"180" the movie

'What do you know about Adolf Hitler?'

'How do you feel about abortion?'

'It's not something I've really thought about much...."

*contains images that may be disturbing*

B

propaganda machine

I've not paid much attention to the Republican debates. My research is done and I already know who's getting my vote. Why watch talking points and snarky one-liners when the candidates' records should speak for themselves? It only encourages my bent toward cynicism. Politics should stem from principles and good ideas, and there's just far too little of that left.

Rick Perry's campaign ad left me feeling a touch patronized. Although it's exactly a sign of the times. Want people to vote? Donate money? Give a darn? Then you need to find the perfect balance of edgy camera angles, hipster filters, evocative music, and film speed in double-time followed immediately by a slow motion zoom of something depressing.
And I'm not saying there's only one guilty party - can you imagine distilling everything you believe to be right, noble, true and just into the single phrase of 'Change we can believe in'? Are millions able to mindlessly chant and slap on matching bumper stickers? Yes. Was it all too easy to never actually stop and consider what exactly any of that meant? Again, yes.


It brought 2 things to my mind: Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad and the Soviet Russia Political Art exhibit currently at Chicago Booth. One hilariously satirizes our country's guilt in putting sentimentality over reason. The other, the power of propaganda.

Gloom and doom aside, the video would make one helluva movie trailer.

B

disgusting day

Today's forecast has a high of 60 F. Cloudy. Chance of rain. 'Unseasonably cool' the weather report says.

I'd be in a better mood if today were only a fluke. But it's not, because we live in Chicagoland. It's only downhill from here - a straight nosedive into 6 months of winter. Grey slushy snow, fingers that never warm up, cloudy skies, icy sidewalks....Grrr I might just move to Australia.

So in an attempt to put a positive spin on this situation, I'm wearing my favorite corduroy pants (in stable brown). And I'm planning a fabulous menu: Roasted Garlic Soup with Rosemary Roasted Potatoes. Think 50 cloves of garlic, onions, thyme, a splash of heavy cream and a touch of fresh lemon.

Give garlic a try. How could anything this lovely not be incredibly delish?

Beautiful potatoes

We'll cozy ourselves away and feast. We'll pull out the quilts and invite the cats to cuddle. And we'll rest in the quiet that comes with early sundowns.

Perhaps I shall survive the cold.

B

families are the best

Got to spend time with some of these fabulous people last weekend. Missing: one brother by name of Miles Eugene.

Tom hasn't quite mastered the art of fitting in (seriously - who stays in the exact same pose for a silly picture?!?). But we like him just the same.

Happy Monday.

B