Pieces of Eight.

Friend and colleague Liam of Sententiae et Clamores has tagged me with a meme of eights. And since GitM recently turned 8 and Berk's nearing that age himself, the theme seems apropos anyway...So, without further ado:

8 Passions in my life: film, history, politics, science-fiction, civic progressivism, Berkeley, Guinness/Jamesons, basketball.

8 Things to do before I die: finish the dissertation; conduct a Great American Road Trip; get immersed in the world's Great Cities; have kid(s); write a truly memorable speech; hit the buzzer-beater 3; attend my own book reading; see an Earthrise.

8 Things I often say: "One ticket please."; "Sit!"; "Ok, let's go!"; "Want to go outside?"; "Get on the couch!"; "If you bark again, you're going in the crate."; "Get in the crate!"; "G'night, little buddy."

8 Books I read (or reread) recently: An Aristocracy of Everyone, Benjamin Barber; The Final Solution, Michael Chabon; The Dissident, Nell Freudenberger; Confessions of a Reformer, Frederic Howe; Public Opinion, Walter Lippmann; Paris 1919, Margaret MacMillan; Watchmen, Alan Moore; Villa Incognito, Tom Robbins.

8 Films that mean something to me: Amadeus, Brazil, Miller's Crossing, Annie Hall, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, High Fidelity, The Empire Strikes Back, Fellowship of the Ring.

8 Songs that mean something to me: "Almost Blue," Elvis Costello; "Get the Balance Right," Depeche Mode; "Romeo and Juliet," Dire Straits; "Visions of Johanna," Bob Dylan; "The Beast in Me," Nick Lowe; "Country Feedback," R.E.M.; "If You Wear That Velvet Dress", U2; "Make it Rain," Tom Waits.

8 Living people I'd like to have as dinner guests: The Coens, Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, Russ Feingold, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Barack Obama, Camille Paglia, Stephanie Zacharek.

8 People I'm passing this on to: This gets tricky, so I'll just pass it on to whomever feels like partaking...enjoy.