This morning we finished our Christmas celebration by opening the holiday cards that we've received since the beginning of December. It's our tradition. Rather than ripping open and hurriedly reading the messages each evening in the hectic pre-Christmas days, we save up the cards and holiday letters. At 12th Night (or, this year, 14th Brunch) we sit down together and leisurely savor the photos, news, and good wishes of our family and friends. We pass around the pictures of friends BBQing last summer, the envelopes closed with sealing wax whose stamps have the same image as the enclosed card, and the [...]

San Francisco, CA Theatrical Movie We didn't see this one coming. From reading reviews I expected the story to be uplifting, a triumph-over-adversity saga suitable for New Year's Day viewing with friends. I had also heard that the acting was excellent. Although I am hopeless about knowing which screen star is which, friends nodded approvingly when the cast of Colin Firth (King George VI), Helena Bonham Carter (Elizabeth, Queen Consort), and Geoffrey Rush (Lionel Logue, speech therapist), and others was listed. What none of us expected was the contextual richness, pacing, and depth of the characters. The script gives a story [...]

Dear Mr. President: I am so disappointed at the lack of passion and commitment to what you campaigned for. Who would have thought that a black Chicago politician had the political skills of a doormat? Mr. President, you are being a wuss. Unfortunately your poor negotiating skills will hurt the country, grow our debt, and lead the right-wing to expect more craven behavior in the future. IF the deal had been for a one-year extension of the tax rates in exchange for unemployment benefits, a vote on START and DADT, then you could claim compromise.  What you are settling for [...]