Ryan Reynolds - Sexy Is As Sexy Does

Ryan Reynolds was recently chosen as People's "Sexiest Man Alive". I love me some Ryan Reynolds, but sexiest man alive? I'm still on the fence. However, I think if anyone's feeling some kind of way about the decision, it may be Reynolds himself; he looks rather uncomfortable, in my opinion, in his cover photo. Furrowed brow, tight jaw, awkward slouch. Maybe he's brooding over the fact that he may have only won by a hair over Mel Gibson, who was also in the running. 

And, yes. You read that last part correctly. 

http://eonli.ne/aWSQkc

Social Networking at the Heartbreak Hotel

Let's face it. Social networking services are taking over on the rise with billions of users active on sites which include Facebook, Twitter, and yes, even old, dusty MySpace (which has recently been swallowed whole by the vortex of Facebook). You, almost all of your friends, pseudo friends, and even -- time to face the harsh reality -- your parents are site users. There's just something about social networking sites that prompts users to 'throw caution to the wind' and post revealing photos, statuses, and information that they otherwise wouldn't want known or disclosed.

When it comes to personal, romantic relationships, social networking sites have played a major role in many a messy breakup. Facebook, especially, has been known to lead to breakups often followed by 'custody' battles over mutual friends. More underhanded schemes by scorned lovers/users have included posting photos to insight jealousy in an ex. Interestingly and sadly enough, many lies, misconceptions, and withheld information from a significant other have been discovered by simply logging on.

Below are a few possible (and somewhat obvious) social networking signs that your significant other may be less like Prince Charming or the Fair Maiden, and more like CLU 2 (a little Tron for you):

• Your significant other's relationship status never seems to change from 'single'.
• He/she keeps old photos or photo albums of an ex up, visible to you (whether they are social networking friends or not). 
• Status updates and/or tweets revolve more around the ex, or others of the opposite sex, but rarely (to never) about you. 
• Excessive communication with an ex via messages, tweets, wall posts, and/or statuses. 

Hmmmm.

Facebook's pages are also polluted with third-party ads. What I find ironic is that despite its proclivity to be the battleground for messy breakups, it never falters in providing loads of dating and singles ads along the side of the screen. For some it may seem to say: "Ahh, sorry about your breakup...Ready to mingle?" Classy, Facebook.

'Checkmate' (Original Poem 11/28)

Checkmate - K.G.

Then.
Drawn like moths to a flame;
Affixed at the hip.

Now.
Pitted against one another,
As we play the game of love.

My knight in shining armor.
I was once your queen, you my king;
Pawns of an ill-fated love.
Now, our audience of bishops and rooks
Regards us with pity and helplessness
As we remove the pieces that no longer fit.
Hopeless sacrifices leading to a stalemate.
You inch closer to your final attack.

But worry not for me,
For I have an ace up my sleeve,
Upon which the heart that bleeds for you rests.

~K.G.

Review - 'Edge of Darkness'

While Mel Gibson may have many personal issues, along with run-ins with the law, and questionable behavior in recent years, I have found him to be a great actor with a lot of range. He has also delved into directing and producing. With movies like the Mad Max series, Gallipoli, the Lethal Weapon series, Braveheart (directed and produced by Gibson), Ransom, The Patriot, What Women Want, We Were Soldiers, and Signs, to name a few, I think that Gibson has proven that he is quite versatile on screen. It is no wonder he became a cross-over sensation from Australia in the late 1980s.

One of Gibson's latest roles is that of Thomas Craven in Edge of Darkness. I truly enjoyed this movie. Craven is a homicide detective whose daughter, Emma, comes home to visit and soon starts demonstrating signs of illness. Before Emma can reveal to her father the source behind her sickness and disclose what she has learned about the company she works for, she is viciously murdered on the front porch of their home. Craven's hunt leads him into a world of political cover ups and illegal nuclear weapon production at Northmoor, the company his daughter worked for. Craven takes on his daughter's murderers all the way up to the top of the Northmoor corporate ladder.

I appreciate that this movie focuses on the love of a father for his daughter, and the lengths he will go to protect and bring her justice. When Emma first comes to visit, Craven refers to her as "my girl" and that sentiment is maintained throughout the film as he tracks down her murderers, and you see his memories of Emma as a little girl on the beach. Craven often talks to Emma, after her death, about his grief, love for her, and his determination to bring her justice. The emotional range is dynamic in this film, and there are many twists and turns as additional characters' motives are revealed. As a crime drama and thriller, the dark nature of the film, visually and within the plot line, pulls the viewer in and keeps them guessing what's going to happen next, and who is playing who. I have seen this movie several times and I'm sure that I will watch it many more in the future; I recommend this movie to those who appreciate a film that makes you think and empathize with the characters.

'A Rose Is Still A Rose'

2010, for me, has been a year of discovery, change, great joy, sorrow, and growth. I've learned a lot, in general, and about myself; I have grown as a person in so many ways. As this year comes to an end, this is the knowledge that I have learned and that I come away with for the rest of my life:

"Sometimes, it is not until you fall, fast and hard, and almost hit rock bottom, that you realize that you could fly all along." ~Me

Sacred Emily (1913)  [Excerpt]

Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose
Loveliness extreme.
Extra gaiters,
Loveliness extreme.
Sweetest ice-cream.
Pages ages page ages page ages.

~Gertrude Stein

Terminator: Guide to the Future

It was a beautiful Spring day in March: the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and there I was in my car eating a Moon Pie (yes, a Moon Pie) when, suddenly, for about 3 minutes, the complete Terminator chronology came to me with the speed of a Moto-Terminator. It was, in a word, magical. I like to think that the "Governator" (aka Schwarzenegger) and Michael Biehn would be so proud.

However, I then lost my knowledge cloud. If you know the 'Terminator' timeline like the back of your hand, I commend you. But seeing as I am a visual learner, I thought I'd make a little 'Terminator Timeline Guide' that will (hopefully) provide an accurate and succinct chronology of all four movies of the franchise. If you take into account the different "Terminator" editions throughout the series, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, you may already be confused. Thus, a breakdown:

Terminator:

Terminator: T-800 (Evil)

Terminator 2: Judgment Day: T-800 (Protector, reprogrammed, sent back by adult John Connor)

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines: T-850 (Protector, sent back by Katherine Connor)

Terminator Salvation: T-800 (Evil, original, in a very unnerving CGI form)

The Baddies: 

Terminator: T-800

Terminator 2: Judgment Day: T-1000 = The liquid metal assassin

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines: T-X = Terminatrix

Terminator Salvation: Skynet and a "clustercuss" of machines and robots including the original T-800

Timeline:

1984 (May) - T-800 tries to kill Sarah Connor. Sarah and Kyle Reese make the baby. Kyle Reese dies.

1995 – John Connor is 10 (a very mature looking one at that. Hmmm). John and the reprogrammed T-800 (sent from the future by adult John to protect young John) break, a now buff and kick-butt, Sarah out of a psych ward and attempt to stop Skynet from being created.

1997 – Sarah Connor dies from Leukemia.

2003 – Pre-cyborg Marcus Wright signs body over for medical research to Skynet.

2004 (August) – John Connor is 19/20. John again meets his future wife and second in command, Katherine. Skynet is activated and initiates Judgment Day.

2018 – John Connor is 33/34. The war between Skynet & humanity ensues. Kyle Reese is primary Skynet target due to the knowledge that he will go back to 1984 and become John's father. John Connor fights along side, cyborg, Wright against the T-800 and they blow up Skynet station.

2021- 2027 – Kyle Reese serves in 132^nd Infantry of Resistance.

2027 – 2029 - John Connor and Kyle Reese are BFF’s. ("Papa, can you hear me?") Reese works in Tech-Com under Connor.

2029 – Resistance takes down the last of Skynet’s defense, but Skynet’s secret masterplan sends evil T-800 back to 1984 to destroy Sarah Connor. Connor sends Reese back to 1984, too, but the time travel equipment gets destroyed leaving them in 1984.

Whew! I don't know about you, but there are now some beads of sweat upon my brow. Now, if more movies are made and let's say, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) or Michael Biehn return to the series, my head just may explode. Ha!