Dark And Layered With Meaning

As if we need an excuse to watch a movie starring the daring Eva Green...

The 2008 movie Franklyn is set in a futuristic dystopian theocracy where secrets have become lies.  Or is it?  Directed by Gerald McMorrow, this science fiction flavored psychological thriller is stylish and visually rich, recalling V for Vendetta, Dark City, and Blade Runner, among others.  For some reason I am always surprised Ryan Phillipe can act, but he does well here.  The delightful Eva Green carries the emotional heart of the story, much of which is set in modern day London.  Actor Bernard Hill, most memorable as Theoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, does a nice turn as a grieving father seeking a long lost son.  The film weaves themes of estrangement, art, suicide, remorse, loss, madness, religion, and acts of redemption in moments of clarity.  It's not a perfect film, but it's a fine way to make use of your NetFlix watch instantly subscription some dark and quiet winter evening.

On the Importance of Herd Immunity

The decision to not vaccinate our children and ourselves is more than a personal choice...

The excellent Dr. Ginger Campbell, MD, released another fine Books and Ideas podcast on 28 February 2011.  Episode #40 features an interview with Dr. Paul Offitt, MD, most recently the author of Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All.

The takeaways from this interview, Offitt's book, and the war with the anti-vaccination lobby are simple...

"Children are actually at a greater risk if they are fully vaccinated and live in a relatively unvaccinated community (that would include going to a school that’s relatively unvaccinated) than if they’re unvaccinated and live in a highly-vaccinated community."

"Herd immunity is important for three reasons: 1) It stops the spread of disease. 2) It protects those who can’t be immunized. And, 3) It protects those who don’t respond to vaccines."

As always you can sign up for Dr. Campbell's engaging podcasts on iTunes or at her website.  More about Dr. Offitt, his work on this important issue, and his many books can be found here.

With Apologies to the Duke

True Grit (2010) is superior to the 1969 original in every way...except maybe that Dennis Hopper wasn't in this one.

The 13 year old Hailee Steinfeld is better than the 20 year old Kim Darby in the role of the 14 year old Mattie.  Matt Damon is better than Glenn Campbell (did I even have to say that?).  And, whether you care to admit it or deny it, Jeff Bridges is better than John Wayne (though neither version was either actors' best movie)  It's so good I may even read its inspiration, the 1968 novel of the same name by Charles Portis.  True Grit deserved better than it got at the 83rd Academy Awards but the Oscar's relationship to excellence is variable and fickle.

Cassie Finishes The Birkie In Under Three Hours

Our daughter Cassandra skied in her second American Birkebeiner in northern Wisconsin this weekend...

The 50 kilometer (yes, 31 miles!) course stretched from Cable to Hayward, Wisconsin.  Her precise time was 2:57:13.1.  She placed 798 out of 3677 in Birkebeiner Skate.  Cassie was 83 out of 695 in Birkebeiner Skate Women. In her age group she was 21 out of 112.

It was a fine time...except for the cowbells.

Well done, Cassie!

What Islamist Terrorist Threat?

Shikha Dalmia argues "Al Qaeda doesn't have what it takes to hurt America"

In her well-reasoned Op-Ed in The Daily, the world's first iPad newspaper, Dalmia asks if the $2 trillion dollar "Global War on Terror" has been a complete waste of treasure?  Have we expended the lives of 5000 American servicemen and women for little or no return?  She wonders aloud whether "post-9/11 security has made America invulnerable" or if "the Islamists never posed that a big threat to begin with?"  These are tough questions.  Shall we ignore them if they have unhappy answers?

Thanks for Bruce Schneier for the link to Dalmia's essay.

On a related note - strange and peripheral as it may be - the US Army ordered its PsyOps team in Afghanistan to apply its propaganda skills to influence to congressional delegations visiting Camp Eggers in Kabul.  That's illegal in case anyone cares...

Who is fighting who?

UPDATED TO ADD: Consider complimenting this quick read with this podcast of an excellent LSE panel titled The Changing Geostrategic Landscape in the Middle East.  We've got some thinking to do.