I'm working on transferring the domain name to GoDaddy right now, so if things aren't working or something that is why. Once that is done we will complete our move to the new host. This could be quick, or it could take a couple days. I'm not quite sure. Once we're ready to move I am going to lock all the blogs and you probably won't be able to post for a bit until the jump is complete. For most of you brendoman.com folks, nothing will change in regards to your personal blogs. The URL's and such will all be the same. The big change is going to be that this main blog will be run on b2e so you will be given usernames and passwords to post to the main blog. Also instructions. So please be patient with us because things might be a little wacky around here for a couple days. Thanks.

I read Neil Gaiman's (sci-fi/comics/fantasy/post-modernist writer) blog occasionally, in which he frequently responds to fan e-mails. This week he has a request (it's at the bottom of the page--Gaiman tends to combine multiple subjects into a single post) from a University student asking what Neil intended in one of his written works. I absolutely love Mr. Gaiman's response:

"Surely your professor ought to be more interested in what you think than about what I have to say. I could be wrong, or I could lie. It's like the twelve year olds who send me e-mails that say WHAT IS THE THEME OF CORALINE PLEAEE EMAIL ME BACK I HAVE TO KNOW, where writing desperate letters to the author is no subsitute for having an opinion, an argument, or an idea. So read Murder Mysteries and say whatever you have to say."

Amen, Neil. I love it when writers encourage readers to come to their own interpretations of written works. I love it even more when teachers do the same.

I just ordered new RAM, you should all be excited for me.

Update: My RAM is on backorder. 7-10 days before it is shipped. But then, LAN Party goodness.

I'm not sure anything I have to say about Sin City would be more insightful or appreciative than what the entire world has already posted on blogs and websites across the nation. But I'll try.

I will start off with my ONE negative: there are a few moments in which I felt like the big Hollywood actors had trouble sounding natural while speaking film-noir-ese. I was a little bit skeptical with the film when Michael Madsen showed up with an insanely bad performance at the beginning of the movie. Thankfully, we don't see him much in this movie, and when he see him again, he seems to have gotten over whatever was screwing him up. I would say he was the worst of the bunch. After he disappeared, the movie got a lot bettter. Besides him, only a couple of lines here and there elicited a smirk from me.

The rest of the movie was a visual feast - moody, amazing, violent, artistic, and fun. Rourke definitely stole the stage, although I really admired all of the main heroes, and would contest that Bruce Willis wasn't just Bruce Willis, although he played a Bruce Willis-esque role. I really did think of him as Hartigan.

The more I think back on the movie, the more I like it. Sometimes it was hard to appreciate the detail that went into the movie while watching it. It wasn't until I went back and looked at more stills and clips that I saw how carefully crafted so many of the shots were.

The movie has a great sense of humor, interesting themes of revenge and self-sacrifice, and some honestly touching moments.

As for the violence, well, I can handle pretty much anything, so I enjoyed the creativity in all of it, although I do admit I've never seen quite so many mutilated groins and amputated body parts in one single movie.

I just hope no one watched Ebert and Roeper before seeing this movie. They let a couple of cats out of the bag, revealing some identities that are best kept quiet for those who haven't seen it yet.

I give it high praise and expect to go see it again soon!

From a couple of the podcasts I liten too.

Here's Mur on finding faith in science fiction.

Kris and Betsy talk about their recent trip to church. (I feel cheated that we have no Jedi's at our church.)