The Digital Bits

My Two Cents - Archived Posts (11/7/07 - 10/19/07)

You know… it never ceases to astonish me at the base level of commentary and dialogue I see from some people. I mean, seriously. Let’s be clear about something, folks. This format war, as upsetting as it may be at times, is NOT a life or death matter. Kittens will not be slaughtered if either side wins, and your favorite movies will still be there on DVD when the dust eventually settles. So some of you guys need to take a deep breath. Chalk it up to the nature of the Internet, I suppose. People seem to have no problem saying the most crude things anonymously or behind the mask of electronic discourse - behavior they’d never dream of employing in person. Regardless, we can agree to disagree, and we STILL have nothing but respect for even those who seem most determined to get ugly.

I found this interesting and can relate. It reminds me a lot of some of the threads I read at my favorite sweepstakes forum. Sounds like the “ugliness” is everywhere!

 

The Secret Is Everywhere…

‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrnes — Does It Work? - Good Housekeeping

…but does it work? One woman’s real-life test-drive
By Valerie Frankel

I was skeptical about The Secret before I even knew what it was.

… If you ignore The Secret’s far-too-simplistic maxims (no, you will not be doomed to a miserable life for thinking negative thoughts) and the hocus-pocus (the cosmos isn’t going to deliver a new car; it’s busy), there’s actually some helpful advice in the book. But it’s nothing you don’t already know.

Source: Good Housekeeping, October 2007

 

Recent Movies

I signed up for a one-month trial of Blockbuster Total Access in mid-May and we’ve been watching ALOT of DVD movies recently:

Babel, Because I Said So, Blood Diamond, Breaking and Entering, Curse of the Golden Flower, Déjà Vu, The Departed, Freedom Writers, Gridiron Gang, The Guardian, Hannibal Rising, The Fountain, The Last King of Scotland, Open Season, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Prestige, Stranger than Fiction, Walking Tall: The Payback

Actually, watching TV and movies is probably what Scott and I like to do best - besides spending time on the computer We don’t lead a very active lifestyle and should probably try to improve on that sometime. We often talk about starting long walks again, but we’re too tired or it’s too hot. One day we really will - get started!

In late March, all of April, and early May we saw these movies on DVD:

Annapolis, Eragon, Failure to Launch, The Hills Have Eyes, Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, Inside Man, Into the Sun, Last Holiday, Over the Hedge, The Return (I won this one used. We watched it and I sold it.), Stay Alive, Until Death

Scott’s a big fan of Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme so we usually watch whatever they come out with. I tolerate them … I used to like both actors alot, but they’re getting old.

All of these titles were worth watching - some more than others - with the exception of The Fountain. It was so bad we couldn’t even finish watching it. It never made a bit of sense and was very hard to follow. I was surprised … I like both Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz and thought it would be a whole lot better.

We actually went to the theater to watch Peaceful Warrior - with free tickets, of course Not a bad comeback for Nick Nolte. An inspirational sports film and the price was right!

 

The Reaping

The Reaping

Which biblical plague are you?

 

Saw III (Spoiler)

Unless you’re really paying attention at the start of the movie, you won’t know until the end what’s really going on. I LOVED this movie - as well as Saw and Saw II. I couldn’t wait to see it and I wasn’t the least bit disappointed!

Saw III seems to culminate the first two movies and includes plenty of references to them. This time though, instead of torturing one body part at a time, the crew have come up with machines that are hooked up to and can mangle your entire body. There are three different machines that stand out, but I can only remember the name of “Angel Wings”. If you rent this DVD be sure to watch all of the special features and see for yourself. If you’re a Horror Lover like I am - I highly recommend it.

Dead pigs, maggots - LOTS of blood, explosions, and gore! I was certain I’d have bloody nightmares last night, but luckily I didn’t. The ending seems to leave an opening for another sequel, but you wonder how that’s possible when Jigsaw’s throat is sliced wide open with … a circular saw As always Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith are perfectly cast as Jigsaw/John and Amanda - it would not be the Saw movies without them!

As much as I love these movies, Jigsaw’s sanctimonious attitude always bothers me. It seems he compares himself to God … what gives him the right? Who put him in charge of judging people … and determining whether they have the right to live or die? However, it seems that in the Saw movies almost everyone dies - in the worst possible way

 

Crank (Spoiler)

If you haven’t seen this movie, don’t waste your time or money. I let Scott use my latest Blockbuster coupon from My Coke Rewards yesterday and we watched it last night. He’d heard it was good, but it’s got to be the stupidest movie I’ve seen in a long, long time.

Some gory action, but very little plot line. The star is supposed to die from a lethal injection of a deadly Chinese narcotic. The only thing that keeps him alive throughout the movie is adrenaline - any way he can get it. He uses coke and stays on the move.

Amy Smart is the leading actress. Her last name is an oxymoron for Crank since she makes blondes look dumb.

I thought the absolute worst scene was the couple having public sex in Chinatown. Unbelievable! They were doing it right there for young and old to see - and they had a crowd watching, including a busload of schoolgirls.

Jason Statham’s character still dies in the end. I hate bad (unhappy) endings!

 

Why we love … dogs

1. Floppy ears
2. Faces that drip with wrinkles
3. They sense it when you’re sad
4. Wild rolls in the grass
5. They fearlessly stick their heads out car windows
6. That quizzical head tilt
7. They go silly with joy when you get home
8. Piglike snorts
9. Ponylike trots
10. They can walk themselves, leash in mouth
11. Noses that nuzzle
12. They get so excited, they shake
13. The ladylike way they sometimes cross their paws
14. The spot you can scratch to make their leg go crazy
15. Their bravery, except during storms
16. They “run” in their sleep, pawing the air
17. Mournful looks then they’re hoping for a treat
18. Going belly up for a tummy rub
19. Their enormous, contagious yawns
20. They always love you - even on days when you can’t do anything right

Source: Good Housekeeping, August 2006

 

Gore’s Guidelines

1. When a direction feels right, go that way to find out why. Fulfillment usually follows.
2. Solve one problem. You may find you’re inspired to solve more.
3. There are a lot of us on the planet, and we do a lot of damage. We can also fix a lot of things, if we choose.
4. Everyone needs a purpose in life. Even puppies.

Source: Men’s Health / June 2006