I can’t open a magazine without seeing at least 2-3 ads starring Scarlett Johansson. She is the face of practically everything. How did this happen?

Om jag dejtar en tjej och det finns en uppenbar attraktion kommer jag så klart även att vilja ligga med henne. Så därför skulle den här listan lika gärna kunna vara 6 kändistjejer jag vill ligga med, om min bild av dem stämmer med verkligheten vill säga.

Utländska

Rihanna 

Hon har äkta star quality och det är hett med tjejer som har någonting att komma med! Dessutom har hon en grym utstrålning och verkar hon ha ett bra självförtroende. Det gillar jag. 

(Foto: Jorgeq)

Scarlet Johansson 

Jag är en kille som älskar när tjejen har ögon som fängslar mig. Och det har Scarlet. Hennes ögon är otroligt vackra med ett enormt djup i. Det är precis det jag faller för!

(Foto: Indoloony) 

Demi Moore

Hon verkar vara en cool kvinna i sina bästa år, som dessutom gillar lammkött! Jag tror att hon är galen och spontan och jag inbillar mig att hon inte är rädd för att testa nya saker i sängen.

(Foto: Andy Mihail)

Svenska

Izabella Scorupco

Det här är nog en mogen kvinna som vet vad hon vill ha i sängen, och som även tar för sig. Hennes sexuella lust kan matcha min, dvs. en 23-årings. 

Tuva Novotny

Den här tjejen är äkta flickvänsmaterial. Hon är vacker och mysig verkar vara riktigt sympatisk. Henne vill jag titta på solnedgången med och skeda i soffan varje dag. 

Idol -Agnes Carlsson

Jag tror inte att jag skulle få ut så mycket av henne intellektuellt på vår dejt. Men hon är otroligt attraktiv så jag ger henne en chans, så får hon visa vad hon går för.

//”David”

“Todo gran truco de magia consiste en tres actos. El primero se llama ‘La presentación’: el mago muestra algo que parece ordinario, pero, por supuesto,… no lo es. El segundo acto se llama ‘La actuación’: el mago hace que lo ordinario se transforme en algo extraordinario. Ahora bien, si buscas el secreto… no lo encontrarás, es por eso que hay un tercer acto llamado ‘El prestigio’: ésta es la parte con los giros inesperados, en la que la vida cuelga de un hilo, y entonces ves algo impactante que nunca habías visto antes”

Así empieza “The prestige” (El prestigio), o “El truco final”, nombre con el que llegó a España esta película que ayer por la noche estrenó la primera de televisión española.

Una película sobre el peligro de una obsesión, con magia, romances y algo de tensión – que se agradece, la verdad – de la mano de Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlet Johansson y Michael Caine, entre otros también bastante conocidos.

No es una película para quitarse el sombrero, pero sí que la recomendaría para esas tardes de domingo o esas noches de tormenta.

Los efectos especiales no son increíbles, pero tampoco hay excesivas escenas en las que sean necesarios los mismos.

La trama sí que me parece elaborada, con esos giros cada día más esperados por los avezados cinéfilos, pero que a los que nos gusta dejarnos sorprender hace que nos recorra algo por el estómago cuando se dan.

La ambientación está  conseguida y la caracterización de los personajes me pareció quasi inmejorable.

Ahora mismo no recuerdo bien qué nota le daría a la actuación, y cuando no recuerdo la actuación suele ser síntoma de que fue buena, o al menos no parecía sobreactuado.

Siempre me emocionó la magia.

Estad atentos, pies izquierdos.

Using Hollywood to promote philanthropic causes is an old story.   It’s not clear whether the new batch of Brangelina do-gooders and N. Portman-causes are that different from celebrity charities of yesteryears.  Still, this NYT piece dissects the celebrity-charity industrial-complex as it stands today.

An entire industry has sprung up around the recruitment of celebrities to good works. Even an old-line philanthropy like the Red Cross employs a “director of celebrity outreach.” Oxfam has a celebrity wrangler in Los Angeles, Lyndsay Cruz, on the lookout for stars who can raise the charity’s profile with younger people. In addition to established figures like Colin Firth and Helen Mirren, Oxfam is affiliated with Scarlett Johansson, who has visited South Asia (where the organization promotes girls’ education) and is scheduled to go to Mali. Cruz notes that while “trendy young people” are attracted to the star of “Match Point” and “Lost in Translation,” Johansson had “great credibility with an older audience because she’s such a great actress.”

The stars themselves have their own retainers to fend off the celebrity recruiters and to screen and sift charitable opportunities; publicists say their major clients get dozens of requests every week. The more deeply committed figures, like Angelina Jolie, retain firms like the Global Philanthropy Group, which, according to a representative, offers “comprehensive philanthropic management.” This includes establishing and staffing foundations, bringing in subject-area experts or even helping the novice philanthropist figure out what he or she actually wants to do. A similar organization, the Giving Back Fund, works with athletes like the quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the basketball players Jalen Rose and Shane Battier.

Both the stars and the causes, in turn, depend on corporate sponsorship. It is the sponsors who pay for the galas at which the stars raise money for their causes; sponsors normally pay for the stars’ first-class air tickets and hotel suites. Corporations need causes as much as stars do. Like the stars, they understand that they must shape and protect their brand identities; and they understand that those identities will be judged by the broad public, through public acts. As Howard Bragman puts it, “Celebrities, sponsors and a cause: it’s the golden troika of branding.”

The costs are small compared to the good will. Thus Alicia Keys’s Keep a Child Alive, which provides antiretrovirals to victims of AIDS in Africa, has 78 “corporate partners,” including CBS, Continental Airlines, Condé Nast and Chanel, to pick a few from the C’s. And just as stars have philanthropic managers to help them with causes, corporations with a cause can turn to celebrity recruiters to find just the right star. Thus Rita Tateel, who describes her occupation as recruiting and coordinating celebrities for “cause-related marketing and public relations,” recently hooked up Purina, which wanted to support “small animal-rescue organizations,” with Emily Procter, a star of “CSI Miami,” who, Tateel says, “lives and breathes animal rescue.”

Período: 22/11 a 22/12      Planeta: Júpiter      Elemento: Fogo

Qualidades: Otimista, independente, intuitivo     Defeitos: Imprudente, superficial, agressivo

Em geral…Sagitarianos precisam de muita liberdade para aproveitar o máximo possível da vida. Detestam rotina e, por isso, amam começar novos projetos. Viajar para eles é preciso: pode ser física ou só mentalmente, num aspecto filosófico. Adoram conhecer coisas novas e costumam ser muito curiosos e perguntadeiros.

Alguns famosos sagitarianos…Scarlett Johansson, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado, Tyra Banks, Jennifer Connelly, Marisa Tomei, Manolo Blahnik, Woody Allen, Miley Cirus, Thaís Araújo, Deborah Secco, Danielle Winits, Eliana e Angélica.

Separamos alguns looks de festa das sagitarianas por aí. Quem acertou mais?

Britney Spears e Christina Aguilera, divas da música pop

Marisa Tomei e Jennifer Connelly, atrizes

Scarlett Johansson e as brasileiras Danielle Winits, Eliana e Thaís Araújo

Dicas de presente: Para começo de conversa, capriche no embrulho. Sagitarianas valorizam a primeira impressão! Como adoram conhecer o novo, artigos relacionados a viagens, e livros são super bem vindos. Na moda, o que for confortável já ganha muitos pontos. Como a cintura é a zona do corpo regida por sagitário, peças que valorizem essa área estão com tudo. Roupas que prendem os movimentos não combinam com o espírito de liberdade desse signo! Mala de viagem, nécessarie, material para camping, bicicleta, livros – ficção, filosofia ou de viagem- , saia ou short de cintura alta, cinto sao ótimas opções de presente!

Nessa seção, vamos falar sobre  o estilo de personalidades nascidas sob o signo do mês e dar dicas de presentes para as aniversariantes! Não perca!

por Wagner Ricardo dos Santos

Em primeiro lugar, não dá para deixar em branco a semelhança ortográfica e fonética entre os nomes próprios Geisy e Geni. Eu havia imaginado que o preconceito contra as “genis” era coisa do passado, que se perdera nas nuvens da memória histórica e literária. Mas está enraizado no imaginário e no inconsciente coletivo nacional. Ponto para a aflorar de forma devastadora.

Para quem não conhece ou não se lembra, trocados os nomes, Geni por Geisy, todas as propriedades melódicas e harmônicas da música permanecem intactas. A letra de Geni e o Zepelim parece profética tanto em relação à situação da aluna quanto ao fascínio que está causando.

(…)

Essa dama era Geni
Mas não pode ser Geni
Ela é feita pra apanhar
Ela é boa de cuspir
Ela dá pra qualquer um
Maldita Geni

Mas de fato, logo ela
Tão coitada e tão singela
Cativara o forasteiro
O guerreiro tão vistoso
Tão temido e poderoso
Era dela, prisioneiro

(…)

O vídeo do youtube tem a mesma energia e dramaticidade que a música do Chico Buarque. E a reação dos alunos, e principalmente da Uniban, parecem orquestradas para ilustrar o momento de escárnio público.

O que mais clama “pavor público” e intervenção do Estado é a postura da reitoria e da mantenedora. Aqueles que deveriam zelar pela educação de uma pós-adolescente, trabalhadora e pobre, de 20 anos, foram os primeiros a linchá-la!

Linchamento com retoques de requinte e crueldade. Publicaram um anúncio de página inteira em jornal de circulação nacional.

Cabe indagar se uma aluna, moradora de um Jardins ou Morumbi, despertaria tamanha fúria, empenho e determinação de uma universidade? Instituição como essa merece a alcunha de gráfica de diplomas.

Hoje, a mídia tem feito o papel do forasteiro cativo que é dominado pela singela dama. Amanhã, com a ida do forasteiro, irá a sociedade execrar publicamente a heroína? Qual será o futuro dessa garota de 20 anos?

A “enrascada” na qual Geisy se envolveu é digna de um romance de cinderela contemporâneo. Vítima do poder e abuso econômicos, de decisões corporativas equivocadas e da mobilização da opinião pública, contra e a favor.

Detalhe, apesar da forte conotação implícita, sexo que é bom, ainda não apareceu!

A história de Geisy é bem mais interessante que da Bruna Surfistinha, com o seu O Doce Veneno do Escorpião. Se Débora Secco a está interpretando no cinema, quem interpretará a Geisy?

Sendo a trajetória de Geisy uma ode ao improvável, proponho Ruy Castro como biógrafo, Wood Allen como diretor e Scarlet Johansson como protagonista.

Será um blockbuster!

Earlier this year we have published pictures with Scarlet Johansson for Mango F/W 09/10 Ad campaign. And those you see now feature the new F/W collection that is very much different from the previous one.

Photographed by Mario Sorrenti the 24-year-old actress looks as stunning as ever with her peroxide blond hair, posing against a graffiti-covered wall. The girl is wearing Eighties-inspired clothes: embellished mini-skirt, T-shirt dress and some other beautiful pieces which flatter Scarlet’s svelte figure a lot.

This photoshoot is less colorful than the earlier one. No lepard prints are seen any more. Blues and blacks prevail hugely.

Mango are very pleased with Miss Johansson. They say:

She is an extraordinary personality, fun, young. She’s Mango’s ideal urban woman, independent and cosmopolitan.’

To present the new Mango range Scarlet appeared wearing a Mango ensemble and looked gorgeous. She donned a leopard-patterned blouse, a pencil skirt and platform peep-toes.

more:

Collections: Victoria Beckham Spring 2010

‘Quái’ với đăng ten – Spring 2010 John Galliano Collection

Posted by Veronica Valter on millionlooks

Não tem nem muito o que dizer né? É só a Scarlett na campanha do novo perfume da grife italiana Dolce & Gabanna, L’eau the One. É que eu sou louquinho por ela fazendo qualquer coisa, até tirando meleca, cortando a unha do pé, oquêi, exagerei.

Emma Watson for Burberry?! Nice!

I don’t know if this is a recent trend, but browsing through Vogue and Elle, I’ve noticed that there are so many more actresses and/or musicianistas whom are strewn across white bedsheets, caressing perfume bottles, or sporting the latest, lavish accessories in editorial advertisements for the high-end players; i.e. Madonna for Louis Vuitton, Scarlet Johansson for L’Anti Marilyn and Dolce & Gabbana, Keira Knightly for Chanel, etc.

Emma Watson is my fav. though!

Muggle…out.
C

Here is a closer look at Scarlet Johansson as the face of Mango’s 2009-2010 ad campaign. Looks to me like they picked the perfect woman for the job, as Scarlet looks beautiful in whatever look they throw at her.

http://www.mango.com/

Every morning when I go to a certain coffee house, I have to look at Scarlet Johansson’s face. Unfortunately, she’s not modeling. No, her pretty mug is on the cover of her new album Break-up with indie darling Pete Yorn. Don’t get me wrong. I love her acting chops, but it seems every time I turn around to get a cup of coffee a new actor or celebrity is making a go at music, saying they’ve been doing music all their life suddenly. To be honest, there are a select few that actually should be dabbling in music. There’s a reason why they’re actors or celebrities first and musicians second. Johansson’s attempt at Him & Her’s Zooey Deschanel style doesn’t compare to her acting. The album sounds good enough, but most of that goodness is coming from Yorn. You’d know what I’m talking about if you heard her solo album Anywhere I Lay My Head. I see the same problem with LANDy, fronted by actor Adam Goldberg, who’s music sounds very similar to band mate Aaron Espinoza’s other group Earlimart. It just seems like actors and celebs need too much help in the music department. So, isn’t that a sign they should stick to what they do best? Hint, hint: Lindsay Lohan, Heidi Montag, Paris Hilton. And what about Phantom Planet? Jason Schwartzman got me all hooked and then left the band. It’s dissapointing… But I don’t hate all celeb music. Even though he’s been tagged as a royal Hollywood douche, I like Jared Leto and his brother in 30 Seconds to Mars. I also really like Juliette and the Licks, fronted by Juliette Lewis, in addition to Keanu Reeve’s Dogstar and Ed Westwick’s Filthy Youth. I am also digging  the most awesome celeb-music find: Jada Pinket Smith fronting  metal band Wicked Wisdom. However, her band like Dogstar and the Licks were on a top ten of worst celeb bands. Sorry guy, but Montag and Lohan are much, much worse. I guess I’m just a picky celeb music consumer. They’re my ears aren’t they?

And now a celebrity Band of the Week that’s a musician first…Julian Casablancas!

I’ve never met a person who hates The Strokes. How can you, with their cool melodies. It seems their commitment to music kept their rich kid background from making too much of an impact. Casablancas is the son of famous modeling agent John Casablanca. Casablanca’s solos project seems to be rooted in the same place at The Strokes melodies, with some added electronic assistance. I love the first single “11th Dimension” off his solo album Phrazes for the Young coming November 3. Look out for the singer in LA to do some live shows. He’s awesome live.

Until next time, don’t be “wilted and faded somewhere in Hollywood.” Courtney Love- K

Haz click en la imagen para ver el video

Las actrices Gwynenth Paltrow y Scarlet Johansson fueron entrevistadas  por la cadena televisiva Entertainment Tonight, donde expresaron sus puntos de vista sobre los personajes que encarnan en la cinta Iron Man 2. Ambas opiniones  están resultando sumamente interesantes, y nos dan una idea sobre la película, ya que al parecer le están dando más importancia a la interioridad de los personajes que a la acción en sí, sera necesario que vigilen el equilibrio, de manera que no se sacrifique uno por lo otro.

Haz click en la imagen para ver el video

Ancora una volta Moviefone, il sito americano gossipparo stila la classifica dei 25 attori più sexy sotto i 25 anni!

Nel 2009, sul trono del più sexy siede il vampiro più affascinante del mondo, Robert Pattinson! Col successo e l’isteria collettiva che la Twilight Saga a provocato, non c’è da stupirsi della sua incoronazione! Sono in classifica anche i compagni di avventura Kristen Stewart e Taylor Lautner, rispettivamente all’11esimo e al 21 posto. Anche la neo-vampita Dakota Fanning è in lista, all 8° posto.

Sul podio insieme a Rob troviamo la star del momento, Megan Fox e l’ormai navigata Scarlett Johansson.

Anche i maghetti di Harry Potter si sono conquistati un posto: Daniel Radcliffe è a un passo dal podio, 4°, mentre Emma Watson è 22esima; in classifica non c’è posto per Rupert Grint invece.

Va peggio per il cast di High School Musical: raggiungono la Top 25 solo Vanessa Hudgens, 7° e il suo storico compagno (dentro e fuori dal set) Zac Efron, che però precipita all’ultimo posto.

Tra i meno noti al grande pubblico ci sono Freida Pinto, 6° e Dev Patel, 17°, i protagonisti del premio oscar The Millionaire. Il più giovane è invece Bobb’e J. Thompson, di soli 13 anni, noto per essere protagonista di una serie tv dove interpreta se stesso.

1. Robert Pattinson, 23, Anni in lista: 2007, 2008, 2009
2. Megan Fox, 23, Anni in lista: 2007, 2008, 2009
3. Scarlett Johansson, 24, Anni in lista: 2007, 2008, 2009
4. Daniel Radcliffe, 20, Anni in lista: 2007, 2008, 2009
5. Gemma Arterton, 23, Anni in listas: 2008, 2009
6. Freida Pinto, 24, Anni in lista: 2009
7. Vanessa Hudgens, 20, Anni in lista: 2009
8. Dakota Fanning, 15, Anni in lista: 2008, 2009
9. Shia LeBeouf, 23, Anni in lista: 2007, 2008, 2009
10. Saoirse Ronan, 15, Anni in lista: 2008, 2009
11. Kristen Stewart, 19, Anni in lista: 2007, 2008
12. Ellen Page, 22, Anni in lista: 2007, 2008, 2009
13. Bobb’e J. Thompson, 13, Anni in lista: 2009
14. Michael Cera, 21, Anni in lista: 2007, 2008, 2009
15. Keira Knightley, 23, Anni in lista: 2007, 2008, 2009
16. Mia Wasikowska, 19, Anni in lista: 2009
17. Dev Patel, 19, Anni in lista: 2009
18. Miley Cyrus, 16, Anni in lista: 2008, 2009
19. Emile Hirsch, 24, Anni in lista: 2007, 2009
20. Chace Crawford, 24, Anni in lista: 2009
21. Taylor Lautner, 17, Anni in lista: 2009
22. Emma Watson, 19, Anni in lista: 2007, 2008, 2009
23. Amanda Seyfried, 23, Anni in lista: 2008, 2009
24. Carey Mulligan, 24, Anni in lista: 2009
25. Zac Efron, 21, Anni in lista: 2007, 2008, 2009

Pete Yorn vuelve a la carga acompañado de Scarlet Johansson con un disco que se llama Break Up. A mí la verdad es que no me gustó mucho el disco de versiones que ella hizo como primera aventura musical, pero he visto el vídeo del primer single y me ha gustado bastante, claro que Pete Yorn tiene mucho que ver en ello.

Podéis escuchar el disco completo aquí, y además podéis ver el vídeo del primer single, Relator, aquí, porque aunque lo estoy viendo ahora mismo en TV, no lo encuentro por ningún lugar posible de enlazar con WordPress.

Empiezas a verla esperándote algo, que sin profundizar, al menos indague mínimamente en el comportamiento humano frente a las relaciones amorosas. Poco te dura la ilusión.

La historia se estructura a través de bloques denominados  ”cuando un hombre no te besa, qué hacer” o “cuando un hombre no te telefonea, qué hacer”. No hay más. Muchas caras conocidas interpretando diversos personajes cortados por el mismo patrón. Chico conoce chica. Chica se enamora. Chico pasa de ella. Chica cotillea con sus amigas. Amigas convencen a chica de que chico es bueno. Chico sigue pasando de ella. Chica finalmente se cansa. Chica se lía con amigo del chico. Dicho amigo es marido de amiga de chica. Etcétera.

Así transcurre ‘Qué les pasa a los hombres’. Contínuas escenas se suceden tratando el tema del matrimonio, el noviazgo o la primera cita de una manera superficial, rozando lo absurdo. Alguna escena puede resultar identificativa, pero a la larga se hace cansina. Apta sólo para treintañeros en celo. Si estás dentro del grupo, te gustará. Si no, abstenerse.

Le diamant de coup ronde est certainement le plus populaire, également celui ayant le plus de brillance, et le plus classique. L’origine de cette coupe date de 1919, et depuis ce temps les bijoutiers ont travaillé à améliorer leur technique. Aujourd’hui le diamant rond de type moderne comporte 58 facettes comme le démontre la photo ci-dessous.

Diamant Rond - 58 facettes

Poter le diamant rond sur votre bague de fiançailles est à la fois classique, chic et élégant. Vous pouvez certainement vous inspirer des bagues portées par les vedettes américaines!

Fergie, par exemple, porte un diamant solitaire de 3 carats centré sur une alliance en platinum. La valeur estimée de cette bague est de 75 000$.

Bague de fiançailles de Fergie - Platinum et Diamant solitaire

Scarlett Johansson quant à elle porte une alliance très glamour en or de 3 carats, avec un diamant solitaire coupé rond. La valeur de cette alliance est estimée à 90 000$.

Bague de fiançaille de Scarlett Johansson - Diamant Solitaire Rond

Une chose que j’adore sur Internet est bien le shopping! En effet, je trouve fascinant de pouvoir trouver tout ce que je désire sans même me déplacer et le tout souvent à des prix très raisonnables. Par exemple, pour les bagues de fiançailles, nous pouvons bien nous inspirer des bagues onéreuses que les vedettes se paient; comme celle au look vintage de Jennifer Love Hewitt. Toutefois, on peut trouver en ligne de bon bijoutier capable de recréer vos bijoux de rêve à des prix très accessibles en modifiant quelques matériaux.

Bague de fiançailles de Jennifer Love Hewitt - Vintage Diamant Rong

BlueNile est certainement la référence en ligne pour les anneaux de mariage, visitez le lien ci-après afin de créer sur mesure votre bague d’engagement: http://www.bluenile.com/build-your-own-diamond-ring

Et simplement pour vous donner quelques exemples de bague à prix raisonnable voici quelques trouvailles en ligne :

Pour quelques livres sterling vous pouvez vous procurez cette bague en ligne!

Bague de fiançaille au style de Fergie

Pour environ 2 354$ vous pourrez porter une bague similaire à celle de Scarlet.

Bague de fiançailles similaire à celle de Scarlet

Finalement, j’ai touvé une bague de style vintage vraiment jolie pour le prix de 1 086$.

Bague de fiançaille de style vintage

The other night I went to see The Proposal at the movies with my BNE.  It was really cute and I have to say, I was even a little surprised by some of the elements that I thought would be so predictable.  Of course Ryan Reynolds is just an assault to the eyes–it was a real trial to have to look at him for 2 hours.  And Sandra Bullock–please.  She’s stunning.  Over 40 and nary a wrinkle or flab roll?  I have no use for people like that.

So I’m lying in bed trying to sleep, and I’m thinking about these people and what their real lives might be like.   Does Sandra design new tatoos for [husband] Jesse James?  What does Ryan do in his spare time?  Do he and Scarlet [Johansson] cook together?  Does he call her “Scar”?

Then, because my brain is one constant rolling rabbit trail, I started to think about names.  The things that fill your brain after midnight, right?

How do nicknames begin?  Do mothers name their children with potential nicknames in mind?  [and seriously, does Scarlet Johansson go by "Scar" at home?] This made me think of my pastor, Rob Bell.  I wonder if his parents decided to call him Rob, to distinguish him from his dad?  Or if he chose it as opposed to Bob, Robert, Bobby, Robby?  My dad thinks that Bob is the greatest name you can give a child.  He wanted us to name both of our sons Bob, and has often said that if he could change his name, he would choose…Bob.  “There’s no confusion, no questions about the spelling, everyone can pronounce it, and it’s the same frontwards and backwards.  Perfect.”

When a mother looks into the soft, squished up face of her lovely newborn and bestows a name–arguably the first gift a parent gives a child aside from life itself–does that mother stop to think about what the future might hold for her baby?  How the name will fit when the baby becomes a boy, a teen, a man?  When Lovell Swindoll held her infant son in 1934 [no I didn't just know that, I Wikipedia'd it], did she have a stirring–an inclination–anything?–to think:  “This is our new son, Charles Swindoll.  He is destined for greatness in the Evangelical world.”  Or the mother of C.S. Lewis–or Dietrich Bonhoffer.  Did they know?  Did Clive’s mom think, “I’ll name him Clive Staples so that he can go by C.S. That sounds so distinguished, and it will certainly look fantastic on a book sleeve.”

If they would have known–if we could know–the futures awaiting each of our children, would it change our parenting?  If we were raising the next Billy Graham or Corrie TenBoom, would it change the way we nurture our kids?  Would my temper be better controlled?  Would my tongue be tamed?  Would we read together more, study our Bibles with greater fervor, love our neighbors any differently?

Of course anyone who’s ever seen Back to the Future will tell you that once you know the future, you can’t change the past because it will alter the outcome of that future.  If Chuck Swindoll’s mom had done something drastically differently, who’s to say that we’d have the same Chuck on our radios today?  If Dietrich’s mother radically modified her mothering, would he have stood with such determination at the hands of the Nazi’s?  Only God knows that, but certainly no one can deny the strong, indelible print of a mother [and father] on the hearts and lives of her children.  In fact, years ago I heard Chuck tell a story of personal temptation; he recalled the Bible verse that his mother had taught him as a boy that came rushing into his heart at an acute moment of weakness.  Realizing the impact that that mother had on him and the lifelong imprint she left made me want to teach Scripture to our kids.  Right then, I wanted to be the kind of mother whose teaching followed her children into adulthood.

Thinking about names, about raising kids, about shaping their hearts and their spiritual formation made me stop to consider:  crystal balls would be nice, but the end of the story actually lies in the present.  The end of the story is decided in some measure, apart from God’s grace and sovereignty, upon how we decide to partner with him in the lives of our children.  How will we choose to use today?  How will we spend our moments together?  Our evenings alone?   As as if by magic,  I heard Chuck just minutes ago, this time talking about the life of David.  And in his teaching he said, “When’s the last time you thanked God for not showing you the future?”

He gives us only what we can handle for the day.  I believe that.  And so, I look at the little faces that, with my husband, I named years ago.  And I trust that they’ll grow into those names and into the future that God holds for each of them.

So, I didn’t know she could sing. Ever. Maybe I should have a better feedback on this. But I don’t want to. *snorts*

Song’s not bad though!
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All I can say is that its the ‘not anticipating or having no expectations’ that helped me enjoy this movie. Its quirky and a bit queer but hey this is what happens in reality. Based on a self-help book by the same name written by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, the film focuses on the often asked question – ‘when a guy says this or does this…what does it mean?’ 

The various angles to this subtle question is explored through the lives of various characters and the complex relationships they are in. Gigi, Janine and Beth are colleagues and friends who consult each other in trying to work out their relationships – Gigi is desparate for a whirlwind romance but ends by being rejected on every date. Her stubborness to accept that a guy isn’t interested in her leads her to meet Alex who is the friend of one of her dates who helps her in deciphering out the hints thrown in by her numerous dates.

Janine thinks she is happily married to her longtime sweetheart Ben when in reality Ben feels constrained by the limits that marriage offers him and ends up having an affair with a wannabe singer Anna. Anna is an adventurous yoga instructor/aspiring singer who pretends to be interested in her loyal boyfriend Conor while pursuing Ben. The end result is Janine divorces Ben, Anna abandons Ben in search of a meaningful life and Ben is back to his old amorous ways.

Conor is this clueless but solid dude who believes he loves Anna but is surprised at the end when he falls in love with Anna’s friend Mary who helps him with his advertisement. Mary is disillusioned initially with the online relationships she gets into but finds her happy ending with Conor.

Beth is in a 7 year relationship with Neil who is committment phobic. In utter frustration that Neil is never going to pop up the question, she breaks it off only to realize that Neil is way better than all the other guys in the family. The break works wonders for their relationship with Neil also realizing his folly and they get back together, and Neil overcomes his phobia and agrees to a wedding.

At different points in the story, the message that seems to come out is ‘when a guy says something he means it….unlike when a gal says something it can mean something else.’ This does seem to make all those guys vs gals forwards so true. Its a watchable movie but not something great that could be watched again and again.

As for the actors who’ve portrayed these vivid characters – While Jennifer Aniston does a good job of portraying Beth her dress sense is quite dull and plain. Understandable that official colors are black and white but if you don those shades throughout the movie it can get quite monotonous and boring. Ben Afflick as Neil looks morose and drab. Scarlet Johansson as Anna is great but thats pretty much it. Jennifer Connelly as Janine looks quite severe and plain jane who doesn’t have a sense of adventure in her. Drew Barrymore seems to be quite happy on the sidelines as Mary and so are a multitude characters. But that’s pretty much about it. This book apparently was written as a result of some discussion sparked off on the TV series ‘Sex and the City’ between Greg and Liz.

Korean actor Lee Byung-hun is drawing popularity overseas by ranking in the top 30 in a worldwide movie website.

Lee’s agency, BH Entertainment, said “Lee titled top 30 in a ranking of a world movie database website, IMDB.com.”

In 2008, his ranking stayed below the 1,000 mark, then started to skyrocket since the release of the actor’s starring movie, “G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra,” in August 2009, according to the agency.

The position, top 30, is the highest amongst Korean actors in a weekly ranking of actor search, “STARmeter,” on the IMDB website. Also, the ranking outstrips that of some Hollywood top stars, including Adam Sadler, Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston, Scarlet Johansson, and Robert John Downey Jr.

Along with Lee’s rapidly rising popularity, the actor’s Hollywood debut movie, “G.I Joe” is enjoying its heated attention, topping a movie search chart, “MOVIEmeter,” of IMDB.com.

The Korea Herald

Lost in Translation (2003) – directed, produced and written by Sofia Coppola – is an exploration of loneliness, alienation and friendship set in modern Tokyo. After continuously encountering each other in their hotel during the middle of the night, middle-aged actor Bob (Bill Murray) and 20-something newlywed Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) share culture shock, displacement and insomnia, leading to the development of a complicated friendship.

Bob and Charlotte are ‘lost’ in many ways. Feeling as though they lack purpose in life, both have the same Finding Your True Calling CD, both have trouble sleeping, and both have troubled marriages. Charlotte’s husband leaves her in the hotel while he goes away on business, while Bob’s wife sends him urgent faxes regarding carpet samples. Both of them are keen to break out of their monotonous lives, and they soon spend many nights out exploring Tokyo together.

Lost in Translation is extremely visual; Coppola has an appreciation of Tokyo that is evident in the cinematography, creating a beautiful yet surreal atmosphere. The film avoids Hollywood clichés, instead aiming for subtlety. I didn’t know how the story would end when I first saw it, as the progressions in plot seem very natural. The characters are very real; there is a truth within them that is a testament to good writing and performances.

Overall, Lost in Translation is a great film. It was nominated for 3 Oscars and reaffirmed Coppola’s status as a director to watch. Focusing more on visual style and character than plot development, the story at times seems to aimlessly drift from one thing to the next, but this is not necessarily a bad thing; it all contributes to the disassociated, out-of-body vibe the audience experiences.

My rating: