Diary

Married, With Infidelities

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I have been struck by how badly I am able to predict who among my family and friends would stay married and who would get divorced. The couple who had the best marriage ended up having the most acrimonious divorce. Here is an article in the NY Magazine that does a great job laying out image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

Almanya—Welcome to Germany

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When the economy took off in the 1950s, Germany experienced severe labor shortages.  So employer unions and politicians hatched the idea to import guest workers from Turkey and other southern European countries.  By the middle 1970s these “guest workers” were allowed to bring their families to Germany and settle there permanently. Today,  about 3.5 million image [Read More]
Comedy, Movies

Cedar Rapids

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Selling insurance is one of the most boring jobs in the world. But some people’s personality seems to be uniquely suited for this line of work. Tim Lippe is one of them. The most excitement Tim has experienced in life to date is having sex with his former 7th grade teacher (Segourney Weaver) once week. image [Read More]
Comedy, Movies

Bridesmaides

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Watching a teenage girl lose her boyfriend of 3 weeks is a lot less scary than watching a woman in her late 30 losing her boyfriend of three years. The film relies on the fact that as adults we all realize that the teenage girl is probably better off being “back on the market” image [Read More]
Diary

Gates: Europe is not paying for its defense!

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The outgoing secretary of defense gives a blunt analysis of how little Europe contributes to world security. Gates: NATO alliance future could be ‘dim, dismal’  By ROBERT BURNS and DESMOND BUTLER, Associated Press BRUSSELS:  In a stern rebuke, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned Friday that the future of the historic NATO military alliance is at risk image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

Boys Don’t Cry

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I knew nothing about the plot of Boys Don’t Cry. But somehow the title was so familiar. It must be a famous movie. For the past year or so I have been participating in a video rental service that sends me in a new film from my wish list whenever I send the previous one image [Read More]