I would like to snub the Academy

Because, frankly, they snub most good movies out there. With few exceptions, such as accepting fantasy and giving the nod to Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, the Oscars^TM are nothing more than a “I’m in the club and you’re not” kind of festival.

Cripes, it reminds me too much of film school and all the cliquey gits that went there (and taught there). But I’ll save the film school rant for another day.

As for the Oscars^TM, and my contempt for commercial Hollywood, here are my top ten hated Oscar^TM moments:

10. In 1994, Best Picture went to Forrest Gump, as opposed to Pulp Fiction. Nothing like the middle finger to independent film. Again.

9. This year, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was limited to one Oscar Nomination. Best Makeup. And lost. Now, say what you want about character development and acting, but Star Wars still is technologically groundbreaking. But yet, no Editing, Sound, or Special Effects nominations. Yet War of the Worlds, with asexual hunk Tom Cruise, gets nods in the holy saga’s place. It seems Tom fucked Star Wars more than he did Katie Holmes.

8. In 1979, Apocalypse Now loses out to Kramer vs. Kramer. I wonder which film had more longevity?

7. In 2003, Kill Bill vol. 1 didn’t get a single nomination, yet [yawn] Seabiscuit gets 7: Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Best Picture, Sound Mixing, and Writing. What the duece? It’s a remake of a film about A HORSE for crying out loud people.

6. How on Earth could Dances with Wolves ever, in a million years, be considered a better film than both Goodfellas or The Godfather, Part III?

5. This one I really need an explination for. How does one think the editing in Terms of Endearment (1983) is worthy of an Oscar^TM nomination over Return of the Jedi? The editors did such a good job in Jedi that they made a sneaker look like an Rebel battle ship.

4. Ordinary People does better than The Elephant Man? I wonder when Blockbuster Video last rented a copy of Ordinary People anyway? Hell, both Elephant Man and Raging Bull are much better movies.

3. No Kubrick films won for Best Picture or Direction. No Irving Thalberg award. Yet he insprires many to pursue his craft. His groundbreaking films still resonate to this day.

2. David Lynch loses out to Richie Cunningham/Opie Taylor in 2001 for Best Director. I know the genius of Mulholland Drive is lost on many. Including EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY.

1. Michael Moore’s tirade after winning Best Documentary for Bowling for Columbine is cut short, because his comments are not entirely pro-America. Well, I guess the industry, at least on the Hollywood level, is far from being about freedom of speech.

That is all.

How Stephen Harper regards our freedoms

Well, it seems the David Emerson saga just won’t go away, much to the chagrin of the incumbent Conservative party. Yes, Ethics commissioner Bernard Shapiro is conducting an investigation into the events and circumstances surrounding the defection of Liberal elected, now Conservative MP and Minister of International Trade David Emerson, as to wether Emerson, Harper, or both have been involved in any conflict of interest.

David Emerson, still reluctant to engage heavily with the press, remaining secluded, agreed to whatever terms were set out by Mr. Shapiro.

Stephen Harper, however, took an all too familiar stance toward the investigation. As per Sandra Buckler, the Prime Minister’s director of communications has stated today:

“The Prime Minister is loath to co-operate with an individual whose decision-making ability has been questioned, moreover who has been found in contempt of the House,”

“This Liberal appointee’s actions have strengthened the Prime Minister’s resolve to create a truly non-partisan ethics commissioner, who is accountable to Parliament.”

Well, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the Prime Minister’s accountability has lasted as long as newspaper in a lit fireplace.

Isn’t it funny how it’s Conservative types who supported more investigative rights for the authorities in the wake of 9/11, when us liberal types complained about the comprise? Their response? “If you have done nothing wrong, what have you to worry about?”

Well Mr. Harper, what have you done wrong? Simple. You comprised you’re own values, where in the past you slammed MP’s such as Belinda Stronach for crossing the floor when it detracted from your party, but then endorse it when the crossing of the floor benefits your party. You sir, are a two faced liar with no accountability.

Instead, you attack the freedom to investigate these actions, discrediting the Ethics commissioner by linking him with the corruption of the Liberal governments of the past. Is that your only card, Mr. Harper. “We’re not as bad as them?”

At your current rate though, and thankfully for Canada, your current pace won’t allow your recent surge in popularity, based on an artificial sense of accountability, to last to the next election.

I am just wondering what Mr. Harper’s response would be to a thorough investigative piece of journalism by Canada’s most daring location reporter, Marg Delahunty…

I just wonder how Harper will respond to the creative freedoms of our press?

That is all.

Source: CBC article.

Post for Jimmy #8

Found at Heather’s site:

Your Career Type: Artistic

You are expressive, original, and independent. Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art. You would make an excellent: Actor – Art Teacher – Book Editor Clothes Designer – Comedian – Composer Dancer – DJ – Graphic Designer Illustrator – Musician – Sculptor The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

What’s Your Ideal Career?

That is all.

Post for Jimmy #7

Another meh-me. Sorry Jimmy, I can’t think of something both creative AND short.

You Are 80% Open Minded

You are so open minded that your brain may have fallen out! Well, not really. But you may be confused on where you stand. You don’t have a judgemental bone in your body, and you’re very accepting. You enjoy the best of every life philosophy, even if you sometimes contradict yourself.

How Open Minded Are You?

That is all.

Definitely not the hot cuppa I like in the AM

I must say it took me a bit of time mulling this one over in my head before I could even negotiate a suitable response to these wonderful pieces of propaganda cropping up all over the last bastion of freedom in the world, the internet. To save a rather boring, lengthy history lesson, many of our freedoms we take for granted are depleting rapidly under the dogma of “fighting unknown terrors.”

And on that note, brings me to my point. And yes, I promise I will keep this short and sweet. Based on virtually every election I can remember, a certain pattern occurs. Party A makes a set of promises. Party B makes a seperate set of promises. Party C makes a third set. And so on for all the different parties running. The people elect one of these choices based on what policies and promises fit their mood at the time. Once in power, the elected party tends to reneg on some to all of the campaign promises they made. Voters become apathetic. People lose faith in the system. Politicians become more corrupt.

Nothing here should be a shock. If so, then I suggest you LEAVE AMERICA NOW! Anyhow, fast forward to Harper’s election campaign. Accountability. Hit the Liberals when they are down, the guilty finger pointed squarely at them in the wake of the Gomery report. Suggest legislation to hold the government more accountable for their actions. Of course, Harper’s accountability went flying out of the window only two weeks after being elected. See David Emerson if you have any questions. Or, if you’re from the USA and don’t know Mr. Emerson, Google him. It is obvious Mr. Harper was not sincere about political accountability, at least beyond using it to make Mr. Martin look bad in comparison. What a fucking shock.

So how can governments be held accountable. Put simply, by us, the electorate. It is not only our right to be able to excersise our right of freedom of speech, it is our responsibility to use it to keep those lying bastards politicians accountable, be they Conservative, Liberal, New Democrat, Bloc, or the like. Only by encouraging an atmosphere of free thought and free voice can we all have the courage to question our elected public SERVANTS, to keep them honest (well, at least relatively honest), and we can progress as a truly free society.

As for the poster and those like it, they simply do one thing. Inspire fear. Fear of questioning authority. Fear of the machine. Just shut the fuck up and you won’t get hurt. But consider this. What can be accomplished without any risk?

Post for Jimmy #6

A couple of meh-me’s. Enjoy. Hat tip: Clayton.

YOUR TYPE OF GIRL

The Girl Next Door 52% Sexy-Cute, 46% Dark-Light, 40% Artsy-Stylish

Cute, neither Dark nor Light, and neither Artsy nor Stylish. This sounds like a blah category, right? Oh, my, no. The Girl Next Door has been the subject of more dirty fantasies than you could possibly count. She’s so sweet, and innocent, and infinitely corruptible. Every morning you glance out your window hoping she’ll have forgotten to draw the blinds. You may feel bad about it, but you know you’ll be doing it again tomorrow. If you liked my test, Please rate it highly! Thanks!

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 52% on Sexy-Cute You scored higher than 33% on Dark-Light You scored higher than 27% on Artsy-Stylish

Link: The Your Type of Girl Test written by dgc20e on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

And number 2:

BEAUTIFUL FACES TEST

Jennifer Garner 42% Eyes, 52% Nose, 51% Mouth, 50% SexyCute

You seem to enjoy bigger noses and lips, but smaller eyes, and a sexy demeanor. Jennifer definitely skews more toward sexy than cute. Her smaller eyes rest above a more dominant nose and mouth. Jennifer is successful both on television (Alias) and in the movies (Daredevil, Elektra). Similar: Famke Janssen (smaller mouth), Jessica Biel (cuter) If you liked my test, please remember to give it a decent score, and of course I’m always happy to hear feedback. Thanks! Also, you could check out my Your Type of Girl Test.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 12% on Eyes You scored higher than 71% on Nose You scored higher than 55% on Lips You scored higher than 39% on SexyCute

Link: The Beautiful Faces Test written by dgc20e on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Post for Jimmy #5

WHAT KIND OF COFFEE ARE YOU?

You Are a Plain Ole Cup of Joe

But don’t think plain – instead think, uncomplicated You’re a low maintenance kind of guy… who can hang with the girls Down to earth, easy going, and fun! Yup, that’s you: the friend everyone invites. And your dependable too. Both for a laugh and a sympathetic ear.

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Hat tip: Samantha

[edited slightly as it seems the meh-me was intended for girls, so as such, modified it for my... wait, let me check... yup, still in place... my gender]

That is all.

I’m Evil

What a shock…

You Are 62% Evil

You are very evil. And you’re too evil to care. Those who love you probably also fear you. A lot.

How Evil Are You?

Boredom post # one for this night

So a meh-me

You Are Austin

A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll. You’re totally weird and very proud of it. Artistic and freaky, you still seem to fit in… in your own strange way. Famous Austin residents: Lance Armstrong, Sandra Bullock, Andy Roddick

What American City Are You?

Hockey Players I Admire Episode I

As you may (or may not, depending on your state of consciousness or sobriety) have guessed, I haven’t posted consistently this week (well for the about ten of you that come here somewhat frequently). Being in a funk, for lack of a better way of putting it, I’m literally aching for some film work to return to the lower mainland. Luckily though, working my two days off on a construction site, the General Contracter and I got off on the right foot, seeing as we have the glorious game of hockey and a mutual dislike of the Make Beliefs. Anyhow, our conversation reminded me of something my late Uncle and I always got kicks out of…

Talking about our favourite hockey enforcers, great fights we saw in the NHL, which was topped by fits of laughter, followed by the phrase “God I love hockey!!” As a note for those across the pond, just the tough guys fight. We fans don’t riot, we just drink beer in the stands.

Anyhow, one of the names from the past that just keeps coming up is this one.

DAVE “THE HAMMER” SCHULTZ

b. October 14, 1949 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan.

NHL Career Totals:
Games: 535
Goals: 79
Assists: 121
Penalties in Minutes: 2294

God I love hockey! And Uncle Dave, I will always remember our hockey discussions/arguments. And we all still miss you.