Popular Culture

5 January 2004


"21 Grams"-- Quite Simply Brilliant
Guillermo Arriaga and Alejandro González Iñárritu are not household names in the English-speaking world, but around Oscar-time, their film "21 Grams" will be the talk of the town. It is rare when everything in art comes together, and when it does, something happens that makes the huge number of failures tolerable. This film is such an event. For more, click here.

Comedian Lenny Bruce Receives Posthumous Pardon from New York State
Lenny Bruce was a funny fellow who died of a morphine overdose almost 40 years ago. New York Governor George Pataki (Republican) pardoned him over Christmas for a 1964 obscenity conviction. Too little too late, some might think, but the pardon was not about Mr. Bruce. It was about the State of New York correcting itself. Click here to read on.

New Year's Awards for Ruggers, Geeks and a Janitor
One of Britain's more amusing, yet also deadly serious, customs is the awarding of peerages, knighthoods and medals in the New Year's Hono(u)rs List. This is also done in the birthday list, which coincides with her Majesty's official birthday (not the anniversary of her arrival in the pageant that is her life). While it is rather odd having a Queen makes someone a baron or knight in the 21st century, the idea of honoring those who contribute to a society is one that should be broadened and taken far more to heart. Click here to read more.