1984 (1948)

by George Orwell.



George Orwell's classic was incredibly visionary. It is hardly fathomable that this book was written in 1948. Things that we take for granted today - cameras everywhere we go, phones being tapped, bodies being scanned for weapons remotely - all of these things were described in graphic detail in Orwell's book.
Now that we have the Internet and people spying on other people w/ webcams and people purposely setting up their own webcams to let others "anonymously" watch them, you can see how this culture can develop into the Orwellian future described in "1984."

If you've heard such phrases as "Big Brother," "Newspeak," and "thought crime" and wondered where these phrases came from, they came from this incredible, vivid and disturbing book.

Winston Smith, the main character of the book is a vibrant, thinking man hiding within the plain mindless behavior he has to go through each day to not be considered a thought criminal. Everything is politically correct, children defy their parents (and are encouraged by the government to do so) and everyone pays constant allegiance to "Big Brother" - the government that watches everyone and knows what everyone is doing at all times - watching you shower, watching you having sex, watching you eat, watching you go to the bathroom and ultimately watching you die.

This is Taylor's pick.

Make Sure They See My Face (2007)

by Kenna.



"Make Sure They See My Face" is a mature, emotionally open CD beautifully produced by the Neptunes whose arrangements support, embolden and accentuate Kenna's intelligent lyrics.
"MSTSMF" begins with and sets the tone of this CD with "Daylight": the opening string chords gloriously unfolding into Kenna's plaintive vocal and pounding yet subtle drumming and stirring guitar licks: "...let the rush of the spirit find me." "The constant is Love...We want to see Life..."

"Sun Red/Sky Blue" is Kenna at his most emotional and spiritual: "Give me your sun red, sky blue I'm falling into You." He ends the song in a rapturous, wanton even letting go of his self over to a woman and to God by extension. In any event the conclusion of this song will give you goose bumps with it's naked, screaming almost...Kenna kneeling on the altar of Love begging for direction and acceptance.
"MSTSMF" is a terrific CD full of Love, full of Life, Full of Understanding. As such it stands as a testament to Kenna's artistry and dedication.

This is Brad I's pick.

Network (1976)

Directed by Sidney Lumet.



I watched Network again last night, for the first time since the film first came out. I remembered that it was a good movie with a lot of good acting, but given that the things this film predicted about television have all come true - and been surpassed in spades - I was expecting that its indignation over the commercialization of television news would seem quaint and certainly dated.

Good heavens, was I wrong. This movie hasn't lost its edge a bit in 30 years. William Holden as Max Schumacher is the only real human being, and he wanders through this film looking slack-jawed, as if he'd landed in Toon Town and can't quite believe his eyes. As it turns out, he has: the cartoonish, conniving antics of Robert Duvall and Faye Dunaway leave all of us laughing guiltily.

This is Brett's pick.

Ultramarathon Man (2005)

by Dean Karnazes.



Dean Karnazes is a phenomenon: frequent guest on television and radio shows; subject of numerous articles and magazine cover shots; regular columnist in Men's Health magazine; popular keynote speaker. Karnazes has been acclaimed in various magazines as perhaps "the fittest man in the world," "the ultimate running specimen," "the quintessential ultramarathoner," an "ultrarunning legend," and "the perfect beast." And it all was kicked off by his best-selling book, Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner.

Karnazes refers to himself as an ordinary person with no special talent, who has performed amazing feats simply by dint of high ambition and unwavering determination.

Karnazes' resolve is indisputable. But he underrates his inherent abilities. His book describes various endurance exploits accomplished as a child and youth, as well as the unusually quick progress he made when he seriously took up long distance running as an adult. These are signs of a person who has exceptional natural stamina. Determination (and even diligent training) alone would not be sufficient to produce his results as an endurance athlete.

Karnazes also has rare energy. He writes of frequently running much of the night during the weekends and then spending active days with his family. He says he often gets by on four hours of sleep per night for extended periods. He tells about running for almost 48 hours straight, covering 200 miles, and then devoting several hours to dash about an amusement park with his kids. Most people could not come close to matching his vitality, no matter how resolute they might be.

Karnazes indicates in his book that he found it more and more difficult to find organized events that supplied the challenge he sought. Thus, he started creating his own extreme events. In that vein, Karnazes' next big endeavor is to run 50 marathons in the 50 states in 50 consecutive days, beginning on September 17, 2006. The website promoting this venture states that Karnazes "will transcend preconceived notions of human endurance." And Karnazes has declared, "To my knowledge, no one has ever attempted this before."

This is Jeremy's pick

Rhetoric (2009)

by American War.



Okay, in case no one noticed, lately I've been lazy on the descriptions. Instead of doing some research and making an original post, I've just been copying and pasting from other reviews (plagiarizing I guess). This band is basically unknown, the only info on them is coming from various myspace and punk websites (nothing on Amazon). So we all get to enjoy what I expect to be a pleasant surprise on this one. One important thing: They are from OHIO! Alright! The band's page is here: http://www.myspace.com/americanwar. You can download this album for free here (not illegal either): http://www.ifyoumakeit.com/album/american-war/rhetoric/ . If you like the album, I would recommend going back and leaving a small donation.

This is Danny's pick (one of the only non-MU people I've invited into the club, so you all do not know him, but whatever, this club is not exclusive).

Vertigo (1958)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock



It is unusual to see a director produce his best work after the age of 50, but that is exactly what Alfred Hitchcock did. Starting in 1948 with "Rope" and ending with "The Birds" in 1963, this was the era of his most inspired films. "Vertigo", in my opinion, is the best film of his entire body of work.

As for the film itself, it is a brilliantly twisted movie infused with touches of genius and madness that focuses on the interconnected nature of love and obsession. Interwoven with this main theme is a crime mystery that is revealed to and solved for the audience but not the protagonist, James Stewart's character, for the last 45 minutes of the film.

Alongside these themes is the issue of lost opportunities - how we grieve over them, and whether or not what we perceive as lost opportunities were ever "real" opportunities in the first place. This issue is raised not only for Scotty (James Stewart) - if only he could have gotten to Madeleine (Kim Novak) in time, if only he could have rescued the policeman from falling to his death at the beginning of the film, if only he could have seen through the scheme that manipulated him so perfectly and ultimately drove him temporarily mad - but for just about everybody else in the cast too. This includes Scotty's college girlfriend (Barbara Bel Geddes) who has remained his friend through the years and obviously still harbors thoughts of what might have been if only she had accepted Scotty's marriage proposal years before.

Besides the excellent acting and superb plot, the score is outstanding as is the cinematography, especially the visual darkness of the mission San Juan Bautista versus the angelic beauty of Madeleine which belies what is really going on. I highly recommend this film to anyone who has the time to watch it more than once. Just one viewing won't do it justice.

This is Justin's pick.

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things (2002)

By William McDonough



Proof that our technologically advanced, high-consumption industrial system can make environmentally sound and sustainable products. We can manufacture a whole range of goods that are ecologically efficient in that they reduce waste and yet are less expensive to make than traditionally manufactured items. Pick up CRADLE TO CRADLE and the proof is right there in your hands. "This book is not a tree" the authors tell us. Its slightly heavier than your average paperback, the pages are whiter and they're also waterproof (I took the authors word on that one and am happy to say I was able to read on). The pages are made from plastic resins and fillers and in keeping with the message of "eliminating waste", the book is 100% recyclable.

McDonough and Braungart's vision of "Remaking the Way We Make Things" goes way beyond books. Why not buildings that produce more energy than they consume? Or "green" roofs that give off oxygen while cooling the occupants? How about factories that produce drinkable effluent? or products that when their useful life is over can be used as nutrients for soil? What sounds like science fiction is convincingly shown to be quite feasible by the authors. They offer numerous examples to prove it.

McDonough and Braungart cover topics such as the history of the industrial revolution, new business strategies that emphasize eco-efficiency, the relationship between man, nature, and science, and the importance of design and planning. Hopeful, well written, thoroughly researched, and packed with practical examples, this refreshing book offers an alternative to our current industrial system that "takes, makes and wastes". We have the talent, technology, and with the enthusiasm of these authors, we have the capability to achieve economic and ecological sustainability.

This is Adam's pick.

Illmatic (1994)

By Nas.



Illmatic is considered by many to be one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time, and perhaps.... the GREATEST. When Illmatic was released, jaws dropped, and people went running for the hills. At this time, the lyricism and storytelling was unmatched by any emcee. This is the album that put Nas on the map. This is the album that labeled him the "New Rakim." This is the album that will put Nas in the book of the greatest rappers of all time. This is the album that put him at the top of the New York rap scene, next to KRS, Rakim, Biggie, and of course, his rival Jay-Z. Bottom Line, Nas will never make an album this good...

The first thing you notice about the overall sound of Illmatic, is that it has a very underground feel to it, and never ceases to leave you amazed at the wordplay that Nas delivers from his vocal cords. Like he said on "Got Yourself a Gun", Illmatic had no famous guest appearances here. Only his protege AZ appears on one track, which is good because it would introduce AZ to the world, which is a cool thing by Nas. Plus, AZ is skillfull, like Nas. However, other famous people do appear on this album, but dont fully rap. Illmatic uses several voice samples from such artists as Rakim, Biz-Markie, Q-Tip, and Pete Rock.

Honestly, there is nothing else left to say about this album that cannot be said in the body of the review. This is one of those kind of CDs that just never ever gets old, and is STILL in heavy rotation in my house, and i believe it will be for years to come.

This is Brett's pick.

The Burning Plain (2008)

Directed by Guillermo Arriaga



Guillermo Arriaga's rotating perspective narrative works best in this tidy drama concerning family, relationships, regrets and two generations of risky sex. The acting, writing and directing are a sensual feast that looks good, sounds good and feels very good after some intrigue. With a lot to see and hear in less that two hours; the out of sequence details weave their way into crystal clarity.
Han Zimmer and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez score hypnotic scenes from the desert to the ocean. The writer has earth, wind, fire and water in mind for the characters, actions and settings; but you can take it as heady soaper.
Like Cubism or string theory; this movie challenges and rewards. Most critics didn't like it in comparison to Arriaga's Babel. Enjoy it and the edge on them. Maybe it has too many notes. Beautifully filmed.

link

This is Jeremy's pick.

The Prophet (1923)

by Kahlil Gibran



The prophet Al-Mustafa who has lived in the foreign city of Orphalese for 12 years is about to board a ship which will carry him home. He is stopped by a group of people, with whom he discusses many issues of life and the human condition. The book is divided into chapters dealing with love, marriage, children, giving, eating and drinking, work, joy and sorrow, houses, clothes, buying and selling, crime and punishment, laws, freedom, reason and passion, pain, self-knowledge, teaching, friendship, talking, time, good and evil, prayer, pleasure, beauty, religion, and death.

Beautifully written in a concise and poetic meter, it presents a beautiful allegory that is interlaced with perfect life lessons. No matter what religion or spiritual practice guides you, this book offers insight into living life as a whole human in the harmonious presence of others. A perfect gift and work of art that should be a part of every library.

(this is Paula's pick)

High Violet (2010)

by The National



"High Violet" finds The National at a high point, poised to either find their way at last into the hearts and minds and stereos of Middle America, or to fall back--either into hipster obscurity in the bars and art galleries of Brooklyn, or hipster exile in the suburbs--and be mourned by their dedicated fans but unremembered by the public-at-large.

Again, Berninger's observations seem more squarely aimed at the average American here than on previous works; "I still owe money to the money, to the money I owe" feels like a zeitgeist-capturing line if ever there was one, something that sounds equally apropos for Brooklyn or Brooklyn Park. And yet Berninger's unable, unwilling, and has no need to entirely shed the jaded urbanite persona he's revealed to us on previous albums. So all this leaves him with one foot still planted in white hipsterdom and another astride the white picket fence, and with no clear sense of whether he's coming or going. Whereas on "Boxer" he sang "Can I have a minute and not be nervous, and not think about my dick," here he's talking about how "we live on coffee and flowers, try not to wonder what the weather will be." He mentions hoisting his kid on his shoulders and giving him ice for his fevers, but also says, "I don't have the drugs to sort it out." Is he out of drugs? Is he off of drugs? Abstaining for the sake of the kid, the wife, himself? Or are there simply not enough varieties and quantities of drugs to give him peace of mind in such a complicated situation? Like all the best lyricists, he's written this in a way that it can be interpreted many ways, and mean many things to many people depending on which parts resonate with their own experiences.

Musically, the band's as tight as ever; they always remind me of a moonlit sea, dark and energetic, deep and intense, but with bright flashes and intricate details. They've sludged things up a bit at the end of the somewhat Springsteen-ian "Terrible Love," taking a page from their live act, where they've been doing a messy deconstruction of "About Today" as a staple closer for some time now, and "Little Faith" has wonderful low ominous strings that help make it perhaps the most brooding song they've ever written, which is really really saying something. Still, all in all, it's of a piece with their previous works, which isn't exactly a bad thing. (The album as a whole has a solid, conventional arc to it, which isn't bad, but also isn't as daring as "Alligator," which put some of the most charging and driving songs at the end of the album--the musical equivalent of trying to end a relationship with a face-melting post-breakup late-night booty call.) It closes with relatively sedate songs, "England" and "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks" which, one senses, are either the least exciting songs this band's written in a while, or the ones that just take the most listens to let their slow brilliance sink in.

(this is Alex's pick)

Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 (2008)

Directed by Kevin Rafferty



I know very little about football. My girlfriend knows even less. Yet we were both captivated and delighted by this film.

Aside from getting caught up in the unfolding action of a football game that is more incredible than any fictionalized game I've seen, we really enjoyed the experience of the 60's that the film evoked through the stories told by the players. These are the most thoughtful, witty football players imaginable, and they drew us in with their frankness, insights, humor, and the reflectiveness that the 40 years of life-experience since the game have given them.

No matter who speaks in the movie, whether it's the guy who keeps wanting to hurt people to get them out of the game, the "aloof," introspective second string quarterback who can throw the ball 50 yards with either hand, Tommy Lee Jones, who was roommates with Al Gore and is about to hang up his helmet for good and move to Hollywood, or the Jewish player whose father tells him to play on the Sabbath, all the personal stories are beautifully edited together by the filmmaker to make an engrossing tale that's as much about interesting people living through a dramatic time as it is about a football game.

I think this film will continue to be around for a long time to come.

(this is Taylor's pick)

Bee Season: A Novel (2000)

by Myla Goldberg



In Myla Goldberg's outstanding first novel, a family is shaken apart by a small but unexpected shift in the prospects of one of its members. When 9-year-old Eliza Naumann, an otherwise indifferent student, takes first prize in her school spelling bee, it is as if rays of light have begun to emanate from her head. Teachers regard her with a new fondness; the studious girls begin to save a place for her at lunch. Even Eliza can sense herself changing. She had "often felt that her outsides were too dull for her insides, that deep within her there was something better than what everyone else could see."

Eliza's father, Saul, a scholar and cantor, had long since given up expecting sparks of brilliance on her part. While her brother, Aaron, had taken pride in reciting his Bar Mitzvah prayers from memory, she had typically preferred television reruns to homework or reading. This belated evidence of a miraculous talent encourages Saul to reassess his daughter. And after she wins the statewide bee, he begins tutoring her for the national competition, devoting to Eliza the hours he once spent with Aaron. His daughter flowers under his care, eventually coming to look at life "in alphabetical terms." "Consonants are the camels of language," she realizes, "proudly carrying their lingual loads...

Vowels, however, are a different species, the fish that flash and glisten in the watery depths. Vowels are elastic and inconstant, fickle and unfaithful.... Before the bee, Eliza had been a consonant, slow and unsurprising. With her bee success, she has entered vowelhood."

When Saul sees the state of transcendence that she effortlessly achieves in competition, he encourages his daughter to explore the mystical states that have eluded him--the influx of God-knowledge (shefa) described by the Kabbalist Abraham Abulafia. Although Saul has little idea what he has set in motion, "even the sound of Abulafia's name sets off music in her head. A-bu-la-fi-a. It's magic, the open sesame that unblocked the path to her father and then to language itself."

Meanwhile, stunned by his father's defection, Aaron begins a troubling religious quest. Eliza's brainy, compulsive mother is also unmoored by her success. The spelling champion's newfound gift for concentration reminds Miriam of herself as a girl, and she feels a pang for not having seen her daughter more clearly before. But Eliza's clumsy response to Miriam's overtures convinces her mother that she has no real ties to her daughter. This final disappointment precipitates her departure into a stunning secret life. The reader is left wondering what would have happened if the Naumanns' spiritual thirsts had not been set in restless motion. A poignant and exceptionally well crafted tale, Bee Season has a slow beginning but a tour-de-force conclusion.

(this is Brett's pick)

Exodus (1977)

by Bob Marley and the Wailers



What motivated Bob Marley to write some of his best lyrics, with strong spiritual content, messages of biblical condemnation for the wicked and biting criticism of the system and it's defenders? A complete album, some of his best work ever, and in contrast to earlier albums where there were always a few redone songs from his ska and rocksteady days, Exodus was mostly all new songs. Here you have an excellent mix - strong roots reggae rhythms on 'Natural Mystic' a Rasta grounation chant 'Heathen', a lighter dance tune 'Jammin', melodies such as 'One Love' and 'Three Little Birds' and two tracks that show Bob could have sung R&B, soul, love songs namely 'Waiting in Vain' and 'Turn your lights down low'. The title track was unique. Never before had there been a reggae song sounding like it, (funky world beat) nor had a reggae song ever been so long - over 7 minutes, most were short, to the point 3-4 minute jobs. The album built on what had been achieved with the previous album - penetration of the US market, but significantly here 'Exodus' was the first Wailer tune to get extensive airplay on African-American radio. What was the creative force behind all of this? We know that ganja and scripture reading was the fuel for some of Bob's words of wisdom but this album (specifically the first 4 tracks) were forged in direct response to one specific incident that happened to him in late 1976.

Bob, Rita and the bands manager were at Bob's yard two nights before the 'Smile Jamaica' concert scheduled for December 5. The concert, featuring the Wailers, was to be held at the National Heroes Park in Kingston. It was conceived by Bob himself as a means of getting peoples minds off politics, which was the all consuming force in the Island at that time, with a general election coming up on December 16. Gunmen burst into the Marley house firing shots, all three were hit, Bob's manager five times, a shot grazed Bob's chest and hit his arm and Rita had one graze her skull. Who did it and for what reason was never known as the gunmen were not identified nor caught. Politics was suspected. Although the Wailers were not supporters of party politics they could hardly be called apolitical as their criticisms of the system, inequality, injustices and oppression had always been central to their message. It's just that it was the strongest in the previous album. If that is what it was all about, rather than be subdued, Bob was stirred up and 'Exodus' was his creative response fueled by righteous rastafari anger. Bob himself says so in a line from 'Jammin' - 'No bullet can stop us now'. All in all an album of excellent musical expression.

(this is Justin's pick)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Directed by Frank Darabont



Every so often in everyone's life, they walk out of a movie where you don't sit through it and think to yourself how you might have done it all differently had you been the director. I have a couple of movies like that, and "The Shawshank Redemption" is one of them. I still remember clearly walking out of the theater in 1994 and thinking that I've just seen one of the best movies that I'll ever have the pleasure of sitting through. A movie so elegant and emotional that is perfect in its way of storytelling. A movie that is about how hope can never die. The movie earned several Academy Award nominations that were certainly well-deserved, but it left theaters all too quickly. Over the years though, it has gained a strong cult following.

The movie stars Tim Robbins in one of his very best performances as Andrew Dufresne, a quiet man who is convicted of the murder of his wife and is sent to Shawshank prison. It's there he meets "Red", a convict played by Morgan Freeman who gets things from the outside for a price. He first sees Andy as he's lead into the prison and predicts that he won't last long inside the prison walls. Over time though, he's suprised that the young man is able to survive and soon, the two become friends with respect for each other. Andy is not a man who "fights the system". He spends his days in his own quiet world, a courage that the other prisoners don't quite understand at first. Robbins has built this character in a way that we the performance is not showy, but subtle. The result is that we want to know more and when we do begin to understand his ways, that only makes us want him to succeed that much more. I won't go into much more in the way of detail about the movie; if you haven't seen it, I don't want to ruin any of the enjoyment of the movie; if you have, I'm sure you already have your feelings about the movie. This is a movie that's not depressing; it has a lot of life to it and I think that when they look back at the 90's, they will see that this is one of the best pictures that was released during this time.

(this was Michelle's pick)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2004)

by Mark Haddon



Mark Haddon has written a moving novel about love and bravery through the eyes of a British autistic boy. Christopher discovers his neighbor's poodle dead, impaled by a pitchfork, and, because he adores puzzles, he sets out to solve the mystery of who killed Wellington . But Christopher is autistic, a boy who doesn't like to be touched and cannot decipher emotions beyond the tools his teacher has taught him, and so the task requires the huge effort of testing rules and facing his own fears. A literalist by neurology, he deconstructs life into a set of mathematical equations and physical laws. This unique perspective makes him a good detective on one level, where clues and logic rule, but it also fails him on another, higher one because he cannot understand the magnitude of what he uncovers.
That Haddon was able to write a book from Christopher's point of view with all his quirks and still make him lovable is extraordinary. By necessity, the writing is simple and unadorned, but the language of details elevates it from the mundane. The insertion of mathematical puzzles and drawings add to the reader's understanding of how Christopher's mind works. Haddon's real skill is an understatement that allows the reader to comprehend what is going on even if Christopher cannot. Although Christopher cannot grasp subtlety and nuances, the reader can, and that's where the true force of this exceptional novel lies.

This short, easy to read book can be completed in a couple of sittings, although its impact will last much longer.

Keep It Together (2003)

by Guster



I have been with Guster since Lost and Gone Forever, and Keep It Together surpasses their superb earlier work. I am proud to say that EVERY SIGNLE person I have introduced this CD to-- I usually start with the catchy "Careful," has loved them.

This is the CD where Guster break out of their "those three guys with the bongo drummer" mold and launch into superb pop rock-- one of my friends who I convinced to go with me to one of their shows described their sound as kind of "Toad the Wet Sprocket with happier lyrics." But I think they stand on their own as one of the most unique, tuneful, and underappreciated (except by their fans-- count me as one!)/underestimated bands out there.

Keep it Together starts out with "Diane," which builds up and showcases singers Adam and Ryan's unbelievable vocal harmonies. This continues throughout the CD-- every song here is superb! "Ramona" is one of my favorites, with everyone pitching in for some Beach Boys-esque heartfelt harmonizing for a genuinely touching song.

Playing along with them on the CD, and touring with them as well, is the talented Joe Pisapia, who rounds out their sound and from what I have heard is now a permanent member of the band. Despite what many may see as a band that is no longer who they were, I see this as a band who is willing to evolve, experiment and grow, and it pays off.

If you like MUSIC at all, you will not be disappointed with Keep It Together. This is a catchy, toe tapping, sing-along CD that I had in extremely heavy rotation for two years straight.

And if you get a chance to see Guster live, GO!!!! They are great and will make you a huge fan if you are not already. I cannot recommend this CD more highly, which is why it is on my desert island list.

Altered States (1980)

Directed by Ken Russell



If there is such a thing as genetic memory, than all the phases of human evolution must lie somewhere in our genetic code. What if there was a way we could tap into that stream of information through consciousness? What would we see? What would we learn? Professor Eddie Jessup (William Hurt in his debut role) is intrigued by the data being produced by the use of isolation tanks to induce altered states of consciousness, and decides to undergo the experience himself. What he discovers at first is the ability to relive with total clarity experiences of his childhood. As he continues these experiments, his visions become more acute and filled with religious illusions. Years go by and Jessup has become sedated with the trappings of academia, leaving him unfulfilled and longing for the good old days of experimentation and wonder. He visits a tribe of Mexican Indians that use a hallucinatory drug to evokes a common experience in all users and has the trip of his life! What might he learn inside an isolation tank while being under the influence of this drug? Would he be able to peel away the layers of evolutionary time back to early man and beyond? Perhaps even back to the first thought? His scientific curiosity will not let him resist this challenge. With Ken Russell's visuals and the incredible musical effects of John Corigliano, this film can be absolutely exhilarating.

Into The Wild (1996)

by Jon Krakauer



This book follows Chris McCandless, who gave up a life of certain material life to exit society and live a rugged life of travel and wilderness. As he went along, he left a profound impact on all of those whom he came into contact with. Eventually he died in the Alaskan wilderness, alone and starving. This book leaves a profound emotional impact, especially when you remember that this was a real person, not entirely different from all of us at the outset.

http://www.amazon.com/Into-Wild-Jon-Krakauer/dp/0307387178/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271129864&sr=8-1#noop

http://product.half.ebay.com/Into-the-Wild_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ59091100

Who's Next (1971)

by The Who



The Who played half time at the Super Bowl this year. It was not their best performance. In fact, they have a reputation as being one of the best live shows in the history of Rock and Roll. Overshadowed in the 1960's by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, this album represents The Who's moment on top of the music world. The album features a few songs that we have all heard before, most notably Behind Blue Eyes and Baba O'Riley, but the work is consciously album oriented. Also, we get a few bonus tracks on the cd that weren't on the original vinyl.

http://www.amazon.com/Whos-Next-Who/dp/B000002OX7/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1271129113&sr=8-1

http://product.half.ebay.com/Whos-Next-Bonus-Tracks-Remaster_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ3155364

Hoop Dreams (1994)

Directed by Steve James



Hoop Dreams is a documentary that follows two Chicago high school basketball players, Arthur Agee and William Gates, as they chase their dreams. For five years, the film follows two inner-city kids as they overcome the obstacles laid by their families and environment. A mix of basketball action and scathing social commentary, this film's snub in the 1994 Oscars forced a reform of the nomination process for documentaries.

http://www.amazon.com/Hoop-Dreams-Criterion-Collection/dp/B0007WFYBG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1271127569&sr=8-1

http://product.half.ebay.com/Hoop-Dreams_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ45550768

Gordon

By the Barenaked Ladies. This is Brad Inman's favorite album, ever. More info to come.

amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Gordon-Barenaked-Ladies/dp/B000002LU8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1267674081&sr=8-1

half: http://product.half.ebay.com/Gordon_W0QQprZ3072376QQtgZinfo

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

This is Kurt's pick, and I promise a good description when I have less stuff to do.

Buy it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bridge-River-Kwai-William-Holden/dp/B00004XPPC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1267673870&sr=8-1

or half.com: http://product.half.ebay.com/The-Bridge-on-the-River-Kwai_W0QQprZ3352729QQtgZinfo

The Unlikely Disciple

By Kevin Roose. This is Matt's pick, and I promise to give it its due description when I get a little more free time.

Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Unlikely-Disciple-Semester-Americas-University/dp/044617842X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267673455&sr=8-1

or here:http://product.half.ebay.com/The-Unlikely-Disciple_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ66200877

Louder Than Bombs

by The Smiths.

This is Jeremy's pick. This album was released in 1990, I believe, altough it contains unreleased singles and B-sides, so a lot of the songs date further back into the band's career. Someone on amazon said of it, "Like REM's first studio album Murmur, or losing my virginity, I think about LOUNDER THAN BOMBS and smile with a mix of pain, happiness and regret." Isn't that fascinating?! This album, as well as the band overall, are important in marking the transition from 1980's rock to 1990's indie rock, supposedly.

http://www.amazon.com/Louder-Than-Bombs-Smiths/dp/B000002LBH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1265004928&sr=8-1

Nueve Reinas

Fabian Bielinsky, Gaston Pauls, Leticia Bredice, Ricardo Darin.

This would be Liz's pick. It is an international film, from Argentina and from 2000. The movie is fast paced, with action and high stakes, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you surprised and guessing. It has also won a case-full of awards. Any volunteers to host a watch party next weekend or the one after?

She Comes First

By Ian Kerner.

This is Michelle's pick. The book offers a technical guide to pleasing a woman. It has been called well-written, entertaining, and effective. A number of people on amazon have discussed it as successfully reviving their sex lives. Literal pleasure reading, as it were.

http://www.amazon.com/She-Comes-First-Thinking-Pleasuring/dp/0060538260/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265003676&sr=8-1#noop

Is This It

The Strokes

This is my (Brett) pick.

I haven't listened to this album personally, but Rolling Stone put it in their ten best of the decade, so let's role with it.

Discussion on this album has mostly been about the lack of originality and the lack of hardship the band has had to overcome (so no depth to the music?) versus "It sounds good so whatever."

http://www.amazon.com/This-Strokes/dp/B00005QIPH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1262744842&sr=1-1

Half Nelson

Ryan Gosling, Jeff Lima, Shareeka Epps, and Nathan Corbett




This one is Alex's pick.

Would anyone be willing to get this through netflix and then host a watch party? We could drink too!

The comments on this one discussed the quality of the acting as well as the character's inevitable stations in life.


http://www.amazon.com/Half-Nelson-Ryan-Gosling/dp/B000KX0IOK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1262744124&sr=8-1

Wind, Sand and Stars

By Antoine de Saint-Exupery.



This one is Mason's pick. Just based on the comments about the book on Amazon, as you read this book think about What makes life worth living? and What is the value of a human relationship?

http://www.amazon.com/Wind-Sand-Stars-Antoine-Saint-Exupery/dp/0156027496/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262743500&sr=8-1

The George W. Bush Book Reading Club

Attempt number two!

The inspiration: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123025595706634689.html

The plan (why this one is better): Last time I tried to set something up, it was a competition directly following the article. This time, it will be more like a typical book club. One a month, and the book is picked by whoever's turn it is on the list. You can be on the list twice at any point in time (so after your pick, you can get back on the list to pick a book). Not everyone we know likes to read, and another difference for this go round is that I want this to be a large and inclusive group, so we will also pick one film/movie per month and two albums per month. No requirements to participate, just an opportunity to keep in touch while discussing new books/movies/music or classic books/movies/music. Also, I really want to make this work because I think it will be a great supplement to facebook after we've graduated, but I do not want to be the decider, so give suggestions so that when we get started for practice in January and for real in June, it is the best it can be.