PEDRO ALMODOVAR: ABSENT FROM MADRID'S NEPTUNO SQUARE, BUT PART OF A SILENT MAJORITY THAT REJECTS RAJOI'S 40B EURO AUSTERITY (READ POVERTY) MEASURES

That's what happened to me on Tuesday, while I was working, an impressive tsunami of citizens at Neptuno Square howled for their right to dissent with the politicians who claim to represent them, as they were in session in Congress. The cries of this human tide, encircled and at times beaten and dragged by the 1,300 strong riot police at Neptuno Square, covered the front pages of newspapers around the world. Yet they have not managed to catch the attention of [Prime Minister] Mariano Rajoy in New York. During his address to the Americas Society/Council of the Americas, Rajoy turned to his habit of editing reality according to his whim, thanking the "silent majority of Spaniards who didn't protest."

Mr. Rajoy, I am part of that silent majority who didn't protest on September 25th, and I'm imploring you not to distort or appropriate my silence.

The fact that I was not physically present at Neptuno Square does not mean that I'm not outraged by the police attacks, the government delegate overreaction, the state-run TV network's manipulation of images, or about the cocky attitude of state agents in the Atocha Station (far removed from Congress) who, without identifying themselves, intimidated travelers and prohibited photographers from doing their work. I'm outraged, too, about the determination that we Madrilenians, upon finding our city besieged since morning, would turn against the protesters. (Mission failed: we Madrilenians suffer in silence or screaming, do not believe in the people who govern us from City Hall or in our Autonomous Community, people elected by fate because they were included in a closed electoral list).

Images, and everything that surrounds them, can be manipulated: colors, words, gestures, intentions -- it all depends on the narrator. Any given reality may mean one thing, or its opposite, according to the interests of the one who narrates it. The government's spokespeople, the president himself, can narrate what happened at Neptuno Square as they please -- they do it every day. But, fortunately, in modern times, it is impossible to be the sole narrator, no matter how many punches cops dole out to anyone toting a camera (...)
TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH FROM HUFFINGTON POST STAFF

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pedro-almodovar/spain-protests_b_1923310.html

EATING FOR HEALTH NOT WEIGHT

A widely publicized study earlier this year showed that a low-carb Atkins-type diet might be a faster way to lose weight. That may have given many people the idea that eating meat and butter is the route to thinness and thus health.

In 35 years of medical research, conducted at the nonprofit Preventive Medicine Research Institute, which I founded, we have seen that patients who ate mostly plant-based meals, with dishes like black bean vegetarian chili and whole wheat penne pasta with roasted vegetables, achieved reversal of even severe coronary artery disease. They also engaged in moderate exercise and stress-management techniques, and participated in a support group. The program also led to improved blood flow and significantly less inflammation which matters because chronic inflammation is an underlying cause of heart disease and many forms of cancer. We found that this program may also slow, stop or reverse the progression of early stage prostate cancer, as well as reverse the progression of Type 2 diabetes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/opinion/sunday/the-optimal-diet.html?hp&_r=0

HILLARY CLINTON: "US REMAINS A FRIEND OF GREECE"...

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Greece’s Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting took place at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. Avramopoulos and Clinton discussed the European Crisis and Greece’s troubled economy.

The Secretary of State assured the Greek Minister that the U.S.A. remains a friend of Greece and understands that this is a tough time for all Greeks who make sacrifices trying to save Greece from default.

http://usa.greekreporter.com/2012/09/26/hillary-clinton-meets-with-greek-foreign-minister-dimitris-avramopoulos/

TAVIANI'S PRISON DOCUDRAMA "CAEASAR MUST DIE" ITALY'S OFFICIAL SUBMISSION IN BEST FOREIGN PICTURE OSCARRACE

Paolo and Vittorio Taviani's "Caesar Must Die," winner of the Berlin Golden Bear and screening at the upcoming New York Film Festival, is Italy's official submission to the Best Foreign-Language Oscar race. The hard-hitting docudrama was shot in Rome's maximum-security Rebibbia prison, where the inmates perform Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" while behind bars. Trailer below. Italy's last Foreign-Language Oscar win was 1999's "Life Is Beautiful," received by an ecstatic, chair-jumping Roberto Benigni. Check out our roundup of Foreign-Language submissions (including Belgium, Japan, Norway, South Korea and Palestine) here, with Canada's selection here, Finland's selection here, Denmark's selection here, and info on Iran's decision to boycott the 2013 Oscars here.
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/italy-selects-taviani-brothers-prison-docudrama-caesar-must-die-for-2013-oscar-race