Slumdog

Monday, February 23, 2009
Danny Boyle told TIME Magazine that he had a whole line-up of picture perfect male Indian actors recommended for the lead role – and lots of pressure to cast a young man from the subcontinent to portray the nineteen-year-old Jamal K. Malik.  But to everyone’s surprise, Boyle went with his gut instinct.  [...]

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Ice on the Wing

Monday, February 16, 2009
This weekend, our momentary celebration of aviation survival was shattered by the terrible crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407. 
Captain Sully (Chesley Sullenberger) became a reluctant folk hero these past couple of weeks for his cool demeanor and professionalism when crisis struck his US Air Airbus A320 over New York.  Some one hundred [...]

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Gadgets and Critters

Monday, February 9, 2009 
I’ve met a few folks who are as gadget connected as me, but not many.  It’s not a matter of pride.  It may well be an addiction.  (Is there a twelve-step program for a gadget obsession?) When I’m traveling alone, as I did this week, my dashboard looks a lot like the [...]

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The Audacity of Hope

Monday, February 2, 2009
I remember when I first heard the title of President Obama’s book.  It’s a writer’s phrase.  Hope would not ordinarily be audacious – as in outrageous dreams, or plucky plans, or fanciful intentions. 
The phrase puts two unlikely words together.  In combination, they make you think.  The verbal tension triggers the imagination.  What [...]

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