Whe the experience dealing with the ad heavy uber corporatised theater sysyem really gets me down, I have had yet another pleasant content experence.

Stranger Than Fiction is an hilarious and thoughtful movie. The actors obviously enjoyed playing the roles. Maggie Gyllenhaal was articularly scrumptious as a baker of confections. I suggest this movie for a group of friends or family or perhaps as a date movie.

Our pal in Bangkok (and rural environs) Paul Rushton on his feelings on the larger issues on the Military Coup (bloodless at least) in Thailand:

Shouldn’t I be reassured, since the Thais have a far better grasp of their country’s politics than I do? You’d think so, but I keep coming back to one of history’s ugliest lessons: democracies become tyrannies with the full consent of the governed. From the Roman Republic to Nazi Germany to Bush’s America we see the same pattern - the public, riven by fear and frustration, welcomes new overlords who promise security and stability. Even George Bloody Lucas had it right in Star Wars Episode III (obligatory nerd reference) “So this is how liberty dies… to thunderous applause.” In this I’m appalled by the Thais’ terrible grasp of history - especially their own history. Thailand has seen twenty-three coups in the last 80 years, none of which restored democracy or devolved power to the people. The Economist informs me that during the last coup, in 1991, the public responded much as they have this time - by welcoming the troops in the streets and thanking them for overthrowing a corrupt and unpopular government. As time wore on and the military clutched the reins long past their due, the public mood soured, leading to a wave of unrest that culminated in the slaughter of hundreds of Bangkok protesters. Yet no one in Thailand seems to be drawing much attention to those ugly days.

Click this link to read his whole article. Paul was a great wedding MC by the way and was lauded by all as the best MC ever. EVER. Paul is right for sure about the unwillingness of coup leaders to release their hold on power. This coup in Thailand has so much different than the overthrow of the (corrupt) democratic government of Pakistan by General Musharraf but the similarities are apparent. The Coup in Pakistan 1999 and the General-President still insists he will restore democracy to his country. I guess for now I will just rely on Paul to help keep us informed.