V for Vegetative Sunday Morning

A lazy Sunday morning made lazier by our intention to go to the later, 11:30 Mass.

Last night, jaynefury and I saw "V for Vendetta". I understand there has been some controversy about this film, particularly from Britain, and especially from those who read the graphic novel.

I am neither British, nor have read the novel (yet), so I cannot answer many of the complaints levelled against the film and the filmmakers. I would simply like to offer two opinions on the film.

One: This film was obviously made for a contemporary post-911 American audience. I think it spoke solidly and well about the Bush Regime and what Justice O'Connor called degenerating into dictatorship.

(Incidentally, if anyone can find the text of Justice O'Connor's March 10th speech at Georgetown University, I'd be grateful.)

Two: Natalie Portman can act. Who knew?

On a lighter note, Pooh sticks!

Dictatorship

WASHINGTON -- When President Bush signed the reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act this month, he included an addendum saying that he did not feel obliged to obey requirements that he inform Congress about how the FBI was using the act's expanded police powers.

The bill contained several oversight provisions intended to make sure the FBI did not abuse the special terrorism-related powers to search homes and secretly seize papers ....

Bush said that he did not consider himself bound to tell Congress how the Patriot Act powers were being used and that, despite the law's requirements, he could withhold the information if he decided that disclosure would ''impair foreign relations, national security, the deliberative process of the executive, or the performance of the executive's constitutional duties."

Source: Boston Globe

Edited to add: Oh, and we're broke, too.

Huzzah.