Golden Compass: Eva Green, Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards, Sam Elliott, Daniel Craig

Run, don't walk to see this film. I plan to go again with the kids. It is the first of a trilogy based on the famous books by Philip Pullman. If you are a Harry Potter fan you will be right at home. One of my favorite quotes comes from one of his books. MB -- The Battle "There are two great powers and they've been fighting since time began. Every advance in human life, every scrap of knowledge and wisdom and decency we have has been torn by one side from the teeth of the other. Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit" "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman
Posted by Michael Butler, Saturday, December 22, 2007

AlterNet: Fear, Loathing & the Crisis of Confidence

It is so difficult to avoid the media service to political manipulation of people. Use of Fear, Loathing and Crisis to control us. When you look at the evidence, fortunately covered in the internet sources, it is hard not to be despondent. Giving up is really not the option to choose. Freedom is not easy to secure nor to keep. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Friday, December 21, 2007

King Hussein of Jordan

Recently The Economist reviewed a new book about King Hussein, my closest friend in the Middle East. Oh my, how the world could use him now. He was the sanest voice in that turbulent part of the world. Hussein was a survivor with great class. His family was the oldest ruling in the Middle East-if not the world. His first trip to America was to visit me at Oak Brook. I have also enclosed the link to a story about our relationship. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Tuesday, December 11, 2007