A Right to Discriminate? How the Case of Boy Scouts of America v. James Dale Warped the Law of Free Association by Andrew Koppelman, rating: 8/10

Up until a couple years ago, I thought of libertarians as socially liberal, but anti-tax conservatives. Then I realized they are closeted racists. Now I find it was my idiot mistake to leave off homophobes and bigots from the description. This book goes into the flawed reasoning behind the Supreme Courts decision to allow Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to discriminate against gays (and atheists) based on a right of free association. It shows that in an extreme interpretation of the ruling: it means all anti-discrimination law are unconstitutional, or we are allowed to disobey laws whenever doing so is perceived to endorse a message (conforming to a non-discrimination statute counters the BSA message against gays). What has it to do with libertarians? The ruling is one which endorses a libertarian viewpoint that the state should not regulate the private sector. A viewpoint which the book points out came about many years ago as a way to justify discrimination against blacks post-abolition. Even today racist libertarians like Rand Paul want to repeal the Civil Rights Act!

Reading this book today (it was published in 2009), I was struck by the fact that actually the US military is more advanced than the BSA with it's repeal of don't ask don't tell. BSA is headquartered in Texas and is fairly overtly religious with the Scout oath starting off: "On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country". These two facts lead me to believe the BSA is pretty much a lost cause, and probably would not change their rules, unless the costs of being homophobic increase. I hope they do.

It would be nice to think that the Boy Scouts are a truly inconsequential private institution, but in fact, quite a number of boys go into the Scouts. The fact that it gets preferential treatment in many places as a de-facto socializing agent for children actually says that plays a not small role in society and should not be allowed to discriminate.

The King's Speech (2010) rating: 8/10

Not a complicated story. One gets most of it even from the trailer or even some of it from old facts one picks up about British history. But it's the execution which while not flawless is very nearly so by Colin Firth. And of course there is the mysterious thing to Americans that is the British monarchy.

The Duke of York is kind of a funny person with his self-deprecating jokes. (There is a zinger about what friends are for.)

And wow, I didn't know there is another Prince Albert -- a leftie no less -- in British royal history (the other was Victoria's consort). Bertie is kind of a cool nickname, I'd never heard it before. I'm rather more partial to Albee at the moment, but maybe I'd warm up to it.

Winter's Bone (2010) rating: 8/10

A bit otherworldly, this depiction of rural life in Missouri. There is a whole different code of honor and blood which I've never seen before. In this, we see a 17 year old girl bravely take on the role of breadwinner and head of a household, facing huge dangers because of the possible loss of her family's house and farm.

Patrik, age 1.5 (2008) rating: 7/10

Swedish comedy about a gay couple who moves into a family oriented neighborhood and receives a lukewarm welcome. Still they hope to blend in better when they plan to adopt a baby. Then of course everything goes awry. Entertaining.

Vertavo String Quartet, rating: 8/10

Four strangely exotic Norwegian middle aged women play stringed instruments. They do like to play all sorts: Grieg (also Norwegian), Bartok, Schumann, and Verdi. One looks a bit like Lisbeth Salander (or Noomi Rapace), despite the fact that Salander is Swedish.

the upside of irrationality by dan ariely, rating: 8/10

Another in an almost series by Ariely on the topic of irrationality. It's strange how people act so differently from what you might logically reason they would act. Ariely investigates more or less subtle issues in this field. My short term memory fails me, but certainly if I were to encounter an applicable situation, I would say, "hey, that's just like what that guy said in that book."

Prayers for Bobby (2009) rating: 9/10

Sigourney Weaver stars in this made for TV movie, and she really puts it all out there as a religious mother of several kids, one of which, Bobby, is a gay teenager. At the point that she is aware of his orientation, she oppresses him relentlessly. Bobby is played by Ryan Kelley who hits all the right notes in anger, despair, and happiness. It's a story based on real life, and so made ever more real in the determined portrayals. I think I've never bawled this much recently. LOL.

One Nation Under God (1993) rating: 7/10

It's pretty clear this was produced on a shoestring (back almost 2 decades ago). It exposes the 'ex-gay' movement for its destructiveness, despite it claims of wanting to help gay people. Perhaps most striking is how the religious backed movement picked currently discredited parts of early scientific investigation into homosexuality and took these as the basis for their 'tools' for attempting to convert the gay person to be straight. This YouTube piece gives more background: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2PLPyKmtas .