I just made my way through Washingtonian Magazine's annual "Best Restaurants" issue. Talk about total food porn! Reading the descriptions of menu items at places like Citronelle, The Inn at Little Washington, Vidalia, Acadiana, and others made my mouth water. It all sounds so good!
But, they also include price ranges for the menus at each of their top 100 restaurants. Yikes! Many places had price fixe menus of $150 or more, and even their concept of "moderate" prices were still too steep for me. I love a great night out at a restaurant, which ideally should include a glass or two of wine, as well. But I refuse to break the bank to do so. Nights out at the places listed in this issue are something I could afford - and justify - only maybe once or twice a year.
Well, since I still need to cover silly little expenses like my RENT - I guess I'll hold out for their annual "Cheap Eats" issue for the restaurant listings I can use!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
It's All Our Responsibility
John Edwards on Hardball on Friday -- he shares his view that it's up to all Americans - not just the government - to make real change in this country. And, oh yeah, Bush is out in space somewhere.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
My Guy
He's in!
Get to know John Edwards a little better. I'm so glad that I have, because now I finally have found someone who says what I feel, someone who I actually can believe in. Let's hope the bloom stays on this rose right through Election Day and beyond.
Watch here for more news from Edwards '08. Tomorrow Begins Today.
Get to know John Edwards a little better. I'm so glad that I have, because now I finally have found someone who says what I feel, someone who I actually can believe in. Let's hope the bloom stays on this rose right through Election Day and beyond.
Watch here for more news from Edwards '08. Tomorrow Begins Today.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Holiday Highlights
Hey gang, I'm back from Bloomington! Have no fear, Indiana is as quiet and God-fearing as ever. As if there was any doubt!
A few highlights from my 6 days in the heartland:
* I went to a college women's basketball game. The Lady Hoosiers beat the women of Kansas easily, but the game was pretty sloppy since most of the team had the flu. Poor girls! And I felt incredibly old. These COLLEGE players were born in 1987 and 1988. And the cheerleaders looked, like, 6.
* Whenever I go to Bloomington, my mom treats me to a massage with her therapist. Oh. My. God. This woman finds knots I didn't even know I had, and this time my shoulders were still sore a day and a half later! Hurts so good.
* Mom and I saw The Pursuit of Happyness. This one's pretty darn good, and I do admit to tearing up a bit at the end. Will Smith continues to be the most likable man on the planet, but he's nearly outcharmed by his unbelievably adorable son Jaden. It's a feel-good story with an end you can predict before even walking in, but it's still enjoyable watching Will and Jaden scraping to find their own version of the American dream. The triumph of the human spirit is rarely this palatable. I recommend it.
* Then, all 4 of us went to see The Good Shepherd. This is the rather lengthy story of Matt Damon's character, who rises from being a romantic young poetry student to a member of the Skull and Bones to a leader of the OSS and the new counter-intelligence unit of the CIA. The casting is pretty amazing, with Damon supported by Angelina Jolie, William Hurt, Michael Gambon, Billy Crudup, Joe Pesci, the always remarkable Alec Baldwin, and even director Robert DeNiro in a charismatic role. Yet, with an epic storyline and such impressive players, the movie didn't really grab me. My family loved it, but I just didn't find myself relating to the story much. I think that's because Damon is supposed to play a stoic, inscrutable man of secrets - which he does well, but then you never get attached to the character at all. Meh.
* We ate A LOT of food. My parents are still on some combo Atkins (Dad) / South Beach (Mom) thing, so there was a lot of meat and protein, all the time. Lamb, pork, steaks, shrimp, eggs, cheese... I found myself craving just some nice wheat toast or a piece of fruit! I can't believe I made it so long being a vegetarian / non-red-meat-eater with them for so long. It was all tasty, but I think I've met my red meat quota for the next month!
* A scenic drive through Bloomington's upper crust (heh) neighborhoods to see their holiday lights proved yet again that behemoth McMansions - be they Tudor, Gothic, Colonial, or Ultramodern in style - built totally on top of each other with no trees, no landscaping, and giant SUVs in the yard are not for me, no matter how tasteful their white candles in every window.
* On Christmas night, we kept up our now annual tradition of going to my parents' friends' house for dessert and interesting, overeducated, liberal, world-traveling conversation. Whis is fun enough on its own -- but for me, I look forward to it every year cuz it means I can down TWO big glasses of the highest-test egg nog around! :-)
And, now I'm back home.... with a very happy trusty cat Cleo purring at my side and Netflix on the tv. Finally, *I* get to choose what's on and it's not another football game! I'm glad to be back!
A few highlights from my 6 days in the heartland:
* I went to a college women's basketball game. The Lady Hoosiers beat the women of Kansas easily, but the game was pretty sloppy since most of the team had the flu. Poor girls! And I felt incredibly old. These COLLEGE players were born in 1987 and 1988. And the cheerleaders looked, like, 6.
* Whenever I go to Bloomington, my mom treats me to a massage with her therapist. Oh. My. God. This woman finds knots I didn't even know I had, and this time my shoulders were still sore a day and a half later! Hurts so good.
* Mom and I saw The Pursuit of Happyness. This one's pretty darn good, and I do admit to tearing up a bit at the end. Will Smith continues to be the most likable man on the planet, but he's nearly outcharmed by his unbelievably adorable son Jaden. It's a feel-good story with an end you can predict before even walking in, but it's still enjoyable watching Will and Jaden scraping to find their own version of the American dream. The triumph of the human spirit is rarely this palatable. I recommend it.
* Then, all 4 of us went to see The Good Shepherd. This is the rather lengthy story of Matt Damon's character, who rises from being a romantic young poetry student to a member of the Skull and Bones to a leader of the OSS and the new counter-intelligence unit of the CIA. The casting is pretty amazing, with Damon supported by Angelina Jolie, William Hurt, Michael Gambon, Billy Crudup, Joe Pesci, the always remarkable Alec Baldwin, and even director Robert DeNiro in a charismatic role. Yet, with an epic storyline and such impressive players, the movie didn't really grab me. My family loved it, but I just didn't find myself relating to the story much. I think that's because Damon is supposed to play a stoic, inscrutable man of secrets - which he does well, but then you never get attached to the character at all. Meh.
* We ate A LOT of food. My parents are still on some combo Atkins (Dad) / South Beach (Mom) thing, so there was a lot of meat and protein, all the time. Lamb, pork, steaks, shrimp, eggs, cheese... I found myself craving just some nice wheat toast or a piece of fruit! I can't believe I made it so long being a vegetarian / non-red-meat-eater with them for so long. It was all tasty, but I think I've met my red meat quota for the next month!
* A scenic drive through Bloomington's upper crust (heh) neighborhoods to see their holiday lights proved yet again that behemoth McMansions - be they Tudor, Gothic, Colonial, or Ultramodern in style - built totally on top of each other with no trees, no landscaping, and giant SUVs in the yard are not for me, no matter how tasteful their white candles in every window.
* On Christmas night, we kept up our now annual tradition of going to my parents' friends' house for dessert and interesting, overeducated, liberal, world-traveling conversation. Whis is fun enough on its own -- but for me, I look forward to it every year cuz it means I can down TWO big glasses of the highest-test egg nog around! :-)
And, now I'm back home.... with a very happy trusty cat Cleo purring at my side and Netflix on the tv. Finally, *I* get to choose what's on and it's not another football game! I'm glad to be back!
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Everyone's Reading Assignment
If you're anything like me, I bet you have often felt frustrated or confused about what the news, the politicians, the pundits, the bloggers have been saying about the situation in Iraq over the last 4 years. It's hard to keep all of the information straight, as to who's who and which group wants what, not to mention trying to learn all of the different factors at play in determining long-term strategy for the war and the reconstruction.
Well, here's a tip. Read The Iraq Study Group Report, pronto.
This slim volume is a surprisingly easy read, and having read it I now feel so much more prepared to listen to the news, to participate in active debate, even to think about what the future should hold.
The report, which as we all know by now is a bi-partisan effort written by 5 Republicans and 5 Democrats after months of interviews, investigations and analyses, is laid out like someone's doctoral thesis or a really thorough strategic plan. The Executive Summary gives you the background of why the Group exists and what they set out to do, plus an overview of their findings.
For me, the most beneficial part of the report was Section I - Assessment. Here, the Group lays out in very simple, easy-to-understand terms, a description of the current situation in Iraq. They explain who the Kurds, the Sunni, and the Shia are, as well as the challenges each group faces. The report identifies key figures that we hear of in the news - like Shia leaders Moqtada al-Sadr and Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani as well as elected leaders President Jalal Talabani Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. You can read about historical clashes between these sects and the relationships they have with neighboring countries.
All of this suddenly makes the debate over national reconciliation versus splitting Iraq up into 3 separate states much clearer, as the report lays out many of the reasons, both internal and external, why that's not such a great idea. (Hint: It's got a little something to do with O-I-L.)
Then, after learning about the players and the status quo in Iraq, you can read the ISG's recommendations on what should be done. They have outlined 79 pretty darn logical recommendations on everything from US diplomacy with the Arab world to training of the Iraqi police force to providing greater transparency and accountability in defense budgets.
Yes, it's in this section that the Report makes a few thinly-veiled swipes at the way the current War is being run. But, ultimately, I do not detect much politicking in its pages - instead, it seems like the Study Group really considered this impossible situation from every angle they can find, and this Report offers their best advice on how to get out of it in the best way possible for the US, for the Iraqis, and for the stability of the region.
I highly recommend to everyone out there who watches or reads the news, who votes, or who has discussions about current events with friends, family, or the guy standing next to you on the bus -- READ THIS REPORT. I daresay it's part of our obligation as citizens to learn a little bit more about what we're doing in the world.
Well, here's a tip. Read The Iraq Study Group Report, pronto.
This slim volume is a surprisingly easy read, and having read it I now feel so much more prepared to listen to the news, to participate in active debate, even to think about what the future should hold.
The report, which as we all know by now is a bi-partisan effort written by 5 Republicans and 5 Democrats after months of interviews, investigations and analyses, is laid out like someone's doctoral thesis or a really thorough strategic plan. The Executive Summary gives you the background of why the Group exists and what they set out to do, plus an overview of their findings.
For me, the most beneficial part of the report was Section I - Assessment. Here, the Group lays out in very simple, easy-to-understand terms, a description of the current situation in Iraq. They explain who the Kurds, the Sunni, and the Shia are, as well as the challenges each group faces. The report identifies key figures that we hear of in the news - like Shia leaders Moqtada al-Sadr and Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani as well as elected leaders President Jalal Talabani Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. You can read about historical clashes between these sects and the relationships they have with neighboring countries.
All of this suddenly makes the debate over national reconciliation versus splitting Iraq up into 3 separate states much clearer, as the report lays out many of the reasons, both internal and external, why that's not such a great idea. (Hint: It's got a little something to do with O-I-L.)
Then, after learning about the players and the status quo in Iraq, you can read the ISG's recommendations on what should be done. They have outlined 79 pretty darn logical recommendations on everything from US diplomacy with the Arab world to training of the Iraqi police force to providing greater transparency and accountability in defense budgets.
Yes, it's in this section that the Report makes a few thinly-veiled swipes at the way the current War is being run. But, ultimately, I do not detect much politicking in its pages - instead, it seems like the Study Group really considered this impossible situation from every angle they can find, and this Report offers their best advice on how to get out of it in the best way possible for the US, for the Iraqis, and for the stability of the region.
I highly recommend to everyone out there who watches or reads the news, who votes, or who has discussions about current events with friends, family, or the guy standing next to you on the bus -- READ THIS REPORT. I daresay it's part of our obligation as citizens to learn a little bit more about what we're doing in the world.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Time for More Prognosticatin'
It's been a while since we've talked 2008.... so here's a little tidbit for your consideration:
John McCain was born in August 1936, which means he's 70 years old. If he does run, which it sure seems like he will, he would be 72 years old on election day. Ronald Reagan, born in 1911, was 69 when he was elected in 1980 and turned 70 just a few weeks after his Inauguration in 1981.
So, while we are all debating the questions of whether this country is ready to elect a woman or an African-American to the highest office in the land, I think we should also ask the question if we're ready to elect someone who would become the oldest person to ever assume the office.
We've become very accustomed to our Baby Boomer Presidents over the last decade-plus. Both of the last two Presidents were born in 1946, oddly enough - Clinton was 46 on his Inauguration Day (46?!?!?) and George W. Bush was 54. That's a big jump to 72.
Thoughts?
John McCain was born in August 1936, which means he's 70 years old. If he does run, which it sure seems like he will, he would be 72 years old on election day. Ronald Reagan, born in 1911, was 69 when he was elected in 1980 and turned 70 just a few weeks after his Inauguration in 1981.
So, while we are all debating the questions of whether this country is ready to elect a woman or an African-American to the highest office in the land, I think we should also ask the question if we're ready to elect someone who would become the oldest person to ever assume the office.
We've become very accustomed to our Baby Boomer Presidents over the last decade-plus. Both of the last two Presidents were born in 1946, oddly enough - Clinton was 46 on his Inauguration Day (46?!?!?) and George W. Bush was 54. That's a big jump to 72.
Thoughts?
Thursday, December 21, 2006
We are all Kate Winslet
Last night, I had the chance to see the latest fairy tale / romantic comedy / chick-flick, The Holiday.
The movie is a pretty typical take on the genre, with two unlucky-in-love women swapping houses and suddenly learning important life lessons and finding the men of their dreams. And, as in a Woody Allen film, it seems that these characters are all ridiculously rich with well-appointed homes and luxury cars, so they clearly don't have anything to worry about EXCEPT their love lives. But, though this Christmas candy was wrapped with a bow, the movie had a little more depth to it than the usual February-release formulaic confection. It was directed by the same woman who brought us "Something's Gotta Give" - the movie that led us to believe that Diane Keaton would choose Jack Nicholson over Keanu Reeves.
Through Kate Winslet's storyline, the movie explores that awful, self-destructive tendency that so many of us have to keep pursuing the wrong people, even when they hurt us and even when they choose someone else I think we have all had our moments of being the Kate Winslet character - if not, then it means you're probably the bad guy! - and so it is especially thrilling (SPOILER) to watch Kate finally throw aside the jerk that she's been mistakenly in love with for 3 years and start her life anew. Of course, it helps that Rufus Sewell makes the character so much of a jerk!
Plus, there's a really sweet storyline of Kate getting to know her elderly neighbor, who also teaches her a thing or two about herself using the old leading ladies of Hollywood. Three cheers for women with gumption!
I thought it was totally refreshing to see someone as goofy and sweet as Jack Black paired with Kate Winslet, who was also nice to see in a light, contemporary role. (She probably appreciates not having to wear corsets all the time!) Cameron Diaz was charmingly type-A and she provided a lot of the laughs in the film. And while I've always thought he was a good actor, I've never really been in the Jude Law-is-a-hottie camp. Until now. My god, he's the dreamiest ever in this movie! The accent is a huge help, of course!
The movie is a pretty typical take on the genre, with two unlucky-in-love women swapping houses and suddenly learning important life lessons and finding the men of their dreams. And, as in a Woody Allen film, it seems that these characters are all ridiculously rich with well-appointed homes and luxury cars, so they clearly don't have anything to worry about EXCEPT their love lives. But, though this Christmas candy was wrapped with a bow, the movie had a little more depth to it than the usual February-release formulaic confection. It was directed by the same woman who brought us "Something's Gotta Give" - the movie that led us to believe that Diane Keaton would choose Jack Nicholson over Keanu Reeves.
Through Kate Winslet's storyline, the movie explores that awful, self-destructive tendency that so many of us have to keep pursuing the wrong people, even when they hurt us and even when they choose someone else I think we have all had our moments of being the Kate Winslet character - if not, then it means you're probably the bad guy! - and so it is especially thrilling (SPOILER) to watch Kate finally throw aside the jerk that she's been mistakenly in love with for 3 years and start her life anew. Of course, it helps that Rufus Sewell makes the character so much of a jerk!
Plus, there's a really sweet storyline of Kate getting to know her elderly neighbor, who also teaches her a thing or two about herself using the old leading ladies of Hollywood. Three cheers for women with gumption!
I thought it was totally refreshing to see someone as goofy and sweet as Jack Black paired with Kate Winslet, who was also nice to see in a light, contemporary role. (She probably appreciates not having to wear corsets all the time!) Cameron Diaz was charmingly type-A and she provided a lot of the laughs in the film. And while I've always thought he was a good actor, I've never really been in the Jude Law-is-a-hottie camp. Until now. My god, he's the dreamiest ever in this movie! The accent is a huge help, of course!
Sunday, December 17, 2006
When Does This Man Sleep?
My Netflix addiction has kept me pumped up on heavy adrenaline over the last week as I've finally caught up with Jack Bauer's latest efforts to save the world. I have to say that Day 5 of 24 is one of the best seasons of television yet.The action was non-stop, the conspiracy was just convoluted enough to give you a few good "No way!" moments, the writing was complex and layered, and the acting was top notch. Kiefer continues to kick ass as the one character who you would really want to have on your side, cuz otherwise he might just shoot you in the leg. And kudos to the producers for always bringing on talented, interesting, and compelling guest stars to flesh out the good guys, the bad guys, and the ones you just can't figure out each year. Jean Smart was inspiring as First Lady Martha Logan. Sean Astin (Dancer's fave!) was a great government bureaucrat, Julian Sands (aka the Warlock) is still hot when he's evil, and Louis Lombardi's Edgar Stiles provides one of the most poignant and heartbreaking tv moments I've ever seen.
The new season - Day 6 - starts in January with a 2-night, 4-episode event, and then they're showing the whole Day non-stop through May sweeps. I am thrilled to see old favorites Wayne Palmer and Aaron Pierce still on board, plus I applaud the addition of Regina King as (I'm assuming) the next First Lady. And it looks like Chloe's fast-talking ex-husband (who knew?!?) is back as a full cast member. I can't wait to watch that sparring!
But, herein lies my dilemma: 24 will be airing at 9 pm on Mondays. The same time as Heroes! What to do??? Why must they put all of the best shows in the same time slot? It looks like I will be relying on nbc.com and its free, commercial-packed online episodes to keep up with Hiro, Peter Petrelli, Jessica and Nicki and the gang....
Good Friends + Holiday Cheer = A Great Saturday Night!
Tonight I celebrated this new phase of keeping my apartment rather presentable (yeah, I hate cleaning, but I'm trying to do it more) by inviting some folks over for a holiday game night. Mr. and Mrs. L, Brunette, and AS made their way to 16th street, and the wine and laugther flowed freely.
I have to thank Scotte and Dancer for my newfound love of Beaujolais, which proved to be a big hit with both the red and white drinkers in our group. Hooray for fruity reds! Plus I have to thank my Mom, who wanted to contribute to the party so she sent me a package of homemade peanut butter fudge. YUM.
Two rounds of Cranium found Brunette and AS to be the victors, although I think we each had our moments to shine -- whether it was molding clay, drawing with our eyes closed, acting out expressions or inanimate objects, or humming our hearts out. Plus, I learned a factoid I'm not soon to forget: A single regular pencil holds enough graphite to draw a line 35 miles long. Who knew?!?!? Never doubt the Cranium cards!
And, I thank everyone for indulging me at the end of the evening as I forced them to watch the newly-transferred-to-DVD version of the Stef family's home movies from the 1970's. There was lots of footage of my parents' first baby, the puppy Patty Sue, and a few scenes of tiny little Stef feeding geese, opening Christmas presents, and building sandcastles on the beach. Don't mind if I say that I was damn adorable! And it's a total trip seeing footage of my parents being all flirty with each other when they were nearly 10 years younger than I am now!
And I do appreciate that at the end of the night, Cleo did her best to help me clean up:
I have to thank Scotte and Dancer for my newfound love of Beaujolais, which proved to be a big hit with both the red and white drinkers in our group. Hooray for fruity reds! Plus I have to thank my Mom, who wanted to contribute to the party so she sent me a package of homemade peanut butter fudge. YUM.
Two rounds of Cranium found Brunette and AS to be the victors, although I think we each had our moments to shine -- whether it was molding clay, drawing with our eyes closed, acting out expressions or inanimate objects, or humming our hearts out. Plus, I learned a factoid I'm not soon to forget: A single regular pencil holds enough graphite to draw a line 35 miles long. Who knew?!?!? Never doubt the Cranium cards!
And, I thank everyone for indulging me at the end of the evening as I forced them to watch the newly-transferred-to-DVD version of the Stef family's home movies from the 1970's. There was lots of footage of my parents' first baby, the puppy Patty Sue, and a few scenes of tiny little Stef feeding geese, opening Christmas presents, and building sandcastles on the beach. Don't mind if I say that I was damn adorable! And it's a total trip seeing footage of my parents being all flirty with each other when they were nearly 10 years younger than I am now!
And I do appreciate that at the end of the night, Cleo did her best to help me clean up:
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
"I Have Killed the Weatherman!"
Remember back this summer, when the Great DC Flood of 2006 closed down my office for 3 weeks? I learned all the pros and cons of telecommuting and trying to keep up with my colleagues and my workload without all the usual resources at my fingertips. Well, I mostly learned the cons. I think the only pro to telecommuting is the benefit of "no pants required!"
Well, it appears that the saga continues. Yesterday, in a totally unrelated technical meltdown, all of our organization's servers nationwide went down except for the ones here in DC. So we lost our Internet access and stopped receiving any external emails. Which was a drag, but at least we still had our intranet with all our local colleagues and could access all our usual drives and documents.
That problem was fixed last night, thank goodness.
BUT.... this morning we walked in to learn that the power was out in our wall outlets. The phones were working and the lights were on, but the outlets were kerflooey. Doesn't sound like that big a deal, right? EXCEPT.... what gets plugged into wall outlets? Computers. Printers. Faxes. And, oh yeah, office refrigerators. Beware of stanknasty.
Strangely, the power outage was only in about 25% of the building. Which meant I was able to access my email a few times during the day by squatting at other people's workstations in other areas of the building. And I had a lot of meetings, so the day actually didn't drag on too badly and I was able to get some work done.
Then, late this afternoon, we learned... this inconvenient little power outage is related to the flood. Yep, it was an electrical hiccup nearly SIX MONTHS later! Apparently the flood waters damaged some wiring that has corroded and is now malfunctioning.
And they told us it should be fixed within 24 hours. Maybe. But I'm not holding my breath. The first day after the flood, they told us we should be open again 24 hours later. Flash forward three weeks.... yeah.
I have A LOT of work to do right now, and this month is the end of our fiscal year. So *please* keep your fingers crossed for me that this gets fixed soon!
PS - Bonus points to anyone (other than Brunette!) who correctly identifies the quote in the title of this post. :-)
Well, it appears that the saga continues. Yesterday, in a totally unrelated technical meltdown, all of our organization's servers nationwide went down except for the ones here in DC. So we lost our Internet access and stopped receiving any external emails. Which was a drag, but at least we still had our intranet with all our local colleagues and could access all our usual drives and documents.
That problem was fixed last night, thank goodness.
BUT.... this morning we walked in to learn that the power was out in our wall outlets. The phones were working and the lights were on, but the outlets were kerflooey. Doesn't sound like that big a deal, right? EXCEPT.... what gets plugged into wall outlets? Computers. Printers. Faxes. And, oh yeah, office refrigerators. Beware of stanknasty.
Strangely, the power outage was only in about 25% of the building. Which meant I was able to access my email a few times during the day by squatting at other people's workstations in other areas of the building. And I had a lot of meetings, so the day actually didn't drag on too badly and I was able to get some work done.
Then, late this afternoon, we learned... this inconvenient little power outage is related to the flood. Yep, it was an electrical hiccup nearly SIX MONTHS later! Apparently the flood waters damaged some wiring that has corroded and is now malfunctioning.
And they told us it should be fixed within 24 hours. Maybe. But I'm not holding my breath. The first day after the flood, they told us we should be open again 24 hours later. Flash forward three weeks.... yeah.
I have A LOT of work to do right now, and this month is the end of our fiscal year. So *please* keep your fingers crossed for me that this gets fixed soon!
PS - Bonus points to anyone (other than Brunette!) who correctly identifies the quote in the title of this post. :-)
Friday, December 08, 2006
A Conflict Diamond in the Rough
Well, kids, it's time for more Oscar predictions. AS and I took in a matinee (it's use or lose season, after all) of Blood Diamond this afternoon. While I can honestly say that I don't ever need to see that movie again, cuz it's so disturbing and at times shockingly graphic, I think it's going to end up near the top of the list of most-talked about films this year.I've been reading stories for a while about the diamond industry's protests over the dire picture this film paints, but I didn't expect it to be quite so horrific a story of exploitation and violence. If anything in the movie is remotely close to being true, it makes me want to demand that any future fiancee insist on finding a conflict-free -or better yet, a lab-created - engagement ring. I don't want a blood diamond on my hand. Even though reviews of the film and its sometimes heavy-handed message are mixed, I think it's an important yet little-known topic that all of us would benefit by learning more about.
But, I digress.... back to Oscar buzz.
If you had told me a few months ago that I would find myself saying this fall that Leonardo DiCaprio is possibly now our greatest working actor, I probably would have laughed. Sure, he was great in some of his early, pre-Titanic work, but he kinda disappeared for a while and then showed up in hideously boring Scorsese flicks back-to-back. Flash forward to 2006, however, and he's suddenly enjoying the buzz of TWO nomination-worthy performances. One of the great things about him is that even though he's become a household name worldwide, like a Brad Pitt or a Tom Cruise, he is still so skilled as an actor that (unlike Brad or Tom) he really loses himself in his roles. You're no longer watching his celebrity, but instead you can really appreciate the characters he brings to life. His Boston Irish cop and his Rhodesian diamond smuggler are both rich and fully-realized, and I think either one of them could garner him a nomination this year. And, perhaps most surprising of all..... Leo has finally grown into himself as an adult, and he's suddenly sexy!
The film also features a really strong performance from Djimon Hounsou as the Sierra Leone fisherman who becomes entangled with the diamond smuggler and the rebel forces. His nobility shines through as he struggles to do anything to save his family, and Hounsou does a great job showing both his character's strength and fear. He has been nominated before, for his work in In America, and this performance could bring him another Supporting Actor nod.
Jennifer Connelly appears as "the girl" - the intrepid American reporter who helps move the plot forward while somewhat humanizing Leo through a sappy romantic sub-plot - but she's really just *there* in a kinda uninteresting role. So I don't expect any buzz for her, even though she's a past winner. And technical stuff is not my forte, but this is yet another film with truly stunning images of Africa's vast landscapes, so I wouldn't be surprised to see some cinematography or film editing nods.
There you have it - Blood Diamond is a difficult but provocative film. Heck, it sparked long conversations over dinner as AS and I kept going over different pieces of the story and our need to learn more of the real history behind the diamond trade. With both an important story and some strong performances, it's definitely worth a trip the multiplex as awards season approaches!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Looking for that Perfect Holiday Gift?
Ah, the holidays.... a great time of warmth, togetherness, and crushing indecision over *just what* to get those people who have everything! Or trying to find a good "thank you" gift for co-workers, or clients, or the front desk staff at your building...
You're in luck! I have a great recommendation! A friend of mine happens to run a business that offers the perfect holiday treat: Send everyone on your list a dozen DELICIOUS gourmet brownies!
Check out Brownies on the Brain to learn more about a great selection of homemade brownies and the fancy handmade art boxes they come in. The prices are reasonable, they'll ship just about anywhere in the US, and the brownies are so sinful they'll make you weep.
Seriously.
Enjoy!
You're in luck! I have a great recommendation! A friend of mine happens to run a business that offers the perfect holiday treat: Send everyone on your list a dozen DELICIOUS gourmet brownies!
Check out Brownies on the Brain to learn more about a great selection of homemade brownies and the fancy handmade art boxes they come in. The prices are reasonable, they'll ship just about anywhere in the US, and the brownies are so sinful they'll make you weep.
Seriously.
Enjoy!
Sunday, December 03, 2006
My Nomination
CNN and TIME Magazine are asking for reader comments as they are putting together their annual "Person of the Year" issue. I was so pissed a year ago (I think it was just one year ago?) when they named George W. Bush as the Person of the Year that I stopped my subscription. So, this year, I took them up on the opportunity to submit my own suggestion.
Here's what I sent in:
I think TIME should name "the American Voter" as the person of the year. This year, in the midst of scandals and mud-slinging and the usual smoke and mirrors of an election campaign, the voters turned out and used their collective voice to express their frustration with this country's direction. Voters sent a loud message to the Administration and the Congress, reminding everyone that it is the will of the people that keeps this country strong. As a result, we are already starting to see changes in foreign policy and a revisiting of the national agenda, since the message has been heard loud and clear. The American Voters remembered their strength this year, and we are all the better for it.
Who would you nominate as the "Person of the Year" for 2006?
Here's what I sent in:
I think TIME should name "the American Voter" as the person of the year. This year, in the midst of scandals and mud-slinging and the usual smoke and mirrors of an election campaign, the voters turned out and used their collective voice to express their frustration with this country's direction. Voters sent a loud message to the Administration and the Congress, reminding everyone that it is the will of the people that keeps this country strong. As a result, we are already starting to see changes in foreign policy and a revisiting of the national agenda, since the message has been heard loud and clear. The American Voters remembered their strength this year, and we are all the better for it.
Who would you nominate as the "Person of the Year" for 2006?
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Friday Funnies
For the last 3 Fridays in a row, I've been able to end the week with a trip to the movie theater to catch the latest comedy fare. Here's the roundup (sans fun photos, see the PS for the annoying reason why):
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
I am so a member of the cult of Borat! Some who know me were surprised that I would love this hard-edged comedy with its seeming elitist exploitation of American ignorance and its horrendously scarring wrestling scene so much, but I do! Borat has now become the source of my most quotable quotes, in addition to allegedly being the root of the latest celebrity divorce. What, Kid Rock didn't like the wedding sack? Very nice! High five! My grade: A!
Stranger than Fiction
This movie was picked simply because it was playing at the right time in the right place, and I don't think either of us attendees knew much of what to expect from it. Will Ferrell and Emma Thompson? Sure, it looked like it could be funny and absurdist from the trailers. Well, it was, but the big surprise that made me really love the movie is that it's also refreshingly sweet and romantic. The basic premise is Charlie Kaufman-esque, as Will Ferrell's character is both a real guy and the protaganist in a literary work-in-progress. It touches upon interesting existential questions about free will as well as amusing discussions about the formulas of literature. But the central story is actually a romance, as Will's formerly drone-ish character finds love and new life in Maggie Gyllenhaal's sweet, quirky baker. The movie's directed by the same guy who brought us Finding Neverland, and it has a lot of that same whimsy tinged with sadness. Emma T. is great, as always, and there are really strong performances from Queen Latifah and Dustin Hoffman, who seems to be having the time of his life. I was really surprised with how much I liked this movie. My Grade: A.
For Your Consideration
I took some of my use-or-lose time yesterday afternoon to go check out Christopher Guest's latest ensemble comedy. I really enjoyed Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show, but my expectations were tampered a bit by my disappointment with A Mighty Wind. The whole gang was there, and there were some good performances by Catherine O'Hara (wow, she's so good but almost physically unwatchable in the 2nd half of the movie!), Parker Posey, and Jane Lynch. But, for the most part, I felt like the movie was a little crowded and the usual suspects - Guest, Levy, Willard, Coolidge, Miller - were just doing their same old shtick. Michael McKean and Bob Balaban were underused, and I usually think they're among the best of the bunch. I did enjoy the blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo by our beloved Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and Ricky Gervais added some great energy. But overall, I wanted the movie to be funny-ha-ha, but instead it was just funny-mildly-amusing. My Grade: C+.
PS - AAARGH! For some reason, Blogger Beta took away the wysiwyg editor again. It was gone for a while, then it came back and I was a happy photo-poster again. But now it's reverted to just stupid plain html which makes me a much less happy blogger, and thus has a direct inverse effect on the probability of my posting very often. Bah humbug, Blogger.
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
I am so a member of the cult of Borat! Some who know me were surprised that I would love this hard-edged comedy with its seeming elitist exploitation of American ignorance and its horrendously scarring wrestling scene so much, but I do! Borat has now become the source of my most quotable quotes, in addition to allegedly being the root of the latest celebrity divorce. What, Kid Rock didn't like the wedding sack? Very nice! High five! My grade: A!
Stranger than Fiction
This movie was picked simply because it was playing at the right time in the right place, and I don't think either of us attendees knew much of what to expect from it. Will Ferrell and Emma Thompson? Sure, it looked like it could be funny and absurdist from the trailers. Well, it was, but the big surprise that made me really love the movie is that it's also refreshingly sweet and romantic. The basic premise is Charlie Kaufman-esque, as Will Ferrell's character is both a real guy and the protaganist in a literary work-in-progress. It touches upon interesting existential questions about free will as well as amusing discussions about the formulas of literature. But the central story is actually a romance, as Will's formerly drone-ish character finds love and new life in Maggie Gyllenhaal's sweet, quirky baker. The movie's directed by the same guy who brought us Finding Neverland, and it has a lot of that same whimsy tinged with sadness. Emma T. is great, as always, and there are really strong performances from Queen Latifah and Dustin Hoffman, who seems to be having the time of his life. I was really surprised with how much I liked this movie. My Grade: A.
For Your Consideration
I took some of my use-or-lose time yesterday afternoon to go check out Christopher Guest's latest ensemble comedy. I really enjoyed Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show, but my expectations were tampered a bit by my disappointment with A Mighty Wind. The whole gang was there, and there were some good performances by Catherine O'Hara (wow, she's so good but almost physically unwatchable in the 2nd half of the movie!), Parker Posey, and Jane Lynch. But, for the most part, I felt like the movie was a little crowded and the usual suspects - Guest, Levy, Willard, Coolidge, Miller - were just doing their same old shtick. Michael McKean and Bob Balaban were underused, and I usually think they're among the best of the bunch. I did enjoy the blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo by our beloved Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and Ricky Gervais added some great energy. But overall, I wanted the movie to be funny-ha-ha, but instead it was just funny-mildly-amusing. My Grade: C+.
PS - AAARGH! For some reason, Blogger Beta took away the wysiwyg editor again. It was gone for a while, then it came back and I was a happy photo-poster again. But now it's reverted to just stupid plain html which makes me a much less happy blogger, and thus has a direct inverse effect on the probability of my posting very often. Bah humbug, Blogger.
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