Congratulations to Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who will receive one of France’s top cultural honors, the Commandeur des Arts et Lettres medal, from the San Francisco consul general of France this evening (SF Chronicle). A well-known poet, writer, painter, publisher, activist, and intellectual, Ferlinghetti founded the country’s first paperback bookshop, City Lights Bookstore with Peter D. Martin in 1953. The San Francisco store has served as a literary landmark ever since. In 1955, he launched City Lights, a publishing house famous for the Pocket Poets Series and its commitment to progressive ideas. Ferlinghetti was named San Francisco’s poet laureate in 1998, and has previously won several other cultural and literary awards. Each year, about 20 people receive the Commandeur des Arts et Lettres award, which is awarded in recognition of significant contributions to the arts. Past non-French awardees include David Bowie, Jackson Pollock, and Ferlinghetti’s friend, Allen Ginsberg.
Congratulations to Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who will receive one of France’s top cultural honors, the Commandeur des Arts et Lettres medal, from the San Francisco consul general of France this evening (SF Chronicle). A well-known poet, writer, painter, publisher, activist, and intellectual, Ferlinghetti founded the country’s first paperback bookshop, City Lights Bookstore with Peter D. Martin in 1953. The San Francisco store has served as a literary landmark ever since. In 1955, he launched City Lights, a publishing house famous for the Pocket Poets Series and its commitment to progressive ideas. Ferlinghetti was named San Francisco’s poet laureate in 1998, and has previously won several other cultural and literary awards. Each year, about 20 people receive the Commandeur des Arts et Lettres award, which is awarded in recognition of significant contributions to the arts. Past non-French awardees include David Bowie, Jackson Pollock, and Ferlinghetti’s friend, Allen Ginsberg.
From Matt: The scriptwriters made quite a few changes from the book, but they were all for the best - and booklover though I am I have to admit that its better to see magic than to read about it.
From Mina: I adore this film. Monsieur Hulot’s very modern sister and brother-in-law don’t know what to do with Tati’s charmingly untidy and bungling protagonist, who inhabits a world where meaning is still more important than appearances.
From Carey: A must see Hayao Miyazaki’s anime is Laputa: Castle in the Sky, originally released in 1986. A fantasy film that explores the altruistic and compassionate nature of humans, aspects lost through repeated exposure to power, technology, and the complexities brought by the combination of the two. 
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