What we like most about the book is that, as you are reading it, you know that everything is going to work out and come to a happy ending, but the writing/characters don't insult your intelligence in the meantime. It was a pleasure to read from beginning to end. We thought that the parallel relationships between Jane/Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth/Mr. Darcy were well constructed; the first couple perfectly matched because of their easygoing and non-judgemental characters, the second due to their feisty and proud ways. The nature of the Elizabeth/Darcy relationship allows us to enjoy their witty and playful sparring. Also good that they did not fall in love at first sight, that their love grew when they began to know each other well.
The insufferable natures of Mr. Collins, Mrs. Bennet, Lydia, Lady Catherine, etc., make you more appreciate the goodness and intelligence of Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Gardiner, etc. We don't usually, but we laughed out loud when we read what Mr. Bennet said to Elizabeth, after
More than anything else, this is an intelligent and moving romantic story. But its also a book about business, and about the early clashes between industrialists and the laborers who worked for them.
A brilliantly crafted work, just as easy to read today as in 1855. Gaskell pits the agricultural south of England against the industrializing north, and does a very fair job of contrasting the virtues and vices of each; she also has an excellent understanding of business, and gives a fair rendering of the issues for the working class, particularly through the character Higgins, and the "masters", in the form of her love interest, Mr. Thorton.
North and South is a mix of Austen, without the gentleness or humor, but Mr. Thorton is very much a Mr. Darcy character, hard and resolute in his class, but becoming gentler as the story develops. And as in Pride and Prejudice, the heroine, in this case M
A well done story of Goodyear's incredible and classic story to make rubbber impervious to hot and cold by the vulcanization process. Goodyear endured incredible suffering, including the death of 7 of his 12 children. However, he did have 2 excellent wives, the second one 20 years old when he was 54. A great deal of material about the various patent fights. He spent a lot of time in debtors prison, even after he was famous, due to his very sloppy money management skills. This was a man who was obsessed by the uses of rubber, but never focused on utilizing any one use enough to make money from it. Also, some classic evil guys in the form of Charles Day, who infringed the patent and generally tortured Goodyear. Good parts about this patent case being the last case for the famous lawyer, Webster.
A very inspiring story about a black kid who was raised with a demon step father in a poor family, was raped by an outsider, had a kid with an affair, who he raised while homeless, eventually becoming a very successful financial advisor.
The only thing that Attitude Media and Barack Obama will ever agree on is that this was the best show on TV, and Omar our favorite character.
This is, simply, the best crime drama for TV. Ever. Set in the city of Baltimore, there is really nothing terribly different about it in terms of plot; cops vs. drug dealers. But it gives a brilliant and quite insightful view of the way local politics really works in a city like Baltimore. The show is harshly realistic in every way.
The acting and directing is superb. What is truly amazing about the acting is that some of the lead characters are British, and yet adopt perfect Baltimore accents, in particular Idris Elba. Many of the actors, Elba, Dominic West, Michael Kenneth Williams, Amy Ryan, have gone on to become major stars.
Don’t confuse this by comparing it to well done trash like The Sopranos. The Sopranos focused on a bunch of fictional thugs who aren’t worthy of attention. But the Wire is a morality tale, because, as in life, good and evil are so
Attitude Media is all about the pleasures (and pains) of media production so you’re bound to enjoy this classic that includes lines like “I’m sick of sitting around here trying to write this book”.
Richard Gere/Jennifer Lopez/Bette Midler/Stanley Tucci
This is a sweet movie, but not in a saccharine sense. We enjoy a lot of Richard Gere movies, and we also find J Lo weirdly endearing. Gere plays an estate lawyer who needs something to break out of his routine work and family life; turns out that something is ballroom dance. This is the kind of movie you could watch with your kids or parents, and not be embarrassed by any of it – but also not be bored. And old fashioned romance, with fine casting.
Great parody of politically incorrect 60's environment, big business and corporate success. From mail room to CEO at Worldwide wicket company in the blistering pace of a couple weeks. Good clean fun.
Why don't they make more movies like this? It's very simple, and thus cheap to make. No special affects, no car chases, no huge cast; just two people talking, but in such an intelligent, insightful way. And the idea; 2 people re-meeting after long periods of time, and comparing their lives, is such a good one. This may be the ultimate romantic movie for smart people.
Part of an excellent series that tracks the same relationship over time; Before Sunrise, made in 1994, is the first in the series, tracking the relationship between American Jessie (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) over time. 2004 Before Sunset is the equally romantic 2nd in the series. But the final version, Before Midnight, in 2013, is a disappointment, perhaps mirroring the real life course of romance?
Biography of the great Russian American novelist and philosopher Any Rand. Rand is a libertarian icon and author of the influential novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, as well as creator of the philosophy of Objectivism.
While she is a hero to many and a demon to others, this inspiring movie shows Rand's lighter side as well. Very sympathetic. Made me want to read the books again. Mostly interviews with people who knew Rand.
Plot: Physicist from West Virginia goes to Princeton; he searches for the big idea, but also goes becomes Schizo, under pressure, and invents imaginary friends. He later invents his role as a code breaker for the Army. His wife prevents him from being committed, and he slowly comes to terms with his delusions; he doesn't not see them, but he realizes they are delusions and comes to ignore them. Many years later, as he is slowly recovering, he wins the Nobel Prize for economics.
Comments: An inspiring, very well done movie. Based on a true story and a book about the life of John Nash.
Moral: Ignore the demons.
Plot: Two men are involved in a morning car accident; uninjured, but frustrated and angry - they begin a feud that reveals their worst qualities. The movie doesn't end there, though, and the men force themselves to examine their lives and the way they live them.
Comments: One of the best movies I've seen. Intelligent, daring - brings to mind that "the unexamined life is not worth living". The characters are richly portrayed - they're realistic and stay true to themselves. There are no false notes in this movie.
Moral: I like the fact that the men don't play by life's rules -- that they bend and stretch them at the END without compromising their inherently good principles. They went to the edge of themselves, so to speak -- the most flawed parts of themselves -- and found the strength to return to their cores of goodness and justice. They didn't blindly accept their fates or others' perceptions of them.
Plot: A girl from Brooklyn moves to NYC to make her career as song-writer, but is afraid of singing. This one is not going to win any awards, but it's a nice, entertaining feel good flick. Plus, some hot girls dancing.
Like Flashdance, a good "aspiring artist" in the big city movie. Moral: Classic overcoming fear flick
Plot: Two loser brothers, one a aspiring actor and the other an accountant, about their respective love lives, mixed in with an old black guy, who brings the accountant back together with the Italian babe. Happy endings all around.
Comments: Written and starred in by two brothers, the plot is good, semi-realistic, and affirming. And the italian woman is gorgeous
The CIA takes the fight against terrorism to the world. One of the best TV dramas ever, and a rare case of killing off the first star (Damian Lewis playing Nicholas Brody) and continuing just as strong as ever, now staring (Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison). Much like The Wire, it shows the wild mix of motivations that is present in real life – a genuine desire to do good, greed, ambition, ideology – and how often it's pointless to try to engineer certain outcome given the unpredictability of the world.
Next new episode is April 5, 2015 on AMC.
Everyone in the creative class has heard of Mad Men, the 60's based drama about Don Draper and his cohorts in advertising. Why has it been such a success? How few dramas really focus on normal office work, like this one, in a serious way? Most dramas are about cops, or drug dealers, or fireman, or English lords. But this one manages to create drama around a fairly ordinary business like advertising, and that’s not easy to do. And like many successful dramas, this one revolves around a basically good man that has more than this share of flaws and failings, expertly played by Jon Hamm. The supporting cast is great, and Christina Hendricks has done more her part in bringing into vogue the idea that sexy women don’t have to be pencil thin.
Attitude Media is all about media, so of course we like a show about a Brit couple trying to launch a new show in Hollywood, starring a former star of Friends, Matt LeBlanc, playing himself. Recent episodes include yet more of the TV worlds fascination with lesbianism, although in a lighthearted way as befitting the show.
M*A*S*H Stands for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, and this one is stationed in the middle of Korea during the Korean War, manned by US doctors and nurses who would much rather be somewhere else, not surprisingly as the makeshift hospital is near the front lines and frequently comes under enemy mortar fire.
At one time this comedy was the most popular show in the US, with Alan Alda, portraying Dr. Pierce, becoming an icon for the 1970s sensitive leading man. While the show has a generally liberal anti-war bias, it's still fun viewing even for conservatives. The humor here is of the sarcastic variety.
Detective Aurelio Zen brings justice to modern-day Italy, in his own sometime bumbling way. This detective reminds me a little bit of Columbo, if Columbo were good looking, younger, and Italian. And Zen's office friend played by Caterina Murino is one sexy woman.
Even if you are not a fan of glass as an art form, it\\\'s hard to see how you cannot be somewhat awed by the work of glass master Dale Chihuly. If you\\\'ve looked at glass before its probably been on a smaller scale, and perhaps whimsical, so hard to take seriously. But many of Chihuly\\\'s works are massive in scale, larger than a person, and are exhibited in scenes around the world like the Phoenix Botanical Gardens, where we took these photos.\r\n\r\nIf you see his works at an outdoor exhibition, like one of these forthcoming exhibits, try going at night, when the works are lit up and especially beautiful. But any time of day they can be awe inspiring. His works can also be seen in books such as this one, which give you some idea of the art, but we recommend seeing them in person if possible.\r\n\r\nClick here for Chihuly\\\'s galleries.\r\n\r\n
“In the early 1980s two medical researchers from Perth Austraila made an astonishing discovery: ulcers are caused by bacteria. The researchers, Barry Marshall and
Skate Canada is encouraging skating officials and athletes to use words such as “strength,” “power,” “speed” and “risk” when describing the sport. Team members
when Michelle Obama was photographed wearing a pair of Lanvin sneakers of suede, with grosgrain ribbon laces and metallic pink toe caps while volunteering
