Beltmann

I popped in here just to mention that... beat me to it!

Unfortunately, that's true. She's skilled at twisting things into BS. Here's what she said yesterday: "I disagree with Sen. Obama's assertion that people in our country cling to guns and have certain attitudes about trade and immigration simply out of frustration.... You know, some people now continue to teach their children and their grandchildren. It's part of culture. It's part of a way of life. People enjoy hunting and shooting because it's an important part of who they are. Not because they are bitter." Thing is, Obama did not imply that people turn to religion or gun, trade, and im

The Cow / Dariush Mehrjui / Iran / 1969 A story of mental illness in a village marked by poverty and tribalism, shot in a B&W style that feels like neo-realism injected with rapid editing and lunatic psychology--it's about a man who loses his cow, and then, in a state of despair, takes its place himself.

Okay, it's not brilliant, but I thought it was a fun read: Elitist My Ass

This is what Obama said today: "So I said well you know when you're bitter you turn to what you can count on. So people they vote about guns, or they take comfort from their faith and their family and their community... And now I didn't say it as well as I should have because you know the truth is that these traditions that are passed on from generation to generation those are important. That's what sustains us... But what is absolutely true is that people don't feel like they are being listened to. And so they pray and they count on each other and they count on their families. You know this

Tagging Santana for 3 HR was quite satisfying... and Ben Sheets looked dominant again, even though he didn't quite have his best stuff today.

As a Midwesterner who lives in a small, rural town, I thought Obama's comments were right on, and yesterday's and today's elaborations were insightful. (Acknowledging community "malaise" might not win elections, but it's still honest leadership.) This feigned "outrage" is yet another case of opponents willfully ignoring Obama's obvious intended meaning--here, empathy for working-class frustrations--in order to twist the words to gain empty political points. That's politics as usual, I know, but here the hypocrisy is stunning. Consider John McCain's similar argument from last December: "I

The Hunting Party isn't great, but it's fun.

I'm guessing this is similar to your Africa project from a few years ago? If so, I'll try to list some recent films that might work. Several have co-origins, but all are largely German: Requiem / Schmid / 2006 The Lives of Others / von Donnersmarck / 2006 Our Daily Bread / Geyrhalter / 2005 Sophie Scholl: The Final Days / Rothemund / 2005 Workingman's Death / Glawogger / 2005 Fateless / Koltai / 2005 Downfall / Hirschbiegel / 2004 Before the Fall (Napola) / Gansel / 2004 The Edukators / Weingartner / 2004 Good Bye, Lenin! / Becker / 2003 Schultze Gets the Blues / Schorr / 2003 Shattered Gl

The Brew Crew bats have been weak tonight--although Braun just homered, so that's something.

Well, I guess I'll be buying this, then.

Gotta admit, I'm excited. Heard about this a while back, but didn't know when it was scheduled for release.

Ben Sheets threw a complete game shutout today, the second of his career. Brewers have really been clicking so far.

Flight of the Red Balloon / Hou Hsiao-hsien / Taiwan / 2007 I'm not a tremendous fan of Hou--I typically admire his movies more than connect with them--but this, a reworking of Lamorisse's classic The Red Balloon (1956), is one of his most accessible works.

I'm one of the few people I know who likes The Greatest Show on Earth. Heston was not an actor of nuance--too often he seemed heavy-handed, wooden--but he was a star for many reasons: He had an epic physicality, a stone-chiseled face, surprising authority, and a commanding erudition. His striking presence on screen is undeniable, and he is woven into the fabric of some of Hollywood's best years.

That's where I would start.

"Well, then, I just hate you... and I hate your ASS FACE!"

I don't there's much substantial difference between saying "Lieberman is wrong" and saying "I disagree with Lieberman." Everybody understands that the former statement comes with qualification; the latter is generally implied within the former.

Prince Fielder to protest Miller Park sausage race

He looked flat-out awful today... we could get that kind work from Derrick Turnbow, and on the cheap.

Wow... yes, he's one of my favorite "unsung" players. Miss him around these parts.