I Was Wrong About Facebook

Of course, it would have been impossible to predict the effects of the internet’s presence in our lives. But in calling for everyone to get on Facebook, I should have made a better stab at guessing what could go wrong if we all did. What would be the implications for privacy if we were all using Facebook on our phones — how much could this one service glean about you by being in your pocket all the time? How would Facebook’s ability to bring people together play out in the world — would it be a bigger boon to freedom fighters battling repressive governments, or would it, say, help aggrieved Americans attack their Capitol? What would the implications for speech and media be if this single company became a central clearinghouse in the global discourse?

These are difficult questions, some of them impossible to answer now, let alone then. But I should at least have thought to ask them.

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Papillion

Steve McQueen plays the eponymous character in the movie ‘Papillon’, while Dustin Hoffman is his perfect foil as Dega. Based on the bestselling novel and with inputs from the author and the real life Papillon (Henri Charrière), the movie is authentic to the core with a fantastic production design. 

Several scenes in the movie served as an inspiration to many good films that followed including the all time classic—The Shawshank redemption. 

The film captures the ‘institutional’ feeling well and how inmates come to believe that the world they live in is the end of all and stay bereft of any hope. In the end, Papillon proves his feathers are too bright and he cannot be contained in any prison. No matter, how impossible the escape might seem to be.

Papillon’s spirit is captured in the following dialogue.

(Dega) “It seems so desperate. You think it will work?”

(Papillon) “Does it matter?”

Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman bring a unique texture to the film and make sure this film is worth a revisit anytime.

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Papillon dies

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is a 1946 American film noir drama directed by Lewis Milestone from a screenplay written by Robert Rossen. Produced by Hal B. Wallis, the film stars Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott and features Kirk Douglas in his film debut.

Here are some interesting tidbits about the film (Source:Wikipedia)

  1. This film marked Kirk Douglas’ screen debut.
  2. Future film director and producer Blake Edwards had an uncredited bit part as a sailor who hitches a ride with Sam
  3. The film’s ad campaign consisted only of teasers before its release: Newspapers ran ads reading, “Whisper her name!”, while radio spots had a woman repeatedly whispering, “Martha Ivers”.