Showing posts with label Travel Plans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel Plans. Show all posts

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Now I Understand

My parents are in the process of starting a business in Africa manufacturing and selling BUV's or Basic Utility vehicles. (Go to their website Sahel Auto for more info) My Dad has been to Africa twice my Mom has only gone once, but in their time there they have become enamored with the need to pull the entire continent out of the third world.

In their fund raising presentation that they give to potential investors there is a short segment on the plight of women in Africa. Focusing on the fact that women to an inordinate amount of the work particularly when it comes to hauling goods, water, firewood, etc. Now like most members of the Western World, this comes as no surprise. Everyone has seen the pictures in National Geographic or a program on Discovery with the native women carrying loads of goods on their heads. So we accept that this is just a strange, quaint, native custom. 

The reality is far from quaint. I lack the words to properly describe the injustice that these women have to suffer through. However this short (less than an hour) documentary A Walk To Beautiful - NOVA shows more than I can say. It is truly horrifying that this is the way women are treated. The most devastating part for me was a girl saying that unless she could be cured from her obstetric fistula she would kill herself before going home to be ostracized by her family. The sad thing was she wasn't threatening to kill herself for the attention or to make a scene, it was simply matter of fact. 

This leads me to one very angry comment: Feminists in America need to get a life. I know women still make less than men for the same job, and hot damn women has the word "men" in it. These social "injustices" should make no difference while there are women and girls (little girls, as young as 8) who are forced into fulfilling the role of Mother, sex toy, and workhorse and cast aside when any one of those duties cannot be met. I understand the desire to be equal. In my relationships with men I like being treated with as much equality as possible (unless there's something on a high shelf I can't reach or a jar that can't be opened). But why should we care about the little things when all over the world women don't even get the privilege to be second class citizens.. 

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Nick and Nora


So I finally watched Nick and Nora.

First off I was already prejudiced against this movie for two different reasons: 1) I detest  Michael Cera. Ever since arrested development he has played the same character over and over. (Lust for cousin strictly optional). I find it hard to believe that women find him attractive. Even with the guitar and on stage he still seemed like that odd kid who isn't quite right in the head. 2) They stole Nick and Nora and dumbed it way way down. If you have never heard of the The Thin Man watch it! The Complete Thin Man Collection (The Thin Man / After the Thin Man / Another Thin Man / Shadow of the Thin Man / The Thin Man Goes Home / Song of the Thin Man / Alias Nick and Nora) These movies while they may claim to be mysteries are really built around the interactions between the two main characters Nick and Nora. Every scene is dripping with wit and artful duels of conversations. Instead, I was treated to discussions about who has more indie cred, and why my friends suck more than your friends, and let's discuss our exes.

There were some positives though. The biggest one for me was Nora's drunk friend Caroline. The girl was perfectly convincing as the person who is too much trouble for anyone's good. Plus when I read that she improved the majority of her performance I was further impressed (See the turkey sandwich scene YouTube it if you have to). Other good things include Nick's band. Sure they played up some gay stereotypes but frankly who doesn't? They were amusing and their interactions with the rest of the cast made me giggle.

Overall this movie was worth seeing just to be caught up with the rest of my generation. While the idea of running around NYC looking for a band that only likes to do "secret shows" is actually creative and sounds like a whole lot of fun (especially to those of us trapped in the Midwest), Michael Cera's monotone and the "witty" dialog leave a lot to be desired.