HOTLOGIC Mini-Wall Plug – Product Review

Posted on April 1, 2023 by Francine Brokaw

We’re always on the lookout for convenient products and this HOTLOGIC Mini-Wall Plug definitely fits the bill. While it cannot be used to bake some thick items, it is still a very useful tool, especially for those who work in offices, go to school, or simply want to enjoy a hot meal or snack anywhere they go.

This item is a self-heating, portable soft lunchbox that simply plugs into any U.S. wall plug. Insert a small frozen meal (in the box) and plug the lunchbox into an outlet when you get to the office. By lunchtime the meal will be ready. (usually 40 minutes – 2 hours depending on the item). It might take a bit of learning to figure out exactly how long each item takes to completely cook, but once you figure it out you can always have a warm meal at the office. There’s no need to use a microwave or oven. This does the job right at your desk.

Besides cooking, this is a good tool to warm items. For school kids, this is a great way to kick the cold sandwich habit and give them a warm meal. Instead of a peanut butter or tuna sandwich in their lunch bag, why not make a grilled cheese sandwich and warm it up via this lunchbox? I would have appreciated that when I was in school. Or even a hotdog or fried chicken. This takes bag lunches to a new height. The handle on the unit makes it easy to carry from home to work or school, or wherever.

This lunchbox keeps food warm for up to 12 hours. It’s lightweight and easy to use. With plugs in newer model cars, trucks, and vans, the HOTLOGIC is a great way for truckers to keep their food warm. Or think about taking it on a camping trip or to the beach.

Imagine going to the beach this summer (if summer ever comes) and being able to enjoy some chips with hot guacamole while you sip your beverage of choice and watch the waves. Or even some hot nachos and a cold beverage. And what about tailgate parties or picnics? Everyone will enjoy something hot to eat.

Unlike microwaves, the HOTLOGIC can handle metal, aluminum, plastic, glass, and cardboard containers. Just put your precooked food in the lunchbox and it’s ready to reheat wherever you are, as long as there is a standard outlet. Without any buttons to push, this is handy for most ages.

Included in the package is a Quick Start Guide with all the information about how to use the lunchbox. This guide also has some easy to follow recipes.

The HOTLOGIC has been UL certified. The bag itself is hypoallergenic and uses a mere 45 watts of electricity.

If you want larger sizes, there are several options.

The mini version lists for $49.95 and is available in black, red, pink, and blue. Check the website for all selections.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘The Night Agent’ introduces us to a contemporary knight in shining armor

Posted on March 27, 2023 by Francine Brokaw

Whether based on a true story or a bestseller, there has been a plethora of new espionage thriller series this spring; True Lies reboot, Damian Lewis’ A Spy Among Friends, Kiefer Sutherland’s Rabbit Hole, Richard Madden & Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ Citadel, just to name a few.

The one I’m absolutely head over heels in love with is The Night Agent, based on Matthew Quirk’s bestseller. It’s definitely a high-stakes, nail-biting, action-thriller anybody would be excited about. However, Timeless (NBC 2016 – 18) creator Shawn Ryan added some relationship elements exploring how men and women work together in different workplaces.

Peter Sutherland Jr. (Gabriel Basso) is a low-level FBI agent who is eager to prove himself. When Diane Farr (Hong Chau), the President’s Chief of Staff, takes him under her wing based on the merit of his heroic conduct in the recent Metro bombing in spite of his infamous last name, he is ready to show her what he’s made of.

In the White House basement, Peter works the night shift manning an emergency hotline for night agents in distress; ‘a glorified 911 dispatcher’ is utterly fitting for an underdog. On a fateful night the phone that never rings actually does and all hell breaks loose. Peter’s mundane life of public service instantly turns into a frenetic nightmare. “My orders are to protect you with my life!” vows Peter, when he meets a terrified civilian witness and a sole survivor of a home invasion.

Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan), however, is neither a shrinking violet nor a damsel in distress; she is whip-smart, fiercely independent, tough as nails and impressively resourceful. Recently ousted from her own cyber security startup company, Rose has retreated to her aunt and uncle’s house to get some respite. She, too, has to prove herself, but first and foremost she has to survive threats to surrender to government forces and relentless assassination attempts while trying to figure out why her aunt and uncle were brutally murdered.

Coming to Rose’s rescue like a knight in shining armor is what Peter is trained for and expected to do, but the son of the late alleged traitor can’t afford to break the rules. With the help of the swearing, rule-breaking, geeky yet definitely alpha Rose who trusts no one and questions everything, Peter embarks on a desperate hunt for clues and leads for a future catastrophic event to save the country. It’s not necessarily the alpha-beta budding relationship, but Rose calls the shots, hounds Peter for answers, nudges him in the right direction — forget the rules, I’m mad as hell — and encourages him to think outside the box.

Although fighting off bad guys is Peter’s domain, Rose doesn’t hesitate to pitch in and becomes his knight in shining armor from time to time. Peter, surprisingly, is neither threatened nor intimidated by Rose’s strength — her ‘alpha-ness’ — at all. Hmm, maybe he is too busy trying to figure out the conspiracy unfolding in front of his eyes. Or maybe the younger generation finally realized that a romantic relationship is not a competition. Or the contemporary knight in shining armor only lives in Shawn Ryan’s imagination.

Ryan’s storytelling philosophy of ‘earning a romance’ also brightly shines in The Night Agent. I particularly appreciate the fact that sharing the rush of adrenaline-fueled adventure & misadventure doesn’t instantaneously ignite a spark between Peter and Rose. Slowly but surely (although in a very short span of time) they learn to work together while on the run, lean on each other to survive the ordeal, appreciate each other, and grow together. The slow burn contemporary fairy-tale romance between the button-down Boy Scout who sees the good in people and the unconventional damsel in distress is definitely the best part of Ryan’s latest creation.

The Night Agent is streaming on Netflix.

About the Author

Meg Mimura is a TV critic who actually watches shows zealously in search of thought-provoking and paradigm shifting human drama worth our precious time. She is a member of Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter.

Courtesy photo

Toontown reopens at Disneyland March 19, 2023

Posted on March 19, 2023August 12, 2025 by Francine Brokaw

Toontown has officially reopened at Disneyland after a year of being closed for a complete remodel. This is a colorful, fun, and great place for people of all ages. The decorations and backdrop are amazing and the interactive experiences make this a unique area of the resort.

There are three “attractions” in Toontown.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opened a few weeks ago and is a favorite among visitors. Guests ride in a trackless train and experience a 360-degree cartoon in which they are immersed. The song in this attraction is as addicting as the “small world” tune. I love it.

Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster is a small coaster that was created with little kids in mind, however adults also get a thrill. It’s not a super fast track and the drops are minimal so most people will be able to enjoy this attraction.

Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin has guests riding in their own taxi as they encounter experiences surrounding their cab. The center wheel allows for guests to spin their car around as they desire.

Also in Toontown are areas for kids to play and explore, slide, and splash. Characters can be found throughout the town and Mickey and Minnie have scheduled times to greet guests in their respective homes. And speaking of homes, guests get to walk through them and see how these two iconic mice live.

Café Daisy and Good Boy! Grocers have a variety of food so it’s not necessary to leave Toontown to get something to eat. Guests are encouraged to set up their own picnics in centoonial park with baskets and blankets available to purchase to make a memorable picnic.

And speaking of purchases, EngineEar Souvenirs has some fun items commemorating the town. The remote controlled car is adorable. It looks like the car Mickey and Minnie ride in in the Runaway Railway attraction.

For the first time in it’s history, Pete is available to greet guests. This character has taken a back seat but is now front and center in Toontown.

Toontown is located next to it’s a small world, and also has a station on the Disneyland Railroad line that encircles all of Disneyland.

Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz, Portfolio Executive Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, said, “Mickey’s Toontown first opened 30 years ago, so there are generations of Disneyland Resort guests who have grown up with and made magical memories here. Walt Disney Imagineering set out to keep the essence of what makes Mickey’s Toontown special for so many, while evolving it for the coming generations of families who can’t wait to make new memories here.”

The beautiful and enjoyable reimagined Toontown is just one of the new ways in which the company is celebrating its 100^th anniversary.

Click on the link below to view a look at Toontown.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Maybe I Do’ is an adorable film with an amazing cast

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Francine Brokaw

We all wake up one day and discover the majority of our life is in the past. We take stock in what we have done and what we want to do with the remaining years. That is what happens in Maybe I Do, a fun film filled with humor, laugh-out-loud moments, and a heartening look at love and marriage.

The star-studded cast consists of Diane Keaton and Richard Gere as Grace and Howard, a long married couple with a daughter, Michelle (Emma Roberts). Susan Sarandon and William H. Macy are Monica and Sam, another long-married couple with a son, Allen (Luke Bracey). Michelle and Allen have been living together for a while and now Michelle wants a lifetime commitment, something Allen is not prepared to offer. He loves her but after seeing the tragedy within his parents’ marriage, he is afraid of making the same mistakes.

Grace and Howard have never met Allen’s parents Monica and Sam. But, and here’s the rub, Grace knows Sam and Howard knows Monica, although their spouses do not know about each other’s relationships. What happens when the young couple introduces their parents to each other’s family?

Macy is perhaps the most adorable character in this story. He’s endearing and wonderful to watch. Gere, although playing a cad, is also fun to watch as his life could unfold with just a word from Monica. His indiscretion could be the end of his marriage to a wonderful woman. Grace is religious and just a bit frustrated with the state of her relationship with Howard. He has not been as attentive as he should be to her, something Sam feels about his wife Monica.

Director Michael Jacobs said, “It is my hope that Maybe I Do balances real moments of comedy with authentic moments of heart. As we take on love vs. marriage and hope one survives the other, giving our audience something to talk about with the people they’ve chosen to love.”

After spending years with a spouse, what is the best course of action for the remaining years of our lives? We have selected the person with whom we wanted to spend our lives yet when those initial emotions fade into an endearing friendship, what are we to do? Howard wants to regain his original lust.

The story shows that although people age, their desire to connect both emotionally and physically with another person does not disappear. Love lasts, as Michelle tries to explain to Allen.

“I found myself laughing out loud as I got to understand these characters,” explained Jacobs, “and their deep frustrations borne of reaching the age of realization that we can count to the years left and we begin to question the best use of them.”

This is truly a delightful movie filled with some really funny scenes, along with a cast that shows the dichotomy of relationships and marriages.

Maybe I Do is rated PG-13 for sexually suggestive material and brief strong language. The film opens in theaters January 27, 2023.

About the Author

‘Empire of Light’ is an emotional story

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Francine Brokaw

Empire of Light is a touching drama set in the early 1980s in a small English coastal town. The story revolves around the Empire Theater where the employees interact and form friendships outside of their work. Olivia Colman stars as Hilary, a manager at the theater who has emotional issues and was recently released from a hospital. She seems fine now and is happy with her job. Colin Firth is her boss who fancies her in more ways than just an employee, even though he has a wife. Their affair is common knowledge within the theater but what happens in the theater stays in the theater.

Michael Ward plays Stephen, the new employee, Toby Jones is Norman, the projectionist, and Tom Brooke is Neil, another employee. Hilary takes an interest in Stephen and back in the 1980s their relationship was not highly sanctioned. After all, she is white and he is black. Their friendship, however, helps her mental health issues for a while.

The story deals with plenty of human issues. There is the interracial issue, the anti-black issue, the philandering issue,
the mental health issue, and more. While it is a deep and dark story, there are some lighthearted times. The theater itself is like a home to the employees and in many ways they are a family.

The bonus feature looks at how the film was created and how writer/director Sam Mendes brought out his love of film and music in this movie.

Coleman won an Oscar for her performance in the 2018 movie The Favourite and an Emmy in 2021 for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown. Ward was nominated for a BAFTA for his performance in this film. Firth took home an Oscar for his performance in the 2010 film The King’s Speech. The caliber of actors in this film is phenomenal.

Empire of Light is now available on Blu-ray and DVD and digital. The movie is rated R.

About the Author

‘Mickey and Minnie’s 10 Classic Shorts’

Posted on March 15, 2023March 15, 2023 by Francine Brokaw

2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the Disney Company. It all started with a mouse – Mickey. This new compilation of shorts features Mickey, Minnie, and many of their friends and also shows how they have changed over the years.

Mickey and Minnie are front and center as they introduce the collection, which includes:

Steamboat Willie (1928), the classic tale of Mickey as he works diligently on a boat while at the same time having fun and changing things up a bit.

Brave Little Tailor (1938) has Mickey bragging about how many giants he has killed, but in fact he has not done so. He is recruited by the king to kill the giant and he hopes will win the love of Minnie.

The Little Whirlwind (1941) puts Minnie in the kitchen. What Mickey discovers is that cleaning up is not as much fun as baking.

Mickey’s Delayed Date (1947) Could Mickey miss his date with his beloved Minnie?

On Ice (1935) Mickey and the gang enjoy skating on a frozen river but ice can be slippery, can’t it?

Hawaiian Holiday (1937) A vacation in Hawaii sounds like the ideal place to unwind and chill out. But is it?

A Mouse Takes a Trip (1940) When Mickey and Pluto travel on a train they soon learn dogs are not allowed.

Figaro and Frankie (1947) Minnie’s cat Figaro is being annoyed by the little bird Frankie but will it come to Figaro putting an end to the life of this adorable little bird?

Bath Day (1946) Minnie takes great care of her cat, but even after a bath this fellow has a hard time staying clean.

Thru the Mirror (1936) Mickey’s dreams take him through the looking glass like Alice in Wonderland.

This collection is a fun way to watch the antics and growth of Mickey and the gang. It is available on Blu-ray and DVD and also on digital.

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‘Lyle, Lyle Crocodile’ finds a family

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Francine Brokaw

This live action show is both heartening and a little bit heartbreaking. It has a sweet ending so parents don’t need to worry about letting their kids watch it. Lyle, Lyle Crocodile stars an adorable but stage shy croc who ultimately finds a family that will love him.

Originally owned from the time he was a tiny, absolutely adorable croc by a show business wannabe named Hector Valenti (Javier Bardem), Lyle was raised in a brownstone in NYC as a show biz partner for this magician/grifter/conman. After all, Lyle can sing! He cannot talk but he can sing. Unfortunately once Valenti gets him in front of an audience – a paying audience – the little guy gets stage fright and they are laughed out of the theater. So Lyle (voiced by Shawn Mendes) is left to raise himself alone in the house while Valenti leaves to find his own stardom.

Enter the Primm family, who just moved to NYC. Young Josh (Winslow Fegley) is a fish out of water in the big city. He’s a depressed and shy boy whose parents (Constance Wu and Scoot McNairy) coddle him. They move into the brownstone vacated by Valenti. Their new downstairs neighbor Mr. Grumps (aptly named) is wary of having a family upstairs. He values quiet and does not take kindly to having a child in the building.

Well, one day Josh discovers Lyle in the attic and they become best friends. Lyle opens up a world to the young boy that he never knew existed, and they share plenty of great times together. But what will happen when his parents learn they have a large singing crocodile living in their attic?

It’s up to Josh and Lyle to prove that this scaly fellow is not dangerous. In fact, he is helpful around the house, a great friend to Josh, and ultimately an important part of their family.

But when Mr. Grumps and Valenti come back into the picture Lyle’s fate is not so rosy. Will the Primms be able to prove that Lyle belongs with them? It’s all up for grabs as this delightful, loving, and musical crocodile endears himself to the entire city.

There are plenty of bonus features on the Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K options, and the movie is also available to stream via Movie Anywhere. With plenty of music woven through the movie, the film is a fun escape for kids. Obviously there are some bizarre aspects to the film. After all, when is the last time you ran into a singing crocodile? But that aside, it’s a cute little story with the message of love, friendship, and family.

Lyle, Lyle Crocodile is rated PG for mild peril and thematic elements.

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‘iMordecai’ brings together two generations

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Francine Brokaw

It’s nice that Hollywood is focusing more on seniors these days instead of 20-somethings. Judd Hirsh stars as Mordecai, a Holocaust survivor living in Florida with his wife Fela (Carol Kane) and near his son Marvin (Sean Astin) and his family. The two generations are often at odds, with Mordecai being stuck in the past while Marvin is trying his best to push him into the 21st century. He begins with his cell phone.

Mordecai’s old flip phone is still working, on and off, so when Marvin buys him a new iPhone the confusion sets in. Where are the buttons?

Suddenly the old man feels, well, he feels old so he decides to learn about all the new technology. And after awhile he forges friendships with the tech gurus at the store and they help him join the modern world and Mordecai feels young again. He is having fun for the first time in a long time.

In the mean time, Fela is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which begins to affect her thinking. Fela is jealous of her husband’s new hobby but supports him in his effort to learn new things and get closer to their son.

Marvin’s business is about to fall apart and take his investment and his father’s investment down the drain. But what the son learns is that the father has much to teach him while the son has much to teach his father, although Marvin’s help to his dad is mainly in bringing him into the modern age.

Mordecai’s new friends, “the Einsteins” from the Apple store, enjoy his company and have fun watching him embrace modern technology. Nina (Azia Dinea Hale) takes him under her wings and her friendship with the old man adds spunk to his life. But does Nina have another motive for spending her spare time with Mordecai? While Mordecai’s world opens up, Fela’s world begins to close in, however she still has enough love and intelligence to inspire both her husband and son.

This is a bittersweet story. On one hand it shows that we are never too old to embrace new things and technologies and we do not have to be stuck in the past. We don’t have to feel our age. Seniors are still vital members of society. The human connections between the characters take viewers on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

iMordecai opens in select theaters February 24, 2023.

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‘Operation Fortune’ is a fun spy film

Posted on March 15, 2023March 15, 2023 by Francine Brokaw

Jason Statham stars in Guy Ritchie’s newest film Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. This is a combination of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and James Bond. It’s a fun spy film with a lot of quick banter and plenty of punches along the way.

British Special Agent Orson Fortune (Statham) is tasked with an unusual job for his latest undercover assignment. He puts together a new “team” consisting of tech genius Sarah Fidel (Aubrey Plaza), and J.J. Davies (Bugzy Malone), a tough guy who knows his way around a gun. Their job is to find a stolen high value item and retrieve it. But they have no idea what the item is. All they know is that it is important and conceivably very dangerous.

With their boss (Cary Elwes) back in London, Fortune and his team take off to far off lands to track this item. To help them in this job they recruit a top movie star named Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) who has a history of playing smart, tough guys on the silver screen. The problem is that he now has to play himself, something new for him.

They are soon led to billionaire Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant) who is enchanted with Sarah and is impressed with Danny. After all, Danny is one of the biggest movie stars.

With all their smarts and talents, not to mention their fighting abilities, they manage to save the day and from the time the team is formed until the time when all is well with the world once more, at least for the time being, the story is fun and enjoyable.

Directed and co-written by Guy Ritchie, Operation Fortune is a high-powered story of spies, cons, and international intrigue. Statham is known for playing smart-talking tough guys and his fans love that about him. In this film he will definitely not disappoint them on that regard. He is his usual loveable tough guy and in this case has a lot of idiosyncrasies, which add to his desirability. Yes, he is a top spy but he also has some quirks that make him even more amiable thank usual. And fans of Hugh Grant will also not be disappointed, as he is just as enjoyable as ever.

Operation Fortune is rated R for language and violence. The movie opens March 3, 2023.

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Keyboards for iPads

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Francine Brokaw

Many people love the convenience of a tablet but the performance of a laptop. It’s nice to be able to use a touch screen but not having a keyboard can be a problem for those who need to write or correspond. So what do you do? If you want the best of both, there is an easy solution. The keyboards from ZAGG offer tablet users a way to set up their iPad to work similarly to a laptop. Of course, keep in mind there are differences between tablets and laptops (no additional ports), however tablets are most like cell phones so if you’re used to working on your phone, perhaps a tablet is for you. And then simply add a keyboard/case.

ZAGG makes two different keyboards for the iPad. They are both QUERTY so it’s easy for users to connect them and get started in a snap (literally). They both stand up without any problems. Plus, and here’s one of my favorite aspects, they are both backlit, so if you’re in a dark or dim location the keys are easy to see. Once you click your tablet into the case, the case can be used as simply a case to protect your tablet or it can easily snap into place on the keyboard.

The difference between the two models is the trackpad. The regular PRO KEYS is simply a keyboard while the PRO KEYS with Trackpad has a convenient trackpad at the bottom of the board. The keyboards and the keys are the same size in both of the models however with the PRO KEYS with Trackpad there is only one slot in which to position the tablet while in the regular PRO KEYS there are two slots. So if you are used to using a trackpad the PRO KEYS with TRACKPAD will be the way to go. And, if you intend on doing a lot of work like spreadsheets, writing, etc., on your tablet, you’ll find the trackpad is the most convenient and fastest way to work.

The keys feel good to the touch and there are volume keys as well as all the function keys. The only difference between my Apple keyboard keys and my ZAGG keys is the shape. They feel the same but the ZAGG keys are round while the Apple keys are square.

The keyboards connect to the tablet via Bluetooth so pairing the iPad to the keyboard is no big deal. The keyboard charges via a USB C plug, and both models are slim and lightweight.

I love tablets and I love keyboards. I would not have a tablet without a keyboard. ZAGG is a wonderful and reliable company that has been a leader in technology products for years. And yes, I personally have used many of their products without any problems so I can honestly recommend them without hesitation.

So, if you are still on the fence deciding between a laptop and a tablet, adding a keyboard might just sway you in the direction of a tablet. And if you received a tablet for the holiday, adding a keyboard will make it much more functional.

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