Tigers love pepper. They hate cinnamon.

The Hangover is funny. It's that simple.

hiding in plain sight

19) On my desk at school I have three cups – a Captain Kirk coffee mug, a Rules of Fight Club coffee mug, and a ‘beverage’ cup from the 1993 Alabama/Miami Sugar Bowl.

We had one of the first DVD players available.

17) We have nearly 1000 DVD’s of movies & TV series at our house.

I have goosebumps right now

11) I get goosebumps every time I see the scene near the end of The Last of the Mohicans” when Duncan gives himself up for Cora. That incredible music starts and he says to Nathaniel, “My compliments, sir. Take her and get out!” Duncan burns, Cora lives. Manliest redemption scene in movie history. I have goosebumps right now.

I remain.

My recent posts at I'd Offer You Some:
- At least one of us is
- Zombies & Nazis: Too good to be true?
- That Darwin guy
- Super Volcano!
- Some Movies to Consider

Office Space

I watched Office Space tonight, for about the 5th time. It is approaching Groundhog Day status for me. It has become iconic in its own pop subculture, especially for the red stapler and the flair. And the 'O' face. I like the movie. When Peter meets with the Bobs and they want to make him upper management because he no longer gives a damn, when he unscrews his cubicle wall and let's it fall to create a nice view, and when they smash the printer. All classic. It loses its way in the middle when Peter loses his enlightened state when he finds out his friends will be fired and they scheme to steal the money. The money angle was necessary so Peter could take responsibility for his actions and decide to take the fall, and also to allow Milton to end up complaining at a resort - but it ruined the great feeling you got when Peter was practically walking on air, not giving a damn. Nonetheless it is a movie that makes me feel better after I've watched it. To me it says that we don't have to live lives of quiet desperation. We don't have to take it. We can change what we are doing and find something that does not suck out our will to live, and we can enjoy life if we can be with someone who makes us happy. It moves up the list a bit with this latest viewing. -mr

Dark Indeed

-We saw Dark Knight last night at the Monaco. The movie was excellent. It moved beyond comicbook movie to a serious consideration of themes concerning vigilantism, terrorism, civic duty, the ends justifying the means, and heroism. The late Heath Ledger definitely finished strong. His performance was mesmerizing. In a way the movie is about the story arc of DA Harvey Dent, portrayed by a seething Aaron Eckhart. I understand that temper just beneath the positive public exterior very well.
-The Monaco is a stylish theater that certainly let's you forget you're in Alabama. The place is beautifully designed, even if the staff is a little weak in some spots. Having a Stella Artois while watching a first-run movie was exactly what I had hoped for. It also reminds me of the dates I had with Tobermory at the Pitcher Show in Tuscaloosa, to see Cotton Club and No Way Out.

Saturday Already?

- I met with N.W., and AP History expert and tried to glean what i could. I've spent time yesterday & today sorting .docs & .pdfs hoping to bring order to chaos and find tweh things that can help my students the most.
- Took Ada to the vet Thursday and Friday & finally got her spayed. She was up, but stoned out of her gourd, all night. In a week & a half she'll go outside in her own doggy hotel.
- I've worked out consistently, but have fallen behind in walking the dogs, what with everyone going to the vet & working out evening - must improve.
- We had a Christopher Guest double feature a few days back, watching Best in Show and For Your Consideration.
- Finally watched the end of Last Restaurant Standing. The jerky Royal Marine cook and his weepy wife won, but it seems that they didn't last very long once they opened the real restaurant.

TPB

Really enjoyed the Trailer Park Boys Movie - website.

No Country for Old Men

TV: Bromide came to visit and we watched the preview episode (ep.2) of John Adams. It appealed to my history geekdom, especially emo-Jefferson - about the Declaration, as it's being edited, "Well, that's what I think."
Movies: No Country for Old Men - watched it the last two nights - it's damn good.
The House: Got the hall bedroom setup for Bromide, front room is orderly chaos, and the kitchen is chaotic neutral. Beware the Den.
Exercising: Walked a mile this morning.

Early Monday

- Watched 30 Days of Night and it was surprisingly good. There is actually a heroic story within the Vampire madness. It surprised me like Sunshine, in that it was much better than I expected, and I'm surprised there wasn't more positive press. Plus Ben Foster plays crazy very well in a supporting part, as he did in 3:10 to Yuma.
- Almost done with the hall bedroom. All carpet gone & 1/2 the furniture (and books) are back where they should be.
- Tried, but couldn't find anything particularly good on the internet yesterday.
- A mile Monday morning with Thisbe.

Friday/Saturday Morning

- I showed Firefly to my captive 9th graders (I'll have them for about three hours in the morning for the next week). What a great show. Showed The Patriot to my afternoon classes. It drives me nuts to sit around & not teach during the grad exam - but that's what we have to do.
- Working hard at regulating dog behavior and toxic waste.
- I've had a chance to surf the net a lttle and have been mostly checking out scifi sources and the new io9 is pretty damn good.
- I'm entertained by the Iron Man Trailer
- I've added a few good del.icio.us links lately as well
- Walked a mile this morning with Thisbe
- Spent the rest of the morning trying to fix the Austin High wikipedia page, which had obviously been done by a Decatur High plant.

The Weekend

Writing: Taking notes on The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes: (And How to Avoid Them)
Movies: Eastern Promises - great story & acting by Viggo & Naomi & Armin Mueller-Stahl,
3:10 to Yuma - slightly above average, Ben Foster had a great turn as the #2 bad guy: very intense,
Resident Evil: Extinction was a whole lot of fun and as usual Milla kicks butt.
Internet: Always interested in this sort of thing.Technological Challenges of the near future from the National Academy of Engineering and specifically Machines 'to match man by 2029' and I reorganized my bookmarks in Firefox
TV: Law & Order Criminal Intent on Sunday Night on USA
Exercising: 1/2 mile Sat AM and Sunday PM

Contrived Holiday Day

Took Tobermory to Panera Bread and had a fine time. I've enjoyed getting an executive summary of The Closing of the Western Mind

Teaching: Africans in America and A Midwife's Tale
Internet: My kind of list - Top 50 Dystopian Movies
TV: The new Gordon Ramsay.

A little more sick today. Got some faux Nyquil tablets and I'm about done in. More tomorrow.

Week in Review pt. III - Movies

Movies: We watched Sunshine by Danny Boyle this week. It is one of the best science fiction movies I've seen. I think a lot critics and movie people missed the boat. Science and Reason vs. sentimentality and superstition, plus trying to save the world. What's not to like?

Guilty Pleasure - I watched Layer Cake again this week, while making out my test. It's probably my favorite English gangster movie.