rfmcdonald | [NON-BLOG] Four Points (Reply)

My papers go well. Today, I was cleaning and consolidating, preparing for my move at the end of next week into the graduate residence, preceding the spring semester and my impending trip to upstate New York and Toronto. I'll aim for a Wednesday completion date for the three, I think.

I saw Kill Bill, Vol 2 last night at downtown Kingston's Famous Players. I liked Kill Bill, Vol. 1, and I think that I like this film, too, but it's very different. Both halves of the film are centered around action sequences. In the first Kill Bill, the main action scene is the fantastic battle between the Bride and O-Ren Ishii (with her subordinates) . In the second Kill Bill, the action is on a smaller scale, is more diffused, and is often more disturbing. (Anyone who has seen the film will know why I think Budd is the more disturbing of Bill's two remaining subordinates, Elle's treachery notwithstanding.) The Bride's maternal instincts play an interesting role in the film. The soundtrack, incidentally, was superb; I particularly recommend Malcolm McLaren's haunting "About Her," perfectly placed within the movie and excellent in its own right.

I bought GURPS New Sun, based on the novels of Gene Wolfe. Frankly, whenever I've tried to read Gene Wolfe I've found myself snowplowed by wave after wave of impenetrable near-purple prose, submerging what seems to be an interesting idea for a world (a worn far-future post-imperial Earth) and what might well be interesting plots. This book might not be the best RPG supplement; it is a useful guide to Wolfe's universe. Who knows? Maybe I'll try reading Wolfe again. For the time being, I'll be happy with this summary guide to his universe.

Last night before Kill Bill, Vol. 2, I ate Thai. Tonight, I ordered a Chinese dinner for two. Part of one serving was enough for me; I think I'll be able to make it stretch to Monday. Portions really are too big, and I need to lose weight as is.