Goodsite
This was listed on the Blogger noteworthy sites. I’m listing it here as a way of saying: yes. Yes, indeed.

I feel like doing something today. I don’t know what something is, however. Though, it may very well be: eating Zios. You dig?

Mixed Metaphors
Went to Best Buy today to pick up Jackie Brown and Pulp Fiction. The bad news was that they were sold out of From Dusk till Dawn, which was suppose to be free with the purchase of the other two. The good news was there was a coupon on Jackie Brown for like $6 off. Good times there.

Went to the mall this afternoon to write a little. I like the mall (specifically Westroads) because it’s a weird mix of cultures. First you have the whole, campy, mall-thing– which kind of has its own attractively-retardedness about it. But then it also has this living-room quality. It seems to be unique to the Westroads, but there is a section of the mall between Von Maur and Yonkers that has giant oriental rugs, leather sofas, coffee tables, and is basically all you could ever hoap for in a laid back place to be in public. And really, that’s just it– the being in public part of it all. I love the fact that anyone can walk by– and does, while I sit in complete comfort with my yellow legal pad.

Also. I’ve had about four Tombstone pizzas in the past three days. Good times.

HOW?
This one is for the crowds:
I just woke up at noon– when I was trying to wake up at nine. Furthermore, despite my two alarm settings, I don’t even remember the hour of nine existing this morning.
What do you use to get yur’ass out of bed in the morning. I’m getting desperate. School starts on Monday not to mention the fact that I’m sleeping away my life.
How do you get up in the morning?

What in the hell
The Vines were just on Letterman. It was a sureal experience at least.

In other news, I have a justification:
Recently, I said that “Jackie Brown” is the best Tarantino movie. A friend of mine called me on it, and thus I must clarify– especially in light of tomarrows DVD release (btw: Best Buy has a sale– buy both Pulp Fiction, and Jackie Brown and get From Dusk till Dawn free.. stellar).
“Jackie Brown” is in fact the best Tarantino movie, almost solely for the following reason: it’s style with substance. Pulp Fiction is good, don’t get me wrong. But that fact of the matter, is that it’s all style. What do you get when you strip away the concept? You get an overly long scene involving Quentin, himself, acting to no one. You get funny jokes, and awesome visuals. You get violence, and pop-culture– but…. it just leaves you dry. Yes, the has more. That last scene in the coffee shop does break the mold and deliver a little bit more to us watching, but an end does not a movie make. Pulp Fiction is damn good– but it’s not better than Jackie Brown. In Brown, we aren’t just thrown into a world of senseless style, but we are given time get a feel for the characters. I know a lot of people who claim that it’s too long. That an easy forty minutes could be trimmed from the film– but they’re wrong. Those forty minutes are the most important part of the whole movie. The intro basically sets up exactly what Jackie Brown is all about. It’s the tracking shot of her on the moving sidewalk, while the credits roll. It’s long. It’s deliberate– and it tells us more than any shot in all of “Pulp Fiction”– in “Jackie Brown ” we’re able to look at their faces.
Okay, then there’s the argument that the whole point of “Pulp Fiction” was that the characters are flat– and that having the style aspect be the center of the film is exactly what a movie called pulp fiction should be. Pulp, in fact, is trashy, lo-fi, stories, and thus the film should obviously be shot this way. This argument is valid, and leads right into my next point–
It is unfair to try and critique narrative dramas in the same category as films that are more a marvel of technical breakthrough. Movies like Slacker, Waking Life, Full Frontal, Pulp Fiction, etc. are more exercises in filmmaking than movies that can just be summed up into a genre heading. So in this sense, it’s rediculous to even compare “Jackie Brown” and “Pulp Fiction” mearly on the basis of development and character. So if they aren’t directly comparable– one can obviously compare them in relation to the director, Tarantino. After all, my original point was that “Jackie Brown” was Tarantino’s best film. Look at the two structurally. Brown just explores so many more areas than Pulp does, and signals an obvious improvement in direction.

Of course, none of this matters because he’s only made three films in the past ten years, and Kill Bill isn’t going to come out until October 2003. So automatically, Mr. Tarantino is up for the slacker award.

As Bill O’Reily would say: Tell me why I’m wrong!

DAMMIT
Mission Hill is a re-run! WHY? Why lord? Why must my Sunday be spent in repetition?

Gimick
I want to have a lengthy discussion about the movie “Full Frontal” and other films like it.

I won’t, though.

Also… “I’VE GOT MAIL!!! YAYYYY!!!!!”

Wet and Hot
We watched “Wet Hot American Summer” tongiht. This was my 4th time… and its still damn funny. Also, I get to keep my rental for seven… that’s right “7″ days. Over the past two years, I’ve gone from cursing Blockbuster to praising it’s holy name. Faults: non-support of widescreen format, and inability to carry anything that is unrated. All in due time. All in due time.

Headed over to Village Inn tonight expecting a sultry five… only to have the pleasure of enjoying the company of a raucous nine. Yes. Nine. This list included several who I don’t see on a regular basis.

Appearance of note: one Ms. Alison Downs who had the extreme fortune of graduating from college on this great day. Props be to the Downs.
—
In seven hours I’ll be at Office Max. An institution I thought I was done with, but forgot about empty promises of back-to-school week assistance. Tomarrow, then Monday, and then Office Max will (god-willing) be a thing of the past as my Four-Year stint comes to a close. However, the extra buck-fifty in my wallet in two weeks will be a thing of beauty and surprise.

Finally.

New blog news. Let me be the first to introduce D. D. Bohnenkamp to the world of Blogs. May his site be blissful and merry.
Also, I’m taking down “alternablog”– it was an ill-conceived idea that couldn’t be properly maintained. Apologies to anyone who has to take the time to update their template.

Good will.

Buzzed and Up
It’s five o’clock in the morning. I just got home from a night of socialization and debauchery. Good times had by all? Sure.

I got my first email/assignment from the Second City writing class I’m taking… which is extremely exciting. Hopefully I’ll wake up before tomarrow to get started on it. Apparently there is some Chinese restaurant that has all you can eat crab legs on Saturdays. I’m hoping I also wake up for this.

Once again. Good times had by all.

I have a lot of love to give
So, is this the end of summer? I know the day is coming, but could this be it. I’m thinking yes. Paul is leaving tomorrow for school. Now, there is quite a paradigm because both Brian and Donnie are in town, not to forget dearest Kristin. The difference is that Kristin is here for another month, Donnie hasn’t been here this summer, and Brian had been gone for a couple weeks all ready– Paul was here for the long haul. So, I’m officially deaming summer OVER!

What does this mean? Nothing. There is no difference between summer and fall for me. Only the locations change– and some of the people disappear. I guess in the coming weeks I may become more productive.. but not necessarily.

No Modest Mouse concert for Rick tomorrow because the friggin’ Chiefs are going to be on TV and thus the news will go on late. Dammit all. Dammit all to hell.

La-la.

A request:
Email Dynamarx and tell him to post his summer movie list on the ol’ blog. Certainly a good time for all.

The down goings and such
Good golly, there is a lot to discuss. I wonder if I’ll hit everything.

1) I got this “note” from a kid on Tuesday night at Village Inn which was so brutally honest, I felt like I had to completely reassess my life. Then I stopped, realized that it was given to me in “a note” and went back being me.
2) A phone call was made, and the $275 mess was sorted out. Now it’s just a waiting game. I suppose. Whatever.
3) Tried to sing “Just What I Needed” by the Cars tonight at Kareoke, but instead was served with “Let the Good Times Roll” not terrible, but not what I was hoping for.
4) Went up to west this afternoon and talked with Heys for a while. Good times.
5) We’re SOO close to finishing the screenplay. I just want to say that it’s done so we can start preproduction… or something. But there are still wrinkles that need to be ironed out.
6) 12:30 tonight I’m at about 78th and Dodge and my friend Jim Hoke pulls up next to me. It was a very random occurance- fun when that stuff happens.
7) Other_________________

by popular demand:
Rick’s Current Chance of Graduation:
65%