Granted, there were other great 80's flicks I saw when I was a kid that left distinct impressions about what it meant to be a child---E.T., Stand by Me, The Neverending Story, Explorers, The Flight of the Navigator, Mac and Me....hell, does anyone even remember Mac and Me????-----but The Goonies definitely stands out a bit more.
Actually, over the past few months I have come to realize just how much of an impact these films had on me as kid. It's a given that I love any story about a quest--the search for adventure, identity, home. Even films like The Wizard and Little Monsters had something to say about these same topics. And while watching them can definitely transport me back into kid mode--which for an 80's child means a total state of nervous energy and excitement while I happily stare wide-eyed at a blaring T.V., watching them now as an adult (sweet jesus, I don't believe it) has made me realize how important watching these films were in my life...let's just leave it at that.

According to fellow Goonies fans and websites, a sequel to The Goonies is ready to get made. Most of the original cast has agreed to do it. Just recently I came across some news clip that said the film was actually set to screen in 2005. This sounds to soon and may not be accurate information, but hey, I can hope, right?

The 80's Movie Rewind: This website is excellent when it comes to 80's movie trivia. It has an ever-increasing list of films from the 80's. Each film has its own synopsis, trivia bits, information on actors and characters, and even offers the viewer a chance to buy a copy of the film and/or soundtrack if available. It also has a Message Board where you can just chat about your favorite 80's movies or ask true 80's film aficionados anything you want. The page for THE GOONIES is especially informative, not to mention funny! I highly recommend it!!!

For the literary inclined.

If you're interested in good reading, check out the following brains:

• Anne Rice
• Henry James
• Frank Herbert
• Tennessee Williams
• Mark Twain
• John Steinbeck
• Nora Roberts (yeah, I admit it! :) )

Irregular Times: News Unfit for Print: This is a great sight for all your 2004 election needs. Actually, it's a great anti-Bush site that sells loads of bumper stickers, pins, shirts, etc. Check out this site to see some pretty funny merchandise. This is where I got the anti-Bush bumper stickers on my car. The site also offers other types of political commentary.

Get Underground: Creative Resistance Designed for the Emancipation of the Human Spirit: I recently came across this online magazine. You can view the articles for free. It appears to be a New York-based magazine. There's a great little article by some college student who interviewed Hunter S. Thompson, aka Raoul Duke from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas fame. The man talks about his views on Bush, Iraq, the Counter Culture, and offers other drug-induced commentary on life. Be sure to also check out the Life as a Loser columns by Will Leitch and the Notes from a Polite New Yorker by Matthew Sheahan.

The Onion: America's Finest News Source: This is a great satirical magazine. The writing is funny and fresh. The satire is generally well-executed. It's a university-based magazine, I forget from where...Anyway, check it out! It's worth the click on the link.

The Oscar Wilde Collection: This is a great website with an online collection of Oscar Wilde's work. It contains short stories, poems, plays, and even some of his novels. If you're not familiar with his work, this is a great site to visit.p>

If you're looking for the text of a story, poem, or play, check out Bartleby.com. This is usually a good site for finding classic literature online.

Finally, please visit my favorite website about literature Sparknotes.com . If you have questions or problems understanding what you are reading, this site will be a big help. Access and registration is free.