"Fateless"

fateless
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Incredible film about Hungarian jews in WWII. It shows the pettiness, commonplace nature of daily life in concentration camps, the shallow humanity of police and officials, the brutality of pathological guards (jews) selected to run the camps. the main character, a 14 yr old boy, tells of his "happiness" in the camps - his friends, the small acts of kindness his friends paid him, the sun on his face, a refreshing cold bath (to keep the scabs and lice off his body). This boy perserveres and endures his captivity. Great scene: he is sick, dying, put on the death cart, stripped, then hosed down - those who showed signs of life were removed from the death carts. He is put somewhere else to die...still lives. So they figure, here's jew who wont die, so we may as well make him well - he is taken to a crisp prison hospital, fresh sheets (with the SS embroidered on them) warm blankets, hot meals...very existential. At the end he says the camps were not hell, because hell doesnt exist but the camps do. The film shows the meaninglessness of these camps, of the holocaust, through the eyes of a 14 yr old who is trying to figure out the basic rules of life on earth. Great film. Another great scene: an older man is intent on saving the young boys in the camp, he helps hold them up during endless nights standing outside (punishment for infractions, escapes)- a boy collapses, he picks him up, says, "hold on a bit longer, son, I will take you home." The love he showed, despite the hardship, brutality - love is possible. Also, he has a stop over at Auschwitz, and in the distance, you see the smoke stacks of the ovens, the smoke drifts down and covers the camps. Depressing, sad, but full of hope.

New of the Weird: cell phone death

"Jacqueline Dotson was seriously injured in an accident near Winchester, Ky, in february tht police say happened when she lost control of her SUV...ran cars off the road...overcorrected...flipped...landed upside down. Rescue crew labored an hour and a half with jaws of life to free her from vehicle, but one of her arms was already free, severed in the accident and lying on the road, still grasping a cell phone" I love it - not even a roll over prevented her from letting go of her cell phone - "I might be facing death but I am taking this phone with me!!!"

Balzac and Little Chinese Seamstress

Balzac and Little Chinese Seamstress
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Absolutely beautiful movie. "We both loved her but in different ways." yes, you can love a woman physically, but also spiritually. Both is best. Story about two young men in cultural revolution 1970 in china, sent to rural, mountainous village for "reeducation." Very funny, but also explores harsh lives of villagers, the unfairness and irrationality of the cultural revolution. What was cultural revolution about? I think Mao was paranoid of "enemies," this was one way of exposing any potential free thinkers. Also, it gave many peasants something to do other than realize how repressed they were. Lastly, all totalitarian societies need to hate someone, the"other" the "enemy" and with the cultural revolution is was anything western or bourgeosie. For Americans? We hate the French i guess (at least the Bushites do) or john kerry peaceniks (at least dick "f***king cheney does). This movie also has great cinematography, beautiful scenes of mountains in china. Reminded me of Postmen in the Mountains, another great chinese film set in the mountains. I saw this at home, but I think in the movie theater would be better (you cant appreciate mountains on TV screen). This movie was also book, by Dai Sijie - great book, I couldnt put it down. Supposedly the movie is NR, but not because of sex or violence - only one sex scene, mild. The book was banned by some school districts (Texas and Wyoming I guess) because of a sex act (sex while standing - thats not the right position!!!! Sex in marriage only, and then the Chrisian missionary position, please) and because of an abortion (now illegal in South Dakota - who the hell would have sex in South dakota, its so cold you'd have to do it while dressed!) Great book, great movie.

Broke back Mountain movie with bunnies in 30 sec's

here is the latest movie parody, Brokeback Mountain bunnies,from the Movies with Bunnies in 30 sec guys - I still think Pulp Fiction is their best one. Here is their index of all their movies.

Haiku - The Big Lebowski movie

Big Lebowski Haiku

Haiku defined: a poem of 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables
Lebowski Haiku: a Haiku poem comprised of dialogue from the movie
Site: www.lebowskifest.com then click "forum" icon, then click "everything else"

In N Out Burger
Those are some good burgers, Dude
somewhere on Radford

Smokey's toe slipped
over the line a little
put the piece away

Chief of Police of
Malibu is a real
reactionary

Walter has buddies
who died face down in the muck
Enjoys his coffee

In N Out Burger
is located on Camrose
Those are good burgers

I don't use the phone
and I sure as hell don't roll
shomer shabbas, Dude

My, my wife Bunny?
Do you see a wedding ring?
You got the wrong guy

Lotta ins, lotta
Outs, lotta what have you's, man.
Keeps his mind limber

Eved hear of the
Seattle Seven? Mm hmm.
Him and six others

Smoked the thai stick
Broke into ROTC
Doesn't remember

munich - Speilburg's new movie

munich
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Steven Speilburg's new movie is Munich, at 164 minutes in length. Is it good? Some cool scenes of assassination I guess. Very long, too long. The last scene of the Olympic athletes being killed, in flashback, while Avner is in bed with his wife is stupid - I guess it was some kind of catharsis for Avner, but really dumb. The assassination scene with the woman was sexist and disgusting. The main theme is the moral relatavism of terrorism and counter terrorism: who are the real terrorist? When everyone is wrong, who is right? What was accomplished with Avner's assassinations? The theater was crowded, I saw it in a predominantly jewish area of pittsburgh and I understand Speilburg's purpose: let's start discussing Israel's tactics dealing with Hamas, with the Palestinian question, lets have dialogue about how to restore humanity, morality and peace in the middle east. But I think he could have done that with a shorter film, without the "kill the whore" assassination scene. How were women portrayed in the film? As a whorish assassin, a traditional wife/mother/stay at-home-keep-home woman, as Golda Meir the ruthless woman leader....this makes me think about how Speilburg protrays women in his other films....I will have to think about that.....Supposedly (I dont know this for sure) Natalie Portman thinks this movie sucks, she is offended by how israeli agents are portrayed, and she thinks Speilburg's message of moral reletavism in fighting terrorism is bullshit (she was born in Israeli). Hey, but she has made some controversial Israeli films (French director) and she has been criticized for being one of those "peacenik" American-jews-who-dont-understand-Israeli politics. I guess if this film gets people talking and thinking that it is good - but I dont want to see this film a second time. (there were great french cars in the movie - full of c ool looking Citroens!)

Jesus Christ action figure!

Here is a video about a Jesus Christ action figure (cross not included). The link was sent to me by my son Noah, so don't blame me! Funny, sick, but funny!

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

New movie will Will Farrell parodies NASCAR - gang from Ron Burgundy appears again. watch trailer here.

I rented a car from the Nashville airport, the agent tells me (in accent): this airport is set up just like a NASCAR circuit, just one big oval, you just go round till you see the exit ramp..." As if everyone gets the NASCAR simile.

VP Cheney hunting

VP Cheney hunting
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

VP Cheney not only shoots someone, but his victim is the leading Republican organizer in the state of Texas. News of the shooting was not announced by the WH, probably because Scott McClellan didn't know how to spin it. "VP Cheney, shooting at a suspected terrorist, accidently shot a fund raiser..." "Reacting to an irregular electronic spark to his heart, VP Cheney accidently shot a prominent Republican...." "Mistaking a long time friend for a reporter from the New York Times, VP Cheney shot a millionaire supporter..."

Photo essay of Cuban TV's

Cuban TV's
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Yes, a photo essay of Cuban TV's. They are old, soviet style, pre embargo TV's, and kept running just like the 1954 Chevy's. How to improve Cuba? Buy a PC for every household, free AOL for six months, just like a Dell deal. You'd have democracy in 2 weeks.

law and order valentines

valentine
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

They're the rage! Sold out however. "In the criminal justice system, you're considered especially gorgeous."

Cute Video - Inter species love!

Here is a really cute Korean video about love, in this case, between a rabbit and a cat, but its a metaphor....really cute.

Ben shaved by Dave

ben shaved by Dave
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

The Steelers won the Super Bowl, so Ben can finally shave! He gets a shave from David letterman. wow! 23 yrs old and on top of the world! He had a rough season, knee surgery, thumb cracked, lots of hits. This is a great pic!

clockers: Political Film spring 2006

clockers
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

We just saw "Clockers" in political film, a great film by Spike Lee. The crime scene photos at the beginning are real, despite what film reviewers say on line (what do they know?) do you really think Spike would show staged murder scenes, if he could show real ones? Take a look again at those scenes: those are (were) real people. Look at the young man shot, thrown face down in a dumpster - dear god. And that beautiful Stevie Wonder song is playing in the background - the film starts mourning for those whose lives have been lost. There is an extensive discussion of Clockers here, it is a discussion of the film and Foucault's philosophy of space and social interaction (isolation). If you dont know who Foucault is, here is your chance. If there is student interest, I can put my copy of the DVD on reserve in library.

Here is the list of other films to be shown:
Postmodern Existential Politics
Dark Blue World

Postmodern Urban Drug Society
Superfly

Postmodern Urban Drug Society Part II
Clockers

Postmodern Race Relations
Jungle Fever

The Beginning of Postmodern Politics
Downfall

Postmodern Zionism
Walk on Water

Postmodern Pittsburgh
Wedding for Bella (the Bread my Sweet)

Postmodern New World Order
Goodbye Lenin!

Postmodern American Journey
Maria Full of Grace

Postmodern American Journey Part II
Motorcycle Diaries

Postmodern Election
Bob Roberts

Postmodern Spiritual Journey
Pow Wow Highway

Postmodern Spiritual Journey Part II
Travelers and Magicians

Postmodern Spiritual Journey Part III
Donnie Darko

Christmas Card from Pres. Bush

Christmas Card from Pres. Bush
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

I want to share my christmas card from Pres. Bush. Actually it was a "happy holidays" card: those democrats don't allow "christmas" cards. Anyway if you look closely you can see the Bush twins falling down (whoops! they dropped a bottle) and a tortured iraqi prisoner has volunteered to stand in as a christmas (holiday) tree. This is taken from Bush's intern's blog which is really funny here.

jumbo jet landing at St. Martin's

jumbo jet St. Martin's
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Here is a video of tourists standing at the approach end of St. Martin's airport while a jumbo jet lands - listen to the woman screaming! Great. I used to do the same thing at Midway Airport in chicago, standing at the end of the departure, letting the jet fly over me, its engines on full throttle, my insides would shake.

syrian bride: The movie

syrian bride
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Amazing movie, set in Golan Heights, occupied by Israel. A story about a young woman engaged to her cousin, she has never met him, he is a movie star in syria, and he has only seen a picture of her. Once she leaves Golan, she will be syrian and not allowed back, unable to visit her parents. Her dad is an activist, spent time in an Israeli jail. Her Aunt is struggling to be a free woman, but is oppresed by her husband - and here is the theme, oppression. Oppression by religious leaders, by Israeli, by men, by tradition. The movie is supposed to be a comedy (what?) and there are funny moments. But this is a sad story. Sartre says we invent our world, and dear god what a world we have invented. The Syrians decide not to let her cross the border, and Israeli's won't let her back, so she sits in no-man's land (The UN Zone between Golan and Syria) waiting for a bureaucratic solution (an oxymoron). The ending is hopeful: Mona (the bride) solves the dilemma herself, with her strong will and determination...which will hopefully serve her well in syria in an arranged marriage. It took the director three years to work out the setting and scenes of the movie. Remarkable! BTW, Clara Khoury, the bride, is amazingly beautiful - she has the beauty of an Arab queen or princess (like a statue) but somehow conveys the sadness of a woman marrying someone she doesnt know, leaving her parents, never to return. Wow.

air america liberal radio show

air america
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

The liberal answer to Rush Limbaugh, Air America radio. Listen over internet or search for the local am radio station. here is a link that describes their programming.

Calypso

Calypso
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Sad story about the ship Calypso, Jacques Cousteau's exploration ship, made famous through his films and john denver's song. Also the model for Steve Zouzou and the film The Life Aquatic. Hopefully the ship can be rebuilt. Cousteau's son died in a sea plane accident - is there no one to continue the ocean exploration legacy?

japanese girl in seal suit video

japanese girl in seal suit
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Here is a clip from a japanese TV show, and a girl in a baby seal suit tries to get a polar bear to attack her. What? Yes, she tries to get the polar bear to attack her! Funny (I think), unless you are the polar bear.