(2002) dir. Tom Tykwer – w/ Cate Blanchett, Giovanni Ribisi, Remo Girone, etc. Synopsis: Cate Blanchett plays Philippa, a British teacher living in Italy. Drugs infect her life through the figure of drug-dealer Marco Vendice (also a prominent businessman), killing her husband and one of her students. To fight back, Philippa takes the law into […]
Rundown: Conservatives, plate-glass windows, coke, and blood pudding
The Center for American Progress has a nifty new database that’s basically a compendium of the blatant lies and distortions made by conservatives. It’s well-referenced and searchable by category, though quite frankly it would be better yet if it were non-partisan (and charted the erroneous claims and lies of all public officials. Still, it’s a […]
Posted by Ben on May 7, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/rundown-conservatives-plate-glass-windows-coke-and-blood-pudding/
The Drums of Polarization Beat Onward
There’s an excellent article in the Christian Science Monitor on the political and cultural homogenization of America: Stores don’t sell products anymore, they sell lifestyles. And certain kinds of communities attract outlets, and vice versa. That, in part, is why you won’t find a single Wal-Mart in Manhattan or a single Crate and Barrel in […]
Posted by Ben on May 6, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/the-drums-of-polarization-beat-onward/
Crimes of Art + Terror
“Do killers, artists, and terrorists need one another?” (inside book jacket) Generally, I can’t say I’m a fan of literary analysis. Not even a disgruntled fan. But Crimes of Art + Terror, its literary analytical elements substantial as they are, is pretty slick. CoA+T seeks to examine the entanglements between so-called ‘transgressive art’—art that ‘pushes […]
Posted by Ben on May 6, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/crimes-of-art-terror/
Farewell, infoglut
Memigo calls itself an “intelligent news agent.” It lets you register, rate articles, etc., etc., and—in theory, anyway—it gives you news you want to read. And not all that other crap. The idea is, once you register it adapts to your preferences (in part thanks to your rating of articles), siphoning news out of the […]
Posted by Ben on May 5, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/farewell-infoglut/
An instant classic reenactment of a real classic
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining in 30 seconds. (Did I mention it’s reenacted by bunnies?) (via MeFi: “Heeeere’s Oolong?” [May 4, 2004])
Posted by Ben on May 4, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/an-instant-classic-reenactment-of-a-real-classic/
Pee on us, it’s good for business!
Margaret D. Tutwiler, promoter of US image abroad, leaves her post for a Wall-Street job, dealing a blow to hopes of softening up America’s image in the Middle East; maybe we could advertise the USA on urinals. You think I’m joking? Well, with a winking, blinking urinal… who knows what good we might do at […]
Posted by Ben on May 4, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/pee-on-us-its-good-for-business/
Yes, but are you sure?
Whether you know it or not, your own opinions are influenced by the presence of a dissenting view. Which is why this is an interesting and potentially valuable exercise. In the activity, called You Decide, you’re asked to take a position on any of a number of current hot issues, e.g., “Should fast food companies […]
Posted by Ben on May 3, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/yes-but-are-you-sure/
Exorcism, alive and well
Exorcism is an undeniably strange phenomenon. Says Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican’s top exorcist, “Exorcism is God’s true miracle.” (Los Angeles Times: “For exorcist, the devil’s in the details” by Tracy Wilkinson [May 2, 2004] via BoGlo)
Posted by Ben on May 3, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/exorcism-alive-and-well/