The Oscars and Other Drivel

First of all I have to say that I have about as much respect for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as I do any industry's self serving organization that has secretive awards committees. How was it put ... "bending over backwards to kiss their own asses". But my wife is a film fan and I have to say I am amused by the antics and some of the talent.

We were glad to see a couple of our picks got favored. We saw West Bank Story over a year ago at an independent film festival, we made an effort to find it online as a video to purchase or download. Nothing available, so maybe getting the Oscar will fix that. We thought it was a great live action short and it's good to hear the Academy liked it too. My wife and I also liked Pan's Labyrinth even though it gets a bit surreal and has bloody and torturous scenes we don't feel comfortable letting the kids see. It got a couple awards, but not the one we hoped. As for Ellen DeGeneres, that was a new low point.

We didn't see any of the films that got Razzies, a good sign.

So Stop With the Paparazzi Pleasing Already

Britney, you don't need to show the world how badly you shave and I don't mean your head. Take a tip from the Oscars ... it is OK to go commando, even publically televised, in a full length gown. It leaves the world pondering how you hid the panty lines. But in a mini skirt? Can you say "Yoo-hoo, paparazzi goons! Over here."

And what's with the tirades and antics? You're getting a lot of sympathy but not a lot of respect out there. Don't you know that in California child custody is so biased in favor of the Mom that to lose them the mom literally has to be a whacked out drug addict with ... ooops. Well, let's just leave it that I feel a lot more sorry for your kids than I do for you.

Too much tabloid fodder lately and not just Britney. Stop with the celebrity shooting star flame-outs already!

Happy Valentines Day!

This morning I had an exchange that was appropriate to Valentines Day and highly bloggable. So here goes.

At my health club, they sometimes let vendors set up displays of clothes or jewelry for sale. Being Valentines season, there was a lady with a table of craftsy jewelry.

I had finished my morning workout and was on the way out when I stopped to look at some of the lampwork bead and pearl types of jewelry that my wife might like. The Lady asks "Are you ready for Valentines Day?". My response, "well of course". She followed up with "so what are you getting her?". I paused for just a second before replying with a question "Is it important what I get her?". Her reply was also a question and made an assumption "Is it important what you get?". My reply was "No, Valentines day is about being sweethearts and the things that don't have price tags, isn't it?". All she could do was agree.

I didn't mention that I had already made or gotten some stuff for my dear wife (my romantic sweetheart) and for my daughters (my little sweethearts). Now I know that I may be overstepping Valentines tradition. The exchange of love notes and tokens of affection such as hand written cards and small candies. But then, Valentines Day seems to have gone modern like most other special days. So I don't see stretching it to my non-romantic but beloved sweethearts as much of a transgression.

I like how wikipedia.org learned from last year and locked their Valentines Day entry.