October 24, 2006
Costco: Getting it right
When we swore off all currency contact with the contaminated poision of Walmart, that also meant kissing our Sam's Club membership goodbye. We had been members for a year or more and it was hard to let go of all those discounted, bulk items. So we thought we'd try the local alternative, Costco. Right from the beginning we were impressed with the quality of the meats and prepared foods. They also have a fabulous photo department where you can check out the printer specifications on line and adjust your photos accordingly when you upload them. When we first joined, Costco even had a few organic and natural choices, confined mostly to dry or canned goods like cereal and juices. But as the year has progressed, they've added double or triple the natural foods bulk selection to the warehouse. We can now purchase products like fruit leather, organic milk, organic prepared burritos or soups, antibiotic, free range eggs, and a whole plethora of selections from companies like Amy's, Newman's Own and Nature's Path. This has saved us a shitload of money and made our membership worth it's weight in gold. I highly recommend getting on board with a Costco in your area. You'll be racking up the savings in no time.
The Dog Whisperer
Cesar Millan mesmerizes dogs and humans alike on his National Geographic show, The Dog Whisperer. If you haven't heard of him yet, you must have been in a closet for the last two years. We caught a few epsidoes of the first season and were enthralled. The man walks into a room and immediately garners respect from even the most difficult pooch. This, he assures the average insignificant human, is not canine magic. He schools owners about pack mentality, discipline and behavior tactics to calm anxiety, quelch aggresiveness and reform even the worst canine criminal. Cesar claims that, for the most part, it's the owner that needs to be rehabilitated not the dog. For the tough cases he recommends doggie training camp, where he and his staff run a pack of forty or more dogs that together help to train and reform troubled doggies. It's amazing to watch how often Cesar gets bitten, scratched and generally roughed up and yet his firm, patient grip never wavers and by the end of the episode, the dog is usually licking the face of the same man he had sworn to kill a few moments ago. After a few epsidoes, the dialogue gets old. It's always about assuming leadership, giving the dog exercise and not subconciously rewarding negative behavior or anxiety. You could probably watch it with the sound turned off and know exactly what was happening. But it's Cesar magnetic, serene personality that really makes the show compelling and makes me stop to catch a few minutes when I'm scrolling through the satellite menu. If you've got a troubled dog, just catch a few episodes of "The Dog Whisperer." You'll feel like an expert. That is until you attempt to actually apply the techniques. Now THAT is a different story.
October 10, 2006
"V" for Vendetta
I'm not sure what I was expecting when I watched this movie, but I'd carefully avoided any buzz about the film because I knew I wanted to see it when it made it's way to DVD. So I hadn't any clue how very applicable the plot was to today's America nor the startling but quite plausible connections the creators of the Matrix had made in "V" for Vendetta. Natalie Portman plays the character of "Evey," and her performance is definitely Oscar worthy as she battles her way from niavety to courageous activist in a tolitarian government. The film plays with the notions of security versus liberty and, while it's depiction of a society brainwashed by fear is terrifying and uncomfortable for it's realistic parallels, there is also a clear message that the course of politics is always in the hands of the people, whether by democracy or revolution. Pay attention as well to the not so subtle religious overtones throughout and much of the hidden innuendo about the current administration. Fun, fun, fun!
Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain
Amelie is one of those rare foreign films where you completely forget you're reading subtitles the entire time until you think back and say "Why didn't I watch that sooner? Oh, yeah. It had subtitles." This jem is well worth the additionial intellectual brain power. The film follows a young French girl, Amelie, in her journey to overcome her sheltered, emotionally cold upbringing and forge the relationships she longs for in the adult world. If this sounds like a very depressing, involved plot, think again because the movie delivers this journey in a refreshingly quaint, playful manner. The cinematography and colorful, visual saturation are stunning and give the film a unique, artsy feel. In the end, you'll realize this little foreign film has charmed and beguiled you from the very beginning and it'll leave you wondering- why aren't more American romance films like this?
October 3, 2006
The Corporation
A fascinating documentary on the evolution of the modern corporation, the film "The Corporation," delves into the issues surrounding the modern corporation and it's effects on society at large. A suprisingly even handed film, the movie has interviews from both critics and former CEO's of major corporations. Both George and I spent the first part of the movie enthralled with the description of the history of the modern corporation, the details of which both of us had simply taken for granted. I think I can credit this movie with single handedly convincing me never to drink milk treated with BGH. Definitely a must see for the hippie and capitalist alike.
Gene Simmon's Family Jewels
Whether or not you were a KISS fan back in the day, it's hard not to appreciate the iconic image Gene Simmons has built. A&E has a new reality series called Gene Simmons Family Values, based on the lead singer of KISS and if you were expecting a version of the Osbornes, think again. The series highlights his girlfriend of twenty plus years, Shannon Tweed (former Playboy model) and their two smartass teenage kids, Nick and Sophie. What is refreshing about this take on the Hollywood family is their absolute normalcy and the fact that, despite the unconventional lifestyle, Simmons and Tweed appear to have created a close knit family that genuinely loves one another. They play their share of pranks and trade good humored barbs, but for the most part, the family seems to gang up on Gene. The kids and Shannon make it their personal vendetta to keep Gene's ego in check. Check it out on A&E, Mondays at 10/9 central.