Lunch Break - Oscar surprise.

To my moderate shock the Oscars were actually good TV. Except for the "tribute to musicals" Baz Lurman mess, the numbers were fun and engaging. The self congratulation was - FINALLY - overwhelmed by a little class. I only winced once or twice. Oscar night tends to be the tackiest night in Hollywood. It actually wasn't tacky. The 2 best actor awards actually went to - in my opinion - the Best Actors. Like him or not, Sean Penn's Harvey Milk is a masterful embodiment. The Reader lost me half way through (I stopped suspending my disbelief) but Kate Winslet was worth double the price of admission. Ben Button, a truly rotten movie, was nearly shut out. The academy finally realized that being bored while watching pretty things float by for 3 hours is not ART. (Yes, I did just bite the hands that feed. Pray no one over there is looking - or cares what I think.)
Heath Ledger's family accepting his award was moving and compelling. I was glad to see Jerry Lewis get some love, too. One of the best kept secrets in this weird town is just how important Lewis is. While writing, directing and starring in The Bellboy, Lewis adds a small television monitor to the camera so he can watch instant playback of his own performances. The invention, called video-assist, revolutionizes how movies are made.

All in all, the reach around masturbatory nonsense was at an all time low.

Penn's acceptance speech in which he interjected his thoughts about equal rights was of value. He then called Obama "elegant" - which, oddly, I agree with. He is sort of an elegant man, at least with a crowd and a TelePrompTer handy. Unfortunately, the job he holds is not Commander in Chief of evening gowns. Though, a friend mentioned last night that he seems to think it is.

Elegant. What an strange word. I wonder if his elegance will stop Mexico from collapsing, force him to show us a birth certificate, or save the economy?

Lunch Break

Obit: Any book lover who has gotten lost in a big, messy, book store please take note: Glenn Goldman, owner of Book Soup on the Sunset Strip died this past weekend. Though, not a friend of mine - he was but once removed in my circle - and I mourn as well. Thanks Glenn for Book Soup! Losing time in the stacks at Book Soup is a delicious, nutritious pleasure. There are few big independent book stores left - and Goldman made sure Book Soup remained vital. Long may Book Soup Reign!



Newsflash: Obama releases actual Birth Certificate here. Controversy put to rest.



GOOOOOOOOODBYE already: I have very little love for Frank Rich after his open masturbation over Obama all year (via weekly column, thank god)- but this "See Ya!" to W is worth it. - H.T. to Jay.



Music: Oh NADINE is that you?

Flotsam and Jetsum

Flotsam:

BHO's trip to Afghanistan is a joke. Why? He has done nothing in the U.S. Senate regarding Afghanistan - check it out.

This is were your donations are going, Pods - gigantic photo ops.

Jetsam:

Do the clowns at the network news organizations, Newsweek and Time metaphorically masturbate while thinking about how they will fluff Obama next- or do they - in reality - pleasure themselves?

Flotsam:

Why is this race so close? Poll out today has the McCain and the other fellow tied.
Everything about this year should have the Democrat up by 20%.

Jetsam:

What the HELL? Obama proposes a Civilian National Security Force.

Covering all bases the new force composed of lunatic college kids and unemployable Berkeley hippies will wear brown shirts and carry a little red book.

Finally:

More Obama Pod homicidal maniacs on the lose.