Reel Time

Thanks in part to a free trial subscription to Netflix, we've been watching (or rewatching) lots of movies lately:

• Frozen River
• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
• Star Trek
• Outland
• Moon 
• Shutter Island

You can probably guess my favorite genre from the list! The only movie we viewed that I didn't like was Shutter Island. I thought it was too stylized, too predictable, and too heavy-handed. In fact, to me it felt like watching one of M. Night Shamalyan's recent films. That said, I did find interesting the final question raised by Leonard DiCaprio's character, "Would it be better to live as a monster or die as a good man?"

The other movies, I thoroughly enjoyed, though if you watch Outland, released in 1981, realize it is a fun flick but no cinematic masterpiece.

Now, I am deciding if I want to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo even though we saw the film. I think I may skip to The Girl Who Played with Fire which I got last summer at a garage sale!

Boston, Day Four

Our fourth (third full) day in Boston was rainy and overcast - the perfect day for a trip to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, admission which was part of our CityPASS. The MFA had just opened an enormous new wing in November, so there was a lot of excitement through the air. Even though contemporary art is always my favorite section in museums, I thought we should go through the museum chronologically. It was clear that George and I were going through the exhibits at different rates (he was enthralled by the boat models - snooze), so we separated and kept tabs via text messages. It worked out better that way.

The museum has a great collection of Asian art, and so many Buddhas! I loved it. The MFA had some Georgia O'Keeffee paintings I hadn't seen before, and also the Winslow Homer, "Boys in a Pasture" which is currently on 44 cent stamps. I also enjoyed the folk art collection:



I'm kicking myself, though, for not taking photographs of one of my most treasured memories of the trip. That evening, I went to dinner with a dear, dear friend from college whom I hadn't seen in over ten years. It was as though no time has passed at all - it was so good to see her. I hope another ten years doesn't pass before we meet again.

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Jon Stewart on the Arizona Shootings

Stewart's measured, intelligent, and much-needed commentary is worth watching.

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Quotation of the Day

"Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task."

~William James

"Civilization and Violence Are Antithetical Concepts"

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.  That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."

                    Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
                    Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Dec. 10, 1964