At the end of April, I took my vehicle to Firestone. It is now the end of May and I have been thinking about writing this post since my experience. I want to warn people, but also give a recommendation.
The trip to Firestone at the end of April wasn’t my first. It was my third visit this year. After paying a total of $1514.68 between two visits in March, I wasn’t happy when they quoted me $1360.92 this time. This started me wishing I had never gone back to them after 15 years. The reason I had was because it was convenient and I’d been approved for their credit card in April.
This return in April came about because they didn’t successfully do an alignment on a previous visit, and it was affecting my tires. Along fixing their botched alignment job, they recommended work on my braking system. They said my right rear caliper was frozen. They also wanted to flush my brake system. The last thing they recommended was removing and replacing my front left wheel bearing. I mention the wheel bearing last because this will feature into this story a little bit later.
I was pissed, so I told them to complete the alignment and replace the tire that had been damaged by the alignment issue, both at no cost to me. I had decided to take my vehicle to Manchester Transmissions Inc. in Manchester, CT. My wife’s vehicle was serviced there recently on a recommendation from her father.
I was nervous taking it there since I was planning on giving them the printout I had from Firestone detailing what needed to be performed on the car. I was afraid they could take that information and tell me Firestone was correct, but they could do it at a cheaper price. I was giving them a lot of power with this information.
Manchester Transmissions came back to me in a day and said there wasn’t anything wrong enough that needed to be taken care of. One of the wheels does stop rotating before the other one in the rear, but they wouldn’t describe it as being frozen.
I mentioned earlier I would come back around to the wheel bearing. The left front wheel bearing Firestone wanted to replace was fine. The right front bearing that Firestone did replace in March was making a little noise. The technicians in Manchester took a stethoscope to both bearings.
A potential bill went from $1473.93 to $0. I was very happy about this. In the future if I need my vehicle worked on, I will be calling Manchester Transmissions and if it’s a job they don’t do, I will find another local place before ever going back to Firestone.
My suggestion to anyone is to find a local shop to have your vehicle looked at. Most of the time it will be cheaper than a “big name” service station, and there is a good chance they will be honest. If you live near Manchester Transmissions, I recommend checking them out for your vehicle issues. The only time to use Firestone is for an oil change or tires, but if they tell you they your vehicle needs something else, get a second opinion. This second opinion will make your wallet happy. —Jason Harris
With weeks to go before ComiCONN, A Show for the Fans by the Fans, in partnership with Foxwoods Resort Casino, begins, organizers have announced Ron Perlman as a headlining guest.
Perlman’s most notable role is Hellboy in the 2004 popular movie Hellboy and Hellboy 2 (2008). Perlman also portrayed Clarence “Clay” Morrow in the hit show Sons of Anarchy. The actor is also a fan favorite for his voice work on animated shows such as Teen Titans, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Robot Chicken, as well as video games such as Halo 3 and Fallout 3.
Perlman will join the previously announced guest Theo Rossi who portrayed “Juice” Ortiz on Sons of Anarchy at ComiCONN 2017.
Additional guests are listed on the ComiCONN website at www.comiconn.com, and more will be announced leading up to ComiCONN 2017.
Tickets are on sale now through the convention’s website, www.comiconn.com. Advance admission prices are as follows:
Adult
Saturday: $30.00
Sunday: $25.00
Weekend Pass: $45.00
VIP: $99.00
Kids ages 6 to 12
Saturday: $15.00
Sunday: $10.00
Weekend Pass: $20.00
Tickets purchased at the door the weekend of the event will be higher. Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance. Tickets will sell out for this event.
Following an exciting two months’ worth of guest announcements, organizers of Rhode Island Comic Con, Altered Reality Entertainment, announced that Dave Bautista, Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy and the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy 2, as well as Infinity Wars coming in 2018, will be a headlining guest at Rhode Island Comic Con 2017.
For eleven collective years, Bautista signed to WWE under the name Batista, where he became a six-time world champion, winning WWE’s World Heavyweight Championship four times and the WWE Championship twice. He holds the record for the longest reign as World Heavyweight Champion, and has also won the World Tag Team Championship three times and the WWE Tag Team Championship once.
Bautista is the latest among an exciting list of guests for the Biggest Show in the Smallest State, including Power Rangers’ Blake Foster, Catherine Sutherland, Hilary Shepard, Nakia Burrise, Steve Cardenas, Selwyn Ward, and RJ Cyler. Voice actors Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Moana, Rogue One) and Steve Blum (Cowboy Bebop, Legend of Korra, Ben 10) will also be appearing.
In a very rare appearance, Rhode Island Comic Con also welcomes Beverly D’Angelo from the National Lampoon’s franchise.
Tickets are currently on sale through the Rhode Island Comic Con website at www.ricomiccon.com, and the Dunkin Donuts Center Arena box office. The 6th Annual Rhode Island Comic Con arrives November 10 to 12 at the Rhode Island Convention Center, and the Dunkin Donuts Center arena.
ON MARCH 24TH on Digital HD, and on Blu-ray April 4th
Fans go behind the scenes with filmmakers and cast for a revealing look at the stories behind the first Star Wars standalone film
Brand New Trailer Now Available!
Announced today on The Star Wars Show and StarWars.com, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will be coming home on Digital HD on March 24th and Blu-ray on April 4th. This news comes on the heels of the start of production announcement of the untitled Han Solo Star Wars Story. “Rogue One” has established its place within the Star Wars universe and the hearts of moviegoers, becoming the seventh highest-grossing film of all time in the U.S.TheThe
Arriving early on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on March 24, and on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On-Demand on April 4, the release includes never-before-seen “Rogue One” bonus material that will take fans behind the scenes with the movie’s diverse, dynamic cast and inspired team of filmmakers. An intimate collection of stories reveals how the film came to life, as well as hidden Easter Eggs and film facts that audiences may have missed in the theater.
Bonus features include:
A Rogue Idea – Hear how ILM’s John Knoll came up with the movie’s concept – and why it’s the right film to launch the Star Wars stand-alone films.
Jyn: The Rebel – Get to know Rogue One’s defiant, resourceful survivor, and hear what it was like for Felicity Jones to bring her to life onscreen.
Cassian: The Spy – Diego Luna shares insights into his complex, driven character, who becomes a hero through selflessness, perseverance and passion.
K-2SO: The Droid – Explore the development of this reprogrammed Imperial droid, from initial pitch and character design through Alan Tudyk’s performance.
Baze & Chirrut: Guardians of the Whills – Go deeper into the relationship between these two very different characters, with Chinese superstars Jiang Wen and Donnie Yen.
Bodhi & Saw: The Pilot & The Revolutionary – Forest Whitaker and Riz Ahmed reflect on Saw Gerrera, the broken Rebel leader, and Bodhi Rook, the Imperial pilot who defects.
The Empire – Meet a dangerous new Imperial adversary…and cross paths once more with the most iconic villain of all time.
Visions of Hope: The Look of “Rogue One” – The filmmakers describe the challenges and thrills of developing a bold new look for the movie that can fit within the world of the original trilogy.
The Princess & The Governor – See what it took to bring the vibrant young princess of Star Wars: A New Hope – as well as one of her most memorable foes – back to the screen.
Epilogue: The Story Continues – Filmmakers and cast celebrate Rogue One’s premiere and look forward into the future, to the Star Wars stories yet to be told.
Rogue Connections – Uncover Easter eggs and film facts hidden throughout the movie that connect Rogue One to the Star Wars universe.
Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Monsters) and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, p.g.a., Allison Shearmur, p.g.a. (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Cinderella) and Simon Emanuel, p.g.a. (The Dark Knight Rises). Veteran ILM visual effects supervisor John Knoll, (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest) whom shares a long history with the Star Wars films, is executive producer alongside Jason McGatlin (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, War of the Worlds). The story is by John Knoll and Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli, After Earth), and the screenplay was written by Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass, About a Boy) and Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Legacy, Michael Clayton).
Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything, Like Crazy) heads up the cast and stars opposite Diego Luna (Milk, Elysium). Joining them are Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline, Animal Kingdom), Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale, TV’s Hannibal), Alan Tudyk (Frozen, I, Robot), Riz Ahmed (Nightcrawler, Jason Bourne) and Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland, The Butler). The film also welcomes two of China’s biggest stars, Donnie Yen (Ip Man, Blade II) and Jiang Wen (Let the Bullets Fly, The Sun Also Rises). In addition, Anthony Daniels (Star Wars: A New Hope, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back) reprises his role of C-3PO, marking his eighth appearance in a Star Wars film.
To create the distinctive and contemporary look of the film, Edwards chose revered cinematographer Greig Fraser (Zero Dark Thirty, Foxcatcher). Visual effects supervisors John Knoll and Mohen Leo (Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man, The Martian) team up with special effects supervisor Neil Corbould (Black Hawk Down, Saving Private Ryan) and ILM animation supervisor Hal Hickel (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Iron Man). Star Wars veteran Doug Chiang (Star Wars Episodes I and II, Forrest Gump) and Neil Lamont (supervising art director on The Force Awakens and the Harry Potter film series) join forces as production designers, and Neal Scanlan (Prometheus) returns to do special creature effects, having recently worked on Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Additional key crew include costume designers Dave Crossman (costume supervisor on The Force Awakens and the Harry Potter film series) and Glyn Dillon (The Force Awakens and Kingsman: The Secret Service costume concept artist), as well as stunt coordinator Rob Inch (The Force Awakens, World War Z).
The music is by composer Michael Giacchino (Star Trek Beyond, Zootopia), with original Star Wars music by John Williams. The editors for the film are John Gilroy, ACE (Nightcrawler, The Bourne Legacy), Jabez Olssen (The Hobbit trilogy) and Colin Goudie (Monsters).
DISC SPECIFICATIONS:
FEATURE RUN TIME: Approximately 133 min.
RATING: PG-13 in U.S.; PG in CE; G in CF
ASPECT RATIO: Blu-ray 3D Feature Film =2.39:1
Blu-ray Feature Film = 2.39:1
DVD Feature Film = 2.39:1
AUDIO: Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks
DVD = English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio Language Tracks
Altered Reality Entertainment, owners of Rhode Island Comic Con, the Biggest Show in the Smallest State, celebrates the return of Terror Con with a Halloween Reunion.
Terror Con, which returns to the Rhode Island Convention Center after a two-season hiatus, welcomesMalcom McDowell, Tyler Mane, and Scout Taylor-Compton in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the 2007 remake of the original movie by Rob Zombie.
Throughout a career spanning over fifty years, McDowell is perhaps best known for the controversial roles of Alex DeLarge in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, the title character in Tinto Brass’ Caligula, and Mick Travis in Lindsay Anderson’s trilogy of if…., O Lucky Man! and Britannia Hospital. He is also known for his work in Cat People, Tank Girl, and The Artist. McDowell has had recurring roles in numerous television series such as Entourage, Heroes, and The Mentalist.
Tyler Mane is a former professional wrestler. As an actor, he is known for playing Sabretooth in X-Men and X-Men: The Official Game, Ajax in Troy, as well as Michael Myers in the remake of Halloween and its sequel, Halloween II. Scout Taylor-Compton has appeared in numerous television roles and feature films. In addition to her role as Laurie Strode in Halloween, her most notable role includes her role as Lita Ford in the film The Runaways.
Halloween is an American horror movie franchise that predominately focuses on the fictional character of Michael Myers who was committed to a sanitarium as a child for the murder of his older sister, Judith Myers. Fifteen years later, he escapes to stalk and kill the people of Haddonfield, Illinois while being chased by his former psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis. Michael’s killings occur on the holiday of Halloween, on which all the films primarily take place.
Terror Con, celebrating horror, paranormal, music, and wrestling, comes to the Rhode Island Convention Center on February 25th and 26th. Tickets are currently available through the event’s website, www.theterrorcon.com. Ticket prices range from $25 to $45. VIP packages are available for $99.99.
You may have seen the terms “content editor,” “copyeditor,” and “line editor” out there when looking for someone to polish your manuscript. In today’s day and age, your editor must be capable of doing all three: pointing out plot holes, inconsistent character voices, and continuity errors, and suggesting fixes; smoothing out language, ensuring subject and verb agreement, verb tense consistency, and recommending opportunities to clarify and restructure; and proofreading duties, including fixing typos, grammar, and punctuation, researching historical data (i.e., ensuring the museum Character A visits in Boston really is in Boston, and is spelled correctly), and fixing formatting and typography errors. Paying a content specialist to do one job, then paying a proofreader to do a second, can get costly and confusing. S & L Editing offers the solution to this problem.
Stacey Longo and Rob Smales work as a team, thoroughly vetting your manuscript, providing content, copy, and formatting suggestions. They offer two services: full editing, for writers who need a more comprehensive review their manuscript, and proofreading only, for those who are comfortable with the content of their work, and just need help with grammar, typography, formatting, and spelling. (Rates for these services can be found at http://balzertown.com/slediting/rates/.)
“We’re offering two experienced professionals for the price of one,” Longo said.
They do provide free, no-obligation quotes on any project. S & L Editing’s services are available for any writing project.
“We’ve revised novels, term papers, resumes, PowerPoint presentations, short stories, advertising campaigns . . . you name it, we’ve done it,” Longo said.
They’ve worked with and for publishers large and small, Fortune 500 companies, individual authors, and students. Their past client list includes Pearson Education, MetLife, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Wargoat Press, and many self-published authors, and they serve as the exclusive editors for Books & Boos Press and The Storyside Press.
“Given the diversity of our clients, we’re well-versed in several different style guides, including The Chicago Manual of Style, the AP Stylebook, APA, and MLA formatting. We can also advise you on which style guide is best suited for your project,” Longo said.
What to Expect
Once you’ve reached out to S & L Editing, they’ll provide you with a quote for the full project and an estimate of when it will be completed. (“We have a 100% success rate on meeting that target date,” Longo adds.) Either Longo or Smales will take the lead on the project, running through the first edits, with the other following up behind them, reviewing the revised copy and providing a second set of eyes.
“If questions arise as we’re going over the material, we’ll e-mail you,” Smales said. “And if you have questions about our progress, we’re happy to keep you updated.”
When the job is complete, the client receives two files: one showing the tracked changes of every single suggestion and comment made, and one with the proofreading changes accepted to provide a clean manuscript, but with the comments on content still intact.
“We’re also available for follow-up questions after you’ve reviewed the material,” Smales said.
Whether you have a novel, college admissions essay, work presentation, or poetry collection, S & L Editing will polish your manuscript and help you submit the best work possible. Don’t put off this vital step any longer: contact S & L Editing at www.slediting.com today for more information!
I’m writing this post today to let you know about a new venture, Mobile Addict, I have started. I was inspired by a site that disappeared a number of years ago. It was a site that posted people’s experiences with their mobile devices and how they were using them. People also wrote in about apps they were using and other mobile related topics. I learned about a lot of apps that way. I even participated by sending in my own experiences.
I would love to continue in that website’s vein with Mobile Addict so if you love mobile technology as much as I please send me your thoughts and comments on your phones and how you are using them. I welcome thoughts on any and every OS. If you are using an amazing app please share your thoughts on them. Everything will be shared on this site. Please email me at jhpromoservices@gmail.com.
ComiCONN is only two months away and takes place June 10 through 11 at its new location, 
