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China? What about Iraq?

April 10, 2008
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How inspiring that people in America are protesting the Olympic Torch relay in opposition to China’s deplorable treatment of the Tibetan people. The energy and vocalism is something I have not witnessed since the days of the Vietnam War protests.
I wonder if this because of the media’s positioning of the events or because truly more [...]

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Waterboarding Is Not a Joke

March 18, 2008
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Despite the fact that my word processing program puts a red line under the word “waterboarding,” William Safire recently declared this phrase officially part of our lexicon (March 9 The New York Times Magazine). The following week, the Sunday Times ran a joke about waterboarding by Nick Anderson.
This is a timely and difficult subject, and [...]

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“Old beliefs die hard even when demonstrably false.”
~ E. O. Wilson

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Book List

  • The Language of Power
    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)
    A World Too Near: Book Two of The Entire and The Rose (The Entire and The Rose 2) (Bk. 2)
    [ Kay Kenyon ]
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    The Magus
    [ John Fowles ]
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    Ride with Me, Mariah Montana
    [ Ivan Doig ]
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    Bright of the Sky: Book One of The Entire and The Rose (The Entire and The Rose 1)
    [ Kay Kenyon ]
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    The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
    [ Michael Pollan ]

Worth Watching

  • Stranger than Fiction

    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.

  • In the Valley of Elah

    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.

  • Babel

    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.

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Notes from the Back Porch © 2008 Eleanor K. Sommer