On the way back from Austin, (on the way there, I managed to get my ass rearended...and that sounded alot less gay in my head a second ago; the car should be a-ok in a couple of weeks, just alot of irritation) I was listening to NPR and heard the shocking news that GW Bush has actually done something sensible and progressive. He signed a bill to provide funding for AIDS treatment and prevention. It's very encouraging that W has decided to face up to the problem rather than do the typical conservative pretend-its-not-there routine, or even worse, the just preach abstinence routine. (Note to conservatives: PEOPLE WILL FUCK). The majority of the bill's provisions goes to help programs in Africa and the Caribbean, and gives local programs flexibility to utilize the money as they see fit. But there are a few bones I would like to pick (aren't there always?)
First of all, the bill bypasses the UN's Global Fund for fighting AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, which has a history of being democratic, effective and transparent. By acting on his own, Bush is once again turning away from the UN and the international system in favor of unilateral action. Not cool Zeus, not cool.
Also, only 20% of the money is earmarked for prevention. It is my humble opinion that the fight against AIDS must start with education and prevention. Rural areas in Asia and Africa are most suspectible to the virus simply because they don't know enough about it, and the prevailing culture is to not talk about it at all. TIMEAsia has some wonderful articles on the spread of AIDS in Asia and the unsuccessful attempts of those in power to deal with it. Just by spreading the word about the disease and showing people how to prevent it can go along way towards containing this pandemic.
Hopefully, this will encourage other countries to start giving, it is estimated that by 2007, the fight against AIDS will require $15 billion a year.
In other encouraging news, Ariel Sharon used the word 'occupation' to describe the Israeli presence in Palestine. It's just a word, but an important step nonetheless, let's hope Likud hardliners and Palestinian suicide bombers don't fuck this up.
some corrections to the last entry : There is a verb disagreement in the second paragraph as well as a missing word. Find them and you win a cookie!! These corrections brought to you once again by the ever-observant (grammar nerd) Sonia, who if she wasn't so damn wonderful would be mildly irritating with the constant corrections. :)
A correction to the last post: The last sentence in the fifth paragraph is missing an "as". Thanks to the astute (nerdy) eyes of Sonia.
So why the big gap in posts? Well first of all there was all the shenanigans that ensue during the last week of anything. "oh lets do this, lets do that, its the last time, its the last time." In Singapore, we went out about 9 nights in a row just on that premise. This time wasn't all that intensive, but something similar was inevitable. Plus, there was moving, which I am so sick of, but at the same time, I also don't like being the same place for very long...yes my life is one big conundrum.
I'm super excited about the Mavs playoff run. I have to admit, despite my unequivocal support the realist basketball fan was always questioning their heart and toughness. But coming into San Antonio and taking game one after two seven-game series is pretty amazing. I need to rock that Finley jersey soon.
I'm sad, however, that the Sixers lost and Iverson crapped out in a couple of the games during the Detroit series. I blame Van Horn's gimpiness. After finishing Larry Platt's biography on AI, Only the Strong Survive, watching Iverson play is alot more enlightening. At the same time, watching him not really play like he has in the past is frustrating. I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in basketball, and anyone interested in how pop culture and race interact in American society. I'll post a full review in the next Spins, Flicks and Words update.
"You broke my soul, dear, you stole the plot, you left an empty shot.
There's nothing left here, 'cos you took the lot.
An empty cage is all i've got.
'Cos when your bird has flown away, she was never meant to stay.
Oh to keep her caged would just delay the spring."
-----Travis
So after letting the tribute to my homeboy Jay soak in for awhile, and after basking in the revelry of being done with college (?? still cant believe it, feels wierd). I think I'm back. I have one final on the 12th, so gonna take it easy the next week or so and just enjoy Austin and my friends one last time.
And, as promised, my thoughts on what so far is my favorite movie of 2003, City of God
In a nutshell, its Menace II Society + Goodfellas + samba dance video explosion of filmmaking that will leave you breathless. It is a dark, realist tale of poverty and violence that ultimately leaves just a glimmer of hope. Director Fernando Meirelles uses almost all the tricks in the book, swirling colors, startingly free camera movement, freeze-frames, flashbacks, split screens, etc. But surprisingly none of it is to show off. It is all designed to draw you in and keep you riveted until the next jarring reminder that the characters are CHILDREN. I think above all thats what City of God is about. Explicitly the story deals with murder, rape, robberies, drug deals, but after you leave the movie you realize that what you saw was a story about kids. Simple kids with dreams and ambitions who live and die under the overwhelming pressure of poverty. Some say the best movies leave you feeling a particular emotion. Running through almost every possible emotion, City of God goes beyond that. It will drain you.