Loopholes

May you get through your school work or job until your next break.  Whether that be summer or your next vacation, stay creative.

WOW: Synergism

Synergism – noun

-The interaction of elements that when combined, produce a net effect greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, factors, etc.

The director and actor had beautiful synergism; all of their collaborations were remarkable.

Movie Review: The Hunger Games

     The Hunger Games, based on the book by Suzanne Collins of the same name, opens in theaters today.  It is the story of a young girl, Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence), who lives with her mother and sister in a place called District 12.

     It is one of the thirteen districts that developed in what used to be North America, in a country called Panem.  The districts surround the Capitol, a surreal place with excentric and wealthy people.

     The districts are not as fortunate, and years ago there was an uprising against the Capitol.  The thirteenth district was obliterated, and to keep from further rebellions, the Capitol holds the annual Hunger Games.

     One boy and one girl from each district (called tributes) are sent yearly into an area to fight to the death.  One survives of the twenty four.

     There is a mandatory lottery to be chosen to be a tribute, which is considered an honor in some districts, and a death sentence in the less well-off ones.

     Katniss Everdeen volunteers to be District 12’s female tribute when her younger sister is selected.  She goes off to her almost certain death with a boy she grew up with, Peeta Mellark (played by Josh Hutcherson).

     The two are more than neighbors, they are star-crossed lovers that need to kill, or be killed.  Only one of them can make it out alive…or can they?

     This is one of my favorite books, and I was so happy when they made it into a movie.  The movie is good and does some graphic scenes tastefully (teenagers are fighting to the death after all).  However, I was picturing it a little differently.  You REALLY need to read the book prior to seeing the movie.  The movie cuts out a lot of important and useful information.  It is still good, but I would not say that it stands on its own.  The ending leaves it open for the next movie (the books are a trilogy).

     I give the movie a 6 out of 10.  It was good, but the screenplay could have been better (surprising, since the author co-wrote the screenplay).  I recommend reading and then watching the movie.  You can enjoy the action on the big screen, or wait for the DVD.  The Hunger Games is rated PG-13 and runs 142 minutes.  It opens everywhere March 23, 2012.

WOW: Irrevocable

Irrevocable - adjective

Not able to be revoked, changed, or undone; unalterable

“That was an irrevocable turn of events.”

Happy St. Patty's Day

May you find whatever you want at the end of your rainbows!

Green Eggs? Why Not!: Recipe Repertoire

     Tomorrow is Saint Patrick’s Day.  We wear a lot of green, and some people use this day as an excuse to drink a lot in “celebration.”  I personally just like to dye every food I eat green to make life a little more interesting.  (I also take anything that naturally takes on a shade of green while hanging around my house as a sign that it is time for that to go out to the curb.)

     The simplest foods can become festive with a dash of green (or yellow + blue) food coloring.  Next year (or on April first), try adding some color to:

     Cream cheese, vanilla cake mix, vanilla frosting, mashed potatoes, whipped cream, milk, or anything else white or pale.  If you have something yellow (such as eggs), add some blue food dye, and if the food is primarily blue to begin with, try some yellow (not sure how that will work, but it is worth a shot). 

     Just adding a splash of color will brighten the dullest of foods.  You always hear about green eggs and ham, but have you ever actually tried them?  Try them and you’ll like them, Sam I am.

DARK SHADOWS: Movies I Cannot Wait For

So excited! May 11th is going to be great!

Tweeting?

What real tweeting looks like. The birds don't get it either.

21 Jump Street - Movie Review

     Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum play undercover cops in this movie adaptation of the hit show from the 80’s, “21 Jump Street.”  Since they are too young and immature to be out in the field (not to mention botch up their first assignment), they are relocated to the Jump Street program that has been shut down for many years.

     The program sends officers such as Hill and Tatum’s characters out into local high schools in order to restore order to the adolescent world and rid it of crime, drugs, and illegal drinking.  How do they go about that?  They resort to committing crimes, doing drugs, and promoting illegal drinking.  Not much can compare with being forced to relive some of the worst years of your life.

     Do not get me wrong.  I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.  It had a great deal of swearing (excessive to some extent), but was humorous throughout.  It does not resemble too much of the show it was based on, but is a great stand alone movie.  I would recommend seeing the original show, even if you just YouTube a couple of episodes.

     SPOILER ALERT:  My favorite parts of the movie are when we see the original officers from the show.  We see Judy Hoffs with a full time police gig, Ioki on a television screen while someone is watching episodes of “21 Jump Street,” and Hanson and Penhall.  I will not ruin it, but Hanson and Penhall have an AWESOME scene towards the end of the film.  I give this movie a 7.5 out of 10.

     The movie is rated R, is 1 hour and 49 minutes in length, and opens in the US on March 16, 2012.

Word of the Moment

Ad infinitum - adverb: to infinity, endlessly, without end.

I will love you ad infintum.

Something Changed

We were just talking.  Talking like we always do on Tuesday nights.  Then we were more than talking.  I can’t tell you exactly when it happened.  It just did.  At some point, she went from being my best friend, to my lover.  I cared about her on a much more intimate level.  I can’t explain the feeling.  It just happened.

Then again, how can you describe love to anyone who has not experienced it?  It was just so sudden and unexpected.  Are silences were no longer awkward.  We could communicate without words.  Just our presence was enough for the other.

It was beautiful.

She was beautiful.

I never want to go back to just being friends.  Now I understand how someone would do just about anything for another person.  Something has changed, and I can tell it is going to be wonderful.