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Diane Arbus once said, "A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you, the less you know."

Season 1, Episode 18: Somebody’s Watching



I want to like this episode. I really, really do. I just don’t like Lila.

I’m sorry, it’s not because I’m a Criminal Minds slasher. I swear. I didn’t like her when I first watched the episode eighteen months ago. Honestly, I just don’t know why.

The case itself is brilliant. It’s very well written and planned, and wonderfully executed. Everything is on point.

I just don’t like Lila. Unlike my mother…

~Riley

I’m With You by Avril Lavigne



For many years, I didn’t listen to songs in English. Last year, I changed my stance, with this song.

I just really love the lyrics, and the power behind them. There are days when this is on repeat. I just can’t get enough.

~Riley

Abraham Lincoln once said, "In the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."

Season 1, Episode 15: Unfinished Business



Max Ryan is a jerk. I don’t care if he’s famous. He’s still a jerk. He treats everyone like crap, because they aren’t doing what he did when he was in the BAU. Newsflash, things change.

Also, why is he allowed on raids? He’s retired, as in not part of the FBI anymore. Don’t give him a vest and gun!

Yeah, this episode has exactly one redeeming quality: Reid solving the crossword puzzle with his mind. Glowy words!

~Riley

The Avengers, starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, and Samuel L. Jackson



Marvel Studios delivers the ultimate comic-book film, which ties together such characters as Iron Man (Downey Jr.), Captain America (Evans), The Hulk (Ruffalo), and Thor (Hemsworth) for a big-screen franchise team-up like no other. Taking center stage this time is Nick Fury (played once again by the note-perfect Jackson), leader of the peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury, along with former Russian spy Black Widow (Johansson), recruits a super team to combat Thor's ever-deceptive brother Loki (Hiddleston) after he brainwashes ace archer Hawkeye (Renner) while stealing a cosmic cube from an underground base. Thus the heroes must learn to work together alongside outlaw scientist Bruce Banner, who can track down the artifact's gamma signals when he's not hulking out into a giant green monster.

My sister Kit and I saw The Avengers at midnight. We weren’t going to go until that night, but we got lucky and made it work.

I nearly lost my voice cheering. It was that good.

Now, I’m one of those people who doesn’t drop spoilers, so don’t expect much more out of me. Well, except for the fact that the Loki vs Hulk scene officially made this movie gold.

If you are a superhero fan, go. Go and see this. Hell, just go and drool over the hot actors. It’s well worth the money!

~Riley

Confucius warned us, "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."

Season 1, Episode 13: Poison



This is one of those episodes that I only like certain scenes of. I don’t know why that would be. Reid and JJ have a couple of good scenes, as well as Gideon. Even Elle was tolerable.

Maybe it’s just one of those episodes that just doesn’t sit right.

Regardless, there is one funny little bit, towards the end. Spinny Reid!

~Riley

Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters



With a steady boyfriend, the position of Student Council President, and a chance to go to an Ivy League college, high school life is just fine for Holland Jaeger. At least it seems to be. But when Cece Goddard comes to school, everything changes. Cece and Holland have undeniable feelings for each other, but how will others react to their developing relationship? This moving love story between two girls is a worthy successor to Nancy Garden's classic young adult coming out novel, Annie on My Mind. With her characteristic humor and breezy style, Peters has captured the compelling emotions of young love.

I read this book on a whim. Really. I had heard about it, and seen it in pictures on ourbedrooms. People said to try it. So I did.

I really will never regret reading this book.

Without revealing too much plot, let’s just say that this book is a wild ride, one that won’t wait until the end. It, in my opinion, deserves all the praise it has received and more.

If you like LGBT YA fiction, check it out~!

~Riley

Albert Einstein asked, "The question that sometimes drives me hazy: Am I or the others crazy?"

Season One, Episode Nine: Derailed

Video unable to be embedded...

I just love Derailed. I love the fact that Reid gets to actually do something heroic. He gets to do something dangerous.
He gets to do magic.

Plus, Elle gets beat up. That’s a win in my book. (Can you tell that I don’t like Elle?)

All the scenes with Reid, Morgan, Hotch, and Gideon are perfect.

I think I’m gonna go watch it again….

~Riley

Fullmetal Alchemist


Human kind can not gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of equivalent exchange. In those days we really believed that to be the world's one and only truth.

Anyone who considers themselves an anime fan knows those words. Most of us spent days memorizing them, making sure to get the pauses and the emphases in the right places.

Fullmetal Alchemist has a special place in my heart, and in my life. It’s the reason I’m still alive. I spend every day thankful for this show.

Now, I actually haven’t watched Brotherhood yet. Yeah, I know. Go ahead and yell at me. It’s on my list.

FMA is one of those anime that will be around and talked about for-bloody-ever. It will (or at least I hope it will) always be represented at conventions and will always have a place in the online anime community.

Of all the shows I list during this challenge, I implore you to watch this one. Please.

~Riley

I told myself that this summer, while working on my 100 Things posts, I would write at least one Criminal Minds fic.

I just did. I'm so happy.

Of course, it is only 150-ish words...

http://15-minute-fic.livejournal.com/62102.html?thread=258710#t258710

Here's hoping! XD

Carl Jung said, "The healthy man does not torture others. Generally, it is the tortured who turn into torturers.”

Season One, Episode Eight: Natural Born Killer



This is one of the few episodes that I only watch once in a blue moon. And by once in a blue moon, when nothing else is on. And my DVD player is broken. And when my PS2 is busted.

This is one of those episodes.

I just watch it for the BAU scenes. There are a few that are brilliant to watch. Plus, we get a real good look at Garcia and her hilarity.

The ending gives me nightmares. I think I’ll pass on this one. For a long time.

~Riley

Pieces of Me by Ashlee Simpson



I don’t know why I like this song. I really don’t.

Of course, one reason could be the fact that I listened to this song on repeat during the years I was bullied, all throughout high school. Or the fact that it gave me hope.

It’s just one of those songs that has aged well. I’ll be listening to it for years to come.

~Riley

Shakespeare wrote, "Nothing is so common as the wish to be remarkable."

Season One, Episode Six: L.D.S.K.



Reid gets to shot someone.

Reid gets to prove himself.

Reid also gets his ass kicked by his boss.

Let’s just say that there are days when this is on repeat. At least, the last fifteen or so minutes anyway. I just love badass!Reid.

~Riley

Push, starring Chris Evans and Dakota Fanning



Hang on tight as a gang of super-powered paranormal operatives takes you on a white-knuckle thrill ride. The excitement starts when a future-seeing Watcher (Dakota Fanning) convinces a telekinetic Mover (Chris Evans) to help steal a briefcase that holds a billion-dollar secret. But to outrun government agents, they must enlist a mind controlling Pusher (Camilla Belle) who could be their salvation - or their doom. Also starring Academy Awardr Nominee Djimon Hounsou, Push will pull you in completely.

If you want a rush, but you don’t want X-Men, Push is right up your alley.

My sister and I saw this movie opening night, than again the week after. We both loved it, and enjoyed picking it apart.
Nick and Cassie play off of each other brilliantly, and the addition of Kira made the movie even better. Every second had our hearts beating. The big twist about half way through actually added to the storyline, making it more dynamic. To add it the storyline, the movie was shot entirely on location, which adds to the richness.

Honestly, I don’t understand why this movie barely made a blip on the radar. It was well made, exciting, and visually good to look at. Whatever the reason, take a couple of hours and watch this movie. It’s really worth it.

~Riley

Nietzsche once said, "When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks into you."

Season One, Episode One: Extreme Aggressor



The first episode of Criminal Minds starts out with a bang. Kinda.

The audience is introduced to the BAU. Well, most of them.

We get to hear the profile. Only, Gideon gives it, while Hotch, Morgan, and Reid sit in a corner and look hot.

The BAU catches the unsubs. Or, Elle catches one and shoots another.

Reid is the walking textbook. Morgan stands around and mostly complains. Hotch is a family man who actually smiles in this episode. Gideon does everything.

Wow. Things sure change. Can you tell that I hate this episode?

~Riley

Beastly by Alex Flinn



I am a beast.

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and
prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

I bought Beastly right after I heard the announcement about the movie. I had been eying it for awhile, and I finally decided to pick it up.

I actually really liked it.

I enjoyed the inclusion of the online chatting, as well as Kyle using it as an outlet. I enjoyed watching Kyle grow and change.

It’s really refreshing to read a half-way decent coming-of-age book. I highly recommend it.

Also, know that the movie is similar to the book, but there are many differences.

~Riley

{Take the 100 Things challenge!}
So, I'm gonna do this. I saw that usamichan13 was doing it, and it sounds like fun!

Because I'm such a crazy person, I'm doing TWO different ones, at the same time.

100 Books, Movies, Songs, and Anime/Cartoons (25 of each).
100 Bookend Quotes from Criminal Minds, with a review of each episodes that each quotes appears in.

Watch the fireworks, okay?

Our community is small, but full of smart, creative people from around the world. At least, that is what we have been led to believe.

Recent events have shown that hypocrisy still flows throughout the community. Personal attacks are running rampant. Respect is being thrown out the preverbal window, if there is any respect left.

Our community is small, and we need to all stand together. Everyday, people who don’t understand our love of anime and manga fight to take it away, or mask it behind American-isms, such as what 4kids did for many years.

Someone I know and greatly respect was attacked for asking a question and giving an opinion, all while being massively polite. They in no way attacked or insulted anyone. They, however, were insulted sworn at, and treated like a second class citizen.

This cannot happen. It shines a horrible light on us all. We need to stand together, or together we shall fall.

So please, can’t we all just get along?

Signed,

Riley Masters

I had to write a Valentine's Day poem in my English class today. My teacher kept using the analogy of a "double-edged sword", and it stuck. He liked it, and encouraged me to put it out there, as if I wasn't already planning to.

( Poem under the cut... )

Comments are loved!

Title: The Love of Heroes
Fandom: Aaron Stone
Pairing: Charlie Landers (Aaron Stone) / Emma Lau (Dark Tamara)
Theme set: Beta
Rating: K - T
Warning[s]: A bit of bad language and a bit of suggestiveness.

( Read more... )

Also posted on my FB.

My faith in humanity is gone. Okay, not really, but it's really shaken.

Backstory: Around June of last year, a young new writer in the SRMT area of FF.Net posted a little story. It was a humor story, and to be blunt, it failed. I left NICE constructive criticism (and I mean nice. I tried to be helpful without being the bitch-grammar-nazi that I can be).

I soon forgot about it. Until about ten minutes ago.

( Cut for length and ridiculousness... )

( My response )

Yeah... not the best way to start off the new year. Time to give all the stories a LARGE dose of CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM!!!  [/sarcasm]

~Riley

To the people who really know what I'm talking about here.

You know, I've been thinking. I've carried around so much pain, so many memories from tenth grade, that I began to hate the person that I've become. I'm done with the hate. I've put what happened that year, and the years after that, behind me.

College has helped me with this. It's time that I grow up and forget about the bad, and only remember the good.

Truce?

~Riley / Miharu / Elizabeth / Beth (Whatever you prefer)