1Lee Blog

a 1 act play about death and mortality and dreams

2011-12-08T22:53:00.001-06:00

I was pleased to present this as my final project for Intro to Playwriting, and it was met with high acclaim in the class.

There are still things I'd want to fix - maybe I will, maybe I won't. But take this as draft 2.

After you finish reading, tell me about how it made you feel or think. Thanks.

How to wake up on the right side of the bed. Always.

2011-11-14T10:24:00.001-06:00

So since the daylight savings switchup, I've been trying to start my days early - get a head start on the day.

It all started with that first day of daylight savings. I woke up from a strange dream at 6:30 and felt completely rejuvenated, although I had gone to bed around 1 AM. That first day was a great day through and through. Nothing special really happened to me that day, but my spirits were up - I just felt great all day.

I continued this ritual of waking up early and began to wonder if waking up on the right side of the bed was not just some chance of luck, but the result or outcome of certain other forces, which I will name the ingredients.

Although I don't necessarily believe this is a foolproof way to waking up on the right side of the bed, here are some ingredients that couldn't hurt:

- Don't get too much sleep, which is to say: Don't oversleep, which is to say: Wake up early. ABSOLUTELY NEVER use the snooze button. This is your downfall. If you do not embrace the day with a positive attitude at your first chance, well, you've already missed your first shot. And it if you can get it first time around, it's always easier. Get up and be happy - you can give that a try, right?

- Drink coffee. As much as I would like to exclude drugs like caffeine, it can really help if you are just starting to get used to this. I feel that waking up on the right side of the bed should be a natural thing, that you shouldn't need stimulants, but coffee can act as an aid to the above ingredient. Think of it as your training wheels.

- Have a goal for waking up. Even if it is as simple as that morning shower, shave, or cup of coffee. This CANNOT include homework, checking your e-mail, or anything of the sort. Which leads me to my next ingredient:

- It doesn't have to be all business. Enjoy the fact that it's morning. It's day - the sun has risen. Take some time to soak it in. In short, relax. Bask in the early morning. Take at least 30 minutes to just do what you want to do, without doing what you have to do.

- Try something new. Refrain from monotony, from any sort of rigid schedule. Always open up to a change of plans or a brief escape from your daily routine. And - well, I think this quote from Twin Peaks fits - take the URL, it's only a minute.

"Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don’t plan it, don’t wait for it, just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair or two cups of good hot black coffee."

I'm sure there's more to add, but I'm still working on it. In the end, it's not about aligning all the ingredients - it's really just a frame of mind.

Stay positive.
Change your diet.

Happy Veterans Day to all Bankers

2011-11-11T12:50:00.000-06:00

Charles Lin:
The point of Veteran's day was for you bankers to live and work.
Charles Lin: fuck these bankers
Charles Lin: [soldiers] died so you could work. And you don't even take advantage of that. Hahahaha

New Sunday Best

2011-09-20T12:09:00.000-05:00

Sunday Best Pictures presents
HUNTING SQUATCH

the story of an ex-banker who takes up his slacker roommate's suggestion to hunt big foot for a new source of income, and finds his lost childhood in the process (SPOILER!!)

but i'd prefer you watched it on youtube in 720p
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU85D0KD4uI&feature=feedf

Fortune Cookies and their meanings

2011-03-10T15:53:00.000-06:00

Today I read a friend's fortune cookie at lunch and laughed at its probable interpretation.
Not the kind of laugh where you tack on "in bed" at the end of each fortune (although that's worth some good laughs, too).

Here was her fortune:
"All the troubles you have will pass away very quickly."

Instantly, I though about death. Don't know why, but you can't call me morbid. That's funny, right?
It even has the words "PASS AWAY" in the fortune.

That's gotta be a bad omen.

Ingmar Bergman

2011-03-04T10:00:00.000-06:00

I've been recently researching the films of Ingmar Bergman for a paper that I have to turn in to my Development of Cinema class.

The topic is roughly -- write about a foreign director who has influenced American cinema.
I'll have more to say when I finish the paper.

All I know right now is that Bergman is really awesome
and I want to write my Bergman paper on Woody Allen
hahaha, I'm afraid I will get off topic for much of the paper

That gum you like is going to come back in style.

2011-02-21T20:37:00.001-06:00

Twin Peaks, the acclaimed murder mystery TV drama of the early 90s, brought to you by co-creator David Lynch.

I guess I'm too lazy to write my own little synopsis.
Courtesy of Wikipedia:

As with much of Lynch's other work (notably Blue Velvet), Twin Peaks explores the gulf between the veneer of small-town respectability and the seedier layers of life lurking beneath it. Each character from the town leads a double life that is slowly uncovered as the series progresses, as it attempts to expose the dark side of seemingly innocent lives. The show further resembles Lynch's previous and subsequent work, in that it is difficult to place in a defined genre: stylistically, the program borrows the unsettling tone and supernatural premises of horror films, and simultaneously offers a bizarrely comical parody of American soap operas with a campy, melodramatic presentation of the morally dubious activities of its quirky characters. Finally, like the rest of Lynch's oeuvre, the show represents an earnest moral inquiry distinguished by both weird humor and a deep vein of surrealism.

Give it a try.

I'd rather you start from episode one. But if you're reluctant, watch this clip.

I hate posting videos but

2011-01-26T12:45:00.000-06:00

this music should be available to everyone:

here's the hyperlink, if you'd rather watch it in another window

Anna Karenina

2011-01-16T15:02:00.000-06:00

I just started reading Anna Karenina. My first Tolstoy novel. I really enjoying his writing style.
Check this out:

"
"I mean it's...just as incomprehensible to me as if, after having eaten a good dinner now, I were to go into a baker's shop and steal a roll."
Oblonsky's eyes sparkled more than usual.
"Why not? Rolls sometimes smell so good that you can't resist them!"
"

If this doesn't sell you, just read the first chapter and you'll see what I mean.

Reboot

2010-12-08T17:55:00.001-06:00

Just a quick announcement -

I plan to start blogging once more. I love looking through my older entries. I am proud of what I have written, even if they are just entries to some small blog. Even if no one reads them (though, I must say, I owe a certain amount of gratitude to those of you who actually read me), I still enjoy building this blog.

It's like a journal, except all my physical journals are never completed. Maybe it's because all my physical journals are too personal. I'm the only one who would ever read them; in this way, they are different from anything I post here. Maybe I don't like to open up, even to myself. I'm getting off topic, now, something to expand upon in an upcoming entry, maybe? -- but

what I really mean to say is that I want to start blogging again. And I want to involve others. So that when we write together, we all feel accomplished, and we all motivate each other to write.

I'm going to continue this blog (of course. this will never end, despite the frequent lulls and voids). But I'm also looking to start collaborating with no.man again. He suggested we blog on similar topics. For instance, each week -- or each entry -- we're given a different topic to discuss. Or perhaps a different facet of a new topic each entry? ... We'll work something out.
If you want in, let us know.

Also, I'd like to announce: a reboot of Zombies Ate My Neighbors should be on the way, if all goes the way it should, and if inspiration invokes.

Garika, Clintman, and Wells

2010-11-02T23:42:00.001-05:00

Guys have you heard this new band? Great sound. Nice groove.

facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Garika-Clintman-and-Wells/172666686079899

on some computers, the videos above will be cut off on the right. load them from youtube for the full image.

Étude for an Artist

2010-10-17T17:12:00.001-05:00

A short screenwriting assignment I completed last week. We were told to write about artistic blocks and the Resistance an artist faces when trying to do his work. I particularly liked what came out of the assignment so I'm posting it here.

FADE IN

INT. BAR - NIGHT

A dingy New Orleans music club.

Lying prostrate over the bar is HAL -- mid-twenties, crusty, surrounded by a number of empty bottles. Across from him is the BARTENDER, an older black gentleman.

Hal makes a hiccup noise and lifts his head, revealing a busted lip. With a dazed smirk he holds out his index finger -- "one more."

BARTENDER

No sir. That's about enough for you.

Time you started soberin' up.

Hal, defeated, shakes his body in one strong motion.

BARTENDER

Ya still ain't never told

me how ya got that lip.

Hal coughs harshly and touches his mouth. He speaks hoarsely.

HAL

What's it to you?

BARTENDER

Conversation. Ain't no one

else at this bar 'cept

you cryin' in ya arms.

Hal, now feeling the inside of his lip with his tongue.

HAL

Well. I knew this one guy.

He knew some other guys.

I, uh, owed the guy...

Instantly, the bartender begins wiping down the bar in front of Hal.

BARTENDER

I don't do business with

no drug dealers.

HAL

No. No. No. I'm not a

drug dealer. I'm a respectable

man! I'm a respectable...musician.

BARTENDER

Uh huh?

HAL

Yes. Hal Gordon. I play the

trumpet, among other things...

I'm a composer, too.

BARTENDER

Anything I might know?

HAL

No. I...But there will be.

I'm gonna be up there

with the greats. I'm gonna be

a jazz legend.

BARTENDER

That's what ya all think.

HAL

I can play. They say I play

the best trumpet aside from Marsalis.

And he's the best. What I'm working

on...I'm writing a masterpiece.

BARTENDER

You so sure?

HAL

Well...I thought I was.

Hal bites his mashed-up lip.

BARTENDER

You can blow your horn with that?

HAL

(to himself)

Hell no.

BARTENDER

Lemme getcha 'nother one.

(opens a beer bottle)

For the lip.

Hal brightens. He starts a big gulp.

BARTENDER

I got some more cheery news for ya.

Wynton Marsalis is playing

this very club tonight.

(big smile)

Ain't that a catch?

Hal chokes up and sets the bottle down.

HAL

He's coming tonight?

BARTENDER

Yes.

HAL

Now?

BARTENDER

(checking his wristwatch)

Well...soon, I'm sure.

Hal spills a few crumpled bills down on the bar.

HAL

Ah, excuse me. I'm gonna step

outside for a moment.

BARTENDER

That's fine. You don't need to

pay just yet --

But he's already up and gone.

EXT. BAR - NIGHT

Hal sweeps away from the club. He's breathing heavily. His movement becomes a sprint. He slides behind an alley dumpster and vomits.

INT. HAL'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Small and cheap and empty.

Hal enters and slumps down onto his cot, his head in his hands. TESSA -- an attractive black woman, and Hal's lover -- is in bed. She sits up beside Hal and holds him.

TESSA

Baby.

He accepts her kisses.

TESSA

What happened?

Hal retracts, cupping his mouth...but he drops his hand.

TESSA

You gotta stop.

Hal sinks.

HAL

I love you, Tess.

She holds him closer.

TESSA

I remember when I met you.

(warm smile)

Whatever happened to your horn?

HAL

I'm gonna start up again.

TESSA

Please.

She kisses him softly on the lips.

TESSA

I'm gonna freshen up.

Stay right here.

Tessa leaves to the bathroom. Hal is alone, cozy. He touches his lip and he's lost again. He stares at the bathroom door. The light creeps out from behind.

Hal gets out of bed and reaches under the cot. He retrieves a rectangular case. He flips the latches and pops the lid.

A brass trumpet.

Hal looks almost eager. He places the mouthpiece to his bruised lips and blows.

A groan.

He grimaces and licks his lips. He plays something like a scale, though it sounds forced and trembling. It slowly evolves into a jazzy lick, but it doesn't sound much better.

Tessa emerges from the bathroom in a robe. She's just watching him, smirking.

TESSA

That's something. Not exactly mood music.

Hal chuckles and shakes his head low.

TESSA

But if it helps you.

She sits beside him again.

TESSA

Keep going.

HAL

What do you want to hear?

TESSA

Don't play for me. You don't gotta

impress no one. Play for yourself.

Hal strains a tranquil melody.

FADE TO BLACK

Thunderstorm of Thought

2010-09-20T23:49:00.002-05:00

in the fall of aught nine, me and my roommates wanted to enter a talent show with an original piece of slam poetry. we never did, but i still have the beginnings of our collaborative poem.
i give you: thunderstorm of thought!

He furrowed his brow at the sight of the first flash of light

And the crumble-rumble in its wake (drum roll)

Overcast

Coming fast

The Tempest, impending…

Like an alley cat that stalks the night for dead end mice

Looking for a midnight snack

ah...good times XD

Resistance and Rationalization

2010-09-18T20:44:00.008-05:00

taken from Steven Pressfield's the War of Art --

Tolstoy had thirteen kids and wrote War and Peace. Lance Armstrong had cancer and won the Tour de France three years and counting.

Journals

2010-08-13T22:46:00.000-05:00

I read my old journals tonight and it felt good. I really never liked them. They were kind of pathetic and crappy I always thought. A lot of ramblings surrounding an old break up. Et cetera, et cetera. You can imagine.
Anyways, it was good to see the old self. There's some old saying about everything that has happened to you has shaped you. I don't like it enough to quote it, but I guess it's the reason why I felt good about looking back at the "pitiful crap."
All that stuff means more now. At least, it means extra.

I'm going to keep a journal again. I never really kept one in the sense of daily entries. But I'll definitely try and make an entry for everything important.

Happy Friday the 13th everyone.
Please keep a journal for yourselves.

Maybe You Thought I Was the Packard Goose

2010-08-11T18:16:00.001-05:00

Information is not knowledge
Knowledge is not wisdom
Wisdom is not truth
Truth is not beauty
Beauty is not love
Love is not music
Music is the best...
Wisdom is the domain of the wis
(which is extinct)
Beauty is a french phonetic corruption
Of a short cloth neck ornament
Currently in resurgence...

--Mary from Frank Zappa's "Joe's Garage"

INCEPTION / Ending - CONTAINS SPOILERS

2010-07-24T00:08:00.004-05:00

As promised, my thoughts about the ending of Christopher Nolan's INCEPTION:

I must ask that you at least agree with me on this one point before we continue--
The totem in the end appeared as if it would topple, although we cut to black before we see it do so. Do you agree that there are two possibilities before the cut, a spinning totem and a toppled one? Continue if you do. If you do not, maybe you should watch the ending again. If you still disagree, I guess you should stop reading here.

1. THE TOTEM KEEPS SPINNING

If this happens, Cobb is still dreaming. This, although a valid possibility, is somewhat self-defeating for the story. An amateur ending--it was all a dream. Everything we've learned to this point has little or no meaning (in the real world). However, it is an appropriate ending in the sense that we must be reminded that reality and dreams are sometimes hard to distinguish.

2. THE TOTEM TOPPLES

If this happens, Cobb is awake. The ending is a 'happy' one (for the traditional audience) and we see a solid conclusion to Cobb's story. But what about the movie's theme of uncertainty with reality? Are we awake or dreaming? If the audience leaves the theatre with this ending, they would be less likely to question the possibilities of life in reality and life in dreams.

So what do we take from this?

Cobb's story is completed before the camera pans to the spinning totem (in the last shot--final image). Whether Cobb is in his dream or reality shouldn't matter to the audience. We've seen his story, and whether it's real or not...well, we can't help that. Just as we can't help if we're dreaming or awake at this very moment.

The final image is there to remind the audience that, even if they choose not to accept the possibility of living (unknowingly) in a dream world, they must at least be aware that there is an uncertainty as to whether they are asleep or awake. We must accept this uncertainty.

If the totem keeps spinning, we have a cheated ending. If it topples, we may take reality for granted.

INCEPTION / The Experience Machine

2010-07-20T23:15:00.004-05:00

Even the notion of Christopher Nolan's sci-fi action film, INCEPTION, nudges viewers to think deeply. The original trailer, a teaser, only shows that the film is an odd (albeit, damned interesting) thing, where physics and imagination are wild. But the more recent trailers introduce a short premise: the goal is to steal--or, more accurately, to plant--an idea within the mind of an unsuspecting dreamer. A heist movie "set in the architecture of the mind."

Not surprisingly, the movie involves a lot of intriguing concepts--dream time, dreaming within a dream, etc.--and perhaps some confusion because of this. Believe me, the film is not so out-there that it won't make any sense. It's all there in the picture. By the time the end credits roll, you should have a good enough idea of what's going/gone on.

The two things I'd like to discuss are:

1 The movie's correlation to The Experience Machine

2 The Inception (this section contains SPOILERS)

The movie reminds the audience, more than once, that dreams and reality CAN be confused to the point where there can be no certainty in distinguishing the two. The movie as a whole challenges the audience's security that what we experience as reality could be all a dream. What is more real, our sleeping or our waking lives? This points towards theBrain in the Vat idea. Go ahead a see the link if you don't already know.

In short, we can never be truly certain that we are awake or dreaming.

(Unless, I guess, you have a totem...just go see the film already!!)

One who has lived long enough in a dream world might believe that he must first go to sleep to be awoken to 'reality.' He might find that his dreams are what's more 'real' to him. There is a scene where we are shown a room of dreamers who are sedated and dream-linked every day in order to share a different reality. These people come 40 dream-hours daily (if I remember correctly) to sleep through the real world. This choice of dreams over reality reminds me of Robert Nozick's thought experiment, The Experience Machine. (Link for further reference)

Ok Ok. So maybe you'll never be able to tell truth from illusion. But what if you could? Would you choose the dream or the reality...?

The main characters of the film never want to live the illusion, though DiCaprio's character is often tempted and tormented by the possibility of a better(?) reality. The scene with the room of dreamers serves to show what happens when you confuse illusion and truth, and also prompts the question: who would choose this existence?

Why?

If you could live with all your aspirations fulfilled--everything exactly how you wanted--would you? Nozick's experiment says No. The characters of INCEPTION agree.

The reality of life is important: humans want to do certain things. To experience pleasure from doing these things is not enough. Otherwise, we'd all be hedonists, right?

2
(this section contains SPOILERS)

This next part is something I haven't found an answer for. The Inception itself. The act of instilling an idea in someone else's mind, so that the idea can grow into something powerful. I'll go ahead and bring you up to speed--

Dominic Cobb (DiCaprio)'s goal is to convince Fischer (Cillian Murphy), the to-be inheritor of his father's company legacy, to break up his father's corporation. To do this, Cobb needs to infiltrate deeply (layered dreams: a dream within a dream) and plant the idea using subterfuge.

Fischer Sr. is the kind of guy who never showed any affection to his son. Even on his death bed, he shows only disappointment toward his son. As you could guess, Murphy's character is distraught. Cobb offers him the illusion that his father wants him to break apart the corporation. This way, Fischer Jr. will inherit nothing, just as his disappointed father would have it. Not exactly the best incentive for splitting the company, but Cobb is working very sneakily here.

As they dive deeper into dreams within dreams, he shows Fischer something incredible: his father loved him, and through this love saw greater things for him. The idea of breaking apart the corporation, which was originally an insult, is now praise and hope and all the love Fischer could ever ask of his father. By discarding his father's successes, he can start fresh and aspire to live a better (possibly, more lucrative) life.

Maybe it's because Cillian Murphy is a good actor. Or maybe it's because his character ends up working with the good guys in the last half of the movie. But I really felt bad for how his father treated him. It was such a reward to learn that his father actually loved him!

However...this is not the truth.

This was all a dream. That Cobb used for the inception of an idea that was his mission.

---

I guess what I mean to ask is this:

Is it better now that Fischer is going to split the company? Is it better that he believes his father loved him? Because, as far as the movie lets on, his father hated him. Sure, it's better for Cobb (and for the world, actually--Fischer, having accepted his father's legacy, would have lead a monopoly and become a world power). But, in a way, we--along with Cobb--have chosen a false reality for Fischer.

Please comment with whatever you have to say.

P.S.

I give INCEPTION a 9/10.

There will be another blog about the movie's ending (which I care not to spoil right now). I will wait until I think everyone has had time to see it before posting that blog entry.

Mr. Potato Head and Theseus' Ship

2010-06-22T03:16:00.004-05:00

Toy Story 3's Mr. Potato Head raises some interesting philosophical questions. For instance, what defines the personality--or IDENTITY--of Mr. Potato Head? Is it his limbs? His eyes? Ears? Or is it his potato body?

In the film, Mr. Potato Head separates his parts from his body, raising the timeless question of what is mind and what is body. Mr. Potato Head transplants his parts to a tortilla (found in a forgotten lunch box) and resumes his existence as a new type of toy. No worries, he's still the same Potato Head, only with a tortilla. He will eventually regain his potato body and continue existing as was. To soul returns to its body, ghost to its shell.

We've reached the conclusion that Mr. Potato Head IS his parts. His being is made up of his parts, no matter what vessel they inhabit. The body is simply what allows him to use his parts in union. He can still move his limbs unattached, still see without eye holes (as Mrs. Potato Head does, earlier in the film), and still speak without a throat; he simply uses the potato (or tortilla) to do these things simultaneously.

The second question that boggled my mind as I sat in the theater was this: Say Potato Head's pieces were to be replaced one by one (see Theseus' Ship). At what point does he cease to exist as himself? What piece determines this Mr. Potato Head? We cannot tell from the film that any of his pieces is more HIMSELF than the others.

Would taking him apart and adding new parts--piece by piece--really show us what part IS Potato Head? When does he stop BEING Potato Head and assume a new identity (the new pieces)? What is he really?

For that matter, what are we?

I Speak In Drums

2010-06-19T17:54:00.002-05:00

Boom Shika-Boom Shika ba-ka-tu-ka

Boom Shika doo-ba-boom-ba-tacka-chooka

Boom Shika Boom Boom Chika Ba-koom-ta

Shika-ba-ku-ta Brrrr Chika ba-kum-ta

Boom Chica brrr brr brrr chi-koom-pa

Brrr-cha-kum-ta brr-Chica ba-poom-pa

Boom ta-ta boom boom Shi-ka-ti-ka

Rra-ka-kack Rra-ka-tu-ka pa-ka-tu-ka

Should I Be Embarrassed?

2010-06-05T14:33:00.000-05:00

I like this song

Don't Sleep

2010-05-21T04:01:00.003-05:00

My eyes are itchy. I think I'm simultaneously suffering from allergies and the common cold.
I'm also wide awake and entertained and rushing with energy.

Stay up late. I challenge you all. Drive around. See the city at night.
Please do this.

I've experienced something wonderful every time I am awake so late.
It's a breath of fresh air, a break from the common sleep routine.

Stay up at night and see the city and experience the serenity of it all. Go places and walk around. Talk with people. Look at the sky. The sky has stars at night.

Enter the hustle and bustle of your 24/7 diner. Try coffee (decaf for the pure of heart).
Talk to the creatures of the night.

I always feel so guilty. None of you are awake right now. If you were, we'd be talking.
I feel so guilty because I unlock the door and find that everyone at home is asleep. And I'll be asleep when they are waking up. And as they are sharing breakfast, I'll be asleep still.

People should try out the night-life. At least every once in awhile. It would give a sidekick to people like me. And it'd keep us from the guilt.
Share the night.

Comix Zone

2010-04-26T18:22:00.001-05:00

Sadly, this post is not about the amazing side scrolling video game available for the SEGA Genesis console.

This weekend, I went with some friends to a local comic book store. Crescent City Comics for anyone who is interested--it's a nice joint.

Anyway, on Sunday, I went to the NOLA Comic Con (in Kenner) with some of the same friends. It was a great experience, but it probably wasn't worth the $10. It was only one big room with many comic book booths. It would have been a much more lucrative operation had I more money to spend on comics.

I spent $10 for admission and $10 on merchandise (all comic books). There was a great selection to choose from. Some of the comics were very rare and very pricey! But I was lucky enough to find some cool stuff for cheap
--most of the comics were discounted :D

Moral of the story is I'm getting back into comic books. Anyone have any comic books to share or trade?
I'll be in LC this summer and am willing to offer comic books. Jay and I have already talked about reading a bunch of them.

So I guess the questionnaire for today, if you'd like to participate, is this:

What do you have to say about comics? (What's your favorite? Do you still read?)
Wanna join my comic book club this summer? :D

Vegan Week: DAY 7 (FINAL)

2010-04-19T17:11:00.001-05:00

The last day of being vegan.

Pretty much just ate some more salad and french fries haha.

We all got together around 11:30 for the Sausage Fest (I know it sounds weird, but just click the link).
So yea, we all watched the newest episode of Tim and Eric: Awesome Show, Great Job! and waited for midnight.

Wine and cheese and Miles Davis and Scrabble.

We did try and trick out Hayden. Before midnight, we chopped very small pieces of cheese and inserted them into a container of hummus and offered it to Hayden, who did not know what the trick was. He ate it, but we didn't count it as a foul. XD If we had counted that as a fail, then I would have failed, as well--
While I was cutting the cheese into tiny pieces, I put the remainder of it in my mouth out of instinct. James noticed what I had done and warned me, so I spit it out instantly!

Anyways, it was a fun week. I felt good and healthy.

Today, being the first day out of vegan week, I indulged myself with red beans and rice and a turkey sandwich. But I was so FULL afterwards!!
ahhhhh....

Eat healthy, kids.

Vegan Week: DAY 6

2010-04-18T15:51:00.003-05:00

I'll spare you the menu this time and simply recount the events.

Most of the day I worked on my Astronomy term paper (research, a little bit of the introduction) as I mentioned in my last blog entry.

Dylan was attending the Block Party Music Festival in the quarter which was an all-day event featuring a number of ska bands. I didn't get to see him, so no picture today :/

For dinner, the three vegans (James, Hayden, and I) and Alex and Spencer ate at Mona's Cafe in the quarter. It's a delicious Mediterranean/Greek cafe on Frenchman, smack dab in between some nice music venues. The food is good and the price is even better. I had FALAFEL and HUMMUS and COFFEE.

Afterwards, we all decided it'd be a nice idea to get some Hookah, but we had to walk all the way down Decatur to get to Attiki. We did so anyway. Unfortunately, when we finally arrived, the place was booked out--all reserved. We managed to sit at the bar and smoke the Hookah. A basketball game was on, and I found myself asking Spencer about sports. I'm trying to get into them more.

--and for anyone else who'd like to get into sports, or is already a sports fan, check out my friend's new sports blog: That Guy Sports

A fight broke out in the basketball game. It was pretty funny.

As we were finishing the Hookah off, my roommate Mason texted me and invited us to the Dragon's Den where his girlfriend's boss was DJing that night.

To make a long walk short, we got to the Dragon's Den and got in at 5$ cover. They weren't carding well (except in James' case, who ironically looks older than all of us) so we all had the liberty of the bar, at a slight expense. Drinks were around 3$ a bottle.

--a quick sidenote: all this barhopping and quarter walking got me thinking of the movie Cocktail. Then I thought about my friend Collin in Lake Charles who is a bartender. Should I look into the bartending profession?

^^This could be Collin and me in the future!!
XDXDXD

We started upstairs, frequenting, back and forth, the bar downstairs. Every time I bought a drink I would hate to leave the downstairs because the DJ was better. Not to discredit the DJ upstairs, but we all ended up moving downstairs. In general the music was funky (Jackson 5) with some hip reggaeton tossed in.

It was approaching midnight and we had the idea of checking out Snug Harbor, a jazz bar/cafe/what you will on Frenchman that is notably free after midnight. We arrived probably at 12:10, but, too our dismay, the musical act was already packing up, just having finished their set.

Next was diner food. Alex and Spencer tipped us off on this diner on Bourbon (in the gay district?) called Clover Grill. We got there (more walking) with our buzzes still intact, only to decide on eating at IHOP.

Walking back to the car.

At IHOP I had more COFFEE and some HASHBROWNS with ketchup. We all talked around as we sobered up. Talking about New York and 3 Penis Wine (it's real, apparently). Yea..

Got back at around 3 am and slept until noon.

And here's today.

Vegan Week: DAY 5

2010-04-17T13:24:00.002-05:00

On today's menu:

SALADS and FRENCH FRIES..
haha I think you get the picture by now.
I also ate RICE at both meals, with CORN or PEAS.

Thankfully, today (YESTERDAY--I'm writing this blog late), I did get a picture of Dylan, which has been uploaded below!

Yesterday was a pretty fast day. Didn't see Dylan too much, but his getup was hilarious again XD..

Since I'm writing this the morning after, I can't say much about yesterday. But tonight I'll have a recount of what I've eaten today, and what I'm doing today. So far, just research for my Astronomy term paper. Quasars.

Vegan Week: DAY 4

2010-04-15T19:07:00.000-05:00

On today's menu:

FOR LUNCH
Some more SALAD and FRENCH FRIES
some OJ

FOR DINNER
PITA and HUMMUS
a COKE

Today was pretty rushed :/. Played a lot of pool and helped Kyle with his silent movie project. I didn't have any classes with Dylan, but I'll try and upload a picture.

Sadly, I never got the chance to get a photo of Dylan for yesterday. The clothes he wore yesterday were hilariously misfit. MUCH too big. Maybe I'll get another chance before next Monday.

That's about it for today. I'm going to try and catch an Improv Comedy thing in the Performing Arts Center in an hour.

Vegan Week: DAY 3

2010-04-14T21:20:00.002-05:00

On today's menu:

FOR LUNCH
SALAD: lettuce, onions, chick peas, mushrooms, carrots, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper
FRENCH FRIES with ketchup
ORANGE JUICE
a piece of vegan jerky

FOR DINNER
VEGAN JAMAICAN SHEPHERD'S PIE
HOMEMADE PITA
HOMEMADE HUMMUS
WATER

FOR SNACK
HUMMUS and PITA

I tried a piece of the vegan jerky today. It looked extremely disgusting. But really it only tasted like teriyaki. The texture was trying to be meat, but it was off. I don't know how to explain. Either way, just looking at it made me want to vomit.

Dylan made the Shepherd's Pie for dinner with the ingredients we bought yesterday. He claimed that it was not as spectacular as how he used to make it but it was pretty good. We were all stuffed after dinner.

The Shepherd's Pie had all kinds of vegetables: sweet potatoes, plantains, lima beans, kidney beans, corn. There was curry powder and different peppers to give it a nice kick. All of this with a layer of crispy mashed yucca on top. Good stuff.

Dylan wore VERY baggy clothes today, so stick around for a picture upload.

Vegan Week: DAY 2

2010-04-13T21:07:00.006-05:00

LAST NIGHT I DREAMT OF BURGER KING

On today's menu:

FOR LUNCH
BANANA
SALAD: tomatoes, lettuce, chick peas, mushrooms, olives, spinach, carrots, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper
FRENCH FRIES w/ ketchup
GRAPE JUICE

FOR DINNER
SALAD: lettuce, carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, chick peas, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper
SANDWICH: wheat roll, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, oil, vinegar
FRENCH FRIES
GRAPE JUICE

SNACKS
Pita & Hummus, Caprisun, a few peanuts.

Dylan's clothes were baggier today. And the shirt he wore advertised the band MUSE, a band that he doesn't particularly like. So while we suffered in the nutrition department, we could still grab some laughs from Dylan's attire.
(if this is not making much sense, see the previous blog entry--Vegan Week: DAY 1)

We bought some ingredients today from various grocers for a meal we are planning tomorrow--so stay tuned! Dylan is cooking.

James, one of the vegan-ers for this week, also picked up some meatless jerky. It looks even more disgusting than raw meat. check it out--
meatless jerky

This picture doesn't really do justice to real life. His clothes looked baggier, and he also wore a very baggy over-shirt until it got hot. The clothes will only get baggier!

Vegan Week: DAY 1

2010-04-12T20:05:00.003-05:00

I have just entered a bet with some of my friends here in NOLA.

One of us is an extremely skinny guy--Dylan, for the purpose of this blog--who, according to the bet, must wear extremely baggy clothing for one full week.
On the other end, however, 2 others--James and Hayden--and myself must go vegan for the duration of the same week. If the 3 of us fail, said skinny man (Dylan) will no longer have to wear baggy clothing. Also, anyone who drops out of vegan week must go throughout the rest of the week with FAIL written on their forehead in permanent marker (sharpie).

What is Vegan?
Dictionary.com puts it simply: a vegetarian who omits all animal products from the diet.
No meat, no cheese, no eggs, no salad dressing, no mayonnaise, no cake, no milk, no honey..the list goes on.

This week's vegans prepared against torturous starvation with a Sunday trip to the local Whole Foods Market. I think everyone grabbed hummus and pita bread. I myself grabbed some corn chips and salsa, in addition. James went for soy milk (though it should be noted that not all soy milk is vegan).

I will log out the week with what I have eaten for each day, and any other notable occurrences.

On today's menu:

FOR LUNCH
SALAD: Spinach, Lettuce, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, Olives, Chick Peas, NO DRESSING
SANDWICH: Wheat Roll, Tofu, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Pickles
APPLE
TATER TOTS
ORANGE JUICE

FOR DINNER
SALAD: Spinach, Tomatoes, Carrots, Mushrooms, Olives, Oil+Vinegar
SANDWICH: Wheat Roll, Tofu, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Pickles, Onions, Oil+Vinegar
1 BOWL CHEERIOS (NO MILK)
1 BOWL KIX (NO MILK)

I might snack later in the night. If I do it will be Hummus and Pita bread.

Today Dylan wore baggier clothes than usual, and it was moderately humorous. He did not wear the baggiest clothes available, but those are yet to come (and I hope to upload a few pictures soon)!

I haven't necessarily felt The Hunger today. When I mention The Hunger I am referring to the insatiable thirst for meat. I have felt hungry today, but have yet to feel a need for meat. I can't deny that the food sucks right now--trying to keep vegan in the University Cafeteria. But I can maintain so far.

skyping all the time

2010-04-11T21:48:00.002-05:00

[4/11/10 9:40:55 PM] Lee G.: what do you call it when you are ruled by passions
[4/11/10 9:40:56 PM] Lee G.: ?
[4/11/10 9:46:16 PM] Aaron: you're an emotional person.
[4/11/10 9:47:01 PM] Lee G.: it's for my paper! cmon XD
[4/11/10 9:47:06 PM] Lee G.: oh
[4/11/10 9:47:07 PM] Lee G.: hahahahaha
[4/11/10 9:47:14 PM] Lee G.: i thought you were just calling me out like that :P
[4/11/10 9:47:24 PM] Aaron: lol
[4/11/10 9:47:29 PM] Aaron: no.. that was my answer
[4/11/10 9:47:32 PM] Lee G.: hahahaha

i need to blog again..

2010-04-09T15:06:00.002-05:00

Please. Another hand for Mr. Joshua Brand and Mr. John Falsey.

2010-03-21T01:13:00.000-05:00

"Sometimes the mind, for reasons we don't necessarily understand, just decides to go to the store for a quart of milk."
--Joel Fleischman

an idea

2010-03-19T14:42:00.002-05:00

I recently had an idea for a story. Two childhood friends. They are separated. Years in the future they reunite, but they are polar opposites. Still they have to treat each other like the friends they used to be. And they soon realize that they are just as close as they used to be, though this raises questions at their social differences. It should be an investigation of friendships that run deeper than personality similarities.
I just had to start writing and this came out.

"I don't want to suggest that there is a special someone--a soul-mate--for every human being. But there are certain people, not necessarily alike in nature or fashion, that match each other. It's an unpredictable combination. Like sweet and sour or (___), but it works."

Themes of Redemption -- from Woody Allen's "Manhattan"

2010-03-12T17:13:00.001-06:00

-But you're too easy on yourself! Don't you see that? That's your problem, that's your whole problem. You rationalize everything. You're not honest with yourself. You talk about how you want to write a book, but, in the end, you'd rather buy the Porsche, you know? You cheat a little bit on Emily and you play around the truth a little with me, and, the next thing you know you're in front of a Senate committee and you're naming names, you're informing on your friends.
What are future generations going to say about us! My God, you know someday we are going to be like him [RE: model skeleton]. You know, I mean, he was probably one of the beautiful people. He was probably dancing and playing tennis and everything! And now! This is what happens to us! You know, it's very important to have some kind of personal integrity. I'll be hanging in a classroom one day and I want to make sure that when I thin out that I'm well thought of.

-You are so self-righteous, you know. I mean we're just people. We're just human beings, you know? You think you're God.

-I... I gotta model myself after someone.

Just Can't Seem To Focus

2010-03-10T20:04:00.002-06:00

Recently I've felt that surge of inspiration. To write, to blog. All that good stuff.

But I just can't seem to direct it. It's like playing with mirrors and laser-pointers and trying to get the beam on an exact pin point.

I don't know where I get these silly comparisons, but when I think about my current writer's block the laser-pointer image really is what comes to mind.

Anyway, I'd still like to express something, so I'll put up a song.

The title is strangely appropriate. Do listen to it.

Go Easy

2010-03-01T00:32:00.002-06:00

So I started watching this movie in theaters.
The Last Station

It's about Tolstoy and the Tolstoyan movement. About a naïve follower who is accepted into the "program" to follow in the wake of the accomplished Russian writer. He believes firmly in what Tolstoy has written, but he can never seem to express his own opinions. It seems like everything he has to say is Tolstoy's opinion.

The movie follows this protagonist who begins to form his own opinions on love and life. There are other intricacies weaved in, like how Tolstoy's relationship with his wife represents the clashing ideologies inherent in Tolstoy's movement. There's a love story. But I won't ruin this all for you, why don't you check it out?

Anyway--one thing that I found strange was how every time a scene reached it's most dramatic level it quickly deteriorated into comedy. And this movie IS funny. For example, Paul Giamatti exclaims to Tolstoy's wife "If I were married to a woman like you I would shoot myself in the head!
...or move to America!"

It's powerful and instantly hilarious. The laughs quickly overshadow the drama of the scene.
So why does the film shift so eagerly, especially when these scenes could evolve into more powerful displays? It really got on my nerves, until I began to think--

I like how this movie doesn't take itself too seriously.
And that's when it hit me: the protagonist. The naïve follower who at first is a strict Tolstoyan slowly becomes his own man. He drops all this serious nonsense and establishes his own beliefs. Even Tolstoy admits that he shouldn't be taken so seriously.

And this theme of not taking yourself too seriously is the underlying message of The Last Station and is present even in the pacing of the movie. Crazy, right?

This reminded me of Northern Exposure (seriously, if you are going to continue following my blog, you should try and see at least one episode! great show! awesome job!).
Anyway, the show was awarded multiple Golden Globes for Best Drama Series. The creators said they appreciated the drama awards, "but it's a comedy."
Here's a show that I find deeply inspiring while at the same time hilarious. In critique, it seems the show was reviewed as a Drama. But the creators never took themselves too seriously. "It's a comedy."

It's important not to take yourself too seriously. Or am I being romantic? Let me know.

NOLA Zombie Walk and THE BLUE HIT

2010-02-16T01:29:00.006-06:00

50 zombies united last night to lurch around the french quarter and terrorize tourists.
I was one of them. Nosebleed zombie. Creepy, I know.

We began lurching a little late (circa 7:30), but we continued for about an hour and a half. By that time most of the zombies went their separate ways.

It was hella fun. Running into people. Growling. Breathing irregularly. So many zombies!
We'd slam against corner shop windows and fancy restaurant windows. Reactions are hilarious.

I was impressed with many of the other zombies' make-up. And everyone seemed to be in character, most of the time.

We ran into Ms. Kate Hudson! I forget which street, but it was pretty crazy, nonetheless. She kept saying, "ah, get away!" Not in a snobby celebrity way, but more like a "ah, zombies!" way.

For this next part, I want you all to imagine you are getting crunk in the club. Second-line beats and black and gold Superbowl. All of the sudden, a string of zombies enter and look around, hungry for brains. The zombies settle in...then break out in groovy dance.
Ah, so fun XD.

We also stopped by a latin/salsa club on Frenchman. Salsa dancing zombies. Oh, the hilarity. I thought it was worth a mention.

NEXT UP

the BLUE HIT!!
I almost missed them. Well, I thought so at the time. They started playing at 11:00 PM at Neutral Ground coffee house.

I washed off my fake blood in the bathroom and sat real close to the stage area.

The Blue hit is: Grace Rowland, John McGee, and David Moss.
Grace has such a soft voice, which mixes well with the dynamic level of the accompanists. All is smooth and the strings suddenly pour over like a waves of water.

I really hope you will check them out.
I'll provide a few links for you--

Here's one of their most popular tunes

Here's one of my favorites

and finally, some footage from the gig!
it's provided by a friend who brought me, and it's been uploaded to facebook; dunno if everyone can view it..
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1246070991081

Valentine's Day, 2010

2010-02-15T02:27:00.007-06:00

Yesterday was Valentine's day.
My Valentine is stuck in College Station, Texas.

It sounds pretty depressing. And it is, considering she had two rides to New Orleans that both backed out; one backed out literally 5 hours before departure.

Anyway
Valentine's Day
2010

I began Valentine's Day on Bourbon Street. At Midnight. 12:00 AM February 14.

New Orleans is parading from Friday to Mardi Gras, to the best of my knowledge.

My good friend Jorge Galvan met up with Kyle and me after the parade, and we were just about to head back to the university dorms when Veronica called me.
Veronica is the name of my girlfriend's sister.

As a student at LSU, she frequents New Orleans when she can. She's also legal age to buy alcohol, so she wanted to take us to the clubs.

Anyhow, Bourbon Street. On perhaps one of the craziest nights in the French Quarter. It was us three: Kyle, Jorge, and I. We parked off Esplanade, and made a long walk to the edge of Bourbon. On the corner, we saw to guys, leaving. They said to us, "yea, you don't wanna go down there." We chuckled to ourselves. Everything thinks they do but...boy, was it a cluster fuck.

It was funny, the journey down Bourbon. Before we hit the crowds, it was just an empty street, a few people on the other side of the road, walking away. Some in front of us, some behind. It was like a system, some go in some come out.

We could tell that we were getting closer when we came across a few 'dudes' at a corner post. Obviously drunk. They were yammering to themselves and picking out girls from a group walking ahead of us. "Hey! Hey! Hey, show me you tits!" No dice.
"I think we're getting closer," I said to Kyle.

Bourbon was crowded, and only got more crowded. Lively. And very dirty. Loud.
There were boobs, too.

It took forever to find Veronica. It was so loud that phone conversation was almost futile. She found us.

She was with her boyfriend, Hayes (quite the character; very nice and funny), and two of her friends--Suli and Alyssa.

It was a relief to me. Vero bought us all beer and we walked to Red Eye (next to Republic). It was such a long walk, but each of us introduced ourselves and talked.

The bar was carding (something they never do), so we had to wait for Vero and the gang to get inside. She came out with 3 wristbands, and we were sly enough to wear them and get inside. It was exhilarating; the bouncer kind of poked me below the collar bone, but i just showed him the wristband. Easy as that.

We bought more drinks, danced way too much. The place was packed, everyone was having fun, and the joint seemed to be playing all of Vero's favorite songs.

It was nice to hang out with Vero. She reminded me so much of her sister. It was refreshing. They share many of the same mannerisms. It helped me remember Cristina.

We left Red Eye at around 4:30 AM; Jorge, Kyle, and myself.

Valentine's Day, 2010. Separated from my valentine. I had fun, though.

In the context of the holiday, I guess I'm with all of you singles. All of the one's who quote Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind--"Valentine's day is a holiday invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like crap."

But, as any other day, it was a good day.

Would anyone like to share their Valentine's Day?
Leave a comment.

The Apple Store

2010-02-11T17:17:00.005-06:00

So I just made a commute to the Mall on Veterans Blvd.

Got a hair cut and took a peek around the Apple store.

Actually, as i'm writing this in the Apple store now. I'm on an iMac 21.5-inch screen. Mighty-mouse and all.

I couldn't help but blog on this thing. It's comfortable. There's practically a vista of word pad in front me.

Everything is so sleek. And the view is like a landscape.

Everything is mobile, adjustable. Try out an iMac if you get the chance. Mac fan or not.

Crap! I have to leave now.

Maybe I can write on something like this again soon.

Interiors and the Born Ruffians

2010-02-10T17:34:00.005-06:00

I don't know why I haven't talked about this before!

So way back when in December of 2009, I took part in the wondrous gift-giving holiday of Hanukkah. I normally get lots of clothes for these kinds of things. Clothes and every year a shaving/trimming kit. Haha, you know. With the clippers and little scissors and tweezers. And sometimes I get batteries.

I always seem to get things that I don't want, but it always comes in handy. So I guess it's not so bad.

This year, I had only one item on my wish list. America Clerisy WOODY ALLEN Collection. 44 Movies. What's Up, Tiger Lily? to Scoop. And this is what I got on the eighth night Hanukkah.

Essentially, the only movies that I don't own that have anything related to Woody Allen are Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona and Whatever Works. And when You Will Meet a Tall, Dark Stranger (Woah! Look at that cast!) comes out, I'll be sure to amend my collection.

Anyways, the movies are great. Woody Allen is, at this point in my life, my favorite filmmaker. Maybe not my favorite director or writer, but overall he takes the cake.

I strongly suggest that you introduce yourself to Woody Allen. Whether you just want to stick your toes in to check the water or do a cannonball. For starters, there's Annie Hall, which is thought by critics to be his greatest work. Also, I might suggest The Purple Rose of Cairo, one of my favorite movies of all time. If you're interested in something more of a comedy, why not try the slapstick Sleeper or the mockumentary Take the Money and Run? One that I really enjoyed, after beginning to watch all 44 in my collection, was Love and Death, which seems to be his first work that melds humor with philosophic commentary.

Anyway, half of this blog is supposed to be a review of Interiors. Here goes:

Interiors is Allen's first serious film. No jokes, no hints of comedy. Though Allen is thought to be a comedian in pop culture, it's his serious films, as well, that earn the critics' adoration.

Interiors is like Woody Allen dropping all of his one-liners and devoting himself to a Bergman-esque drama. It tells the story of 3 sisters living painful lives after their parents have separated, and their mentally unstable mother seems to complicate everything.

I highly suggest this movie. For a similar Allen film, try Match Point.

I hope I've influenced you at least to watch any Woody Allen movie.

And for the last segment of this blog, I will leave you with a song; courtesy of the Born Ruffians:

FOXES MATE FOR LIFE

Groundhog Day

2010-02-03T00:22:00.005-06:00

Yesterday was Groundhog Day. February 2nd.

And just because we don't all believe that a groundhog can forecast the weather for the next 6 weeks doesn't mean we can't enjoy the festivities. And watch Groundhog Day with Bill Murray.

It's such a good movie. On so many levels.

I should probably blog about why this movie is good.

But it's late and I figure I would just throw it out there and see what happens.

Maybe another time.

Helping out

2010-01-22T15:49:00.002-06:00

The past few days have been a real experience.

Last night I heard jazz at snug harbor.

Just this morning I attended a clinic lead by Ron Carter. If you've never heard of him, shame on you. Ron Carter is likely the most-recorded jazz bassist of all time. He's played on 2,500 albums more or less--an upright bass player whose noteworthy accomplishments range from Miles Davis to A Tribe Called Quest. And even more than that. More than I could think of, to say the least.

A few minutes ago, my friend DJ Orsa asked me to help spread his music. I got a chance to hear this stuff and I thought it was a great addendum to my listenings these past few days. Also a perfect topic to blog on.

I'm sure some of you out there are into electronica and dance, and I know you'd all enjoy it.

So give this hyperlink a click

www.soundcloud.com/djorsa/tracks

and enjoy this music.

Also, I'm sure DJ Orsa wants feedback as much as he wants his music to be spread.

Share it and let him know what you think.

Do you believe in Karma?

2010-01-12T22:58:00.000-06:00

Just asking.

Well. Do you?

Moods

2009-11-23T20:24:00.003-06:00

Recently I've been spending my inspiration on music and conversation. Listening to music, playing music; talking to people.

But I feel like maybe I'm cheating some of this inspiration. Wasting it. Like when energy is in transit--a little piece is always lost as heat. It's like I'm along for the ride. Taking the A Train, but not really ready to get off at any point. I don't mean to sound despairing--it's not like I don't know where to get off, it's just that I'm having so much fun on this ride that I'm not ready to go out there just yet.

So where does this bus stop? Where do I get off? I could write some more. Hey, as we speak, I'm spilling out these words. I mean, this feels great. Blogging. God, I love blogging. This is something I should get back into.

Try it out. Blast your favorite tracks. Go along for the ride. Don't go against the flow. Let it take you where it wants, because it's usually where you need to be.

Study Hard, Now

2009-11-19T15:54:00.001-06:00

Indulge

2009-11-18T17:02:00.001-06:00

Have Fun

2009-11-17T21:59:00.001-06:00

The Dislike Button

2009-11-09T09:18:00.009-06:00

I've never felt the need for a dislike button.

The new fad that's sweeping Facebook. Mass-hysteria. 1,000,000 strong for the Dislike Button.

What are we propagating when we petition the creators of Facebook?

I see all these groups (there are far too many) supporting and requesting a dislike button. Stop and think before you click that responsive "join" button. What are you supporting?

Do you so strongly feel the need to trash what other people have to say?

You want to let other people know that what they say is so unintelligent or uninteresting or simply so inappropriate that it deserves LESS than "no comment." Is that it?

If you have a problem with the vulgarity of someone's post, that's a different story. Facebook already allows us to remove friends from our friend list. And if removal is taking it too far, why not "hide" the user from your news feed?

As a sidenote: if any user posts a status update like "Mondays..." or "Hangovers..." or anything to that gist, using the dislike button might be understandable--because things like Mondays and Hangovers are generally accepted as crappy. But in this example, the 'disliker' is actually in agreement with the poster; so using the dislike button this way would be, in a sort, inaccurate.

The more negative responses we give to our friends in the social-network, the less likely it is that they will post; or worse, they might just 'dislike' back. Typing whatever you want as your status-update is one carefree advantage to being in a social-network. You don't expect your friends to 'dislike' what you say.

Well, what do you think? I never understood the dislike button. What am I missing?

Blogging is Amazing

2009-11-02T23:05:00.001-06:00

I think we all need to take a step back and remember how great blogging is.

The Best Band You Never Heard -

2009-10-27T21:49:00.001-05:00

Pomplamoose

Visit their channel @

http://www.youtube.com/user/pomplamoosemusic?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/1/xycnv87N_BU

TERROR ON BLEAK STREET!

2009-08-11T03:00:00.002-05:00

ZOMBIES ATE MY NEIGHBORS! FOLLOW THIS BLOG!!!

terroronbleakstreet.blogspot.com

I love receiving comments

2009-08-10T19:39:00.001-05:00

There are moments in cinematic history...

2009-08-10T00:11:00.007-05:00

There are moment in cinematic history that we call our favorites. Not necessarily our favorite movie, rather, our favorite laughs, our favorite kisses, our favorite endings, our favorite shocks; our favorite emotions.

Tonight I watched National Lampoon's Animal House for the first time. I'm not about to tell you it was my favorite movie or the funniest movie of all time. It was neither. Believe me, it was funny; but what I'm here to say is this:

As the movie progressed, it took me to a magical type of scene that so rarely occurs in movies. You can argue that I enjoyed the movie so much because I was with friends, comfortable, and in a good mood. But when I saw Otis Day and the Knights perform Shout the movie felt so good. Toga party. Love interest. Dancing. Communion. Drinking.

It was great. And it also partly affirmed my theory that even some of the most simplistic events, when filmed, can inspire emotion in an audience.

Granted, it was most likely because of the music--the popular song, Shout.

I noticed, however, that my eyes were glued. I wanted to see more--I didn't just want to hear this music, but I wanted to see it performed, and see people dancing, and see all the fun.

I understand it may be hard for you to feel what I felt by just reading what I've typed. I feel like I've been rambling about this whole thing.

That'll be all for this entry. I've included the video below, check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tASwgOWALs

(video embedding was disabled by request, so you must follow the link)

this is old news

2009-08-04T15:13:00.003-05:00

If there was a movie being made about your life, who would you have play you? Which actor/actress?

Everyone's been asked this question at least once.

I finally came to a conclusion for myself. It's not meant to be serious, but it's what I've chosen.

RICK MORANIS

Look at that beautiful man. Ok...ha

Yea, but I heard on Wikipedia that he's made a vow to act no more. I think it was to spend more time with his family :/ So having him play me in a movie looks pretty impossible.

YOUR TURN come to your own conclusion--decide who you would want to play YOU in a movie about your life.

MacBook Pro

2009-08-01T01:28:00.009-05:00

Mac is interesting. I'm eager to begin my journey into Mac geekdom, as I've recently obtained a MacBook Pro (wooohooo!!). Just in case any of you are wondering: Yes, I did go for the "buy-a-mac-for-college-get-a-free-ipod-touch" deal. And now I have a new iPod Touch (yipeeee!).

So I'm trying to get this all in order, my iTunes and my Mac and all this and that.

I have a computer+internet in my room. For the first time in my life. I feel liberated already.

I also want to shout out to anyone with Skype. The MacBook Pro comes with a little webcam installed, so anyone wanting to video chat, give me your contact.

Check out skype if you haven't already-- www.skype.com

easy.

What else in new in my life?

Hrm...

I saw Funny People today (Apatow).

It was funny. Rottentomatoes.com is calling it the most mature film that Apatow has released so far. I can agree.

Straight from me, though, I found it particularly hilarious. I went into the theatre expecting non-stop laughter, and, not surprisingly, I laughed even during the dramatic bits.

Brief premise? The movie is about comedians--funny people. All different kinds of them. (Adam Sandler) is a very famous comedian who has been diagnosed with a terminal blood disease. He begins his character arc early and befriends a struggling comedian (Seth Rogen). (Sandler)'s past life of fucking women and living in leisure is put in combat with his present mindset as he faces imminent death. As regrets his past and his breakup with the lovely (Leslie Mann), he is soon to find that his blood tests reveal him to be a survivor. With a second chance at life, will he make better choices?

Okok, none of that really matters. The movie is a comedy. Yea, you're right..for the most part. Funny People embarks upon the silver screen with a not-so-common formula. No more crappy troped-out rom-com that you can guess out completely. It's interesting and complex in its own ways (runtime 2hrs20min), so you might actually be thrilled with the paths that the movie takes.

My rating-- 8/10..for now. I'm going to see it again soon. Maybe today. You're invited.

Corner Pocket

2009-07-22T21:35:00.002-05:00

So I'd have to say I dig Weather Report.

Could explain why I've been listening to this song almost exclusively.

Give it a listen and tell me what it makes you think of.

Sidewalk Chalk.. that's what I hear.

2009-07-12T22:16:00.003-05:00

i wonder if people have read me.
my blog.

i know they have. but i wonder how exciting my entries are, or how people feel when they look at their dashboards and see that 1Lee has a new post.

who is my audience?
i want to write. but i don't feel so good now, and i don't really know if anyone would read me.

maybe two or three people.
or two people.

let me know what i should write, or at least if i should really give this blogging thing another shot.

In Production

2009-06-27T15:45:00.002-05:00

So a week or two ago Collin Comeaux and Taylor Clements and I met for lunch at KDs. Well, 5 o clock lunch, if we can call it that. It was a pitch meeting. We pitched the idea to ourselves.

The story of the newspaper columnist who opens an umbrella inside the office and is cursed with bad luck. The idea had really been in planning for a year or so.

We settled on the title "Stan; Out of Luck." Using the initials of the title (SOL) to insinuate 'shit out of luck.'

Taylor and Collin created the jokes for the entire first episode at the first meeting, while I formed the storyline before the end of the night.

The script was written and we began shooting.

We are nearly done, I can safely say. All we need are a few more office takes and a soundtrack (which will be recorded by the Lucky Duck Trio--Taylor and I, so far).

Editing is proving to be a tad difficult, since we used a boom mic and slate. However, the finished product will be semi-professional :).

I'm getting the hang of editing, so it should be cut clean pretty soon.

sneak peek of the cast and crew

Stan - Collin C.
Gerry - Taylor C.
Alan - Si T.

Lighting - Kyle M.
Camera 2 - Kyle M.
Boom Mic - Barrett H./Jay R./Charles L.
Animal Handlers - pretty much everyone
Slate - Joseph G./Ken M./and pretty much everyone else

Director - Lee G.
Written for the screen by Lee Garcia
Concept by Collin Comeaux and Taylor Clements

Manhattan Murder Mystery

2009-06-27T15:40:00.004-05:00

I'm tired of logging each one...sorry
maybe I'll get back into it some other time.
As of now, 1Lee blog reverts to a blog and is no longer primarily a movie review blog.

But here's a good one I saw last thursday:
MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY
rating - 9
A great mix of classic Woody Allen one-liners, some mystery/suspense, and also acquainted with the relationship aspect of Allen's genre.

See You Space Cowboy

2009-06-10T21:59:00.000-05:00

You're Gonna Carry That Weight

My new cymbal

2009-05-25T16:50:00.002-05:00

shiny

# 61 The Purple Rose of Cairo

2009-05-21T20:36:00.005-05:00

5/20/09 - 3:00 PM roughly

My house - Cristina

First time to see

rating 9;

Not just another Woody Allen flick. I think I heard somewhere that this was one of Allen's favorite of all his movies.

Who knew Jeff Daniels looked so young?

Dixieland common to Woody pictures, and the movies runs a little over an hour so it won't wear you out XD.

Synopsis-

1930s/1940s Cecilia [Mia Farrow], movie buff, stumbling waitress, has a crappy life with a failing marriage. She goes to see a movie that she particularly likes, The Purple Rose of Cairo, and, halfway through, Jeff Daniels' character, Tom Baxter, literally breaks through the fourth wall--walks off the movie screen--and falls in love with Cecilia. However, life isn't like the movies, so now that Baxter is no longer in the movie, the rest of the cast of characters cannot finish the picture. Moviegoers are angry and the actor who played Tom Baxter, Gil Shepard [again, Jeff Daniels], seeks out to find the missing Tom Baxter. He meets Cecilia and they fall in love...too. So now Cecilia must choose between the imaginary Tom Baxter and the real Gil Shepard.

You'll like it. No matter how it ends. And if you don't get it at first..two or three days later, you'll know.

Credit goes to Mr. Talyor Clements

2009-05-21T20:31:00.004-05:00

for showing me this song.

maybe i'd heard it before--but it's flippin sweet

Collage

2009-05-18T17:49:00.009-05:00

I've been missing out on writing reviews for some of the billions of movies i've watched since Dead Poets Society. I won't add any to the count, i'm still on #60; but i'll have you know that it hurts me to be unable to blog on each of the next few movies almost as much as it hurts you for having never been able to read what could have been.

Actually, I'm sure this is a breath of fresh air for anyone who's been reading some boring reviews of mine--

yay pictures.

Everything has been purged from this blog but art...

2009-05-10T19:44:00.004-05:00

Baldessari

The Bourgeois Blues

2009-03-26T21:37:00.002-05:00

So I get off the phone and I got the blues. Who do I turn to?

Ladies and gents, Mr. Taj Mahal--

Are you ever too overwhelmed to type?

2009-03-24T19:04:00.001-05:00

#60 Dead Poets Society

2009-03-22T22:23:00.004-05:00

3/21/09 - 6:00 or so PM

Jay's house - Jay, Mason

First time to see

rating 8;

Mason has to write an essay about how this movie uses the theme of Carpe Diem. "Sieze the day." We helped him out while he took notes. I wished i'd have taken notes, but I did catch a lot by just helping him out.

Robin Williams plays the quirky teacher who pushes his students to be creative and to read poetry and "sieze the day". It would be easy for anyone to write an essay on how this movie advocates carpe diem. That's what makes the movie so inspiring.

In an all-boy private school, students are schooled to make it into Harvard and other prestigious colleges. One of these students is that guy from House. Other students are wonderful characters, very cool kids, different personalities--the goof ball, the romantic, the weakling, the recloose. etc. etc. It's quite enjoyable.

Same director as The Truman Show.

Robin Williams makes you want a teacher like John Keating (his character); unless you've had Mrs. McFarlain as an english teacher. Or Mrs. Brouhard! English teachers are always the best..

"Oh Captain, My Captain." Tons of awesome quotes; great literary allusions.

Dead poets society is like a book club in the movie. Alfred M. Barbe Book club, or should I say---Dead Authors Society. O snap..well, our authors aren't really dead yet.

I want to go into detail with a lot of the scenes that I've deciphered (by meticulously paying attention to all aspects of the plot, because of helping Mason) but it would end up with me spoiling the movie. Spoilers--it'd ruin the movie for you. So i'll stop. Plus I gotta wake up early tomorrow, so I can "Sieze the day!" Rest easy.

Is it like eating yogurt with a fork?

2009-03-14T13:21:00.003-05:00

It feels like we'll slip through, but we never do.

I guess

When you get the good stuff, when the mix is tough

It sticks

#59 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

2009-03-14T11:14:00.002-05:00

3/13/09 (Friday the 13th) - 9:00 PM (with Yank Sing takeout)

Jay's House - Jay

Not my first time to see

rating 10;

This movie got me into the screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and directer Michel Gondry. For those that aren't savvy to these names in cinema, Kaufman is a wacky writer who made his fame with the movie Being John Malkovich and Gondry is a french director who has become famous with his numerous music video productions and films (most notably Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

Gondry's direction features extraordinary use of mise en scene. Dreamscape environments are traversed and special effects are abundant in every nook and cranny. Whether it's a light bulb here or a trapdoor there, Gondry gets creative on us. Pretty much every special effect in the movie is done "in-camera" versus "in-editing".

I'll let Michel explain it:

The story; yes, the story.--Joel Barish (Jim Carrey), guy; Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet), girl. Guy--girl--relationship. These things get rough; sadness. Girl gets guy erased from her memory, using the new-age technology of the Lacuna Incorporated. Guy, despairing, figures he should subject himself to the same treatment. The procedure is done while the patient is asleep, so guy goes home to get some rest and let the memory wipe begin. In his dreams he experiences the memories until they fade away. When the good memories he's shared with girl begin to fade, he realizes he's made the wrong decision and must try to find a place in his dreamscapes to hide her from erasure.

It's beautiful.

There's a real connection between Carrey and Winslet, even off set (as the special feautures show).

I think I'll go watch it again, now.

The trailer's good, too--

#58 Watchmen

2009-03-09T16:51:00.004-05:00

3/8/06 - 11:40 AM

Cinemark - Joe

First time to see

rating 7;

(I chose Dr. Manhattan becuase he was the smallest poster I could find.)

It was better than I expected. Stays true to the graphic novel, even if some of the details at the end were different.

Soundtrack was enjoyable, though, I want to say it was almost too blockbuster. Like ACDC in the Iron Man trailer. Enjoyable still. A plus for the soundtrack is that it sort of showed the time period.. i think.

This movie is rated R for graphic content and...softcore porn scene? What's that about? Butt cheeks, boobs, and orgasmic moaning until the subjects reach climax.

I was impressed by David Hayter. For anyone who didn't know, David Hayter was the screenwriter for Watchmen and is also the voice for Konami's Solid Snake!!! Hahaha. Too cool.

It was 2hrs and 45min long, though I'm not sure if it felt long. I need to see it again. Perhaps it seemed just right because I had already read the graphic novel.

Cinematography at times matches frame for frame with the comics.

Sorry I don't have more to say. When I see it again, maybe I'll post more?

See the movie, but more importantly, read the graphic novel.

#57 Magnolia

2009-03-09T16:09:00.003-05:00

3/6/09 - 9:30 PM

Jay's House - Jay, Alex

Not my first time to see

rating 10;

"There are stories of coincidence and chance, of intersections and strange things told, and which is which and who only knows? And we generally say, "Well, if that was in a movie, I wouldn't believe it." Someone's so-and-so met someone else's so-and-so and so on. And it is in the humble opinion of this narrator that strange things happen all the time. And so it goes, and so it goes. And the book says, "We may be through with the past, but the past ain't through with us.""

A P.T. Anderson film;

Amazing production with well-rounded cast. The acting is superb--Drama--Masterpiece.

There is the story of the boy genius, and the game show host, and the ex-boy genius (william h. macy). There is the story of the dying man, his lost son (tom cruise), and the dying man's wife, the caretaker (phillip seymour hoffman). And there is the story of a mother, and the daughter, and the police officer in love (john c. reilly). And there are more stories, and this will all make sense in the end. A tangle of 9 separate stories that intermingle with each other here and there. The storyline shifts more and more frequently as we approach a climax that would bewilder any audience. Really--

The main themes of the movie are--the coincedential nature of everyone's lives; and, how the "sins of the father are carried out upon the son."

The past plays dirty tricks on our future, and many of the dying characters in Magnolia seem to regret their pasts when it's too late (the terminally ill). Some must learn to except their past (the misogynistic speaker who has become this way because of his father's departure during childhood--Tom Cruise), and some must start fresh (the drug addict).

Runtime approx. 3hrs 20min. It's a lot. I won't lie--the movie feels long. But it's captivating. The stories are so dramatic that we are pulled into them. We don't want to leave until it's over and we surely don't want an unhappy ending.

Soundtrack is predominately songs by Aimee Mann. Check her out on the trailer; i was sold after i saw the trailer.

This is my all-time favorite movie. Just thinking about it makes me want to applaud right now.

The Stars Are So Big/I Am So Small

2009-03-06T16:39:00.001-06:00

Do I Stand A Chance?

My Youtube Account

2009-03-04T20:07:00.004-06:00

If you really want to know what's going on in my life, just check out the favorites on my youtube account. Anything i see that i like I'll favorite it. It's usually pretty up to date. It's almost like that 'favorites' section is a blog in itself; a journal.

oh the link

http://www.youtube.com/1Lee

who knows, maybe i'll upload a new video soon?

It Overtakes Me

2009-03-02T17:02:00.005-06:00

I know I've been posting a lot of music videos and links, but bear with me.

This is how I will dance, in the future, after I've trained to become the world's greatest dancer.

If you find Earth boringJust the same old same thingCome on, sign up with Outer Spaceways Inc.

2009-03-01T18:58:00.008-06:00

http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/tracks#outer%20spaceways%20incorporated

courtesy of Sun Ra

The Heart's a Lonely Hunter

2009-02-28T00:21:00.003-06:00

I like to wear button-up shirts. Where is that girl?

#56 Lost In Translation

2009-02-28T00:08:00.002-06:00

2/27/09 - 9:30 PM

Jay's House - Jay, Samantha

First time to see

rating 7;

I like this movie. I can picture myself making a movie like this. It's visually aesthetic; the screenplay is fairly simple. I think what wins most of the movie is slapstick humor and the wackiness of Japanese culture (when we compare it to our own). Actor Bill Murray and hotty actress Scarlett Johansson find theirselves lost in translation with the Japanese language.

My biggest problem with the movie is that it felt empty. Not so much a bad thing; remember the simplicity of the movie. Minimalism. Besides, Jay pointed out that the movie allows you to "fill in" what it's left out.

Also, I'd like to share with you the opening shot of the movie:

And Holy Crap

2009-02-26T17:20:00.003-06:00

And Holy Crap i've turned my blog into a movie review site. Someone slap me straight. I never pictured my blog would turn out like this.

I guess now that I've realized the inevitable fate of my blog becoming a movie review revue, I'll take suggestions of movies for me to watch.

I'm only kidding. I really mean to say that I'm going to blog more without movies. You know, blog posts with words about..stuff.

But i wasn't kidding about the suggestion. What should I watch next?

#55 I <3 Huckabees

2009-02-23T19:10:00.005-06:00

2/22/09 - 9:30 PM

Jay's house - Jay

First time to see

rating 8;

"How am I not myself?"
Dustin Hoffman, that guy from those Wes Anderson movies, Mark Wahlberg (I'm not a huge fan,
but this is his best acting role--a free thinking fireman), and many others.

It's a funny play on philosophy--existentialism (everything is connected) vs. nihilism (nothing has a purpose). Crisis, drama, and thinking. For any slow-pokes in metaphysics, this movie isn't very confusing. It's more of an 'introduction to' variant philosophical ideas. It's wittiness and slapstick.

This is a good movie. It's been debated by many critics as to whether or not this movie is anything good. I think currently it holds a 50% (plus or minus) on rottentomatoes.com. Half and half. I support it.

Rated R for language (with opening lines--"Motherfucking cocksucker motherfucking shit fucker what am I doing?") and a sex scene. hahahaha.

Here's the trailer for you to enjoy. Check the movie out.

#54 Christmas on Mars

2009-02-23T18:28:00.013-06:00

2/22/09 - 5:30 PM

My house - Myself

First time to see

rating 8;

Low-budget, indie, sci-fi flick written and directed by Wayne Coyne, the front man of popular psychadelic alternative rock band The Flaming Lips. Of course, this means the soundtrack is exclusively music by The Flaming Lips--eerie sounds and theremin zaps--made for the purpose of the movie.

I was extremely impressed with the movie. I walked in imagining an artsy, musical explosion of non-sequitur music video discontinuity, and came out applauding; impressed. It's nothing crazy or experimental or out of the box; well, it is, but...
This is an actual movie, yes, with dialogue and structure and...and it was made by the Flaming Lips? Sure, some of the acting is under-par (however, some of it is great, and most of it is just enough to pull it off), and the effects and set design is, in some instances, easily identifiable as low-budget. If you like that kind of thing, this is your movie, no doubt. If you don't, you can still be won over.

The movie tells the story of the very first colony of humans on mars. It's Christmas Eve and the colonists are all worried about the fate of the colonies only infant. Will the baby live or die? Throughout the movie, Major Syrtis (Steve Drozd, guitarist/drummer The Flaming Lips) views the infant as a symbol for the future of the human race--if the baby does not survive, the humans are doomed.

Themes -
Are humans meant to live in space? "Where is heaven if you're in outer-space?"
Santa Claus as a symbol of hope and sympathy.
Greater beings in the universe can show mercy, even though we may be apprehensive of them.

Black and white with instances of radiant, scintillating colors. Runtime 1:22:00

The cast includes--
The Flaming Lips, Adam Goldberg, Fred Armisan, 'Steve' from Blues Clues, and others.

You already like this movie if you like The Flaming Lips.

My favorite Christmas movie (remeber, I'm Jewish).

WATCH NOW FULL MOVIE AT:
www.christmasonmarsmovie.com

#53 Miracle at St. Anna

2009-02-19T16:17:00.010-06:00

2/18/09 - 9:00 PM (on the dot)

My house - Myself

First time to see

rating 6;

Spike Lee takes his shot at World War II.

An all black infintry division--nicknamed the Buffalo Soldiers--make its way through the second world war fighting Nazis and meeting Italians.

It's definitely a Spike Lee film; lots of black culture--some people claim Spike Lee to be a racist, but I have to argue. Ebert comments on Spike Lee--"When you see one of his [Spike Lee] films, you're seeing one of his films." Dig it? Another trademark of Spike Lee is the typical passion/love making scene in his movies. Miracle at St. Anna doesn't necessarily have a 'sex scene,' but there are some boobies to look out for if you're under 17 years of age in the states.

Spike Lee's directing--circular camera shots, as in, the camera circles two characters as they are engaged in dialogue. This happens most notably in one of the earlier scenes with Tuturro and the technique becomes less noticeable throughout the movie.

It is a war movie. Blood, guts, bullets, shells, screams, death, death, and more death. I'd put the battle scenes a notch under Saving Private Ryan, if not equal.

The movie is also a light-hearted comedy at times, playing off of black culture. The music also helps to amplify the light-hearted tone. I'm not quite sure howthe battle/comedy mix works out in this movie, but if I had to give a final verdict at this point, I'd say it plays only moderately well.

The movie is 2hrs 30mins long. That's long. Atleast too long for this movie. That's one of the main reasons I rated it 6.

Suggested to watch if you are a fan of war movies, black people, or Spike Lee.

An extra note on the filmography of Spike Lee--

When I went to see one of the summer movies last year, I was hit with the trailer for Miracle at St. Anna. I heard Spike Lee's name, and, although never having seen one of his movies, I was instantly interested. The trailer was amazing (atleast it was in the theater...). Because of the movie's release, television stations began playing his films (any and all of them). I first saw Mo' Better Blues. I loved it; even though it was one of his less popular movies, I was an instant Spike Lee fan. Since then, I've seen School Daze, half of Do the Right Thing, scenes from She's Gotta Have It, scenes from Crooklyn, scenes from The 25th hour (it's got Edward Norton!). Apparently, I need to finish a lot of these. Check out Spike Lee.

#52 2001: A Space Odyssey

2009-02-15T13:17:00.011-06:00

2/14/09 - 10:30 PM (or later)

Jay's house - Jay, Shane, Samantha

First time to see

rating 9;

Stanley Kubrick strikes again.

Okay, so he was a little off in his predictions (it's 2009, and we haven't seen a lot of the breakthrough technology of 2001: A Space Odyssey)--but check this out! I'd find it hard to be bored with futuristic technology, even if the movie feels so slow.

Indeed, everything in space seems as if it is moving extremely slow. Everything in this movie is very quiet, very vast, very slow. Kubrick highlights the solitude and emptiness of space.

The movie is very graceful--when we first see the spacecraft, it is floating through space (ever so slowly) as it is accompanied by the nimble "On The Beautiful Blue Danube."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prjWY0rwM_U have fun with that.

Themes -

My interpretation is that the film's primary theme is evolution. Kubrick offers, at the start of the film, a type of epilogue with ape-like, primal creatures from before the time of man that learn to use tools. Technology at its start. We are then launched into space, the year 2001. In my own interpretation, I think that the end of the movie (you'll really have to see it! scintillating colors) represents a transcendence, an evolution to a certain spiritual level that is higher than we, as humans, can comprehend.

Another theme would be artificial intelligence. HAL-9000; if you've ever heard the name, it comes from this movie. A supercomputer that controls the spaceship. Do robots have feelings? blah blah watch the movie; ha.

Kubrick on interpretation of 2001: A Space Odyssey--

You're free to speculate as you wish about the philosophical and allegorical meaning of the film — and such speculation is one indication that it has succeeded in gripping the audience at a deep level — but I don't want to spell out a verbal road map for 2001 that every viewer will feel obligated to pursue or else fear he's missed the point.

Samantha thought it was hella boring--it seems I haven't impressed her with the past few movies; that could mean you might expect some more comedic movies to be reviewed. Or just movies that are less..like 2001: A Space Odyssey

But I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

#51 Manhattan

2009-02-14T19:16:00.008-06:00

2/13/09 - 9:30 PM

Alex's house - Alexandra, Matt, Cristina

Seen it before

rating 10;

Woody Allen is a genius. I've heard that his newer films are no good. The latest movie I've seen of his was "Match Point;" I still happen to like every one of movies.

I'll make this review short--

The movie is in black and white, Allen uses the form quite artistically.

]There is a particular setting--the planetarium--where Allen employs a crafty use of black and white to provide visual aesthetics. Keaton and Allen are in two-shot/silhouette--they stay talking in this position for a good 30-40 seconds until the shot cuts abruptly to black; the characters are still conversing, but now we see a visual imprint on the black screen of the two-shot/silhouette from before the cut. Also in the planetarium scene, there is a shot in which Keaton and Allen are talking in close up two-shot (like the illusion of the two faces/vase). The background is black and the lighting shows us just the outline of the characters' silhouettes. The stars are gleaming in the back, and when a character speaks, it appears as if they are made of stars. Ok, I won't try and explain any more--but you really should see it. Visual masterpiece.

Black and white is nice because New York, Manhattan, etc. is often pictured in black and white. I think of black and white when I think of New York.

The movie works like a play (Matt, while watching, asked if the screenplay had been adapted from a play), the dialogue takes center-stage.

The music, Rhapsody in Blue.

The ending is pretty epic. I'll go ahead and say it involves a type of 'chasing the runaway train' idea, if you catch my drift. It's something to that effect. I can't say anymore.

Meryl Streep!

I've been rambling throughout this whole thing. I have to go. Just WATCH THE MOVIE. I gave it a ten.

The Flaming Lips

2009-02-09T18:49:00.000-06:00

I really should see one of their concerts.

Books-A-Million Bathroom

2009-02-09T16:45:00.010-06:00

Just yesterday I was at the Books-A-Million and I had to use the bathroom. I stroll into the familiar restroom and read the nonsenstic graffitti--FUCK HIPPIES; FUCK OBAMA; and FUCK THE WORLD.

I am delighted when I remember what I believe to be my greatest artistic accomplishment--a year ago, when I took the children's book Everyone Poops off the shelf and placed it near the toilet in the men's bathroom.

I couldn't get this video (link below) along with the picture above to fit in the margins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuqyZC2haBI

#50 The Shawshank Redemption

2009-02-07T13:41:00.008-06:00

2/6/09 - 11:40 PM (after the first bit of Late Night with Conan O'Brien)

Jay's house - Jay

Seen it before; it was Jay's choice from 3 of my selection

rating 9;

Frank Darabont (dir. The Green Mile) is the best thing that's happened to movies based Stephen King's writing. Any 'Stephen King' movie that isn't directed by Darabont is crappy, only to be liked by diehard fans of the books they are based on. Sorry, Mick Garris.

Luckily enough, when it came time to make a major motion picture of Stepen King's novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, it was Darabont behind the reigns. Good stuff, Mr. Darabont.

Brief Synopsis--

Banker Andy Dufresne (Robbins) is found guilty for the murders of his wife and her lover. He must serve two life sentences (one for each of his victims) behind the bars of Shawshank Prison. Though he seems quite different from the normal crowd in Shawshank, he befriends Red (Freeman), the man in the joint who can smuggle in anything. The movie is about his exploration of freedom behind bars. Other themes - hope, steadfast integrity, retribution.

I don't want to analyze this movie too much, but I must point out that the camera work was planned very well. Darabont frequently uses tracking, panning, and long shots in order to display Shawshank in its enormity. The audience sees Shawshank as open spaces and never as a boxed-in prison cell. There are practically no scenes in which any character is alone in his cell. This lets the viewer feel as free as Andy does, allowing for a closer connection between the audience and Dufresne.

The story is very character-driven; the characters are very communal.

The movie is paced perfectly. Runtime approx. 2hrs 10min and we never feel rushed or strained. The movie is never too slow or 'boring'. We are not pulling for the pay-offs. When we are set-up, we never have to ask for the pay-off.

There are too many extraordinarily amazing scenes in this movie for it to go unwatched.

I would write more, and probably had more, but this is my second attempt (the first time my draft never saved!) so i'm good with this.

Also: After having seen the movie, Jay Rewerts said with profound elightenment, "fantastic."

I can imagine I said something like this when I first saw it. Many people say it's the greatest movie ever made...

You make the decision.

Adaptation

2009-02-06T16:32:00.003-06:00

"I'm putting in a chase sequence. So the killer flees on horseback with the girl, the cop's after them on a motorcycle and it's like a battle between motors and horses, like technology vs. horse."

--Donald Kaufman

cornbread is better than bread bread. i want a cornbread sandwich. like- cornbread corned beef sandwich.

Have you seen this? Have you heard of this?

2009-02-06T16:28:00.003-06:00

Coraline

opening today

I've figured out a way to increase my blogging output--

2009-02-05T22:01:00.004-06:00

My buddy Kyle Moser keeps a movie log of every movie he's seen--the time, the place, who he saw it with, and his own personal rating.

I do something like this, but recently i've been slipping.

So-- from now on, I will post my movie log/reviews.

(title)

(date - time of day)

(where i saw the movie and who i saw it with)

(is this the first time for me to see the movie?)

(my rating)

(brief review)

I started my log about 40 or so movies ago, so the the movie I will blog about could be #42 or #49 or something.. I haven't been keeping tabs on this log.

but i can start that now.

The Principle of Sufficient Reason

2009-02-05T17:12:00.006-06:00

I felt like I needed to blog. I see all these blogs around me, sprouting and flourishing, and I look to my own to find a statement here and there. My blog is almost a whimper because I don't blog enough or because I feel like I haven't blogged sufficiently. I'm trying.

So here is a blog from myspace that I posted a year or more ago. It was titled 'The Principle of Sufficient Reason' just like this one. I'll use it as a correlation to my experience watching SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE.

Anything that begins has a cause (or, anything that begins has an explanation; or, anything that begins to be has a source of being).

Anything--the slightest thing--happens for a reason, however unsubstantial that reason may be. Everything serves a purpose, no matter how small or large that purpose is. All that we do effects the world around us.

Now, a little existentialism for the reader:

"It might be true that there are six billion people in this world, and counting, but nevertheless -what you do makes a difference. It makes a difference, first of all, in material terms, to other people, and it sets an example."

But again, on the subject of (PSR), does anyone (and i'm sure that some of you out there believe in similar principles) share this belief?
The thought that everything that is happening is either alluding to the past or foreshadowing something to come; the idea that any fortune or misfortune has a deeper meaning; the idea that everything has a deeper meaning; do you believe that?
Do you reject this philosphy?

I was interested in any types of response, but mostly in a response that challenged or presented a major variation on the idea.

Anyways, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE: great stuff. It actually has come to Lake Charles, and is still screening in both theatres. I have no clue as to how long it will stay in LC, but I will say that if you haven't already seen this movie, you would be doing yourself a strong disservice to avoid it.

Go now; i'm serious. Make plans to see it. The weekend's coming and this movie will be only viewable at the United Artist theatre (--you see, Cinemark will stop screening SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE after tonight).

Why should you want to see SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE?

It was shot in another country, set in another country--India; Simply the fact that it's associated with India gives it a certain allure. This is a foreign film...It's a British foreign film (dir. Danny Boyle, Trainspotting, 28 Weeks Later). Anyone who enjoys movies is a person who likes to see what movies are like in other countries. Here's your chance.

Those of you afraid to read subtitles, don't fret. It's subbed only in certain portions.

Soundtrack M.I.A.

Synopsis--

An unimportant, common man from India is chosen to be a contestant on Who Wants to be A Millionaire game show. Only a step away from winning 20 million rupees (or whatever), the police have arrested him in suspicion of his cheating. He proves that his life has offered him the answers to each of the questions asked him. The events of his life are all clues to his chance at winning 20 million rupees (or whatever) and getting the girl of his dreams (of course there's a love interest, this is cinema!).

Check out the trailer:

So everything in Jamal's life happens for a reason. It is written. Principle of Sufficient Reason.

I hope you want to see this movie.

Today's the day, isn't it?

2009-01-31T13:36:00.005-06:00

Today's the day, isn't it? That one day of the month or week that is just total shit. Just unbearable. I can't complain because sometimes it's worse; sometimes it's more than one day. And still, there has to be someone out there who is feeling it more than I am; so, I can't complain. I'm pretty well off, i guess. At least in my book, if not anyone else's.

It's kinda like a rainy day for the soul. 'Curl up in the corner time.' Not exactly a coziness, but...well i don't know what..it's not like coziness at all. When it boils down to it, I've just got the blues. It'll wash over--for better or worse. Hopefully this'll all turn out good in the end. Isn't that what everyone wants?

Life is about the experience, but isn't all well that ends well? Now i'm just toying with axioms.

Anyways, I've got a horrible case of a bad day and I usually feel compelled to write whenever i'm on the more gloomy side.

Woody Allen

2009-01-30T08:16:00.003-06:00

Woody Allen is a genius.

Don't belive me?

1. Sleeper

2. Manhattan

3. Annie Hall

the best band you never heard

2009-01-23T18:58:00.001-06:00