Sunday, May 24, 2009

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Jeff Danziger: War Correspondents Top
 
Robert Kuttner: Selective Lion Top
This week, we learned that President Obama really is capable of political courage and idealism, as well as calculation. The question is how he will apply these gifts to the financial crisis as well as to issues closer to both his heart and to the strengths of his intellect, such as defense of the Constitution. Each of his major speeches of the past week was a tour de force. At Notre Dame he spoke candidly and movingly about reproductive rights and tolerance. His quest for common ground won repeated applause from this largely Catholic audience, some of whom evidently are less dogmatic than their church's leaders. Said Obama: So let us work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions, let's reduce unintended pregnancies. (Applause.) Let's make adoption more available. (Applause.) Let's provide care and support for women who do carry their children to term. (Applause.) Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded not only in sound science, but also in clear ethics, as well as respect for the equality of women." Those are things we can do. (Applause.) At Annapolis, he sounded as resolutely committed to national defense as any chicken hawk, and rather more serious about what true national security entails -- and he got repeated ovations from the midshipmen, among them John McCain IV. Speaking in the Rose Garden on Friday about credit card abuses, Obama signed a bill that takes a small step on behalf of consumers to prohibit the most extreme of bait-and-switch tactics. The President said, "Statements will be required to tell credit card holders how long it will take to pay off a balance and what it will cost in interest if they only make the minimum monthly payments. We also put a stop to retroactive rate hikes that appear on a bill suddenly with no rhyme or reason." Credit card abuses are the easiest to remedy of the financial scandals, but Obama was on the right side of the issue and in good form. It was his major address Thursday at the National Archives, with America's most sacred documents as backdrop, that was Obama at his most thoughtful and eloquent, as well as brave. "I have studied the Constitution as a student;" he declared, "I have taught it as a teacher; I have been bound by it as a lawyer and legislator. I took an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief, and as a citizen, I know that we must never -- ever -- turn our back on its enduring principles for expedience sake." Obama stuck to his decision to close the prison at Guantanamo, just a day after the Senate, by a vote of 94-6, denied him the funds to shift detainees, out of concern that alleged terrorists would be instead locked up in maximum security prisons in the continental United States, possibly to escape or might someday be released into American communities. It's an absurd worry, yet where to house terrorists is for most legislators the ultimate NIMBY issue. Obama himself muddied the waters in his insistence that he planned to keep detainees in "prolonged detention," just not at Guantanamo. That, in turn, created the sense that Obama's insistence about shutting down the prison was more about symbolism than constitutional substance. His rather complex position provided fodder for critics on both the right and the left. Dick Cheney appointed himself to make a quasi-official response, in an unrepentant speech defending torture. I suppose we are fortunate that the faces of today's Republican Party are Cheney and Rush Limbaugh, guaranteeing that the Republicans will stay around 30 percent of the electorate. On the other hand, it is odd that Obama would seize on the symbolism of Guantanamo as abhorrent and inconsistent with American values while insisting that "prolonged detention" without trial for accused terrorists could be justified. In a letter sent Friday to the president, Sen. Russ Feingold warned that "such detention is a hallmark of abusive systems that we have historically criticized around the world." The New York Times editorial page effusively praised the president's stance. Its editorial of May 22 began , "We listened to President Obama's speech on terrorism and detention policy with relief and optimism." But in two news stories, May 23, Times reporters first pointedly questioned whether the prolonged detention concept was constitutional -- and then suggested that Obama had handed Republicans "a wedge issue." Having taken a principled position, Obama now needs to deliver -- with a strategy for handling the remaining detainees that both addresses the security concerns and offers more than a fig leaf of constitutionality. All week, Obama demonstrated his great skills as a teacher and orator, but it remains to be seen how he will use these outsized gifts as challenges on several fronts continue to unfold. He chose to invest some political capital on the issue of reproductive rights, but not on the issue of gay marriage; he took a real political risk in beginning the process of shutting down the infamous prison at Guantanamo but not in aligning himself with a constitutional treatment of detainees wherever they are ultimately housed. And though he criticized financial excess in general terms and had some good things to say about credit card abuses, he has not yet thrown the full weight of his office behind comprehensive financial reform. It is tempting to explain his choices simply in terms of his own history and deep knowledge of some issues but not others. If there is any issue that Obama knows well, it is constitutional law. One can see the blend of idealism and calculation in his decision to close Guantanamo, but not to insist on full due process for detainees. Maybe this is all that public opinion and anxious legislators can take for now. We'll have to see how the public reacts as he moves forward with concrete plans to change procedures and move detainees. On financial reform, however, it is very hard, based on past performance, to imagine Obama staking out a courageous position and trying to move public opinion on an issue where most of the Senate is siding with, say, Wall Street. In the coming months, there will be plenty of opportunities. They will include whether to enact regulation of derivatives, hedge funds and private equity companies; whether to support Elizabeth Warren's proposal for a financial product safety commission; whether to keep on bailing out insolvent banks versus taking them into receivership; and how to get serious about saving several millions of American families from foreclosure. On all of these fronts, administration policy to date has been too weak and far too kind to Wall Street. One thing we learned this week is that whatever this president's deficits, they do not include a lack of eloquence, leadership, or nerve. It makes his attempt to straddle the issue of the detainees seem less than fully thought through, and his dithering on the financial crisis all the more bewildering. Robert Kuttner is co-editor of The American Prospect and a senior fellow at Demos . His recent book is Obama's Challenge . More on Barack Obama
 
Robert Smith And Robert Phelps, Ex-NYT Journalists, Say They Heard of Watergate First Top
The Watergate break-in eventually forced a presidential resignation and turned two Washington Post reporters into pop-culture heroes. But almost 37 years after the break-in, two former New York Times journalists have stepped forward to say that The Times had the scandal nearly in its grasp before The Post did -- and let it slip.
 
Jodi Lipper and Cerina Vincent: Find Bikini Bliss Top
Memorial Day is officially a holiday to remember the men and women who lost their lives fighting for our country and we hope that you will take some time on your day off to remember these people and give genuine thanks. The other thing that this weekend represents is less formal, though somehow more ingrained in many of us, and that's the (unofficial) beginning bathing suit season. Unfortunately, for many of us, the fear and trepidation that comes with the thought of going out in public in a bathing suit overshadows both the true meaning of this holiday and the excitement of having a day off to relax and drink margaritas at a barbeque, pool party or beach. It's no wonder that so many of us dread putting on a bikini; they reveal every imaginable flaw, leave nothing to the imagination and expose all of the insecurities that we have about our bodies. Every year around this time, the tabloid magazines run a "best and worst" beach body story, with pictures of emaciated actresses with ribs poking out labeled the "best," and women with patches of cellulite or fleshy hips the "worst." To add insult to injury, they take a petite and perfectly toned woman that most of us would kill to look like and add some commentary about how brave she is to bare her "curves." When faced with these images day in and day out, it's hard not to wonder what it will take for all of us regular women to feel confident revealing our bodies. Well, the diet industry has an answer - dozens of extreme diets and cleanses that promise to have you swimsuit ready in no time! Between the tabloids' mixed messages and these fad diets with their unrealistic claims, a lot of us end up expecting ourselves to look miraculously perfect and live up to some beauty standard that none of us really agrees with. And it seems like all of us women have made a silent pact to disallow ourselves from having any fun until we do. Well, we are sick and tired of seeing so many women torture themselves over things that are supposed to be pleasurable. Let's not go through another summer feeling insecure and dreading trips to the beach that are supposed to be relaxing and fun, and let's start enjoying them, instead! Life's too short to not spend some of it basking in the sun (wearing sunscreen) feeling confident and carefree. Here are a few ideas for how to find your own bikini bliss. 1. Focus On the Positive Of course we want you to focus on the parts of your own body that you love, whether that's your slim calves or long hair or strong arms, but we also want to remind you not to dwell on other women's imperfections, either. First of all, Hot Chicks (by our definition) do not compete with each other, but furthermore, by focusing on another woman's flaws you are putting your mind in a negative place where nasty thoughts about yourself can more easily infiltrate. When you're at the beach or by the pool, do not to compare yourself to other women or silently cut them down, and instead think about the fact that no matter what they look like in their bathing suit, they probably feel just as insecure as you do. Help put an end to women's body image issues by being compassionate and focusing on the beauty of other women instead of their flaws. You'll end up feeling more confident your own bikini, too! 2. Do Your Job, Not a Super Model's So what if Heidi Klum had a perfect body the day after giving birth? It is her full time job to look like that and you can bet that she works at it just as hard as you work at your job. Unless you're a bikini model, it's not your job to look perfect in a bikini, so cut yourself some slack and stop comparing yourself to celebrities with trainers, nutritionists, chefs and home gyms. Until Heidi Klum is expected to know how to do your job perfectly, stop pressuring yourself to do hers. 3. Eat Smart We will never tell you to cut carbs, count calories, or do any type of cleanse that involves maple syrup, but if you want to look your best you need to feel your best, and we're pretty sure you won't feel your best if you eat a bucket of fried chicken and chase it with a pint of Ben & Jerry's. Now that it's warmer out, take advantage of summer's healthy, natural and delicious offerings. Drink lots of water, snack on strawberries and blueberries, grill up some fish for dinner and eat it with a giant salad. You will not only look and feel better in your bikini, but you'll have more energy to run around in it, too. 4. Talk Nice If you make one change this summer, let it be that you stop saying mean things about yourself, either out loud or in your head. Every time you are tempted to complain to your girlfriends about having to put on a swimsuit or ask your husband to confirm your suspicions that you "look fat in this," just stop it and do something else instead. Just by changing the way you talk to yourself, you'll change your energy and the way you appear to others. Make this your summer resolution and you'll be happier in that bikini than ever. 5. Wear It All Day Okay, this one's a little wacky, but don't knock it 'til you try it. Think about it this way - of course you won't feel comfortable in your bathing suit if you only wear it a few times a year! It can feel foreign and therefore weird and awkward to be out in public in so little clothing, so get used to it by cooking dinner in your bikini, cleaning the house in it, and even relaxing in front of the TV wearing your swimsuit. Eventually, it will feel so natural that you'll love your body in that bikini as much as you do in your favorite pair of perfectly worn-in jeans. More on Health
 
Sara Avant Stover: Unplug and Recharge: If You're Feeling Tired, Try This Top
I'm tired today. Really tired. The kind of tired that green tea (I'm not a coffee drinker) or eight hours of sleep can remedy. This week I had a cold, launched a new website , and am preparing to fly on Sunday for over 24 hours on Sunday to teach in Thailand for a month. That's why I'm tired. On days like today I know that the best thing for me to do is take it easy and treat myself to a slower pace and some good, old-fashioned rest. Here's a 5-minute guided relaxation that helps me. I hope you like it, too: 1. Turn off your cell phone, close the door, dim the lights. 2. Lie down on the floor (a yoga mat or a carpet are best; something like a bed or a sofa are too soft). If you have lower back discomfort, bend your knees, put your feet on the floor, and keep your feet hip-distance apart. 3. If your head tilts back (so your chin is higher than your forehead), put a thin pillow under your head until your forehead and chin are level. 4. Close your eyes. If you have an eye pillow or something soft to place over your eyes, do so. 5. Feel your breath flowing in and out. Notice what parts of your body move and respond to the breath. 6. Feel your feet. Take a breath in and out, feeling your feet. Feel your ankles, take a breath in and out, feeling your ankles. 7. Continue this all the way up your body to your head. 8. Rest for another several breaths, feeling your whole body. 9. Slowly roll to one side and use your hands to press back up to a seated position. More on Wellness
 
David L. Wolper: Castro: Never Mr. Nice Guy Top
On February 20, 2008, because of his health, Fidel Castro resigned as President and Commander in Chief of Cuba and turned over the reigns to his brother Raul. In recent years Hollywood celebrities and U.S. political figures have traveled to Cuba to visit Fidel Castro and treated him as though he is some heroic figure. Most had glowing words to say about their host. Fidel Castro is a very charismatic individual and his long tenure in office adds to his legend, but Castro is defiantly not a heroic figure, far from it. Now that he has stepped down, and as President Obama and the United States seek better relationships with Cuba, with which I agree, I thought it would be timely if we reviewed some of Castro's real record. FACT: In an August 8, 1958 speech Castro said "our primary objective is to reestablish democracy." Five months later, on January 1, 1959, he lead the Cuban revolution to victory. Since then he has never relinquished power and has remained in office 49 years. Not a promised democracy but a communist dictatorship. Castro is not a hero to many of the Cuban people who expected democracy. FACT: By the end of 1959 virtually all major business was under state control and critical newspapers were silenced. All of the media was eventually controlled by the government, including the internet. Today in order to get on the internet you must get permission from the government. Castro is not a hero to journalists or the citizens who lost their business. FACT: In 1961 he declared himself a Marxist Leninist. He purged his military, replacing them with communist militants, and those who complained he jailed, executed, or forced to leave Cuba. They were friends who fought along side him in the revolution. Their crime: they wanted what they fought for, democracy not communism. Castro is not a hero to many of his compatriots of the Revolution. FACT: Commandant Huber Motos, who fought in the revolution alongside Castro and even rode into Havana as a hero on a tank, standing with Castro, complained about communism creeping into government and the military, and he resigned. Castro called him a traitor and he was imprisoned for 20 years, sixteen of these years in solitary confinement. FACT: In July 1961, during the Cold War, the U.S. broke relations with Cuba. In the early 60s Castro made a deal with the Soviet Union to place nuclear missiles in Cuba aimed at the U.S. Castro then suggested, in a cable to Premier Khrushchev on October 27, 1962, that they launch from Cuba a first nuclear strike. In a letter to Castro, Soviet Premier Khrushchev rejected the idea: "You realize of course where that would have led, rather than a simple strike it would have been the start of a thermonuclear war." Castro is not a hero to those who remember he wanted to nuke the U.S. FACT: Castro is the man whose repressive government caused the U.N. Human Rights Commission, along with Amnesty International, from the 1960s into the 21st century to condemn Cuba for "the continuing violation of human rights." In April 1986, "The Tribunal on Cuba" met in Paris and, as reported on April 18 in Le Figaro, "testimony by former Cuban prisoners resembled those made 40 years ago by survivors of the Death Camps." Castro is not a hero to those mistreated in Cuban prisons. FACT: Just six years ago Castro arrested 75 human rights activists, journalists and opposition figures and sentenced them to terms ranging from six to 28 years. Last year a free press group, "Reporters without Borders," appealed to Raul Castro to release the 19 reporters in prison since 2003. Castro is no hero to those unfairly jailed or their families. FACT: Since Castro's triumph in the revolution, over two million Cubans, many at great risk of life, fled Cuba. Something must be wrong. Some were Cubans whose property had been confiscated, small businessmen whose stores and shops were closed, the very poor dwellers in Havana's squalid inner-city, as well as many poor throughout the country. They were fed up with economic hardship and virtual disappearance of political freedom. That exodus continues today. Castro is no hero to the millions of loyal Cuban people who had to flee their homeland. FACT: In the 1970s the U.S. and Cuba decided to try to get along. At a secret meeting in the Hotel Pierre, near LaGuardia Airport in New York, Cuban and American officials tried to work out a rapprochement. In 1975 Secretary of State Henry Kissinger announced the U.S. was ready to "begin a new relationship." The two countries were on the brink of an agreement. Then Fidel Castro made one of the worse decisions in his life. Just as the normalization of relations between Cuba and the U.S. seemed imminent, Castro decided to rekindle his international ambitions. He faced a choice, intervention with Cuban troops into Angola's civil war, or normalize relations with the United States. Unfortunately he made the wrong choice. With Cuban troops fighting in Angola, President Gerald Ford said Castro's intrusion into Angola precludes any improvement of relations with Cuba. Castro is no hero to the Cubans who wanted to renew U.S. relations. FACT: Like an ancient potentate, Castro has passed his power on to his younger brother Raul Castro. Raul was then elected president in a sham election as the only candidate on the ballot. According to CNN, Time and the Wall Street Journal , Raul has a "reputation for ruthlessness." If you think Cuba is going to have a meaningful change with Raul, don't bet on it. Raul has said socialism and communism will remain. Recently it is reported that Cuba was discussing a plan to bring the Russian military back into Cuba. Raul just allowed the Cuban people to own a cell phone. A start, but funny, as most Cubans really can't afford them. SUMMARY: So, Castro is no hero. The real Fidel Castro lied when he promised democracy, he confiscated businesses large and small, he executed or jailed many of his fellow revolutionaries, he silenced a free press, he rebuked the U.S. when he had a chance at rapprochement, he caused millions of loyal Cubans to leave their homeland and in a secret deal with the Soviet Union, he had nuclear missiles placed in Cuba aimed at the U.S. Then he actually suggested to Khrushchev he wanted to fire them in a preemptive strike. That's right, nuke America. And so as he leaves the world stage and as the U.S. plans for better relations, let's remember what Castro actually did to his country. The more than two million that fled Cuba, they remember. Yes, I know Cuba has a lot of doctors, but the misery he brought to the Cuban people for the last 49 years is the real legacy of Fidel Castro. More on Cuba
 
Job Losses Push Safer Mortgages To Foreclosure Top
As job losses rise, growing numbers of American homeowners with once solid credit are falling behind on their mortgages, amplifying a wave of foreclosures.
 
Thrice-Married Weekly Standard Writer Slammed For Making 'The Worst Case Yet Against Gay Marriage' Top
There is something nice--refreshing even--about a single article that incorporates everything you despise in a certain worldview. What's more, rather than looking for polite or euphemistic words, it is lovely to be able to say that the article is, simply, dreadful.
 
Cheryl Saban: Lessons Learned Top
I graduated from high school in 1969. During those years, the draft was in full play. "The War" in Viet Nam, though it wasn't really supposed to be called a war, was a constant subject of conversation and heated debates. We were all touched by it in some way. My brother, who is two years older than I am, waited nervously for his number to be drawn. All of my young male friends, relatives, and neighbors who were of eligible age, were either already in Viet Nam, or enlisting, worrying about their number coming up, or trying to find a way out of fighting a war many of my age group didn't believe in. I remember when Viet Nam's deadly net was cast around my relatively small universe. One of my neighbors - a kid we all went to school with, Louie, was killed there. Another very close friend, Frank, joined up, flew helicopters, and went back to Viet Nam on multiple extremely dangerous missions. He survived. One of my second cousins fought in Viet Nam, and became addicted to drugs there. When I think about the horrors of war, it's easy for me to imagine why taking drugs to shift that reality would be appealing. But the drugs didn't erase his memories, and my cousin Eric had been around so much death, that he wanted to kill himself. When he was shipped back home to the US, I went to visit him in the Naval Hospital in San Diego. He was a handsome, gentle guy, with blue eyes that still had a sparkle in them. I guess I had a schoolgirl crush on him, but since he was a cousin, our friendship remained totally platonic. But as it turned out, he needed more friends. Eric was eventually released from the hospital, and though he tried to get back into the swing of everyday life, his addiction and the reason for it was never extinguished. A few years after coming home from Viet Nam, Eric succeeded in taking his own life - by overdosing on drugs. What a waste. I blame the war - it never left him. But I also think Eric was set adrift, and didn't receive enough societal support to overcome the demons unleashed in him. What could have been done differently? In my first year of college, I was among the peaceful, hippie protestors that engaged in sit-ins and street-concerts to try to get our government to change course - to stop. Now that I look back on it, I can imagine that this display of protest was very difficult for the veterans of Viet Nam to take. Could we have done a better job of communicating our admiration for those who fought? Yes, I believe we could have. Though it was the war we were protesting against, not the warriors, sadly, many civilians lost sight of that fact when our warriors returned home. The returning soldiers tried to resume a 'regular life,' but they were wounded psychically and physically, with injuries and memories most of us couldn't begin to fathom. Plenty of veterans felt shame and blame, rather than the support and gratitude they should have been feeling. I hope we never repeat this mistake. Our service men and women and our veterans deserve better than that. This Memorial Day, I am remembering all the Erics, Franks and Louie's - the warriors of all the wars. Some of them couldn't handle the stress, and either took it out on others, or themselves. Some died in battle. And others survived, and signed on for tour after tour - bearing the difficulty and dread of war so that the rest of us can go on about our usual routines. This weekend, I'll be thinking that while we have the right to protest against war, the right to state our opinions and beliefs, and the right to work hard to use peaceful methods to bring about the changes we seek, we wouldn't have many of those rights without our warriors. We owe our way of life to the men and women who have stepped up, followed the orders of the Commander in Chief, and too many times, given the ultimate sacrifice. I will bow my head and offer my respect, admiration, and gratitude to our service men and women, past, present, and future. And as a peacenik, I will also be praying that one day, we'll find another way to resolve our differences. More on Vietnam
 
Michael Giltz: Cannes 2009: Chat With Award-Winning Director Xavier Dolan (Video) Top
One of the big discoveries of the festival was Xavier Dolan, the 20 year old writer, director and star of I Killed My Mother. The film won three major awards at the Directors Fortnight and is already guaranteed to be playing at the Toronto Film Festival and -- if the rumours are true -- will probably be invited to the New York Film Festival as well before opening commercially. I've got a full length profile of Dolan that should run on The Advocate website in the next few days. Come back here to find a direct link when it goes up or just keep checking out The Advocate's website. Until then, here's a clip for cineastes with the Montreal-based Dolan talking about the visual style he used in his very funny but brutal debut. We were chatting at the private beach of the Majestic Hotel in Cannes, so the sound in the background is the crashing surf. Ce qui charme! More on CANNES
 
Michael Giltz: Cannes 2009 Wrapup: Quick Movie Rundown and Sights & Sounds Of The Fest Top
Here's my Cannes 2009 scrapbook: THE FILMS I REVIEWED, IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Un Prophete **** (out of four) Up *** 1/2 Police, Adjective *** 1/2 The Time That Remains *** 1/2 Inglourius Basterds *** 1/2 I Killed My Mother *** Samson & Delilah *** Fish Tank *** Eyes Wide Open/Einaym Pkuhot *** Looking For Eric *** Daniel Y Ana *** My Neighbor, My Killer ** 1/2 Bright Star ** 1/2 Mother ** 1/2 Vengeance ** 1/2 Visages ** Sister Smile/Soeur Sourie ** 1/2 A Town Called Panic ** The King Of Escapes ** Broken Embraces ** Taking Woodstock ** In The Beginning ** Spring Fever ** The Army Of Crime ** Jaffa ** I Love You, Philip Morris ** The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus ** Precious ** Thirst ** Enter The Void * 1/2 Kinatay * 1/2 Irene * 1/2 Vincere * 1/2 Les Herbes Folles * 1/2 The White Ribbon * 1/2 Montparnasse * 1/2 Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky * 1/2 The Father Of My Children * Anti-Christ * The Silent Army * To Die Like A Man * Map Of The Sounds Of Tokyo -- no stars MOVIES I REGRET MISSING Dogtooth, Farewell Gary, Agora, Drag Me To Hell, Petition, No One Knows About Persian Cats, Tales From The Golden Age, The Wind Journeys, the restored Senso, Tetro, Humpday, Eastern Plays, Les Beaux Gosses, Polytechnique, La Pivellina, The Family Wolberg, Ajami BEST QUOTE PROMOTING YOUR OWN FILM For The French Kissers aka Les Beaux Gosses , director Riad Sattouf declares loudly in an ad that ran in the trades: "I love masturbation! What a great subject. Bring it on, I can talk about it for hours." FUNNIEST MOMENT ON THE BEACH Three young women gasp with delight and literally stop in their tracks when they spot a giant billboard promoting Peter Jackson's upcoming movie The Lovely Bones. First girl, excitedly: " The Lovely Bones! Oh my God!" Second girl, informatively: "That was a book." Third girl, dimly: "I read part of it but I never finished. They turned it into a movie?" BEST POSTERS FOR UPCOMING MOVIES ROUNDUP #1 Hitler Goes Kaput! Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Undead High Kick Girl! is from the producers of Shaolin Girl (I spot a trend) and features a Buffy-like young Asian woman in a school girl skirt delivering a powerful kick sky high. Tagline: "She is more than just a cute high school girl. She is a master of Karate!" MOST HUMANIZING MOMENT Lars Von Trier spent half his press conference responding to indignant questions about his new film Anti-Christ. (Saying you were outraged by a Lars Von Trier film is like saying you went to a John Waters film and found it in poor taste. What the hell did you expect?) He (sort of) joked that he was the best film director in the world. It was said wryly, but he later made clear that this is the sort of self-confidence and ego you need in order to make a movie and he was sure that other directors felt the same way. When Willem Dafoe later referred to Von Trier as "a great director," Von Trier interrupted him and said, "the greatest" to much laughter. Amid all the hullabaloo, people often forgot that Von Trier discussed having a nervous breakdown and believing for a while that he'd never make a movie again. And almost no one mentioned that during the entire press conference, you could see his hands trembling. He may be a provocateur, but he's also human. THE FRENCH APPROACH TO BUSINESS I love grabbing a freshly baked croissant on my way to the first screening of the day, which usually takes place at the ungodly hour of 8:30 am. For various reasons, that wasn't happening this year so I went looking for a croissant AFTER the first or second screening of the day, anywhere from 11 am to 1 p.m. One bakery -- and there's a boulangerie every few blocks -- was especially appealing. It had a cute sign, a warm wood interior and a terrific quiche I purchased one afternoon. Every time I walked towards the place -- literally, every single time -- the only person on staff would be sitting at a chair and table outside, smoking and chatting and drinking with friends. I would wander up, walk in and they would reluctantly get out of their seats and follow me inside. And every time I went there -- yes, every single time -- they would be completely out of croissants, be it 1 p.m. or 11:30 am and almost always out of virtually everything else. Now, an American bakery that sold out of croissants by 11 am and had customers coming in to buy more (I wasn't the only one) would immediately say, "Ha! I need to make more croissants. I'll make more money!" But the French say, "Voila! My work is done and I can spend more time sitting and chatting with friends." I was frustrated about not getting that croissant but couldn't help appreciating their approach to life. On the other hand, my last two favorite bakeries in Cannes have since gone out of business. CRAZIEST PRESS CONFERENCE MOMENT At the press conference for Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock, a Brazilian journalist gave a soccer jersey of the great player Ronaldo to Emile Hirsch for no apparent reason. He didn't ask Hirsch a question, Hirsch doesn't play soccer in the movie and it wasn't clear if the journalist was doing this himself or for Ronaldo. Then he talked about Ang Lee's many movies with homosexual themes and asked, "Would you ever realize another kind of Hulk with Brokeback elements, something like this guy?" and then held up a Hulk action figure he had painted all pink. Once everyone stopped laughing, Lee actually gave an interesting answer. "Inside everybody is very complicated," said Lee. "We're all kinds of Hulks with many different elements. I'm fascinated by some great stories and they happen to revolve around homosexuality. It just fascinates me. I don't go inside and examine what exactly is -- I just portray them. I hope people will respond in a very complex way to it. This movie [ Taking Woodstock ] will have that too [the lead character is gay]. But it's not an essential core problem or issue as in Brokeback Mountain. " Then he laughs and adds, "If you examine Hulk , I'm sure there's some homo problem there too." BEST POSTERS FOR UPCOMING MOVIES ROUNDUP #2 Gladiators Versus Werewolves Just Peck, with the tagline: "In suburbia, no one can hear you scream" Gangster Exchange, which pictures two tough guys walking down an alley with one of them splattered in blood and carrying...a toilet. The tagline: "Guns, thugs, and toilets made of drugs." That explains that. Lesbian Vampire Killers, which asks, reasonably enough, "What more could you possibly want?" THE HOLLYWOOD/BOLLYWOOD CROSSOVER CONTINUES The Italian Job is getting remade for the Indian market. Which means there has been a British version, the original Italian Job; an American remake starring Mark Wahlberg and now a Hindi version. But, as of yet, still no Italian version of The Italian Job. Another Hindi film announced at Cannes is Kambakkht Ishq, a big budget Bollywood musical featuring big US stars in the story of an Indian stuntman who takes Hollywood by storm but still can't leap, dive or dodge his way into a woman's heart. Among the US actors set to appear are Denise Richards, Brandon Routh (I guess that next Superman movie has been delayed) and...wait for it, Sylvester Stallone. If they get him to sing and dance, I'm in. THE BOOKS I READ TO PREPARE FOR CANNES OR WHILE STANDING IN LINE FOR A MOVIE Mussolini by Denis Mack Smith *** (out of four) Taking Woodstock by Eliot Tiber ** (but fun) Keats by Andrew Motion *** 1/2 The Complete Poems Of John Keats *** Hypatia Of Alexandria by Maria Dzielska *** Seven Rivers West by Edward Hoagland *** My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell **** (Ok, to be honest I haven't quite finished yet, but I'm loving it) MOST MISUNDERSTOOD FILM Lars Von Trier's Anti-Christ is not only NOT misogynist, it's very clearly pro-woman and against the patriarchal societies that have tortured and killed women throughout history. This is made explicitly clear throughout the film and -- if you still didn't get it -- is pounded into your head with the dramatic images at the finale. That final scene is inexplicable if you believe the film is somehow violating women. Mind you, that doesn't mean the film is actually good. It's not. But it is a film, with a boldly theatrical approach to telling its dark fairy tale and revealing its very Grimm heart. I've loved earlier work of his like Dogville and Breaking The Waves and would gladly see this movie ten times over rather than sit through Gasper Noe's vapid Enter The Void even twice. MOST DRAMATIC MOMENT OFF SCREEN Walking along the Rue d'Antibes (a main drag always filled with locals, tourists and fest-goers), I saw two Japanese people standing about ten feet apart, a young man and a young woman who were clearly together but arguing. The young woman was facing in one direction but looking backwards at the man. He was turning in the other direction and looking back at her. She sort of made a move to go and then stared back at him again, as if to say, "Really? You're going to go in that direction? You're not coming with me?" He stared at her blankly, not giving away his intentions in the least. She feinted again and then finally, angrily started walking away. He sighed, put on his earplugs and then started walking in the opposite direction. I was going his way and two blocks later he suddenly stopped, turned around completely and stared back the way he came. Hadn't she turned around to follow him? I couldn't resist stopping to see. Nope, she hadn't. He hesitated, sighed and then -- defeated -- started to walk back after her. If I'd had a movie camera with me, it would have made a perfect short film. MOST UNEXPECTED SOURCE OF SUSPENSE The dictionary that takes center stage in the gripping 15+ minute scene that ends the brilliant Police, Adjective. THE MOVIE MOMENT I CAN'T SHAKE It happened during the very first screening, which was the world premiere of the latest Pixar film Up. In it, an old man is living on his own after his beloved wife died. They were each other's world and had no children, so he has literally no one, just a small home slowly being surrounded by skyscrapers and some personal belongings, like the mailbox in their front yard they decorated together. When a construction worker accidentally knocks the mailbox over, the old man -- impotent with age, hard of hearing, and grumpy by nature -- loses it. The worker apologizes and tries to fix it, but the old man is furious that the guy is even touching something so important to him. They get in an unintentional tug of war and the old man momentarily lashes out, hitting the worker with his walking cane and drawing blood. People rush to help the worker and the old man is frightened and scared; he knows he's messed up and something as simple as a small accident like this can leave him powerless and in the hands of the authorities who will undoubtedly decide he needs to be placed in a nursing home. It's a quiet, powerful scene that takes place early in the film and it captures with heartbreaking precision the vulnerability and fear that can overtake you when you're old. After years of success and control, you become like a little child again and strangers insist on telling you what to do. Few movies have ever captured the minefield that is old age as adroitly as Up , which is one more reason why the first film of the fest will surely be one of the best films of the year. MY SHORT FILM, A SURE-FIRE WINNER AT NEXT YEAR'S CANNES Here's the short film I shot at Cannes that's certain to be a winner at next year's festival. I wrote, directed, edited and star in it, a la Orson Welles. It's a little more action-packed than most movies that play here, but it's certainly in the same vein as the other films at Cannes. Since I can't sneak you into screenings of the films in Competition, this is as close as you can get at the moment. Enjoy, thanks for reading and au revoir! More on CANNES
 
Mark Goulston, M.D.: Memorial Day, 2009 -- Sacrifice Repaid Top
The opposite of selfishness is not generosity, it's sacrifice. Selfishness --> Generosity --> Sacrifice Last Memorial Day, television actor and Marine Hugh O'Brien spoke to the assembled audience at the Los Angeles National Cemetery and told us that we were there to honor the all who gave some and the some who gave all so the rest of us could be free. I didn't serve in Vietnam because I pulled 363 in the draft lottery. I have spent the last forty years living a good life. My high school classmates, Arthur Stroyman and Paul Dunne, have spent the last forty years on the wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial . My children age 27, 24 and 19 have also had a blessed life going to nice colleges and now have jobs. During the same time my good friend Jane Bright's son Evan Ashcraft was killed in Iraq. The pain and anger threatened to consume Jane until she focused on what Evan kept writing to her in his letters: "When I come home from Iraq, I just want to help people. Evan" To fulfill his dream Jane and her husband Jim established the Evan Ashcraft Foundation . Every day I drive by the intersection of Sepulveda and Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. And each time I usually see a veteran of an older war. They are now beginning to be replaced by veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq, by people the age of my children. On a good day, I'll roll down my window and give one a dollar. But on most days I'll be on my Blackberry on a call of questionable import and just wave the veteran on refusing to even make eye contact. I can no longer sit back and do nothing. I don't think honoring those who gave so much so we can be free -- the soldiers, veterants, police, firefighters and their families -- is enough; we need to repay them for their sacrifice. I dedicated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for Dummies to those who sacrificed so much to create peace on Earth so they might regain peace of mind. In celebration of Memorial Day I thought it was timely to spread the word about the Aids and Attendance Program to qualified Vets who could benefit from assistance with their care needs. The Veterans' Administration offers a Special Pension with Aid and Attendance (A&A) benefit that is largely unknown. This Special Pension (part of the VA Improved Pension program) allows for Veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing, undressing or taking care of the needs of nature to receive additional monetary benefits. It also includes individuals who are blind or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity. Assisted care in an assisted living facility also qualifies. This most important benefit is overlooked by many families with Veterans or surviving spouses who need additional monies to help care for ailing parents or loved ones. This is a "pension benefit" and is not dependent upon service-related injuries for compensation. Most Veterans who are in need of assistance qualify for this pension. Aid and Attendance can help pay for care in the home, nursing home or assisted living facility. A Veteran is eligible for up to $1,632 per month, while a surviving spouse is eligible for up to $1,055 per month. A couple is eligible for up to $1,949 per month. Find out more at: VeteranAid.org PS: Please forward this information to someone who could use it!
 

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