Launching February 16!

Flick Review: "Che"

PJM: "Will the Real Che Guevara Please Stand Up?", by Henry Gomez

In the movie Che, Puerto Rican actor Benicio del Toro plays an Argentine thrill seeker-cum-murderer who helped turn Cuba into a Stalinist state. That Argentine was Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, better known as “Che.” The movie is actually two films that total just under four and a half hours. Yet despite those 263 minutes of celluloid, important aspects of Guevara’s personality and deeds are omitted. Things like, you know, the truth.

There’s a bit of poetic justice when a man who indiscriminately killed others in order to impose a system devoid of capitalism is now the world’s greatest t-shirt salesman.

Unfortunately, Guevara is also venerated in Hollywood, thus explaining the reported $60 million cost to make Steven Soderbergh’s bore fest of a hagiography. The cop-out used by Soderbergh and del Toro to justify this marathon of an abomination is that it’s the story of a “complex” historical figure living in “complex” times; his desired ends justified what are normally unjustifiable means. Yet since the film’s opening on December 12, 2008, to date it has recovered a measly $922,347 in the U.S. As such, the movie Che bears one important similarity to the real Che; it’s highly celebrated by some even though it’s a complete failure.

Despite the considerable mythology built up around his image, the real Guevara was a bumbler who never accomplished anything except as Fidel Castro’s wing man and executioner during the Cuban insurrection of the late 50s. Even there, the Castro propaganda machine embellished his greatest “victory.”

Guevara’s lackluster record began as a young man when he enrolled in medical school. Historians can find no concrete evidence of him ever obtaining a degree and he certainly never practiced medicine. One of Guevara’s fellow rebels who fought alongside him told me Guevara only had a cursory knowledge of medicine. When Castro came to power in 1959, Guevara made a fool of himself as Cuba’s “economics minister.” Later, Guevara failed dismally in his attempts to launch insurrections in the Congo and Bolivia, where he ultimately met his demise in 1967. Guevara was also, by all accounts, a lousy husband and father.

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See the flick's slideshow

"Animal Farm", by George Orwell

Animal Farm

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Academic Work nutrition environment

Book Presentation: "The Chief Culprit", by Viktor Suvorov

Best-selling author and historian Viktor Suvorov has examined newly released Soviet documents to analyze the late Joseph Stalin's strategy to conquer Europe.

A former Soviet army intelligence officer, Suvorov explains in "The Chief Culprit" that Stalin's strategy leading up to World War II was based on Vladimir Lenin's belief that if World War I did not ignite a worldwide Communist revolution, then a second world war would be needed to achieve it.

Challenging the view held by conventional historians, Suvorov argues that Stalin, in fact, welcomed the start of World War II and was ready to attack Nazi Germany in July 1941 had the Nazis not attacked the Soviets first in June 1941.

Suvorov, thereby, debunks the theory that Stalin was duped by Hitler’s 1941 attack and denies, therefore, that the Soviet Union was an unwitting victim of Nazi aggression.

Viktor Suvorov is the author of 18 books that have been translated into more than 20 languages. A Soviet army officer who served in military intelligence, he defected in 1978 to the United Kingdom, where he worked as an intelligence analyst and lecturer.

Supporters of the Hudson Institute may attend a book discussion on February 2, 2009. Viktor Suvorov will be joined by Andrei Piontkovsky, Hudson Institute Visiting Fellow, and David Satter, Hudson Senior Fellow. The discussion will be moderated by Richard Weitz¸ Director of Hudson's Center for Political-Military Analysis. Lunch will be served, and copies of the book will be available for sale.

Cultural Portents

Wall Street Journal: "How Jazz Helped Hasten the Civil-Rights Movement", by Nat Hentoff

On Jan. 19, Martin Luther King's Birthday, Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Rockefeller Foundation, also focusing on the next day's presidential inauguration, will present at Kennedy Center "A Celebration of America." Headlining the cast are Sandra Day O'Connor and Wynton Marsalis. As Jazz at Lincoln Center declares, Dr. King called jazz "America's triumphant music," and the presence of Mr. Marsalis is to "illustrate that American democracy and America's music share the same tenets and embody the same potential for change, hope and renewal."

- A rare clip of the great Duke Ellington along with his big band perform two of his classic compositions, "Passion Flower" and "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" at 1962 Newport Jazz Fest. The clip features Johnny Hodges on alto sax. -
Hat Tip: smurf8575 -

This focus on jazz as well as President-elect Barack Obama (who, I'm told, has John Coltrane on his iPod) should help make Americans, including our historians, aware of the largely untold story of the key role of jazz in helping to shape and quicken the arrival of the civil-rights movement.

For a long time, black and white jazz musicians were not allowed to perform together publicly. It was only at after-hours sessions that they jammed together, as Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke did in Chicago in the 1920s. (...) >>>

Opona: the Collapse of the Iron Curtain

Prague Daily Monitor: "Do It: Remember and experience communist past"

The non-governmental and non-profit organisation Opona (The Curtain) was established last year by a group of various people who came together through the strong urge to commemorate the approaching 20th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain.

The people involved include David Gaydečka, founder of the United Islands of Prague music festival, Marek Vocel, film producer and event organiser and Martin Kotas, a coffee house owner and a well-known activist.

- Caption: Prague 1948 Communist coup -

The majority of the people involved are in their 30s and therefore remember the events and the atmosphere. Nevertheless, they have also come to notice that the younger generation, people who are coming of age now and were therefore born around the time of the revolution or later, often lack basic knowledge about our communist past.

Opona's aim is to celebrate the anniversary, support the active dialogue concerning Europe's communist past and raise awareness about this era, especially among the youngest generation. Besides this, they would like to introduce projects that would help advance human rights in countries where the totalitarian regimes still prevail.

Though the main celebration should take place this year in November, the organisation has already travelled to a number of major European cities, including Bratislava, Budapest, Warsaw, Dresden, Brussels and Prague with a pilot version of their project called The Totalitarian Circus.

- Caption: Prague Spring 1968 -

This included an exhibition entitled Some of Us that follows the lives of a group of people affected by the communist coup in 1948, a fashion show from behind the Iron Curtain and a medley of concerts and performances. The final version of The Totalitarian Circus will travel around 10 major European cities from March to October, stopping at each location for a fortnight.

It will consist of a mobile circus arena that will offer exhibitions, creative art and multimedia spaces including music and film, which should all serve to remind and warn people against communist totalitarianism. The main part of the Circus will be the Totality Simulator, which will thrust (...) >>>

What an Enlightenment!

In the series of Objectivist art (Romantic Realism) from the Quent Cordair Fine Art Gallery, Napa (CA), Danny Grant's "The Enlightenment" (oil on linen) and regrettably sold.

Danny Grant earned his BFA in illustration from the Academy of Art College in 2003. He credits his first figure drawing teacher at the Academy, Lee Ballard, for awakening his understanding of the human form and how to transfer that understanding to paper. Since graduating from the Academy, Danny has relentlessly sought to continue to improve his drawing and painting skills, while developing his visual and thematic aesthetic. As an artist, Danny prides himself on supurb draftsmanship. His dedication is to the beauty of the human form and to portraying man as a capable, confident achiever. Danny is currently studying at the Water Street Atelier in NYC with artist Jacob Collins. >>>

Art for New Year's Eve

We promised you yesterday ... here it is: Ann Elizabeth Schlegel's "Cook's Champagne" ... in a time of economic crisis, frugal bubbles ...

I know someone that enjoys drinking Champagne. Now, I'm not talking about Dom or Perrier Jouet or even Korbel. This woman loves Cook's Champagne. She purchased a painting from me of a champagne cork and one of a corkscrew ... and then we toasted with some 'Cook's Brut'. I thought of her when I opened this bottle.

It was opened in celebration of another person who turned 50 years old and is a breast cancer survivor. I shared a glass with her daughter. I'll tell ya, for the $6.99 it's not bad. Not bad at all. Cheers!

The painting by the way, has long been sold.

A Painting Each Day Keeps the Blues Away!

Rummaging the Internet for a work of art to illustrate this year's New Year celebrations we were lucky enough to stumble upon the extensive collection of paintings created by Ann Elizabeth Schlegel, Bethlehem (PA).

A message at the top of the sidebar on her blog offers to send you a painting a day - upon your email request of course.

The collection of figurative paintings elevate a variety of every day items, from household clutter to kitchen and cooking utensils, to a carnival of colors and shapes.

The chosen illustration for New Year's Eve we'll keep under wraps till tomorrow, but as a consolation we include a post by Ann Elizabeth dating back to Thanksgiving 2007: a series of charming allegories, mostly female figures representing a variety of drinks, cocktails, grapes and some of the other festive things that brighten up the dark days of winter.

A Painting Each Day: "Adult Beverage Gift Items"

Friday morning I begin my quest to paint, exhibit and sell at Christkindlemarkt in Bethlehem, PA for forty straight days. I will be painting my Painting Each Day series and also exhibiting my Adult Beverage prints and cocktail aprons. The prints and aprons have been big sellers to those shoppers searching for the perfect 'cash and carry' item for the individual who enjoys the unique gifts.

I sign everything and the prints are also numbered in a limited edition series.

So .... if you're out of the area and are thinking 'Hmmm .... wouldn't 'so and so' really like this great print or cocktail apron, just drop me an email and I can get it to you in time for the Christmas season. (...) >>>

I Want a Hippopotamos for Christmas!

Great lyrics! Brillant rendition by Aaron!

"White Christmas", Bing Crosby & Marjorie Reynolds (1942)

"O Little Town of Bethlehem", by Kiri te Kanawa

The Embarrassing Realism of "Obscure" Emperors

Oops ... reality has a nasty habit of surfacing in the most appalling ways and on the awkwardest of moments!

Here's another golden embarrassment for Ummah revisionism ... what now with the meme that historically no one has any business in the Middle East but the Dar-al-Islam? Oh, wait ... it must be a Zionist plant!

CNN: "Israeli archaeologists find rare gold coins"

Some Israeli archaeologists are having a particularly happy Hanukkah, thanks in part to a British volunteer who took time off from her job to work on a dig.

The Israel Antiquities Authority reported a thrilling find Sunday -- the discovery of 264 ancient gold coins in Jerusalem National Park.

The coins were minted during the early 7th century. (...)

The 1,400-year-old coins were found in the Giv'ati car park in the City of David in the walls around Jerusalem National Park, a site that has yielded other finds, including a well-preserved gold earring with pearls and precious stones.

They were in a collapsed building that dates back to the 7th century, the end of the Byzantine period. The coins bear a likeness of Heraclius, who was the Byzantine emperor from 610 to 641. (...)

The authority said that while different coins had been minted during this emperor's reign, the coins found at the site represent "one well-known type."

In that style, the emperor is clad with military garb and is holding a cross in his right hand. On the other side is the sign of the cross.

Authorities said the excavation of the building where the hoard was discovered is in its early stages. They are attempting to learn about the building and its owner and the circumstances of its destruction. (...) >>>

Truly Unforgettable

Hat Tip: "Conservative Contessa"

Bushes Brushed (rather than bashed)

Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery: "President and Mrs. Bush’s Portraits"

During the winter holidays, visitors will have the first chance to view the portraits of President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush commissioned for the National Portrait Gallery.

The president and first lady will unveil the portraits in a private ceremony at the museum Friday, Dec. 19. The paintings will be on public view beginning Dec. 20. This is the first time that the Portrait Gallery will present the official likenesses of a sitting president and first lady.

“It is always a great moment for the National Portrait Gallery to unveil the portraits of presidents and first ladies” (...) >>>

Modelling the Archimedes Computer

New Scientist: "Archimedes and the 2000-year-old computer"

Marcellus and his men blockaded Syracuse, in Sicily, for two years. The Roman general expected to conquer the Greek city state easily, but the ingenious siege towers and catapults designed by Archimedes helped to keep his troops at bay.

Then, in 212 BC, the Syracusans neglected their defences during a festival to the goddess Artemis, and the Romans finally breached the city walls. Marcellus wanted Archimedes alive, but it wasn't to be. According to ancient historians, Archimedes was killed in the chaos; by one account a soldier ran him through with a sword as he was in the middle of a mathematical proof.

One of Archimedes's creations was saved, though. (...) >>>

Unadulterated Sentimentalism ...

... but boy, what a Voice!



Here's Mark Steyn with a rather astute comment to the lyrics, which have indeed an extraordinarily high "world peace" octane ...

I Won't Dance