The viewing went very well.  We were a little worried not many would show up, but they were just running a few minutes late in true "Dude" fashion.  The whole crowd was completely focused on the film and the credits rolled with thunderous applause.  So like I was saying before, I’m finally taking a break.  The Garden Party has started but I’m chilling in our room for the moment.  If I don’t get a little rest before the next even I might crash before everything is over. 

As before, we have 1 extra ticket for bowling tonight.  Come find us if you need one.

Our new t-shirts seem to be a big hit.  Dude was wearing one around and everybody was wanting one.  I know Dragon picked one up and Eddie Chung is getting one too.  Oh, funny story.  Phillip (Phil as he introduced himself to me) Moon was here today.  He also made an appearance in L.A.  He’s also knows as "the rug pisser."  So Phil did a ceremonial "peeing" (not really) on the rug after the bands played and made a small appearance before the film started.  Dude and I were talking to him in the parking lot and he was almost late for his appearance.  Good thing he was paying attention.  Anyways, after the movie got started Phil started walking back towards the Crowne Plaza and that’s when Eddie Chung arrived.  At about the same time Dude and I both said, "What?  Is there only 1 Asian-American allowed at a time?"

Eddie’s here to screen his documentary, The Achievers, tomorrow.  It’s all about the fan culture of the festivals.  Eddie has promised us a copy to review on the podcast.  Eddie also loved our new t-shirts and mentioned something about maybe getting them put into the gift bags for the VMAs.  I’ll have to ask him about it again tomorrow.

So first off the bands played.  They weren’t too bad.  Live music is almost always better than no music at all.  I’m not sure if I would enjoy listening to their albums, but they were OK to listen to while mingling with the Achievers.  The big act I was really looking forward to was Rob Riggle.  You might know him from The Daily Show or the blockbuster currently out in theaters called The Hangover.  He’s a funny guy.  I did not, however, enjoy his stand-up too much.  By this time Liz was feeling the need to go back to the hotel so I walked back over with Liz and Becky, forget to mention my sister drove up.  I picked up some water and then headed back.  Unfortunately I missed the end of Riggle’s act and the slight altercation with a fan afterward. 

Apparently this guy in the parking lot had the gumption to inform Riggle he had just wasted 30 minutes of his life and that was the worst stand-up he had ever seen.  Rob tried to tell him he’s not really a stand-up comedian but a story teller.  The fan wasn’t taking it.  Rob happened to also have a friend along that was obviously a big, bad marine who wasn’t taking the tongue lashing too kindly.  The Mayor tried to step in and make sure things were cool and the marine buddy started yelling at The Mayor.  Luckily every calmed down and just took it easy.  That was about the time that I showed up and we talked to Woo for a few minutes.

After the movie started up, The Dude, his gang and I decided to do a little bowling.  The place is going to be packed out tomorrow and it may not be worth trying to actually roll.  We got two, almost three, games in and went out for Spinelli’s after the alley closed.  If you listen to the podcast and read this blog regularly, you’ve probably heard me rant at some point about the food options in New Hampshire.  The pizza is terrible.  Spinelli’s was the best pizza I have had since we moved 12 and a half months ago.  It was NY/Philly style in that the slice was so big you have to fold it in half.  Brad likes to roll his up like a pizza burrito.  I might have to try that next time I’m there.

So now it’s after 3 AM, I’m sitting here typing away on this blog post and I need to be getting some sleep for a 9 AM interview tomorrow with a professor from the local university.  We’re going to talk about a paper he submitted to the Lebowski Symposium a few years ago.  It’s actually going to be included in the new book coming out in the fall The Year’s Work in Lebowski Studies.  I’ll do some more updating tomorrow.

Even though we had some flight delays, we were able to get everywhere on time and were picked up by The Dude and Walter Brad in the Gran Torino; green, with minimal rust coloration.  Reminded me a lot of my high school buddy’s 70’s Dodge Dart. 

The hotel is pretty nice.  It’s the little things that let you know you’re in a nice place.  For example: being asked how many door cards you’d like, the quality of the sheets on the bed, the extra pillows, and the free wi-fi access.  Oh, and the showers are AMAZING.

So before dinner I was able to meet the 7-11 crew.  The dudes gave us some sweet pins they had made for the event.  We then headed out with Duder and his gang in the Torino to get some burgers.  Dragon suggested W. W. Cousins was the best burger in town so we figured we should give it a try.  While i thought the toppings bar was amazing, I wasn’t too impressed with the burger.  Way too greasy.  The bun was soaked through before I was half-finished.

On the way back ol Duder’s car broke.  One of the windows fell down into the door.  After a few hours we had accomplished a trip to Wal-Mart for a socket extender, finally figured out how to take the door apart, and rigged the door so well I think Red Green would be proud.  Dude took a plastic cup, wadded it up and wedged it in.  After that he took a couple rags and tied everything together and reinforced that with some Gorilla Tape.

We then decided to check out the venue for tomorrow and saw Will and Scott’s Dude-mobile in the parking lot.  This led to a photo opportunity, but not many turned out due to the poor lighting at 11:30pm.  I think he put one up on Twitter and tagged it #lebowskipodcast.

So now it’s time for some relaxing until things ramp up again tomorrow night.  If you’re going to be around you should find us and say hi.  We’d also love to record something for the podcast if you’re up for it.

The Dude Abides.

• Listen to our Achiever Etiquette episode with Tom (our Lebowski Fest correspondent) and Brad
  • Episode 17 - Achiever Etiquette
•  Check out the Louisville Achiever Guide created by Will and Scott of Lebowski Fest
  • Official 2009 Achievers Guide
• Maybe check out the Lebowski Fest forums, specifically the Lebowski Fest section
  • Lebowski Fest Forum
• Be prepared to have a good time

It’s true when they say most events, challenges and experiences are what you make of it.  If you show up with the idea that it’s going to be fun, you’ll most likely have fun.  There will be a lot of people in attendance, literally thousands, and obviously not all of them will be golfers.  At least, not what you have in mind of what a golfer should be.  And that’s cool…that, that’s cool.  Some people will be there to party and get skunk drunk.  Some people will be there looking to meet new friends.  Some people will be there to hang out with existing friends.  Some people may even exhibit nihilistic-tendencies, etc, etc.

The main thing to remember is to just channel your inner-Dude.  Be cool man.  99.9% of the people we have met at Lebowski events are very cool, very Dude-like, and very much unlike most people you would meet at some large sporting event or a music festival or all those fellow commuters on the way to work.  It’ll be a good time.

The Dude Abides.

P.S. - And don’t forget to send us an email if you’d like to be entered to win a Dude bobble-head this month.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hxi-z3ZZBI

Starring Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale, and many other faces you’ll recognize, this film is all about the seedy underbelly of the business world and corporate America.  Damon plays Mark Whitacre and gains 30 pounds for the role, playing someone blowing the whistle on a corn-price-fixing scandal in the 1990s.  Usually you’d think a film from Steven Soderbergh would be lecture filled and quite serious, but this one looks like it’ll be hilarious.

They’ll be continuing the movie theme throughout September with other titles such as Pulp Fiction, Caddyshack, Mad Max, and Old School.  For more information - http://milwaukee.decider.com/events/fish-fry-a-flick-the-big-lebowski-and-kingpin,109307/

Presnell played Wade Gustafson in Fargo.  He was the father-in-law to Jerry Lundegaard, played by William H. Macy, and owned the car delearship where Lundegaard was trying to hatch his schemes to get out of debt.  You might also remember he stood up to one of the kidnappers, Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi), and ended up getting shot in the parking lot.

Before starring in Fargo, Presnell already had an impressive career on Broadway in hits such as The Unsinkable Molly Brown,  Annie and Gone With the Wind. In 1965 he won the Golden Globe for the “Most Promising Male Newcomer”.  His film career didn’t take off until later in life with roles in Saving Private Ryan, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Family Man, and Old School.

For an excellent synopsis of his career and feats of Hollywood strength, you should check out the blog post at Always on Watch.  If you’re interested in reading more about the life of Harve Presnell I would suggest the might Google or check out some of the links I found below.

• http://alwaysonwatch2.blogspot.com/2009/07/harve-presnell-rest-in-peace.html
• http://www.popeater.com/movies/article/harve-presnell-dies/553572
• http://www.manolith.com/2009/07/01/actor-singer-harve-presnell-dead-at-75/
• http://www.clickondetroit.com/entertainment/19917917/detail.html
• http://underthelobsterscope.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/and-goodbye-to-harve-presnell-at-75/

Lebowski Fest "Speed of Sound" tour video

The Big Oscar Retrieval

The other day I came across this link on Twitter about crop circles.  Apparently in Tasmania (yes, home of the Tasmanian Devil) crop circles have been appearing in poppy fields.  Now if there’s one thing I know about poppies, opium comes from them and the Shriners used to always give out the red flowers at parades when I was a kid.  Well, I guess that makes two things, but my point is they’re used to make drugs.  Haven’t you ever hear the rumor that you shouldn’t eat poppy seed pastries before a drug test?

Well turns out after a little sleuth work from one or several brothers shamus, they found the culprit.  No it wasn’t aliens, or high-school kids, or even adults playing a joke on society.  It was…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8118257.stm

…a bunch of kangaroos high off their marsupial pouches.  See, the kangaroos would get into these fields of poppy flowers that were legally being grown for medical opium.  Australia exports 50% of the world’s supply of opium used for morphine and other happy medicines.  So these kangaroos get in there, start eating the poppy seeds and before they know it, they’re hopping around in circles without a care in the world.  In fact, they hop around until they literally crash and fall over.  I can’t help but think if they were partial to music, they might be listening to a little Creedence while doing so. 

In fact, this really reminds me of The Dude when he just got out of the doctor’s office.  You remember the scene.  He’s smoking a J, enjoying a beer, and trying to watch Da Fino in his rear view mirror.  Before he knows it, his crotch is on fire, the beer’s not putting out the heat, and he crashes into a dumpster.  Kind of makes you wonder if he was imagining the car following him the whole time.
 

Julian’s not much of a bowler, but hey, it’s not like we ever see The Dude actually bowl.  His favorite films starring a Lebowski-actress are Hannibal and Boogie Nights.  If you haven’t checked out P.T. Anderson’s films, Boogie Nights could be a good place to start.  Magnolia is another excellent film of his starring both Julianne Moore and Philip Seymour Hoffman (Brandt).  Well, before I start giving all his profile details away, I think I’ll just post the link.  Thanks for getting involved with the podcast Julian!  We always appreciate listener input and feedback.

Click here to read Julian’s profile.

If you would like to be one of our featured listeners, all you have to do is send us an email and let us know.

I “need” the weekend pass as a late Father’s Day gift for my Dad. My dad is a huge Lebowski fan - so much that he titled the last chapter of his book “The Dream Abides” and spent two paragraphs talking about how much he loves the movie. This is in a book about skiing, by the way.

His dad is a big fan and this is going to be a late Father’s Day gift.  His dad even dedicated the last bit of his book on skiing to show much he loves The Big Lebowski.  All I have to say is, "And a good day to you, sir!"

1. Lebowski Podcast Blog - obviously you know about it already if you’re reading this post, but do you participate?  Leaving a comment might seem like a trite or trivial thing, but it’s a real confidence booster to a blogger.  I’ve been blogging since 2004 and feel I can say that with confidence.  Comments also encourage conversation amongst other readers and can be both enjoyable and enlightening.
2. Lebowski Podcast Forum - sadly this is one part of this site that doesn’t get used very often.  We’ve had several faithful users over the years, but it’s gets boring when I’m the only one responding.  This is one place you can converse with fellow listeners or just talk about whatever’s on your mind.
3. Facebook - There are a lot of ways you can use Facebook.  We happen to have both a Lebowski Podcast Page and a Lebowski Podcast Group.  You can also find a plethora of other groups pertaining to The Big Lebowski and the Coen Brothers.  Some of our favorites include Dudeism, Lebowski Fest, and The Dude Abides.
4. MySpace - Just like Facebook, we also have a MySpace page.  Honestly, we don’t do much with it, but it’s there if you’d like to befriend us.
5. Twitter - Tweeting seems to be the new sensation.  I didn’t get on this bandwagon until earlier this year when I was tasked at finding useful ways to implement it at the university where I work.  You can follow Chalupa at @lebowskipodcast and Liz at @LizBR.
6. Other blogs - There are many blogs on the interwebs containing pertinent information about your favorite films, actors and directors.  Some of the blogs we read include:
   • Coenesque
   • You Know, For Kids!
   • Lebowski Fest Blog
7. Dudeism - This is a tongue-in-cheek religion created by Oliver Benjamin and based out of Thailand.  Lots of deep thinking going on here.
8. Dudespaper - This is an excellent online magazine ran by the fellas at Dudeism and devoted to the lifestyle of the deeply casual.  I must admit I’m a little biased because I’m not just a reader, I’m also a contributor.
9. Lebowski Fest - If you haven’t heard of the annual festivals ran by Will Russell and Scott Shuffitt yet, I’m afraid you might still have amateur status, but that’s OK.  We’re here to educate you.  These festivals used to occur only in Louisville, KY but over the years they have expanded their reach and are coming to 15 cities around the continental US this year.  Hopefully you can find one near you.

These are just a few online resources I came up with off the top of my head, but is by no means comprehensive.  You might also be interested in checking out our Links page where we’ve tried to compile many online resources we have discovered and have been told about by people like you.  If you have any additions, please let us know.

In the meantime, we hope you’re able to enjoy the 4th of July weekend and please don’t blow your hands off.  That makes it very hard to browse the internet and visit us later.

The Dude Abides.

http://www.metalireland.com/miwiki/index.php?title=Minds_EyE

…and scroll down to the bottom of the page where their discography is listed.  These are all free downloads, so even if there’s a "pay option," be sure to go with "free."

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/92548-The-Wii-Bowling-Ball-The-Most-Dangerous-Wii-Accessory-Yet

Even though this new bowling ball controller looks pretty awesome, and has a wrist strap, I’m afraid we might need to take out an insurance policy on our living rooms if we’re planning on using it.  The way it works is you crack open the ball and place your Wii controller inside.  After that, you can enjoy any one of your favorite Wii bowling games and try not to destroy your house.

So the whole point of this is I came across a post at Hollywood Fail where they posted an image of seven Hollywood actors and are asking you to choose the "real" Jeff Bridges.  I immediately knew all but one just by glancing at it.  Is this that hard?

http://www.hollywoodfail.com/2009/06/jeff-bridges-faces-his-six.html

Just posted our 30th episode earlier today.  Other than gearing up for the 8th Annual Lebowski Fest, we will also be giving away our first item from Entertainment Earth next month.  That’s a picture of it up above.  If you’d like to enter to win, all you have to do is send us an email telling us why you deserve, want, or need it.  Pretty simple.

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Vegas-style pop-music performer Richard Cheese will be the main attraction on July 4th along with a showing of The Big Lebowski at the Bangor Opera House.  July 5th will feature a bowling party with all the fixins at The Sports Arena in Hermon, Maine.  For more information please visit http://www.bangpopmaine.com/lebowski/

We will choose a winner at 5pm EST on Wednesday July 1st.

I recently came across an article online at CinemaBlend.com  titled Guy Power: 10 Movies That Didn’t Need Girls.  The Hangover, a recent "guy movie," was the first film to be talked about along with 10 other films.  Around the middle The Big Lebowski was listed with this clarification and picture of Julianne Moore playing the character of Maude.

Considered by some to be too well written for raunch comedy classification, the Coen Brothers’ masterwork is a rambling, guys night out flick with swearing, boobs and drug use, the holy trifecta of hard R-Rated laughers aimed at men. From pedophile bowlers to abusive Malibu Beach reactionaries, there’s no character too weird for Los Angeles Country circa Desert Storm–except maybe one, Julianne Moore’s Maude Lebowski who provides her share of humorless, uncomfortable moments as the daughter of the real Jeff Lebowski on the hunt for babies and rugs with sentimental value. Vagina, vagina, vagina, she screams, asking The Dude if the word makes him uncomfortable. It doesn’t bother me so much as makes me miss Walter. Shut the f* up, Donny. I miss you too.

First time glancing at the article I thought they were saying these 10 films would have been better without female characters in them.  When I started at the beginning and started at the top, I was getting the impression that these are films better watched without females in the room.  Apparently it’s something to do with the lads when you’re off being manly.

Not only is The Hangover’s fundamental premise about a guy’s night out, it’s about a bachelor party, a retreat for men to go off by themselves to do coke and grind against the daughters of America. The fairer sex needs to be involved in this carousing, most definitely, but not women of respect, moral discipline or upstanding credibility. There’s a time for the wife and a time for the whore, and for a raunch comedy to work, a really skuzzy, emotionally depraved, felony-ridden raunch comedy, the men need to be separated from women they care about so they can embrace their most juvenile, disgusting proclivities. This isn’t to say women should be excluded from the debauchery. I love a woman who laughs at a funny sex story or participates in a case race, but the real seediness, the turn off the filter, take out the boner and roll up the hundred dollar bill absolute depravity has to take place without girls that matter. You never let the girl you love see you at your worst, and that’s the essence of a good raunch comedy. Men at their absolute worst. Their hilarious, selfish, horny, common sense-less worst.

The Hangover kept its women out of the fun, but here’s ten Classic Phil R-Rated raunch comedies which couldn’t find the right balance…

Couldn’t find the right balance?  What does that exactly mean?  At face value I can see this argument for this Coen Brother masterpiece.  The cast is mostly men.  When you think about it Maude is the only woman with a prominent role with the exception of Bunny, who doesn’t actually have that many lines.  Off the top of my head other female speaking roles are the Nihilist’s girlfriend, played by the amazing musician Aimee Mann, Pilar the wife/caretaker/nanny (do we really know what her role was?) at the Seller’s residence, and Lou the waitress at the diner who asked Walter to calm down.  So what balance wasn’t found?  Are they saying there weren’t enough female roles?  Are they saying the female roles included were too much?  Was Maude too much?  Are we supposed to apply the Madonna/whore dichotomy to everything?

One thing I don’t like about the Lebowski pop-culture is how so many see it just as some raunchy stoner comedy.  In the past I’ve said it’s sort of like that, but it’s not really.  I could go into a long diatribe about content vs. purpose, intent and why film is an art form, but you probably don’t want to hear about that.  In fact, we’ll probably save some of that for a future podcast episode because what we’re talking about right now are women’s roles in film.

Can you imagine this film with Maude not being, well, Maude?  Here at the Lebowski Podcast we have even theorized that maybe Maude was the "Great Oz" behind the curtain pulling all the strings.  She knew everyone involved, and It’s like Lenin said, you look for the person who will benefit. And uh,uh, well I lost my train of thought there.  So what exactly is this balance that’s not quite there? And what’s this about Maude not being funny?  Maude is hilarious.  The whole front she poses with her made-up accent/affectation and high society ways, you’d think she’s at the core of feminism, but I think that’s what Joel and Ethan were poking fun at.

What this really comes down to is Jackie Treehorn’s style of treating objects like women man.  Am I just over-reacting here?  Maybe it’s because I just don’t enjoy the raunch movies like this article supposes all men do.  Is it really that great to complain about a film that brings in some humanity and feelings with its female characters?  I would call that a redeeming factor, but I’ve gone on and rambled quite enough for now.  What do you think about it?

We’ve mentioned this barber shop several times before.  It’s down in the sunny state of Florida, Tampa to be exact, and we’ve been hearing little snippets here and there from people who drove by, or from others who have visited and posted articles on their blogs.  We now have some links to a couple articles talking about this fine Lebowski-themed establishment.

Now before we get too far, I think it’s fair to say while this barber shop is Lebowski-themed, these guys aren’t fanboys.  The place isn’t decked out to look like The Dude’s bungalow or Jackie Treehorn’s palatial estate.  It’s just a barber shop ran by a couple of fans.  It’s definitely a place for men to congregate, get their hair cut, and enjoy being a man.  I think barber shops are something that have definitely gone the way of the buffalo, at least in the classical sense.  Maybe they still exist in bigger cities, but I personally have never been to something you see on television shows and movies.  Barber shops are places where a guy can get away from it all for an hour or so and congregate with his fellow man.  If those fellow men happen to share the love for a classic film like The Big Lebowski, then all the better.

Maybe it’d be easier to list some of the features you could expect if visiting:

• Wide-screen TVs to watch the game or The Big Lebowski upon request
• Pool table
• Air hockey
• Foosball
• Indoor golf driving range
• Leather furniture
• Internet access
• Haircuts
• Manicures
• Chair massages
• Shoe shine
• Beverages
• Leather furniture
• And of course, a rug to tie the room together

This is basically a place "designed to appeal to young guys in their 20s and 30s looking for a place that women haven’t invaded."  I’m sure you can all empathize with the need to get away from the special lady friend for a while.  Sometimes you just need sometime to be with the guys.  If you’re interested in stopping by…

Lebowski
254 Channelside Drive
Tampa, Florida 33602

Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday
9a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

A dude’s take on the Lebowski Barber Salon - http://www.tampabay.com/features/fashion/article1011030.ece
Downtown barber shop inspired by ‘Big Lebowski’ - http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/23/trim-and-beer-barber-shop-inspried-big-lebowski/

Woody has been listening to the podcast for about 6 months and has an amazing all-time high bowling score.  One interesting fact about Woody is that he’s a fellow podcaster.  You should check out what he does at www.thedividingline.com/ss.

Click below to read Woody’s full profile.  If you would like to be one of our featured listeners, all you have to do is let us know and we’ll put you on the list.

Woody’s Listener Spotlight profile