Policing the Pacific (in a visually offbeat way)
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Mating Calls of Slightly Popular Quadrupeds: Vol. 16

"Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you."

"Unless you get hit in the head by a dictionary."

-- words of wisdom from my niece and nephew

David's "Policing the Pacific" gig sounds intriguing.  Until recently, I didn't realize how dependent South Pacific states like East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands are on Australia to help maintain law and order.  Australia is a nation of only 20 million or so, already stretched thin with commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and all their neighbors turn to them first in a crisis.  There is no NATO or EU equivalent to help spread the burden around.

There is a loose alliance of southeastern Asian nations (ASEAN), formed about 40 years ago, who are working together to build a free-trade area.  Although ASEAN is an economic alliance, it's been suggested that these nations might be persuaded to join Australia in forming a peace-keeping coalition for the region.  In the meantime, Australia is shouldering most of the obligation of supporting its faltering neighbors.

*abrupt subject change*

One of my fervent movie wishes is that someday David and Jonathan Teplitzky decide to work together again.  I'm an ardent admirer of Jonathan Teplitzky's strong color sense and offbeat way of composing frames.  Think of the "tiny David head on large Susie body" shot in Better Than Sex.  Or this little moment in Gettin' Square, where Sam Worthington pauses for a nanosecond in front of a mural of a Native American headdress:

I don't know why, but something about this aesthetic sensibility reminds me of Mr. Tyzik, the "head crushing" man from Kids in the Hall.