Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

NOSTALGIA NEVER FELT THIS GOOD

Now when I first heard that a fourth installment in the Indiana Jones saga was in the works, I was skeptical, very skeptical. I enjoy the rule of three. Trilogies are a classy inspired way to make films and keep the drama motivated and timely. But there are exceptions to every rule...

From the opening sequence with Elvis Presley blaring to the final score, I haven't had this much fun at the movies in longer than I care to think about. One of my fears going into this film was constant reminders of Harrison Ford's age, but the thought vanished from my mind well before the story actually got going. What's even better, the characters acknowledge it themselves. This feature truly embodies the capturing of that movie magic where everyone can feel like a kid again.

This finale to the classic films finds the good doctor in the fifties surrounded by greasers and poodle skirts, cold war protesters and nuclear experiments. Shia LaBeouf portrays Mutt, a young, reckless sidekick, at first I felt he was slightly miscast, but the idea grew on me. Ray Winstone is marvelous as Mac, a British explorer who wears his greed on his sleeves. They and the rest of the cast are the stuff of dreams. I even enjoyed Cate Blanchett as the villainous Irina Spalko, a Russian scientist who is on a quest for all things supernatural and promising in the field of psychological warfare.

The story is far-fetched, but what Indiana Jones adventure isn't. This films offers all things we dream of at the movies: exotic locations, sword fights atop moving jeeps and a score to die for. My advice, sit back and revel in the cheese.

Untraceable - DVD Review

MORE LIKE UNMEMORABLE

If your looking for mediocre thrills and generic lackluster, torture violence, look no further than the latest in the already overrun genre of thriller/horror flicks: Untraceable. This hum-drum boredom festival is headed up by Diane Lane as Agent Jennifer Marsh. She is a federal agent with, you guessed it, the FBI; working to traffic the law breakers of cyberspace. She has the typical tragic background, the quintessential eccentric mother and the ridiculously cute daughter, but no husband(gasp). Yeah right, saying this character is deep is like saying George Bush is a beautiful orator. As the story unfolds a series of killings begin. A website(killwithme.com) broadcasts the deaths of victims live. As the number of viewers increases, the victim dies faster.

Now I have to admit, this is a promising premise: a killer using the internet to actively involve the general public in a gruesome, terrible act. But sadly the fun ends there. The story plays as predictably as possible, even the villain is as uninteresting as they come. In a society where everyone is a critic to the use of violence as entertainment, this film is more a typical review and less a glimpse of insight.

One vivid ray of light in this monotonous mess is Colin Hanks. He plays Marsh's sidekick/comedic relief. As always Hanks shows tremendous promise despite this vile and morbid sludge he partakes in. The motive is dark and pointless, the heroine is one dimensional and the script is borderline trivial at best. Save your money.

Skipping Breakfast Affects People of All Ages

From Canadian Health & Lifestyle Magazine:

You’ve heard people say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That’s true for people of ALL ages, but it’s even more important depending on how old you are. Consider these facts:

• Children between ages 6 and 11. Studies show that skipping breakfast at this age has a noticeable impact on a child’s ability to succeed in school – especially when it comes to short-term memory challenges, and basic math solving. Researchers say it’s because children need a lot of fuel for their growing cells to thrive. So if they don’t eat breakfast, their cells starve – which means the brain can’t learn, and muscles can’t grow. The good news is that glucose is the brain’s #1 fuel, a single hard-boiled egg is a perfect meal. Because the vitamin B and iron in eggs is like jet-fuel for glucose – rocketing energy directly to brain cells.
  
  
• Adolescents from ages 12 to 17. A report by The International Journal of Food and Science found that teens who skip breakfast are more at risk of developing eating disorders – like anorexia or bulimia. They’re also 51% more likely to become overweight! That’s because a lack of food in the morning triggers over-eating later in the day. The fix? Get your teen in the habit of eating a bowl of whole grain cereal with milk each morning. That’ll supply a healthy dose of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Studies show they’ll be more likely to make healthier food choices all day long.
  
  
• Here’s what happens to grown-ups who skip breakfast. Studies have shown a dramatic link between that morning meal, and the ability to maintain weight. So the number on your scale will start rising and that fluctuation can lead to higher cholesterol, and lower insulin – a perfect recipe for diabetes! What’s more, your erratic blood sugar will set you up for a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and depression. So even if you’re rushed for work, mix some blueberries with yogurt. It’s just enough protein to help you feel full longer, and eat less junk.

Bottom line: Breakfast should never be considered an “optional” meal.

Think You're Safe From Identity Theft?

Identity theft: it’s one of the fastest-growing crimes, victimizing over 10 million North Americans last year alone. It can cost $2,000 and 130 hours to clear your name. So, Woman’s World magazine interviewed several reformed identity thieves. Here’s what they had to say about their shady practices – and the five tricks they don’t want you to know:

• They use phony email links. One scammer mentioned in the article sent an email blast to over 1 million people, claiming that “fraudulent activity” had frozen their PayPal account. The email included a link so they could verify their account information. The result? Over 1-thousand people logged onto a fake website, and had their identity stolen. The fix: Remember that legitimate companies never ask for personal info via email.
  
  
• Another identity theft trick: Reading computer hard drives pulled out of the trash. Know this: When you delete a computer file, only the title is erased and a thief armed with simple software can easily recover and read the files. The fix: Use a program that writes random data over the info on your hard drive so it’s gone for good. Like Gutmann software’s WipeDrive 5 for Macs or PCs.
  
  
• Another identity theft trick: Stolen mail boxes. Thieves put stolen, big, blue government mailboxes on street corners and simply collect all of the bills and checks tossed into it. The fix: Make sure the mail drop-box you use is actually bolted to the pavement.
  
  
• Identity thieves also follow mail carriers, and steal preapproved credit card offers from unlocked mailboxes. They can easily open a new card with your name on it, tack on a fake address, and rack up thousands of dollars in debt before you even know what hit you.
  
  
• The final trick: Scammers file phony change-of-address forms tore-route a victim’sutility bills and bank statements. So, if you don’t get any mail for two days, call your post office and ask why. With all the junk mail arriving daily, an empty mailbox is too suspicious to overlook.

Daily Guide to Maximizing Your Brain

From Prevention Magazine:

Your brain follows a specific energy cycle every day. Its rhythms are based on your sleep patterns, genetic makeup, and exposure to light. However, getting into a groove with your brain can make you happier, healthier, and more productive. So here’s your daily guide to maximizing your brain. This comes from Dr. Lynn Hasher, a psychology professor at the University of Toronto.

• The best brain time to work on tough tasks is: Lunchtime – basically between 11AM and 2PM. German researchers found that at midday, levels of the sleep hormone melatonin dip sharply, boosting your focus, and decreasing your reaction time. Which means, you can tackle projects faster and easier. So, it’s the perfect time of day to run errands, give a presentation, return voicemails, or patch up a spat with your spouse.
  
  
• What about the best brain time to take a break? That would be right after lunch - between 2 and 3PM. According to a study at Harvard University, early afternoon is when your body’s circadian rhythm – your body clock - slows down. After you’ve eaten, your body draws blood away from your brain to your stomach to help digestion. So, that’s the best time to relax, or read a book. If you need to be sharp for an afternoon meeting, take a brisk walk around the block or drink a glass of water. Both of them will get your blood moving away from your stomach and toward your brain, helping you focus.
  
  
• Finally, the best brain time to collaborate with someone is between 3 and 6PM. According to neurology professor, Dr. Paul Nussbaum, your brain is tired in the late afternoon, so you’re not as mentally sharp. Levels of the stress-hormone cortisol also drop, making you more easygoing. So, that’s the perfect time to work with others, and have a brainstorming session or a low-pressure meeting. If you’re already off the clock, pick an activity that’s as different from your job as possible – like exercise. Studies show that at that time of day, grip strength, manual dexterity and other physical skills are at their strongest.
  

Does birth order really affect your personality?

From Psychologies Magazine:

Dr. Kevin Leman is the author of the bookThe Birth Order Connection, and he says there’s definitely a link between where kids rank in the pecking order, and their behavior. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Let’s start with FIRST BORNS. Leman says these kids are natural leaders and high achievers – and this often comes from a sense of entitlement and superiority. They pay attention to detail and are organized. But they can be moody and insensitive to others’ feelings. They’re also bad at delegating, because they don’t trust others as much as they trust themselves. That’s why they’re often stressed out. In control, but stressed out.
  
  
• MIDDLE CHILDREN. The classic middle child is a people pleaser who hates confrontation. They’re usually calm, down to earth and great listeners. And they make excellent negotiators. Middle kids are usually less driven than their older sibling, but more eager to be liked - that’s why they have trouble setting limits.
  
  
• Then there are the LAST BORNS – the babies of the family. Dr. Lemen says they’re the world’s cheerleaders. They usually have great people skills and love to entertain. They make friends easily and are good at making people feel at home. Last borns are also more likely to take risks – probably because they get bored quickly. They also fear rejection and have a fairly short attention span.
  
  
• ONLY CHILDREN. They’re task-oriented and tend to be well organized and dependable. Only children feel comfortable with responsibility, but they can be demanding and unforgiving – and they hate to admit they’re wrong. They’re also sensitive, according to Dr. Lemen, and their feelings are easily hurt. But if you have an idea you want to get off the ground, they’re the people to go to.

Why Do We Crave Pizza?

From Quick and Simple Magazine and Dr. Steven Witherly:

“I’m addicted to pizza!” If this phrase flies out of your mouth as you shovel down slices of pepperoni pie, you might be onto something! It turns out, humans are practically hard-wired to crave pizza! Here’s an ingredient-by-ingredient breakdown.

• Let’s talk about pizza dough. Why do we love it so much? Humans tend to crave cooked foods - because in the olden days, our ancestors weren’t sure if raw foods were going to be poisonous or not. So when we smell a baked pizza, it notifies our brain that the food is cooked – and therefore probably safe to eat. Subconsciously, if we know a food isn’t going to harm us, we’re going to be drawn to it more-so than food we’re not sure about.
• What about pizza sauce? The acidity in tomatoes causes us to salivate and since saliva helps get food molecules to your taste buds, the “mouth watering” effect from the sauce is going to make a slice of pizza taste especially good.
• There’s the cheese. It contains proteins called caseins – which are one of the best muscle-building nutrients you can eat. However, caseins are also addictive. Which explains why we like to order pizzas with extra cheese!
• There’s a reason why a lot of people like to top their pizza with pepperoni. The fat content increases your production of the feel-good hormone serotonin, which boosts your mood. Basically, pepperoni can help you feel happier. Which may explain why we love to pile it on our pizza!

But know this: 2 large slices of pepperoni pizza contain almost 600 calories! You’d have to play an hour of basketball to burn that off! So try to keep your pizza cravings in check.