Lessons for living like Lebowski

[cckeiser]

1- You can die with a smile on your face without feeling like the good lord gypped you.

Sorry, but the note in the text is just wrong.
(he has to pay for a carton of half and half with a postdated check)

The Dude did not postdate the check. The check was made out on Sept 11, 1991.
The assumption that it was made out in the same month as the rent was due to Marty is mistaken. Marty's request for the rent saying " It's already the 9th Dude" took place in another (later) month.

[SmokeytheBuddha]

Are we going to split hairs here? :-) 

Seriously, I think the date on the check is just one more example of the no-frame-of-reference open-endedness that permeates the film.

The first conflict with the Eye-rackies began in the summer of 1990 as was, therefore, Bush's "aggression" comment (which was made on August 5, 1990). The Dude writes the check for Sept. 11, 1991, more than a year later. Marty says it's already the 9th...is he referring to August 9? Sept. 9? While either is plausible (maybe the Bush comment is tape being played on a program in September), it doesn't matter in some regard because the main point is the Dude is a year off, intentionally or not.

For me, this ambiguity is intentional on the Coen Brothers' part because it fits right in there with the rest of the movie's ambiguity around the meaning of words, identities, etc... but that's just, like, my opinion, man.

BTW, in the interest of full disclosure, I'm Dwayne, one of the co-authors of the book. Not trying to scam anyone here. :-)

[cckeiser]

 "(maybe the Bush comment is tape being played on a program in September)"

That is what I am saying. The Dude was not a year off. It was a recap of the events being rebroadcast on a news type documentary. "Mission Accomplished!"

Marty could be asking for the rent in Oct. for all we know.