Glenn Perrett

Defiance, Knowing, Taken & Push on DVD

Defiance (Paramount Home Entertainment, rated 14A)
Set in Belarus, Defiance is an entertaining movie (based on a true story) about the Bielski brothers - Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber), Asael (Jamie Bell) and Aron (George MacKay) - who take to the forests near their home to fight back against the Nazi forces during World War II. As they encounter other Jewish escapees in the woods they take them in. The group moves camp whenever they are discovered by the Germans. The group eventually grows to over 1,000 and they survive in the woods for two more years.

Knowing (E1 Entertainment, rated 14A)
Knowing is the sci-fi thriller starring Nicolas Cage as professor John Koestler. The film starts off in 1959 Massachussetts at an elementary school where students have put drawings into a capsule which will be opened 50 years later. One of the pages put into the capsule is full of numbers. When the capsule is opened in 2009, Caleb Koestler (Chandler Canterbury) gets the page of seemingly random numbers. When Caleb's father sees the paper he realizes that the numbers represent the dates and death tolls of disasters over the past 50 years including three disasters which haven't occurred yet - including the ultimate disaster. Can Professor Koestler figure out what is forecast, when it will happen...and in time?

Taken (Fox Home Entertainment, PG 13)
If you're looking for a movie that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat for an hour and a half then I recommend Taken. Liam Neeson is Bryan Mills, a former CIA spy. When his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) is kidnapped while in Paris with a friend, Mills is forced to rely on, and use, his special skills as he attempts to rescue his daughter who has been taken by a criminal organization. Mills has only 96 hours in which to find Kim or lose his daughter forever. Famke Janssen is Lenore who is Mill's ex-wife. The TV commercial for this movie was very good and I wasn't disappointed when I watched this suspense film.

Push (E1 Entertainment, rated 14A)
Push is an action sci-fi movie that stars Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle and Djimon Hounsou. A Watcher who can see the future (Dakota Fanning) enlists the help of a telekinetic Mover (Chris Evans) help steal a briefcase that holds a valuable secret. While trying to avoid government agents they seek the help of a mind-controlling Pusher (Camilla Belle). I found the plot confusing at times, but it has its entertaining moments.

Hiking, Camping & Greener Vacations

There is still plenty of summer left to get out and do various things. I've enjoyed hiking nearby trails and sections of the Bruce Trail which go through some very scenic areas of Ontario. The following books offer information on some ways to enjoy nature.

The Bruce Trail Reference: Maps and Trail Guides (Edition 25)
The Bruce Trail Conservancy
www.brucetrail.org

Our family has started hiking parts of the Bruce Trail. We've really enjoyed hiking up to Bell's Lookout located just off River Road between Horning's Mills and Terra Nova. This past spring we also hiked some of the Bruce Trail that goes through Mono Cliffs Provincial Park in Mono Township.

If you are interested in hiking "Canada's oldest and longest marked footpath" that goes from Niagara to Tobermory along the Niagara Escarpment you will want to get a copy of The Bruce Trail Reference: Maps and Trail Guides. Section one looks at The Bruce Trail Conservancy including its history, land acquisition and Bruce Trail Clubs. The second section is on The Niagara Escarpment and contains information on geology as well as flora and fauna. The third section contains important trail information including: using the trail, the Trailer User's Code, camping, following the trail, trail signs, parking and trail safety. There are also sections on "Preventative Health Measures" and "Maps & trail Descriptions."

The maps for the various areas are detailed and easy to follow. They can also be removed from the book and taken on the hike so you don't have to take the book. The maps contain information on the main trail as well as side trails and recommended parking areas.

You can buy a copy of this impressive trail guide and learn about The Bruce Trail Conservancy including how you can support this important charitable organization at www.brucetrail.org This guide makes a nice gift for those interested in hiking in Ontario.

Camping
Ed and Kate Douglas
DK Publishing
2009, 192 pages
ISBN: 9780756650964

Camping can be a fun, eco-friendly, inexpensive way to spend a vacation. It can also generate great memories that last a lifetime. Camping can also be a good way to slow down our lives a little and relax - at least for a while.

In their book Camping, Ed and Kate Douglas provide information on various camping topics including where to go, what to take, making and keeping camp and even a section on camp cooking. Some of the types of camping covered include full facility camp sites, open sites, festival camping and freestyle camping.

The authors also provide good suggestions on buying a tent and look at family tents, mountain tents, lightweight tents and backpacking tents. Items to sleep on, and in, are also examined as are cooking items including stoves and barbecues. There is also a section on "Absolute essentials" which includes such things as a water container, air pump, lanterns, solar panel and, of course, Duct tape. "Everyday essentials" includes clotheslines, first-aid kit and a multi-tool. The section on "Kids' camping gear" looks at such things as nature books, a backpack, flashlight and favourite toys.

Some of the other topics featured are: packing your backpack, packing your car, pitching your tent, choosing your campsite, putting up a tarpaulin, useful knots, dealing with animals, collecting water, keeping dry, keeping clean, kitchen chores, making a fire, first aid, reading the weather, stargazing, map-reading and fun things to do.

Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World
Richard Hammond and Jeremy Smith
Rough Guides Ltd.
2009, 392 pages
ISBN: 9781848360471

Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World features 500 "unusual, alternative and incredible experiences that also make a difference to the lives of local people and the planet." In the introduction the authors state that "Clean Breaks" minimize your environmental impact, both on your journey and while at your destination, "by choosing carefully how you travel and the nature of the place you choose to stay at. Other positive ways the traveler can help out include conserving wildlife and the local heritage and supporting local economies.

Clean Breaks is divided into the following areas: Great Britain and Ireland; Western Europe; Mediterranean Islands; Scandinavia; Eastern Europe and the Aegean; Northern Africa and the Middle East; Southern Africa; North America; Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean; South America; Central and East Asia; Southeast Asia; The Indian Subcontinent; Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. There is also a section on "Make the most of your trip."

There are also many features throughout the book including "Green festivals in the UK", "Carbon offsetting", "Live with the locals" and "Volunteering".

Lots of nice, colour photographs complement the text.

Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World will be of interest to those who enjoy traveling and who are concerned about the environment.

DVDs At a Glance

Reba: The Sixth Complete Season (Fox Home Entertainment, 1 disc, rated G)
The final season of Reba (2001-2007, 124 episodes) was just released and it features the show's final 13 episodes on one disc. Reba Hart (Reba McEntire) is the sarcastic, divorced, single mother who is trying her best at being a mother and a career woman - and doing a pretty good job of both. Her ex-husband, Brock Hart (Christopher Rich), is married to her best friend - Barbara Jean Booker Hart (Melissa Peterman).

Season six, which is the final season, has Brock's and Barbara Jean's marriage on the rocks. Reba's oldest child, Cheyenne Hart-Montgomery (Joanna Garcia), is pregnant with her second child. Her husband, Van Montgomery (Steve Howey), and her finally move out of Reba's house and into their own. Reba's other daughter, Kyra Hart (Scarlett Pomers), moves out to tour with her band. Reba's son is Jake Hart and is played by Mich Holleman.

How To Lose Friends & Alienate People (MGM Home Entertainment, rated 14A)
Sidney Young (Simon Pegg) is an annoying and obnoxious British journalist who enjoys exposing celebrities' faults. After accepting an offer to join a celebrity magazine in Manhatten from editor Clayton Harding (Jeff Bridges), Young manages to bother, annoy and irritate virtually everyone he meets and works with. Besides making it big in Manhatten, Young has his sights set on actor Sophie Maes (Megan Fox) whose publicist, Eleanor Johnson (Gillian Anderson), makes Young an interesting offer. Also in the funny romantic/comedy is Kirsten Dunst who plays Alison Olsen, a colleague of Young's.

Coronation St. Vol. 2: 1961-63 (E1 Entertainment, 2 discs, rated PG)
Coronation Street is the incredibly popular British soap that began in 1960 and is Britain's longest running TV soap. The show looks at the lives of people in Manchester, England.  This is the second volume and features eight episodes from 1961 to 1963. Enjoy watching the characters from the show's early days including Annie Walker, Frank Barlow, Minnie Caldwell and Ken Barlow (William Roache). Roache has played Ken Barlow from the first season and continues his role almost 50 years later. The eight black-and-white episodes have a total run time of approximately 192 minutes.

Movies for Kids

It is good to have a variety of things to keep children busy while on vacation. When it comes to watching movies, the following are fun for the whole family!

Labou (MGM Home Entertainment, rated G)
Three very different kids team up to search for the ghost of Captain LeRouge whose ship containing a vast treasure was lost in a Louisiana bayou over two hundred years ago. In looking for Captain LeRouge the children meet one of the captain's descendants as well as two unscrupulous, and incompetent, oil tycoons who are buying up the swampland to build an oil refinery.

Helping the children oppose the ruthless oil people is Labou, a magical swamp creature who lives in the swamp and whose whistles are beautiful to listen to. If they can find the treasure they can save the swamp and Labou's home.

Labou was voted "Best Feature" at the 10th Annual Brooklyn Academy of Music Kids Film Festival in New York. The film offers positive messages pertaining to friendship, teamwork, helping others and the environment.

Lots of special features complement the fun movie including "The Making of Labou" featurette, "Building Labou" featurette, "The Music of Labou" featurette, "Special Effects" featurette and "New Orleans: points of Interest" featurette.

Finn on the Fly (E1 Entertainment, rated G)
Another entertaining movie for kids is Finn on the Fly. Finn is a happy dog who loves to play Frisbee with his human companion Ben who is a shy, 13-year-old boy. Finn breaks into a neighbour's laboratory while chasing a cat through a pet-door. After drinking some genetic transformation serum, Finn turns into a human. Ben teaches Finn to walk, talk and eat like a human while Finn teaches Ben many good points about being a dog including teaching Ben's ultimate Frisbee team how to play Frisbee. Together Ben and Finn, and some of their friends, oppose the terrible, mad scientist as they attempt to get the antidote to turn Finn back into a dog.

This movie about loyalty and friendship was filmed in Regina and Moose Jaw.

Garfield's Pet Force (Fox Home Entertainment, rated G)
Garfield fans will be pleased to know there is another film about the lazy, overweight feline. Garfield's Pet Force has aliens, zombies, superheroes, battles and much more. Garfield, Odie, Nermal, Arlene and Jon are having a barbecue when suddenly they are involved in a battle of epic proportions when Vetvix, a sinister alien, along with her zombies tries to make everyone in Cartoon World her slaves. Fortunately, the comic strip characters are able to turn into superheroes in an attempt to thwart Vetvix and her evil ways.

The special feature with this DVD is "Professor Wally's Moscrambulator DVD-ROM Game".

A Plumm Summer (Paramount Home Entertainment, rated PG)
A good movie our family enjoyed is A Plumm Summer. Inspired by a true story, this film has a popular children's show puppet, Froggy Doo, being kidnapped in a small town and held for ransom. Young Rocky Plumm (Owen Pearce) loves Froggy Doo and is upset when the marionette goes missing. Rocky and his older brother Elliott (Chris J. Kelly) decide to look for Froggy Doo and visit the puppet's owner Happy Herb (Henry Winkler). The Plumm brothers, along with their new friend Haley (Morgan Flynn), start looking for possible suspects including Binky the Clown (Clint Howard). Rocky, Elliott and Haley go up against FBI Agents Hardigan (Peter Scolari) and Brinkman (Rick Overton) to solve the case all the while dealing with life's difficulties and becoming best friends.

Others in the impressive cast include William Baldwin, Lisa Guerrero and Brenda Strong. Lots of special features including a gag reel and deleted scenes.

A Plumm Summer is a very good movie for the whole family!

Books for Young Children

One-Dog Canoe
Mary Casanova, illustrations by Ard Hoyt
Square Fish
2003, 32 pages
ISBN: 9780312561185
ages 4+

One-Dog Canoe is the fun story of a girl who sets off in her canoe with her dog. Along the way they pick up a beaver, a loon, a wolf, a bear and a moose. When a frog also joins everyone in the canoe it proves too much. The simple, funny story and excellent illustrations will delight young children.

Pond Circle
Betsy Franco, illustrated by Stefano Vitale
Margaret K. McElderry Books
2009, 32 pages
ISBN: 9781416940210
ages 4+

If you are looking for a good nature book book for a child you will want to check out Pond Circle. This rhythmic, cumulative story looks at life in and around a pond. The story starts with the water in the pond by Anna's house and goes on to illustrate the relationships between the water, algae, mayfly nymph, diving beetle, bullfrog, garter snake, skunk, great horned owl, raccoon, coyote and Anna.

Not only does the story illustrate the food-chain of life around the pound, it also shows how beautiful nature is and how everything is connected. A section after the story ("facts to pond-er") provides more information on the animals, and green algae, featured in the book.

Big, colourful illustrations complement the text.

Broadway Barks
Bernadette Peters, pictures by Liz Murphy
Blue Apple Books
2008, 34 pages (with CD)
ISBN: 9781934706008
ages 4+

Broadway Barks is a happy book with an important message. A homeless dog who lives in Central Park in New York City is befriended by a woman who takes him to Broadway Barks where dogs and cats are adopted. Fortunately, the homeless dog, who is named Kramer, finds a nice home with a little girl and her parents.

Broadway Barks is a "pet adopt-a-thon" that is held annually in New York City. Founded by Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore, this event held in the summer has members of the Broadway acting community offering dogs and cats from local shelters for adoption in New York's theatre district.

A CD of Bernadette Peters reading the book as well as Peters singing "Kramer's Song", a good night lullaby, is included.

The Little Green Pea
Alison Barber, illustrated by Paige Keiser
Sleeping Bear Press
2009, 26 pages
ISBN: 9781585364480
ages 3+

A little green pea dreams of growing into a tree - until he is picked for eating. After escaping by falling to the floor and rolling out of sight, the pea is eaten by a worm who especially likes peas. While the pea himself doesn't become a tree, the worm does mix up the soil out of which grows a ...tree!

The simple and entertaining plot complemented by fun illustrations will hold a young child's attention.

Dogs
Emily Gravett
Macmillan Children's Books
2009, 26 pages
ISBN: 9780230704220
all ages

Dogs looks at various types of dogs including big ones, small ones, dogs who bark, dogs who play, hairy and bald dogs, fast dogs, scruffy dogs and bad and good dogs. Various breeds of dogs are included in the simple story including Great Dane, Bichon Frise, German Shepherd, Bull Terrier, Chinese Crested, Bulldog - and more.

The Very Cranky Bear
Nick Bland
Scholastic Canada Ltd.
2009, 24 pages
ISBN: 9780545986168
ages 3+

Moose, Lion, Zebra and Sheep are staying dry playing cards in a cave on a rainy day. Until a cranky bear who is trying to get some sleep chases them out of his cave. Hoping to be allowed back in the cave, Zebra, Moose and Lion attempt to give Bear items they think he will enjoy. Unfortunately, they are unsuccessful. Can Sheep get Bear to allow them to use his cave?

How Robin Saved Spring
Debbie Ouellet, illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli
Henry Holt and Company
2009, 32 pages
ISBN: 9780805069709
ages 4+

Two sisters live in a little cottage - Lady Winter and Sister Spring. One year, Lady Winter decides not to step aside and allow Sister Spring, who has been sleeping for nine months, to colour the world green again. Lady Winter knits a cold white blanket and covers her sister with it so that she will continue sleeping.

In order to try and wake up Sister Spring, Robin seeks help from forest animals Bear, Caterpillar, Ladybug, Skunk and even Maple Tree before taking on the important task himself.

A nice story and beautiful, colourful illustrations make this a quality book for children.

Making Gardening Easier

People are creating vegetable gardens or turning their flower gardens into veggie plots. Even the Obamas have created an organic vegetable garden on the south lawn of the White House. And for good reason. Growing your own organic vegetables is good for your health as gardening is good exercise and consuming vegetables which haven't been covered in pesticides, herbicides and transported thousands of miles is also good for you. Growing your own vegetables also saves you considerable money.

Unfortunately, some people get discouraged when they start a vegetable garden because of the work involved with preparing the garden, weeding it and keeping it in good shape. Some gardening items that I've used and been impressed with are below. All of these are available from Lee Valley Tools. I've also included some good gardening books in this blog. Happy gardening!

Rolling Composter
We've been gardening for over two decades and one of the more difficult things that I had trouble with was creating compost. Our first composter consisting of a boxed-in area created with boards. Not only was this difficult to mix the compost in, but animals were able to access it. Next, we tried one of the composters you could buy from your municipality. This too was difficult to mix the compost in and animals quickly were able to access inside it and eventually destroyed it.

Several years ago we attempted another composter. Not only is compost important for your garden, but creating it drastically reduces the garbage you create. We tried the rolling composter. This composter is durable (nothing has destroyed it in many years) and is easy to mix compost in. Set on a base of "built-in wheels" the composter is easy to mix on the spot. Sometimes when it becomes heavy it is difficult to roll on its base so we roll it across the yard. Vegetable scraps, grass clippings, leaves and similar items are quickly and effectively mixed up eventually turning into valuable compost for the garden!

Stainless-Steel Compost Pail
Collecting vegetable kitchen scraps to take to the composter is important. We used to use a plastic container with a lid. It worked alright, but it began to smell after a while and it didn't look very good on the counter. Then we tried a 6 litre stainless-steel compost pail. It works great, doesn't smell, is easy to clean and looks good on the counter. It holds considerable compost which is easily carried to the composter.

San-Kaku Hoe
I'm not big on weeding. But it has to be done. Our garden gets lots of vine-type weeds that are difficult to remove. When you pull them they break off. Recently I tried out the San-Kaku Hoe and made quick work of the weeds in our vegetable garden. The hoe has a spear point which can be used for digging furrows, breaking up soil and severing roots. I can quickly sever the roots of weeds and the long handle (57.5") allows you to weed while standing up. Be careful of the triangular blade though, it has a sharp point.

Rock Rake
Another garden tool that minimizes bending over is the Rock Rake.  this device is 65" long and features a 6" wide basket which rakes and removes rocks 0.75" to 4" in diameter. In well-tilled soil you can easily remove the rocks scooping them up and disposing of them.

Eliminator Premium Knee Pads
Even if you have long-handled garden tools you will likely need to get down and dirty in the garden. To protect your knees you can benefit from a quality set of knee pads. The Eliminator Premium Kneepads are made of injected gel and have many features such as strap positioning and an extended shin and heel that helps to protect your knees.

Books to Help You Garden
Now that you are equipped to create and maintain a beautiful, healthy garden you can read some informative books to help you maintain and get the most from your vegetable plot.

Growing Your Own Vegetables: An Encyclopedia of Country Living Guide
Carla Emery & Lorene Edwards Forkner
Sasquatch Books
2009, 179 pages
ISBN: 9781570615702

Growing Your Own Vegetables: An Encyclopedia of Country Living Guide provides considerable information for those interested in having a vegetable garden. Included in the first part of the book are such topics as planning your garden, laying out your garden, soil composition, compost and manures, mulching, soil nutrients and weeds.

The second part of the book is a comprehensive "Guide to Vegetables". In this part of the book there are sections on the onion family, leaves (e.g. lettuce, cabbage and spinach), stems and flowers (e.g. asparagus, rhubarb, broccoli), roots (e.g. potatoes, beets, carrots, radishes), grasses and grains, legumes (e.g. peas, beans), gourds (e.g. cucumbers, melons), the nightshade family (e.g. eggplant, peppers, tomatoes) and herbs (more than 30 listed). Interesting information about the vegetables is provided as well as how to plant them.

The Book of Weeds: How to Deal With Plants That Behave Badly
Ken Thompson
DK Publishing
2009, 192 pages
ISBN: 9780756642716

Weeds aren't the evil things that many gardeners believe them to be.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."

I agree with Emerson. All plants, indeed all species, are important. However, you don't want other plants competing with your vegetables in your garden. Ken Thompson provides the reader with considerable information on those pesky plants that are not welcome in gardens including how to keep them in control. Controlling weeds includes using such tools as a hoe (which Thompson says is the "single most useful weeding tool"), a dense cover of plants, mulching and killing weeds before they can seed.

Thompson also looks at various weeds including why they succeed, how to control them and even their benefits. Regarding the "silver lining" of dandelions, Thompson says the following,

"Dandelions have almost too many uses to list. They increasingly turn up in salads with mixtures of other leaves and can be stir-fried, pickled, or cooked with pasta or in pies. Rabbits adore them. Wine can be made from the flowers, the roasted roots have been used as a coffee substitute, and latex from the roots has been made into rubber. Dandelion is a well-known diuretic, hence the French name of pissenlit (piss-the-bed).

Garden Anywhere
Alys Fowler
Chronicle Books
2008, 192 pages
ISBN: 9780811868754

Looking for suggestions and information about growing gardens in containers and other small places - and without spending a lot of money? Fowler provides information on "No-garden gardening" where she looks at container gardens where you can use large food tins and even plastic bags (as long as the bag isn't see through). Fowler even grows potatoes in containers.

"Potatoes grow so easily in containers that I've almost given up growing them in the ground. I bought five very large pots (the size of garbage cans, another alternative) from a dollar store a couple of years ago and grow a summer supply with virtually no effort. Spuds will grow equally as well in old compost or mulch bags."

Other topics covered include everything from potting soil and window boxes to compost and seed sowing. Pruning, propagation, weeding and harvesting are also included. There is even a section on "Building a cold frame from old pallets."

The Container Gardener's Bible
Joanna K. Harrison and Miranda Smith
Rodale Inc.
2009, 192 pages
ISBN: 9781594869587

People with limited space, who don't want conventional gardens or who want to complement their vegetable gardens with additional places to grow veggies and other plants are turning to container gardening. We have several organic vegetable gardens and we still grow tomatoes and peppers in numerous containers.

In The Container Gardener's Bible, Joanna K. Harrison and Miranda Smith have provided a comprehensive guide to growing plants in containers. The authors have sections on: design, seasonal planting, the kitchen garden and preparation and planting. Lots of good ideas and colour photos make this book fun to read through. The section on "The Kitchen Garden" covers things such as the container herb garden, the container vegetable garden, the container fruit garden and the aromatic container garden.

You don't need a yard to have a productive garden!

TV Series on DVD

Lots of television series (new and old) have recently made their way to DVD providing enjoyable summer viewing.

Saving Grace: Season Two (Fox Home Entertainment, 4 discs, rated 14A)
Lots happens in the second season of Saving Grace, an excellent crime/drama show now in its third season. The show follows the life of the intense, hard living, chain-smoking, hard-drinking Detective Grace Hanadarko (Holly Hunter) and her colleagues and family. While Grace Hanadarko is an exceptional detective with the Oklahoma City Police, she has many serious faults. In the show's first season she kills a pedestrian with her car after having too many drinks. When she asks God for help her prayers are answered by Earl, an angel who attempts to set Grace in the right direction.

Joining Holly Hunter are: Leon Rippy (Earl), Kenny Johnson (Detective Hamilton "Ham" Dewey), Bailey Chase (Detective Butch Ada), Gregory Cruz (Detective Bobby Stillwater), Lorraine Toussaint (Captain Kate Perry), Laura San Giacomo (Rhetta Rodriguez) and Bokeem Woodbine (Leon Cooley).

Lots happens in season two including Grace and her partner, Ham, continuing their relationship, Ham's brother is killed in Afghanistan, Grace's dog Gus goes missing and a member of the police force is murdered. There are also lots of violent crimes that need solving. And, there is the continuing storyline of Leon Cooley who is on death row.

Saving Grace is one of the best shows on television. The exceptional crime drama has good characters and writing and is full of suspense - and funny moments. I watched all 14 episodes in a day or so and I'm looking forward to season three!

Petticoat Junction: The Official Second Season (Paramount Home Entertainment, 5 discs, rated PG)

"Come ride the little train that is rolling down the tracks to the junction.

"Forget about your cares, it is time to relax at the junction...."

And so begins each episode of Petticoat Junction. Those who enjoy the older, classic TV shows from the 1960s will be pleased with the recent release of the second season of Petticoat Junction. Petticoat Junction was on from 1963 to 1970 (222 episodes). Spend some time at the Shady Rest Hotel in Hooterville with owner Kate Bradley (Bea Benaderet) and her daughters Billie Jo (Jeannine Riley), Bobbie Jo (Pat Woodell) and Betty Jo (Linda Kaye). And don't forget Uncle Joe Carson (Edgar Buchanan). He's lazy, but he means well!

Season two has Betty Jo getting a dog (Higgins who became famous as Benji), two escaped convicts turn up in Hooterville and Uncle Joe tells a guest about the hotel's ghost. These are just three of the 36 season-two episodes you can watch on this 5-disc set. Episodes are introduced by Pat Woodell and Linda Kaye Henning and there is an interview with Pat Woodell and Linda Kaye Henning.

Matlock: The Third Season (Paramount Home Entertainment, 5 discs, rated PG)
If you are looking for an entertaining crime show to watch, Matlock: The Third Season is on DVD. This show aired on NBC and ABC from 1986 to 1995 and featured Andy Griffith as Benjamin Matlock, a nice southern criminal defense attorney. Helping Matlock is Attorney Michelle Thomas (Nancy Stafford). Season three sees Andy Griffith and Don Knotts together again as Knotts is introduced as Matlock's new neighbour Les Calhoun. All 20 season three episodes are in the 5-disc set - and they're digitally remastered.

Kath & Kim: Season 1 (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, 2 discs, rated PG)
Kath & Kim is based on the Australian series of the same name and sees a mother, Kath Day (Molly Shannon) and her daughter Kim Day (Selma Blair) living together after Kim's marriage runs into trouble after a few weeks and she returns home to live with her mother. Also in the cast are Mikey Day who plays Craig Baker, Kim's husband, and John Michael Higgins who is Phil Knight, fiance to Kath.

This comedy featuring a mother and daughter began in 2008 and this 2-disc set contains 17 season one episodes (almost 6 hours). Special features include deleted scenes, a gag reel and audio commentaries with Molly Shannon, Selma Blair, Mikey Day and John Michael Higgins.

The Lucy Show: The Official First Season (Paramount Home Video, 4 discs, rated G))
The Lucy Show began in 1962 and lasted for six years on CBS (156 episodes). The show features Lucy Carmichael (Lucille Ball) as a widowed mother to daughter Chris (Candy Moore) and son Jerry (Jimmy Garrett). Sharing their home is Lucy's best friend Vivian Bagley (Vivian Vance), who is divorced, and her son Sherman (Ralph Hart). Lucy and Vivian disagree on various things from money to raising children resulting in lots of laughs.

Lucille Ball isn't one of the funniest female comedians of all time, she is one of the funniest comedians. The Lucy Show: The Official First Season contains all 30 season one episodes and includes such guest stars as Dick Martin, Desi Arnaz Jr., Charles Lane and Lucie Arnaz. Special features include an interview with Lucie Arnaz, an interview with Jimmy Garrett, vintage openings and closings, cast commercials and more. Classic television from the golden age of TV.

Hotel: The First Season (Paramount Home Entertainment, 6 discs, rated PG)
Hotel was about guests and staff who were at the grand St. Gregory Hotel in San Francisco. Running the hotel are Peter McDermott (James Brolin), Christine Francis (Connie Sellecca) and Victoria Cabot (Anne Baxter). While the regular cast is impressive, so too are the many guest stars who include Mel Torme, Morgan Fairchild, Shirley Jones and Erin Morin (all in the pilot episode) as well as Connie Stevins, Heather Locklear, Peter Marshall, Robert Vaughan, Michelle Phillips, Lynn Redgrave, Martin Landau, Scatman Crothers, Donald O'Connor, Margaret O'Brien, McLean Stevenson, Ken Howard, Tom Smothers, Roy Thinnes, Eva Gabor, Shelley Winters and Sally Kellerman to name only some! Wow!

This 6-disc set contains all 22 first season episodes - over 19 hours of drama from this eighties television show that was based on Arthur Hailey's novel.

Hotel ran from 1983 to 1988.

Eastbound & Down (HBO Home Entertainment, 2 discs, rated 18A)
Looking for a new show to watch? HBO's Eastbound & Down is a new comedy (rated 18A, nudity, language) that will appeal to those who like Trailer Park Boys. The show features a former major league pitcher, Kenny Powers (Danny McBride) who has returned to his small hometown in North Carolina. While he once had lots of money and popularity, now he is living with his brother, Dustin (John Hawkes) and his family. Kenny is now a gym teacher at the North Carolina middle school. Kenny has anger issues, drug and drinking problems and he's incredibly arrogant which makes it difficult for him to try and win back his former girlfriend, April Buchanon (Katy Mixon) who is engaged to the school principal - Terence Cutler (Andrew Daly). Helping Kenny is Stevie Janowski (Steve Little). Besides winning April back, Kenny hopes to return to the major leagues. Will Ferrell guest stars.

Easbound & Down has been renewed for a second season. This 2-disc set contains the 6 episodes from season one.

Gavin & Stacey: Season One (BBC Video, 1 disc, rated 14A)
I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy the show Gavin & Stacey. But, being a fan of many BBC shows I decided to give it a watch - and I'm glad that I did. The comedy follows Gavin Shipman (Mathew Horne) and Stacey West (Joanne Page) who have talked on the phone for months as part of their work and decided to meet each other.

Gavin lives in England while Stacey resides in Wales. For the meeting they take along their best friends Neil "Smithy" Smith (James Corden) and Vanessa "Nessa" Shanessa Jenkins (Ruth Jones). The chemistry between these four actors (all the actors on the show actually) is excellent. Other regulars include Larry Lamb, Alison Steadman, Rob Brydon and Melanie Walkers.

The first season (6 episodes) is available on DVD from BBC Video and follows Gavin and Stacey meeting, becoming engaged and getting married (last show). Every show was very funny and entertaining. Gavin & Stacey is definitely worth watching!

A Little of This, A Little of That

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Volume 1 (audio book)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
CSA Word
2009, 6 CDs
ISBN: 9781934997222

Looking for a good mystery? How about six? The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Volume 1 contains six entertaining, unabridged stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The stories contained in this collection are: “The Adventure of the Empty House”, “The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot”, “The Adventure of the Abbey Grange”, “The Adventure of the Cardboard Box”, “The Man With the Twisted Lip” and “The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans”. Read by Edward Hardwicke, these will entertain Sherlock Holmes fans and those who enjoy a good mystery.

The Cottage Ownership Guide: How to Buy, Sell, Rent, Share, Hand Down & Retire to Your Waterfront Getaway
Douglas Hunter
Cottage Life Books
2006, 2009, 256 pages
ISBN: 9780969692263

Now in paperback, The Cottage Ownership Guide: How to Buy, Sell, Rent, Share, Hand Down & Retire to Your Waterfront Getaway offers valuable information to those who want to own, sell or rent a cottage. Highly readable with lots of diagrams, sidebars and tips this book addresses lots of cottage issues and questions including: choosing a river a lake, searching for a property, property surveys, cottage inspections, financing the purchase, renting and selling the cottage and handing down the cottage.

Whether you're in the market to buy a nature retreat or you want to rent, sell or hand down your cottage, you will get plenty of helpful advice in The Cottage Ownership Guide.

Let It Roll: The Songs of George Harrison (CD)(EMI)
Fans of George Harrison and The Beatles will be pleased with the CD Let It Roll: The Songs of George Harrison which was released by EMI.This CD contains many of Harrison's best songs, along with a few I hadn't heard. And while there are songs that could also have been included, "Crackerbox Palace" comes to mind, this is a good compilation of the quiet Beatle's work. Three of Harrison's most popular songs, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Something" and "Here Comes the Sun" are live versions. Many other songs produced after the Beatles split up are also featured including "All Those Years Ago", "When We was Fab", "Blow Away" and "Isn't It a Pity". Included with the CD is a nice 28-page book containing "unseen photos." Let It Roll: The Songs of George Harrison will make a nice addition to your music library.

Song List: 1. Got My Mind Set On You 2. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth), 3. Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll), 4. My Sweet Lord 5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 6. All Things Must Pass 7. Any Road 8. This Is Love 9. All Those Years Ago 10. Marwa Blues 11. What Is Life 12. Rising Sun 13. When We Was Fab 14. Something 15. Blow Away 16. Cheer Down 17. Here Comes the Sun 18. I Don't Want to Do It 19. Isn't It a Pity

Spaceballs (MGM Home Entertainment, rated PG)
Recently our family had a great time time watching Spaceballs which first came out in 1987. This very funny movie was written, directed and starred (in two roles) Mel Brooks. 

Spaceballs is a sci-fi satire movie (Star Trek, Alien, Star Wars and Planet of the Apes are a few films that are lampooned) with an excellent cast that includes: Mel Brooks (President Skroob/Yogurt), John Candy (Barf), Rick Moranis (Dark Helmet), Bill Pullman (Lone Starr), Daphne Zuniga (Princess Vespa), Dick Van Patten (King Roland), George Wyner (Colonel Sandurz), Joan Rivers (voice of Dot Matrix) and Jim J. Bullock (Prince Valium).

Spaceballs sees Dark Helmet trying to steal air from Planet Druidia. Attempting to stop this sinister thief is Lone Starr, Princess Vespa and Barf. Helping the good guys is a wise imp named Yogurt. Lone Starr and Barf also have the important task of rescuing Princess Vespa who has been captured by Dark Helmet.

Spaceballs is full of laughs and is available in the 2-disc set that includes both DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Lots of bonus features.

Werewolves, Roxy Music & Anne Frank on DVD

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, rated 18A) is the third film in the Underworld series and looks at the feud between the "aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers" and the Lycans. Lycans are part human and part werewolf. In the film they battle the vampires. Viktor (Bill Nighy) is the leader of the vampires who protect, for a price, the areas humans against werewolves. The vampires also enslave the wild werewolves. Viktor's daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra) falls in love with Lucian (Michael Sheen) who is a blacksmith and a Lycan. Eventually Lycans and the wild werewolves battle the vampires defeating most of them. If you like movies with lots of violence, battles, werewolves and vampires then Underworld: Rise of the Lycans may be for you.

I first became aware of the group Roxy Music in the early 1980s when I heard, and then bought, their Avalon album. The group actually got together in the early 1970s and two DVDs look at the groups music: Roxy Music: A Visual History 1972 - 1976 and Roxy Music: A Visual History 1979 - 1982.

Roxy Music: A Visual History 1972 - 1976 contains early footage of the group from various sources including BBC Television and from Sweden as well as German Television. The song list for this DVD is:

1. Re-Make/re-Model
2. Ladytron
3. Virginia Plain
4. For Your Pleasure
5. Do the Strand
6. In Every Dream Home A Heartache
7. Editions of You
8. Pyjamarama
9. Amazona
10. Psalm
11. All I Want is You
12. Love is the Drug
13. Both Ends Burning
14. The Thrill of it All
15. Mother of Pearl
16. Nightingale
17. Out of the Blue
18. Street Life

Roxy Music: A Visual History 1979 - 1982 contains more of the songs that I'm familiar with, but both DVDs contain lots of good songs filmed in various locations. Songs on this DVD include promotional videos as well as ones filmed in France, England and by German Television and BBC Television. The songs are:

1. Dance Away
2. Manifesto
3. A Song for Europe
4. Still Falls the Rain
5. Ain't That So
6. Angel Eyes
7. Trash
8. Over You
9. Oh Yeah! (On the Radio)
10. Same Old Scene
11. Rain, Rain, Rain
12. Flesh and Blood
13. Jealous Guy
14. The Main Thing
15. While My Heart is Still Beating
16. Avalon
17. My Only Love
18. More Than This
19. The Main Thing
20. Avalon

The Diary of Anne Frank: 50th Anniversary Edition (Fox Home Entertainment) is an excellent, and important, film that won three Oscar's (it was nominated for eight in 1959) including Shelley Winters' role as Best Actress in a Supporting Role. This DVD was released on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on June 16. The approximately 3-hour long film looks at a 13-year-old Jewish girl's experience during the Holocaust where her family and a second Jewish family hid from the Nazis in an attic in Amsterdam from 1942 to 1944.

Millie Perkins was very good as Anne Frank. Other actors included Joseph Schildkraut (Otto Frank), Gusti Huber (Mrs. Edith Frank), Diane Baker (Margot Frank), Shelly Winters (Mrs. Petronella Van Daan), Richard Beymer (Peter Van Daan) Lou Jacobi (Mr. Hans Van Daan), Ed Wynn (Mr. Albert Dussell), Douglas Spencer (Kraler) and Dodie Heath (Miep).

I often don't enjoy long movies, but this compelling account of two families hiding from the Nazis after they invaded Amsterdam was excellent. Lots of special features including:

George Stevens in WWII
The Making of The Diary of Anne Frank: A Son's Memories
The Diary of Anne Frank: Memories from Millie Perkins and Diane Baker
Shelley Winters and The Diary of Anne Frank
The Sound and Music of The Diary of Anne Frank
The Diary of Anne Frank: Correspondence

Nature Books

Birdsong by the Seasons: A Year Listening to Birds
Donald Kroodsma
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
2009, 366 pages
ISBN: 9780618753369

For those who enjoy birds and their songs there is Birdsong by the Seasons: A Year of Listening to Birds by Donald Kroodsma which contains 24 stories of birds and their songs throughout the year. Kroodsma begins with a Pileated Woodpecker on New Year’s Day and ends with various birds just before Christmas. Kroodsma’s observations and experiences are complemented with two CDs of birdsongs which are included with the book.

A Reenchanted World: The Quest For a New Kinship With Nature
James William Gibson
Metropolitan Books
2009, 306 pages
ISBN: 9780805078350

While there is no denying that our species’ assault on the natural world has become ruthless and extensive damaging the Earth and the species that live on the planet, author and sociologist James William Gibson claims that our attitude towards nature is changing. Not only are we reconnecting with nature and animals, we’re doing more to protect the planet.

Gibson looks at forms of enchantment including animals who speak to us, holy lands and eco-warriors. He also looks at problems with the environment including a chapter entitled "Loving It to Death" where he illustrates how our affection for nature is destroying it. One example he points to is the number of cruise ships that journey up the Alaskan coast to Glacier Bay National Park. In 1970 only four ships made this regular trip while in the mid 1990s closer to 200 boats were making this same trek and with a significant impact.

"And every day at sea, each big cruise ship discharged an average of 17,000 gallons of human waste into the ocean, plus an additional 170,000 gallons of 'gray water.'"

Another startling impact on nature cited by Gibson is with snowmobiles and jet skis. Besides the damage that these cause to the natural habitat, they are also major sources of pollution.

"Environmental Protection Agency studies calculate that just one snowmobile can create as much pollution as one hundred cars."

A Reenchanted World is an interesting and important read.

Night: A Literary Companion
edited by Merilyn Simonds
Greystone Books
2009, 175 pages
ISBN: 9781553653967

If you like reading a collection of stories by different authors then Night: A Literary Companion may be for you. Containing 25 stories by such authors as Henry Beston, Loren Eisley and Grey Owl, the entertaining essays pertain to that time of day after the sun sets and includes such topics as alligators, bats and experiences in the dark of night!

The Sea: A Literary Companion
edited by Wayne Grady
GreyStone Books
2009, 175 pages
ISBN: 9781553653950

Another nice compilation of stories is The Sea: A Literary Companion edited by Wayne Grady. This book about the oceans contains 23 stories by various authors including Charles Darwin, Herman Melville, Jack London and Rachel Carson. Darwin's "Phosphorescence of the Sea" describes a spectacle of the sea that he observed while sailing south of Cape Horn aboard the Beagle.

Herman Melville wrote "The Pacific" which describes the Pacific Ocean and was excerpted from Moby Dick.

Jack London, who wrote The Call of the Wild, also has a chapter in the book - "A Pacific Traverse" which describes "a sixty-day calm in 'the variables' above the equator" and is taken from The Cruise of the Snark.

"The Enduring Sea" is Rachel Carson's contribution to the book and is taken from her book The Edge of the Sea.

Those interested in nature, especially the sea, will enjoy this collection of stories.