movies - november 2018

  1. The Americanization of Emily (1964). A dark comedy set in World War II England, the film is a confusing blend of sentimentality, iconoclasm, and behind-the-scenes look at pre-D-Day Navy preparations. James Garner is a not completely unappealing scoundrel; Julie Andrews is a not completely-unappealing navy chauffeur and war victim. The ending is not predictable, yet not satisfying either.
  2. How to Murder Your Wife (1965). In a farce of marginal quality that is surprisingly stereotyped on gender, Jack Lemmon is an unappealing scoundrel and comic strip writer. Virna Lisi is appealing. he Neal Hefti hippity-hoppity score is maybe worth another listen.

movies - december 2017

  1. The Far Country (1954)
    • Anthony Mann. James Stewart, Walter Brennan, Ruth Roman, Henry Morgan. Wikipedia. Filmed in Jasper National Park. 7/10
  2. The Blitz (2012).
    • Rotterdam love story admidst the pending German attack. The Amazon Prime title may not match the theatrical release. Wikipedia. 6/10
  3. Girl with Green Eyes ()
    • Peter Finch, but not as old and cranky. 6/10
  4. Sunrise (1927)
    • F. W. Murnau, George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor, Margaret Livingston

book ideas - december 2017

  1. Bryan Caplan - The Case against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money. Via Tyler Cowen
  2. Jean M. Twenge - iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy--and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood--and What That Means for the Rest of Us. Via Tyler Cowen?
  3. James C. Scott - Against the Grain: A Deep History of the Earliest States . Via Tyler Cowen
  4. Judith Rich Harris  - The Nurture Assumption: Why Children Turn Out the Way They Do
  5. Gerard Schwarz with Maxine Frost - BEHIND THE BATON: An American Icon Talks Music. Fanfare 
  6. Bruno Maçães - The Dawn of Eurasia. Tyler Cowen 

books - december 2017


  1. Rob Sheffield - Dreaming the Beatles
  2. Alfred Hitchcock, James Naremore - North by Northwest
  3. Dai Houying - Stones in the Wall. Wikipedia
  4. Chan Koonchung - The Fat Years
  5. Brooke Erin Duffy - (not) getting paid to do what you love: gender, social media, and aspirational work
  6. Bernard Bailyn - The Peopling of British North America: An Introduction
  7. Adam Alter - Irresistable: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. Screed?