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Howard Dean images...they just keep coming....
This is his seventeen year old son:
There's not much resemblance. I prefer the Howard pictures, eh?
Howard Dean.
He makes me happy. Especially the shaggy hair.
In a recent article published by the Arizona Daily Star, a guest author writes an editorial concerning the usage of pork: in recent Congressional budget allocations. It cites several examples of excessive budget spending, particularly those of Republicans. My personal favorite is that of Senator Charles Gravely (R-IA), who recently apportioned over a million dollars to build an indoor rainforest in Iowa. Even the Wall Street Journal disapproves.
Wow! They actually have a place where one can find professional celebrity impersonators. I think I may rent a Harpo Marx look-a-like as a Winter Formal date...mmm.
Lucas, I think you need the Pope.
Apparently, there's some sexy pictures of Howard Dean published in Newsweek. Not able to control my desire, I tried a Google image search. Alas, I found this:
I bet some high schoolers couldn't perform every task in this Kindergarten readiness test.
A few in particular:
--Can others easily understand your child when he/she speaks to them?
--Is your child able to cross a street safely?
-- Is your child able to follow about 2 or 3 directions after being told once, such as "Bring me a book; skip around the room; shut the door?
--Does your child take an interest in the books and magazines that are around the house?
UPDATE!
School has been cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
WINTER FORMAL will not be cancelled.
Come to Casablanca
Saturday, January 31rst
7:30-10:30 PM
NC State University Club
TICKET PRICES HAVE BEEN REDUCED.
$12 in advance (sold before school, during lunch in room 206, and after school on Friday and Saturday)
$14 at the door
Yes, I know that we are having school on Saturday from 9-12.
My mother says, "Dear, you need to call Dr.Hubble and make him have school on Friday."
I say, "Mom, he's a principal, not a telescope."
Beauty, truth, and rarity.
Grace in all simplicity,
Here enclos'd in cinders lie.
Death is now the phoenix' nest;
And the turtle's loyal breast
To eternity doth rest,
Leaving no posterity:--
'Twas not their infirmity,
It was married chastity.
Truth may seem, but cannot be:
Beauty brag, but 'tis not she;
Truth and beauty buried be.
To this urn let those repair
That are either true or fair;
For these dead birds sigh a prayer.
--Excerpt from The Phoenix and the Turtle, by William Shakespeare
Ferris Wheel in Paris.
I really should enter this in a photography contest or something.
--Me, 2000
Reading a book stems purely from humanity's natural desire to draw themself into the problems of others.
I mean, who doesn't remember our elementary school writing teacher telling us to write stories with a conflict? I have yet to find a book written that does not involve some sort of problem, especially between individuals.
I want to make a silent film.
Dad, I can't believe that you actually like such a short little big-eared single-and-desperate media-snubbed Democratic candidate. If you read this blog, here's another reason not to support a loser named Dennis Kucinich, , who apparently isn't even in New Hampshire for the primary. Missing in Action...hmm..that certainly says a lot about his campaign.
Come on, the Doctor is IN, Dad. Support your daughter's dreams.
Yay! Academy Awards nominations! (I have italicized my Oscar predictions)
(Note: Some nominations have been excluded)
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl"
Ben Kingsley in "House of Fog and Sand"
Jude Law in "Cold Mountain"
Bill Murray in "Lost in Translation"
Sean Penn in "Mystic River"
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alec Baldwin in "The Cooler"
Benicio Del Toro in "21 Grams"
Djimon Hounsou in "In America"
Tim Robbins in "Mystic River"
Ken Watanabe in "The Last Samurai"
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Keisha Castle-Hughes in "Whale Rider"
Diane Keaton in "Something's Gotta Give"
Samantha Morton in "In America"
Charlize Theron in "Monster"
Naomi Watts in "21 Grams"
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Shohreh Aghdashloo in "House of Sand and Fog"
Patricia Clarkson in "Pieces of April"
Marcia Gay Harden in "Mystic River"
Holly Hunter in "Thirteen"
Renée Zellweger in "Cold Mountain"
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR
"Brother Bear"
"Finding Nemo"
"The Triplets of Belleville"
ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
"City of God"
"Cold Mountain"
"Girl with a Pearl Earring"
"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"
"Seabiscuit"
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
"Girl with a Pearl Earring"
"The Last Samurai"
"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"
"Seabiscuit"
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
"City of God", Fernando Meirelles
"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", Peter Jackson
"Lost in Translation", Sofia Coppola
"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World", Peter Weir
"Mystic River", Clint Eastwood
ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING
"City of God", Daniel Rezende
"Cold Mountain", Walter Murch
"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", Jamie Selkirk
"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World", Lee Smith
"Seabiscuit", William Goldenberg
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (Original score)
"Big Fish", Danny Elfman
"Cold Mountain", Gabriel Yared
"Finding Nemo", Thomas Newman
"House of Sand and Fog", James Horner
"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", Howard Shore
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (Original song)
"Into the West" from "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
"A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" from "A Mighty Wind"
"Scarlet Tide" from "Cold Mountain"
"The Triplets of Belleville" from "The Triplets of Belleville"
"You Will Be My Ain True Love" from "Cold Mountain"
BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
"Lost in Translation"
"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"
"Mystic River"
"Seabiscuit"
(Note: No Cold Mountain! What???)
The Christian Science Monitor has a notable article discussing how the Oscars are slowly gaining more of a global appeal, instead of focusing only on American achievements.
I'm feeling romantic, like packing a picnic and drinking hot chocolate in the snow, or playing Scrabble inside while resting on an Oriental rug. It's quite an odd emotion. I doubt anything positive will occur; it will soon all be forgotten.
This period of prolonged seclusion and isolation has NOT set up my priorities in life. Nor has it accomplished anything whatsoever. Instead, these last several days have merely upped my desire to be among people again; not necessarily in a romantic sense, of course. I miss laughs and smiling to no one. I miss dancing when there's no music. And most of all, I miss all of you, everyone. It is quite sad to believe that I may have become so attached to so many individuals. There is such potential for fights, for heartbreak, for mistakes and fallings.
I like the precariousness of it all.
Is today Monday? I totally missed that.
Anyway, I was able to sneak into the living room and watch the final Golden Globes footage (read a gossipy report here) Lost in Translation was awarded best picture (for a comedy or musical), and Return of the King receieved best picture (for a drama). Although Lost in Translation certainly deserved to win, I question how exactly the judges could label it as a "comedy or musical". Critics are now stating that the Oscars will come down to a battle between Return of the King (4 wins)and Lost in Translation(3 wins). I can't wait.
Although Cold Mountain was horribly snubbed, only receieving one award (Renee Zellweger, Best Supporting Actress) out of eight, Nicole Kidman definitely diverted the media's attention. Pictures later, maybe.
And Bill Murray looked very...old. It makes me feel sad. He is so cute:
And what? After five nominations, there are no Golden Globes for "Will and Grace"! I will go crazy.
Renee Zellweger and Tim Robbins have just won Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor awards, respectively, in this evening's Golden Globes ceremonies.
I'm keeping up with the news online, as the rest of my family crowds around the dilapidated televison set, watching Spaceballs.
And yes! A Golden Globes fashion report! I'll search around for pictures too. Photographs of beautiful dresses have always been a favorite of mine.
I watched Cruel Intentions yesterday evening in its entirely, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although most people would dismiss the film as a petty teen frolic through seduction and manipulation, I praise Cruel Intentions as one of the deepest films in the "teen movie" genre. While other movies are busy making merry of perversion, this film maturely and sensibly explores the concept of using sex as a tool for power.
In addition, the multiple plots have such planned and detailed structure that one is never kept bored when watching the exploits of the all star cast. Stereotypes are not easily determined, and the audience is unsure of who to cheer for in the complex relationships between characters. At any point in the video, each character can be seen as both admirable and horrible; the combination of all these efforts by such talented actors results in a movie that generates emotional prowess. Virtually unknown at the time that Cruel Intentions was filmed, the movie includes Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Joshua Jackson, Ryan Philiipe, and Selma Blair. Although I certainly wouldn't nominate this 1999 drama for an Oscar, Cruel Intentions deserves much more praise than it reguarly receives.
I am taffy stuck and tongue tied
Stutter shook and uptight
Pull me out from inside
I am ready
I am ready
I am ready
I am fine
--The Counting Crows, Colorblind
Listen here.
Note: In no way do I endorse Cruel Intentions 2, one of the most horrible movies ever made. Nor do I advocate in any way manipulation, seduction, (gasp) sex, or any other hedonistic tendencies.
Body of Europe, with its mountains spread
Beneath one's feet. One's feet? Why, they and we
Tread twenty thousand feet of space
Between ourselves and the relief of Chamonix.
--Charles Tomlinson
Un collage dans les photographies de Chamonix, France. A reçu 2000:
--Me
Noo!
From WRAL's WeatherCenter:
" Snow and sleet developing by mid morning. Precipitation changing to sleet and freezing rain in the afternoon. Accumulation of snow and sleet 1 to 2 inches, with ice accumulation up to a quarter inch possible. Highs in the upper 20s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 100 percent. "
Yet it is wind chill that I believe poses the largest threat to the Triangle area.
From the USA Today.
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday:
--Study
--Ice storm?
--Clean room
--Practice 3-point-turns in Giant Van of Doom
--Go to Church for the first time in several months
Monday:
(--No School?)
--Math test
--Driving test, hopefully license
--Piano tuner (John Ruggero)
--Pick up dress with alterations
Tuesday:
--English assessment
--GoPo test
--Begin on Hungarian Op. 39, No. 12 with new tuning
--work on Moonlight III
--memorize Never is a Promise: (page one, two, three,four, five, six)
Wednesday:
--English Test
--Sell Winter Formal tickets
--Student Government
--Piano lesson
Thursday:
--Latin Test
--Sell Winter Formal tickets
--Bacchanalia dinner with Classical Society
Friday:
--Sell Winter Formal Tickets
--Date with McCall
Saturday:
--Set up decorations at University Club 10-2
--Makeover 3-3:30
--Dinner with Tom, then Formal
Ben Kweller
Czar
Weightlifting
for the calf muscles
swollen ankles
just just cowards
and active wrists
callously enjoying a make believe
clearance sale
in throbbing strobe and siren
repeating lavendar phrases
matched with glitter
and paisley
and pleather
a man coughs sideways, freed
from burning cigarettes and coffee
lacking the handle
on a drawer of keepsakes
a connoisseur's pure lust
driven mad by liquid-arpeggios
caught on fire
he pines over small animals
and mousturizer for the
hairdo
gladly paralleling
chatter
a pinch
of philanthropic mistletoe
yet to lose charm
seeking sobs
gossip, too
akin beneath a snakeskin-lampshade
quiet nooks for teacups
talking wordlessly
as his blind rats search for irony
and a new Saturn
parked on the sidewalk
he had claimed
relief and trepidation
against the week-od
aluminum covered
second shelf
to the right
chopped livers
of men.
--Me
About last night.
How to Make a Banana Split:
--Peel a fresh banana and split it in two the long way.
--Line up the halves at the bottom of a special glass dish.
--Add one scoop each of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream.
--Cover with crushed pineapple, chocolate syrup and fresh strawberries.
--Put a big burst of whipped cream on each scoop.
--Sprinkle with chopped nuts and chocolate bark shavings.
--Top off the entire concoction with three stemmed maraschino cherries.
--Put two Nabisco wafers at either end.
--Serve with a long-handled spoon.
I'm so stressed out.
Britney Spears is attempting to portray a young teenybopper that just wants to be famous, in a new hit film! This sounds a bit too much like Glitter, Mariah Carey's 2001 film--with exactly the same plot--that turned into one of the biggest flops of the year. I believe that Ms.Spears has gotten enough negative media attention already, and that it would be best to quit while she's, er...behind.
Well, it seems as though even after Bush's promises of increased funding, NASA has lost it's Spirit. I blame it on the Martians.
I know that you're seen those silly Potter Puppet Pals nuggets of flash brilliance. Now, buy a T-Shirt!
I'm not a huge fan of black, though. It does terrible things to my complexion.
Excerpt from'Getting the Angries Out'--for children:
--Draw lots of pictures about what makes you angry. Make big, colorful angry drawings. Make mad noises when you draw. BIG, MAD NOISES!
--Put your pictures in the freezer to cool off those mads. Or let your refrigerator hold pictures of your mads.
--Go out in the back yard and dig a hole. (Or just pretend to dig in your living room.)
--Pull all those mads up and out of you and put them down in the hole. Then cover them up with dirt and jump up and down, stomping on the mads. Put your mads in soap bubbles and blow them away. Watch those feelings float up to the sun and poof! Act out the story of your mads with dolls, stuffed animals or plastic dinosaurs.
--Get permission to tear up an old magazine. Rip each page out, one by one as you make "big mad noises." Then throw those mad feelings away by putting all the pages in the trash.
--Get permission to put your anger in a raw egg. Write the name of the person you are mad at on an egg. Go to a wide-open space and pull up all your mads to put in the egg. Throw your mads as far as you can and yell and scream ... "Aaaaagh!"
I think the Doctor could use some of these tips. I wish that he would feel better. I feel oddly connected.
The trivialities are increasing in competition for their importance in our lives. It is difficult to feel nothing but fear and unsurety from insincere thoughts that have been tarnished by a partisan source. These sentiments are garnered simply from personal inhibitions that subconsciously shape a given instance.
So like Howard Dean, my lovah, these attacks stem from neglect and sensationalism that is too often commonplace in this world. The defenses I have build are merely quiet cinema screens that still portray the silhouettes of controversy. A small wiggle of the hand can disrupt an entire theatre--and another drama. This post-modern stage has been replaced with a short intermission that will resume once the actors have learned their lines.
The juxtaposition between the recent turn of events and the State of the Union address is shocking. Encountering both is uncommon even under normal circumstances; to revel in both is divine.
One day soon, I will suddenly burst from all of this stress, like a giant wad of aluminum foil stuck in the microwave. I love all of you; I don't know how I can, but yes, it is true. And without you, I would not be the person I am today.
John tries out a 35 mm camera.
When I was young I knew everything
and she a punk who rarely ever took advice
now I'm guilt stricken, sobbing with my head on the floor
stop a baby's breath and a shoe full of rice
I can't be held responsible
cause she was touching her face
I won't be held responsible
she fell in love in the first place
For the life of me I cannot remember
what made us think that we were wise and we'd never compromise
for the life of me I cannot believe we'd ever die for these sins
we were merely freshmen
My best friend took a week's vacation to forget her
his girl took a week's worth of valium and slept
now he's guilt stricken sobbing with his head on the floor
thinks about her now and how he never really wept he says
We've tried to wash our hands of all of this
we never talk of our lacking relationships
and how we're guilt stricken sobbing with our heads on the floor
we fell through the ice when we tried not to slip, we'd say
--except from Freshmen by The Verve Pipe
Losing.
Can you see it, too?
This is not supposed to happen.
"With 87 percent of the precincts reporting, Kerry had 37.9 percent, Edwards 32.1 percent, Dean 18 percent and Gephardt 10.6 percent."
Dean will SMITE New Hampshire, because I am not having some Conservative Nazgul running for president against a Conservative Vulcan. Too geeky for my liking...although Howard Dean is quite reminiscent of Mr.Errol in "Muppet Treasure Island".
And John Edwards? That's a personal grudge.
One cannot comprehend the shame upon discovering that my own father supports Dennis Kucinich.
Pictures of me, because I'm an egocentric control freak that develops photos approximately once every three years.
This mailbox doubles as one of those automatic hand-dryers, usually found as venues such as Hardee's.
My album cover...now all I need is a CD.
(This was taken during a light sandstorm, hence the grainy quality.)
Pretty with curls!
Definitely need 1)A digital camera, and 2)Photoshop. I have no editing software besides some run-of-the-mill rinky dink scanning system.
Tonight was fun. I felt like me again. And I keep thinking about it, because the world has become simply topsy-turvy, and he is so cute.
Geeky Star-Trek pick up lines (created by one Sam Allen and myself):
"The call me Mars--because I'm red with passion!"
Mr.Spock: "My ears aren't the only thing that's pointy."
"You're turning on my phaser."
"I'll meet you on the Holodeck."
"Want to start my Enterprise?"
"I'll Spock YOU!"
Captain Kirk: "You beam me up, Scotty."
"Let's make a Next Generation."
"I know we all wear the same uniform, but gee, you really stand out."
"Replicate THIS."
Countdown:
Ex days--2 and 3 days, respectively
License--7 days
Winter Formal--12 days
Retake I on License (since I most likely will not pass)--14 days
Next teacher workday--28 days
"Remember that man's life lies all within this present; as for the rest, the past is gone, the future yet unseen."
--Marcus Aurelius
Thanks to Adam.
I slept alone in an unfinished basement during a Pennsylvania snowstorm, where the cinderblock shelter is hardly enough to protect oneself from the cold. A giant heater was positioned in the corner, and began humming loudly approximately every 7.65 minutes, or when one subconsciously felt the slightest change in temperature. The intimidating tips of nails were stabbed into the boards on the ceiling; they pointed down to my bed as if threatening to drop at any moment.
In addition, above my head and stretching throughout the course of the basement were PVC pipes that seemed to whisper curses whenever a toilet flushed or a dishwasher ran, reminiscent of a Harry Potter novel. The currents of the water would zip above my head, loudly sloshing against the sides of the pipes as I attempted to sleep.
The basement was also home to two cats, both large fat tabbies that seemed to enjoy this loud empty room. Their food was situated scarcely sixty-five centimeters from my pillow, and I would occasionally hear the crunching of teeth upon dehydrated liver, and the slurping of sandpaper tongues against once-stagnant water. Their litter boxes were located on the opposite side of the room, but the stratching of paws upon gravel was nevertheless distinguishable during the wee hours of the morning. Once in a while, I would see a dark shape lurk across the stretch of smooth concrete in front of me.
Nevertheless, I fell asleep quite quickly under musty flannel blankets. As I slept, the world suddenly became bright, and lights arose as I found myself running through a hospital, passing the nurses and stretchers in a faint blur. Coldplay played loudly in the background, as if being blasted over the hospital PA system. In a daze I ran into a small white room, where doctors and various family members of one known as Tom Martin were crowded around a bed. Tom was dying, an IV strapped to his arm and his breaths becoming short and rattled. At once, I began sobbing and screamed at everyone to leave, hitting the doctors until they had abandoned the room. I couldn't say anything because I was crying so hard. Then Tom died, and I woke up.
The basement was the same, except for the streaks of saline rapidly drying all over the sides of my face and a large lump in my throat. I don't understand it either.
Make your vacation plans now, skate parks are always superlative for a family gathering in Wisconsin. It's time to grind those rails like coffee in a butter churn.
In the spirit of haikus, here is one of my own:
one hundred and eight
until the NC caucus
it is here May fourth
--Me
Quote of the Day, from one known as Conservative Christina:
"A woman is like a crock pot, and a man is like a microwave."
So apparently, Howard Dean's wife worked at Planned Parenthood. Whoa ho ho! Craaaazy! Let's all go criticize and penalize the poor woman! She worked at the facility recently after college; it makes me wonder whether any faults that I may make during high school will be some sort of nasty dirt for a competitor's negative campaigns...if, I mean, I ever choose to venture into the abyss of politics.
Also, it is interesting to note that a majority of these past posts have involved sex; all attempts to conceive a plausible explanation have failed.
I'll be in Pennsylvania (in 3 degree weather) for the remainded of the weekend. Don't expect any posts.
I enjoy creeping out the media. It's quite an exciting feeling.
So apparently, tonight on CTV (community access, channel 10), a program entitled "Take A Stand" was airing a live show with 'real-life' callers. This program is run by a handful of the most conservative people in the universe, the extremists that would make Phyllis Schlafly and Ann Coulter weak in the knees. Of course, I am completely oblivious to all of this, due to the fact that I don't have cable.
I do find out from Angus and Hart, however, that the television show was receiving callers for a program attempting to support an abstinence-only curriculum. I'm not usually incredibly impulsive, but I had forgotten that fact for tonight. Immediately after hearing the news, I called into the program. A woman asked my name, and promised to call me back after a commercial break had finished. I was feeling lucky.
At this point, I decided that it might be a good oppertunity to actually research what I was supposed to be talking about. Obviously, most teenagers have an opinion regarding sex education, but I thought that perhaps I could impress them with hard-earned facts. I had no time whatsoever.
As I was rapidly perusing the Internet for any anti-abstinence figures, the phone rang. I picked it up, and I was live, reaching out to a thousand nameless viewers, all waiting to hear what I intended to say.
"My name is Bethany," I announced to the host, placing my voice a few bars above my own, and adding an extremely thick, nasally country accent. "I'd like to say that it's natural for teens to feel these sexual urges, because of inbalances in their hormones, and that it is only healthy and part of the process for them to carry these urges out. We don't want kids to end up sexually frustrated, because this could affect them in many ways. For example...."
"...Well, Bethany, what you're telling me is that we should allow children to be sexually active at 13 and 14 years of age?" The host asked. I heard laughing in the background.
"No, what I am saying is that kids can easily get caught up in the heat of what they're doing. They cannot just practice abstinence, they need to know how to use birth control, and they need to have birth control availible to them. Sex is a completely natural process."
"Alright, Bethany, we're going to let Christina address your opinion." There was a brief moment, and I was suddenly disconnected, locked out of a world where I had oh-so-recently been important.
After the report, a woman known as "Conservative Christina" began angrily addressing me, blaming me of the increase in teen promiscuity in North Carolina. She continued on for several minutes, speakily bluntly and focibly to the camera, almost threatening to find my house and beat me up herself. It was wonderful.
In actuality, I don't have such a loose view on sex, I believe that North Carolina should have a comprehensive education program that provides information regarding both birth control and homosexuality. However, mating in the woods like bunnies every time someone feels an urge isn't necessarily right. For one thing, the woods would become way too crowded.
The show, including my bit, is airing tomorrow night at 7:30 on CTV. Angus will be taping it; he also spoke during the program.
I hope these programmers (and audience members) don't think that our school is full of hedonistic baboons.
This is exactly what we don't need in America today--a $1.5 billion plan to promote marriage. From a liberal viewpoint, there are several reasons that I take offense at this proposition.
--The bill promotes "traditional marriage", and any funds used in the program will be denied to same-sex couples--often those who need it most. "It is ironic that this government wants to spend tax dollars to 'promote marriage,' while spending other tax dollars to block same-sex couples who want to marry,” said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry. I couldn't have said it better.
--The bill focuses on promoting marriage in "low income" areas. Perhaps I exhibit extreme upper class bias and stereotyping, but aren't these groups of people most often the ones that produce more children through teen pregnanies?
--Likewise, since the program is stressing marriage as a whole, wouldn't it be promoting marriages for teens who have become pregnant? This can often leave to abusive situations that no one should have to face. "Counseling" that forces teens to marry is a recipe for disaster.
--Why does Bush care so much about marriage anyway? I doubt we need a larger population, unless Bush has some global domination plans in order (oh wait!)
--The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Act (1996) already attempts to reduce "out-of-wedlock childbearing". Why do we need another? If the issue of marriage is so great, why not simply increase funds to this federal mandate?
--Didn't America already have more than a $500 billion dollar deficit in 2003 alone? Come on, Bush, I thought that you were conservative....guess that doesn't include being conservative with your country's money.
--So far, reports about the bill have no mention of safe sex/abstinence education, an important issue which I think would be more important than this silly marriage business.
--Politicians are stressing that the bill be passed this year, in order to secure its passing in the offchance that another candidate may win the presidential election. Sounds like President Bush just wants to look good....and take advantage of his position. ("Look what I can do!")
Basically, this bill has four main priorities:
--Let's hate gay people, and make everyone else hate them, too, because we can!
--Let's make more kids, because we can!
--Let's increase the deficit, because we can!
--Let's make all teen pregnancies turn into teen marriages, because we can!
This sounds like an unethical and petty display of power that will only make the future of this country turn backwards.
Karen Lehrman explores the decline in fashion photography, in pictures. It's quite a worthwhile slide show, if you have time.
These are fun, especially editing. Hah.
More pictures coming in the weeks to follow....probably no more of Tom, though.
So perfect you paint it... yet so manipulated.
So calm and so patient... yet oh so calculated.
So safe and comforting... this doesn't feel like flirting.
So fun I'm distracted... forgot you keep track of it.
--Hot Hot Heat, Talk with Me, Dance with Me
Watch the video here.
I guess the NFL thinks that Bono's education of the public concerning AIDS isn't part of the American spirit--or rather, not appropriate for the Super Bowl, which will bring in a potential audience this year of 1 billion viewers worldwide. Instead, they'd rather fill the halftime space with Janet Jackson. What losers.
A few years ago, my mother entered a phase where she checked out numerous new-age self help books from the library, determined to find her true path in life, and discover her hidden potential. I would occasionally flip through these bundles of 2nd-person optimism, glossing over each inspirational anecdote quickly. However, one passage has always remained with me, and has evolved in my mind to a pseudo-life philosophy:
"First you must develop discipline of mind by paying attention to your thoughts. By weeding out negativity, judgements, and other people's opinions, you free yourself from limited thinking.
The next step is to be honest about your feelings. Know why you feel a certain way about something. Then you can distinguish what you are feeling from what others are feeling.
Over time, you will develop discernments through trial and error and effort/ As you learn to seek balance in all that you do, you will have a better understanding of the world around you. As you listen to your own inner voice, you will not only know better, but you can also do better."
--James Van Praagh
I thought it was interesting to note that Lao-Tzu once stated "When a man cares, he is unafraid", which almost directly contradicts the above statement to separate oneself from negatively. Lao-Tzu believed that courage stemmed not from the ego and confidence of a person, but from the person's ability to show compassion all other individuals.
I believe that to an extent, shutting out oneself from the world around them can be extremely destructive and painful. Yet a mental vacation from opposing forces may be a hardy solution to insecurity and self-doubt. Just remember to come back.
I saved up money to buy a copy of "Psychology Today", and bought it on Saturday evening. I'm so excited.
Rachel.
The sooner that I can get Photoshop, the better. I'm tired of messing around with nothing but "photo enhancement software" that came with the computer.
Winter formal will be magnificent. I've basically done nothing but plan and work all day.
I bought both a formal dress and the Hot Hot Heat CD today. Good day.
The worst feeling in the world is when you can't make someone happy anymore.
Harpo Marx is my ultimate role model, and has been for several years. He paints, too!
I've never been a large fan of Lilith Fair-type artists, but Chantal Kreviazuk has recently captured my attention. I enjoy Chantal; she reminds me of Vanessa Carlton with a bit of Fiona Apple mixed in, she also has a beautiful soprano voice.
My absolute favorite (I love the TV/diving board sequence):
Let me show you what I'm made of
Good intentions are not enough
Death is a concept that, in theory, sounds disconnected and unfocused. It is a vague space of fear that occupies the deepest cavern of human emotion while playing childish games with the mind. Like love, Death can never be foreseen; it hits as a sharp lump that painfully bounces off the epiglottis, traveling violently through the chest muscles, until it rests on the bottom of the stomach.
The structure of Death is thus that it needs to be measured not by the quantity of emotions, but the impact and power that one feels when it comes. It is dull, a block of dark that stands between everything that was once beautiful and thriving. One looks upon the earth with jaded eyes, unable to believe that the world could possibly ever change back to its beginnings, to see it in technicolor, even allowing the colors to retain their crisp hue. The sharp contrasts of bright and dull, light and dark, blur together in a pattern that is impossible to be seen. It is difficult to understand that life could ever return to its blissful innocence.
It is natural to cry, to sob, to break down screaming with only quiet gasps of breath in between the shrill cacophony of pain. To sit silently with tears streaming downs one's face has an equal effect, one possibly larger than the harsh scrapes of the throat; they occur when one cannot find the breath to sob any more. The shed of tears is the body's natural response to pain, an attempt to erase what smudge Death may have made upon a frail, papery substance of emotion. There is no rhythm anymore, only a dull irregular beat that pulsates to the corners of the universe in 3/4 time.
Time cannot be measured when Death occurs, moments are the only means of division between phases. Yet as the days pass, time itself appears to return to life. One is able to realize the months, then, as time grips them softly by the shoulders, the weeks, the days, the hours, the minutes, the seconds of each ones existance, twisting and twirling amongst one another as the faces on the clock resume their accustomed routine. The images which one had once forgotten are now fresh and bursting with exuberance. The days are quiet as the nights, though lonely at first, become once again free.
Death is essential and timeless, a single ray that sweeps a narrow arc across the phases of life like seconds ticking against a mahagony clock. The radius of Death will never change; instead it chooses to remain quiet, a straight and common truth that will never cease. Everyone will know it someday.
--Me
Keep my life in your eyes
Say goodnight , not goodbye
--Chantal Kreviazuk
This makes me sick to my stomach, but still isn't completely surprising. Among the article's contents:
"The Sunday Herald previously uncovered how a think-tank – run by vice-president Dick Cheney; defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld; Paul Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld’s deputy; Bush’s younger brother Jeb, the governor of Florida; and Lewis Libby, Cheney’s deputy – wrote a blueprint for regime change as early as September 2000...."
"The document – referred to as a blueprint for US global domination – laid plans for a Bush government “maintaining US global pre- eminence, precluding the rise of a great-power rival, and shaping the international security order in line with American principles and interests”. It also said fighting and winning multiple wars was a “core mission”. "
This article was brought up at my dinner table, and I immediately exclaimed, flipping my hands excitedly, "I have to go blog!"
A parody of the Club for Growth's ad against Dean has been made. It reminds me a Japanese-dubbed movie, but the old woman's voice is priceless.
Heighten your fun playing in this winter wonderland with a snowball catapult!
Make it yourself out of some 2x4s and various other toolery (some assembly required)! Amaze your friends, astound your neightbors, and annoy your parents.
Bekka, me, and Tom....yeah, we'll model one day.
Not all people can sleep at night...some are always afraid.
I'm listening to "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and enjoying a perfectly good day of doing nothing. As a result, I doubt that my thoughts may be tangible to anyone other than myself. What a world.
"WELL, I THINK HOWARD DEAN SHOULD TAKE HIS TAX HIKING, GOVERNMENT-EXPANDING, LATTE-DRINKING, SUSHI-EATING, VOLVO-DRIVING, NEW YORK TIMES-READING . . .
. . . BODY PIERCING, HOLLYWOOD-LOVING, LEFT-WING FREAK SHOW BACK TO VERMONT, WHERE IT BELONGS."
Hey! Do they know me or what? I personally think it's pretty sad when all that such a large group can come with is a sterotype of Vermont residents.
Watch the Club for Growth's newest Dean-bashing commercial in Windows Media or RealPlayer.
Belated New Year's Resolutions:
A conflict of fundamental interests.
What I want to do:
--take >3 APs next year to raise my GPA
--leave all summer
--do a sport, preferably track
--work for Howard Dean, maybe
--get accepted in the page program
--win either junior class president, or student body VP
What my mommy wants me to do:
--stop applying for Ivy League admission information. ("You have three whole years to decide! Get your head out of the clouds!")
--get a job
--take a year off before going to college
--stop this blog
--draw more often
--play piano more often
--stay home with my loving family and rot into oblivion
Can we say role reversal?
When, exactly, is Bush going to care about the environment? All that oil has certainly gone to his head. Among other figures, government scientist Sir David King reports:
"The UK was responsible for only about 2% of the world's emissions...The US, on the other hand, produced more than 20% - while having only 4% of the world's population."
Sir David sounds a bit like an alarmist, but one cannot simply disregard the facts. It doesn't look like the Sierra Club will be endorsing Bush anytime soon.
Reason number 637 to buy a Volvo: it includes a mysterious symbol that COULD or COULD NOT mean a man. Almost six years ago, (the Internet was around back then?), homo sapiens wondered about this shady combination of a circle and arrow. Although the post is old, the theories are timeless.
Guess what I did today in Art.
Ryan Rinkel.
It took about an hour, and hey, I was bored.
MyWeatherby: yeah, well, you know...fruit. pretty stable.
VanillaBoy07: it has a tendency to rot
Triple Fruit Pie
1-1/4 cups fresh blueberries
1-1/4 cups fresh raspberries
1-1/4 cups rhubarb, chopped
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1-1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup quick-cooking tapioca
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 pastry shell, for double-crust pie (9 inches)
In a large bowl, combine fruits and extract; toss to coat.
In another bowl, combine sugar, tapioca, nutmeg and salt. Add to fruit; stir gently. Let stand for 15 minutes.
Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom crust; trim pastry even with edge.
Stir lemon juice into fruit mixture; spoon into the crust. Roll out remaining pastry; make a lattice crust. Seal and flute edges.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
Reduce heat to 350 degrees; bake 30 minutes longer or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
A very ugly cartoon.
I swear, I found this online, I didn't just sketch it in three minutes on a Post-It note, grab my scanner, and run down to eat dinner. Bad art.
O dies beatus!
O happy day!
I will now briefly speak out of pure vanity and selfishness. Please do not read this post if you are easily offended, or think too much of me.
Exam--class--semester grade:
98--Precalc--A
87--Enr. Chem--A
93--Enr. English II--A
94--Latin II--A
90--AP Politics--A
95--Art II--A
Though many people may have received much better scores, I am ecstatic to get such high grades between finding out that my short-term memory loss may be permanent, two different shows, planning a winter formal, being a slacker, ITS, piano, SLA, insane social dramas, emotional baggage, and whatever else I may have forgotten.
I believe that I may have to dance around in the streets. This is extremely better than I expected.
And now I have finished. Thanks.
Today, I realized that hypocrisy is everywhere. I like it.
I have also discovered lately that subtley is the bane of modern humanity. The fine line between suaveness and stupidity blurs, until it becomes very easy for one to step over their boundaries, and into a spot of frustration and annoyance for others. In instances like this, an idiot could surpass a genius, because a simple phrase could mean a thousand different things. One could write a thesis on a single statement, but would simply be too uncharacteristic.
Sometimes, it is stupidity that gets us farthest in life.
Of course, manipulation must be placed in another category entirely, one that becomes quite entertaining when truly mastered. You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours. And that is sometimes why this entire polical game is so enjoyable; it can convey the essence of humanity in one compact location--the lovely Capitol Hill. We follow it because we enjoy some political bloodshed. Mmm.
Frazier Moore at CNN has an interesting commentary regarding NBC's new reality TV show, The Apprentice. I've found personally that the best portion of any reality show is the first episode, where producers cull applicants into auditions where only the most attractive may proceed. Apparently, the sixteen finalists for "The Apprentice" are all incredibly attractive.
However I think Moore sums it up best:
"Which, dear viewer, is the moment of truth for "The Apprentice": As you behold Trump's digs, with its overblown extravagance, are you dumbstruck with amazement, even envy? Or are you seized by an urge to burst out laughing at this spectacle?
To put it another way: Will you really care who wins "The Apprentice"? A year working for Trump -- to some viewers, this may seem more like a sentence than a prize."
Skip is my hero. The life of an AV Geek must be thoroughly enjoyable, especially one that collects vintage films. I admire him. The following are some of my favorites, taken from two short films entitled "The Popularity Parade" and "Turning Over a New Leaf". View these pictures, and many others, at the previous link.
From "The Popularity Parade":
"...Yeah, I'll knock your teeth out so that I can eat them instead!"
Nice hand flip. And look, his arm is talking!
Ahh! A ghost!
Zest For Living=Burning Your Pants
From "Turning Over New Leaf"
Be Wary: Habits can shoot arrows into boys, basketballs, television, and dirty dishes.
The first step involves telling your boytoy to stop sweating. If that doesn't work, dance with his brother.
"Interest In Others"? Hmmm.
Look! A cathode ray tube of health!
There are simply six days remaining until the Bush in 30 Seconds awards will be posted. Ordinarily, I wouldn't be inclined to post such an inundation of media, but some of these commericials are truly brilliant.
My favorite is "What Are We Teaching Our Children?", a clip that involves schoolchildren campaigning for class president. In particular, I thought that the voice of the girl who spoke towards the end, in a purple shirt, sounded eerily like me. Watch the clip in low or
high bandwidth, and decide for youself.
While doing GoPo entirely too late at night, I realized that if I ever get elected, there may be two B. Hills in Congress.
I believe this speaks for itself.
Taken by the wonderful Alex O'Neal.
Much love to Tom, though neither of us are quite sure what the Frisbee's all about.
Newfangled research has confirmed Americans' worst hopes: their children are FAT. The article says:
"Among American 15-year-olds, 15 percent of girls and nearly 14 percent of boys were obese. And 31 percent of girls and 28 percent of boys were more modestly overweight."
Well, on the bright side, I don't have to worry, this makes moving to Europe look better all the time.
Who knew that there's a Film Producer award? According to Reuters, candidates for the "Film Producer of the Year" award are:
Cold Mountain
The Last Samurai
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Mystic River
Seabiscuit
In addition, the article also states:
"Ten of the past 14 Producers Guild film award winners have claimed the best film Oscar, or Academy Award, which is the U.S. film industry's highest honour."
Be looking for the Producers Guild awards on January 17 (my mommy's birthday), a full ten days before the Oscars.
I also find it interesting to view the nominees for the new category, "Best Producer in a Reality, Game, or Informational Show":
The Amazing Race 4
American Idol
Biography
Project Greenlight
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
Survivor: Pearl Islands
Considering its competitors, if Queer Eye doesn't win, I believe that I may have to resort to some sort of violence.
Lucas and I are compiling a list of RCHS Bloggers. He doesn't think that we can do it, but I can. Here's what we have so far; if you are not listed, please contact one of us.
Freshmen (we need more!)
I'm exploring the Conservative Town Hall of Doom and Daisies, or rather, Let's All Hate Howard Dean Now Dot Com. Several so called "columnists", such as (gasp) George Will, offer particuarly cruel commentary. Recently, Gary Aldrich published an article that critiques Dean's strength in the South, but doesn't mention the strenghth of other candidates. Hello? As long as you're going to diss 1/9 of the Democratic nominees, you might as well go against the others, too.
Mike S. Adamshas in interesting approach to tardyness and cell phones. According to Mike:
" If your cell phone goes off in class, or if you are late to class, you must write a 2500-word paper (minimum) entitled “The Death of Civility at the Postmodern University.” In this paper, you will be asked to write about the decline of civility in our public universities in recent decades. Please note that if you are late more than once, or if your cell phone goes off on more than one occasion, your paper must be a minimum of 5000 words. If you have three separate transgressions, you automatically fail the course. Finally, the paper must be of “A” quality in order for you to stay in the course. You will receive no other credit for completing this project, except, of course, for its positive impact upon your character. "
Mike also stated that last semester, he deduced points from students' final averages if they even possessed a cell phone during class time, regardless of whether it was turned off or not. I don't think I'll be taking his class at UNC-Wilmington any time soon.
Update: Apparently, Mrs.Newmark posted this roughly five hours before I did, but I found it on my own. Bah. For once, I was so proud of myself.....
Hmmm. Leona Helmsley.
Alright, what singer/songwriter/guitarist put a periodic table of the elements on a cd cover?
Also, I've discovered the blog of Jay McCarthy, entitled "Make Out City". Although it was the title that attracted me initally, I have be come attached to this blog.
Harvard has started one, we should too. Would anyone else like to start a RCHS blog club? We could go out to eat once a month and discuss blogging, ourselves, current events, philosophical mumbo-jumbo, and the like.
Talk to me if you're interested.
Hey! This whole debate is just a plot by the necktie industry to buy blue and red ties! Look, even these patriotic politicians are endorsing these colored ties as signs of their committment to America's economy. John Kerry in particular seems to be telling the American voter to buy a new tie. (I heard sales at are decreasing, and ties are in crisis.)
Wesley Clark skipped the debate to go campaign in New Hampshire, and Al Sharpton was in South Carolina looking for votes. Can't we all just get them together, in one room, like one happy family?
A good report of the recent debate can be found here.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present Mars:
Look for color photos as soon as Spirit beams them up, Scotty.
So apparently, taller candidates have a better chance of becoming president. These silly statistics make me angry. I'll show them...one day, I'll show them, me and my 5'3" self.
From Mrs.Newmark's fantastic blog.
What is it that draws everyone back to Third Place? The coffee aroma enters dry-clean-only sweaters and leaves them with a horrible smell. The food is overpriced, though very yummy. Everyone who goes there is either a beatnik, dork, geek, fruit loop, poser, hot tamale, loser, or snuffleupagus (I personally think I'm a bizarre combination of several aforementioend labelings). Yet The Place is hardly impressionable upon the outside world, wrapping itself in a secret opened only to a few regulars who truly understand its corner of the social spectrum.
I found myself there last evening with the oddest abundance of people. It was like being marooned on Gilligan's Island; a group of individuals, some who barely know one another, were welcomed into a setting that they all know and recognize as home.
Arriving shortly after nine--no one of any consequence ever comes to Third Place until ten--I met Heather and Jennifer, and we engaged in an enjoyable conversation about mating, dolphins, and the scientific world. Tom arrived shortly thereafter, and the two lovely ladies proceeded to pounce on him in the usual accusations of fragmented sexuality. Emma and Blaire popped in for a few minutes, wearing clothes that hardly matched their intentions. AJ's mysterious boytoy, Adam, was recognizable, though he was separated by a wall of glass. Using the power of cell phones, we called several sources that confimed their future arrivals at the coffeehouse.
Heather's boyfriend arrived, a considerate boy named Nick, and we moved onto the famous "Third Place Couch" in anticipation of other guests. Further upholstered furniture at this establishment would be nice. Within a few minutes, a girl named Shelby and a random dude arrived, seating themselves at a remote table behind the couch. Heather and her two loves occupied the couch, occasionally shrieking when tickling ensued. Tom and I, scarcely unable to hear above the other chatter, kept to ourselves. It is refreshingly easy to talk to Tom; his talent of conversationalism never leaves me at a loss for words.
Subsequently, the others arrived--Steven, Nick, Joel, Nate, and Bekka. The couch and the table opposite it were now surrounded by people, all chatting away. We seemed to be an almost-unwelcome teenage oasis in the polished desert of coffee and cheesecake.
The scene was loud and jostling; an occasional squeal was heard from the couch. Joel and Nick's conversation was barely distinguishable, consisting of deep-throated mumblings. Shelby and her man didn't belong to us, it seemed. Nate stared at the crowd, a reflective eyewitness that we so desperately needed. I doubt anyone else truly took in the group in its entirety. Bekka spilled the details of her steamy date with Ryan Rinkel as Tom and I listened, gossiping about the scandalous happenings of the evening.
By the time the crowd had begun to disperse, I was there, shy of three hours in a world so different from anything else.
* * *
It's interesting to read Nate's account of the evening; he admitted to being "downright bored", and stated that "the situation was simply uncomfortable". I would rather review the experience as an exercize; from a sociological stance, the situation was enthralling. However, sometimes it's best to simply feel and thrive on the chatty atmosphere which is so comforting. Third Place is not for everyone, but I love it just the same.
Holla! Scientists are cheering, and certainly have due cause to, according to an article by dear Andrew Bridges. The Mars rover, named Spirit, has landed, and scientists are eager to begin photographing Mars's barren surface, searching for any clues of life. This news is wonderful for scientists, who had lost a previous Mars lander, the Beagle 2, only several days ago. Perhaps it was captured by Martians.
love is more thicker than forget
more thinner than recall
more seldom than a wave is wet
more frequent than to fail
it is most mad and moonly
and less it shall unbe
than all the sea which only
is deeper than the sea
love is less always than to win
less never than alive
less bigger than the least begin
less littler than forgive
it is most sane and sunly
and more it cannot die
than all the sky which only
is higher than the sky
--E.E. Cummings
A dress to find:
--sort of 40's style
--red
--floorlength
--off the shoulder
--size 3
--hot
Something like that...except I will look happy, and not like I'm suffering from hemorrhage.
I'll be changing the template over the next few days...it should be finished but the HTML is not working very well.
John Kerry, the biggest dork around:
Is he playing baseball or starching his shirts?
But is this mysterious man John Edwards? If so, the following photo may raise Edwards' Dork Points a tenfold:
I usually don't post lyrics to songs that aren't my own, but I oh-so-recently just made an exception.
Listen here
..These bandages cover more than scrapes, cuts and bruises from regrets and mistakes
I've been hoping you're moping around the street again
I've been tripping from sipping the dripping dirty water tap
I've been poking a voodoo doll that you do not know I made
For you, of you, let's see what needles do
I've been shaking from making an awful decision
I've been thinking I'm drinking too many drinks all by myself
I've been running and running
Feels like my head is spinning round and round, around, around, around, around, around
Bandages on my legs and my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Up and down on my legs and my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Bandages on my legs and my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Don't worry now, don't worry now, don’t worry cause it's all under control...
--Hot Hot Heat, an excellent band that is worth your time
Lost in Translation is a movie that I have mixed feelings about.
I thought that Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannsson both conveyed their characters with excellent emotions, but that the music was shoppy in some points and that the director of photography needed to be shot (no pun intended). Scenes seemed to flow without any logical progression, and as a result allowed the film to become detach from its audience.
Also, all of the movie's time seemed to revolve around the two characters, and while this is the plot, it would have been refreshing to throw in a sub-plot or two. I kept waiting for a scene WITHOUT Murray and Johannsson, but none came. The director seemed focused on the ending, but in the process failed to recognize the other quirky aspects of the movie that were happening--the dumb blonde singing, the photographer husband's work (it would have been funny if he had photographed Bill Murray, but no), even the kids in the video arcade.
Nevertheless, this movie made me want more. The ending was reminiscent of Casablanca, a film which I have learned all about in the last several weeks, because it's our winter formal theme. Still, Lost in Translation is merely eye candy that at the ending, makes one sit back and stare at the screen, thinking.
You've probably seen the ads in the newspaper. You may have even seen one before the feature presentation at movie theatres. Join the adventures of a lonely man named Bill and the quest to find his gnome!
Be sure to watch the news report, too. Also, this elusive Bill seems to have interesting tastes: His other interests are cheese factories, ceramic bells, and taxidermy. What a guy.
If you're bored, learn here exactly what happens when a lobster comes across a magnet. Brought to you as a pretty Flash movie.
Also, revel in the dancing abilities of a lonely pubescent gentleman with a heart full of gold, as he declares his undying love (thanks to Hannah). Or if you're feeling particuarly hateful, here's an alternate ending. I learned the dance moves already. Doesn't he look sort of like Scott Fisher?
This year the Academy Awards have been moved up from the end of March to the end of February, purely to gain more money. However, it still bothers me that they choose to place such an event on a Sunday...this abolishes my ability to hold a lovely Oscar party.
Alright, Will, here's my (albeit subject to change) Oscar predictions:
Best Picture: The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
This will beat Cold Mountain by a tiny Hobbit nose. Other nominees could include The Last Samurai, Big Fish, and Lost in Translation.
Best Director: Peter Jackson, Return of the King
Is there any question about this? Jackson certainly deserves it.
Best Actor: Bill Murray, Lost in Translation. It's about time someone gave dear Bill an award; he's appeared in so many movies, and has gathered such an extensive career that he deserves an A for effort, at the least. The Academy are suckers for
long-term achievements.
Best Actress: Hmmph. Nicole Kidman is looking mighty strong for a Cold Mountain nomination, and could gain another Oscar under her waiflike belt, but I wouldn't be too surprised if Scarlett Johannsson won, either.
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Astin, Return of the King. Though critics are praising Astin's role in the film, Andy Serkis would also be an excellent recipient of the award. Too bad Serkis is virtually unknown around Hollywood.
Best Supporting Actress: Renee Zellweger, Cold Mountain. This is the easiest winner to write. After her difficult leading role in last year's Chicago, Ms.Zellweger chose a completely different part in this year's Cold Mountain (not to mention the steamy Down With Love, another genre entirely). This will not be overlooked by the Academy.
Best Animated Film: Finding Nemo. Nothing else even comes close.
Finally, for all you crazy monguls out there, I recommend this site for all of your entertainment prediction needs.
