparkinsider@gmail.com. Have a great weekend, and remember to rate and review any rides, shows, restaurants or hotels you visit! Readers' Opinions From Jeffrey H on July 26, 2014 at 11:11 AM I've seen rumors about this on Screamscape for quite some time. Last year, the rumor was that the show would be rethemed to Mars. More recently, I'd heard it would be a "back to School" theme. I'll check out the new show, whatever it becomes....but boy was the old one a snoozefest. Previous article: Vote of the Week: Should theme parks make certain attractions available by reservation only? What's it like to work at Disney World? Insider's Pick: Ever wondered what it would be like to work at the Walt Disney World Resort? Stories from a Theme Park Insider offers more than 100 pages of fun, insightful, and even sometimes touching stories from people who've worked at Disney World's Magic Kingdom. It's a great way to get in the mood for your next trip to Orlando, or just to keep the memories of a Disney World visit alive.
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Have you had a chance to experience the “Frozen” Summer Fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios yet? Earlier this month, we shared a look at the new “ Frozen Fireworks ” show that light up each night. This week we’re taking a look inside Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post , a location set up adjacent to Toy Story Mania! that offers “Frozen” merchandise, ice skating, a snow play area for kids, themed treats, and fun photo ops. Gallery
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Why do we love ice cream so much? Sunday, July 20, is National Ice Cream Day, declared by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, and we’re happy for the pure joy of a dripping ice cream cone on a hot summer day. Disney Parks fans know the gooey Kitchen Sink Sundae, the irresistible Dole Whip and ice-cold Mickey Mouse bar. And we’ve all picked a favorite flavor for a double scoop from Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor at Disneyland park or Plaza Ice Cream Parlor at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort . But for National Ice Cream Day, we’re stepping out with some ice cream creations you may not have tried. Here are eight favorites that are a little more creative than a double dip of vanilla or chocolate: If you’re lucky enough to find yourself dining at California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort on National Ice Cream Day, order the Sundae Sampler, a mini-trio with Frangelico toffee mousse, a float with root-beer flavored ice cream and homemade vanilla soda and a “banana split” (mousse, fresh roasted pineapple, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, candied peanuts, chocolate sauce and a cherry). You won’t want to share. Run, don’t walk, to try the chocolate macaron sandwich at L’Artisan des Glaces at the France pavilion at Epcot . A crunchy chocolate cookie sandwich with dark chocolate ice cream made right there, it’s simply divine. There are 16 flavors, but, seriously, that chocolate-chocolate sensation is a must. Another favorite? The hand-pressed brioche ice cream sandwich. Try something different at the new Morocco Juice Bar at Epcot World Showcase, where the chef is making bold ice cream flavors like chocolate and cinnamon, green tea, pistachio with orange blossom water (our favorite), strawberry and red bean, and toasted almond with rosewater. For a Magic Kingdom pick-me-up, grab the latte iced coffee float at Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies in Tomorrowland. (The kids can get a caramel or hot fudge sundae.) At Disneyland Resort , we always make a stop at Clarabelle’s at Disney California Adventure park for the hand-dipped ice-cream bar. Choose vanilla, chocolate or mixed berry sorbet, ask for it dipped in milk or dark chocolate, then add a flourish of toppings like chocolate chips or rainbow sprinkles. Made on the spot while you watch. Get fancy at Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa with a single, double or triple scoop of artisanal ice creams: Scharffen Berger chocolate chunk, Tahitian vanilla bean or creamy California strawberry. The Napa Rose pastry chefs churn it out fresh. If you’re strolling Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort, stop at Uva Bar for a homemade ice-cream milkshake. We recommend the s’mores flavor. Or if a root beer float is more to your liking, they make theirs with Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream and craft root beer. We’ve got a soft spot for cobbler a la mode, and some of the best is at Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue – fresh fruit (whatever’s in season) baked in a skillet with a crunchy topping and vanilla ice cream. Grab at least two spoons and share. Eight Delectable Disney Parks Treats for National Ice Cream Day by Pam Brandon: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog
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"Sea Rescue" is New This Weekend! by Staff Comments Be sure to catch a new episode of the Emmy-nominated Sea Rescue this weekend! Hundreds of sea lion pups turn up starving and malnourished up and down the coast of Southern California, including one who wanders right into a crowded hotel lobby. SeaWorld and other rescue teams mount an extraordinary response to save these little pups and nurse them back to health. Sea Rescue airs nationally on ABC on Saturday mornings during “Litton’s Weekend Adventure” and is among the most popular Saturday morning shows. Sea Rescue and its companion show, The Wildlife Docs , comprise the #1 rated block on Saturday mornings and are consistently rated #1 in the top ten U.S. markets including the four largest: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia. Currently in its third season, Sea Rescue has been seen by more than 120 million viewers. Time is subject to change so be sure to check your local listings. For more information aboutSea Rescue and The Wildlife Docs visit www.seaworldkids.com .
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Sea Rescue and The Wildlife Docs are new this Weekend by Staff Comments Be sure to catch new episodes of the Emmy-nominated Sea Rescue and The Wildlife Docs this weekend! On Sea Rescue, a gray seal is tangled up in a fishing net on a remote beach on Long Island, N.Y., but a rescue team from The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation is there to help. Also, volunteers on a routine turtle patrol discover a rare leatherback hatchling stuck at the bottom of a nest with a life-threatening fold in its shell. On The Wildlife Docs, we’ll visit with four members of Busch Gardens’ Animal Ambassador team: a sweet-faced lemur, Harry the two-toed sloth, an echidna and finally Pinky the flamingo. These animals play an important role at the park as they help educate the public about wildlife conservation. Sea Rescue and The Wildlife Docs air nationally on ABC on Saturday mornings during “Litton’s Weekend Adventure” and are among the most popular Saturday morning shows. They are part of the #1 rated block on Saturday mornings and are consistently rated #1 in the top ten U.S. markets including the four largest: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia. Currently in its third season, Sea Rescue has been seen by more than 120 million viewers. Time is subject to change so be sure to check your local listings. For more information about Sea Rescue and The Wildlife Docs visit www.seaworldkids.com .
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"Sea Rescue" and "The Wildlife Docs" are New This Weekend! by Staff Catch new episodes of Sea Rescue and The Wildlife Docs this weekend! On Sea Rescue when a rarely seen pygmy sperm whale washes up in bad shape on the New Jersey coast, rescuers are shocked to discover how much ocean trash this unfortunate animal has swallowed. Then, a monsoon blows a flock of pelicans off course, causing them to land in the scorching Arizona desert and even a crowded public swimming pool. On The Wildlife Docs when a baby kangaroo's mother is no longer able to care for him, Busch Gardens’ dedicated animal care team steps in to raise him by hand. Then, see what happens a little over a year after Rukyah, the youngest of three Malayan tigers, is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. It’s nothing short of a miracle. Sea Rescue and The Wildlife Docs air nationally on ABC on Saturday mornings during “Litton’s Weekend Adventure” and are among the most popular Saturday morning shows. They are part of the #1 rated block on Saturday mornings and are consistently rated #1 in the top ten U.S. markets including the four largest: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia. Currently in its third season, Sea Rescue has been seen by more than 120 million viewers. Time is subject to change so be sure to check your local listings. For more information aboutSea Rescue and The Wildlife Docs visit www.seaworldkids.com .
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Eastern Iowans receive valuable leadership advice from Mickey Mouse - TheGazette

Heres 5 reasons why ESPN will likely not only hit that mark but exceed it, even if Team USA isnt in the mix. Its the Finals and Its an Event Whether its the Super Bowl, or a Game 7 in series play, when it comes to defining a champion in any sport, fans will flock to their television to see who gets crowned the best. Both teams in the Final have rich soccer history and interest not only in America, but around the globe. Given that Germany pasted host country Brazil with something that looked more American football than futbol with a 7-1 final score, and Argentina needing a shootout to move past the Netherlands, look for a potential barnburner of a game. Its on ABC Yes, I said this would be a hit for ESPN, but Disney owns not only The Worldwide Leader, but ABC, as well. So while ESPN is the network that owns the media rights to this years World Cup, Disney is choosing ABC for the Final, and with it, more Americans will tune in. It Falls on a Sunday The record-setting match for ESPN was that Portugal vs. US match, but it was actually sandwiched in-between the opening game for the US against Ghana , and the match with Belgium when they made into the Round of 16. Conventional wisdom would have been that one or the other would have drawn better than the Portugal match (Ghana, because its the first game for Team USA, and Belgium because it was in the Round of 16). The reason the Portugal match drew so well was it was on a Sunday, as opposed to the others that saw the game when many were either still in the office or stuck in traffic on the way home from it.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit 5 Reasons Why U.S. TV Ratings For The World Cup Final Will Be Massive - Forbes

9 of the world's greatest tunnels - CNN.com

Length: 646.7 meters' style='float:left;padding:5px' /> Led by two Disney Institute instructors, approximately 150 people from 60 entities got to peel back the curtain of Walt Disney World to see how it has become an iconic destination and a model for businesses across the spectrum. I had never heard of the Disney Institute before, but I knew about Disney, said Maureen Kler Osako, a vice president with Informatics, a web business based Cedar Rapids. Osako was among the attendees of the Disney Institutes Approach to Business Excellence seminar, hoping to bring home some ideas. The event was hosted by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President Nancy Quellhorst said the organization brought in Disney in response to members seeking to improve leadership and customer service in the face of challenges such as recruiting and retaining workers and increasing competition. Examples from Mickey may seem far removed from businesses outside the theme park industry, but the lessons come from a core philosophy that aligns staff, setting and processes with a set of principles that can be modified almost anywhere. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics made a splash a few years ago when leaders hired the Disney Institute. The hospital backed off an initial plan in 2009 to send a leadership group to Orlando in favor of bringing Disney to Iowa City. The relationship continues in 2014, with approximately 6,000 of the 9,000 UIHC employees having gone through Disney Institute training. Hospitals in Iowa, Florida and California, sports franchises, the National Football League and automakers have turned to Disney Institute to help enhance client and employee satisfaction. The Disney potential was seen on Tuesday by a wide range of industry sectors in Eastern Iowa, such as non-profits, business, and government.
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The length of the tunnel prompted engineers to include various features designed to alleviate claustrophobia and tiredness. "The sheer length of tunnel -- which takes 20 minutes to drive through -- led to innovation in the use of behavioral science and driver psychology in the design to reduce driver fatigue and improve safety," says Sykes. "This resulted in large, colorfully lit caverns every six kilometers, providing points of interest and a unique driver experience." Length: 24.5 kilometers (15.2 miles) Fast fact: Engineers separated the tunnel into different sections to give the illusion that drivers are traveling through a number of smaller tunnels. In these smaller sections drivers can take breaks, or even have a wedding ceremony, as one adventurous couple has previously done. Tokyo's Aqua-Line: Bridge above, tunnel beneath. Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line (Tokyo) It's easy to mistake this tunnel for a bridge because part of the structure comprises a 4.4-kilometer span as well as a 9.6-kilometer subsea conduit. The Aqua Line crosses Tokyo Bay and connects the cities of Kawasaki and Kisarazu. It reduced the journey time between the two from 90 to 15 minutes. "This project required the world's largest undersea tunnel boring machines and set the precedent for constructing two-lane road tunnels," points out Matt Sykes at Arup. "The resilience of the construction was demonstrated during the 2011 Tohoku-Pacific Ocean earthquake, which caused severe damage to Tokyo Bay." Length: 14 kilometers total (8.7 miles) Fast fact: Constructed atop the Tokyo Bay Aqua Line is an island that functions as a rest area and mall. The man-made island, called Umi-Hotaru, is a popular scenic point with an observation deck that gives a great view of Tokyo Bay.
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They’ve been called “Cutest Couple Ever.” They’ve won the Academy Award for “Let it Go,” part of a musical score that has already become the stuff of legend. The New York home of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez is laden with awards — including the Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy (making Bobby an “EGOT,” a person who has won all four awards). So, what did they want to do next? Go to Disney Parks ! Kristen and Bobby are firm on a very important point. No amount of fame and acclaim can compare with the love of friends and family (they just welcomed a little nephew into the fold last month). Clearly they’re having as much fun seeing their daughters react to Disney magic as they’re enjoying it themselves (I feel the same way about my kids, just like my father did about me). As Kristen says in the video, “We’re Disney people!” They’ve got an especially warm attachment to the first stage musical they worked on together, Finding Nemo—The Musical at Disney’s Animal Kingdom — as well as The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot , which features their song, “In the Big Blue World.” They told me about their Disney fandom in this interview . By the way, have you checked out the Limited-Edition color 12” vinyl LP album version of the “ Frozen ” soundtrack?. It’s available here . I love to shine the two blue discs and the crystal engraved disc up to the light — that is, when I’m not listening to them! You can find the compact disc soundtrack of “Frozen,” as well as the Finding Nemo — The Musical cast album at select Walt Disney World Resort shops (or by calling Merchandise Guest Services at 1-877-560-6477). Oscar-Winning ‘Frozen’ Songwriters Enjoy a Heart-Warming Visit to Walt Disney World Resort by Greg Ehrbar: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog
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"Sea Rescue" and "The Wildlife Docs" are New This Weekend! by Staff Catch new episodes of Sea Rescue and The Wildlife Docs this weekend! On Sea Rescue when a family on a boat trip in Florida discovers a newborn dolphin, his prospects don't look good. But with round-the-clock care from the SeaWorld team, Turner the dolphin ends up fulfilling a vital role in the U.S Navy. On The Wildlife Docs the Busch Gardens animal team closely monitors Harry, a two-toed sloth, to determine whether he is healthy enough to continue his work on the park's Animal Ambassador Team. Then, the vets head to Busch Gardens’ 65-acre Serengeti Plain for a house call on a gazelle. Sea Rescue and The Wildlife Docs air nationally on ABC on Saturday mornings during “Litton’s Weekend Adventure” and are among the most popular Saturday morning shows. They are part of the #1 rated block on Saturday mornings and are consistently rated #1 in the top ten U.S. markets including the four largest: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia. Currently in its third season, Sea Rescue has been seen by more than 120 million viewers. Time is subject to change so be sure to check your local listings. For more information aboutSea Rescue and The Wildlife Docs visit www.seaworldkids.com .
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