Sex addiction therapy

So, David Duchovny voluntarily checked himself into a rehabilitation facility for sex addiction.


I wonder what kind of therapy sessions they offer??

Even more, however, I wonder if they're hiring nurses...

La Gabbianella e il Gatto

My friend Fabrizio brought this movie to the kids from Italy telling us it was very sweet, and he was right.

[SPOILER PARAGRAPH] It's the story of a dying seagull that hands off her newly deposited egg to the only creature present at the time, a cat. She makes the cat promise to take care of her spawn, as well as teaching it how to fly when it's ready. The cat, reluctantly, accepts a burden that won't be easy to carry, especially given his nature of hunter of the exact same creature he's now bound to protect and raise.

The movie teaches about friendship, commitment and the moral duty of doing what's right, and as such, it is an invaluable tool when dealing with children and these kinds of topics.

The story is simple and well developed and the animation is 2D and sort of crude, if you will, but enjoyable nonetheless.

A good movie, if you can track it down this side of the ocean.

Grade: 7

Charlotte’s Web

This is the animated version from 1973 and I’d recommend it for every child out there for its message of friendship, love, and commitment.

[SPOILER PARAGRAPH] Wilbur, a very sweet pig, is terrified by the revelation that his lot in life is to get fat and be slaughtered for bacon. The factory animals, however, all try to help him escape that fate, most of all, his best friend Charlotte, a very hard working and inventive spider. Will he be able to convince the farmer who owns him to spare him? And how?

The thing I liked the most was how effectively and gently the movie dealt with the topic of death, which is not easy when your audience is mostly composed by little children.

Given the age of the movie, the animation is obviously 2D, but it again confirmed my belief that when you have a good story and a solid script, you don’t need an army of supercomputers to hide behind.

A nice, gentle, sweet story that every family can enjoy and a valuable life lesson as well.

Grade: 8

Wall-E

The latest offering from Pixar is yet again a wonderful piece of animation that entertains the heart as well the brain and that everyone can enjoy.

As always, the realistic panoramic views of the metropolis of waste are breathtaking, the kind that make you wonder if what you’re watching is indeed computer generated or rather real photography.

Wall-E the robot has a sweet “soul” whose curiosity and desire to learn bring him to collect all sorts of human artifacts that we take for granted but that look interesting, useful, or simply beautiful to him. He’s also a hard worker who takes his duties seriously and doesn’t give up simply because the goal seems unattainable. Of course, this is also simply part of his programming.

Anyway, his world is turned upside down by the arrival of Eve, a much more advanced model than his, and a female robot. She’s on a mission and doesn’t have time to spend with Wall-E, but eventually he’ll conquer her as simply and assuredly as he conquers us.

But don’t be fooled by Wall-E’s childlike simplicity of thought. In fact, he’s the character that displays the most human of emotions among the last remaining members of our species.

A great screenplay, superb animation, and effective direction impart on this movie the highest of qualities. The most beautiful and amazing thing is that there are very few spoken interactions for the vast majority of the movie. The first 45 minutes or so see no conversations at all and yet are spellbinding, which is all the more impressive in an age when screenplays often turn out to be the weakest links of the movies on the market.

A great movie for the entire family and another hurray for Pixar. Don’t miss it.

Grade: 8.5

Congratulations!!

To Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi on their recent wedding:

'The love we felt from the people surrounding us, and the love we have for each other, made this the most beautiful and emotional day. And one that we'll never forget,' De Rossi said.

Now let's hope the voters in California don't turn the clock back on them as well as the other thousands of couples who have and will marry before the November elections.

The Dark Knight

Ray and I finally hired a baby sitter (second time this year – I know, at this point, we likely qualify for classification as “hermits”) and went to see this highly rated, greatly praised, loaded with hyperbole movie. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint.

Christopher Nolan, who directed this movie to smashing success, has now established himself as both a very artistic (Memento) and very commercial (the Batman franchise reboot, but also The Prestige) moviemaker. I particularly like him because he always makes sure to thoroughly develop the characters in his movies. That he can also make successful commercial summer tent-poles simply puts to shame any filmmaker who tries to do the same and miserably fails (Brett Ratner’s X-Men 3 installment comes to mind, but so does Joel Schumacher’s third and fourth Batmans as well as George Lucas’ Star Wars prequels).

Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Gary Oldman all slip back into their characters for a second time, and the results are as enthralling as the first time around. Oldman is the only one whose character’s presence seems to actually improve upon the first installment, although it could just be because the first time he wasn’t given as much material to work with.

New cast members include Maggie Gyllenhall as the romantic interest, a vast improvement over Katie Holmes' ridiculously bad caricature of a character, and Aaron Eckhart, who is excellent in the role of the new District Attorney who, like Batman himself, is trying to rid Gotham City of its criminals, although he does it in bright daylight, in a courtroom, and upholding the law.

A special mention goes to the new addition that steals the show, not only because of his acting abilities and particularly meaty role, but, alas, because of his premature death. Heath Ledger, who suddenly died this past January of accidental drug poisoning, had already established himself as one of the most promising actors of his generation, primarily through his constrained but intense role in Brokeback Mountain. The Dark Knight, in which he plays the Joker, was his last complete role, which certainly induced more people to go see it. And they weren’t disappointed.

When I first realized that the sequel to Batman Begins would feature the Joker as the villain, I was upset by the fact that some other actor would play the role so histrionically brought to life by the great Jack Nicholson. I also wondered which actor would actually have the courage to put himself in the unavoidable position of being compared to Nicholson’s achievement. The spellbinding performance Ledger delivered only made me sadder for his loss, because if anyone could go up against a legend like Jack Nicholson, it was him. And we won’t have the good fortune of witnessing any more wonderfully crafted roles from this greatly talented thespian.

The most surprising revelation about the new Joker was, however, that it doesn’t diminish Nicholson’s accomplishment, simply because the two Jokers are so completely different from each other, they can each live in their own universe. Nicholson’s Joker was more of a caricature, funnier and more stylized, with his bright colors, crisp makeup, and criminal acts performed to the upbeat tune of Danny Elfman’s score. That Joker was perfect for Tim Burton’s version of Batman, the first big screen adaptation of the super hero comic, that reflected the bright, shiny, and upbeat sensibilities of the late ‘80s.

Nolan’s Batman, on the other hand, reflects today’s darker times of economic uncertainly and ongoing military conflicts. This is the age of terrorism, and the new Joker is the quintessential terrorist, a guy who destroys, kills, and inflicts pain simply because he can, simply to test the human limits of morality and ethics. This Joker is personified chaos, and he revels in it.

Naturally, no movie could have been this good without a well fleshed out screenplay that linearly takes us on a roller coaster of intense emotions. From the violent robbery that opens the movie to the elegiac forced run of our hero that closes it, we feel for the people of Gotham City, we root for Batman, and we are rendered speechless by the Joker’s villainy.

Finally, the technical aspect of the movie is also, as one would expect, flawless. From the costumes to the visual effects, from the cinematography to the sound editing, every detail has been taken into consideration to make sure that nothing is detracted from the audience's experience. Of note is especially the makeup sported by Aaron Eckhart, which still gives me the chills for its veracity.

What else can be said about a movie that has broken all records but one in the Hollywood books (at the time I write this, The Dark Knight is the second most successful movie of all time, behind Titanic, whose record should, when the dust settles, still stand)? Just, Don't miss it.

Grade: 9

A sea of trash

When I read this article, I was speechless. Read on:

A "plastic soup" of waste floating in the Pacific Ocean is growing at an alarming rate and now covers an area twice the size of the continental United States, scientists have said.
[...]
Curtis Ebbesmeyer, an oceanographer and leading authority on flotsam, has tracked the build-up of plastics in the seas for more than 15 years and compares the trash vortex to a living entity: "It moves around like a big animal without a leash." When that animal comes close to land, as it does at the Hawaiian archipelago, the results are dramatic. "The garbage patch barfs, and you get a beach covered with this confetti of plastic," he added.

The "soup" is actually two linked areas, either side of the islands of Hawaii, known as the Western and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patches. About one-fifth of the junk – which includes everything from footballs and kayaks to Lego blocks and carrier bags – is thrown off ships or oil platforms. The rest comes from land.
[...]
Mr Moore, the heir to a family fortune from the oil industry, subsequently sold his business interests and became an environmental activist. He warned yesterday that unless consumers cut back on their use of disposable plastics, the plastic stew would double in size over the next decade.
[...]
Mr Moore said that because the sea of rubbish is translucent and lies just below the water's surface, it is not detectable in satellite photographs. "You only see it from the bows of ships," he said.

According to the UN Environment Programme, plastic debris causes the deaths of more than a million seabirds every year, as well as more than 100,000 marine mammals. Syringes, cigarette lighters and toothbrushes have been found inside the stomachs of dead seabirds, which mistake them for food.

Plastic is believed to constitute 90 per cent of all rubbish floating in the oceans. The UN Environment Programme estimated in 2006 that every square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of floating plastic.

Unbelievable.

We are completely soiling and ruining this planet's ecosystems and beauty.

Shameful and sad.

Creationism is major BS

But apparently still taught in school by ONE OUT OF EIGHT biology teachers!!!!

This is an old article I came by that states just that, which left me completely astonished:

One in eight U.S. high school teachers presents creationism as a valid alternative to evolution, says a poll published in the Public Library of Science Biology.

Of more than 900 teachers who responded to a poll conducted by Penn State University political scientist Michael Berkman and colleagues, 32 percent agreed that creationism and intelligent design should be taught as scientifically unsound. Forty percent said such explanations are religiously valid but inappropriate for science class.

However, 25 percent said they devoted classroom time to creationism or intelligent design. Of these, about one-half -- 12 percent of all teachers -- called creationism a "valid scientific alternative to Darwinian explanations for the origin of species," and the same number said that "many reputable scientists view these as valid alternatives to Darwinian theory."

I was floored when I read that, completely shocked. How can this happen? Creationism a valid scientific alternative to evolution? Really? Perhaps if you didn't evolve like the rest of us.

Unbelievable. I'd pull my kids from such a class so fast, that moron teacher's head would spin. And he'd probably attribute it to the approaching of the rapture.

The writer of the article puts it best:

Longtime Wired Science readers know that I'm less bothered than many science writers at the possibility of evolution being under-taught in science and biology courses. So long as a teacher imparts a sense of wonder and curiosity, the details will follow. However, teaching creationism or intelligent design alongside evolution, as if religious explanations had even a fraction of the scientific validity of evolution, is unacceptable -- it promotes fatally flawed, uncritical thinking.

I might be too extreme in my condemnation of this kind of teaching, but any rational person would have to agree with me that presenting creationism as having the same kind of weight as sound scientific research in a school setting, is wrong. It shouldn't be allowed.

The Prestige

The second movie about magic of 2006, this one, featuring Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Scarlett Johansson, is definitely the one with the most impact, both in terms of the story and of its lingering effects. Weeks after watching it, I’m still intrigued by it.

I won’t even summarize the story here, since this is the type of movie you want to watch without knowing anything about it at all. You’ll be mesmerized by the developments and the many twists and turns.

The cast is phenomenal from top to bottom, including the cameo-like appearances of David Bowie and Andy Serkis, the man responsible for bringing the creature Gollum to life so brilliantly in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Jackman and Bale are excellently cast as the dueling magicians, with Bale, arguably one of the greatest actors ever, giving yet another incredible performance. Caine too is astoundingly good.

Naturally, the best thing about The Prestige is its screenplay, which effectively keeps you on the edge of your seat while the story’s many interconnected plot intrigues unwind in front of your eyes.

This is absolutely a movie not to be missed, whether for its performances or its story. Watch it.

Grade: 8.5

The Illusionist

One of two movies about magicians that came out in 2006, this one featured Edward Norton in the title role and costarred Jessica Biel, as the love interest, Paul Giamatti and Rufus Sewell.

[SPOILER PARAGRAPH] Norton and Biel meet as youngsters, he the poor kid, she the rich heiress from an aristocratic family, and feel a deep attraction from the beginning. Unfortunately, given the difference in social status, a relationship is out of the question, and he is forced to leave town. He’ll be back a famous illusionist, whose secrets the local prince (Sewell) is eager to uncover. Given that the prince is due to marry his childhood sweetheart, a fierce competition ensues, stoked by Giamatti, the local chief of police.

Norton, one of the greatest actors of his generation, dazzles us with yet another great performance, followed by Giamatti, an actor that can only blame his poor looks on his lack of bigger stardom. Biel, whom I hadn’t even recognized and reminded me the whole time of Scarlett Johansson, played a simple part that didn’t require much more than just looking sad and pretty. Sewell was an interesting discovery. Certainly a good actor, his stern facial features probably limit the roles he can be cast in.

Overall, the movie is pretty good and offers up an interesting mystery. Of note is certainly the cinematography, with its dark and aged tones, which makes us feel like we’re peeking into a window open over the past. The score, by Philip Glass, is subtle, romantic, and intriguing and the editing masterfully sets up the many twists the movie goes through.

I would definitely recommend this movie for anyone into magic, Norton, or well crafted films.

Grade: 7

Massachusetts matches California

Yesterday, Deval Patrick, the first black governor of Massachusetts signed the bill repealing an archaic law created to keep whites and blacks from getting married in the state if their home state didn't allow interracial marriages.

While now fallen in disuse, the law had been resurrected by the opponents of same-sex marriage (first and foremost, Mitt Romney) to block gay couples from all over the country from coming to the state and get married.

Now that stupid last impediment is gone, and we can all, gay and straight, get married in the Bay State if we so desire. Too bad they didn't allow gays to do it right away, or Ray and I could have gotten married there instead of in Connecticut, where we had to get a civil union.

Oh well, same difference I guess, but I'm happy about the developments, and I have to say that I was surprised by how quickly this whole thing happened. Sometimes, progress really does come in burst, and happens suddenly, right in front of your eyes.

From BostonHerald.com:

Gay couples from outside Massachusetts are now free to marry in the state.

Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill today repealing a 1913 law that barred couples from marrying in Massachusetts if their union would not be valid in their own states.

Massachusetts has allowed gay marriages since 2004, but the move to repeal the law makes the state equal with California, which recently became the only other state to legalize gay marriage and has no residency requirement.

Out-of-state gay couples can marry as soon as today, since lawmakers included a provision to make the repeal go into effect immediately.
[...]
Patrick, the state’s first black governor, said he was proud to support the repeal of the law, which he said had its roots in racism. It was first passed 95 years ago as states tried to prevent interracial marriages.

He said the repeal shows that in Massachusetts, “equal means equal.”

“In five years now, ... the sky has not fallen, the earth has not opened to swallow us all up, and more to the point, thousands and thousands of good people - contributing members of our society - are able to make free decisions about their personal future, and we ought to seek to affirm that every chance we can,” said Patrick, whose 18-year-old daughter revealed recently she is a lesbian.