Time to Vote for Your Favorite - X Marks the Spot

Following post/poll belongs in the category 'Eye of the Beholder' as in 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder.'  

Most of us have discussed them among ourselves and admitted we have a fav. 

You know the drill - we're sitting there innocently watching an RA dvd when suddently - BAM! - there it is.  The cute little thing won't let us alone to focus on the plot.  That's right - they're those distracting dots - in this case truly magnificent moles.  Now it's time to vote for the one you can't ignore no matter how hard you've tried.  This adorable cupid seems to want to mark each spot with an arrow...

#1.  Constantly taunts us from under his right jawline..sometimes it's almost smothered by heavy stubble, but we see it anyway, don't we:)

#2.  Located on left shoulder - here it is peeking from beneath Lucas' top...

#3.  Top of his right arm...

There are others, but you need to have seen BTS...

I've heard more than once the suggestion RA fans could use a map:)

Please don't get too distracted and forget to vote for your fav in the poll.

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Wonder if RA would enjoy the following valentines' jokes...they're a bit corny.  In fact, I'm up to my eyeballs in popcorn:)  Let's give it a try......

Roger, who was 19 years old, was buying an expensive bracelet, to surprise his girlfriend on Valentine's Day, at a very smart jeweller's shop in Hatton Garden, London.

The jeweller inquired, 'Would you like your girlfriend's name engraved on it?'
Roger thought for a moment, grinned, then answered, 'No, instead engrave "To my one and only love".'
The jeweller smiled and said, 'Yes, sir; how very romantic of you.'

Roger retorted with a glint in his eye, 'Not exactly romantic, but very practical. This way, if we break up, I can use it again.'

♥
Q: What do squirrels give for Valentine's Day?
A: Forget-me-nuts.

Q: What did the valentine card say to the stamp?
A: Stick with me and we'll go places!

Q: What did the stamp say to the envelope?
A: I'm stuck on you.

Q: Who sends a thousand valentines cards signed', guess who' ?
A: A divorce lawyer.

Q: What did the light bulb say to the switch?
A: You turn me on.

Q: Did Adam and Eve ever have a date?
A: No, but they had an apple.

Q: What did the boy octopus say to the girl octopus?
A: Can I hold your hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand?

Q: What did one snake say to the other snake?
A: Give me a little hug and a hiss, honey.

Knock, Knock,
Who's there?
Olive

Olive who?
Olive you!

Q: Why did the banana go out with the prune?
A: Because it couldn't get a date.

Q: What is a ram's favourite song on February 14th?
A: I only have eyes for ewe, dear

Q: What travels around the world but stays in one corner?
A: A stamp.

Q: What happens when you fall in love with a French chef?
A: You get buttered up.

Q: What is a vampire's sweetheart called?
A: His ghoul-friend.

Q: If your aunt ran off to get married, what would you call her?
A: Antelope.

It was Valentine's day and Jim and Danielle's first date. They sat in the darkened cinema waiting for the film to start. The screen finally lit up with a flashy advertisement for the cinema's concession stand. Jim and Danielle realised that there was no sound. The film began but the silence continued.

Suddenly, out of the darkness, an irritated voice in the crowd loudly shouted', Okay, who's got the remote control?'
(oooh boy....that's a groaner)

Richard Armitage Fan Photos: Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Cute Things

                  

                          

                                Addicted? Really?...well, maybe to...

but, that's it...unless...Might as well face it, we're addicted to him as well..

especially when he gets that thoroughly earnest expression on his face and then the killer--thoughtfully scratching his chin with his thumb....ooooh, that's such a masculine gesture...

Yeah,,,,might as well face it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcATvu5f9vE

When did he start posing for cupid pics???

Oscar Nominations Announced - 10 Movies Instead of the Usual 5

 82nd Annual Academy Award nominations announced Tuesday:

1. Best Picture: "Avatar," "The Blind Side," "District 9," "An Education," "The Hurt Locker," "Inglourious Basterds," "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," "A Serious Man," "Up," "Up in the Air."
A review of Avatar follows:  http://allthingsrarmitage.blogspot.com/search?q=avatar+review

2. Actor: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"; George Clooney, "Up in the Air"; Colin Firth, "A Single Man"; Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"; Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker."

3. Actress: Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"; Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"; Carey Mulligan, "An Education"; Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious: Based on the Novel `Push' by Sapphire"; Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia."

4. Supporting Actor: Matt Damon, "Invictus"; Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"; Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"; Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"; Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds."

5. Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, "Nine"; Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"; Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Crazy Heart"; Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"; Mo'Nique, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire."

6. Directing: James Cameron, "Avatar"; Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"; Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds"; Lee Daniels, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"; Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air."

7. Foreign Language Film: "Ajami," Israel; "El Secreto de Sus Ojos," Argentina; "The Milk of Sorrow," Peru; "Un Prophete," France; "The White Ribbon," Germany.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, "District 9"; Nick Hornby, "An Education"; Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche, "In the Loop"; Geoffrey Fletcher, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"; Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, "Up in the Air."

9. Original Screenplay: Mark Boal, "The Hurt Locker"; Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds"; Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman, "The Messenger"; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "A Serious Man"; Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Tom McCarthy, "Up."

10. Animated Feature Film: "Coraline"; "Fantastic Mr. Fox"; "The Princess and the Frog"; "The Secret of Kells"; "Up."

17. Costume: "Bright Star," "Coco Before Chanel," "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," "Nine," "The Young Victoria."    Examples.....

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After reading the list of nominees, curiosity first led me to find the examples above of the costumes in ‘The Young Victoria’ and secondly searched for info on the animated nominee ‘The Secret of Kells.’ We’ve had the great pleasure of observing in person the astounding beauty of the ancient Book of Kells (over 1000 years old),  and also of touring the charming medieval city of Kilkenny, Ireland (home for creators of the animation)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTPAvY4y0pY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXRRv4llXTA
The following photos really do not do the brilliantly illuminated, hand-crafted manuscript justice...

                

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&va=book+kells+ireland&sz=all

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The film 'Invictus' is directed by Clint Eastwood, which should signal 'quality entertainment' to all of us, yet it's not among the best film nominations.  It is, however,  nominated in other categories.  Clint has more intelligence & common sense than most show-business types in Hollywood.

http://invictusmovie.warnerbros.com/

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Interesting websites tracing the migration of ancient tribes, DNA, etc

https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/lan/en/atlas.html

                                      http://www.britishislesdna.com/

Some of the Cutest Things You'll Ever See...

Victorian Valentine's card, etc...

Remember Guy's adorable double chin:)....shhhhh, don't say it too loud or he'll go on another hunger strike....

Richard Armitage & Valentine's Thoughts

The season of love is almost upon us, which triggers special childhood memories.  The strongest is of a certain traditional candy that I've learned in the past hour has been mfr'd for a century. WOW!  Moments ago, when relating that '100yrs old valentine candy' fact to DH his response was "it must really be stale by now." :)

Which reminds me - we watched Spooks 8, Ep 1 over the wkend and after Lucas North met Sarah Caulfield for the first time, hubby asked "does Gisborne get involved with her?" hahaha...apparently RA will remain 'Gisborne' forever in my DH's mind no matter what role he plays.  Many of GoG's fans out there no doubt find that a heart-warming thought--you know who you are:)  My reply to his question about Lucas & Sarah getting 'involved' was "definitely!"  Which is a perfect lead into the following Valentine's trivia...

Valentine's Day Candy Hearts  -  Sweethearts® are a Century Old American Tradition

Tiny pastel candy hearts imprinted with short phrases are a timeless Valentine's Day tradition. For a century, America has been in love with candy Sweethearts®. The New England Confectionery Company, better known as NECCO®, is America’s oldest multi-line candy company. NECCO is the creator of the beloved Sweethearts "conversation hearts," which are a century long Valentine’s Day tradition.
http://www.necco.com/SweetheartMiniSite/Default.asp?Section=history

Following from Necco’s website---Today's best-selling Valentine candy -- Sweethearts Conversation Hearts--the pastel sugar hearts with the quirky sayings, were as much a part of your childhood as they are for today's kids. New England Confectionery Company manufactures over 8 billion hearts each year to keep up with demand for this American icon.

Still it's hard to believe that the concept behind today's Conversation Hearts got its start when Abraham Lincoln was still President. Mottoes seemed to have come into prominence with cockles, a small crisp candy made of sugar and flour formed in the shape of a cockle or scallop shell. The early cockles contained mottoes, which were printed on thin colored paper and rolled up inside.

In the 1860's, when Daniel Chase, the brother of New England Confectionery Company's founder, Oliver Chase, began printing sayings on the candy. He experimented first with hand tools, and then devised a machine in which the cloth was replaced with a felt roller pad, moistened with vegetable coloring, usually red, which pressed against the die. The die printed the words on the lozenge paste and the double purpose machine cut the lozenges.

Grown-ups were entertained and passed the hearts around at parties. For weddings, there were wedding-day lozenges with humorously foreboding prophecies such as: "Married in satin, Love will not be lasting" "Married in Pink, He will take to drink" and "Married in white, You have chosen right."
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While searching for a typical card sent by grade-school children came across a funny gift idea for your special someone.  following item really has become somewhat of a tradition for significant others to give their love interest on Valentine's Day--it's usually meant as a devilish joke.
                     Typical childrens'
exchange card:

Look At The History of Postcards and Greeting Cards (including the fact Americans imported them from England for at least 30 years in the 19thC)
http://www.emotionscards.com/museum/history.html
From that website---Sending greeting cards to friends and family is a tradition that goes back about 200 years. They were mostly sent by the elite and wealthy in the early to mid 1800's. Most of the early greeting cards were hand delivered and many were quite expensive, but they soon gained mass popularity with the introduction of the world's first postage stamp issued in 1840 and a few ambitious printer's and manufacturer's perfecting printing methods, hiring artists and designed both elaborate expensive cards as well as simple affordable ones by the 1850's.The oldest known greeting card in existence is a Valentine made in the 1400's and is in the British Museum.