WHAT I'M LISTENING TO: A whole bunch of a mix-CD I made, trying to work up the energy to start writing a new script. Also, still hooked on the soundtrack to The Fountain. And, with my boy, a CD containing a whole mess of theme songs from past cartoons, including the immortal "Gigantor" theme song (imagine off-key druids pounding out Gigantor to a completely separate score in really deep voices) and a version of Popeye that will make you want to punch an old lady in the gut it's so god-awful bad. Picture the already talentless Sailor Man himself belching out (and holding for maximum effect) the words "Sailor Man" so that it lasts well north of two minutes. Next time I hear it, I'm driving my car into the nearest lake and putting my ears out of their misery.
WHAT I'M READING: Just finished the FourFourTwo preview of Euro 2008. Now back to a rather bland little piece called "Free Ride" detailing how the media gives McCain a...well, free ride. I'm almost putting myself to sleep talking about it. Not a great entertainment, but I haven't had the chance to get back to the library.
WHAT I'M WATCHING: Euro 2008, it goes without saying. Though not every single game. Just too much on my paper plate to devote four hours every day for over two weeks to the beautiful game. I also just started X-Files Season Four before the tournament began. Not to mention (even though I am) that I'm still working through my list of 2007 films for the only awards that make the MTV Movie Awards seem prestigious...The Jeff Awards! We got HBO a few weeks back, so I just completed all seven parts of the John Adams miniseries. Very good, with wonderful acting. But parts seemed rushed. When you can boil our whole second presidency down to one 70-minute show, it hurts the overall production. Awesome theme song though.
WELL, I've finally made it back here to update. You may notice a few minor changes. Dung! is being rebooted, thus a new title up above (g'head, check it out). I'm keeping the one feature that people actually seem to enjoy (the details of my entertainment) and shucking the rest. Nobody really gives a rat's dick about the Direct Kick challenge. I can see all my faithful readers now, sprinting over to the computer, cursing themselves for not shilling out for the hi-speed service as they wait to log on, and gleefully sliding the mouse through their "Favorites" bar looking for the link to take them here to read how many soccer games I watched on which channel. People with no lives would call you a loser for that. So it's gone.
Also done is the Dung Challenge Cup. My wife was whuppin' my ass every single week. At the time of halting it, she had a near-insermountable 512 point lead. That's right. Even if I guessed every game right and she got them all wrong for the next half-century PLUS I doubled down on Final Jeopardy, I still couldn't catch up.
A wise man knows when he's beaten, and concedes. A quitter tosses in the towel two months into the contest. There may be no "i" in team, but there is one in "quit", so that's what I'm doing.
Congrats honey. You kicked my sorry pock-marked ass. Kudos to you, ma'am.
What the new Dung! will be is what it should have remained all along. Random thoughts and ideas springing from my head. A place to pretend people actually care what a moron on the other side of the internet thinks. A place to fool myself into thinking I actually matter on this great world wide web.
So here are some random thoughts buzzing through my head lately.
1. Father's Day is coming up. I look forward to spending it with my two boys. I originally typed my two sons, but the ghost of Fred MacMurray creeped up behind me and hit me with a steaming stack o' slapcakes.
To create more time for visiting fathers in Michigan this week, last Sunday we went to the cemetary to say hi to my dad. It's been over nine years now. I have trouble remembering what he sounded like sometimes. I'm ashamed to admit that I forgot his birthday this year until late that night. I still love him, but unfortunately life keeps moving on. My three-year-old is still too young to fully grasp it all. I explain that my daddy just got so sick that the doctor couldn't help him anymore, and he passed away. I tell him that my daddy is now buried under the ground by that headstone. I explain that it's kinda like he fell asleep and will never wake up. But it's tough for a young guy to understand. He wants to know why we can't see him.
Even worse, he got very scared to be near the grave. It took a lot to calm him down enough for a picture by the headstone. And that night, while tucking him in, he asked if I would keep people from breaking in. I told him not to worry, of course daddy wouldn't let people break in. Jude then told me he didn't want my dad to dig out of his grave and break into our house.
Sad that my father is nothing more than a ghoul from a horror film to his grandchild. I don't blame Jude for this. It's very confusing and I can see how it could be scary. But it does hurt a bit that he never got to meet his grandfather. My dad didn't live long enough to see my two boys, or even my wife.
So I'll celebrate being a daddy this week, because I've got two incredible kids. But I'm also going to feel the pain of not having my own dad to honor. I love him, and I miss him, very much. So make sure you spend some time with your dads.
2. Won't go into too many details, but there might be some very exciting news soon on the job front.
3. Joined a gym this week. Back in January 2005 I weighed in at 185, which was my normal weight. Never got much above or under that since high school. January 2008, I was up to 220. I dislike seeing myself in the mirror. I'm not super fat, but I'm bigger than I should be, or want to be. So I'm getting back into working out. I had a gym membership back in 1998-2000. I loved it actually. Working out gives me a natural high, and I don't even have to end up rolled up into a rug in front of a hospital (get that reference, bitches!)
Today I went for the second time. Hit the treadmill for 20 minutes, getting in a good three miles according to the machine. After that, I got onto the stationery bike. Another fifteen minutes, another five miles. I was sweating, breathing heavy, and pulling the bike seat out of my ass (in case you care, it took four minutes, three guys, and a crowbar). But I felt great. Plus, they have showers there just like high school. Well, almost. In high school it was a long corridor with shower heads spraying down from either side every two feet, and you walked single file behind your classmates, eyes glued to the ceiling like some freakish human car wash. This is a single person shower.
I love it. I'm sore right now, but feeling good. And even if I only drop down to 210, I'll be happy.
That's all I got for now. But I'm really going to try to keep updating the new Dung! version 2.0 far more often. Less inanity, more posts. Shorter posts, but more frequent.
Thanks for sticking around. And to steal a phrase from myself, that I stole from M9's John Drake (or #6 if you prefer):
Be Seeing You.
3.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
My Wife Is Whupping My Ass
WHAT I'M LISTENING TO: Some Spongebob CD, and a lot of burned CD's.
WHAT I'M READING: I'm into a book by David Frost on the Nixon/Frost TV programs.
WHAT I'M WATCHING: Soccer, of course, and a lot of movies this week. Just finished up There Will Be Blood, which is awesome.
SO for those keeping track, here are the latest Dung Challenge Cup standings as of today. Before you read and laugh, know that this is my weekend.
Barefoot Adult W D L Pts
17 7 12 58
DungMaster 9 7 20 34
A mere twenty-four points back early in the season. She's kicking my arse!
SUMMER MOVIE SEASON is upon us. The only films I'm really stoked about are The Dark Knight and the X-Files film, although I will be taking the wife to the Sex and the City movie, since she is a big fan. It should be good. There are many others I have a mild interest in, but those three are on the list of must-see.
THE DIRECT KICK CHALLENGE
Got to keep up with this for the 2008 season. Remember, I paid 79 bucks for the Direct Kick package, the greatest bargain in sports. All year long, we'll figure out just how much I'm spending per game.
ABC-0
ESPN2-5
Fox Soccer-5
Direct Kick-15
So that's 79 bucks for 15 games thus far, or $5.27 per game.
That's all for now, as I must go cry.
Be Seeing You.
WHAT I'M READING: I'm into a book by David Frost on the Nixon/Frost TV programs.
WHAT I'M WATCHING: Soccer, of course, and a lot of movies this week. Just finished up There Will Be Blood, which is awesome.
SO for those keeping track, here are the latest Dung Challenge Cup standings as of today. Before you read and laugh, know that this is my weekend.
Barefoot Adult W D L Pts
17 7 12 58
DungMaster 9 7 20 34
A mere twenty-four points back early in the season. She's kicking my arse!
SUMMER MOVIE SEASON is upon us. The only films I'm really stoked about are The Dark Knight and the X-Files film, although I will be taking the wife to the Sex and the City movie, since she is a big fan. It should be good. There are many others I have a mild interest in, but those three are on the list of must-see.
THE DIRECT KICK CHALLENGE
Got to keep up with this for the 2008 season. Remember, I paid 79 bucks for the Direct Kick package, the greatest bargain in sports. All year long, we'll figure out just how much I'm spending per game.
ABC-0
ESPN2-5
Fox Soccer-5
Direct Kick-15
So that's 79 bucks for 15 games thus far, or $5.27 per game.
That's all for now, as I must go cry.
Be Seeing You.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Dung Challenge Cup Week Two
WHAT I'M LISTENING TO: A friend gave me some compilation CD's he burned of his "Best of..." for years 2005 and 2006 in music. Some good stuff.
WHAT I'M READING: Grand Theft Jesus. Damn Good Book.
WHAT I'M WATCHING: Watched Sunshine the other day in my Jeff Award's List quest. Pretty darn good sci-fi film. Plus, MLS action!
SO the Dung Challenge Cup continues to roll on. Thus far, my pretty wife, Barefoot Adult, is whupping the ole Dungmaster's booty.
Here's the standings after the first two weeks of the MLS season.
Dungmaster----4W 3D 7L 15 points
Barefoot Adult----7W 3D 4L 24 points
It's still early, and we're working through this weekend's results so I will come back and claim glorious victory.
But right now, the expert is losing to the novice. And I can't deny that it hurts a bit in the ole pride.
Revenge will be mine! And as Khan taught me, revenge is a dish best served cold, and space is very, very cold my friend.
Be seeing you.
WHAT I'M READING: Grand Theft Jesus. Damn Good Book.
WHAT I'M WATCHING: Watched Sunshine the other day in my Jeff Award's List quest. Pretty darn good sci-fi film. Plus, MLS action!
SO the Dung Challenge Cup continues to roll on. Thus far, my pretty wife, Barefoot Adult, is whupping the ole Dungmaster's booty.
Here's the standings after the first two weeks of the MLS season.
Dungmaster----4W 3D 7L 15 points
Barefoot Adult----7W 3D 4L 24 points
It's still early, and we're working through this weekend's results so I will come back and claim glorious victory.
But right now, the expert is losing to the novice. And I can't deny that it hurts a bit in the ole pride.
Revenge will be mine! And as Khan taught me, revenge is a dish best served cold, and space is very, very cold my friend.
Be seeing you.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Introducing the Dung Challenge Cup!
WHAT I'M LISTENING TO: A awesome Tom Waits tune called "Never Let Go" and some old school New Order, especially "Ceremony".
WHAT I'M READING: Newest issue of MajorLeagueSoccer magazine. Just finished up a book on the Fairtax.
WHAT I'M WATCHING: Just finished the Honeymooners box set, and of course soccer. Manchester United chasing a repeat in England, and MLS just kicked off.
A QUICK POST to introduce a new feature to the blog this year, called the Dung Challenge Cup.
My beautiful wife (Barefoot Adult) and I will be predicting the MLS games all season long to see who's better at it, the diehard fan (me) or the layman (her).
The rules are simple. Each game, we must both pick a winner. If you choose correctly, you get three points. If you are incorrect, you get zero points. If the game ends in a draw, you get one point. Winner is the person with the most points at the end of the year, and thus the Dung Challenge Cup champion.
Here's the standings after the opening weekend.
Dungmaster W-1 D-2 L-5 5 points
Barefoot Adult W-4 D-2 L-2 14 points
She takes an early lead, but the season is just starting!
Be seeing you.
WHAT I'M READING: Newest issue of MajorLeagueSoccer magazine. Just finished up a book on the Fairtax.
WHAT I'M WATCHING: Just finished the Honeymooners box set, and of course soccer. Manchester United chasing a repeat in England, and MLS just kicked off.
A QUICK POST to introduce a new feature to the blog this year, called the Dung Challenge Cup.
My beautiful wife (Barefoot Adult) and I will be predicting the MLS games all season long to see who's better at it, the diehard fan (me) or the layman (her).
The rules are simple. Each game, we must both pick a winner. If you choose correctly, you get three points. If you are incorrect, you get zero points. If the game ends in a draw, you get one point. Winner is the person with the most points at the end of the year, and thus the Dung Challenge Cup champion.
Here's the standings after the opening weekend.
Dungmaster W-1 D-2 L-5 5 points
Barefoot Adult W-4 D-2 L-2 14 points
She takes an early lead, but the season is just starting!
Be seeing you.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The Annual MLS Predictions (and other stuff)
WHAT I'M LISTENING TO: A bit o' Sinead O'Connor, because nothing compares 2 her. Also, a Spongebob Squarepants CD, with a surprisingly moving tune called "Gary's Song".
WHAT I'M READING: Predictably Irrational, which is interesting. You wanna cry, go read Where Does Your Money Go, which I just did. Scary stuff that government.
WHAT I'M WATCHING: Working my way through the 39 episodes of The Honeymooners, and prepping for the start of MLS Season Thirteen!
THE OSCAR PREDICTIONS:
Guess it has been awhile since I blogged. One of my last blogs was my annual Oscar predicts. Let's see how I did: I guessed fifteen correct out of the 24, so not all that great. What do I know?
On to more important matters!
THE 2nd ANNUAL DUNG! MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER PREDICTIONS
Always fun to guess how the season will turn out. Never fun to look back and see how poorly I guessed. But here's how I see it shaping up this year.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. DC United
2. Chicago Fire
3. New England Revolution
4. Kansas City Wizards
5. New York Red Bulls
6. Toronto FC
7. Columbus Crew
Hard to say really, as all teams have made changes. DC brought in a lot of South American talent, and I think they'll gel and turn up the heat come the summer months. I think those top five will make the playoffs.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Houston Dynamo
2. Los Angeles Galaxy
3. FC Dallas
4. Club Deportivo Chivas USA
5. Real Salt Lake
6. Colorado Rapids
7. San Jose Earthquakes
I see the Dynamo running away with this one, and most likely the Supporters Shield. L.A. will be a distant second, but I think Beckham's second year will be better. With Becks, Donovan, and Carlos Ruiz, there is no excuse to not make the playoffs. Though I will be shocked if Ruud Gullitt is still in LA come December as the coach. Chivas USA will just miss the playoffs, and I think RSL will push for a spot this year. I don't see much out of the expansion(returning) Quakes. Haven't been impressed with the players they've got so far. Colorado will be happy San Jose returned, or else they'd be propping up the league.
Top two in each conference make the playoffs, plus the next best four. So I see it:
EASTERN CONFERENCE: DC United, Chicago Fire
WESTERN CONFERENCE: Houston Dynamo, Los Angeles Galaxy
NEXT BEST FIVE: New England Revolution, Kansas City Wizards, FC Dallas, and New York Red Bulls.
PLAYOFFS-EAST
1. DC United v. Kansas City Wizards
2. Chicago Fire v. New England Revolution
CONFERENCE FINAL
1. DC United v. Chicago Fire
PLAYOFFS-WEST
1. Houston Dynamo v. New York Red Bulls
2. Los Angeles Galaxy v. FC Dallas
CONFERENCE FINAL
1. Houston Dynamo v. FC Dallas
MLS CUP 2008
Chicago Fire v. Houston Dynamo
MLS CHAMPIONS: Houston Dynamo
That's right. I'm calling for the three-peat. Never been done before, but Houston are a rock solid club. They will need to find scoring replacements for Nate Jaqua and Joseph Ngwenya, but I think the midfield will help out there.
Just for fun, US OPEN CUP CHAMPIONS: Kansas City Wizards
That's how I see it happening. And as you can see from my Oscar picks, you don't want to trust me too much here.
Season kicks off March 29th. I'll be there, having already renewed my Direct Kick sports package for the fourth year in a row, plus tossing Fox Soccer Channel back onto the satellite. I'll be keeping track of my Direct Kick viewings just to see what a bargain it is again.
Be seeing you.
WHAT I'M READING: Predictably Irrational, which is interesting. You wanna cry, go read Where Does Your Money Go, which I just did. Scary stuff that government.
WHAT I'M WATCHING: Working my way through the 39 episodes of The Honeymooners, and prepping for the start of MLS Season Thirteen!
THE OSCAR PREDICTIONS:
Guess it has been awhile since I blogged. One of my last blogs was my annual Oscar predicts. Let's see how I did: I guessed fifteen correct out of the 24, so not all that great. What do I know?
On to more important matters!
THE 2nd ANNUAL DUNG! MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER PREDICTIONS
Always fun to guess how the season will turn out. Never fun to look back and see how poorly I guessed. But here's how I see it shaping up this year.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. DC United
2. Chicago Fire
3. New England Revolution
4. Kansas City Wizards
5. New York Red Bulls
6. Toronto FC
7. Columbus Crew
Hard to say really, as all teams have made changes. DC brought in a lot of South American talent, and I think they'll gel and turn up the heat come the summer months. I think those top five will make the playoffs.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Houston Dynamo
2. Los Angeles Galaxy
3. FC Dallas
4. Club Deportivo Chivas USA
5. Real Salt Lake
6. Colorado Rapids
7. San Jose Earthquakes
I see the Dynamo running away with this one, and most likely the Supporters Shield. L.A. will be a distant second, but I think Beckham's second year will be better. With Becks, Donovan, and Carlos Ruiz, there is no excuse to not make the playoffs. Though I will be shocked if Ruud Gullitt is still in LA come December as the coach. Chivas USA will just miss the playoffs, and I think RSL will push for a spot this year. I don't see much out of the expansion(returning) Quakes. Haven't been impressed with the players they've got so far. Colorado will be happy San Jose returned, or else they'd be propping up the league.
Top two in each conference make the playoffs, plus the next best four. So I see it:
EASTERN CONFERENCE: DC United, Chicago Fire
WESTERN CONFERENCE: Houston Dynamo, Los Angeles Galaxy
NEXT BEST FIVE: New England Revolution, Kansas City Wizards, FC Dallas, and New York Red Bulls.
PLAYOFFS-EAST
1. DC United v. Kansas City Wizards
2. Chicago Fire v. New England Revolution
CONFERENCE FINAL
1. DC United v. Chicago Fire
PLAYOFFS-WEST
1. Houston Dynamo v. New York Red Bulls
2. Los Angeles Galaxy v. FC Dallas
CONFERENCE FINAL
1. Houston Dynamo v. FC Dallas
MLS CUP 2008
Chicago Fire v. Houston Dynamo
MLS CHAMPIONS: Houston Dynamo
That's right. I'm calling for the three-peat. Never been done before, but Houston are a rock solid club. They will need to find scoring replacements for Nate Jaqua and Joseph Ngwenya, but I think the midfield will help out there.
Just for fun, US OPEN CUP CHAMPIONS: Kansas City Wizards
That's how I see it happening. And as you can see from my Oscar picks, you don't want to trust me too much here.
Season kicks off March 29th. I'll be there, having already renewed my Direct Kick sports package for the fourth year in a row, plus tossing Fox Soccer Channel back onto the satellite. I'll be keeping track of my Direct Kick viewings just to see what a bargain it is again.
Be seeing you.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
March 1st
Today is my wife's birthday.
So this entire blog, albeit a short one, is completely dedicated to her.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday, dear Kimbers.
Happy birthday to you.
One of my top three days of the year. She's simply my love. Everything I hold dear in this world is thanks to her. A beautiful soul, a hot wife, and a incredible mother. I can summarize it up best by quoting a Wilco tune:
I wanna be what you are to me.
Six great years of marriage, two wonderful boys, and a future together that makes my heart dance. Happy birthday, Kimbers.
I love you.
So this entire blog, albeit a short one, is completely dedicated to her.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday, dear Kimbers.
Happy birthday to you.
One of my top three days of the year. She's simply my love. Everything I hold dear in this world is thanks to her. A beautiful soul, a hot wife, and a incredible mother. I can summarize it up best by quoting a Wilco tune:
I wanna be what you are to me.
Six great years of marriage, two wonderful boys, and a future together that makes my heart dance. Happy birthday, Kimbers.
I love you.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
The Annual Academy Award Predictions Blog
WHAT I'M LISTENING TO: A bunch of Wilco, since a friend is trying to get me into the band. Plus I just burned a CD with a whole bunch of tunes from the wonderful film "Once" on it.
WHAT I'M READING: Found a new stash of Noam Chomsky at the downtown public library.
WHAT I'M WATCHING: Finishing up season nine of Seinfeld, plus viewing some films from the last year. Speaking of which....
THE 2ND ANNUAL DUNG ACADEMY AWARD PREDICTIONS:
I won't go into as much depth as last year, because I spent an hour typing out my predictions and only got like half of them correct. So here it goes, for a year in which I've seen virtually nothing, my Oscar guesses for the big ceremony tomorrow night:
1. MAKE-UP: Well, it sure as hell won't be Norbit. Pirates was more visually stunning than make-up-esque, so I'm going with La Vie en Rose.
2. ORIGINAL SONG: I think the Enchanted three will cancel each other out, and I hope they do. The only real award I truly have a major rooting interest in, because Falling Slowly from the exceptional film Once is deserving. An awesome tune, and I'm hoping Irglova and Hansard perform it live. Really a beautiful tune.
3. ORIGINAL SCORE: No clue. Ain't heard any of them. But, I stick to my theory that the Academy likes to reward all Best Picture nominees with one actual win, so I'll guess Atonement.
4. SOUND EDITING: Who ever knows this one? I'll just guess The Transformers.
5. SOUND MIXING: Again, what's the real difference? I don't think any academy voters know either, so they'll just go with The Transformers again.
6. FILM EDITING: Well, it usually matches well with the top prize, so I'll go with No Country for Old Men, although There Will Be Blood could have a shot.
7. COSTUME DESIGN: Can they ignore Elizabeth: The Golden Age? Me thinks not, though Atonement and Sweeney Todd could be in the running.
8. ART DIRECTION: Sweeney Todd for no good reason.
9. LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM: Always a guess, and I think I'm almost always wrong. Just for picking's sake, I'll say Il Supplente (The Substitute).
10. ANIMATED SHORT FILM: I Met the Walrus because I heard it's got something to do with John Lennon, whom everybody loves. Also, everybody has heard of him, so he's got a leg up with the voters.
11. VISUAL EFFECTS: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End was pretty darn cool looking, and I can't see them wanting to have "Three Time Oscar winner The Transformers" on their conscious.
12. ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Although PTA might have an outsiders shot, this is really Ethan & Joel Coen's award to lose at this point, for No Country for Old Men.
13. ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: As much as they love her, how could they not honor Diablo Cody for the Juno script? Plus, it keeps in line with my theory of every Best Picture nominee getting at least one award.
14. CINEMATOGRAPHY: I keep hearing great things about this tracking shot for Atonement, but I'm gonna take a gamble on There Will Be Blood, for no good reason.
15. FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: Haven't really heard anything except that one is about the Holocaust, which the Academy loves to honor, so I'm going with the Austrian film The Counterfeiters.
16. ANIMATED FEATURE: Can't do grown up, and I've got to hope and pray that the penguin love affair is over, so me goes with Ratatouille.
17. DOCUMENTARY SHORT: No clue. Maybe Salim Baba.
18. DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Actually, I was incorrect. I'm rooting in this one also. No End in Sight is a helluva brilliant film, and deserving of this award.
19. SUPPORTING ACTRESS: This one is giving me trouble. On one hand, can they resist honoring the elderly Ruby Dee, who is in her eighties? On the other, Amy Ryan seems to be popular. It would be so much easier if Cate Blanchett hadn't just won it a few years back, as she would be a lock. But sticking to my theory of all Best Picture nominees winning something, I'm guessing Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton. My heart still says giving an award to an old person could happen though, even if she's only in the film for five minutes. Ask Alan Arkin last year.
20. SUPPORTING ACTOR: Seems an easy guess. Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men. If there is a big upset, this will be it though, with Holbrook getting the old vote.
21. ACTRESS: Julie Christie in Away from Her is the smart money bet, but the love of Juno could pull it out for Ellen Page.
22. ACTOR: Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood seems as close to certain as anything this year.
23. DIRECTOR: While I'm hoping for a PTA upset, you have to like the odds of Ethan & Joel Coen for No Country for Old Men being only the second pair to win the top directing prize.
24. BEST PICTURE: No Country for Old Men seems a shoe-in here. Maybe people get sick of it and vote for There Will Be Blood, but I don't see the upset this year. The last two major upsets in this category won't work this time, as the actors like No Country (ala Shakespeare in Love over Private Ryan) and it doesn't have the gay theme to scare off voters (ala Crash over Brokeback).
We'll find out tomorrow how right I am. Should be fun, as this will be my seventeenth year in a row of watching the Oscars.
Be Seeing You.
WHAT I'M READING: Found a new stash of Noam Chomsky at the downtown public library.
WHAT I'M WATCHING: Finishing up season nine of Seinfeld, plus viewing some films from the last year. Speaking of which....
THE 2ND ANNUAL DUNG ACADEMY AWARD PREDICTIONS:
I won't go into as much depth as last year, because I spent an hour typing out my predictions and only got like half of them correct. So here it goes, for a year in which I've seen virtually nothing, my Oscar guesses for the big ceremony tomorrow night:
1. MAKE-UP: Well, it sure as hell won't be Norbit. Pirates was more visually stunning than make-up-esque, so I'm going with La Vie en Rose.
2. ORIGINAL SONG: I think the Enchanted three will cancel each other out, and I hope they do. The only real award I truly have a major rooting interest in, because Falling Slowly from the exceptional film Once is deserving. An awesome tune, and I'm hoping Irglova and Hansard perform it live. Really a beautiful tune.
3. ORIGINAL SCORE: No clue. Ain't heard any of them. But, I stick to my theory that the Academy likes to reward all Best Picture nominees with one actual win, so I'll guess Atonement.
4. SOUND EDITING: Who ever knows this one? I'll just guess The Transformers.
5. SOUND MIXING: Again, what's the real difference? I don't think any academy voters know either, so they'll just go with The Transformers again.
6. FILM EDITING: Well, it usually matches well with the top prize, so I'll go with No Country for Old Men, although There Will Be Blood could have a shot.
7. COSTUME DESIGN: Can they ignore Elizabeth: The Golden Age? Me thinks not, though Atonement and Sweeney Todd could be in the running.
8. ART DIRECTION: Sweeney Todd for no good reason.
9. LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM: Always a guess, and I think I'm almost always wrong. Just for picking's sake, I'll say Il Supplente (The Substitute).
10. ANIMATED SHORT FILM: I Met the Walrus because I heard it's got something to do with John Lennon, whom everybody loves. Also, everybody has heard of him, so he's got a leg up with the voters.
11. VISUAL EFFECTS: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End was pretty darn cool looking, and I can't see them wanting to have "Three Time Oscar winner The Transformers" on their conscious.
12. ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Although PTA might have an outsiders shot, this is really Ethan & Joel Coen's award to lose at this point, for No Country for Old Men.
13. ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: As much as they love her, how could they not honor Diablo Cody for the Juno script? Plus, it keeps in line with my theory of every Best Picture nominee getting at least one award.
14. CINEMATOGRAPHY: I keep hearing great things about this tracking shot for Atonement, but I'm gonna take a gamble on There Will Be Blood, for no good reason.
15. FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: Haven't really heard anything except that one is about the Holocaust, which the Academy loves to honor, so I'm going with the Austrian film The Counterfeiters.
16. ANIMATED FEATURE: Can't do grown up, and I've got to hope and pray that the penguin love affair is over, so me goes with Ratatouille.
17. DOCUMENTARY SHORT: No clue. Maybe Salim Baba.
18. DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Actually, I was incorrect. I'm rooting in this one also. No End in Sight is a helluva brilliant film, and deserving of this award.
19. SUPPORTING ACTRESS: This one is giving me trouble. On one hand, can they resist honoring the elderly Ruby Dee, who is in her eighties? On the other, Amy Ryan seems to be popular. It would be so much easier if Cate Blanchett hadn't just won it a few years back, as she would be a lock. But sticking to my theory of all Best Picture nominees winning something, I'm guessing Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton. My heart still says giving an award to an old person could happen though, even if she's only in the film for five minutes. Ask Alan Arkin last year.
20. SUPPORTING ACTOR: Seems an easy guess. Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men. If there is a big upset, this will be it though, with Holbrook getting the old vote.
21. ACTRESS: Julie Christie in Away from Her is the smart money bet, but the love of Juno could pull it out for Ellen Page.
22. ACTOR: Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood seems as close to certain as anything this year.
23. DIRECTOR: While I'm hoping for a PTA upset, you have to like the odds of Ethan & Joel Coen for No Country for Old Men being only the second pair to win the top directing prize.
24. BEST PICTURE: No Country for Old Men seems a shoe-in here. Maybe people get sick of it and vote for There Will Be Blood, but I don't see the upset this year. The last two major upsets in this category won't work this time, as the actors like No Country (ala Shakespeare in Love over Private Ryan) and it doesn't have the gay theme to scare off voters (ala Crash over Brokeback).
We'll find out tomorrow how right I am. Should be fun, as this will be my seventeenth year in a row of watching the Oscars.
Be Seeing You.
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