The Great Dictator - Charlie Chaplin

Posted on January 21st, 2008 in Funny, Music, Movies & TV by michele

I’ve finally managed to see this Charlie Chaplin’s movie, and I’m simply speechless. Magnificent is maybe the only word I can use for The Great Dictator. You simply have to see it for yourself.

Chaplin plays two roles. The first is a Jewish barber, that can move in extraordinary ways, and work accordingly:

And then there is the Great Dictator, with the endlessly celebrated sequence with the balloon globe:

NYC condoms and outraged (outrageous) Church

Posted on January 19th, 2008 in Freedom & Rights by michele

NYC condoms

A friend living in New York City brought to my attention an interesting story.

In NYC, Mayor Bloomberg’s administration funded the free distribution of 26 million “NYC” branded condoms in an effort to tackle the issue of HIV transmission. I personally think that’s a great idea, that’s money well spent.

Guess what, Catholic Church is outraged, asserting that “Our political leaders fail to protect the moral tone of our community”.

Hey, wait just a minute.

Isn’t this the same Church involved in endless pedophily scandals? Is that protecting the moral tone of the community? What about raising funds worldwide for the poors and then paying million of dollars to priests’ victims? Is that good (and ethic) money management?

NYC’s Health Commissioner gave a perfect reply to the outraged guys: “We ordered 26 million condoms. If we need more, we’ll order more”. Want some? NYC Condom is the place.

Goodbye, Mr Fischer

Posted on January 18th, 2008 in Brain, History by michele

Bobby Fischer

Robert James Fischer, better known as Bobby Fischer, died today. He’s left a distinctive mark in chess history, also but not only for the famous Match of the Century against Boris Spassky.

Although I’ve been knowing chess rules since I was a child, I never really studied the game, and I don’t call myself a player. Nevertheless, this game always fascinated me as elegant and powerful, to say nothing of the brain skills it both develops and requires. And great players have always been fascinating.

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