C. Baker

Review of Durable Disorder: Understanding the Politics of No, Oct 12 2005

Durable Disorder is an outstanding collection of essays on the politics of Northeast India. Much like Baruah's monograph on the political troubles in Assam, this work discusses the origins of ethnic conflicts in Northeast India and how these conflicts have perpetuated themselves through both internal jockeying for resources and recognition among ethnic or cultural groups and the unintended consequences of state policies that foster instead of discourage these movements. Importantly, Baruah details the erosion of true democracy and respect for human rights that both the state and these ethnic movements have precipitated.

Baruah's conclusion discussing the potential of economic development… Read more

Chaotic, July 18 2004

This is a semi-autobiographical movie directed by Italian film starlet, Asia Argento. The movie is rather chaotic, which may fit with the life being portrayed, but does not make for a very good movie. The lead character, played by Asia herself, flits around from one strange incident to another - partially out of loneliness, partially out of looking for love and companionship, and partially trying to find her niche in life. It's a sad story filled with drugs and wrong choices - or at least what appear to the viewer as wrong choices. Unfortunately, disconnected from any explanation of the significance of the movie, it leaves one feeling like they wasted a few hours of time watching… Read more

One of Costner's Best Movies, July 18 2004

This ranks as one of my favorite movies of all time. You don't have to be a baseball fan to appreciate the nostalgia and warm heartedness this movie brings to the big screen - well little screen in the case of the DVD. It's part ghost story, part fantasy, part nostalgia. It's also about redemption and the fulfillment of dreams.

The story begins when Ray Kinsella, a reluctant Iowa farmer, although he won't admit he's reluctant, starts hearing a voice telling him "build it and he will come." Ray dreams, ponders and finally plows under many acres of his crop to build a baseball field on his farm, against all rational logic. And the magic begins. This magic takes Ray on a strange… Read more