Dune is a Total Star Wars Ripoff

Dune and Star Wars movie posters

After rewatching Dune with the family at home last week, I took them all to see Dune Part 2 yesterday in the theater. We liked it but our biggest takeaway was that Dune is such an obvious ripoff of Star Wars. Like how is George Lucas not suing the pants off of these guys? Sure, Dune is an epic tale of war, religion and betrayal, told in a slower, more cerebral manner than George Lucas’ …

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Tim Burton’s Batman 1989 Movie Scores at the NJPAC

Standing by the Batman in Concert sign

It was 1989. I was sitting in a theater in Nanuet, NY with my buddy Ethan ready to watch I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. No, I wasn’t really a fan of the Wayans Brothers. Nor did I have any desire to see this comedy. Like at all. So why did my best friend and I shell out a few bucks for a movie we didn’t even want to see? It sure wasn’t for the popcorn …

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Dungeons and Dragons Cartoon Action Figures Bring the Party Home

Dungeons and Dragons action figures

As a kid, my Saturday mornings were filled with two things: Captain Crunch cereal and hours of cartoons. Tops among my favorites? Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends and the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon. From 1983-1985, CBS ran 27 episodes of one of the coolest cartoons ever, based on the world of Dungeons & Dragons. It starred a bunch of kids who go on a Dungeons & Dragons ride at their local fair, only to find …

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What is PR? Unlock the Secrets with PR Confidential

PR Confidential book with all sorts of top secret props

I’ve worked in marketing for roughly 20 years. But I still can’t answer the simple question of, “What is PR?” My friends and family work in PR at big agencies like Golin and Hunter. I’m still not totally clear on exactly what a PR team does. I mean, yes, it stands for Public Relations. That much I get. But overall, I just don’t have a full grasp of what the heck PR really is. PR …

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This Dad’s View on Living in an Empty Nest

It’s awful. Terrible. Horrendous. That’s pretty much my initial response when people ask me, “So, what’s it like living in an empty nest now?” It’s tough enough imagining that Jason, our oldest, is a junior in college this year. But our youngest son Ryan, a freshman? Inconceivable! But here we are. These days it’s just me, my beautiful wife Allison and our incredibly stubborn dog Ace. It’s been just the three of us for about …

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