REEL TALK ::: A Postmortem on Sherlock Holmes

Few actors can successfully straddle two well-loved action hero franchise movies within a relatively short period of each film’s release. Even fewer come up with performances that leave both critics and general public raving. Robert Downey, Jr. might as well be the guy to take such chances given a career that has lived through asymmetrical haircuts, goatees and flannel. (We’ll leave the more nefarious details for other writers to pick on.) In fact, any concerns about the dangers of typecasting should be thwarted by the prolific actor’s Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical just last month for his portrayal of the manic depressant yet brilliant Sherlock Holmes in, well, Sherlock Holmes. But if a statuette from a bunch of stuffy journalists won’t convince you, an examination of the movie from an average movie buff’s perspective may help.

U2 ::: Product Red, Get It? Ha!

Yes, I've been slacking but you can't fault me, I've been denied the chance to see them live yet again. *grumble* But, hey, what can you do? Keep praying it happens one day before I die. Anyhow, here's another one of those incidentals, something I don't quite know what to think of yet. I guess it could work!

RedOne attributed his success to his upbringing in Morocco, where he had access to a broad range of musical styles particularly because he was one of nine children.

He also said he enjoyed the success and recognition that producing brought, particularly because it came without the trappings of fame. And his biggest wish? To work with U2.

BLACKLIGHTING ::: Misled and Abandoned

You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

- 2 Co. 11:4

BLACKLIGHTING ::: Go Crawl Into A Hole

I'm excited about next week's corporate fast. It really is appropriate to begin the year with a period set apart for prayer and fasting to let go of things that weigh down my spiritual walk. The Bible says "seek first His kingdom" before everything else because that's the only way we'll ever gain any kind of success in this life.

It doesn't take a genius to decide that my spiritual life is cluttered and since my entire being is rooted on that, I have to get rid of the mess. All my worries, confusion, loss of direction, insecurities, longing, etc. should and can be replaced with faith and commitment. I can only see this happening if my body is freed from it's usual routines and focused on communication with God.

I look forward to cleansing myself physically, too. Heaven knows I need it! By God's grace, I'll have lost a few serious Christmas binge pounds by the end of it. (Time to get a new scale! ) So for this week, I'll start eating less and cut my system a break to get used to lighter workload. Thing is fruits and vegetables aren't really staples for me because I prefer bread over them but I'll have to try at least.

Of course, the main reason behind this activity is to seek God's leading by quieting myself from all this internal and external noise. That's the only way I can get a clear signal from above. If I could do this up in Prayer Mountain, I would! The confines of our house should suffice for now and, besides, it's the condition of the heart that will make or break this. And so I must prepare and be humbled. I look forward to coming out of it feeling a whole lot lighter yet unswervingly driven.

Full Speed Ahead

This is my last post for a very flimsy 2009 as far as this blog's concerned. See you all in 2010!

Happy New Year!

BACK BITES ::: Annual Headcount

Today is my Lola Delang's birthday and she would've been 100-something years old. Sorry, I forget. :D I fondly remember the celebrations to be early Christmas gatherings where aunts, uncles, cousins, and neighbors would gather on the property the day before to help in preparations. The grown-ups would be busy chopping, chatting, and cooking till late in the evening while the kids run around, up and down, playing all sorts of games and laughing till they send us to bed. Then on the day itself, relatives from all over would start arriving at noon in their fancy cars with driver and maid in tow. Lola Delang would greet them, ask about whoever didn't show up, why, and the annual headcount would begin.

Never Can Say Goodbye

BLACKLIGHTING ::: Nothing But Time

Hallelujah
Paramore

Somehow everything's gonna fall right into place,
If we only had a way to make it all fall faster everyday.
If only time flew like a dove,
Will god make it fly faster than I'm falling in love.

This time we're not giving up,
Let's make it last forever,
Screaming "Hallelujah".
We'll make it last forever.

Holding onto patience, wearing thin,
I can't force these eyes to see the end.
If only time flew like a dove,
Well we could watch it fly, and just keep looking up.

This time we're not giving up,
Let's make it last forever,
Screaming "Hallelujah".
We'll make it last forever.

And we've got time on our hands.
[And we've got time]
Got nothing but time on our hands.
Got nothing but, got nothing but.
[And we've got time]
Got nothing but time on our hands.

This time we're not giving up,
Oh, let's make it last forever,
Screaming "Hallelujah".
"Hallelujah".

To my fetess brother: no, you DID NOT get me into them. And I'm not. But keep dreaming! Hahaha!