25 of MW's favorite flicks:
While chatting with Joe yesterday about Kill Bill v. 1 I dropped that Pulp Fiction was on my top 25 list. do I really have a top 25? so I figured the experiment would be worthwhile:

Top three rotate and 4-5 are fairly set, but beyond that the list is staggered with 6-10 and 11-25 being the only real orders there, with change possible as I remember more enjoyed movies. Comments may come with time.
1. Fight Club
2. Shawshank Redemption
3. Good Will Hunting
4. Requiem for a Dream
5. Leaving Las Vegas
6. Shakespeare in Love
7. LA Confidential
8. American Psycho
9. American History X
10. Casablanca
11. Amadeus
12. Pulp Fiction
13. Magnolia
14. Boogie Nights
15. Hard Boiled
16. Fellowship of the Ring
17. Gangs of New York
18. El Mariachi
19. Heat
20. Big Trouble in Little China
21. From Russia With Love
22. Matrix
23. Seven
24. Usual Suspects
25. Tombstone/The Searchers (cheap out, yet both satisfy as 'westerns' in distinct modes)
Beyond that, Taxi Driver, American Beauty, Apostle, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Program, Tin Cup, Tal. Mr. Ripley, and various Disneys came to mind and would continue the list towards 50. The majority of this list consists of films I could pick up and watch anytime, with exceptions of Requiem, AHX, and Vegas due to resonance. Also in that category, yet not as strong with me at the moment (although it was in 2000-01) is Beyond the Mat. A late 90s onward bias is evident, but any and all comments are welcome.


Also FYI, this is my list of recently-released/soon-to-be released films that I have yet to see, and plan to seek out at some point, whether theatrically or on disc:
Tier One:
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Matrix Revolutions
Pirates of the Caribbean
Return of the King
Kill Bill vol. 2 (April)

Tier Two:
Underworld
Rundown
Seabiscuit
My Life Without Me
American Splendor

Also of cinematic interest, I plan to attend the City of Angels Film Festival this weekend, most likely for screenings of Pulp Fiction (big screen...), The 400 Blows, and Moulin Rouge, as well as the panels afterward and the closing dessert social. Should be a most excellent event, and I will post reflections as possible (most likely after finishing theodicy paper for PH508).

With the emergence of the Clemson Football XXX Scandal, which, while it may be embarassing for the program, is unlikely to cause consternation in regards to 'extra benefits', I wanted to point out to all past and present equipment managers in CPSC 120 an example of an acceptable student web page. While I haven't updated it since leaving the ER, said site is a valuable source of information on the Clemson Equipment room for the 1999-2000 seasons. As well, while I was asked to remove spring practice reports featuring sensitive information about former walk-ons (understandably so, as I wouldn't want some of these guys to be cooking breakfast one day and have their wives ask them about their participation in what Coach Rod referred to as a 'rapists convention'), I never seriously considered incorporating a for-pay section into the site. So if you are looking for student web page advice, I can be of service, and would have no problem helping you design a custom, porn-free web site to fit your unique personality, present you as a suitable employee, and possibly fill your datebook through May!

Also of interest to current Clemson Students: FYI, if the FSU football game ends with us on top, please refrain from such activities as lighting your furniture on fire.

Week has gone well, courses are improving, I am challenged.
The more I get to know them, the more I enjoy and appreciate the people here, both students and professors.
A weight is off my shoulders, and I am relieved.
Looking back at DCF, I am blown away; Liz, Evan, Dixon, people I knew and follow from afar are blossoming.
Thanksgiving; a chance to go home...eat dinner and spend four days with my family, our first in a decade.
AAR/SBL conference, and the chance to attend, network, dine, learn.
Christmas, Clemson, Atlanta, Chicago.
My first paper and I got to write a snippet of a dissertation joy...and realizing that the material exists, and with it, kindred spirits.
And seeing what I can take next quarter, and in the spring.

As much as I gripe, i am blessed.
- Mike

Just signed up to audit MC 535: Emerging Church in the 21st Century w. Eddie Gibbs...should be good stuff, and may help in formulating direction, seeing if I really want to chase that rabbit for the rest of my life. I would be taking it, if not for having apologetics in the timeslot on tues, and foundations small group in the first half of the thursday slot: still, 25 for six lectures isn't a bad deal, and the experience will be worthwhile.
Required books (1000 pages from them):
Drane, John, The McDonaldization of the Church. London: Darton, Longman, and Todd: 2000.
Flory, Richard F. and Donald E. Miller, GenX Religion. New York: Routledge, 2000.
Gibbs, Eddie. ChurchNEXT. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
Grenz, Stanley J. A Primer On Postmodernism. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1996.
Smith, Jr., Chuck, The End of the World... As We Know It. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Press, 2001.

Of these, I've read grenz, and found him to be excellent, so I would hope the others match up to expectations.
Anyways, that is part of my next two weeks, and before that, Kill Bill vol. 1 and a paper on epistemological justification/faith and reason.
Until,
- M