everyone was practically family.

The Dude is far more than a nickname or character in a film. The Dude is a state of being.

At the core of every Lebowski fan's appreciation of the film is indeed the ethos of The Dude, which is far more than a nickname or character in a film. The Dude is a state of being. The Dude is relaxed. The Dude is unencumbered by the strictures of a job or any other responsibility. He exists in a blissful state, bowling, drinking White Russians, smoking grass in his bathtub, aimlessly perusing the aisles of a grocery store in sweatpants. He is of his time and of his place.

In The Achievers: The Story of Lebowski Fans, a 2009 documentary about Lebowski Fest, Jeff Dowd, the real-lifealso do things like earn a living or keep up appearances socially. But those things aren't important at Lebowski Fest, where above all else, The Dude abides.

Brandon ended up getting pretty far into the trivia contest, lasting through a few elimination rounds to make it to the finals. It was him and two other contestants vying for first prize, and he'd at least be guaranteed a trophy for finishing in the top three. But he wasn't as optimistic upon his final return from the questioning room. In fact, he knew he had fallen short. The other two finalists were currently in the midst of a tie-breaker to determine the winner. There were still plenty of frames left to bowl, though, and our lane's server had yet to announce