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Friday, May 11, 2012
The Avengers
Turns out, it TOTALLY lives up to the hype.
You don't need the back stories on the characters--there's just enough expository dialogue to clue you in. Speaking of dialogue, it's crisp and witty with the quips and wisecracks flowing as fast and furious as the action sequences. This was definitely one of the funniest and funnest movies I've seen this year.
Makes that "in years."
Although Robert Downey, Jr. is in fine form as "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist" Tony Stark aka "Iron Man," he's not the only one eliciting laughs from the audience. For my money, the best character was Mark Ruffalo's soft spoken Bruce Banner turned raging green Hulk. Indeed, "Hulk, smash!" has become a internet meme and justifiably so.
My only gripe: casting Agent Phil Coulson as "The Gipper." Sure, Clark Gregg offers a likeable portrayal, but the idea that somehow this nerdy agent's death--rather than the death of hundreds of innocent people and the annihilation of the planet--is the catalyst for the disparate group of superheroes joining forces was...lame. Whatever. The movie still rocked!
I have to say I LOVED this movie. I may even see it again.
Posted by Stella Louise at 10:42 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The Raven
I'm a sucker for costumes AND John Cusack, so I thought that the combination of the two would make for an entertaining couple of hours. Although Cusack's portrayal of Edgar Allan Poe isn't quite as awful as reviews seem to indicate, despite the physical resemblance, he doesn't really own the role. This is partially due to the writing which have him spouting exposition and dropping Wikipedia tidbits rather than depicting a flesh and blood person.
Speaking of blood, there's plenty of it in this gothic horror. A trio of murders kick off the action immediately--emulating Poe's macabre style. As gruesome as the murders are, however, they do little to inspire a sense of horror or establish the tone of the psychological thriller. The tone that is set is not gripping but conveys more of a sense of the somnambulant. In fact, one of my fellow audience members snored throughout most of the film. (It's possible that the snoozy movie-goer was this Gawker reviewer, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that others were bored by the film...)
Adhering to period verisimilitude doesn't appear to have been a major concern for the filmmakers. The story opens with hoofs pounding down a Baltimore cobblestone street as the police department races to an apartment building to stop a violent crime (as evidenced by the screams and pleas of a woman's voice) in progress. Clearly a neighbor must have heard the commotion and dialed 911 on his iPhone.
Oh wait...no phones (iPhone or otherwise) in 1849.
The film also kills off one of Poe's rivals--despite the fact that in real life he lived to write a scathing obituary of the poet/writer.
There are those who derided the "twist" as to who turns out to be the copycat killer, but that didn't really bother me much. What I found unappealing about the movie was that the murders--while certainly grisly and gruesome and gory--didn't resonate as "Poe-tic" to me. I did a paper on the writer in high school and while I don't have a vivid recollection of his work, I did note that the necrophiliac themes were pervasive--even perverse at times. While the film did hint at Poe's affinity for the repellant, Cusack's portrayal was more of a quirky eccentric (complete with pet raccoon) than a twisted, tortured soul.
Like one of Poe's most famous stories, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven is meant to be a bit of a mindfuck--at least on the part of the killer toying with the object of his homage. Unlike that gothic classic, however, the movie does little to build suspense and tension and the climax is less of a shattering revelation and more of a tired whimper.
Posted by Stella Louise at 6:03 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies
Monday, April 30, 2012
The Hunger Games
I always feel like when I see a movie adapted from a book I've never read, I'll be missing out. Despite overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and fans of the series (most of whom feel that Gary Ross' take is a fairly faithful adaptation), I felt like not having read the books definitely put me at a disadvantage.
Of course having READ the books often sets the viewer up for disappointment when the characters you have imagined in your mind don't correspond to the representation on screen.
Armed with only a basic outline of the story, I had little in the way of expectations. Although from what I knew at the outset, The Hunger Games seemed problematic--casting issues and directorial choices aside. The story is basically American Idol meets Survivor meets Roman Gladiators: two kids (aged 12-18) from each of twelve districts offered up as tribute each year to participate in a televised fight to the death.
I take it that The Hunger Games is supposed to highlight our ungodly obsession with reality TV, but it stretches the point beyond believability. I mean, Simon Cowell can be cruel and cutting, but seriously? Then again, The Hunger Games was the number one movie for WEEKS so we have millions of people watching a movie about people watching kids killing kids on TV. Wrap your head around that piece of circular logic...
The dystopian society in The Hunger Games is portrayed as impoverished and malnourished--save for the wealthy residents of the Capitol. But The Hunger Games is televised to all Panem residents. Anyone who knows anything about media knows that content is just the pretty wrapping around advertisements--or as a former English professor used to say, "Newspapers exist to sell underwear." (Actually newspapers barely exist these days. I guess underwear is being sold via Victoria's Secret ads embedded in Hulu videos...) So, if the majority of the viewers of The Hunger Games are too poor to even buy food--much less Miller Lite or a brand new Acura--what's the point of the broadcast?
Other nitpicky points that annoyed me: old technology such as coal mining coexisting with such advanced tech (CGI mastiffs that can be turned into the real deal) or if everyone in district 12 is starving, who's buying the pastries from Peeta's dad's store? If you're a player in a game where the object is to kill the other players, how do you get mad at a player who killed someone from your district? Also, knowing that there's only one survivor, why do you "team up" with any of your fellow players?
But my biggest issue with The Hunger Games is that the characters in the movie were probably much less developed than in the book. To be sure, director Gary Ross gives the story his signature visual style as evidenced by his work on Pleasantville. But the grisly aspect of the story of kids killing kids is fairly muted with most of the deaths occurring off screen. The lack of character development means that reaction to the deaths are muted as well. At least they were for me: I shed not one tear--not even for the adorable, plucky Rue.
Ross has bowed out for future installments of The Hunger Games series with Francis Lawson stepping in for Catching Fire. Lawson, who has been praised for being faithful to source material (ala his direction of Water for Elephants) might be able to infuse some more character development and emotion into the second film. Will I be back to determine if I'm team Gale or team Peeta (I'm leaning towards the latter...)?
Posted by Stella Louise at 5:56 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Coming Attractions Spring/Summer 2012
With all the movies I've been going to lately, I've gotten an unusually large dose of "coming attractions." Not that I mind--in some cases I find the trailers to be the most enjoyable part of the movie-going experience. In some cases, I'd almost prefer to watch two hours worth of trailers. In some cases, it FEELS like I have watched almost two hours worth of trailers.
But I digress...
Here are some of the trailers that have piqued my interest over the last couple of weeks/months:
Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter
Who comes up with this stuff? Oh, that's right--this is from the twisted mind of Seth Graham-Smith and is a follow-up to his also twisted "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" which is also being made into a movie. (Has anyone seen a trailer for that? I'm dying to see how the stuffy manners and morality of the early 19th century is transformed by the undead...)
The thought of our 16th president not only as someone who abolished slavery, but was a kick-ass vampire slayer? Totally tickles the funny bone--although from the trailer it appears the movie totally plays it straight.
The Raven
When I first saw this trailer the other day, I thought it was for the Abe Lincoln vampire movie. Similar time periods (early 1800s) and same Gothic feel. But no, it's a movie about a serial killer who is inspired by the macabre work of Edgar Allen Poe, who is played here by John Cusack. Yup, Lloyd Dobler is playing the necrophilia-obsessed author. It's more mind-boggling than Lincoln as a 19th century Buffy in my opinion. Still, I'm a sucker for period pieces so I'll probably go see both (and cover my eyes at all the gory parts...).
I most definitely will NOT be seeing this based on the cliché-ridden trailer. "There's only one man who can get her out..." "He's the best there is...but he's a loose cannon." Ugh. The story: The president's daughter is caught up in a jailbreak that occurs in a maximum security prison orbiting off earth and an operative wrongfully convicted of conspiracy is tasked with rescuing her and earning his freedom. The stereotypical action hero-loner is played by Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace reprises her Taken role as the pretty damsel in distress. An IMDB previewer suggested it might have been a more intriguing story had the roles been reversed and I agree.
Neighborhood Watch
Post-George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin, it would appear that marketing this movie just got a bit problematic. According to the IMDB synopsis, however, the flick about a quartet of wannabe bad-asses turns into a Men In Black ripoff. With Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill on tap, there will probably be laughs. Whether or not they'll be apparent in footage OTHER than the trailer remains to be seen...
(Update: Apparently Fox's marketing department isn't as quick on the draw as I am as they only just now pulled the teaser trailer for Neighborhood Watch in light of the Trayvon Martin shooting.)
That's My Boy
Okay, since it's an Adam Sandler movie, it's pretty much guaranteed to be stupid, silly, raunchy comedy which plays to the lowest common denominator. The set up is similar to Sandler's previous foray into "father figure" aka Big Daddy, but with the added ick factor twist of a little Mary Kay LeTourneau subplot. Although the trailer shows Sandler shamelessly mugging, Andy Samberg is sure to be funny--and what the hell, I love Adam. It's not The Wedding Singer but unless the reviews are Jack and Jill level horrific, I'll probably go see it.
The Five-Year Engagement
Jason Segel AND Emily Blunt? Say no more--I am so there. These two look adorable together in the trailer--I've no doubt the finished movie will be both sweet and funny.
Rock of Ages
Musicals tend not to be big winners on the big screen, but Rock of Ages boasts an all-star cast including Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Tom Cruise. It could end up being a terrible cheese-fest, but two hours of 80s pop/metal might be worth the ticket price.
Dark Shadows
Speaking of cheesy, Tim Burton is back with his creative muse Johnny Depp as soap-vamp Barnabas Collins. Surprisingly, Helena Bonham Carter doesn't make an appearance in this flick (at least one that's credited currently on IMDB) but Seth Grahame-Smith of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter (and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) is credited as one of the writers. Unless the Lincoln does Buffy flick, this one appears to be capitalizing more on comedy than Gothic horror.
** ETA: Actually Bonham Carter IS in Dark Shadows. All is right with the world...
Premium Rush
Three words to describe why I'll being seeing this movie: Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Any trailers pique your interest lately?
Posted by Stella Louise at 11:30 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies
Sunday, March 25, 2012
21 Jump Street
This movie version of the once popular 80s TV show would have seemed to be another indication that Hollywood is indeed out of new ideas. But I could tell from the trailer, that instead of updating the original show (which itself was a ripoff of the 60s/70s The Mod Squad), the intention was to go the buddy comedy route and lampoon the very idea of actors in their late 20s/early 30s playing high school students ala Beverly Hills 90210 (**cough cough Luke Perry cough**).
Of course Jonah Hill who has become a staple in movie comedies over the last couple of years (The 40 Year Old Virgin, Superbad, Get Him to the Greek, etc.) is a shoo-in as the dorky, choke-in-a-clutch Schmidt and Channing Tatum certainly fits the bill as the pretty-but-dim Jenko--but did you know that Tatum is actually FUNNY? So much so that you'd actually forgive him for being in not one but TWO Nicholas Sparks movies as well Step Up 1 & 2.
The movie is filled with great comic actors like Nick Offerman and Ellie Kemper, but it's the great chemistry between Hill and Tatum which turns the story from a standard action adventure into more of a "bro-mantic" comedy. That's not to say there isn't plenty of action--there are car chases, explosions and gun violence, but given the overall tone of the movie even the climatic bloody shoot-out at the end of the film is played for laughs.
Fans of the original TV series (I never watched it...) might be disappointed at the irreverent take on their beloved show, but there are at least four former Jump Streeters making cameos in the film--including Johnny Depp. The movie is a mess of silliness and mayhem, but is definitely a fun way to spend a couple of hours. Here's to hoping that Hill and Tatum re-team for future comedic efforts.
Posted by Stella Louise at 2:59 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Jeff, Who Lives at Home
"High concept" is Hollywood-ese for movies that can be summed up in a single sentence. It's usually reserved for blockbusters like Die Hard which became its own shorthand for high concept with the numerous copycats that followed it being described as "Die Hard on a Bus," "Die Hard on a Plane"--you get the idea. Ironically, the indie flick Jeff, Who Lives at Home manages to convey its concept with less than a sentence in its title.
The "Jeff" is question is played by Jason Segel who's made a career out of playing the overgrown man-child. His enormous size and hangdog expressions really contribute to the character of the basement-dwelling, pot smoking, 30 year-old with a severe case of arrested development due to the untimely death of his father when he was young.
His brother, Pat (played by Ed Helms) suffers a similar case of stunted growth--lacking a role model for becoming a man although he is employed and married, unlike Jeff.
But back to Jeff, whose belief system is built upon the M. Night Shyamalan movie Signs as he approaches commonplace occurrences like wrong numbers as messages from the universe as to his destiny. After experiencing said wrong number while smoking a bong and watching an infomercial on TV, Jeff sets out on a fatalistic journey that is the basis of action for the rest of the movie. His journey has him crossing paths with his estranged brother Pat (twice) which only furthers his interpretation of meaning.
As Jeff's journey becomes subsumed by Pat's marital difficulties, the film starts to resemble the 1996 indie flick, The Daytrippers. Written and directed by brothers Mark and Jay Duplass, the film does explore the relationship between the two brothers--as well as Pat's relationship with his long-suffering wife Linda (Judy Greer) and the tension between the sons and their uptight mother (Susan Sarandon)--but mostly it's Jeff's journey to discover his destiny which he does in a big way in the climatic ending.
As such, the film is highly dependent on Segel's ability to walk the fine line between adorable and annoyance, which he manages with ease. Although a fairly lightweight piece of whimsy, the Duplass brothers along with their talented cast manage to make this day-in-a-life film "the best day in the history of the whole world."
Posted by Stella Louise at 12:43 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Friends with Kids
In Friends with Kids, Jennifer Westfeldt's adorably neurotic Jessica Stein-esque character is still single with loudly ticking biological clock. So, she and BFF Jason Fryman (Adam Scott) decide to forgo the unhappily ever after route taken by their friends (Maya Rudolph and Chris O'Dowd and Jon Hamm and Kristen Wiig) and have a kid together.
While what follows in pretty predictable in a Harry Met Sally had a baby kind of way, it still is an engaging little flick. While it doesn't quite live up to the charm of Kissing Jessica Stein, Westfeldt and Scott have great chemistry and are completely adorable together. Sure, it's got a lifestyle porn gloss to it, but as with KJS it perfectly dramatizes the fact that life and relationships can be messy and that the unconventional these days is becoming the norm.
As a post on Gawker points out, the supporting cast is fairly peripheral to the movie--so if you were expecting Rudolph and Wiig to delight you with their SNL comic chops, you're bound to be disappointed. Well, not so much disappointed--the tangled relationship between Westfeldt's Julie Keller and Scott's Jason Fryman provides enough interest. The characters are not altogether three-dimensional: Jason is superficial serial monogamist and Jules has an obsession with pondering various death scenarios--but that's about the limit of the depth of portraits. Still, Westfeldt and Scott manage to draw you in with their performances.
Even with its flaws, I enjoyed the film much more than many I've seen lately. It brought me to tears at points (and I forgot tissues AGAIN!) and left me satisfied with the resolution--even though it was pretty much a given (see ending of "Harry Met Sally"). If you liked Kissing Jessica Stein, you'll enjoy Friends with Kids. And if you have seen KJS, rent it!
Posted by Stella Louise at 9:35 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Given a choice between a serious Oscar-worthy drama and a mindless comedy, I'll generally choose the comedy. I've seen enough dark and depressing fare to last a lifetime. After catching the trailer for the Paul Rudd/Jennifer Aniston vehicle Wanderlust, I thought it might just do the trick.
Rudd, especially, is known for his comic chops and has appeared in a number of funny movies in the last couple of years: 40 year-old Virgin, Role Models, I Love You, Man, etc. Aniston has comic cred as well--although her film roles haven't quite lived up to her Friends pedigree.
Wanderlust is fitfully funny--lampooning both the lifestyle of the urban yuppie as well as the neo-hippie. The latter undergoes a skewering that is over the top with the commune-dwelling residents of Elysium are portrayed as free love-living, yoga practicing, organic farming, vegan nudists.
Along with Rudd, whose gorgeous complexion never seems to age, and Aniston, who manages to look stylish even wearing an array of ponchos, peasant blouses and Ugg boots, the film features Justin Theroux, Malin Ackerman, Lauren Ambrose, Linda Lavin and Alan Alda. (Did Alda recently get a new agent? He's really popping up a lot these days: Tower Heist, The Big C and now Wanderlust.)
Wanderlust has its moments of funniness--but it's fairly uneven. There are cringe-worthy (especially if you're not a 17 year-old male--or are female in general...) moments as well. If your taste runs towards the vulgar and ridiculous, catch a matinee showing of Wanderlust. Otherwise, wait until it hits Netflix.
Posted by Stella Louise at 9:18 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
A Salute to Sidekicks
A common trope in TV shows is that of the plucky hero/heroine and their intrepid sidekick. There's Batman and Robin, Ralph and Ed, Lucy and Ethel. In most cases, the sidekick is willing to dwell faithfully in the shadow of their confederate. But sometimes the sidekick proves to be more engaging than the so-called lead that they are supporting.
Take for example Rhoda Morgenstern. As a sassy counterpoint to the sincerity of Mary Richards. To be fair, Mary Tyler Moore's character acted as more of a "straight man" to the general wackiness of the friends and coworkers around her--and Rhoda was no exception. Of course when Rhoda's character was spun off into her own show, her sister Brenda (Julie Kavner) became the sidekick who often eclipsed Rhoda.
Here are some examples of my favorite scene-stealing sidekicks:
Jack and Karen
The show may have been called "Will & Grace," but the true stars were Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally as Jack and Karen. I never quite got why GLAAD showered the show which perpetuated broad stereotypes with so many awards, but Jack and Karen never failed to amuse.
Sam Axe
Burn Notice is a show about a burned spy named Michael Westen who is trying to find out who betrayed him and regain his status with the CIA. I'm sure many people watch the show to see how Jeffrey Donovan's character employs his super spy skills to save the day, but I'm more engaged by the comic relief provided by Bruce Campbell who plays Michael's friend, Sam Axe. Sam is a beer-swilling, wise-cracking, ex-military turned gigolo-type--but he's also completely loyal and dependable.
If I needed someone to lay down cover fire while I surreptitiously advance upon my target, it'd be Sam Axe.
Matt Bomer is indisputably one of the most beautiful people I have ever--and man, can he wear the @#$% out of a suit! But the reason I keep tuning into White Collar each week is not for Neal Caffrey, the dapper grifter or even the stoic and steadfast Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). It's for Willie Garson's paranoid thief and Neal's cohort, Mozzie.
Garson was adorable as Stanford Blatch on Sex and the City, but he gets more screen time on White Collar. And thank goodness because his character is the most fun on this show.
While Edie Falco is always watchable in whatever role she plays, she is surrounded by talent with the cast of Nurse Jackie. I love each and every character! But Merritt Wever as Jackie's acolyte, Zoey Barkow is definitely a scene stealer. Zoey idolizes Jackie, but still manages to stand on her own among an exceptional ensemble.
As a physicist nerd afflicted by selective mutism around women, Kunal Nayyar as Rajesh Koothrappali on The Big Bang Theory doesn't have a lot of lines. But when he does, he absolutely crushes them.
Penny: We should have never slept together. It's what ruins friendships.
Raj Koothrappali: You can't ruin a friendship with sex. That's like trying to ruin ice cream with chocolate sprinkles.
Plus he's really adorable...
Grimm is one of two fairy tale-inspired series this season. It's pretty much a police procedural with supernatural type characters (wolves, bears, spiders and more). One of these anthropomorphic beings is played by Silas Weir Mitchell. His character of Monroe has turned out to be a true blue (or more accurately, "Blutbad") friend to Grimm descendant, Nick Burkhardt. Nick is a somewhat bland, boring character (although easy on the eyes) so it's pretty easy for Monroe to capture the spotlight.
Any TV sidekicks that make your must-watch list?
Posted by Stella Louise at 9:04 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: TV
Monday, February 20, 2012
Big Miracle
In the footsteps (fin strokes?) of movies like "Free Willy" comes this "inspired by a true story" tale of three California gray whales trapped by ice in upper Alaska.
Yes, it's largely predictable as far as outcome. Yes, the all-star cast (John Krasinski, Drew Barrymore, Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, Stephen Root, Time Blake Nelson, Dermot Mulroney and more) and the varied storylines (environmentalism, professional aspirations, tribal allegiance, mass media, unbridled capitalism, cold war politics--oh, and the aforementioned trapped whales) muddy the water, but all in all this was one of the more satisfying movie-going experiences I had lately.
There's plenty of tearjerking potential (this time I was prepared with tissues--yay!) and while a (somewhat) happy ending was a forgone conclusion, there were enough twists and obstacles to keep me engaged in the unfolding drama. Although the true story this film was based on didn't have the solid, upbeat resolution that its movie version did--but then that's Hollywood for ya.
Posted by Stella Louise at 8:05 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The Artist
This film by French director Michel Hazanavicius starring French actors Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo is up for Best Picture as well as nine other Academy Awards. It's a black and white silent movie about a silent movie idol.
Talk about meta.
Those who have fallen under the spell of the recreation of this long past era are effusive in praising the film (see TEN Academy Award nominations). And then there are those who aren't impressed--like film critic Jeffrey Wells who said of the movie:
"The Artist is all about re-creation, backward visitation and reflective surfaces. It possesses and radiates nothing that is truly its own, except for a desire to give entertainment-seekers a nice pleasant time."
I wouldn't be quite as dismissive of The Artist's charms as Mr. Wells--but he certainly has a good point. There's nothing new in the film: its plot borrows heavily from the far superior and more charming depiction of the advent of talkies, Singing in the Rain as well as the already multiply-remade A Star is Born. Indeed, one of the minor characters in The Artist is a definite Lina Lamont ripoff.
As baffled as I am about all the buzz surrounding this "re-creation" (Gus Van Sant did a shot-for-shot remake of Hitchcock's Psycho some years back which definitely did NOT receive the adulation afforded The Artist...), I'm more puzzled by the why of it all.
Why would protagonist George Valentin jeopardize his thriving career by refusing to do talkies? Did he think his French accent would put off the audience ('cuz we all know that American women are completely immune to sexy accents...)?
What was the point of having a stellar supporting cast including John Goodman, Malcolm McDowell and James Cromwell whose combined screen time was less than Uggie the dog?
Why the need to tell this story--to recreate a bygone film genre--at all? Mel Brooks did it over 30 years ago--and far more successfully and charmingly than this venture.
The movie felt long and at 100 minutes it's certainly no Lord of the Rings endurance test, but it's a good fifteen minutes longer than the films it's trying to emulate. And while the acting in silent films focuses on emotive facial expressions, Bérénice Bejo crosses the line into the realm of "mugging" for the camera. As the plucky heroine, she's perky and spunky and completely lives up to her aptly annoying name, Peppy Miller. She reminds me of the forced exuberance of Shelly Hack in Charlie perfume commercials.
Bejo did have a nice moment in the film when she crashed Valentin's dressing room and pantomimed caressing herself via his jacket. But overall she gave off a smug vibe and I wanted to smack her. I thought it would have been more entertaining if the beauty mark Valentin gave her to make her stand out among the competition moved around her face--maybe jumping from the right side to the left or something.
Like Hugo, The Artist is a love letter to the film industry. But while it's a lovely little film, it falls in the "Good, not great" category for me.
Posted by Stella Louise at 7:48 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies, pop culture
Saturday, February 4, 2012
I Can't Believe It's Not Battlestar Galactica
I'm newly addicted to the sci-fi series compliments of its playing on BBC America (that channel has also got me hooked on the British version of "Being Human"). We're up to season four now and I'm totally engrossed in the tale of the 30+ thousand survivors of the Cyclon wars searching for Earth.
But this post isn't about Starbuck, Apollo, Admiral Adama or President Roslin. It's about this commercial for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter:
Does the narrator's voice sound familiar to you? I could swear it's James Callis aka Dr. Gaius Baltar.
Anyone know for sure?
Posted by Stella Louise at 4:57 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: pop culture, TV
Friday, February 3, 2012
Signs of the Impending Apocalypse
2012 marks the end of the Mayan calendar and I appropriately rang in the new year watching a marathon of The Walking Dead.
Okay, I'm not one to put stock in apocalyptic superstitions -- after all, by all accounts the world was supposed to end in the year 1000 according to Rodulfus Glaber, in 1843 according to William Miller, in 2000 (according to Prince...), twice in 2011 according to Harold Camping and now in 2012 according to the Mayans (although to be fair, they weren't accurate in predicting their own end--why should we trust them to predict the end of mankind?).
Even though Isaac Newton gives us a reprieve until 2060, Jezebel has pulled together a list of apocalyptic signs
To which I would add this:
The "LazySuit." This appeared on a late night infomercial and I was sure it was really a SNL sketch. Taking the Snuggie one step further is this one piece sweat suit with strategically placed zippered opening for easy access.
Living in L.A. where everything is California casual, it's typical to see people wearing Juicy Couture track suits or pajama bottoms--but this bit of fashion takes the cake. The commercial showed grown men and women hanging out in their LazySuits while tailgating.
I can't imagine anyone wearing these out in public--even if they came in NFL-approved team colors instead of lagoon blue, plum, half lagoon blue and half plum, light gray and white striped, fuchsia, sage and berry.
According to the site: "LAZYSUIT is all about a comfy and loose fit, and it is perfect for both genders. When you put your LAZYSUIT on, you will feel how soft and comfortable the material is, so you would want to keep it on at all times."
If you're interested in a one piece sweatsuit, they're on sale for $69.50 with free shipping!
Bring on the apocalypse!
Posted by Stella Louise at 8:08 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: pop culture
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Despite the low Rotten Tomatoes rating, this flick ended up as a Best Picture nominee--so of course I had to see it. The movie is about Oskar Schell (who may or may not have Asperger's or autism) and his journey to find what the key found in his beloved dead father's personal effects unlocks.
The close-to-saintly dad is played by the eminently likeable Tom Hanks and his death in the World Trade Center collapse on 9/11 already is a set up for tugged heartstrings (Note to self: Bring TISSUES to tearjerker movies!!!). Given the premise, it would seem certain that one would be in for a maudlin melodrama. But Thomas Horn as the precocious kid and Sandra Bullock as his mother convey the pain of the loss in a way that's raw and palpable.
The film not only features the top caliber talent of Oscar winners Hanks and Bullock, but Viola Davis, Max von Sydow, John Goodman and Jeffrey Wright contribute nicely as well. The story, however, belongs to Thomas Horn--who possesses one of the most astonishingly beautiful faces I've ever seen.
Yes, the set up is contrived to be an emotional sucker punch. (What in the world is the owner of a small, independent jewelry store doing in the World Trade Center on 9/11?) Yes, it's an unabashed tearjerker. But for emotional resonance (which I've found sadly lacking in most of the movies I've seen of late...), it delivers.
Posted by Stella Louise at 5:18 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Upon the recommendation of Martin as well as its nomination for Best Picture, I went to see Hugo. I would have preferred the 2D version as I find 3D to be gimmicky and intrusive, but 3D was pretty much my only option. The 3D glasses needed to be in place for the trailers because they were all for 3D movies. I've no interest in seeing a mustachioed Lorax popping out of the screen, but I have to say the 3D effects for Titanic looked pretty spectacular.
Speaking of looks, that's something Hugo had going for it in spades. It's visually stunning. The intricate set design was reminiscent of a Tim Burton movie. And the self-contained universe of the train station had echoes of Steven Spielberg's "The Terminal." I was somewhat surprised that it was a Scorsese movie--it's not exactly his oeuvre.
As far as performances go, Ben Kingsley gives his usual excellent performance as George Méliès. Sasha Baron Cohen plays the station inspector with broad strokes but never over the top and Chloe Grace Moretz did a fine job as the adventure-loving Isabelle--even tackling a British accent with aplomb. (Her accent was even better than Gwyneth Paltrow or Renee Zellweger.) Why everyone in Paris had a British rather than French accent is a mystery to me...
Asa Butterfield as the orphaned Hugo Cabret was probably the weakest link. He was decent for most of the film, but as the central character whose journey the audience is following he didn't evoke much empathy. I was expecting that Hugo would have some Dickensian connection to George--or to the bookstore owner who seemed somewhat startled to hear his name when Isabelle introduced them. As it turned, there was no real connection between the orphaned boy living secretly in the train station and anyone else in the film. Nor was there much connection to the character for the audience. That combined with the overall detachment of the film (gorgeous on the surface, not much substance underneath) puts it in the "good, not great" category for me.
I did appreciate the film history lesson the movie provided by way of the character of Méliès. Much of what was portrayed in Hugo was accurate: Méliès was a magician turned filmmaker in the early days of movie making. He accidentally discovered the optical illusions created by stop action and became a master of early special effects. He did stop making movies working selling candy and toys at a shop in a Paris train station. Méliès, however, was "rediscovered" and honored in the late 20s rather than the early 30s as depicted in the movie--but that's a small quibble.
As an homage to early filmmakers and film making, Hugo has a lot to offer. But although 3D and the visual effects in Hugo are a natural update to Méliès movie making magic, I would have preferred a film that had more depth than dazzle.
Posted by Stella Louise at 4:11 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies
Thursday, January 19, 2012
When I heard that J.J. Abrams, creator of LOST, was executive producing this new series, I immediately scheduled it on my DVR. Of course, there will be many drawing parallels to the intensely-dissected cult favorite--after all, the show is also set on an island, operating under mysterious circumstances including possible time travel and features Jorges Garcia (formerly "Hugo/Hurley") as one of its stars. But so far the new series appears to be a fairly standard crime procedural drama with the mysterious underpinnings as an overarching theme.
The show seems to take notes more from The X-Files and Fringe with the plot following one person each episode. In the case of Alcatraz, that person is one of 260-some prisoners who poof! disappeared when they were due to be transferred to other facilities after Alcatraz was shut down in 1963. 260 prisoners divided by a standard 22-24 episodes per season equals 10+ years to tell all their stories.
I think J.J. may be a little overly optimistic here, don't you?
Apparently these prisoners disappeared and have been in some sort of suspended animation for 40 years. There's a whole secret FBI operation dedicated to tracking down these prisoners and, more importantly, finding out who or what took them and why. It's headed by one of the former guards tasked with transporting the prisoners to their new residences by the name of Emerson Hauser, played by Sam Neill.
The problem is that when these vanished prisoners pop up again, they tend to go on murder sprees. Some are motivated by past grudges, some are motivated by psychotic tendencies, some are motivated by both. But some are apparently motivated by whatever forces abducted and held them for the past decades.
I'll keep watching to see if the series lives up to the promise of LOST (without devolving into a clusterfuck of a unsatisfying finale), but I hope the series gets more Fringe-y and less Law & Order.
We already have four Dick Wolf shows on TV--there's no need for another!
Posted by Stella Louise at 4:13 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: pop culture, TV
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
A Dangerous Method
Although this movie purports to be about the relationship between Drs. Freud vs. Jung, it's more accurately a story of Jung's illicit relationship with one of his patients who went on to become a noted psychoanalyst in her own right. Keira Knightley the initially damaged Sabina Spielrein who is healed by Jung's application of "The Talking Cure" (the stage play on which the movie was based), a method proposed by Dr. Sigmund Freud.
Knightley has received mixed reviews for her performance, but I think she acquits herself admirably. An actress of remarkable beauty, she is fully willing to forgo vanity as her face is contorted by the pain and humiliation of her "affliction." Yes, her accents drops out at times, but I give her credit for attempting to maintain it even during scenes requiring her to be hysterical.
Indeed, it's mainly Knightley's movie (evident in that she gets top billing over both Viggo Mortensen as Freud and Michael Fassbender as Jung) with the depiction of the ultimate rift between Jung and Freud and schism between their analytic philosophies given very little screen time.
The film suffers as most adaptations of plays do being heavy with dialogue and fairly static in nature. Towards the end of the film, I was feeling a bit snoozy as the two lead characters (not Freud) wrapped up their relationship with one final analysis. The most fascinating piece of info I got from the film was Spielrein's thesis regarding the connection of sex and death. It's a very Scorpionic/eighth house viewpoint and it makes me wonder if it inspired Jung's astrological archetypes.
All in all, the film was a perfect representation of the adage, "Physician, heal thyself!" and my long held belief psych students gravitate to the discipline to diagnose their own neuroses.
Posted by Stella Louise at 6:16 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies, pop culture
Monday, January 16, 2012
My Favorite Movies of 2011
2011 was a fairly ho-hum year for films as far as I'm concerned. I only saw 23 releases which is well under my usual average. Frankly, I just couldn't be bothered. Many of the films I chose to see were praised by critics but left me feeling "meh." I still have a handful of 2011 films to see (The Artist, A Dangerous Method) and there were a few I decided to skip (Bridesmaids), but I'm hoping 2012 will be better than the lackluster 2011 as far as movies are concerned.
My top 10 in no particular order:
1. Fast Five - You'd think the Fast and Furious franchise would have run out of gas by now. Vin Diesel's return to 2009's Fast & Furious injected new life into the formulaic cars + crime + girls + action scenes plot and Five just upped the ante. It's not making critic's lists or winning Oscars, but for action-packed popcorn fun, this flick delivers. I'm looking forward to number 6 in 2013.
2. Harry Potter Deathly Hallows 2 - I missed part one in the theaters and had to Redbox it before seeing the final installment. It was a spectacular ending to the decade long series although I couldn't help feeling (as I did with the other Harry Potter movies) that so much was expurgated from the books to fit into the confines of a two-hour running time.
3. Bad Teacher - Very raunchy, very funny. Think Bad Santa with Cameron Diaz in the Billy Bob Thornton role. The real revelation, however, was Justin Timberlake. You will never be able to look at the pop heartthrob in the same way after this movie.
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Way long and felt like two movies smashed together, but still engrossing, gripping with great performances.
5. Jane Eyre - I'm a sucker for period dramas and this adaptation of the Bronte novel delivers with gothic castles, costumes and a smoldering hero in the form of Michael Fassbender.
6. The Muppets - Just nostalgic fun. Following the Dracula puppet show which served as the final scene of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Jason Segal was the perfect choice to write the Muppet reboot. Not all of the human cameos work, but it's great to see the old gang back together again. The performance of "Man or Muppet" by Jason Segal featuring Jim Parsons is worth the price of admission alone.
7. Anonymous - As I mentioned, period dramas are particularly appealing to me and I'm fascinated by stories set in the Elizabethan era. I once did a college paper on the possibility that Christopher Marlowe was the actual author of Shakespeare's works but the conjecture that they were penned by the Earl of Oxford was a theory I was not familiar with. Rhys Ifans, who played Hugh Grant's bumbling roommate in Notting Hill, is a magnificent Edward De Vere--proving that some things do indeed get better with age.
8. Moneyball - Nice performance by Brad Pitt, but Jonah Hill pretty much walks away with the movie. Even if you're not a sports fans and you find baseball about as intriguing as watching paint dry, you'll be completely sucked into this story.
9. Source Code - Taut, sci-fi thriller. Borrows from a number of similar stories--including 2006's Deja Vu--but does it with style.
10. The Help - Great performances and touching moments. Really does a great job of conveying the pre-civil rights South.
And the rest:
Crazy Stupid Love - Fairly enjoyable with the exception of the obligatory "big speech" moment.
Tower Heist - Silly fun. Like eating cotton candy: more air than actual substance.
The Adjustment Bureau - Damon and Blunt have chemistry and look great together but the fate vs. free will plot stretches belief beyond the breaking point.
The Descendants - Despite the Golden Globe awards I found it too meandering with way too much voiceover exposition.
The Ides of March - Watching the machinations and the dirty underbelly of the political machine will make you want to tear up your voter registration card and move to a nation ruled by a beneficent despot.
J. Edgar - Unfortunately this was so much weaker than I could have imagined. Too much narration, too little action.
50/50 - Joseph Gordon Levitt fights cancer and woos his therapist but the real "romance" is the friendship between his character and Seth Rogen's. The plot wandered a bit for me, but overall it was a decent movie.
Drive - Raves by reviewers and Ryan Gosling. This noir piece had its moments (not to mention one of the most violent scenes I've ever had the displeasure of witnessing), but while most of my friends (and yoga instructors) loved the techno soundtrack, I found it to be intrusive and distracting. Albert Brooks completely upends his traditional neurotic nerd character.
Young Adult - Diablo Cody has come a long way since Juno. Young Adult bears no traces of the unbearably cloying hipster-speak that made her first flick so precious. It's a dark film about damaged people (well, Theron and Oswald's characters, anyway). A much deeper examination of the war zone that is high school than the incessantly flip Juno.
Tinker Tailor Solider Spy - Reviewed earlier--good, not great.
The Company Men - I reviewed lessons learned from this film on another blog.
The Guard - Don Cheadle and Brendan Gleeson in an "In Bruges"-esque film. Definitely worth renting.
Super 8 - The Spielberg influence was evident in this cross between E.T. and Cloverfield. Again, good not great.
Posted by Stella Louise at 6:30 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies, pop culture
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Given the stellar cast of this adaptation of the John le Carre novel, it definitely made my list of must-see movies. It's interesting to break down just how many of the actors in this spy thriller were also in the Harry Potter series: Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), John Hurt (Ollivander), Toby Jones (voice of Dobby), Ciaran Hinds (Aberforth Dumbledore) and Simon McBurney (voice of Kreacher). Of course it'd probably be more significant to have a list of British actors who HAVEN'T been in the Harry Potter series...
But as far that goes, the film also boast a non-Harry Potter trio of hotties in the Dorian Gray-esque Colin Firth, Tom Hardy and Mark Strong.
The story is slow and deliberate--a definite contrast to the gimmicks, gadgets and over-the-top action scenes of James Bond and other movies of that ilk. It's more like watching a game of chess unfold. I liked the more realistic portrayal of the "spy game." No Alias-style martial arts, no Mission Impossible improbable disguises. Just a methodical game of cat and mouse. The film was also very good at depicting the period--early 70s, Cold War.
I won't throw out any spoilers but I determined fairly quickly who the "Spy" would turn out to be and I was right. I can't say that Tinker Tailor Solider Spy kept me on the edge of my seat, but it was somewhat engrossing. The story of George Smiley, British agent, being kicked to the curb after years of loyal service, resonated too closely--but I wouldn't put this on my list of favorite 2011 movies. A bit low-key and plodding for my tastes, and perhaps a bit too stiff upper lip.
Oh, a bit heavy-handed with the title cards (seriously--someone needs to limit those to one second of screen time. Ugh.).
Edited to add: I forgot to mention that among all the action-thriller trailers was the preview of Wes Anderson's latest Moonrise Kingdom which looks to be the Wes Anderson-iest movie ever. With a cast that includes Bruce Willis, Ed Norton, Frances McDormand and usual suspect, Bill Murray, the trailer makes the flick look like a Wes Anderson parody. Picture Rushmore on steroids.
Posted by Stella Louise at 8:18 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: movies, pop culture
Saturday, January 14, 2012
This week seems to be one of endings, but the finale that saddened me most was the halt to the 4+ decade long run of the ABC
soap opera daytime drama, One Life to Live. I can't remember when I began watching OLTL. It was some time around Judith Light's infamous courtroom breakdown scene and the reappearance of slain sleazeball Marco Dane in the form of his here-to-fore unknown twin brother, Dr. Mario Correlli.
One Life to Live went to the twin well fairly often. I'm not sure if there was an instance prior to Marco being revived in the form of his better behaved twin brother (who in actuality was the one who mistakenly murdered--Marco just assumed his identity post-mortem), but there were certainly numerous examples after that. One of which was Ty Treadway coming back to play Troy MacIver following the death of his character Colin MacIver. The writers managed to get "Troy's" shirt off in less than five minute after his return to the show. Well done! Unfortunately, Troy managed to stay fully dressed after breaking out of Statesville to terrorize Nora one more time before the show's finale.
It's a popular trick to kill off a popular character and then bring the actor back as that character's "twin." One time OLTL killed off a popular character, but rather than conjuring up a previously unknown twin, the actor was recast in another role on the show. But get this--he was a walk-in meaning when the character he originally played died, his soul was transferred into the body of another character on the show whose soul had moved on. It was kind of frustrating that characters would interact with Michael McBain (even his soulmate, Marci) and not recognize that he looked EXACTLY like Al Holden.
Of course some twins come back from the dead looking totally different than the original character--like when OLTL recast Todd Manning from unconventionally attractive Roger Howarth to pretty boy Trevor St. John. Initially, TSJ was playing Todd Manning so in most cases a voiceover stating, "The role of Todd Manning is now being played by Trevor St. John" should have sufficed--but noooooooo. The writers had to come up with some convoluted back story that Todd, who had always hated the scar branding him as a former rapist, had been beaten severely and had gotten reconstructive plastic surgery that made him look like another character--whose identity he assumed for months until he revealed the truth of his real identity (and major surgery) to his daughter Star.
If that wasn't enough for fans to swallow (and we were pretty open to swallowing exceptionally far-fetched plots including time travel, characters coming back from the dead multiple times, characters going off to summer camp and coming home ten years older, alter egos, evil twins, questionable paternity, etc.), the writer brought the original actor back about six months ago and rewrote Todd's back story to include another unknown twin who was brainwashed and surgically altered so as NOT to be identical to explain what Trevor St. John had been doing for the last eight years.
The Todd/Victor story was about the only plot point left dangling when the last episode aired yesterday. At one point it looked like OLTL would have a future online, but those plans have since fallen through. Several of the actors/characters are migrating over to General Hospital, so if you still need to get your fix of John McBain or Todd Manning, you still can do so starting in February.
For those who wrinkle their noses and shake their heads wondering how people could be so invested in a "soap opera," ask yourself: Did you make sure to set the DVR so as not to miss an episode of LOST? Are you sucked into season two of Boardwalk Empire? Grey's Anatomy fan? Private Practice lover? Thirsting for Game of Thrones? I'm willing to bet somewhere on your must-see TV watchlist, there's a soap opera or two lurking...
Posted by Stella Louise at 4:13 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Current Events, pop culture, TV
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Since I have a bit of free time...
Apologies for leaving this blog to sit dormant for so long but I was otherwise occupied for a while. Given that I'm not at the current moment (don't you love the cryptic-ness?), I've decided to get back to blogging.
It's not like I have anything better to do.
Oh by way, anyone know any companies in need of an SEO Analyst, Content Manager, Copy Writer/Editor, Blogger, etc.?
Posted by Stella Louise at 2:47 PM 0 comments Links to this post


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Contributed by: Nick Defenthaler, CFP®
Last July, I had the pleasure of participating in a documentary focused on retirement planning, titled "When I'm 65," produced by Detroit PBS. After months of shooting and editing, the final product was finally aired in mid-April – click here to check it out! PBS decided they wanted to shoot several scenes at The Center's office because of our unique look and the fun and vibrant energy our atmosphere portrays; something we welcomed with open arms (if you haven't had a chance to see our amazing office, click here to take a virtual tour). The film crew showed up early that morning and I must admit, it was a tad intimidating! As financial planners, we're used to meeting with clients, building relationships, and helping you make smart decisions with your money. Needless to say, filming for several hours with bright lights and a very expensive camera in your face was a new experience that forced me to step outside my comfort zone. The crew, however, made life much easier and was absolutely fantastic – they were extremely patient and we worked as a team to produce some pretty cool content. They even filmed some shots of fellow employees acting as "extras" in different scenes that also appear in the documentary.
The opportunity to participate in this documentary arose when PBS approached the Financial Planning Association (FPA) of Michigan to see if there were any members who would be interested in helping out with filming. (I have been a board member with the FPA of Michigan since late 2014 and currently lead the local chapter's "NexGen" committee—a specific group within FPA of Michigan dedicated to financial planners under the age of 37 who are committed to progressing in their careers and moving financial planning in the right direction.) Being that I fall into the Millennial generation category, it was fitting for me to take the lead on discussing the issues fellow Gen Y'ers are facing and outline some simple things people in this age group should be considering in order to lay a solid financial foundation for the future.
Here are a few simple items I suggested:
- Invest in yourself – Human Capital is your largest asset!
- Start saving early – put away at least 5% of your salary in a retirement account at your first job out of college (typically enough to get you the full company match if one is offered).
- Increase this savings rate 1% each and every year until you reach at least 20% - I call this my "One Per Year" Savings Strategy.
- Keep investing simple! Consider investing in investments you can understand.
- Purchase Life Insurance while you're young and healthy – consider term insurance as a cost effective option.
Overall, the experience with PBS was something I truly enjoyed and will never forget. It was amazing for me to see firsthand how much filming and time goes into producing such a short amount of actual footage. Needless to say, I have a different level of respect for those who make a living in front of a camera! It was an honor to participate and to have our office so visible in the documentary and online videos that were produced, big thanks once again to PBS and for the opportunity to be a part of such a great message!
Nick Defenthaler, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Nick is a member of The Center's financial planning department and also works closely with Center clients. In addition, Nick is a frequent contributor to the firm's blogs.
Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Detroit PBS, WI65.org, or the FPA of Michigan. This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Nick Defenthaler, CFP®, and not necessarily those of Raymond James. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but Raymond James does not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor any of the listed websites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website's users and/or members. Investments mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. Investing involves risk and investors may incur a profit or a loss.


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Welcome to the 07 Baby Book! I was told you guys were wanting way more candid pics -- so I took a bunch, however, I couldn't upload them all. So I've created a page or two with some candid photos and change them regularly as the babies grow
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Gay marriage
Our law is based on the Consitution and the philosophy of John Locke and a few others who believed that the governments only job is to protect the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled. Being as marriage is one of the inherent rights we are all entitled to under the Constitution, it would be inappropriate for officials to use the Constitution to take away our rights. Furthermore, one cannot make a valid arguement about the legality of gay marriage in the context of scripture. The Constitution was not meant to take away rights, but to secure them. So, lets not rant and rave about perversion, because it makes us looks stupid and makes it more easy for the libs to brand us as haters.


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5 Beautiful Hill Stations For Your Destination Wedding In India
Are you looking for a fun-filled and luxurious wedding celebration? Are you still juggling with the different wedding venues? And if you are thinking of having a 'hill-station wedding', we thank you for thinking out of the box. If you are planning of having a wedding in the hills, then Bandbaajaa.com provides you with 5 hill stations that feature in our top wedding venues in India.
1. A Gala Affair In Mussoorie
Mussoorie is your ultimate hill station for your destination wedding, as it offers you scenic view of the Himalayan sunset, the very serene Doon Valley surrounded by tree-covered hills and a decorated sheet of infinite twinkling stars in the sky. You never know that sheet might act as the 'phoolon ki chaadar' for the gorgeous bride-to-be.
Image Credit: Pixabay
If you are planning a wedding near Mussoorie, these vendors might interest you -
- Top 11 Wedding Planners In Dehradun
- Top 11 Mehendi Artists In Dehradun
2. Let The Serenity Of Shimla Sink In
Shimla, in Himachal Pradesh, does not really need any introduction as it is one of the most beautiful wedding destination in India. With the perpetual pleasant weather and an awe-inspiring landscape, the snow-capped hills are going to leave you speechless and amazed.
Image credit: Pixabay
3. The Lavasa Luxury
There cannot be anything more enticing than taking those 'wedding vows' with your love in an environment full of peace, positive silence, and a rejuvenating touch of nature in Lavasa, Maharashtra. The serenity of this place is going to add more charm to your wedlock. The best months to visit are September and March. Well, nothing is too far when it is your wedding.
Image Credit: Pixabay
Find our curated list of the top wedding venues near Lavasa in Pune
4. The Panchpula Paradise
Away from the city chaos, there is a hill station called Panchpula, situated 3 kilometers away from Dalhousie. This place offers soul-pacifying water streams in the beautiful valley. You can plan your wedding in May-October as it is the best time to experience beauty there.
Image Credit: Pixabay
5. Rituals in Rishikesh
When it comes to customs, traditions, and rituals, can there be any other more appropriate place than Rishikesh? It is indeed going to be an enthralling experience to get married under the beautiful sky, with a cool breeze of air on the banks of River Ganga.
Image Credit: Pixabay
Like it is said beautiful things happen when the mountains and mankind meet. Weave your love story in the tranquility of hills. Mountains have the magic that will bring the bride and groom closer to each other.
Also Read: Plan Your Honeymoon Under A Budget Of 30,000
Also Read: 7 Wedding Wows Of 21st century For A Successful Marriage
Also Read: 9 Luxury Honeymoon Destination Under 70,000
For more wedding inspiration, click here.
Plan your wedding with Bandbaajaa.com


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Get excited! I'm belatedly posting some pictures from our trip to visit Sue's family in northern Ohio!
This is Sable, who belongs to Sue's brother and his family (they were visiting from South Carolina). Sable's an incredibly well-behaved German shepherd. She sat quietly in the living room of Sue's parents. Outdoors, Sable chased woodchucks!
We were there for Independence Day, and this year instead of driving to see a professional pyrotechnics display in one of the nearby towns, we had fireworks in the driveway. Nothing big--you can't buy fireworks in Ohio, except for sparklers, snakes, and snap-and-pops, which can be purchased there in common drugstores. So we had fun with those fairly mild incendiary entertainments.
Sue and I have been together nineteen years (our anniversary was last week!), and in all of these years I've never witnessed "the cannon." Long ago, a friend and former coworker of Sue's dad fabricated a genuine, working, miniature version of a cannon. The barrel is brass, the wheels are iron. And it really works!
Sue's family used to load this thing up with black powder, a fuse, and stuff a paper napkin or something in the barrel and use it to blast in the new year each December 31! It's a tradition in their family. They also used to fire it every July 4. But this was apparently all twenty years ago--at any rate, I've never seen them shoot THE CANNON!
And yeah, it was LOUD! Take that, you silly bottle-rocket people! --Boom!!
No summertime trip to northern Ohio would be officially complete without a trip to Cedar Point amusement park. Do I look like a big fan of amusement parks? No. But Cedar Point is different--it's on a narrow piece of land that pokes out into Lake Erie, and cool breezes keep it relatively tolerable--even during this hot summer. And there's something to be said for the therapeutic primal-scream therapy delivered by some of the crazier rides.
I took the picture above from the Giant Wheel, the park's venerable, huge Ferris wheel. The green rollercoaster in the background is my favorite ride in the park, the Raptor (click for a point-of-view video!). It's one of those "feet dangling" coasters. It's so cool--it's like you're flying!
This one's called the Skyhawk. It's a huge giant terrifying "swingset"--very interesting to do, on account of the great height and speed, but overall it's not as much fun as the big rollercoasters. (Sue took this picture--that's me in the circle! Wahhhhh!!!!)
As of July 4, this is what was left of the big Con Agra grain elevator that used to be a major landmark in Huron, Ohio, and the Sandusky area in general. Most of it was destroyed during a controlled implosion in early January, but the big silos have had to be knocked down more gradually with wrecking balls. I hear the thing is completely gone now, though I understand a great pile of rubble remains to be dealt with. Condos, apparently, will replace the famous symbol of Ohio's agricultural productivity. (Click here to see a video of the implosion of the plant--pretty exciting! The community made a big party out of the occasion.) (Do you get the idea that people in northern Ohio like to blow up stuff--?)
Toft's ice cream is another of those things we must do when we visit northern Ohio in the summer. To my Central Missouri friends, Toft's is the northern Ohio equivalent of Central Dairy: If you don't feel like tackling an entire vat of ice cream, better ask for the "kiddie" size! (Pictured is a "small" serving of their "Buckeye Bites" flavor--peanut butter and chocolate, like mini "buckeyes" candies!)
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Early July Trip to Ohio
1 comment:
- Art By ASM said...
So glad you came to my neck of the woods! I hate fireworks, my dogs hate fireworks and so does my 3 year old son. We get enough idiots blowing fireworks usually starting 2 months before the 4th of July. They are pretty but not when pieces are falling on my house....lol. Cedar Point is great. We are going for Halloweekends when it's family friendly during the day. The freaks and monsters come out at night. Ohio has more to offer than people think especially the Cleveland area! Glad you had a great time!
- August 26, 2012 at 2:21 AM
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How Thinking Without A Box Can Change Your Life
Author: Marla Tabaka
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
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It's one thing to have an idea that you're really passionate about, and another to have a concept that's also practical, strategic and profitable. If what you are doing isn't working, then it's definitely time to shift those gears! Here are a few indications that it's time to get out of the box and realize that you have a whole world of choices before you.
When entrepreneurs talk about chasing the dream, we are not talking about a fantasy, like winning the lottery. We are talking about the things that really matter to us and what we are willing to do to make our dream a reality. But it's one thing to have an idea that you're really passionate about, and another to have a concept that's also practical, strategic and profitable.
I once spoke with Marcia Wieder, who is known as America's Dream Coach and has been the catalyst for turning dreams into reality for thousands of people over the past 20 years. "The ideal professional dream is to be paid well for doing what you love," Marcia told me. "I think that sometimes people forget that we need to marry the two ideals, passion and strategy, to achieve success."
But for entrepreneurs who aren't bringing home the paycheck of their dreams it's often difficult to come up with the new idea and strategy that will change your plight. Therefore, most people either give up on their dreams or compromise them down to what they think is realistically possible and neither creates a desirable outcome. The alternative is to gain clarity on what we really want and explore other ways to make the dream a reality. That often means shifting gears a bit, or as I like to say, thinking without a box!
If what you are doing isn't working, then it's definitely time to shift those gears! Too many entrepreneurs live a life of struggle, especially solopreneurs and micro-business owners. Here are a few indications that it's time to get out of the box and realize that you have a whole world of choices before you. Keep in mind that these vary depending on the size and type of your business.
You can't pay yourself well for what you do—worse yet, you continue to pour money into your business with little or no return
You no longer enjoy what you do
There is not a market-need, or it has shifted significantly
There is a constant imbalance between work and your personal life
So how do you figure it out? That question is usually best answered by engaging with mentors, coaches, peers, or your board of advisors. (Yes, even solopreneurs get to have a board of advisors!) You see, it's really difficult to remove yourself from your beliefs, preconceived notions, and way of thinking in general. Brainstorming with someone who isn't involved in, or doesn't even know, your business helps you to see it from another perspective. It's a pretty remarkable experience if you open your mind to the possibilities.
The trick? Just like any brainstorming session, there are no bad ideas. Get everything down on paper or a mindmap and narrow it down later. Enjoy the process and remove the boundaries!
I often suggest to coaching clients that they get away for a weekend, or a whole week if necessary, to explore their new ideas. Doesn't that sound decadent? It will be just you and your ideas; alone with a pad of giant-sized sticky note paper, markers and your imagination. And it works! All you really need is one new idea. Sure, that one idea may feel overwhelming, but continue to work away from your normal environment and with your champions to create the strategy to take it to the next level.
American's Dream Coaches advice? "Extraordinary things happen when we take action on what matters to us the most. Do what you love, value your gifts, charge what you are worth, have powerful enrollment conversations – and repeat often!"
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text:
The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division is creating a five-year indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity contract for contractor support services for its AIRWorks Division.
Officials released a formal request for proposals Sept. 27, and expects proposals by Oct. 31.
The IDIQ's requirement is for a lead systems integrator to support new systems and to improve the existing systems related to manned and unmanned aircraft inventory. The division needs the prime to perform engineering, technical and project management support on various programs and platforms.
Tasks include:
The IDIQ is a total small business set-aside.
AIRWorks's role is managing and executing projects as a government LSI. Its projects include rapid response, demonstration prototyping and fleet exercises.
About the Author
Matthew Weigelt is a freelance journalist who writes about acquisition and procurement.
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When discussing Apple, sooner or later somebody will disgustedly ask what Apple ever invented. The question itself is easy to answer: not much. The PC, the GUI, PDAs, MP3 players, touch screens, smartphones and tablets all existed before Apple released the first product in the category. Apple did not invent them. In most cases, though, their releasing a product fundamentally changed the playing field in the category. (As the inclusion of the PDA shows, this is not universally the case. And they needed two attempts for the GUI.) This is because Apple are not an invention company. Their strength is taking the technical basis for an existing product, and then transforming it into an Apple product. This entails leaving out any features that do not work well enough yet, cutting any other features they deem not essential to the core experience, and polishing what remains. This polishing includes all parts of the experience, from packaging to casing to small details of the UI and UX. They then apply a bit of pixie dust (aka the reality distortion field) and market the hell out of it. It is this entire chain that makes Apple, not any particular huge inventive step. Accusing Apple of not inventing new technology thus misses the point of the company entirely.
Apple != Invention
Filed under Uncategorized


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RedMere HDMI Cable - High Speed with Ethernet 4K Ready
In with the New
Redmere, Redmere, Redmere! It's the revolutionary technology that has succeeded in finally improving HDMI by adding another dash of elegance and efficiency. But what's all the hype about and is it really worth it? What kind of sorcery is this? In the simplest terms, an HDMI with Redmere cable like the HDMI-RDMR contains a tiny chip in the head that acts as a booster and an equalizer. This method of signal enhancing doesn't require an external power source. The chip is small enough to work using the 5v natively carried through HDMI. This heightened strength means the cable can carry signal farther using less copper, making the cables much thinner than ordinary HDMI.
The HDMI-RDMR drastically outperforms in flexibility and portability. They can easily bend up to 180 degrees at less than a ¾ inch radius, making them perfect for use behind a flat TV mount. Even the heads themselves are significantly shorter, reducing the need for TV mount spacers and right angle adapters. You don't have to sacrifice cable length for this feature, either. In fact, HDMI with Redmere cables can carry signal longer distances than those without the chip. They have been tested in lengths up to 130 feet without any loss in video or audio quality.
Plug Away
You don't have to wait for a special occasion to upgrade your system with this cable. They can be used in place of a regular HDMI cable anywhere, anytime. All you have to remember is that HDMI Cables with Redmere are directional. That means they will only send the signal in one particular direction, so you must be sure you connect them correctly for them to work. The ends are clearly marked. Just attach the cable with the Redmere logo to the display. Plugging them in the wrong direction will not cause any harm, you just won't get a signal.
Can RedMere HDMI cables be coupled with regular HDMI cables?
Yes, the two will work together with the use of a coupler or adapter, as long as you heed the directional nature of the RedMere cable and make sure the correct end is plugged into your device.
- High Speed HDMI with Ethernet
- Contains an active Redmere chip
- Flexible design
- HDCP compliant
- Supports 3D and ARC
- Bandwidth: 10.2 Gbps
- HDMI High-Speed with Ethernet
- RoHS Compliant
- UL Listed
- HDCP Compliant
- Connectors: HDMI Male to HDMI Male
- Wire Gauge: 34AWG
- Number of Conductors: 24
- Connector Housing Material: Black Molded PVC with Silver Metal Band
- Cable Type and Identification: Directional, RedMere Indicates Display End
- Jacket: PVC, Black
- Connector Finish: Gold Plated
- Connector Contacts: Gold Plated
- Shielding Level: Triple
- Shielding Type: EMI
- HDMI Connector Head Size (TV Connector): 19.25 x 10.15 x 33.9mm
- HDMI Connector Head Size (Source Connector): 17.75 x 8.6 x 21.75mm
- HDMI Cable Diameter: 3.95mm
- Video: 1080p, Adobe RGB Color, Deep Color, 3D, sYCC601 Color, Adobe YCC601
- Audio: Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby True HD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Lip Sync
Is this cable directional?
Yes, this cable is directional. Both the source and display ends are labeled on the cable.
Is this cable 4K rated?
That depends on whether your TV requires HDMI 2.0 for 4k signals. If it does, you will need to purchase a 2.0 HDMI cable for your 4k resolution. If it does not, you can use these cables to transmit 4k.
Is this HDMI 2.0?
These cables are not HDMI 2.0, so they will not transmit HDMI 2.0 signal. Not all televisions require HDMI 2.0 to work properly, though. Refer to your product manual to determine if your television is HDMI 2.0 or not. If it is, we also offer Premium HDMI 2.0 cables!
Will this work with my gaming console?
This cable will work with most modern gaming systems, but make sure your console has an HDMI port.
Why is this directional?
The Redmere booster chip uses the 5V power from your display to work. That means the end designed for the display must be plugged into the display.
Can I use this with a gaming console or streaming media player?
You can use this cable with most gaming consoles and streaming media player, but some devices do not have the initial signal strength to make it 75' and 100'. We do not suggest using this cable with "stick" style streaking media players such as the FireStick or the Roku Streaming Stick.
Can I use this with a phone, computer, or tablet?
You can use this cable with computers and laptops, but most phones and tablets do not have the initial signal strength to make it 75' and 100'. Additionally, you may need an adapter to go from your device to a standard size HDMI cable.
Can I use this with a camera?
Even with a boosted cable, 75' and 100' is typically too far for camera signals to run. Please consider running the camera to a computer first or using another HDMI extender method. Additionally, most cameras require an adapter or converter to go to standard HDMI.
What length cable do I need?
That just depends on how far apart your source and display are. The best way to determine that is by measuring. Use the shortest length possible, but round up if your measurement is in between two sizes.
Can I use this with a splitter or switch?
Yes, you can use this cable with a splitter or a switch. This cable can only be used on the splitter/switch to television/display side of your run, however. They cannot be used from the source to the splitter.
Can I use this with my projector?
That depends. This cable requires 5V power from the display to work. Please contact your equipment manufacturer to determine if your projector can be used with active HDMI cables.
What if I need to go longer than 100'?
To go longer than 100', you can use HDMI over Cat6 extenders, HDBaseT extenders, or HDMI fiber cables.
- Vertical Flat Left Angle HDMI AdapterRegular Price $7.89 Special Price $5.99
- Vanco Certified Premium High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet - HDMI 2.0, 4KRegular Price $15.99 Special Price $14.99


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Friday, 11 April 2014
Skincare Saviours: Current Essentials
34 comments
I love the sound of the Elemis balm! I use the Tea Tree toner from Lush too, it's a daily essential!ReplyDelete
Catherine, xo | LLV BlogReplies
It is so so good! xxDelete
I MUST get my hands on some Lush Tea Tree water! ♥ReplyDelete
It is amazing!! A must have!!Delete
I love the Body Shop Body Butter in that scent, I have it myself and the smell is so addictive!ReplyDelete
Michaela-Leigh xxReplies
All the scents are beautiful, I just love them :)Delete
I really wanna try the Vaseline spray and go moisturiser as I can never be bothered to moisturise my body and that might make it a bit easier! xxReplyDelete
I'm super lazy so its perfect haha xDelete
I literally want to buy everything in this post! I am definitely going to get the elemis toner! Taylor you are breaking my bank !ReplyDelete
Love Ellie | makeup and other junkReplies
I've read fantastic things about that L'oreal micellean waterReplyDelete
Yeah it is so so good, the Garnier one also has been a skin saviour!! xDelete
I love the Lush tea tree toner and it's amazeballs for us spot peopleReplyDelete
Afeeyah xo
New post ~ http://smilerrr.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/kiko-full-protection-foundation-stick.html
That Spray & Go product is amazing! Have a nice day! xoxoxReplyDelete
i'm yet to try the spray and go moisturiser but i really want to! it seems so convenient for a lazy person like me hahaReplyDelete
xo Sarah
It is great, I honestly recommend it if you are super lazy or have no time :)Delete
- Anonymous17 April 2014 at 06:18
spray and go moisturizer sounds really awesome ! i need to try it :) xxReplyDelete
Thanks for the recommendations! Love the body shop stuff! They always smell so good. :3ReplyDelete
Check out my giveaway!
This is such a good post, I've wanted to try a few of these for a while now!ReplyDelete
I nominated you for the Inspiring Blogger award by the way!
The nominations on my blog :)
Sarah xx
Thank you so much, will go check it out! xxDelete
- Anonymous18 April 2014 at 14:55
Amazing blog! Would you mind following each other? Just let me know http://www.thatfashionapp.com/ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you so much and yes of course :)Delete
I just found your site through google.Thanks for sharing ,,These used to be my absolute favorite Lush Tea Tree water.I am watching Women Dresses . Its interesting ..ReplyDelete
I love the spray and go lotion for when I'm in a hurry! You should try the grapefruit scented one!ReplyDelete
lexi // thelittlebrunetteReplies
I didnt even know there was one! Need that asap :)Delete
all great picks for skincare. skincare is so important. i'd rather have great skin than have to spend loads on makeup to cover up bad skin you know?ReplyDelete
A Beautiful ZenReplies
Thank you and yeah agreed!Delete
Thank you for commenting, I really appreciate and will reply straight away. I hope you enjoy my blog and I love to hear more from you!


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The Peregian plan is sure to amaze with a central living area from front to back. The living areas include a formal lounge, media and living/dining. The private master bedroom has been cleverly located to the front with the remaining bedrooms located to the rear. A separate study completes the home.
- 4
- 2
- 2
- 3
- 1
Love the facade but not sure about the floor plan or vice versa?
All designs can be modified to suit your personal taste & style. We are happy to work with you to ensure that your home is personalised to suit your needs.


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Tips to Be Able to Establish the Best Company in Nevada
Nevada is a state that is known due to its great stretches of desert, and it is a western state located in the United States. The all throughout casino and entertainment in Nevada has gone a long way in ensuring that the state of Nevada is famous. Due to that reason Nevada has the best environment of nature most of the companies. In the list of career paths that most people from different parts of the world have come to love is the business field. Hence most of the people from various parts of the universe have made a decision to enter the business career path and specialize in this particular field. Therefore there is evident stiff competition in the market. Here in Nevada to be able to tolerate with the stiff competition in the business area you need to have the most effective business. It is the expectations of every business person in Nevada that his or her business will be the most effective in the market. Below are some of the tips to be able to come up with the leading business in Nevada.
Enough capital is one of the primary requirement to ensure that you have the ability to start the best business in Nevada. Here a business person is required to read more about the needs of the particular business he or she wants to start. Now when you read more as a business person you will learn more about this specific business you want to start. As a result this particular business person will at the end be able to check it out and have the right estimation of the amount required to start the business. Now in the business area the start of the business will, in the long run, result in the success or the failure of the company. Only the company that will have the required capital will be able to kick off with the right stock. Having the right stock will mean that the customers will be able to get all what they expect to find in your shop. As a result you will be able to keep this customer thus the business will grow in the long run. It is therefore to ensure you have the required capital before establishing any business in Nevada.
To start the best business in Nevada you need to discover more about the about the market gap in Nevada. Website that customers do share what they lack in the market can be the best platform to identify the market gab. In this website as a business person you will be able to check it out and know the market gab hence come up with the best business.


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Academic Receives Honour from India
Academic Receives Honour from India
A leading academic from the School of the Built Environment has been honoured with a prestigious award from India.
Mohammed Arif, Professor of Sustainability and Process Management, was awarded the Hind Rattan Award, for his 'outstanding services, achievements and contributions for keeping the Flag of India high'. The Hind Rattan, translated from Hindi as Jewel of India, is one of the highest Indian diasporic awards granted annually to non-Resident Indians (NRIs) by the NRI Welfare Society of India, an organisation under the umbrella of the Government of India. The award is granted at the Society's annual congress in New Dehli, held in conjunction with national Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations on the eve of Indian Republic Day on 25 January.
Professor Arif, who is also the International Director of the College of Science and Technology, has been conducting research in the areas of sustainability, low cost housing, and research initiatives with a range of Indian universities and the Indian Green Building Council. His current areas of research are green construction and offsite construction. He has been carrying out research work in India for the past ten years, which has received particular praise from the UK India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI), where his project on low cost housing was rated as one of the top 10 projects conducted under this initiative. In addition, Prof Arif has initiated links and exchange programmes with both academia and industry from India. He continues to work on projects related to India.
Professor Arif said: "It's a great privilege to receive this award and an honour to be recognised by my motherland for the work I have done. India does and will stay close to my heart in whatever I do. This award will energize me to further enhance my efforts and contribute to the prosperity of India. It will also motivate me to work on initiatives that contribute towards bringing India and UK closer together, leading to benefits for both the countries"


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photo friday: tiny things (or) the fallen petals that made our spring
Photo Friday
Orange is a warm color and it is easy to find in our neighborhood. If I could not spot it in the fall pumpkins, spring flowers, or facades
Spring is like a perhaps hand by E.E. Cummings Spring is like a perhaps hand (which comes carefully out of Nowhere)arranging a window,into which people look(while people stare arranging and
A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period– When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad On Solitary Fields That Science cannot overtake
There really isn't anything to write about. Spring here continues to be understated but still much appreciated. About 33.33% of trees are green, 33.33% just beginning to bud, and
Julia Mason Wickes
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oh hey.
Sorry I have been such a terrible, terrible blogger lately. Spring semester comes and goes so quickly, I feel like it was January, like, two days ago! I rarely had time to do anything enjoyable since February, so here I am. I am back and hoping to be regular again (not like the bowel movement type, the blogging type!)!!
Here are a few highlights from the past few months:
I went home to celebrate my 21st birthday and went to an Elton John concert with mine and Jeff's families. Sunday morning, before the concert, we baptized Jameson my handsome nephew.
(Tall one and I enjoying my first 21 year old drinks together!)
I finished my junior year with a 3.8 GPA (eff you, linguistics!), watched two of my best friends graduate and moved into the actual, long awaited apartment!! EEEEEK!
It isn't completely set up yet, but when it is there will be pictures...many, many pictures. This is making me happy, man.
I have been in my apartment for six days and am pretty settled in. My brother brought up my queen-sized bed from Billings, as well as an old couch from our basement. I am so in love with my apartment! Except for the fact that they (who are they? I don't know) shut off ALL hot water on campus, and I have been forced to shower at Jeff's house. Ick, boy showers. But I shouldn't be complaining because a lot of the summer staff for Residence Life has been showering in cold water on campus because they have no where else to go. I guess I am thankful that I had icky boy showers. Okay, wait. Icky boy showers sounds like I had showers with icky boys and that didn't happen. What I mean by icky boy showers is that I showered in the same shower as icky boys. Yep.
So, now I am working as a summer supervisor for Residence Life and there is much working involved. We work 40 hours per week and I am taking a summer class as well, soooo you know.
BUT I HAVE A KITCHEN, A KITCHEN, A KITCHEN, A KITCHEN. I went grocery shopping today and it was the most exciting thing EVER. Plus the most expensive thing ever. But I don't even care. I love, love, love my kitchen. Yay!!!!!
Much love, peeps.
I promise it won't be long =)


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Earn 35 Together Rewards points on this item
Calm - 50 Mindfulness Exercises to De-stress Wherever You are
Format: Hardback Author: Arlene Unger
Delivery options
FREE - Standard Delivery (£2.99 on orders under £20)3-5 working days
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Product Information
Everyone wants to feel calm and happy, but few of us manage it. The truth is that we are just not equipped for the twenty-first century – it is too fast, too crowded, too 24/7. And the more stressed we become, the harder it is to find the quiet oases that are essential to our wellbeing.

It doesn't have to be this way! Here is the antidote to the clamour and strain of everyday living, a me
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When click on Paypal Checkout in different levels ( Pro site) customer is not redirect to paypal?
But when I activated paypal pro : Paypal checkout work....this is very strange...
Can you help quickly please?
Thanks a lot
Awesome! Let�s get you set up with your free 30 day trial


text:
Just wanted to update for those of you who care. I had a great time with Tony in Minocqua. I didn't get my carnation....I guess he didn't read my blog. LOL (anyone who knows Tony knows that would NEVER happen...he can't "work" the internet) But, the German pub we went to was adorable. The name is Otto's and if you get the chance to go...by all means...Go! We just ordered basic burgers..but were they good! They even went the extra mile and made me some red cabbage as a side when they didn't have any 'currently available'. That was awesome! I tried to find a website for them, but alas, they don't have one. Regardless, the place had a lot of charm and some really fun live music. Granted it was very loungey music, but fun none-the-less.
We walked all around town. Silly Tony wore his cowboy boots and froze. So one of our missions was to find a pair of shoes for him....an almost impossible feat. They didn't seem to have a single shoe available (except at Walmart) in the city. But eventually we walked into a men's store that had some really nice leather casual shoes and we picked him up a pair.
We also bought him a new wedding band since his fell off of his hand in the middle of the night(after losing 50 lbs) and was never seen again. (maybe when we move someday) We found some really nice Titanium ones. I never realized how light Titanium was. And there's a Canardly diamond in it. Never heard of a Canardly diamond? Well it's a diamond that's so small you c'nardly see it! LOL Those are the size diamonds that it doesn't even pay to write their information on the advertisement card cuz they almost blend in with the metal! That's ok...he's not all about the diamond..he just wanted a band and liked the way that one looked.
We also bought him a new Dale Jr hat. He always wanted to wear his stuff but wouldn't because it advertised Budweiser. So now that he is represented by Mountain Dew (Tony's fave soda, btw) he feels comfortable in buying his gear.
I had fun buying him stuff. He never goes shopping and even if he does, he'll talk himself out of buying anything. It's rather irritating sometimes. So this time, there was just no good reason not to get what he wanted!
We then got to go and have an awesome supper at Marty's in Woodruff with the company that Tony and I work for. Perfect end to a perfect day!
On the crafty end of life..I have managed to finally complete something since Christmas! I made this totally adorable baby outfit as a sample for the store. It's Red Heart Soft Baby and it is truly soft. It's a 3 month sized outfit. I know it doesn't look like it, does it?
This is the book that I got the pattern from. I have recently started getting books and putting them in what I call my 'reference library' in the store. It's to give people looking for something new to do, but can't find a pattern...some inspiration and direction. I am also putting 'stitch dictionary' type books in both crochet and knit in this library. I figure it'll be helpful. ? I think.
Anyway...have to rave on this book just a little bit. Every single pattern in this book is 'to-die-for cute'! I want to make every one of them!
I also whipped up a pair of sample mittens for a free pattern we have in the store...but I didn't take a picture of them. So two things down for 2008! Yay!
There was something really profound I was going to tell you....but it has totally slipped my mind. So Tah for now!


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Image 1 of 2Loading 2 images...
Join Bambi and Thumper in the forest with this gorgeous wash bag! With wildflower body wash and the caption 'so pretty' - you're sure to feel fawn-tastic whenever you use it!
More Info
- Disney Bambi & Thumper Wildflower Wash Bag Set
- This cute Wash Bag set contains a shower puff and body wash fragranced with gorgeous wildflowers
- 50ml body wash
- Bag is made from soft PU
- Fully lined bag
- Cruelty-free, not tested on animals
- Great gift idea
- 100% official merchandise
Please note, due to the nature of this item, it is non-returnable.
Latest Reviews - 1 Review
Verified PurchaseAnonymous TruffleShuffle Purchaser - 30th Dec 2017
Review: As Above


text:
Stop-Loss 2008 1080p BluRay DTS X264-DON
Stop-Loss (2008)
Director: Kimberly Peirce
Stars: Ryan Phillippe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rob Brown, Channing Tatum
Runtime: 112 minutes (taken from iMDB)
Genre: Drama, War
Rating: 6.5* (may differ)
Votes: 18895 (may differ)
Release Date: 2008-03-28 (taken from IMDb)
Viewer Rating (TV/MPAA): R (taken from IMDb)
Summary: Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. He tries to resume the life he left behind. Then, against Brandon's will, the Army orders him back to duty in Iraq, which upends his world. The conflict tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love and the value of honor.
Links: iMDB
Direct Download Links:
Password: snahp


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Kris Allen, In Real Life
After a monumental return to television in 2018, American Idol announces it's taking the show on the road with the American Idol Live! 2018 tour, spanning three months this summer. The shows will feature this season's talented Top Seven finalists; Cade Foehner, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Catie Turner, Gabby Barrett, Jurnee, Maddie Poppe and Michael J. Woodard with special guest, season 8 American Idol winner, Kris Allen. The 40+ city tour will kick off on Wednesday, July 11 in Redding, CA and wrap on Sunday, September 16 in Washington, DC.
Joining the tour on select dates is In Real Life, winner of ABC's 2017 summer reality competition show "Boy Band." In Real Life has released three singles: "Eyes Closed," their current top 40 hit, "Tattoo (How 'Bout You)" and "How Badly," marking their first foray into singing in Spanish.
Produced by Faculty Productions, American Idol Live! gives fans the unique opportunity to be up close and personal with this season's Top Seven finalists, including this years' newly crowned American Idol, bringing your favorite television competition directly to you in performances you can't miss.
- Mon, August 13, 2018 - 8:00 PM Add to cal
- Mon, August 13, 2018
Doors - 7:00 PM
Concert - 8:00PM
Palace Theatre
Albany, New York
- Kris Allen, In Real Life, Forever In Your Mind
- $89.50 / $59.50 / $49.50 / $39.50 / $29.50
- All Ages Admitted / 21 to drink


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SillySmart adopts a MVC architecture in its application logic.
Like many of his elders, SillySmart includes the various actions of your application on a single pair Controller / Action.
This mapping is identified through the following URL rewrite & the following formalism:
The division of different actions in a couple Controller / Action used to group these actions in a functional logic.
Each Controller and each Action have a single generic name (which is the name of the final files) and 1 (or N) names translated into a useful optical referencing and multilingualism in the URL.
For example, if your site offers a user-space, this would mean probably we have registration, login and logout actions. Imagine that your application is multilingual (English - French).
At Controller Level :
Foreach action :
This action will be accessible from the following URLs: