A short quote, long on meaning…

Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."

~ Isaac Asimov

A fount of font

Most of us, except for my writer friends, don’t pay that much attention to fonts.  We should pay more attention.  Here is a fascinating beginning.

~ Tom

A quote

Well, this certainly makes sense, even for an aging curmudgeon like me…

[Click on the quote to blow it up for your tired eyes]

Fired up for Clint’s latest

I have been seeing the fascinating trailers for Clint Eastwood’s new film, “Hereafter” and reading bits about it here and there.  But in today’s San Francisco Chronicle there is a great review of “Hereafter” by my favorite film critic, our very own Mick LaSalle. If you are not familiar with the Chronicle’s rating system, it is a “little man” sitting in a theater seat.  Depending on how he feels about the film/play/event, he will be totally gone from his chair (the absolute worst), asleep in his chair, sitting in his chair exhibiting normal interest, sitting in his chair and clapping, or leaping out of his chair and madly applauding.  For “Hereafter” the little man is leaping.

Here are the opening two paragraphs of Mick’s review:

That Clint Eastwood has become a great filmmaker is something few would contest, yet the nature of his greatness is as surprising as it's little understood. You can talk about the pristine technique - the new film, "Hereafter," provides lots of examples. But what's much more fascinating and enriching is Eastwood's Olympian vision, the sympathetic and all-encompassing understanding of the pain and grandeur of life on earth.

This vision is consistent in Eastwood's late work, no matter who is doing the screenwriting, and it boggles the mind to realize that this is coming from a guy who, until he was about 60, was best known as an action hero. Make no mistake, Eastwood's directorial output, from "Mystic River" on, constitutes the 21st century's first cinematic marvel, and "Hereafter" is among the best things he has ever done.

And the closing lines:

The ironic result of all this meticulous care is that we don't see Eastwood's hand but rather have the illusion that this gallery of humanity is telling the story for him. It's the most self-effacing way to do great work, and it's an approach that couldn't be more suited to this material. The film's notion that people share a common destiny, that they're participating in some overarching order, that they're being watched over by a benevolent all-seeing understanding, doesn't need to be spelled out. It has its analogue and expression in Eastwood's technique.

He just tells the story, and we get it.

These days Eileen and I usually wait for films to come out on BluRay DVD and then watch them on our big screen.  However, we do venture out to see films whose special effects can only be appreciated on the big screen, and for films of special importance that need to be shared with a committed, rapt audience.  “Hereafter” is obviously in the latter category.  We’ll be making the trip to the theater.

~ Tom

p.s.  Do yourself a favor and start reading Mick’s reviews.  You can find them here.

Whose looks would you like?

I was surfing the net a few days ago when I came across this photo. 

It gave me an instant trip to the long ago past.  Shortly after I married my first wife, our friends Michael and Lee got hitched and we got together at their basement flat in Spokane just about every weekend.  One time, we all got on to this kick:  If you could wake up tomorrow and have someone else’s looks, who would it be?  For me, there was, (and still is) not a nanosecond of doubt:  Marcello Mastroianni.  It’s funny that I cannot for the life of me remember who Mona, Lee, and Michael chose, but I still wish I looked like Marcello.

Here is another one I’ve always loved.

Maher: Cogent, compelling, and very, very funny

I keep wondering why so many people in America act against their own best interest.  They can’t just all be morons.  The phenomenon was brilliantly explored in Thomas Franks great book, “What's the Matter with Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America” published in 2004.  If you haven’t read it by all means do so if you have the time.

This article by Bill Maher raises the same issue by begging the question: ‘if someone reads this, how can they be opposed to Obama’s tax cuts” and “why do they have any sympathy or tolerence at all for the rich?”  Beats me.

Oh, and it’s quite funny, especially when he starts namin’ names.

Encouraging news from the health care front

There are many trying to blow up the health care reform bill and/or repeal it.  From the beginning I have believed that for the upcoming election the Dems need to be proud of what they and the President were able to accomplish in face of powerful, moneyed forces.  Of course the main stream media, looking for its fix of controversy, has been trumpeting the alleged fact that all Dems are running away from health reform.  This is why I was buoyed by this column from E.J. Dionne in today’s WaPo.

The final two paragraphs:

Yes, some Democrats in conservative districts voted against the bill and display this as a badge of their independence. But is that any surprise? This is exactly the sort of position moderate Republicans (when they existed) would take to survive in more liberal districts.

The real test is whether Democrats who supported the bill think they have an interest in defending a genuinely historic accomplishment. More and more, they are deciding that they do.

~ Tom