There Will Be Blood

Film #16 was There Will Be Blood.

My NetFlix rating: 4 stars
Jamie says: I drink your milkshake! Okay, had to get that off my chest. Daniel Day-Lewis is as good in this as everyone says, perhaps more impressive though is the fact that Paul Dano hangs right with him.

RIYL: Upton Sinclair, good acting, Babel, Syriana

Official site
Rotten Tomatoes reviews
Wikipedia
I Drink Your Milkshake

Rock On

Book #15 was Rock On: An Office Power Ballad by Dan Kennedy.

Rock On is the story of Kennedy's entré into the record business and all its slimy glory. From writing print ads for Phil Collins to helping Jewel sell out, Kennedy's stories reveal that working in marketing at a major label isn't nearly the dream job you might think. The stories are humorous and should ring true to anyone working in corporate America.

Official Site for the Book
Dan Kennedy's Really Small Talk

Rock On - Dan Kennedy

Y: The Last Man, Volume 2: Cycles

Book #14 was Y: The Last Man, Volume 2: Cycles.

Not really sure what to write about on this one since I'm only 20% of the way through the series. I blogged a little bit about the series here: Y: The Last Man, Volume 1: Unmanned.
Other than that not much to report aside from the fact that I'm still digging it and now waiting on Vol. 3 to arrive at the library. I did find out that a movie is in the works though so I'd better get my read on soon as I've got a long ways to go.

My Mistress's Sparrow Is Dead

Tome #13 was My Mistress's Sparrow Is Dead: Great Love Stories, from Chekov to Munro.

It's not every day you find short story collections that mix works of some of today's best writers: George Saunders, Miranda July, Raymond Carver, Richard Ford, etc. alongside great writers of the past such as James Joyce, William Faulkner, Anton Chekov and Vladimir Nabakov. It's a bold choice on the part of editor Jeffrey Eugenides and one he manages to pull off without coming across as a Schelleyian madman. If you're guessing at this point that this must be a McSweeney's project give yourself a big pat on the back. Proceeds from this one go 826 Chicago and their sweet secret agent supply store.

Hard to pick favorite stories especially since I'd read some of the pieces previously but in terms of writers who piqued my interest for reading more, I'd go with Harold Brodkey whose two stories were both excellent.

Previously: The Book of Other People

Jamie Campbell's Photography

I was relieved to find that this page is not dedicated to me: I Hate Jamie Campbell's Photography. And I dig the Chuck Norris-esque bio.

American Gangster

If my blog were a Tamagotchi it would be dead right now.

Film #15 was American Gangster.

My NetFlix rating: 2.5 stars
Jamie says: B-o-r-i-n-g. Not even Denzel could save this one. The studio cut was about an hour too long, hard to believe the director's cut is even longer!
RIYL: Gangster movies that have been made a hundred times over

Official site
Rotten Tomatoes reviews
Wikipedia

Gainesville Music

It's a good time to be a Gainesville music fan circa 1995.

You can download a remastered version of the classic For Squirrels' limited edition debut disc Baypath Road here.

Then check out former Squirrel and Subrosa front-man Travis Tooke's newish solo disc Artichoke.

Then dig through Less Than Jake's recently re-released back catalog.

And finally take a listen to Jared Flamm's (of Noah's Red Tattoo) new band Biirdie and their recently released new album Catherine Avenue.

Isn't it time for another bloom. album?

Goal Line Blitz

TrevJo just introduced me to a cool MMORPG Football game called Goal Line Blitz. You create a player, train them, sign them to a contract and then manage their career. Players sign with teams made up of other real users and compete in leagues against other teams. Simulated games happen a few times a week (you train in between) and you can even watch replays afterwards. As you gain points you can move up from a mere player to an owner/coach who actually runs a team. I created a WR who got picked up by the Algeria Addiction, a team in the SE Asia league. Pretty fun so far and definitely a unique spin on Fantasy Football.

An American Dream

Book #12 was An American Dream by the late great Norman Mailer.

Is boring start, great middle, disappointing ending a good enough review? Cause that pretty much sums this one up for me. But that middle really was pretty frickin' sweet.

Wikipedia