Freakonomics What happens when a reasonably intelligent journalist and a completely unconventional economist get together? That would be Freakonomics. For any remotely non-ADD individual, it's easy to finish this in an afternoon, but the thoughts you have about the questions raised tend to stay with you for a while. I think the reason I liked it so much is that every chapter brought about a "duh" moment for me. I am not well-studied enough to articulate all my thoughts on some subjects, but Levitt and Dubner get paid to do the studying for me (although they would likely be the first to point out, since it is a major theme in the book, that I shouldn't let the so-called experts do my thinking for me). Consider the link between Roe vs. Wade and crime rates in the early 90's. Being pro-choice, I definitely feel that women who don't want a baby shouldn't have one. It's bad for the mom, it's bad for the kid, and the authors put some time into research that seems to suggest it's bad for society - the very types of women who were most likely to benefit from Roe seem to be the very type that would tend to have children that grow up to commit crimes. Of course I'm dumbing this down - that's why I think you should read the book. Even if you don't agree with all their analyses, you come away with the sense that life is richer and fuller if you just turn situations on their head and see where that train of thought leads you.

Labels: review

  ¶ 11:44 1 Comments

  GRINDHOUSE This is one of the most original & entertaining movie experiences to come around in a long, long time.

I almost didn't want to see this movie thanks to a preview trailer at 300 that showed Rose McGowan with her gun leg. It left me just saying "OoooKaaay..." & wondering if Tarantino/Rodgriguez had really slipped over the deep end this time.

Well, they did - the movie IS very schlocky - and yet they make it work for them instead of against them. It is, in fact, very funny schlock, from the "prevues" & "missing reel"s to the inherent cheesiness of a zombie flick.

It's also very "girl power," as a friend of mine noted as we made our way out of the theaters. This is Kill Bill style girl power, though - action driven.

Downside: disgusting gore. See, there's gore, and then there's disgusting gore. Kill Bill, with all its blood, for example, didn't bother me. This did, as I'm sure was intentional. It's really a kind of attack on the senses. Tarantino (who acted in Rodriguez's film) seems to love to play up these sexually disgusting parts to the max. The scene where he is chasing Rose McGowan while his balls drip infection is the absolute definition of disgusting, sexually deviant gore. Be forewarned.

The fact is, though, that I still give the double feature 4.5 stars. I wasn't bored the entire 3+ hours. And being wholly original goes a long way.

Oh, yea, disclaimer: I am friends with one of Rose McGowan's sisters, but not with her. So I don't think I'm biased, but I'll just lay that on the table for ya.

Here's NPR's review: NPR GRINDHOUSE Review

Labels: gore, GRINDHOUSE, review, Rose McGowan, schlock

  ¶ 13:28 0 Comments