Most Contractors Specialize In A Specific Area Of Home Improvement

Improve the look of your bathroom without spending a lot of time and effort. The first solution is to throw out those old bath mats, towels and shower curtains and replace them with new ones. That instantly lifts the look of the room. Plants fresh a bathroom, but be certain to select those that are good in high humidity and do not need a lot of light.

Start composting to lower your amount of garbage. A compost pile is easily started by choosing a spot in your yard, and layering grass cuttings, coffee grounds, veggies, fruit peelings and other organic matter into a pile. This decreases your trash for trash day, meaning you can lower your waste bill.

Texturing walls through the use of drywall mud could cover up unwanted blemishes. It is easy to create texture. Just trowel the drywall mud in place and use something like a stiff bristled brush, a sponge, or even a wadded up plastic bag to dab at the drywall mud and add texture.

You can significantly improve your bathroom?s look and feel by getting them re-glazed. A new glaze will make your fixtures look brand new. Buying new fixtures and flooring can be expensive, but glazing can be done for just a couple hundred dollars. It?s one of the best ways to increase your home?s value without spending too much money.

Replacing the flooring in any room can be an expensive project. You can add a stain to your concrete foundation to save money. This industrial-inspired look is both versatile and modern and can be easily altered if you decide on a different decor.

Painting your walls can give a quick and refreshing change to a room without spending too much money! Take a trip to your nearest hardware store and pick up some paint chips! Look for ones that excite you or inspire you, and dive right in! If it doesn?t turn out the way you wish, it is easy to paint over it!

Buy ?hurricane socks? if you live in an area where heavy rains and flooding occur often. These are a good investment. Hurricane socks will suck up about a gallon of liquid. Put these next to your doors and windows.

A real estate slump is the perfect time for homeowners to invest in renovations and additions. During this time homeowners can save money. This is due to the fact that most contractors are competing for work. There is no expiration on home improvements. However, renovations made during a housing slump will add much value to a home when the market goes back up.

If you have home improvement projects that use the water supply, shut it off before working. You should know where all water valves are located, and turn them off when necessary so you don?t have any flooding.

Only EPA-certified stoves should be purchased if you?re looking into purchasing a stove that burns real wood. Most stoves that are newly made are certified, but if you buy a used one, you will want to check to be sure. It is also of the utmost importance that you ensure your wood-burning stove does not leak deadly carbon monoxide.

When you are wanting to do bathroom remodeling, make your bathroom handicap accessible. Although you may not need your bathroom to be handicap-friendly now, if you stay in the home when you get older, you may need it to be. If you are planning to sell your house, these preparations will surely add to your house?s value.

Home improvement can mean a lot of different things and can be done on any kind of budget. You do not have to spend a fortune on a large construction project. If you have a small budget for home improvements, the best thing to do is smaller, less expensive projects, such as repainting or residing your home.

Home improvement projects are so popular because they can be tailored to almost any price range or skill level. You must know what you are doing before you do it. With the advice in the article above, you should be better prepared to meet your goal. Good luck in all your future home improvement endeavors!

Richie Vee, the site?s editor, is the Chief Engineer of one of the largest Platinum LEED buildings in NYC. His extensive engineering experience helps guide consumers through home improvement projects for the average homeowner. Using home solar energy and roofing repair ideas to save them money.

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SIGUR ROS ?g?tis Byrjun music review by LinusW

4 stars The sounds of wind, water and light.

Having dipped my toes in the world of post-rock on numerous occasions with a feeling of nothing more than mild and polite admiration of both the musicianship and general ideas behind it, it is really rather nice that the first experience is the only one I keep coming back to. Sigur Ros and more specifically ?gaetis Byrjun: an album of meticulous, yet unkempt beauty that lifts you up and takes you away on a lovely journey for as long as you allow yourself to be spellbound by it.

Being rather eclectic if you delve a bit deeper into the songs, it is first and and foremost a supreme tour-de-force in building and cherishing atmosphere, regardless of the methods used to get there. Despite a lot of detail and at times rather busy arrangements, what stays with me is a sense of space and a lot of room to breathe. A cool and breezy morning by the sea. The air still fresh from the rain during the night, with glimpses of light appearing here and there under the sullen, departing clouds. One reviewer described it as Nordic. Being Nordic myself, I can somewhat relate to that, however unspecific it may be, even though I would describe the feel of the album as something more universal.

Slow-to-glacial, cottony rhythmic foundation serves as the bedrock upon which soothing, gently swirling layers of ambient, moody keys and guitar make up much of the main structures, quietly painting a shifting soundscape of pale, refreshing colours. These are in turn lovingly adorned by crisp, clear and often a bit sparse (almost percussive) melodic details from a distant guitar lick and the odd, high-pitched piano/e-piano notes. Undercurrents of bass, warm horns (or is it woodwind?) and other goodies quietly pass by beneath. And out of the blue a sudden or gradual build-up of forceful, noisy and ringing guitar shoots out of the layered soundscape like a mountaintop. Awe-inspiring.

Sometimes it turns into a busier, more orchestral affair, again with strings, horns and piano sticking out as more defining features, in often (tastefully) bombastic and uplifting crescendos, where the sounds of the instruments seems to rise upwards - blending the cheerfully melancholic with the painful smile - in a sort of dancing motion that I find damn near irresistible.

Then there is the more familiar rock structures that, while slowed-down and very atmospheric, brings up the drums and bass from the back of the mix adding points of anchorage and a bit of meat to the often floating, fluffy structures on ??gaetis Byrjun. There are a few instances where things even get a bit jazzy, rhythmically speaking. The wall-of-sound-using-especially-guitar-trick that seems to be a defining part of the sub-genre make some appearances now and then, but it is never allowed to dominate, but rather accentuates and act as a form of dynamic catalyst. To great effect, I might add.

Like a smoke or a mist over this invigorating mix floats vocalist J?nsi's mellow, otherworldly and very expressive vocals, further enhanced by a touch of effects. In spite of (or perhaps because of) never reaching for proper emotional extremes in his delivery, they blend exquisitely with the music and feel all the more meaningful and integrated with the album as a whole.

What still strikes me as the biggest feat here is how the album comes together as a harmonious whole. So rich and crafted and yet so free in form and structure, so naturally evolving... It is a very uplifting experience. Happy or cheerful are not the right words, as it is a bit too reflective and cerebral for those two. It has more to do with a strange sense of spiritual peace and purpose the album is simply overflowing with. A quiet, cleansing everyday joy that bubbles just beneath the surface.

Rooted in something familiar and earthbound, expressed through sounds that fly a lot higher.

4 stars.

//LinusW

LinusW | 4/5 | 2012-6-25

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High Court's Immigration Decision Gives States Little Clarity

Despite the Supreme Court?s definitive ruling on Monday that struck down most of Arizona?s tough immigration law, the measure?s defenders can still cheer that Arizona?s local police officers are now able to routinely check the immigration status of the people they stop for other reasons. The state?s Republican Gov. Jan Brewer said she is ?grateful for this legal victory.?

But with three of the four provisions of Arizona?s law struck down (ID requirements, warrantless arrests, and criminalizing work), other states weighing similar laws are left with little certainty on how to proceed. Even if states simply want to emulate Arizona?s surviving ?show me your papers? provision, they will be vulnerable to lawsuits charging racial profiling.

The high court didn?t touch the idea of racial profiling because the federal government made the decision not to raise the thorny civil-rights issue in this case. There are several court cases pending from civil-rights groups arguing the ?show me your papers? part of Arizona?s law improperly encourages racial profiling from police officers.

Immigration is bigger than the questions raised in the Arizona case, which turned on the relatively narrow legal question about whether federal law can preempt state law. Politically, immigration has emerged as one of the hottest motivators for get-out-the-vote campaigns among Hispanics, a key voting bloc for President Obama and other Democrats seeking congressional office.

Obama?s announcement earlier this month to create a temporary deferral program for so-called ?dreamers,? undocumented youth who were brought to the United States illegally when they were children, was a not-so-subtle statement about the federal government?s preeminence on immigration policy. The announcement has the added benefit of rallying Hispanics to go to the polls to ensure that Obama?and the new policy?stays put.

Democrats, who want broader immigration overhaul including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, crowed at the Supreme Court?s decision. ?Three linchpins of the Arizona law were struck down by a convincing majority of the Court as clearly violating federal law, and a fourth is on thin legal ice,? said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who chairs the immigration panel on the Senate Judiciary Committee and is charged with shepherding immigration legislation through the Senate.

The Court showed some understanding about the plight of border states that bear the brunt of illegal-immigration problems. Republican Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain, both of Arizona,?said in a joint statement that the justices validated ?a key component of Arizona?s immigration law [that] was born out of the state?s frustration with the burdens that illegal immigration and continued drug smuggling impose on its schools, hospitals, criminal justice system, and fragile desert environment.?

CIVIL RIGHTS UP NEXT

According to Arizona?s defenders, the racial-profiling charge is a red herring. They posit the U.S. government specifically avoided raising questions of racial discrimination in their arguments because such arguments would not fly.

But civil-rights groups have remained undaunted. There are several lawsuits pending in lower courts that pose completely different questions than the ones answered by the Supreme Court. The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups have challenged the Arizona law, saying it invites racial profiling and violates the First Amendment. That case is expected to go before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the same circuit that agreed with the federal government that Arizona overstepped its bounds in enacting the law.

Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, and Utah have enacted laws similar to Arizona?s requiring police officers to investigate the immigration status of all persons they stop if there is ?reasonable suspicion? that they are in the country illegally. They can only rest assured that those provisions will survive scrutiny on federal-preemption questions, not on questions about civil rights.

The Alabama law goes further than Arizona?s statute, requiring school officials to inquire about the immigration status of students. Civil-rights groups have a lawsuit pending against that state as well, saying its immigration law chills children?s access to public schools, invites racial profiling, and criminalizes state residents for everyday interactions with undocumented individuals.

WHERE STATES MAY NOT TREAD

Elected state officials have legitimately complained that more needs to be done to fix the byzantine immigration law, which hasn?t seen a serious overhaul in 18 years. Yet the Supreme Court was clear in its decision that the states are at most sidekicks in the enforcement of immigration law.

Immigration is the federal government?s show, and it will continue to be so despite Arizona?s efforts and complaints. Just look at what the high court said when it struck down the part of the Arizona law making it a crime for an undocumented immigrant to not have registration papers??States may not enter, in any respect, an area the Federal Government has reserved for itself,? said Justice Anthony Kennedy. It?s hard to get clearer than that.

And here?s what the Court had to say about Arizona?s idea to allow police officers to make warrantless arrests of people they believe are in the country illegally: ?Detaining individuals solely to verify their immigration status would raise constitutional concerns.? Yep. The Court read the Immigration and Nationality Act correctly. Deportation, detention, asylum?they are all actions that the federal government alone takes.

It isn?t all bad for the states. They can now claim that they are perfectly within their rights to assist the federal government in enforcement activities and can even pass laws to clarify their roles. Local police cooperate with federal officials now through the Homeland Security Department?s ?Secure Communities? program, in which local and federal officers share information about the legal status of people who have been detained for other reasons. Local police don?t need special training to do this, although the decision about what ultimately happens to these people lies with those who understand the nuances of the complex law.

?Consultation between federal and state officials is an important feature of the immigration system. Congress has made it clear that no formal agreement or special training needs to be in place for state officers to ?communicate with the [Federal Government] regarding the immigration status of any individual,? ? Kennedy wrote.

There is still the ?effectiveness? question, which the Supreme Court did not (and arguably cannot) answer. Is the federal government doing enough to secure the border and curb illegal immigration? Arizona?s defenders say the preponderance of state laws weighing in on immigration means that the answer is an unequivocal "no."

No matter how many ways you parse the Supreme Court?s ruling, that conversation will go on.

?

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Greek prime minister to leave hospital

ATHENS, Greece (AP) ? Greece's new prime minister was released from hospital Monday, two days after undergoing eye surgery that will prevent him from traveling to a European Union summit in Brussels this week.

The meeting will be critical for Greece, coming just a week after its new coalition government was formed following months of political turmoil and two inconclusive national elections.

Antonis Samaras underwent an operation to repair a detached retina on Saturday morning, and his doctors have said he will have to remain at home for several days to recover, although he can accept visits.

The country's incoming finance minister, Vassilis Rapanos, meanwhile, was still in hospital after being admitted Friday following a collapse hours before he was due to be sworn in to office. The hospital said over the weekend that his condition was improving, but it has given no details about what he is suffering from.

The ill-health that struck the top echelons of Greece's new coalition government just two days after it was formed has led to the postponement of a visit to Athens on Monday by the heads of the county's debt inspectors known as the Troika: the European Commission, European Central Bank and IMF.

"First, our concern is for the health of the prime minister and finance minister," European Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardio said in Brussels. "They have a very long road ahead."

He said the Troika would head to Greece "as soon as possible. Both sides are interested in carrying out this assessment as soon as possible."

Samaras has appointed Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos to lead the Greek delegation at the June 28-29 summit.

Samaras' government, comprised of his New Democracy conservatives, their long-time socialist rivals PASOK and the small Democratic Left party, issued a policy statement on Saturday outlining changes it would like to make to the terms of its international bailout agreement with other EU countries and the International Monetary Fund. The changes include repealing certain tax hikes, freezing public sector layoffs and extending by two years the mid-2014 deadline for tough austerity measures.

But the government will still have to find other ways to make savings, as it tries to reform its economy and continue receiving funds from its rescue loans. And whether the government can deliver on its pledges to renegotiate some terms of the bailout will depend on how they are viewed by Greece's international creditors.

Germany, the largest single contributor, has repeatedly said Athens must stick to delivering on the spending cuts it has promised in return for billions of euros (dollars) in rescue loans. Measures taken so far include slashing public spending, cutting salaries and pensions and increasing taxes across the board.

Speaking in Luxembourg on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers Monday, Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the Troika must now determine how much time was lost with the Greek elections.

"But one thing is clear," he said, according to a transcript of his comments provided by the German Foreign Ministry. "We cannot allow everything to be negotiated again. We can also not allow discounts to be granted. What has been decided upon stands. That the election campaigns have cost time is obvious. That's the situation and we have to deal with it. But the fact remains that the agreements must be implemented."

Altafaj Tardio also stressed that "Greece has to face its financial obligations," adding that before any further funds can be disbursed, "there has to be a thorough analysis."

"It's no secret that there have been delays in several areas of implementation," he said. Once the Troika does arrive in Athens, its review will figure out "how we can get Greece back on track."

The latest figures released by the finance ministry Monday showed that the budget deficit for the first five months of the year was better than expected, standing at ?10.87 billion ($13.63 billion) instead of the target of ?12.89 ($16.17) on a modified cash basis.

Revenue, however, was below target with the state budget net revenue standing at ?19.666 billion, ?926 million short of the targeted ?20.592 billion, due in part to lower domestic consumer demand and lower tax revenues.

The ministry said that "this revenue shortfall was more than compensated for by the savings in State Budget expenditures for the first five months of 2012."

In preparation for the summit, Avramopoulos met on Monday with outgoing Finance Minister Giorgos Zanias ? who still holds the official title as Rapanos has not been officially sworn in ? Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis, Deputy Development Minister Notis Mitarakis and Alternative Finance Minister Christos Staikouras, as well as with the government spokesman.

Separately, Samaras' office said the prime minister would speak by phone Monday evening with US President Barack Obama.

____

David Rising in Berlin and Toby Sterling in Brussels contributed.

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At Last: Why YouTube Suddenly Stops Counting Views at 301 [Video]

You've probably seen it before: a new video from a popular producer of content gets uploaded. The viewcount shoots toward the skies, then, suddenly, it stops, usually right at 301. The "Likes" are still steadily climbing. What the hell is going on? More »


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Sour grapes? Messi criticises the defensive football tactics that saw Chelsea and Real Madrid best Barcelona this season

"Football is a game. I'm trying to have fun on the pitch, always, just to play," says Argentinean star

Lionel the loser: Messi looks dejected following Champions League defeat to ChelseaLionel the loser: Messi looks dejected following Champions League defeat to Chelsea

Getty

Lionel Messi has seemingly criticised the defensive style of football that brought Chelsea such success this season, saying that enjoyment should be the prime purpose of football.

The Argentina forward - widely regarded as the best player in the world - is the star attraction of Barcelona's "tiki-taka" style of play that has received acclaim from the media and fans alike.

Yet the Catalan club finished behind Real Madrid in the Primera Division and were surprisingly knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-final stage by Chelsea, who were outplayed for large spells, this year.

The styles of both Jose Mourinho's men and the Blues have attracted criticism in the past for being too defensive.

Roberto Di Matteo lifts the Champions League trophyGetting defensive: Chelsea triumphed in Europe by keeping it tight at the back

Getty

?

And perhaps with that in mind, Messi told the Times magazine "Football is a game. I'm trying to have fun on the pitch, always, just to play.

"That's why I do it. The day I stop having fun is the day I retire...I never want to lose that spark, that passion.

"Today, teams are playing more statically, more for the final score than producing good football.

"For them, it's more important to win than to play well. We need more players with passion coming up for the good of football."

Catch up with all of today's transfer gossip from the rest of the papers

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Explaining Intelligent Personal Finance Plans - CareCrunch Answers

Think about the long term. For instance, if you have children, you should start thinking about how you are going to pay for their education. You might also want to think about investing in a better home or a new vehicle. Save up a portion of your income every month toward these projects.

Look for a way to make more. In today?s world, everyone is hustling to make that extra buck. If you have made all the necessary changes to your budget, and you?re still coming up short, then the answer is simple. You must have more income. There are many different ways you can earn some extra income, so be diligent, and find your way.

In order to properly manage your money, it is very important that you look at your bank statement on a regular basis. So many people lose out on money because they have not checked their account for any discrepancies. This can easily be avoided by just looking at your bank statement.

Compare different financial products. You should be able to find a free saving account easily in most institutions. Do not let your bank charge you for features that you never use. Compare different saving plans to find a safe one with high interest rates, if possible. You can transfer your savings, if necessary.

Before you say ?I do,? take an honest look at the way you and your intended look at handling personal finance issues. Money can be the number one topic that couples argue about. However, if you and your loved one have an open discussion before you walk down the isle, it can pave the way for a smooth financial future.

Plan your retirement well in advance. Ask your employer about a 401(k) plan. Subscribe to one if, your employer can offer you this option. You should look into an IRA if, you cannot get a 401(k) plan. Find a good retirement plan as early as possible, then you have time to save up enough money.

Do some research into how you can develop a way to earn a passive income. Earning income passively is great because the money will keep coming to you without requiring that you do anything. This can take a lot of the burden off of paying bills.

Stop worrying about money. This can seem like a difficult feat, but worrying is a useless emotion. It merely paralyzes you and keeps you from making the decisions that you need to make. Instead of worrying, turn that energy into action. Start thinking about solutions, instead of focusing on the financial problems and issues that you are facing.

One of the best things that you can do for your psyche is to keep a clear head and refrain from stressing out. Adding additional anxiety to your day regarding your financial situation can lead you to making poor decisions that you may regret. Stay level headed and optimistic about your monetary future.

Be careful buying that extended warranty. Unless you think you?ll need it, you shouldn?t spend the extra money for it. Many items already come with a warranty that allows enough time for something to go wrong. To be on the safe side, do your research on the item to see if you need a longer warranty.

Do not rush to invest in anything just because someone told you that it will be the next best thing. That is not the truth, because if it was then everyone would be rich. Invest in steady companies and avoid things that are said to help you get rich quick.

A great personal-finance tip is to try to get your own car parts from junkyards or scrapyards instead of paying for brand new parts when your vehicle needs some repairing. You can save a whole lot of money and time by doing this, and it just requires you to be a tad resourceful.

Save money by figuring out how to make your own things. This can apply to many areas of your life, from clothing to food and home furnishings to cosmetics. Lumber scraps can make a great, inexpensive bookshelf, and baking soda and vinegar make great home cleaning products. Use the internet to find out how you can get creative and make more things instead of buying them.

As we have discovered, money is not easy to keep in grasp. It seems as soon as we have money, we do not have it long. However, with the aforementioned money saving tips in this article, your money will not escape your account unnoticed. Personal finance will be a subject of ease once you apply these tips to your budget!

If you are searching to acquire more information then you certainly should have a peek here www.calgarymortgagebrokertrail.com to get more details.

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Merkel plays down talk of new EU debt initiative

The Irish Times - Saturday, June 23, 2012

ARTHUR BEESLEY in Luxembourg

GERMAN CHANCELLOR Angela Merkel rejected a growing clamour to widen her response to Europe?s debt crisis as she and the leaders of France, Italy and Spain resolved to create a new tax on financial transactions in a limited number of EU countries.

The move, which Ireland is likely to shun, came as Italian technocrat leader Mario Monti hosted talks in Rome yesterday with Dr Merkel, French president Fran?ois Hollande and Spanish premier Mariano Rajoy.

Although the International Monetary Fund called for extensive new measures to tackle the turmoil in debt markets, Dr Merkel defiantly held the line that the time was not right to mutualise debt in the euro zone or for Europe to rescue banks directly.

?Liabilities and controls go together,? she said, as she dismissed renewed Spanish pressure for Europe?s bailout funds to recapitalise its banks without increasing the country?s national debt.

Dr Merkel said she had no oversight powers in relation to Spanish banks so she could not channel German taxpayers? money into them directly.

?I?m the German chancellor; I can tell my banks that. You would have a huge problem here,? she said.

Even as the four leaders gave their blessing to a ?130 billion plan to stimulate economic growth, there was no suggestion that the initiative would go beyond existing proposals. These include more firepower for the European Investment Bank, new measures to tap unused structural funds and the introduction of EU-backed ?project bonds? for infrastructure.

German sources have been at pains for days to play down expectations for a two-day European summit in Brussels next week, saying there are clear limits to the chancellor?s room for manoeuvre.

Dr Merkel?s stance marks a deepening rift between Germany and the other big euro zone countries and comes amid mounting concern that the turmoil in the euro zone threatens the viability of the single currency.

Mr Monti said yesterday that the euro zone faces ?progressively greater speculative attacks? against its weakest members and Mr Hollande said it should not take 10 years to issue jointly-guaranteed eurobonds.

?There can be no transfer of sovereignty if there is not an improvement in solidarity,? said Mr Hollande in reference to Dr Merkel?s push for deeper economic integration.

The four leaders agreed, however, to work together to create a EU financial transaction tax in a limited number of EU countries.

Supporters of the proposal say banks and other institutions should pay more tax at a time of extensive government support for the sector in the wake of a financial crisis it largely caused. Opponents argue it will damage economic recovery.

In light of Britain?s refusal to accept Europe-wide tax, there is anxiety in Dublin that Irish participation in a trimmed-down version could lead to the loss of financial business to the City of London.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan said Dublin was unlikely to participate in the new initiative but insisted he was in no particular alliance with British chancellor George Osborne, chief opponent of a pan-EU tax.

Mr Noonan said the Government will work to ensure the plan for a limited tax does not undermine Ireland?s interests, saying the rules governing this procedure were restrictive.

?In the treaty ? it?s fairly tightly drafted ? they say it can only happen if there?s no impact on the internal market or if it doesn?t adversely affect other countries which aren?t in the enhanced cooperation.?

He said the transaction tax move did not ?kick across? to other issues like corporate tax.

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Report: Kim Kardashian?s Ex Says Sex Tape Was Staged

What's more shocking than a celebrity with a sex tape? How about a celebrity with a sex tape staged by their own mom? Kris Humphries is allegedly claiming that Kim Kardashian released her sex tape on purpose, and that her mother Kris Jenner was behind the whole thing. (Note to Dina Lohan: do not get any ideas!)

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Movie Review: 'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World' ? CBS Philly

(Kiera Knightley and Steve Carell star in "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.")

(Kiera Knightley and Steve Carell star in ?Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.?)

By Bill Wine
KYW Newsradio 1060

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) ? Talk about a ticking clock: when this romance begins, the near-future world is about to end.

When a laser that?s been sent to space to protect Earth from a 70-mile-wide asteroid that?s rushing toward it fails to do so, people start preparing for the impending apocalypse, the end of humankind.

2c2bd2 Movie Review: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

(2? stars out of 4)

Thus begins the offbeat final-days comedy-drama, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, in which people are told that they have three weeks to live.

Steve Carell plays Dodge Petersen, a soft-spoken insurance salesman whose wife, when she hears the devastating news, bolts from their car and their marriage.

When Dodge?s friends begin throwing caution to the wind and start acting reckless because, well, why bother following any rules at this point, Dodge keeps playing by the rules of civility.

He even takes in a stray dog.

Keira Knightley is Penny Lockhart, a British upstairs neighbor of Dodge?s whom he has never even spoken to, a free spirit and incurable romantic who?s involved with a self-absorbed musician who mistreats her.

As Dodge and Penny get to know each other, Penny delivers a letter to him that was incorrectly delivered to her apartment and that she never bothered to give him.

He?s aghast when he reads it to discover that it was from the love of his life, the only woman he ever really loved, the one who got away, and that now it?s probably too late to do anything about it.? And it?s Penny?s fault.

So, with neighbors looting at will, Dodge and Penny decide to follow through on Penny?s suggestion that he try to find his original sweetheart while she attempts to reconnect with her family.? That?s why they get out of Dodge and hit the road somewhere in Southern California, heading east in search of their lost loved ones.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World juggles genre, starting out as an edgy, satirical black comedy, then becoming a quirky road flick, and eventually ending up a melancholy romantic drama.? Not, as they say, that there?s anything wrong with that.

Debuting director Lorene Scafaria (who wrote Nick and Nora?s Infinite Playlist), working from her own script, sets up her premise efficiently and economically, without a lost of fuss, and in the process shows us a distinctive directorial hand in the early moments.

But then she switches hands, and tones, and genre.? When the intensity dips noticeably, we tell ourselves that it?s not the end of the world.? And then we realize: oh, wait, well, yes it is.

An able supporting cast -? including William Petersen, Melanie Lynskey, Adam Brody, Patton Oswalt, Connie Britton, Rob Corddry, and Derek Luke ?- helps make the heavyhearted trip sufficiently pleasant.? But it?s the leads who remain in the driver?s seat.

The chemistry between Carell and a deglamorized Knightley, while not ample, is sufficient for the film?s purposes.? They may not quite make us feel the inevitability of where things go, but they certainly connect.

Still, it?s Carell on his own who really impresses, enormously sympathetic in a beautifully modulated, low-key performance (more dramatic than comedic, when you come right down to it) in which he uses his deadpan style to convey the palpable pain that he?s in.

Like the record that Penny plays at one point, the film gets stuck here and there, but not enough to make you wish you weren?t there.

So we?ll count down to 2? stars out of 4 for Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, a bittersweet but not gloomy romantic dramedy that will at the very least stop you from seeking an exit for the end of the movie.

More Bill Wine Movie Reviews

CBS Philly Entertainment News

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