I was one of the millions who probably heard of Harvey Milk at some point in my life, but never connected any dots to his life. Then one summer day, while housesitting, I found an old VHS tape of this documentary called "The Times of Harvey Milk". Not having anything better to do, I popped it in the VCR and sat back to watch. Two hours later, my life, perspectives, and outlooks were dramatically transformed by meeting Supervisor Harvey Milk. So it is with great excitement that this monumental film which pays tribute to a monumental time finally comes to DVD, and warrants my attention for my 200th review.

"The Times of Harvey Milk" is a transformative documentary both in style and information, created by visionary filmmakers Rob Epstein and Richard Schmiechen. The film not only covers the life of Milk, but the times which surrounded him that allows for a broader, more in-depth story. From the opening moments of the film, we learn of Harvey's untimely death, so as not to aggrandize it. Through personal interviews, newsreel coverage, and personal film shot at certain events, everything is brought to a real, intense focus. You feel as if you are watching the events unfold as San Franscians must have done in the late 1970's.

The shining stars of the film are the personal interviews given by people who knew Harvey best. Tom Ammiano, friend of Harvey, gives the film a sense of outrage of the assassinations. Jim Elliot gives a heartwarming straight man, unionist perspective to show us Harvey's universality. Henry Der allows us to see Harvey's political side. Jannine Yeoman's covering of the Milk campaign and post -assassination trial gives a sense of immediacy and urgency to the story, and a more professional viewpoint. Bill Kraus, a gay activist, soon to die of AIDS, provided a sense of Milk's activism.

A couple of interviewee struck me personally. First, lesbian activist Sally Gearheart's testimony of her work with Milk on the Proposition 6 campaign is very compelling, but her comments on the candlelight vigil and riots following the verdict are particularly poignant. Anne Kronenberg, who served as Milk's campaign manager, provides the zeal and optimism of the youth who surrounded and supported Milk in his efforts. Last comes Tory Hartmann, who's warmth on the screen is only seconded by her connection with Harvey. She provides an emotional recollection of the candlelight march that will leave you in tears.

Coming to DVD, this film looks rich and new, due to UCLA and its preservation processes. In addition to the film, the DVD brings you a second disk loaded with special features, from interviews with the film makers, to an 25th anniversary update of the Milk legacy by those who knew him best. I was particularly touched watching the "Alternate ending" section, in which Jim Elliot discloses, after describing his own journey as a straight man accepting homosexual Harvey Milk, learns his own daughter is also a lesbian, and that it was all okay, thereby completing validating Milk's thoughts on coming out.

Not enough words can be said about "The Times of Harvey Milk", a visionary, compelling documentary that should be shown, shared with everyone across this country. Milk's legacy is not only for his homosexual brothers and sisters; it is a legacy for all of us. His legacy is that of tolerance towards all, peaceful protest, fighting for what you believe in, and above all else, just having the best time of your life.

Barbara Ehrenreich, in her book Nickel and Dimed, strives to give us a glimpse of America's working poor; those people in our society who are living merely to make a living, sometimes working two jobs just trying to provide themselves with a roof over their and their families heads and a decent meal. Her experiments in three different communities in three different areas of the country are unique and heartbreakingly honest.

Setting up some ground rules early in the book, Ehrenreich tries to follow them as closely as possible. In each of her situations, she honestly tries to make a living by working jobs that are mostly available to America's poor; waitressing in Florida, a maid in Maine, and a "Wal-Martian" in Minnesota. Each story she spins about each city is compelling and honest. Ehrenreich quickly discovers how brutal our country can be towards the poor, and one begins to understand their feelings of disenfranchisement very quickly.

Once more, she punctuates each of her tales by telling the stories of others she has met. While others may discount her experiences as inauthentic, one cannot dismiss the experiences of those working poor she encounters; people who despite having two jobs still must live in their cars, or with many others in small apartments.

Ehrenreich has written a very threatening book, for it tampers with the way that many of us choose to see America. Ehrenreich's ultimate challenge to us is to open our eyes to all segments of our society, so that we may begin to realize that comments like "why don't they just get a job" doesn't roll off our tongues as easily as it does. So that the next time we feel the need to treat waitresses, housecleaners, or store employees as servant, we may think twice. So that we may truly become a "more perfect Union", as was our forefathers challenge to us today. Thanks Barbara, for opening our eyes with this important, important book.

Needing a book to read at the end of the year to my kids, I e-mailed a trustworthy librarian friend of mine, and this book was on the top of her list. That afternoon, the book was in my hand, and the next day, it was finished. Leon and the Spitting Image was an imaginative, drop-dead funny book that I can't wait to read to my class.

Written by Allen Kurzweil, who's better known for writing adult fiction like the wonderful "A Grand Complication", this book is all about Leon, a rather inept, un-dexterous lad who gets the misforunate of being assigned to Mrs. Hagmeyer's class. The Hag, as she is affectionately known, loves sewing above all else, much to the chagrin of Leon. As if in a labor camp, her students are forced to sew "animiles", little animals stuffed with her old panty hose. Leon's cohorts, P.W. and Lily-Matisse, engage in the mystery throughout the book, who is this horrible teacher Hagmeyer, and what can she possibly be doing with the creations?

The book is funny on two levels: children will love it for it's low-base humor (although I must admit to chuckling from time to time as well!), and smarter kids and adult will love it for it's sly, occasional puns, and situational humor (like a group of mimes, staying at the hotel that's Leon's home, complaining that their microphone isn't working). Writing a children's book is challenging because you must cover both arenas for a truly entertaining book, but Kurzweil holds up well. It is hardly reminiscent of Harry Potter, but much more in the vein of Roald Dahl.

By the end of the story, you don't necessarily want it to be over. Hopefully Kurzweil has in himself a few more books, so we can spend more time with Leon, his pals, a maid, an ice machine, and Napoleon!

Just sitting in the diner this morning, leafing through a local (...) newspaper, I saw the obituary for David Reimer, once Brenda, once Bruce. Vaguely familiar with the case, but not having read the book, I was still immediately saddened by his death. An hour later, book in hand, I sat to read a compelling book about the unfounded theories of a doctor that led to the tragic life of Reimer, "As Nature Made Him".

The book, penned by Rolling Stone scribe John Colapinto, recounts the horrific, and I mean horrific, childhood of Bruce Reimer, having survived a botched circumcision, only to be forced to live as a girl by two well-intentioned yet ill-informed parents. Now Brenda, his life bascially becomes a living hell, dressing and acting against his very nature. Even worse, he is forced to undergo bizarre and irrational questioning by supervising doctor John Money that literally made my stomach turn.

Colapinto's book moves fast, very fast, through David's life, making for a quick read. Yet the speed in which you can read this book in no way detracts from its central messages. David comes out of the whole ordeal a wounded survivor, possibly an inspiration to others who might befall the same fate. And yet, his demons caught up with him, causing his recent suicide.

Perhaps none of this would have happened if that one failed circumcision never occured. Or if his mother happened to miss a television special with the notorious Dr. Money on it. But it did, and the tragedy of it all loomed over this work. We simply cannot afford, as a society, to play with people's lives for the sake of advancing careers or prestige or fame. People are much too important for that. Let David's life and death be an example, so that this simply will never, ever happen again.

Based on a Time magazine article called "Mormon's Inc.", Joan and Richard Ostling have taken that original idea and expanded it into their book "Mormon America", a factual recount of the Mormon church, one of America's most rapidly expanding religions to date.

Upfront, the Ostlings claim this book is for non-Mormons as an introductory text to learn about this religion. Thus is covers many topics, some very thoroughly, in a concise, Time magazine sort of way. From Prophet Joseph Smith's visions and his establishment of the Mormon church based on his translated texts, to the current church (current as of 1999), you learn about many church aspects.

One of the most intriguing chapters early on is the polygamy chapter, which was handled fairly without judgment. Another chapter explains the complex organizational structure of the church, which comes across as being very totalitarian and a top-down form of leadership. A third chapter explains the development of the Mormon family, and the roles people play in them. The last few chapters discuss the religious beliefs of the church members.

All in all, I found while the text is very informative, it also reads very dryly. Perhaps because the authors attempt to present a vision of Mormonism without their own personal beliefs in the way, it reads very matter of fact and not very compelling. I've read other books that account the death of Joseph Smith which have moved me much more than the mere reporting of it in this book. While I appreciate authors leaving it up to the reader to make any decisions based on the material presented, a bit of humanity and a bit of themselves would have made for a slightly more enjoyable read.

If you know nothing of the LDS church, and are interested to learn what it's all about, this is the book for you. If you already have a working knowledge of the church, and want more, there are a host of other books out there that might fulfill your needs better.

I'm a Buffy novice. Watching only the movie last year, I had successfully avoided the Buffy phenom year after year. Perhaps it was the undue influence of a certain person that worshipped the shows as the best thing on. But it took my current boyfriend to turn me on to the Slayer and her gang of do-gooders that has made me a complete convert. I stand in the awe of Buffy.

Since I have no other seasons with which to compare this first season, I must say this is a delectable, funny group of episodes. Setting the course of the show, Sarah Michelle Gellar proves her talent early on, giving Buffy the appropriate menace and high school angst. She clearly carries the show on her shoulders, yet carries that mantle with utmost professionalism. Her cohorts are equally compelling. Alyson Hannigan plays Willow, a self-confessed computer geek, with a sense of wonderful innocence. Nicholas Brendon gives Xander, a loveable loser, dignity. Anthony Head's Giles, know-it-all librarian, is stuffy and fun.

The twelve episodes stand up well, with only a couple of brain scratchers in the mix. The first two set up the series and its characters very well. Some of the favorites included the "Angel" episode, that finally helps solve the mystery of the character while seemingly adding more to it, and "Nightmares" where seemingly bad dreams enter reality. One particularly odd episode was "The Pack", where hyenas seem to enter a group of students as they proceed to reign havoc over Sunnydale, but I didn't buy it.

Overall, you can see the promise of this series in these early episodes. I was pleasantly surprised at the developing sense of humor that seemed to grow with each episode. I really enjoyed the comraderie between all the main characters, as they fight both those hideous Hellmouth demons and the trials and tribulations of puberty. Overall, it's been an enjoyable experience.

I'm eargerly awating to watch season two on DVD now, and find out what happens to Buffy and her gang!

We probably all know the story by heart now. Three kids whisked away from their London nursery by an elflish lad and a jealous sprite. A mean ol' pirate with a grudge the size of Neverland Island. One hungry croc. So while the story is not new, this new verison of it is a sumptious visual feast, wonderful for both adults and children alike.

Based on the classic children's tale "Peter Pan" by J. M. Barrie, this movie attempts to be a somewhat faithful adaptation to the original story. P.J. Hogan's retelling allows for some dramatic departures to help propel the story along, but generally stays to the well-loved pattern. What he takes in creative licenses, he returns fourfold in absolute charm and beauty.

This Peter Pan is lucsious. With generous use of special effects, and stunning visual displays, Neverland has come alive as never before. It is storybook real, with scenery so thick it looks like you could cut it with a knife and find it full of frosting. A review aptly compared the visual style to that of a Maxwell Parrish painting, rightfully so. This is a dreamy film.

Also, some different touches I appreciated. First, Pan himself finallly played by a boy. While I LOVED Mary Martin's Pan (she, along with Disney's, was my first), this character begs to be played by a boy, and Jeremy Sumpter revels in his role. He brings a childish sensuality to the role, as he interacts innocently with Rachel Hurd-Wood's Wendy. Jason Isaacs follows Pan tradition and plays both Mr. Darling and Hook with appropriate meance and glee. Plus, there is a natural attraction to the very Englishness of the story. Much of my early childhood was formed between the pages of Pan and Poppins, so the righteous properness of this story comforts and charms.

There is a real need for good movies that both children and adults can watch, and this is one of them. A classic book will become a classic movie for generations to follow, to enjoy.

When asked what book provided you with the basis of your faith and beliefs, I imagine many people would say it's the Bible. When asked how the Bible you are reading came to be, I'd imagine that most people wouldn't have the faintest idea, but merely launch into a talk about "faith". Pagels attempts to trace the history of the formation of the Bible in her well researched and meticulously notated book "Beyond Beliefs", and does a fantastic job.

Author of the book "Gnostic Gospels", Pagels revists the Secret Gospel of Thomas as a method to describe the historical background into the formation of the Bible as we see today. She starts her tome with a largely personal story about her ailing son and how church called her to help her through this crisis time. She launches into an intriguing comparison of the Gospels of John and Thomas, and how the four gospels came to be "the chosen ones", all because of a Lyons bishop named Irenaeus.

The main character of her story is this Irenaeus, who comes across as well intentioned, if not tolerant, of other gosepls floating around during the fourth century. Due to splintering all over of "Christians" based on their own personal beliefs and interpretations of Jesus' life, Irenaus sets out to streamline the Christian faith and have a general set upon bundle of agreements to work from. This job is none-to-easy as different sects have different thoughts.

At first, Irenaeus could be the type of historical figure somewhat villified by denouncing other gospels as heretical and removing them from public consideration. However, Pagels strives to show us all sides of the bishop, and emphasizes that despite his preference towards Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, he was sympathic and tolerant of a variety of religious expressions. He just felt it important to have a basis from which all Christian thought arises, thus leading to the Nicene Creed, among others.

Pagels work is engrossing and mesmerizing. Anyone with a taste for history and religion will eat up this book for breakfast. Her writing is thorough and understandable. Sometimes, professors, as they write from their ivory towers, forget their audiences, Pagels strives for understandability and clarity. She is approachable and engrossing in her writing.

I fear some people, whose faith is rigid and based not on questioning it, will find this book unbelievable. They might think how dare anyone question the early Christian church and the eventual work known as the Bible. However, this book only adds to the deeper dimensions of our faith. By learning more about where the Bible as we know it comes from, we gain an appreication for the work as a sense of what it is; a purposefully planned document designed to shape faith. The fact that there are other gospels out there, whether or not they are true. is not a threat to my beliefs, but only adds and enhances what I believe. Let me be the judge, after reading them, what I believe. Pagels suggests that people for themselves are empowered to find the light within. For some, that's heresy, for others, salvation.

I highly recommend "Beyond Belief" as an important text to support your faith, and to make it fly.

Just a short while ago, Vermont wrestled with an issue that's gripping our country in a maelstrom. The end result, as most of us know, was the formation of the controversial but important recognition of same-sex relationships called "civil unions". What most of us don't know is the inner workings of the Vermont government as it came to deal with this issue, and the ultimate political sacrifice that many people played in order to ensure equal rights for all of its citizens. David Moats, editor of the Rutland Herald, describes in detail, how that all transpired in his book "Civil Wars: A Battle for Gay Marriage".

Moats approaches the story from a journalistic standpoint as he describes couples who were fighting to get legal recognition of their long term relationships. With the court siding on their side, but giving the problem back to the state legislature, the storm of politics brews quickly and deeply. With the leadership of then governor Howard Dean, we see how the machinations of state government worked to churn out the only viable option at the time, civil unions.

While being very a straightforward book, Moats treats the subject matter fairly and with respect. His handling of the gay relationships, and the people stories, is respectful and honorable. He clearly has opinions on gay marriage, and yet, those opinions doesn't shade his view of the events in Vermont. If you don't agree with legal recognition of gay relationships, at least you can appreciate, by reading this book, the intense scrunity and thoughtfulness those Vermont legislators put into forming this landmark bill.

Perhaps one day, our own Congress will wrestle with the fact that its denying a group of citizens fair and legal recognition of their relationships based solely on whom they love. If that's the case, Moats' book gives us a sense of hope that fair minded people will come to the correct conclusion; that in our country, built upon espoused principals of fairness and equality, people must be afforded the same legal rights and protections offered to all of its citizens. There simply can be no other choice.

From the moment David Brent comes on the screen, he suddenly becomes every bad boss you've ever had and ever hated, without ever doing anything horribly offensive or rotten that all of your bad bosses have done. Such is the genius of the BBC comedy "The Office", slowly taking the US by storm, by being both brilliantly funny and wickedly sincere.

The brain child of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, "The Office" brings us into the exciting world of the paper business, led into battle by the horribly camera-mugging David Brent (played by Gervais), who is aptly clueless in his verbal running-of-the-mouth. Acutely aware of the cameras which have invaded his office, making his work life into a pseudo-reality show. Brent is fidgety aware of the camera, often looking it during one of his hilarious monologues, and also as he attempts to "be one of the guys" in the office. The results are not punch-line funny, but deeper truth funny.

Adding to Brent's insanity are a supportive cast of incredible actors that add so much to the Office. Martin Freeman's Tim, who plays the office clown but also carries the more melancholy aspects of his job with him; Mackenzie Crook's Gareth, as a perfect foil to Tim as a brown nosing assistant with a huge inferiority complex; Lucy Davis' Dawn, a strong-willed receptionist who I secretly suspect is the smart one of the bunch.; to the rest of the office staff who are required to act by looking, and the looks they give are pricelessly funny.

What I began to appreciate about the series is that beyond the humor, the people in the office are terribly real. It's in their realness that the humor trannscends. When we see Dawn burst into tears because of an inappropriate practical joke Brent plays on her, when we see Tim brooding in the local bar because of his situation, when we see Brent caught in the middle of some lies he tells to save face; it's funny, and painful, and more strong because these people are real, complex. The humor comes from them, and doesn't happen to them, which is more real.

The first season is only six episodes, but worthy of the price for the many, many, many laughs The Office will bring you. I eagerly can't wait for the second season, and hope that American comedies learn something from this series destined to be a quiet classic.