Blog Archives
History’s Clock Never Stops Ticking
The present and the future becomes the past in a hurry.
Having said that, Christopher Nolan’s forthcoming World War II epic Dunkirk about the past during the mid-1940s is a heroic present for the 21st-century future.
400,00 men. 933 ships. 9 days.
The harrowing events portrayed in the film Dunkirk strive to capture the legitimately incomprehensible odds Allied soldiers faced against the merciless German army during World War II on the beaches of France. Incredibly, the battlefields of World War II may never be seen again in the context of the three figures listed above. Wars, throughout time, have contained many threads of commonality with innovative changes and strategies according to the century and respective technological advancements. Still, the magnitude of the Battle of Dunkirk is still staggering.
And it’s that reality of history, the scale of the Battle of Dunkirk, that sparks curious intrigue for Mr. Nolan’s first filmmaking venture into an event during a historic war that defined the 20th-century. Beyond Dunkirk being the first war film by Mr. Nolan, which is an exciting moment as a directorial benchmark and cinematic reference point, one of the storytelling gifts the aforementioned director gives movie fans is the skill to scale a moviegoing experience onto the largest IMAX screen while simultaneously grounding the story and characters in deeply intimate struggles (internal and external) with powerful acts of heroism, defeat, and mystery.
And mind-bending surprises in the finale.
Or, in another word, prestige.
One Person’s Painful Exit is Another Person’s Helpful Departure
Good? Bad? The right move? The wrong move?
Whatever your view, whether you were for or against Brexit, the historic exit happened and the process of Britain leaving the EU (European Union) continues to unfold. The fascinating dynamic that’s been transpiring in the months that have followed is that the EU still appears to be exuding an air of arrogance and utter disbelief that Brexit was the elective choice of the British people last year.
When votes are cast by the public, there are consequences, both good and bad in a variety of forms. However, many votes in elections (if not all) are cast for specific, passionate reasons. Even proponents of the EU conceded a little bit that the bureaucracy of the governing body needed amending and reform. The simple fact is the EU has not catapulted Europe and its diverse citizenry to the forefront of the globalized world, as many predicted during its inception. The gamble was big and the winnings have been, to a majority of voters in Britain, nonexistent…or perhaps only microscopic.
Some voters prefer to take a scalpel to a problem and surgically fix an issue piece-by-piece. Some voters prefer to take a sledge hammer to a problem to begin knocking down a long-standing institution that’s not working and not getting any better. The macro vs. micro debate, as demonstrated in Britain, the United States of America and other countries around the world, is swinging quite significantly towards the macro solution. This meaning people are leaning towards dramatic, wholesale change versus tinkering with the failing status quo.
To make matters more intense, the recent smugness of the EU not only illuminates their resistance to the reality of its struggling and frustrated European people, but also fuels the strength of the current populist movement well into the future if that reality isn’t understood and resolved with both a scalpel and a sledge hammer.
“…the least painful for the EU.”
–Donald Tusk, President of the European Council
And now the acclaimed and brilliant historian Niall Ferguson with his trademark insight, quick-wit and humility.
Mr. Tusk chose the correct word near the end of his remarks above: painful.
Ironically, that’s actually the word many of the Brexit voters likely felt concerning their working and living situations day-to-day under the failing bureaucratic labyrinth that is the EU.
P.S. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the terrorist attack in London.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day
The “luck of the Irish” has unusually special powers on St. Patrick’s Day.
And that luck usually comes in the form of a free pint of Guinness (or two if you’re really lucky).
On a more sober note, the story of St. Patrick is interesting, to say the least. Before all of us who have a lot of Irish in our blood or are just a wee bit Irish join in the celebrations of this day, perhaps we should first remind ourselves of the history and the man at the center of this joyous occasion.
I’m still looking for that four-leaf clover…
This Tuesday Will Never Lose Its Appetite
Here’s the skinny on “Fat Tuesday.”
Considering the American epicenter for Mardi Gras is New Orleans, LA (more specifically the French Quarter and Bourbon Street), it’s no surprise that this celebratory occasion is overshadowed by epic parades, bead throwing and a few, low-key parties.
I also hear there is mild consumption of alcoholic beverages during Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
While there is certainly an appeal for this signature celebratory style in New Orleans, LA for certain age groups and individuals, we would be doing ourselves a disservice if we did not take the time to remind ourselves and appreciate the inspiration and motivation behind Mardi Gras and the day known as “Fat Tuesday.”
Bonus: You can read this blog post and watch this video while eating your King Cake, searching for the coveted miniature baby doll.
Continuing a tradition, I will once again give up the letter “Z” for Lent.
(FYI – My last name is Lentz).
Jimmy's Daily Planet 