Honesty

Honesty is just an excuse for cruelty

Harrold Meyerson Column on WP Lists Bush Flaws

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/07/AR2006030701200.html

Impeachment Imprudence

By Harold Meyerson
Wednesday, March 8, 2006; Page A19

This may be my mother’s doing. About 20 months ago, in a column I wrote at the time of her 90th birthday, I noted that Estelle had been peppering me with questions about why we weren’t impeaching the president. I gave her what I thought were sufficient reasons: He could be ousted in the coming election; grotesque misconduct in office was not necessarily a high crime or misdemeanor; the Republicans controlled Congress; Dick Cheney was the guy on deck—that sort of thing. None of it took. At her house one afternoon, talking on the phone, I reached for a pad of paper to jot down some notes and found her handwritten agenda for the day. There was a list of vegetables. Then it said, “Coca-Cola.” Then it said, “Impeach Bush.” Underlined.

TWII (pronounced twee): That Which Is Important

After several beers and a torrential downpour, Laurie and I happened on the subject of TWII, short for That Which Is Important.  She told me how she had designed a whole independent study semester around this subject, and how interesting the research was.

First Day in Ubud

I am back in Ubud after 8 years.  I am staying at the same hotel and suprisingly, everyone still remembers me.  The children have all grown up and some even have families now!  Here is a link with photos from my trip 8 years ago:  http://journeyer.tripod.com/kebun_indah.htm Official website here: http://www.alamindahbali.com/kebun_indah.htm

Things have changed so much here....

Javanese Volcanoes

What have I been up to?  Well, I climbed three volcanoes in six days.  Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) was the first.  After a ROUGH boat ride through 5-10 foot swells (3+ hours) I arrived on the mountain that appeared in 1929 rising from the sea where the original Krakatau had last been in 1883.  This is still a very active volcano and there are rocks all over the place that had clearly been ejected from the crater as flaming lava (any geologists out there can hold their comments).  Rough hike up to the observation station.  Did not attempt a full summit, as the first ascent nearly killed me and it’s probably not wise to go all the way up.  First ascent was like doing stairmaster on constantly moving sand (black sand/ash) for an hour at a very steep incline in the tropical sun.  I did get burned.  I had put on sunscreen for the hike, but I got burned while riding over on the boat, even though I was in the shade! Reflections off the water, I think.  Brutal sun at the equator.

Arrival in Jakarta

i am told that my luggage will finally arrive tonight.  yeah!  i booked a tour of krakatau tomorrow.  very expensive because i am traveling alone, but i think worth it becoz of the short time i have available.  i am then going to take a train to yogjakarta on saturday and spend a couple of days touring borobodur and penambaran temple complexes, then hit gunung bromo volcano and finally head to bali.

More Thoughts on TROPICAL MALADY

I went to the special screening we were sponsoring at the AFI Silver this evening and it went well enough for DC on a Labor Day.  I wish more people would see the film.  I know it’s arty and not ‘mainstream’ but films like this are so worth the investment.  One of my goals as a film programmer has always been to help bring more mainstream filmgoers to arthouse, edgy fare.  I’d never seen the need to program the same stuff that an audience can see on their TV or in the multiplex.  What is the incentive to go see that?

Tropical Malady and Save the Green Planet

Just saw Tropical Malady.  Will be screening at AFI Silver later this Summer and got an advance copy.  WOW.  Can’t wait to see it in a theater.  Easily the best new film I’ve seen all year.  I would be suprised if any other film I see this year is better.  Startled really.  I would say that it is for me, this year, what Goodbye, Dragon Inn was last year.  Romantic, lyrical and inventive, the imagery is subtle and astonishing.  Much like the tiger in the film, it will sneak up on you and catch you unawares.

Also saw Save the Green Planet, another advance screening.  The website give some insight into the films quirky humor.  At turns, absurd and heartwrenching, I was profoundly moved despite its flaws.  It seems related to a theme I’ve noticed in NE Asian cinema of late, exploring the origins of violence, exemplified by Miike’s Ichi the Killer.

Strand’s website for Tropical Malady

SILVERDOCS June 15-19, 2005

I wanted to let you all know about this great film festival that is taking place right here in Silver Spring, MD.  SilverDocs is only in its third year, and already it is considered one of the top documentary film festivals in the world.  I have been volunteering with the festival since its beginning and helped choose the films they are showing this year.  I’ve written some film descriptions for their program book and I will be introducing some of the films later this week.

Holidays and Year End Reflections

Dear Friends,

I wanted to take a moment to write and wish you all a happy holiday season.  It’s cold again here in the East, and all this time indoors next to the heater is inspiring some reflection.  A lot has happened in the past year or so and I’m hopeful the good karma holds.