Back in the 1600s serving tea in “china” cups was considered quite fashionable and the phrase “Made in China” was not a derogatory term. China was known worldwide for its fine porcelain products that over the centuries other countries including Korea, Japan, and ultimately, England copied. Not so anymore.
Of course, individual Chinese craftspeople create exquisite [...]
Notes from the Back Porch
Perspectives on being.
Archive for April 17, 2008
Quotable
“We are all atheists about most of the gods that societies have ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further.”
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Book List
The Language of Power
[ Rosemary Kirstein ]
A World Too Near: Book Two of The Entire and The Rose (The Entire and The Rose 2) (Bk. 2)
[ Kay Kenyon ]
The Magus
[ John Fowles ]
Ride with Me, Mariah Montana
[ Ivan Doig ]
Bright of the Sky: Book One of The Entire and The Rose (The Entire and The Rose 1)
[ Kay Kenyon ]
The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
[ Michael Pollan ]
Worth Watching
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Stranger than Fiction
Despite its slow start, “Stranger than Fiction,” is one of those movies you will think about for a long time after it is over. Meaningful and insightful, yet laughing-out-loud funny, the acting, direction, and cinematography are refreshingly intelligent and polished. Will Ferrell is perfect; Emma Thompson is endearing; and Dustin Hoffman–well, brilliant as usual.
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In the Valley of Elah
Superb movie. Distressing but timely and meaningful. Every aspect of this film is noteworthy from the acting by the major and minor characters to the directions, filming, editing, and scripting. What makes its impact even stronger is knowing it is based on a true story. Tommy Lee Jones at his best.
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Babel
A surprising small part for big actor Brad Pitt, and a fine collaboration by all characters to make a haunting, suspenseful film that moves at a rapid pace as it unfolds the connections of three diverse stories in an unexpected way. A disturbing but important perspective of the global community that we ignore but desperately need to understand.