Pulled Quotes

I recently came across an article on the film based on the life story of French Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby.    The article titled,” The Truth about the Diving Bell and Butterfly,” was found on Salon.com.  I chose this article for this week’s blog discussion based on our previous class discussion of articles with an inverted pyramid style.   This article begins with the discussion of the film, which occurred most recently having been nominated for four Oscars.  Yet for all of the details, the most interesting part of the story comes in the conclusion of the first section.  The article author Beth Arnold reveals that close family members of the deceased (Bauby) do not believe that the film was an honest portrayal of Bauby’s personal life.   Which raises the question of what would be the most important lead for Arnold to focus on?  Arnold should have focused on the human interest aspect of the story, better explaining the real life conflict between Bauby’s ex-wife and Bauby’s girlfriend. 

Which raises an interesting question, can the family sue the screenwriters for not accurately portraying the life of Bauby?  I feel the family does not have a case.  The ex-wife of Bauby was a part of the screenwriting process from the beginning as a representative for her children’s interests.  Also, the  film is said to be  “based upon a true story.”  I think  that screenwriters are given some leeway when creating an artistic effort which has to appeal to audiences across the globe.  By placing the slight friction in Bauby’s love life the screenwriter was more than likely trying to keep audiences emotionally captivated.  I don’t think its necessary for the family to criticize the film, when they had a chance to make changes from the beginning. 

Arnold’ article continues with references to the actual story of Bauby’s life, followed by a discussion of the altered story in the film.  The party which should be truly outraged at having Bauby’s life story altered is the long-time girlfriend of Bauby, Florence.  When Bauby went into the hospital Florence stayed by his side until his last breath.  Yet, Florence’s influence is ignored  throughout the film.  That is the falsehood which should be corrected in the film. 

‘Nader announces third party run for president’, from USAToday.com, is an article that addresses the impact that Ralph Nader’s run for president as a third party candidate may have on the ‘08 presidential race.  Democrats fear that he will pull votes away from their party, while republicans welcome his entry for the same reason.  However, Nader refuses to see himself as a spoiler, instead insisting that he helps defend Americans’ individual rights as consumers and as citizens.  But then why does he openly suggest that the Democrats should be able to “landslide the Repulicans” this year?  Although realistic, I think it curious that he even suggests that he won’t be able to win.  However, I understand that his point in running is that, if not for him, perhaps the Democrats would be too conservative.    This article has an effective, summarizing lead, and conveys the most important statements made by the liberatarian candidate on NBC’s Meet the Press.  I like how the writer let Nader and other presidential candidates do the majority of the talking, using strong quotes in the process.  One thing that I will criticize, however, is the copy editor’s diligence, as there is a phrase that is used twice in the story:  “Nader vociferously disputes the spoiler claim, saying that only Democrats are to blame for losing (the 2000 election).” Furthermore, using the adverb “vociferously” here is not only unnecessary, but weak too.  It sounds a little editorialized and like the writer was trying to utilize a big word from his/her vocabulary. 

Saturday’s Orlando Sentinel review of Nissan’s soon-to-be-premiered Cube by The Los Angeles Times’ Dan Neil suggests that vehicles of this type are the immenent future of the American automobile.  Already a staple of Japanese roadways, the Cube reportedly offers efficiency through it’s small stature and logical shape.  According to the article, “(a cube) contains the largest volume of any cuboid shape for a given surface area, or linear size.  Which is to say, it’s the most space efficient of all boxes.”   Thus, Nissan’s new wagon maximizes its carrying capacity by utilizing this efficient shape: five adults can apparently fit into this thing.  Now, I don’t doubt that American vehicles will become more gas-friendly and less damaging to the atmosphere in the near future.  However, I have to ask: does it hold five adult Americans or five adult Japanese?  With the current 1.4 liter in-line four-cylinder engine–and even with the 1.8 liter (what a difference) that will come in American models–this vehicle would be an absolute death trap on the highway with five normal-sized adults in its belly.  Is the U.S. going to return to it’s fuel crisis era 55 mph speed limits on highways?  If so, I can see this little guy doing the job.  If not, it’s going to appeal only to a small niche market of consumers who don’t drive on the interstate.  Furthermore, the vehicle’s shape produces incredible drag at higher speeds, undoubtedly squelching the fuel economy that is its best selling point.  Is that supposed 40 mpg on the highway read at 50 mph, or at a more realistic 70?  From my experience with my girlfriend’s Honda Element, wind-resistance could be a major pitfall of this theoretically ingenius design.  Which leaves me wondering: is it necessary to utilize a cubic shape when it comes to the front windshield?  Perhaps a little more angle up front would result in much improved, and much needed, aerodynamics.  Hey, at least braking won’t be a problem–simply let off the gas and you’ll probably screech to a halt without ever having to touch the decelerator.  Although, it will likely be the drivers of vehicles approaching the Cube that will be the ones hitting their brakes.  All in all, Mr. Neil’s opinion that the Cube is the car of the future is provacative, but unrealistic if drastic cultural and legal change doesn’t happen before the cars’ expected 2009 debut.  And, it could consider the performance implications of a one-and-a-quarter ton, 90 horsepower box beyond simply mentioning that it is slow.  How about the handling?  Braking?  Ride?  What about features?  Do they cut out the A/C to achieve that 40 mpg?  Sure, like Neil says, this thing is “cute”, and efficiency is the future–but at what cost?  This review leaves plenty of questions to be answered–ones that Nissan will have to consider before stocking this pint-sized go-cart of a car in its American showrooms.