09 August Happiness Challenge -- Day 23

Sunday. Monopoly with Nick. My 9-year-old nephew kicked my ass at Monopoly today. I'm not ashamed to say I let him win. At one point during the game, he told me proudly that once he buys all 4 Railroads, he is unbeatable. That is his formula for victory, and he's never lost. He even generously offered me the better end of a trade because he was so sure he was going to win. The thing of it is, he couldn't possibly beat me because while he had soooooo much cash, I had all the buildings. So, when he was in the bathroom, I slipped him a few extra hundreds and when I landed on Park Place, I didn't buy it because, I said, I was unwilling to mortgage any property. So eventually he won. He was very sweet, telling me of all the grown ups he's ever played, I gave him the hardest time.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: Jodi's Meme

INSTRUCTIONS: Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Post as "Jodi's Meme: My Life According to (BAND/ARTIST NAME)" The great thing is that if you have already done this meme, you can do it again with a different artist! Please do!

MY LIFE ACCORDING TO THE LADS FROM LIVERPOOL

-Are you a male or female? Girl

-Describe yourself: Baby's in Black

-How do you feel right now? Cry, Baby, Cry

-If you could go anywhere, where would you go? Octopus' Garden

-Your favorite form of transportation Yellow Submarine

-Describe Your Morning Routine: Twist & Shout

-Your best friend is The Fool on the Hill

-What's the weather like? Good Day, Sunshine

-Pet Peeve? You Never Give Me Your Money

-If your life was a TV show, what would it be called? She Came in Through the Bathroom Window

-Your relationship? For No One

-Your Fear? Maxwell's Silver Hammer

-What is the best advice you have to give? All You Need Is Love

-If you could change your name, you would change it to Michelle

-What do you say when you are frustrated? I'm a Loser

-Thought for the day: Got to Get You Into My Life

-How you would like to die? Happiness Is a Warm Gun

-Your soul's present condition: Norwegian Wood

-Your motto We Can Work It Out

About Inglourious Basterds

I enjoyed this movie as I was watching it, but I won't see it again and again and again as I do Pulp Fiction. Because while Tarantino's earlier work rocks my world and stimulates my imagination, Inglourious Basterds encourages my blood lust. It's like a hot one night stand that's fun while it lasts, but you don't like yourself very much the morning after.

At the heart of this funny and well made movie is the revenge Jewish vigilantes perpetrate against Nazis. Brad Pitt's talented and vicious little band isn't in France to capture Nazis and bring them to justice. Their goal is to, literally, scalp them. There is a subplot about a young woman whose family is killed by the Nazi's terrifying Jew Hunter. I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone, but I felt especially guilty about rooting for her revenge as I did.

I'd call the Nazis "animals," but that would be unfair to animals. Their cruelty and viciousness is almost unfathomable. While it makes them very good screen villains, and easy targets, all these years later, we should be careful never to emulate them and cheer for atrocity against them. Atrocities are soul-numbing, regardless of who the victims are. That's what bothers me about Inglourious Basterds -- I feel as though I took leave of my humanity for two hours.