American Madness

Intelligent Criticism in the Service of a Better Nation

Wanted: Matrix Lite – not the same great taste, less filling

A young man works day in and day out in a soul-crushing office job. He’s thoroughly dissatisfied with his life, which he views as devoid of any meaning. One day he’s visited by a mysterious stranger in the form of a beautiful woman. He is saved from someone who seems to be after him and [...]

Thomas in Wonderland, or the Department of Dumb Columnists.

In Abdullah II: The 5-State Solution By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/opinion/28friedman.html?hp,
Friedman, speaking for King Abdullah proposes the following solution to the Israeli Palestinian dilemma. (My abstract)
1. Israel pulls completely out of the West Bank, and whatever land they keep must be paid for inch for inch with Israeli land elsewhere.
2. [...]

Are the elderly going to go out on an ice flow to die or are we going to come up with a new idea?

The New York Times, in an Editorial entitled, “From Here to Retirement,” discusses, in what I consider vacuous fashion, the problems inherent in providing for the safe futures of those who choose, or cannot continue to work.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/opinion/26mon1.htm
They talk at great length about improving the viability of the 401K plans. I believe that they have [...]

Oscar Nominations Are In

Well the Oscar nominees were announced this week and here in Spain people are interested only because Penélope Cruz made the cut as Best Supporting Actress for Vicky Christina Barcelona.

You can view the full list of nominations here.

First let me talk a bit about my failed predictions made early last week. In the top 8 [...]

Bouncing along the plot potholes of Revolutionary Road

Emotional abuse and marital discord have not been this explicitly depicted on screen since Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton devastated each other and another young couple in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The barbs slung in that older film were exchanged between a husband and wife, long-married and bitter. Edward Albee’s play on which it [...]

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