QOTD: "Some things have to be believed in to be seen." - Ralph Hodgson
Reading: Al D'Amato, Power, Pasta and Politics
Listening to: Songs of Space and Nuclear War (a mix CD someone at work made)
Decluttering accomplishments: wrote a lot of Christmas cards, did assorted other household paperwork
I've used a few more free movie coupons, so here's a quick wrap-up. First, I had forgotten to write about seeing Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It was, again, a fairly literal translation of the book. The spiders were handled particularly well, while I was glad to see they got some comic value out of Moaning Myrtle, as she would have been way too annoying otherwise. Overall, it was enjoyable, even though it added nothing new to the experience of the book.
Another movie which added nothing new was Analyze That, the sequel to Analyze This. It isn't terrible and has a few clever moments which I won't spoil (they have to do with how a caper is pulled off), but it wasn't as good as the original. I got particularly annoyed with one line that Billy Crystal's character keeps repeating. Not worth paying full price for, but okay to see for free.
The best of the lot was Real Women Have Curves. It started out a bit slow and there's always potential for ethnic "coming of age" movies to get trite. Fortunately, the main character is interesting enough to sustain the film, though she's implausibly mature for her age. I was also pleased that the ending doesn't wrap everything up too neatly. I'd have enjoyed this one even if I'd had to pay to see it.
Be forewarned - I have six more free movie coupons to use by the end of January. And I have at least one that expires later. (My mother will inevitably send me more, as these are a common item to get from refund offers. The current batch is courtesy of Reese's candy bars.)
The other item you all desparately need my opinion of is the advice from the Transportation Security Administration not to lock your checked luggage, as the new screening for explosives could require them to open it. This strikes me as the single stupidest proclamation ever made in the name of security. There have already been huge problems with ramp agents stealing from luggage at several airports within the U.S.. And suppose you're transferring at an airport overseas. Does the TSA really think security at, say, Rome is good enough that you'd be willing to trust ramp agents there not to put explosives into your luggage?
Their reason for this absurdity is that they could need to open your luggage out of your presence. The solution is simple. Screen the luggage in the presence of the passengers. It may take longer, but that's the only way to have real security. I've been through several airport check-in procedures where getting your checked bag x-rayed is part of the process and it isn't a big deal. They put a security seal on after you go through the screening and then you check the bag in. In fact, in Ecuador, they searched bags by hand before you could check them and it didn't make the process too much slower.
As for another truly stupid statement, today's newspaper quoted a business traveler as saying, "Going six to eight hours without the ability to send or receive e-mail is a form of torture." I'm sure the in-flight email service some airlines are experimenting with will get plenty of use, but the word "torture" is surely being abused here. I see it now - "okay, Mr. Bond, the matchsticks under the thumbnails didn't work, the beatings and whippings and depriving you of food and sleep didn't work. I know - we'll take away your ability to send and receive e-mail!"
Copyright 2002 Miriam H. Nadel