Greetings from Our Weekend

It's our first true-blue scorcher weekend in Houston.  My car thermometer read 100 degrees yesterday around 3 p.m.  Nevertheless, we had a lovely Saturday which included a walk around our neighborhood, Pearl's montessori class, and swimming in the little blow-up pool in our backyard.

Last night Marcia and I saw our third movie together since Pearl was born--"Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room."  We both liked it for many reasons.  The film's message about corporate lust, however relevant, has been avoided by the media.  We were struck by the overt masculinity of the tragedy, seen in

• the desire for more, more, more
• the valorization of risk
• the need to feel superior, to conquer the "weak"
• and in the end, the refusal to accept responsibility.

It's interesting to think that when the New York Times did the big whistle-blower story a couple of years back, all three were women. Hmmmmm.

Another cool thing was that you don't get to see Houston on film very often.  Also I know two of the interviewees in the documentary.  Those two things also made it interesting to see.

Comments

[Mieke]

I loved the movie. I wrote about it on my blog. I think that some of those fuckers who deliberately turned off the power, resulting in traffic deaths and heart attacks here in California, should be charged with criminally negligent homicide.

[Lisa C.]

I just found your site through a link on Peter's Cross Station. I love your descriptions of life with your daughter. Good luck with the new baby!

[neil]

wow, i saw this last night and was just about to make a posting...your pointsa have made me think a bit more...i also just finished conspiricay of fools (which is a great read and goes into more depth than this doco)...I was struck by the maleness of the corporate culture (wasnt sure if this was a refelction of the industry, the texas location or just the senior execs - all of whom had insecurity issues)...the aggressive masculinity and poor treatment of women (including senior execs) was eye opening...it reminded me of my industry - wall st banking - i also found it interesting that fastow's principal conspiritor was infact gay with a partner that also benefited from the scandal - i didnt think fastow was the type that would be so tolerant...the film protrayed the city of houston as quite beautiful...my actual recollections of my times there are of a more muggy soulless place...

[kat]

Hmm indeed. This movie has been on the list of movies to see for awhile now but has never made it to viewing. Now that you have posted more insight -- I will have to make it a priority.

And as ever....cute pic of Pearl. I love her hair!