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Review of movie 'The Lucky One'
Review: The Lucky One
By Hannah Goodwyn
CBN.com Senior Producer
CBN.com - Nicholas Sparks, author of The Notebook, Dear John and A Walk to Remember, is known for his sentimental romances. The Lucky One, a new movie from Warner Bros. Pictures starring Zac Efron, is Sparks' latest novel hitting the big screen.
Better than Dear John, The Lucky One still has its share of disappointments. Featured among them is the film's sexual content (explained below).
THE MOVIE IN A MINUTE
U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault owes his life to a woman he's never even met. Finding her picture in the rubble of war-torn Iraq, Logan feels compelled to meet his "guardian angel" when he returns home to the states. His search takes him to Louisiana where he befriends Beth, her shy boy, Ben, and grandmother Ellie. Initially cautious of this stranger, Beth eventually opens up to Logan, and a romance develops. Still, what's a relationship without some complications? A jealous ex-husband and unexplained personal histories threaten it all.
THE GOOD AND BAD IN THE LUCKY ONE
Zac Efron's High School Musical days are gone. The young actor exercises a range of human emotion not yet asked of him as The Lucky One's leading man. Not a bad actor, Efron pulls off the chivalrous and battled-tested Marine, letting you almost forget he’s the kid who sang and danced in those high school movies from a few years back. His love interest, actress Taylor Schilling, is joined by her on-screen family played by Blythe Danner, Riley Thomas Stewart, and Keith Clayton, as the hateful ex-husband.
The Lucky One, directed by Scott Hicks (No Reservations), is a story about fate, about how one decision can change the course of your life and others around you. Layered beneath the fate and destiny talk is the notion that our lives are part of a larger picture. We don't always see how each moment leads to the next or how those connections even lead to healing and resolution. Everything does happen for a reason and we know God sees it all. Faith is present in the film mostly during a church scene when the hymns "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" and "In the Garden" are played in front of banners extolling God's love (one with the words, "Saved by Grace"). Produced by Denise Di Novi and Sparks, both of whom are Christians, it's nice to see a mainstream film unashamed of mentioning the name Jesus.
A pretty good film in some ways, The Lucky One relies on clichés and "romance" too much. Rated PG-13 partly for "some sexuality", it contains multiple sex scenes between the two unmarried leads. You're left asking: Was a shower scene really necessary? Beth and Logan's romance speaks to the emotional intimacy that happens when two people fall in love, but the amount of sexual content downplays his chivalry and distracts from their love story. The PG-13 rating also is due to violence (mostly due to the explosions and gunfights during Logan's time serving in Iraq).
IN THE END
The Lucky One is a familiar storyline that may pull on the heartstrings of devoted Nicholas Sparks fans. It goes too far in the "romance" department, making it inappropriate for young teenagers. Viewer discretion is advised.
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Cementary Watchman
My friend Kevin and I are volunteers at a National cemetery in Oklahoma and put in a few days a month in a 'slightly larger' uniform. Today had been a long, long day and I just wanted to get the day over with and go down to Smokey's and have a cold one. Sneaking a look at my watch, I saw the time, 16:55. Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day. Full dress was hot in the August sun Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever--the heat and humidity at the same level--both too high.
~ author unknown
HELLO, READERS
this by deleting, but sometimes one gets through.
I shall never, knowingly, approve any type of advertisement. Thank you, take care, and God bless you always. Maggie
Wireless Skin Patch
NOPE, NOT FOR ME --- BUT WE'LL EACH HAVE THE CHOICE.
Wireless skin patch developed to transmit medical info
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, March 29 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers say they're designing patch-like devices to wirelessly transmit information about a person's vital health statistics, potentially freeing patients from the wires and sticky electrodes of electroencephalograms (EEGs) and electrocardiogram (EKGs).
The devices, currently envisioned to be more like a temporary tattoo than a medical patch, could conceivably measure heart activity and brain waves, said John Rogers, a professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who spoke about the new research at a conference this week.
"The big benefit would be the ability to continuously monitor health and wellness," Rogers said. "There's a lot of interest in personalized medicine and the quantified self, and hardware is key."
The research, however, is in the preliminary stages. It's not clear how much the devices would cost or how long it will take before they could be available. However, Rogers and colleagues have formed a company to bring the devices to the medical market.
The goal is to figure out how to measure something that the body is doing -- the actions of the heart, for instance -- and then transmit the information without the use of wires. The researchers also want to make devices that are more like tattoos, which closely follow the contours of the skin, than medical patches, which are more rigid and can irritate the skin, Rogers said.
The researchers think their devices "will bear a lot of similarities to kids' temporary transfer tattoos," he said. "That's the mental picture that you should have. Once it's on you, you don't know it's there anymore."
The patches in development are about an inch square, roughly the size of a stamp, he said. The plan is to install a transmission system that allows the patches to send out information wirelessly, a bit like the so-called RFID devices that set off alarms when customers leave stores without buying their merchandise.
The researchers are still putting all the parts together to build the devices.
They're experimenting with ways to make the devices stick to the skin and protect them from water, and they're exploring ways to send signals back and forth. That way, for example, a device could send information about the way that muscles are moving and send back instructions about stimulating the muscles.
There's even talk about putting the devices on internal medical equipment like the catheters used in heart surgery, allowing doctors to monitor how the procedures are progressing.
Another possible application is to use the devices to measure the hydration of the skin, potentially giving people the opportunity to figure out if their moisturizer is working properly. "It might go on your cheek for 10 seconds, and you get measurements of what's gong on with your skin and determines the kind of cream you might want to use," Brown said. "In that case, you want a device that's fully soft and skin-like. No one's going to put a full wire probe on their face."
Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, vice-chair of the department of biomedical engineering at Columbia University, in New York City, said it's too early to comment in depth on the research. Still, "I look forward to learning about details," she said. "The potential for this kind of technology is huge, and I am sure that the initial applications we can envision at this time will lead to the new ones. In particular, the combination of soft materials, wireless technologies and micro devices may bring measurements -- and interventions -- in the whole (body) to an entirely new level."
A report about the development of the patch-like device was scheduled for release Monday at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego. With research presented at medical meetings, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Does God Need a Co-Signer?
Does God Need a Co-Signer?
The Witness in the Clouds
We all know why co-signing a loan is required. The bank assumes that the person who is being loaned the money may not be able to repay it. Their commitment or ability is in question. In the Bible, God typically swears by His own character when entering a covenant since there is no one above Him who needs to co-sign the agreement (Hebrews 6:13). There is a fascinating exception to this in the book of Psalms.
Psalm 89:35–37 repeats the covenant between God and David from 2 Samuel 7 with an addendum at the end that is not found in 2 Samuel 7. I’ve italicized the key phrases and arranged the verses to show their parallelism, labeling them by letters:
A - I have sworn by my Holy One; A - And a witness in the clouds will be faithful.
B - I will not lie to David; B - It [David’s throne] shall be established forever like the moon
C - His descendants shall be forever C - His throne [his dynastic descendants] shall be as the sun before me.
God swears a covenant oath to David and promises that David’s descendants will forever have the right to sit on Jerusalem’s throne. This promise is guaranteed by an unidentified witness in the clouds (God’s “Holy One”). Why would God need someone to witness an agreement He initiated? Who in heaven (“the clouds”) has that authority?
It was common in polytheistic religions of the ancient world to have gods witness the covenant agreements made by other gods. But there are no other gods in Israel’s faith equal to or above the God of Israel. Yet Psalm 89 requires an equal to Yahweh who will uphold the covenant. Who is this witness in the heavens who will be faithful to the covenant of David’s eternal dynasty? Who will make sure God’s promise comes to pass and never fails?
The New Testament answers these questions in Revelation 1:4–5
John says to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
Jesus, as the son of David, has fulfilled the Davidic covenant of Psalm 89. Since the New Testament presents Jesus as true deity incarnate (true God in flesh), and equal in nature with the God of the Old Testament, Jesus fulfills the role of witness-guarantor eternally.
JOHN GLENN
For half a century, the world has applauded John Glenn as a
heart-stirring American hero. He lifted the nation's spirits when, as
one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts, he was blasted alone into
orbit around the Earth; the enduring affection for him is so powerful
that even now people find themselves misting up at the sight of his
face or the sound of his voice. But for all these years, Glenn has
had a hero of his own, someone who he has seen display endless courage of a different kind:
Annie Glenn
They have been married for 68 years. He is 90; she turned 92 on Friday. This weekend there has been news coverage of the 50th anniversary of Glenn's flight into orbit. We are being reminded that, half a century down the line, he remains America's unforgettable hero.
He has never really bought that. Because the heroism he most cherishes is of a sort that is seldom cheered. It belongs to the person he has known longer than he has known anyone else in
the world.
John Glenn and Annie Castor first knew each other when
-- literally - they shared a playpen.
In New Concord, Ohio, his parents and hers were friends. When the
families got together, their children played.
John -- the future Marine fighter pilot, the future test-pilot ace,
the future astronaut -- was pure gold from the start. He would end up having what it took to rise to the absolute pinnacle of American
regard during the space race; imagine what it meant to be the young John Glenn in the small confines of New Concord.
Three-sport varsity athlete, most admired boy in town,
Mr. Everything.
Annie Castor was bright, was caring, was talented, was generous
of spirit. But she could talk only with the most excruciating of
difficulty. It haunted her.
Her stuttering was so severe that it was categorized as an "85%"
disability -- 85% of the time, she could not manage to make words come out.
When she tried to recite a poem in elementary school, she was laughed at. She was not able to speak on the telephone. She could not have a regular conversation with a friend.
And John Glenn loved her.
Even as a boy he was wise enough to understand that people who could not see past her stutter were missing out on knowing a rare and wonderful girl.
They married on April 6, 1943. As a military wife, she found that life
as she and John moved around the country could be quite hurtful. She has written: "I can remember some very painful experiences --
especially the ridicule."
In department stores, she would wander unfamiliar aisles trying to
find the right section, embarrassed to attempt to ask the salesclerks
for help. In taxis, she would have to write requests to the driver,
because she couldn't speak the destination out loud. In restaurants,
she would point to the items on the menu.
A fine musician, Annie, in every community where she and John moved, would play the organ in church as a way to make new friends. She and John had two children; she has written: "Can you imagine living in the modern world and being afraid to use the telephone? 'Hello' used to be so hard for me to say. I worried that my children would be injured and need a doctor. Could I somehow find the words to get the information across on the phone?"
John, as a Marine aviator, flew 59 combat missions in World War II and 90 during the Korean War. Every time he was deployed, he and Annie said goodbye the same way. His last words to her before leaving were:
"I'm just going down to the corner store to get a pack of gum."
And, with just the two of them there, she was able to always reply:
"Don't be long."
On that February day in 1962 when the world held its breath and the Atlas rocket was about to propel him toward space, those were their words, once again.
And in 1998, when, at 77, he went back to space aboard the shuttle
Discovery, it was an understandably tense time for them. What if
something happened to end their life together?
She knew what he would say to her before boarding the shuttle. He did -- and this time he gave her a present to hold onto:
A pack of gum.
She carried it in a pocket next to her heart until he was safely home.
Many times in her life she attempted various treatments to cure her
stutter. None worked.
But in 1973, she found a doctor in Virginia who ran an intensive
program she and John hoped would help her. She traveled there to
enroll and to give it her best effort. The miracle she and John had
always waited for at last, as miracles will do, arrived. At age 53,
she was able to talk fluidly, and not in brief, anxiety-ridden,
agonizing bursts.
John has said that on the first day he heard her speak to him with
confidence and clarity, he dropped to his knees to offer a prayer of
gratitude. He has written: "I saw Annie's perseverance and strength through the years and it just made me admire her and love her even more."
He has heard roaring ovations in countries around the globe for his own valor, but his awe is reserved for Annie, and what she accomplished: "I don't know if I would have had the courage."
Her voice is so clear and steady now that she regularly gives public
talks. If you are lucky enough to know the Glenns, the sight and sound of them bantering and joking with each other and playfully finishing each others' sentences is something that warms you and makes you thankful just to be in the same room.
Monday will be the anniversary of the Mercury space shot, and once again people will remember, and will speak of the heroism of Glenn the astronaut.
But if you ever find yourself at an event where the Glenns are
appearing, and you want to see someone so brimming with pride and love that you may feel your own tears start to well up, wait until the moment that Annie stands to say a few words to the audience.
And as she begins, take a look at her husband's eyes.
Protection
TWO DOZEN THINGS
YOUR BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU
1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week.. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.
3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.
4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it..
5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house.. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.
6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.
7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom - and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.
8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door - understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.
9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)
10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.
11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.
12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.
13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television.
14. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake.. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.
15. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.
16. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.
17. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?
18. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.
19. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.
20. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.
21. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.
22. Never put the box of a new T.V., sound system, etc. out on the street for the trash to pick up. It's an invitation shouting that you now have it INSIDE you house.
23. Protection for you and your home: If you don't have a gun, here's a more humane way to wreck someone's evil plans for you..... WASP SPRAY
A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead.
The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection. That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out. Maybe even save a life.
24. Put your CAR KEYS beside your bed at night, or in easy reach during the day.
If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator.
The next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage.
If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime. It would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone, or in case one is working in the yard and have an emergency - letting someone know there's a problem.
However, one's common sense should be applied in a vigorous way.
Movie Review of Act of Valor
Act of Valor
By Hannah Goodwyn
CBN.com Senior Producer
CBN.com - Starring active duty Navy SEALs, Act of Valor gives audiences an innovative movie to experience this weekend at theaters across the nation. However, the film's uniqueness is disappointingly eclipsed by its predictability and offensive content.
THE MOVIE IN A MINUTE
An elite team of Navy SEALs is called into action when two CIA operatives are compromised during an operation in Central America. While on the mission, the SEAL team uncovers an internationally organized terror plot. Their new task is to track down and eliminate the threat before it is too late.
THE GOOD AND BAD IN ACT OF VALOR
Rated R for strong violence (including torture) and foul language (more than a few strong words, including variations of the f-word), Act of Valor doesn’t hold back on giving you a genuine look at what life is like for a member of this special operations force. Moviegoers should expect to see consistent violent action as the story unfolds. To say that blood is spilled is an understatement.
Knowing the very nature of this film explains, in some part, its R rating. These active Navy SEALs live and breathe intensity, and that reality isn’t missing from this movie. As former stuntmen, co-directors Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh have special insight into what makes a good action movie. On that note, they hit all the points. Convinced actors couldn’t pull off what real SEALs could, the directors worked with the "real" guys, all while keeping their identites secret (the SEALs aren't listed in the credits).
From a filmmaking standpoint, Act of Valor excels in some areas, while lacking in others. The cinematography is first-rate. Director of photography Shane Hurlbut, whose film credits include Terminator Salvation, captured the unending action well, making it a thrilling ride through each high-intensity sequence. It's when the striking explosions die down that you notice the movie is lacking.
Though Act of Valor has an intriguing storyline and a few ‘whoa’ moments, it is, in the end, predictable. More backstory on the SEALs and family, homefront tension would give moviegoers more reason to emotionally connect with this action-heavy film.
IN THE END
Act of Valor leaves you appreciating the dedication of these men and women – and their families. It reminds us of our need as citizens to thank them for their sacrifice. Is watching this movie the best way to do that? That’s your call.