Thursday, January 14, 2010

Americans don't know squat about their Revolutionary War

The American Revolution Center found that Americans overestimate their knowledge of the Revolution. For example, 89% of adults predicted they would pass a test on the American Revolution, but only 17% actually passed.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

A film about euthanasia: I've Loved You So Long

I've Loved You So Long

After more than a decade apart, estranged sisters Juliette (Kristin Scott Thomas) and Lea (Elsa Zylberstein) try to rebuild their fractured relationship. But the task is hardly easy, considering Juliette's past: She's been in jail for 15 years -- for killing someone. As she settles into small-town life with Lea's family, the locals can't help but talk.

Awards:

2009 BAFTA®: Best Foreign Language Film

2009 BAFTA®: Best Actress nominee: Kristin Scott Thomas

2009 Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama) nominee: Kristin Scott Thomas

2009 Golden Globe Awards: Best Foreign Language Film nominee
Original Release Date:
2008

Social separation breeds contempt

Garrison Keillor
Jan 12, 2010
Salon.com
Social separation breeds contempt

There is no better place to learn the delicate ballet of social skill than in a big city

...When I hear long tales of woe -- Poor Me, my benighted life -- my inner Republican thinks, "That was you who poured all that alcohol down your gullet. You. Nobody else. And why didn't you work a little harder in school? Duh. Your mama tried to tell you and you sneered at her. You did it to yourself, pal. You got on the train to Nowheresville and guess what? You arrived."...

Pat Robertson: Haiti had "pact with devil"; Televangelist believes momentous earthquake is epic revenge

Jan 13, 2010
Robertson: Haiti had "pact with devil"
Televangelist believes momentous earthquake is epic revenge
By Kerry Lauerman
CBN

On his Christian Broadcasting Network today, televangelist Pat Robertson told viewers:

And you know, Christy, something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it, they were under the heel of the French, uh, you know, Napoleon the third and whatever, and they got together and swore a pact to the devil, they said, we will serve you, if you get us free from the Prince, true story. And so the devil said, 'OK, it's a deal.' And they kicked the French out, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free, and ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other, desperately poor. . . the Island of Hispaniola is one island cut down the middle. On the one side is Haiti, on the other side is the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic is, is, prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etc. Haiti is in desperate poverty, same Islands, uh, they need to have, and we need to pray for them, a great turning to God. And out of this tragedy, I'm optimistic something good may come, but right now we're helping the suffering people, and the suffering is unimaginable.