Two Films
During the last month I have seen two films that have done a fair job of challenging my worldview. The first is the 2004 film, Hotel Rwanda. Based on the story of Paul Rusesabagina, a manager at the world-renowned Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali, the movie depicts how he saved over 1,200 Rwandans -- both Hutu and Tutsi -- during the 1994 genocide that left up to one million dead. Rusesabagina used diplomacy, cunning, and courage to keep the Interahamwe out of the hotel and away from the 1,200 people who had found refuge there. Amazingingly for a movie telling the story of horrific violence, it only carries a PG-13 movie so as to remain accessible to as many people as possible. I feel everyone should see this movie, especially in light of the current situation in Darfur and other regions of the world.
The second movie also stars Don Cheadle, but takes place in L.A. and confronts racial prejudices and stereotypes head-on with unflinching bluntness and honesty. Crash is definitely not a movie for kids -- it carries an appropriate R rating -- and it will, and should, make most adults feel uncomfortable. However, it forces contemplation of issues and questions that must be considered by any person at all interested in living in a world with peace and justice.
It’s official…
I'm a geek.
This morning I stumbled upon a new addition to my summer projects list, currently consisting of: cataloging my entire book collection into a computer database by using a barcode scanner to enter all the books (and check them out when friends borrow them) and that will automatically sync with my Palm Pilot, building a file server that will automatically back up my MP3 collection whenever a change is made to my iTunes library (thanks in advance for your help with that one, Erik), and, hopefully, modifying a Macintosh G4 by adding an aftermarket dual-processor board (and processors) so I have a powerful -- cheap -- Mac at my disposal.
Anyway, back to this morning; I had a work order to remove an "old Mac" from the Athletic Department. Little did I know that by "old" they meant 18-years old. Well, with a Mac of that age, there is really only one thing to do with it... turn it into a fish tank. I've already enlisted the help of Peter in this project, who, as resident fisheries expert and environmental ethicist, will make sure all goes well -- at least concerning the fish, who can really say about the structural integrity of the aquarium itself? Needless to say, this will be fun.