Love Actually

A few years ago, my mom gave me a copy of the 2003 film "Love Actually." It is truly great. I forget how much I love it until I sit down and watch it again, often around the holidays.

This is a classic you really shouldn't miss. If you've never seen it before, check your local library for it, pick it up at the video store, or put it on your Netflix queue (here, I'll even make it wasy for you: Love Actually Netflix Link). It's an especially good holiday flick.

I tried to find a good clip that wouldn't spoil too many of the scenes. This was the best I could do, below. Oh, and by the way, the footage at the start and end of the film is all real (not acted).

Another Interesting Documentary

During lunch today, I watched another Instant Netflix documentary G. said she watched last night. It was called "Kicking It." It was about a Homeless World Cup. It too has an associated website:

http://www.kickingitthefilm.com/

Born Into Brothels

I just watched a documentary on instant Netflix called "Born Into Brothels." It is about a photography education project for children born into the red light district of Calcuta. I recommend it. I didn't think I'd be able to make it through, that it would be too sad. It was sad, but also hopeful in some ways, and important in many more.

See also: http://www.kids-with-cameras.org

Intermission Videos

I am taking a break from a brain-intensive project I am doing for work. Thought during my break I'd post some intermission videos (videos you can come back and enjoy as you have the time while I am taking a web and phone communication hiatus).

The video clips here (all of varying lengths) are all related to the following theme: TV and Movie Characters Who Could Just Be on the Autism Spectrum ;-)...

Dwight Schrute





Sheldon





Remy





Spike





Snape or Luna??







Gregory House






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCPkoqGyVpI


Monk





Max





Napoleon Dynamite





Joon



Arnie

(I've never seen this movie...but this video made me cry)




Forrest Gump



Juno



Gilligan



Jerry Espenson

Movie Recommendation: King Corn

I watched another food documentary on Instant Netflix today. The title was "King Corn." It featured a segment from Wray, Colorado. Funny that. I spent a summer in Wray. Right around the fifty-one minute mark of the movie...that's what I remember from driving into Wray. Cows packed into small confined spaces as tightly as they could fit, and the stench of it all.

This movie title and subtitle makes it seem like it is going to be predictable, and yeah, perhaps the message is (although G. thought the message was a little unclear, I thought it was a well told story). But it does some interesting things along the way, and it was a well worth-it and enjoyable watch. Around one hour and twelve minutes, when they started breaking down the farm by finances, the "a-ha" moments started rolling out one after another.

The only thing I found irritating about this video is that there was a whole segment on diabetes, but not once was type II explained as a disease seperate from type I, with a different cause, pathological process, and often scope of complication. That's one of my major pet peeves, so you can assume the movie had to have some redeeming qualities in order for me to recommend it.

Thinking of the Summer Olympics

Thinking of the summer Olympics, I watched tonight on instant Netflix a documentary called "10 Questions for the Dalai Lama." The last twenty minutes or so were particularly useful in focusing my attention on the issue of China's occupation in Tibet. I was struck by the Dalai Lama's positions in juxtaposition to China's leaders, and even "liberal America's" response to the occupation...take for example, boycotting items made in China (I don't often buy products made in China myself, for other reasons).

I found the Dalai Lama's statements important even as I meditated on China's own recent natural disaster. Speaking of that, did any of you hear the related Blog of the Nation on NPR on June 11th? It was interesting to hear more in depth conversation about the Chinese people's responses to its government and the national spirit in the aftermath of the earthquake.

What am I saying about food?

I have been thinking for some time now about what I am saying to my children about food. What messages, what values, what nourishment am I giving them through food?

I have no answers now, am just continually reflecting.

A person on one of my online parenting discussion boards posted a question about how she should explain to her animal-loving daughter that the meats they eat were once live animals.

There was a good discussion, on many different levels. On one of those levels, I said this:

I think this can be a tough one, even for those of us who are vegetarian families.

I was raised vegetarian, and have chosen to remain vegetarian into adulthood. I value this and hope to pass it on to my children. My wife was raised eating meat, but her feeling is that our kids should not eat meat until they can understand what it means and make a decision for themselves.

So we're a vegetarian household.

Nonetheless, here are a couple examples of tricky situations we have been in:

1. Our younger dog was hit by a car and killed on Valentines day after his leash failed and broke loose from his harness. We explained to my son that his dog was dead. It was hard, but we tried to explain what that meant. Fast forward a month or so, and we are at the store, and we're passing the meat section and my son asks about it. I was rushing through the store with two toddlers, trying to get my shopping done in a hurry, and without thinking, I told my son: "We don't eat that. Those are dead animals." Then, I caught myself rushing through that first conversation about meat without being present for my son, but it was too late. He looked at me with a look of complete confusion and then asked if our dog was there. OMG!!!!!! It was heartbreaking.

2. My son loves this Signing Time video with animal signs. One of the signs is for "turkey." I don't recall if he's ever seen a turkey live before, but he knows what they are: that they are animals, a type of bird. We've talked about turkeys, made turkey sounds, pretended we were walking around being turkeys, signed "turkey" as we've looked at video images of turkeys walking around and eating on his Signing Time video. My wife's sister was babysitting my son during my baby girl's therapy appointment a week or two ago. When we returned to pick up my son, my sister-in-law (his babysitter) had my son tell us what he did while we were gone. He told us they walked to the store. Sister-in-law said, and "what did we get at the store?" and my son replied, "A turkey!" I found myself taken off-guard. I didn't want my son to be confused, nor is this something I want my son to think about with no thought, if that makes sense, so I said, "M, was that turkey alive or dead?" M. said, "dead." Meanwhile, there was SIL, cooking up the turkey for her husband and kids for dinner in front of us all. It's not like G.'s family isn't cooking up meats around us all the time, but I found that particular instance stirred some sadness inside me about those experiences.

It's not that I don't want my kids to get real information. It's just that (1) the grocery store incident reminded me of the importance of the information being age appropriate, especially given how disconnected we are from the raising of our food, (2) I want my kids to understand death first, and I know they are confused about it still, and (3) I am learning that these first conversations can come naturally but I feel strongly that they should come with some sensitivity, especially for vegetarian kids.

Even having been raised vegetarian and raising my children as vegetarians, I am still trying to figure this one out.

What am I saying about food? What am I saying, to my wife, to my children, to myself?

I watched an interesting video on "watch instantly" Netflix tonight. It was a documentary on zen buddhism and cooking called "How to Cook Your Life" I wouldn't recommend watching only part of it. Like a meal, it had many flavors. I found it thought-provoking, and would love for any of you to watch it (if you haven't seen it), and share your thoughts on any level.

A Video Interlude

I have some posts started but unfinished about more globally interesting topics than me buying a home...but while I go through the anxious phase in anticipation of everything to happen in the days to come, here are some video interludes.

A little trip down memory lane...and a great song, from the perspective of FUN:



And speaking of a flashback, a little more on topic (houses and finding out what could be wrong with them), remember:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYHMsDMZziY
(embedding is disabled on this video)

Yes, a bargain will make people do anything, won't it?

It's Worth It

This documentary is worth the time:

http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/autism/video/

I am not sure how long the documentary will remain online. HBO said it would be available online on March 30th. I watched it on that day. As of today, it took some serious hunting to find it again. If you have HBO and can get it on demand, that'd probably be the way to go.

My only disclaimers: It's a documentary. It is interesting. I like the personal growth that is evident among the parents over time. I really liked "hearing" Neal's voice at the end. I am not advocating for any position or approach any person takes in this documentary at any particular time. Some things I could relate to, some I could not. Some approaches I felt were useful, some not.

But the video itself is thought-provoking and well worth viewing, and I encourage you to find some time to sit down and enjoy the show before it is unavailable online (or save it to your Netflix).



On a personal note, I am going in for my MRI on Wednesday. I have asked that I get my "commemorative CD" of the images on that same day. This was noted on my chart. I hope they do indeed give it to me on that day, and if so, I will post some images. I am THRILLED about the idea of having a map of my brain.

Hurrying Around...This Will Be Quick

Later I will post on some things of substance, including the documentary G and I watched the other night about small town gay bars.

But, my mom emailed these to me today...
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/3114
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/33f2687080
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/4152

I thought number one was very amusing. I had seen the "Landlord," and was not particularly amused, but I enjoyed the outakes. Good ol' Will!