If laughter is what the doctor ordered, patients must start getting in line to see the latest film from the creators of the uproarious American Pie franchise, “The Pool Boys.” As encouraged by the magazine Scientific American Mind, laughter actually reduces stress by easing tension and relaxing muscles, which keeps you more focused and productive. Your daily dose of laughter is as important as your dose of fiber or vitamin C.

Well, science confirms it: watching comedies and succumbing to relaxation are necessary for your health! So treat yourself to the playful mischief of “The Pool Boys.” The rated-R flick stars Matthew Lillard, “The Descendants”; Brett Davern, the budding actor from MTV’s hot show “Awkward.”; and “Twilight” villainess Rachelle Lefevre.

Innocent college student Alex (Davern) spends a summer in Los Angeles with his savvy, pool boy cousin Roger (Lillard). Since the pool boy business isn’t raking in the cash, the cousins concoct a scheme to start a brothel. Miraculously, they have access to the perfect mansion and plenty of hot chicks to make it work. But like most businesses with little foundation, criminal activity and dirty money – mischief abounds.

Roseanne’s Tom Arnold graces the screen with a crass cameo, surrounded by a series of other comedic hijinks. As business heats up and threatens to boil over, viewers see how far people will go to make money. The escort business predates Ponzi schemes by millenia, although the film’s dominatrices and pool parties are a nice modern touch.

Rest your lips now as the ensuing laughter could lead to jaw soreness half-way into “The Pool Boys.” To watch a trailer or view all “now playing” locations, visit www.thepoolboysmovie.com, or go to www.facebook.com/thepoolboys.com.

Raise Your Spirits With The Pool Boys was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Sex comedy  is a popular subgenre that originated in the 1980s with classic films like “Caddyshack” and “Risky Business.” Both movies were career-starters that overflowed with raunchy humor. Recently, director Judd Apatow has laid some claim to the category with his blockbusters, “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up.” But it’s hard to think of sex comedy without thinking of a certain father-son duo and a severely molested apple pie.

After the ridiculous success of the “American Pie” movies, the creators  are bringing 20-something males a new sex comedy, “The Pool Boys.” Their new film, seemingly inspired by “Risky Business,” follows two cousins who endeavor to pair an temporarily empty mansion into a brothel teeming with beautiful women and satisfied customers. When young boys are strapped for cash, the escort business seems to be a go-to solution.

“The Pool Boys” is also reminiscent of “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” and “The Girl Next Door.” These other comedies depict young, somewhat awkward and unlucky men who desperately need to make money fast, so they make a haphazard foray into adult entertainment. After all, sex sells – no matter what medium or variation.

“The Pool Boys” offers a promising cast of rising stars. Newcomers include MTV’s Brett Davern, model Sheena Lee, Spanish language Univision reporter and Telemundo star Patricia De Leon and Efren Ramirez, whose face viewers usually recognize as Pedro from “Napoleon Dynamite.” The newbies are accompanied by vets Matthew Lillard, Tom Arnold and “Twilight” evil vampire, Rachelle Lefevre.

The film made its On Demand TV premiere October 3, 2011, on TimeWarner Cable, FiOS, Comcast and Dish; and is now available for immediate viewing. Check out “The Pool Boys” trailer at www.ThePoolBoysMovie.com.

Sex Sells in New Comedy The Pool Boys was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

The increasing disparity between income levels and the price of higher learning has led to incredible amounts of student debt. Families are encouraging students to look at two-year degrees and community colleges to cut costs. According to the Department of Education, enrollment in two-year colleges has risen over the past decade, while enrollment in four-year institutions has dropped.

Soaring tuition rates and massive student debt are attracting much discussion in the public forum. While the film industry loves college movies, it hasn’t really broached this somewhat tender subject – until now. From the makers of American Pie comes a new adult-rated comedy called “The Pool Boys.”

In a desperate attempt to earn a scholarship to pay for his elite Harvard education, one character (Brett Davern) joins his drop-out, pool boy cousin (Matthew Lillard) to start an escort service. An exquisite mansion happens to fall into their hands as the owners leave for vacation, and the pair find the perfect location to create an upscale brothel. Rachelle Lefevre and Efren Ramirez turn up the fun as unexpected twists turn the party from mild to wild.

Complete with dominatrices, scantily clad “escorts” and cameos from Tom Arnold, “The Pool Boys” is a recipe for fun-filled adventure. The smart comedy explores the lengths people will travel to pay for college in a world where financial aid packages have been cut despite skyrocketing tuition. Davern’s character must become a pimp and exploit women to afford his Ivy League degree so he can mature into a responsible, contributing adult. The irony is certainly not lost, in fact it’s potently rich.

The film premieres Sept. 30 and will nudge the issue of climbing tuition rates onto the national agenda even more. Employers are demanding post-secondary education, but since many middle class individuals can’t afford college rates, unemployment numbers remain dangerously high. Thankfully, the escort service never goes out of business. Check out a new trailer for “The Pool Boys” at www.ThePoolBoysMovie.com.

“The Pool Boys” Comedy Highlights Difficulty of Paying for College was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

“American Pie” established the formula for raunchy, male bonding comedies in 1999. The original was a smash hit, followed by hugely successful sequels. The latest rumor is that an “American Pie 4” is in the oven at Universal Studios. Although it’s slated to be a theatrical release, audiences will simply have to wait with hungry anticipation.

After “American Pie” paved the cinematic road for funny, fraternal love, other comedies emerged to similar success. R-rated films like “Wedding Crashers,” “Knocked Up,” and “Superbad” performed quite well at the box office and beyond. However, the summer of 2009 revealed another buddy-love comedy that had crowds in stitches, “The Hangover.”

“The Hangover” debuted as the third biggest box office opening for rated R comedies with $44 million, and “American Pie 2” was second. In just three days, “The Hangover Part II” made a ridiculous $86.5 million. The blueprint has been laid, and other comedies are following suit.

On September 30th, Seven Arts Pictures presents the North American release of “The Pool Boys,” the next fraternal-comedy from the creators of the “American Pie” franchise. The film follows two cousins, a pool boy and a gardener, who try their hand in the escort business. The two male characters take an empty mansion, fill it with beautiful women and begin raking in the cash, until a series of hilarious hijinks throws their plans into comedic disarray. On October 3rd, the movie makes its next premiere “On Demand” – on TimeWarner Cable, FiOs, Comcast, Dish and DirecTV – and is available for immediate viewing by clicking “watch now” on a viewer’s television remote control.

The cast features comedy veterans Matthew Lillard, best known for his roles
in “Scream” and his soon-to-be-released costarring role with George Clooney in “The Descendants.” Familiar faces include Efren Ramirez from “Napoleon Dynamite,” Rachelle Lefevre from the “Twilight” saga and CBS’s “A Gifted Man,” and Brett Davern from MTV’s hugely popular “Awkward.” Then there is Tom Arnold, who helps drive the escalating mayhem when the “pool party” spins out of control.

Fans all over the Internet are excited about the movie’s “Win-a-Date” sweepstakes, where two winners get to attend “The Pool Boys” Hollywood premiere with actress Sheena Lee or Patricia De Leon, who also star in the movie. Enter to win online at www.ThePoolBoysMovie.com or by sending the word DATE to 37619 via text message. Check out “The Pool Boys” trailer at www.ThePoolBoysMovie.com.

Adult Comedies Are Ripping Up the Box Office was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Native American mounds and earthworks are one of the more underappreciated archaeological treasures in the world, but a new “Top 10” list is now highlighting these attractions. The list of America’s Indian mounds and earthworks was formed from the authoritative book “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Mounds & Earthworks” and has been widely quoted by travel sites.

Still, few Americans are aware of the existence of these incredible wonders. The encyclopedia is packed with over 500 photos, and details 1,000 sites that can be visited in 41 states.

American mound building began 5,800 years ago, long before the pyramids of Egypt were even conceived. The number-one site is a massive set of geometric earthworks and mounds centered in Newark, Ohio. It is the largest set of earthworks in the entire world. One part of the site has a large circular wall that encloses 30 acres in downtown Newark.

The Newark site is in pristine condition, and it oddly serves as America’s most unique golf course. It is one of the more unusual vacation spots in the world and was built 2,500 years ago.

The earthen ridges near Epps, La., are 6 foot high and 80 feet wide and served as platforms for houses and thousands of people. Many of the most impressive sites are found in huge parks with museums, tours and displays. Some mound sites even conduct Native American dances and ceremonies that are open to the public.

Illinois is home to Monk’s Mound, concealing a huge stone chamber that’s never been opened. This massive pyramid is the tallest American mound, standing 100 feet tall with a base larger than the Great Pyramid in Egypt. Near Marquette, Iowa, is Effigy Mounds National Monument with 200 mounds remaining, many shaped into the forms of animals. Check out www.apmagazine.info for more details.

Archaeological Delights on American Soil was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Often called “The Mickey Mouse of Japan,” Astro Boy was created in 1952 by Tezuka Osamu, Japan’s most influential cartoonist. Tezuka’s characters, with their large eyes and expressive faces, established the drawing style used in all anime today.

But it was Tezuka’s storytelling that made Astro Boy resonate with audiences around the world. Astro Boy reimagines the story of Pinocchio in a futuristic setting. Although Astro Boy is a powerful robot with components that help him protect the Earth — including twin machine guns in his butt -; he is, at heart, a little boy with an innocent worldview. Running themes include respect for life and a clear anti-bigotry message. But the morals go down with a spoonful of sugar, or, in this case, whimsy and some seriously fun butt-kicking.

Children today can experience Astro Boy outside of manga and anime. For example, D3Publisher of America, Inc. has created a video game that allows children to become Astro Boy. Available on Wii, DS, PS2 and PSP, Astro Boy: The Video Game combines entertaining gameplay with immersive storytelling. Players of all ages can use Astro Boy’s iconic weapons to battle enemies and unlock different versions of the eponymous character. Based on the 2009 full-length CG film, the video game features the voices of Freddie Highmore and Kristen Bell and allows players to explore environments from the movie.

Astro Boy emerged from post-war Japan, when instability and the fear of technology played a major role in popular culture. But while other contemporary Japanese movies involved giant monsters decimating Toyko, Tezuka created a more reassuring vision. As Tezuka once said, “‘Love all the creatures! Love everything that has life!’ I have been trying to express this message in every one of my works.”

As America finds itself fighting overseas and experiencing an economic downturn, Astro Boy’s inspiring story of redemption and triumph will certainly resonate with new generations.

For more information, visit www.d3publisher.us.

“Mickey Mouse of Japan” Goes Stateside was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

It might seem that you and your teenager have nothing in common — you cringe at their music and wince at their choice of clothes. And yet, with a little effort, you can find activities that will allow you to bond with your teenager. The first step? Accepting that your teen doesn’t want to listen to classical music or putter about in the garden.

“Find out what they want to do,” says Karen Deerwester, the author of “The Entitlement-Free Child,” in an interview with SUCCESS Magazine. “It’s not about what you want to do. With teenagers, it’s about getting into their world.”

Find out what your teen likes, then propose activities centered around that interest. A budding actress might want to see a play, while a sports enthusiast would prefer tickets to a game. If your teen likes your idea, let him or her plan out the details, like what play you will see. Teens need to feel that they have a voice in planning activities.

Actually bonding during that activity might be a little more challenging. Turn off the parenting voice, but don’t try too hard to be their friend — teens want to “hang” with their peers, not mom or dad. In fact, it might be a good idea to allow them to bring a friend. That way, teenagers enjoy their friends’ company while also spending time with their parents.

If activities spark discussion, let your teen talk first. Listen to what they say before you respond, and try not to fix their problems for them. Teenagers need to explore their own interests and face the consequences of their decisions, whether they be good or bad. If teens believe that they can’t talk to their parents, they will lie or manipulate to get what they want.

And do accept that teenagers will need time away from you. “We want to spend more time with them than they do with us, and we have to be respectful of that.” says Ann Corwin, a parenting consultant, child-development educator and the creator of “The Child Connection” DVD. “Try not to take it personally.”

To hear from more experts and get ideas for teenager-parent bonding activities, visit www.SUCCESS.com.

Talking Through Teens’ Growing Pains was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

And this isn’t amateur theater. Richter and his castmates will endure rigorous training and rehearsals, not to make it big, but to carry on their hometown’s 375-year-old tradition. Every 10 years, almost half of Oberammergau works together to put on a Passion Play depicting the last weeks of Christ’s life, his death and his resurrection. And they’ve been doing it since 1633.

How did such a thing get started? In the autumn of1632, the plague struck Oberammergau, killing 84 people by the end of that year. No one knew about rats and fleas or how the plague was spread — the common theory was that God had decided to punish his people with pestilence. Making an appeal to God was only the next logical step.

So in 1633, Oberammergau’s leaders went to the local church and vowed that they would perform a Passion Play every 10 years. And from that day on — it’s on historical record — no Oberammergau citizen ever died of plague.

At the time, Passion Plays were common throughout Bavaria. But Oberammergau’s unique in having kept up the tradition. And in performing the Passion Play on such a large scale — the town’s theater sits 4,700, there can be a 1,000 actors on stage at once and about 2,500 of Oberammergau’s 5,300 citizens will participate in one way or another. And of course, this massive, one-of-a-kind event only takes place once a decade. No wonder tickets sell out long in advance.

The dedication the actors display is astounding. Both men and women grow out their hair before the play. Eva-Maria Reiser, the flight attendant playing Mary Magdalene, is taking a summer off, without pay, to play her role.

No one can participate in the play unless they are native to Oberammergau or have lived there for at least 20 years. Both the director and the composer can trace their families back to 1633 — their ancestors made the original vow. Talk about a family tradition.

For more information and to get tickets for the 2010 Oberammergau Passion play (it won’t be held again until 2020), visit www.oberammergau-passion.com.

Psychologist By Day, Jesus By Night was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

But many children in developing countries around the world cannot afford to buy any toys — and these children often show ingenuity and creativity in making their own toys.

To celebrate the power of play, ChildFund International has created a touring exhibition titled, “The Power to Play: From Trash to Treasure,” which displays 350 handcrafted toys created by children around the world. Some of the toys are easily recognizable, like soccer balls and kites. Others are unique to their place of origin, or reveal the social, economic and political conditions in which their makers are growing up.

“Our traveling exhibition highlights the resourcefulness and creativity of the children who created the toys,” says Anne Lynam Goddard, president and CEO of ChildFund International. “Thousands of viewers will gain new appreciation for the power of play and its role in childhood development.”

Play proves essential to children’s healthy development, helping kids solve problems, test new ideas and gain friendships. So, what kind of toys can viewers expect to see? Warsito and Ade of Central Java, Indonesia make stilts to play a popular game, called “egrang.”

“It’s an exciting and unique game, and I love playing it,” says Warsito. “You can tell when a child is an expert in playing this game. He or she must have a good sense of balance and high skill to play it.”

Tyrel of Dominica has made his own toys since age eight. “I loved playing with toys, but my parents were not always able to afford them, and the ones that they occasionally bought did not hold together for long.”

Nollan, a 13-year-old from Honduras, fashions a toy called “The Trapeze Artist,” which he makes once a year and often lends to siblings and friends.

These unique toys are just a few examples of the types of items in ChildFund International’s Power to Play exhibit, which will be traveling to major museums and other locations across the United States through 2011.

For more information about the exhibit, or to learn how you can improve the life of a child in need, visit www.childfund.org.

Toys of the World Celebrate Power of Play was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

“In this age, technology and computers are very popular, so I thought about combining technology and e-mail with spreading the message of peace and love,” said Shyu, whose poster, which depicts little girls e-mailing olive branch-carrying doves, won the 21st Lions Clubs International Peace Poster Contest.

Shyu describes the image as “little fingers typing big messages, spreading love and peace worldwide.”

Shyu’s poster, which was selected from 350,000 entries from 70 countries, portrays the theme “Peace Begins With Me.” As the grand prize winner, Shyu received a trip to New York City for a special award ceremony during Lions Day with the United Nations.

“Lions in many nations have embraced the Peace Poster Contest as a hands-on way to promote peace and to support the young people in their communities,” said Lions Clubs International President Al Brandel. “The contest is another example of Lions being everyday heroes in reaching out and listening to the young people of this world.”

During the past two decades, more than 4 million children from ages 11 through 13 have artistically shared their visions for peace through the Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Lions clubs sponsor the contest in schools and organized youth programs. The contest provides an outlet for children and adults to discuss the meaning of world peace while visually portraying their feelings. Now entering its 22nd year, the contest has been held in more than 100 countries.

“It takes energy and even courage to live in peace,” said Remi Delanghe, a merit award winner from Belgium. “It’s something you need to work on every day in order to be able to create and maintain it.”

Winners have come from all across the globe to share their visions of peace. “Peace is something big and marvelous, full of happiness to be achieved from our own homes and in the heart of each human being,” said Ana Stephanie Rosero Morales from Peru, a merit award winner.

The 24 finalist peace posters will be exhibited during the year at children’s museums and various locations throughout the United States. Visit www.lionsclubs.org to view posters and send e-cards.

Children Create Posters for Peace was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com