Diary

Oh, Liza… John Lahr is too sharp for you

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Just read John Lahr’s review of Liza Minelli’s new show “MORE ABOUT ME” in the New Yorker. I felt bad for Liza because the review is almost too penetrating. But it is a joy for the reading public. Liza Minnelli Under the cunning direction of Ron Lewis, and backed by a first-rate big band, Minnelli image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

The Edge of Heaven

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The German title of the film (Auf der anderen Seite) means something like “on the other side”. Fatih Akin, the German writer and director of Turkish background has wonderful material to work with (growing up with Turkish parents in Germany) but lacks the skill to shape the material into a first-class film. He comes across image [Read More]
Movies, Phantasy

Twilight

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Most people I know woke up to the full powers of the flesh sometimes in their second decade. Some experience this discovery as ‘no big deal;’ others are thrown off balance.  Trying to explore this new territory with some success often proves dauntingly difficult. Many films have been made about teenage romance.  A few of image [Read More]
Diary

What George Bush learned during his Presidency

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Kimberly Strassel: I ask the president what he’s learned from his time in office—not from a policy perspective, but as a person. His answer is unsurprising from a man who has always talked openly of his faith—though that, too, has earned him criticism. “I’ve learned that God is good. All the time.” PM: Hallelujah. We paid a image smile [Read More]
Diary

The Power is Shifting

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I remember reading a reminiscence either by President Truman or Eisenhower about the remarkable change they felt the day after they handed over the presidency: While the day before everyone was most interested in them, no one wanted now wanted to see them. The office has the charisma, not they as individuals. Democracy is about image [Read More]
Diary

William Kristol changes his tune after the election

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Some conservative commentators had already swung to Obama before the election, but not so William Kristol. Unlike William Safire whose conservative columns I found rewarding to read, Kristol struck me as the mouthpiece of Dick Chenney. His transformation for this reason is all the more stunning. Pollster have long demonstrated that after an election suddenly image [Read More]