Came across a print of this picture, my favorite picture of my father, while I was rearranging my books today (more on that later). I wanted to post it so everyone could get to enjoy it along with me. Isn’t this an amazing picture? I miss him. A lot.

I’m really a dog person at heart. (via Metafilter)

In his Top 10 movies, Arthur mentioned two that I love, but didn’t put on the list: Silence of the Lambs and Fargo. As he said, some other day I might have included them.

As for the worst movie ever made, I think I have to give it to The Tin Drum. But The Piano is a close second.

I really, really want to start a meme. So here goes – my Top 10 movies (not in ranking order, that’s too hard):

1. Fearless
2. Resurrection
3. Local Hero
4. Raising Arizona
5. After Life
6. Fight Club
7. A Man for All Seasons
8. Reversal of Fortune
9. Rushmore
10. House of Games

OK I lied, 11: Diabolique (the French original, not the Sharon Stone remake rubbish)

Those of you with weblogs, why not put your Top 10 on yours. My father used to ask people what their favorite movies are – it makes a surprisingly revealing personality test. My birthday’s coming up, just consider allowing me to start a weblog meme to be my present. Thanks in advance.

Apparently Dave Winer has joined the ranks of anti-TV types (see the July 4 entry). Too bad. Still, he does have a point – it’s OK to be bored some of the time.

So the members of “The Skulls” are supposed to keep their membership in the group a secret. But they all wear identical stainless steel Breitling watches, covering a skull brand applied with a red-hot poker. Not exactly the most low-profile way to signify membership, it seems to me. Whatever happened to the secret handshake?

That movie was a rental designed to continue the cheese-fest that began with “The Fast and the Furious” earlier today. “Furious” is actually a fun roller coaster ride of a movie, relishing its cheese quotient rather than trying to shrink from it. And it has some kick-ass racing scenes. Recommended for when you just want to shut off your brain for an hour and a half.

(Pop culture coincidence: I just found out by going to that IMDB link on “The Skulls” that the same guy who directed it also directed “Furious.” Freaky.)

Had an interesting time at “A.I.” last night. There’s a lot to say about this movie, but I would hate saying it to people who hadn’t seen it. I was pleased that it was much darker than I ever expected from Spielberg, at least in the first half. I will also repeat what one reviewer said on Ain’t It Cool News: the first time you think the movie’s over, get up out of your seat and leave immediately.

Learning about conservation on The Daily Show:
“I’m not worried. I figure I’ve got 40 years left, and I can’t use everything up.”
-Jon Stewart

I’ve finally figured out what bugs me so much about many conservatives: they’re so damn sure of everything. Everything is black or white, good or evil, with no greys or muddled intentions intruding. This is so contrary to our everyday experience with the world that it makes what they say all that much more absurd. Communism: bad; Capitalism: good. Abortion: bad; Capital punishment: good. Case closed, end of story. And it spreads eventually to everyone around them: agree with me, you’re OK. Disagree with me, you’re a foolish bastard. Conservatism seems to breed a sort of “my way or the highway” mentality, a hardness, that I find particularly difficult to stomach.

Me, I’m not sure of a lot of things (other than that I need to lose a few pounds). But I’m willing to learn, to discuss, to consider. That’s what life’s all about, isn’t it?

My new favorite weblog: IsDickCheneyDeadYet.com
(stolen from Anil)