John Cena & Scott Kelly Kick Off the “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” Virtual Graduation Celebration

by Jennifer SwartvagherApril 30, 2020

Graduation ceremonies have been cancelled across the nation due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Random House Children’s Books together with Dr. Seuss Enterprises want to recognize the Class of 2020. Inspired by the 30th anniversary of Dr. Suess’ iconic book, the Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Virtual Graduation Celebration (#ohtheplaces2020) is launching to allow everyone to join in the celebration.

Astronaut Scott Kelly announced the exciting news on NBC’s TODAY Show. While setting the record for the longest spaceflight by an American (340 days) Kelly saw places that very few on Earth have, and he offers an inspirational perspective on our current situation and what this moment means for the class of 2020: “It is an honor to join the Oh, the Places You’ll Go! campaign to recognize graduates across the country, who are beginning their journey of discovery and achievement,” says Kelly.

John Cena will kick off the virtual festivities on May 1 with a “commencement keynote” that includes a reading from Oh, the Places You’ll Go! and his own words of wisdom for graduates of all ages. Fans can tune in on Cena’s Twitter feed at 12 p.m. ET, and his reading will be available on Facebook, where additional readings and remarks will roll out throughout May. Participants will include some of our most honored educators and first responders, as well as celebrities, authors, and illustrators.

Random House Children’s Books and Dr. Seuss Enterprises are calling for nationwide support of the Class of 2020 with a campaign encouraging people to post a photo in celebration of their 2020 graduate, or post their own graduation photo using #ohtheplaces2020, and tagging three friends to continue the chain. For the month of May, Random House Children’s Books and Dr. Seuss Enterprises will donate one book to First Book (up to 20,020!) for every in-feed post tagged with #ohtheplaces2020. First Book will distribute donations to classroom libraries in the fall in honor of the educators of the class of 2020 who would have been recognized at graduation ceremonies.

Collaborating with Penguin Random House Audio/Listening Library, the campaign will also feature inspirational quotes from the book on social media, read by audiobook narrator John Lithgow.

For fun-filled activities for hosting graduation parties at home, such as creating your own graduation hat, diploma, and decorations, visit Seussville.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Random House Children’s Books

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LEGO Factory is Producing Thousands of Protective Plastic Face Masks for Medical Workers

by Jennifer SwartvagherApril 26, 2020

While it isn’t necessarily business as usual, more and more brands are looking to help. The LEGO Group is offering their assistance to healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis. Using their facilities, they are producing thousands of protective facial visors.

View this post on Instagram

This week we began to make visors at our factory in Billund for healthcare workers on the frontline in Denmark. We are so incredibly proud of the team who made this happen. They worked around the clock to create designs and make moulds that can produce more than 13,000 visors a day. We are grateful to have such talented, dedicated and caring colleagues. ❤️

A post shared by LEGO (@lego) on Apr 9, 2020 at 7:00am PDT

According to an Instagram post that was published by LEGO earlier this week, the company’s Billund-based factory in Denmark has reworked some of their machinery to make more than 13,000 plastic masks per day. The masks will reportedly be distributed to hospitals and medical facilities across the country.

“This week we began to make visors at our factory in Billund for healthcare workers on the frontline in Denmark,” wrote the company. “We are so incredibly proud of the team who made this happen. They worked around the clock to create designs and make moulds that can produce more than 13,000 visors a day. We are grateful to have such talented, dedicated and caring colleagues.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: LEGO via Instagram

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Warner Bros. Announces “SCOOB!” Will Go Straight to On Demand

by Jennifer SwartvagherApril 24, 2020

Since theaters are still closed, many movies are becoming available On Demand. Warner Bros. will make its upcoming animated feature film SCOOB! available for both Premium Video On Demand (PVOD) and for premium digital ownership in the U.S. and Canada on May 15. The title will be available on participating digital platforms.

“While we’re all eager to be able to once again show our films in theaters, we’re navigating new, unprecedented times which call for creative thinking and adaptability in how we distribute our content,” said Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO, Warner Bros.“We know fans are eager to see SCOOB! and we’re delighted we can deliver this feel-good movie for families to enjoy while they’re home together.”

SCOOB! will be available for a 48-hour rental via Premium Video On Demand for $19.99 or premium digital ownership for $24.99 beginning on Fri., May 15. The title will be available on participating digital platforms.

According to the press release, the first full-length animated Scooby-Doo adventure for the big screen, SCOOB! reveals how lifelong friends Scooby and Shaggy first met and how they joined with young detectives Fred, Velma and Daphne to form the famous Mystery Inc. Now, with hundreds of cases solved and adventures shared, Scooby and the gang face their biggest, most challenging mystery ever: a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world. As they race to stop this global “dogpocalypse,” the gang discovers that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Warner Bros. Pictures via YouTube

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12 Low-Tox Ways to Freshen Your House

by Amber GuetebierMarch 19, 2020

Editor’s note: This story is aimed to lower the chemicals you use in everyday life, such as silver polish, laundry softener, etc. but please follow the CDC guidelines for keeping your home and surfaces disinfected and clean to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Everyone loves a clean house, but you don’t always have to use products packed with chemicals to get things to sparkle and . From natural ways to soften your laundry to using lemons to shine your chrome, read on for 12 ways to clean without the chemicals.

photo: fede13 via flickr

Lemon

1. Use lemon juice to polish all that chrome and stainless steel in your kitchen or bathroom. We like to keep an extra bottle of already juiced lemon on hand for just such a reason, but if you’ve made lemonade and have lemon rinds left, you can actually use the lemon half right on corners.

2. You can also use said lemon rind, juice or a wedge to clean a cutting board. The lemon not only disinfects, it removes trace odors left behind from things like onions and garlic.

Vinegar (White)

3. Mix vinegar to water at a 3 to 1 ration (3 cups vinegar to one cup water) for cleaning windows and mirrors.

4. Use straight vinegar in a spray bottle to combat mildew. Spray offending area and leave for 30 minutes before rinsing with hot water.

5. Next time you’re at the grocery store, grab an extra one-gallon jug of white vinegar for your laundry room. Add a good 20 drops of essential oil, shake, and keep on hand for a fabric softener. Just add a half cup to each load (shake the jug to distribute the oils before each use).

6. Almost every hard-surface floor, from vinyl to hardwood, can be effectively cleaned with a simple water and vinegar solution. One cup vinegar to a half-gallon of hot or warm water should do the trick.

photo: evitaochel via pixabay

Baking Soda

7. Use baking soda with a hint of essential oil, like lavender, sprinkled in to deodorize your carpets. Sprinkle, vacuum up, inhale.

8. DIY your own room freshener without all the toxic chemicals. Just put some baking soda in a cute jar, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (we love the combo of mint + lavender) put the lid on, and shake. Once you’ve got your baking soda + essential oils distributed, remove the lid and place several holes in it to let the freshening begin!

photo: andreas160578 via pixabay

Salt

9. Use a teaspoon of salt to tepid water (not hot or even warm) to clean and disinfect water bottles (and sippy cups). This keeps you from that dreaded soapy water taste and neutralizes any lingering odors in your bottle. You can even soak the lids and sippy attachments in a mild salt solution, just be sure to rinse the heck out of it to flush the salty flavor away. A cotton swab with a salty paste can help get in the nooks and crannies of lids, too.

Oil

10. Cast iron skillet hack: If you properly season your pans, you won’t need to scrub too much but sometimes it happens. (Never, ever use soap and water on a cast iron skillet!) If you have a tricky sticky spot, use coarse salt and a vegetable scrubber dedicated to this purpose with a helping of cooking oil to clean off the gunk. While we recommend seasoning your pans after each use with a helping of cooking oil, try this lazy hack for every once in awhile: wipe your pan clean with a dry cloth and then spray with a cooking spray like Pam before storing.

11. Mix vinegar and oil together to make a furniture polish! Do it a 3 to 1 ration (so 3 tablespoons oil to 1 tablespoon vinegar). Or sub lemon juice for the vinegar. We recommend making this one in small batches (a little goes a long way) and applying with a super soft cloth, not a paper towel.

photo: marthaposemuckle via pixabay

Toothpaste

12. Toothpaste cleans stains and tarnish on any silver surface. If you’ve got a detailed edge on an antique plate, a gentle toothbrush + toothpaste can take the tarnish out of the nook and crannies and is way less harsh than some commercial silver polishes out there (which can actually strip silver plating). Ditto this method for jewelry.

—Amber Guetebier

featured image: Stocksnap via pixabay

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Here’s How to Help After the Nashville Tornado

by Karly WoodMarch 7, 2020

On Tuesday morning, a devastating tornado ripped through middle Tennessee that caused in a 165-mile-per-hour winds and resulted in many losses to the beloved city of Nashville. The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. has released a statement that addresses how you can come alongside Music City, U.S.A. in their recovery efforts.

“We are grateful that even with all the devastation, the majority of the city and the downtown entertainment district was spared. As we support those in need and focus on their immediate concerns, we are encouraged that Nashville’s music will keep playing,” Butch Spyridon, president and CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.

photo: Katy Ann via Unsplash

“For those who have asked, we are accepting donations through our Music City Inc. Foundation, and those funds will be immediately distributed directly to families significantly impacted. The NCVC has made an initial donation of $10,000 to start the fund…The Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium and others are open, and many will be collecting donations from audience members. Our industry has come together to focus on helping our neighbors while also serving our visitors.”

If you would like to help, you can make a donation to Music City Inc., the 501c(3) charitable foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.

Donate via Venmo or PayPal at donate@visitmusiccity.com
Make a check to Music City Inc. Foundation and send to One Nashville Place, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite G-250, Nashville, TN 37219

You can also donate to any of the following organizations:

Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund cfmt.org
Community Resource Center crcnashville.org
Hands On Nashville hon.org

––Karly Wood

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A “PAW Patrol” Movie Is in the Works for Summer 2021

by Jennifer SwartvagherFebruary 21, 2020

If your kids are obsessed with their favorite rescue pup team, then we have news for you. The hit animated preschool series PAW Patrol is heading to the big screen in August 2021. Spin Master Entertainment will produce PAW Patrol: The Movie in association with Nickelodeon Movies, distributed by Paramount Pictures.

For those not in the know, the show follows the adventures of a tech-savvy boy named Ryder and his team of rescue pups who are ready to save the day. Whenever there’s trouble, Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Zuma, Rocky and Skye are ready for action. As they always say, “No job is too big, and no pup is too small.”

“We are thrilled to be distributing this film and sharing the beloved PAW Patrol universe with audiences around the globe,” said Marc Weinstock, Paramount’s President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, and Mary Daily, Co- President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution

“Expanding PAW Patrol into the world of theatricals is a major milestone for this iconic property, and we can’t wait for kids and families everywhere to experience it together,” said Brian Robbins, President, Kids & Family Entertainment, ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks. ”We are incredibly excited to work with Spin Master Entertainment and our sister division Paramount Pictures on this latest title from the Nickelodeon Movies slate.”

The PAW Patrol movie is the first of a number of feature films in the works by Spin Master’s Entertainment division.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Spin Master

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“Hamilton” Is Going to Be a Movie with the Original Broadway Cast

by Shahrzad WarkentinFebruary 4, 2020

Lin Manuel Miranda has finally confirmed the rumor that the Ham Fam was hoping to be true. Hamilton is hitting the big screen.

As Red Tricycle previously reported, the film version of the hit Broadway musical is in fact a recording of the live stage show and not an adaptation. Miranda confirmed in a recent interview with Variety that the film was shot when the original Hamilton cast was still performing on Broadway.

Lin-Manuel Miranda talks about finding the right time to release the #Hamilton movie: “You all have that friend who brags, 'I saw that with the original cast.' We’re stealing that brag from everyone. You’re all gonna see it with the original cast" | Studio presented by @ItsOnATT pic.twitter.com/zum7otFexr

— Variety (@Variety) January 29, 2020

The original cast includes Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton, Jonathan Groff as King George III and Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson. In the interview Miranda explained, “You all have that friend who brags, ‘I saw that with the original cast.’ We’re stealing that brag from everyone. You’re all gonna see it with the original cast.”

The only question is when fans will finally get to see it? Miranda says, “Hopefully sooner than later.” With the Hamilton film already shot it’s just a matter of figuring out who will distribute it and when, so we can all finally get a peek in the room where it happens.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Hamilton Musical via Instagram

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These Girl Scout Cookies Are “Highly Addictive,” According to Police

by Erica LoopJanuary 22, 2020

The Ravenna Police Department recently issued a warning via Facebook. The Ohio PD wants residents to watch out for a “highly addictive substance” that’s about to hit the town’s streets—and it’s probably not what you think it is.

So what exactly do the Ravenna police want town citizens to stay on the lookout for? Hint: the addictive “substance” also goes by several names, including Thin Mints, S’mores and Lemonades!

The too-cute, and now-viral, post warns residents about items that are, “Distributed by strong, smart, fearless young women who will lure you in with their story and get you hooked.” If you have any doubts about the highly addictive nature of this substance (a.k.a. Girl Scout cookies), the PD added, “We know many people think I will just get one box. But one turns into two and two turns into five and the next thing you know you are hiding ‘Thin Mints’ in the freezer.”

Ravenna residents shouldn’t worry about their ability to resist the overly addictive items. If they do happen to buy a box (or a few), the police department also posted, “We want you to know we are here for you. We have set up a disposal location for these “cookies” at the police department. Just drop them off 24/7 and we will properly dispose of them for you.”

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Marit and Toomas Hinnosaar via Flickr

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Taco Bell Removes 2.3 Million Pounds of Seasoned Beef from Restaurants After Recall

by Erica LoopOctober 15, 2019

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced a recall for Taco Bell Seasoned Beef Taco and Burrito Filling due to possible contamination concerns.

Representatives from Taco Bell did not immediately return Red Tricycle’s request for comment, but Julie Masino, President of North America, Taco Bell Corp. did say, in a press release, “As soon as we received the first consumer complaint, we immediately acted to remove the product from the affected restaurants and proactively worked with the supplier to inform the USDA of our steps to protect our guests.”

If you think you may have eaten the affected product, read on for more information on the recall.

#Recall: Kenosha Beef International Recalls Seasoned Beef Products due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination https://t.co/sG13z5zLdn

— USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service (@USDAFoodSafety) October 15, 2019

Recalled Product Description: Taco Bell Seasoned Beef Taco and Burrito Filling

The current recall is for 2.3 million pounds of Taco Bell Seasoned Beef Taco and Burrito Filling produced by Kenosha Beef International. The affected beef was only distributed to Taco Bell restaurants and not to grocery stores or individual retailers.

The beef was produced from Sep. 20 to Oct. 4.

Why the Beef Was Recalled

Kenosha Beef International recalled the beef after a customer reported metal shavings in a Taco Bell menu item. According to Taco Bell, in a press release, “On Friday, October 11, Taco Bell took immediate action and voluntarily recalled approximately 2.3 million pounds of seasoned beef from its restaurants and distribution centers.”

How to Tell If Your Taco Bell Beef Was Recalled

The recalled beef includes Cases containing eight 5-lb. plastic bags of “TACO BELL SEASONED BEEF Taco and Burrito Filling” with use by dates of “L2 11/4/19” to “L2 11/18/19″ and the establishment number EST. 10130 on the case.

None of the beef was shipped to retailers for direct to consumer sale. Taco Bell has removed and discarded all of the beef shipped to Taco Bell restaurants in 21 states. As of now there are no reported illnesses or injuries due to the recalled beef.

What Consumers Can Do

If you think you may have eaten the recalled beef and feel ill or have health-related questions, contact your medical provider as soon as possible. Consumers with product-related questions can call Taco Bell at 1-800-TACOBELL Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. PT.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Taco Bell via Instagram

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Recall Alert: King Arthur Flour Expands June Recall

Recall Alert: King Arthur Flour Expands June Recall

by Erica LoopOctober 4, 2019

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced an expansion of a previous recall for 5 and 25-pound bags of Unbleached All -Purpose King Arthur Flour due to E. coli concerns.

If you have this flour in your kitchen, read on for more information about the recall.

Recalled Product: King Arthur Flour

The recall includes 5 and 25-pound bags of Unbleached All-Purpose Flour milled by ADM Milling Company and distributed by King Arthur Flour. The bags of flour were sold nationwide via the company’s website, catalog and at retail stores.

Why the Flour Was Recalled

The flour was recalled after the detection of E. coli bacteria during sampling. As of now there are no reported illnesses. This recall is an expansion of a previous one issued on Jun. 13, 2019.

According to a representative from King Arthur Flour, in an emailed statement, “Though there’s little that’s comforting about a recall, regardless of whether it’s voluntary, we hope that notices like this one help bakers better understand the importance of following safe handling practices for flour, including never eating raw dough.”

The rep added, “For over 225 years, King Arthur Flour has been committed to providing our community with superior flour and baking ingredients which embrace the utmost integrity. Though the safe handling of flour is a practice we stress that everyone should follow, we are always aggressively pursuing new options and emerging technologies to mitigate the inherent risk that comes with flour as a raw ingredient.”

Photos: Courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

How to Tell If Your Flour Was Recalled

This recall only includes specific lots of King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour produced before February 2019. Refer to the Lot Code and Best Used By dates to identify affected products. The full list of codes and dates is available from the FDA here or from King Arthur Flour here. The code and date are located on the bottom of the ingredient list on the package’s side panel of the bag.

What Consumers Should Do

Do not use or eat the flour. Throw the flour away and submit a claim for a replacement or refund through the King Arthur Flour website here. Consumers can also call the King Arthur Flour Consumer Hotline at 866-797-9178.

—Erica Loop

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