An idealist without illusions

Yesterday I received my first two selections from my NetFlix queue. NetFlix is the latest weapon in my battle against cable. It however was quickly defeated by a far lesser foe; PBS. As I've said before I often find myself watching PBS over most of the other channels I somehow get but last night was meant to be different. I watched the first film of the two, Spike Lee's "joint" The Inside Man. It was good. It was a solid entertaining film. What struck me most was probably the music, similar to He Got Game, the music sometimes overpowered the scene. Now you may or may not believe me but I had the film pretty much wrapped up in the opening scene. This happens to me a lot. But I was still into it and still waiting for the "oh shit" moment the film promised. It never happened. Still I thought it was a good film. I was good with it. Mostly I was happy I didn't have to watch Seinfeld or Everybody loves Raymond. So then I went for a run and grabbed some dinner. I was then ready to settle in for the typical selection of talk shows and South Park reruns. But PBS stopped me in my tracks again. Due to my father being the history teacher that he is, I know a few things about JFK and the family he came from. But man, this guy and his family, amazing. I got trapped in this film aptly titled, The Kennedy's. I could go on for a while about how compelling the story was and the trials and tribulations of each one of the Kennedy sons but I'll just say two things and hope you happen to see the film yourself. I was left with such a question when the film was over, what if? What if John had never been killed? What if Robert had never been killed? What if Eddie had never wrecked that car? How different might the world be today? It's amazing then to think that these three men could have had such an impact on the world, these three brothers all in their own right. The other thing I was so amazed by was how impassioned they were. How morally upright they were, Robert the most of all. How they took a podium and filled you with the same passion they spoke with. I have not once felt this while listening to a Bush speech or a Clinton speech for that matter. What happened to this type of politician? President Kennedy gave a speech after the Cuban missile crisis in which he talked about the Communists, the "enemy" of the country at the time. His words resonate even more today than I think they may have then.

"Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal."
-John F. Kennedy

Yeah I know. Boring. But I'm telling you. The real life story of this family was so much more compelling than any Spike Lee joint I've seen. Do you know? Do you Know? Do you know?

Now for some linky goodness. Pretty rad move here by Banksy but one has to wonder if it doesn't just give her more credit as a "false icon"? If you can read Spanish you can pick up the new Postal Service demo right here. Pretty cool concept behind the album but mostly I'm just happy to have new stuff. If you have twenty some odd minutes free give it up to watching this moving short film about a kid with down syndrome and his best friend who films his life. While you are watching things go watch the first seven minutes of this awesome thing.

Last but certainly not least. Happy birthday Jasmine!

Edit* The birthday girl just launched her new site! Enjoy the coolness.

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