Oscar schlock 2006

There's less than one week until the Academy Awards airs this sunday. Certainly, I will be watching the ceremony. But, it seems like an off year for the Oscars. It feels like the Academy is off base this year. Not only that, but 2005 was a fairly weak year for movies.

I've done a fair amount of complaining about this in the last month, since the nominations were announced. Since that time, I'm not quite as cynical about the Academy's intentions. But, the outlook is still not that great. Let me explain what I mean.

What message, exactly, is the Academy trying to send by nominating Brokeback Mountain for 8 awards? This is a movie that they're obviously trying to promote by lavishing it with praise and attention. I have no doubt that this movie is probably artistically high quality. But, it's an obvious ploy by the Academy to boost ticket sales and push propoganda. Politically, it's the same with George Clooney and Good Night and Good Luck. And, Woody Allen's nomination for Matchpoint. Allen has been an "Academy darling" for many many years. So, anything he touches turns to gold. It's all political. This is the most highly political Oscar year in recent memory. And as a result, it's mediocre.

But enough of my political griping. Among the heap of schlock, there are a couple of gems. I'm vaguely interested in The Squid and the Whale. Regrettably, I missed it when it was playing here in the Knoxville region. I am also fascinated by Phillip Seymour Hoffman's performance in Capote. (Another one I missed.) These nominated films are half-interesting.

Now, my predictions:

Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Best Actor He will win. By a landslide.

Reece Witherspoon - Best Actress She will probably win. (she did her own singing, alright?)

I don't care about the supporting actor/actress awards.

Brokeback Mountain - I predict it to win Best Picture.

I'm not so certain about any of the others, so I'm afraid to make guesses. I will be watching, and noting political statements that come from the ceremony. Expect a politically charged show this year!

Iraq war

The war in Iraq is an odd and touchy subject. Personally, I think it's sad that we have troops over there fighting and dying daily. It is a nasty battle field, and the line between good and evil may not be so clear. I, as many Americans, am unclear on many issues facing the war in Iraq. I am sadly uneducated on the matter.

That being said, there are many things I believe strongly about the war in Iraq that anti-war people should consider:

1. It seems to me that we have been engaged in conflict with "terrorists", and middle eastern terror cells since the early 90's. So, this war in Iraq has been coming for a long, long time.

2. Terrorist attacks struck U.S. soil before 9/11. The Oklahoma City bombing happened. During the Clinton administration, President Bill Clinton was soft on terrorism his whole 8 years. Read a fantastic article about it here. And, you can read another article about Clinton's failure with terrorism here. This second article is a bit more biased against Clinton. Yet, fairly accurate nonetheless.

So, you can criticize the Bush administration where you want as far as their reaction to terrorism. But here's the important thing to remember: At least they're an administration that has a reaction to terrorism. At least they're looking out for American people's best interests, rather than their own political glory. (Ok, that last sentence was a cheap shot. Sue me.)

With these opinions stated, I still feel somewhat "out of the loop" on the whole war in Iraq. I still feel like I'm not fully informed on what's going on, or how the war is going. I vaguely think we're winning. I vaguely understand that it may take a long time.

I also feel torn from a theological standpoint. Can God approve this war? Didn't Jesus say He who lives by the sword dies by the sword? Is God using this war, or is it an instrument of evil, and death? I don't know, and it bothers me.

tortured artist

Working at Target has afforded me the opportunity to see many "old chums" from former lives that I haven't seen in years. For example, the other day I saw a married couple with a small child. I vaguely recognized them from college, but couldn't remember their names. I probably hadn't seen them in nearly eight years. As I observed this completely typical, stable, normal couple with a beautiful baby, it was hard to fathom that they are my age! I felt a little embarassed to be standing there in the Target uniform, with my low budget name tag.

I also saw, just the other day, a woman I went to high school/college with. She just finished law school in Memphis, and now she's visiting her family after taking the bar exam. There were moments of awkwardness and struggle when, upon asking me what I had been doing since I graduated from college, I stammered for a cohesive answer. This woman, and her mother, seemed understanding. However, the sting of pride was still very clearly on my face.

With every development in my life, I continually fight to find a balance between materialism and responsibility. Responsibility, being that I make a certain amount of money, pay the bills, work hard and avoid laziness. On the other hand, I have to fight materialism in the sense that I can't measure success based on a cookie cutter idea of career success.

And, please allow me to be corny. I feel, in part, like I have many tendancies/characteristics of an artist. And, most artists I know are not inclined to pursue material gain (unless they're in Hollywood!) Rather, they're more interested in creating, expressing, letting themselves be true to who they really are. (Yeah, all those cliches!) Though I haven't completely bought into a starving artist lifestyle, I am constantly on the brink of giving in to these romantic flights of whimsy. The artist lifestyle beckons, tempts, and calls to me in a deep emotional way. At the same time, I don't buy into it completely because of urges to be financially responsible.

But don't get me wrong. I don't walk around all day with my head low, like a "tortured artist." I really love interacting with people, and I want to do something that impacts the people around me.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, you have gotten your blog money's worth today. I wasn't really planning on whining on and on like that, but, what can you do? Sometimes blogs get away from me. Plus, it's therapeutic. Sue me.

On a side note, check this out: MC Hammer has a blog. No, seriously! It's really him. Check it out,but I warn you: you can't touch it!

fairly boring

Sorry I've neglected my blog for a while. That tends to happen. I go through phases, and sometimes my poor li'l blog takes a back seat.

Today I watched Corpse Bride. I put some things on sale on E-Bay. I watched American Idol. Overall, it was a fairly boring day. I didn't work. I find the internet is becoming more and more a source of wasted time. But, I'm working on a script just for fun, and I'm trying to stay creative.

path of potential?

I type on this keyboard, searching careerbuilder.com for career opportunity. Blankly, I browse numerous jobs for which I am not qualified, nor interested in. Emotionless, irritable, and without a single stirring in my soul, I continue to go through the motions. Like a child swimming aimlessly through the rolling waves of the ocean, my meandering search continues.

It's not a job I'm searching for. This, I've learned recently. Being offered a job, I am second-guessing myself now. It's something more. I guess I'm searching for a career with meaning. Something I'm genuinely good at. Something I can be proud of. Weary from the pressure I put on myself, I am ready to lay down this heavy sceptor of mediocrity and plunge into something passionate. And, if it leads me to the path of destruction and humiliation, then I can say hello to my sincere destiny. Punching through, and forcing this big thing to happen is simply not working. I need to let go, and allow the tide to take me where I should go. Maybe that will start me down the path to reaching my potential.

2000's continued

Thank you, everyone, for responding to my "I love 2000's" blog entry. It seems to be a subject that strikes a chord with people, because I've gotten quite a wide response. And, that has provided for a lot of good and interesting conversation. It's probably the most response I've ever gotten from one other singular entry.

Here's an exerpt from an e-mail a friend of mine, Matthew, sent me on the subject. I thought it was blog-worthy, and could be added as a comment:

"...One thing that's happening right now is indie music going mainstream. These bands have music that seems so tangible, because it sounds like anyone can jump in their garage and do it. As appealing as that is for some people, it also may be its downfall. We need music that is created by musical geniuses so we don't get bored. Don't get me wrong. I'm digging a lot of new music that's out there, there just seems to be so much to sift through..."

I wish I could be as insightful about our present decade as some of my friends.

Another thing to keep in mind is that this decade is barely half over. So, the next few years could bring any kind of change in pop culture. We may encounter the next George Lucas, or new Michael Jackson (you know, early 80's Michael Jackson!!!) that may usher in a new pop culture era. I'm sitll optimistic that our music can improve.

I also thought of some new distinctly 2000's trends:

1. Some of you have already mentioned reality TV. More specifically, I think American Idol and Survivor will be distinctly 2000's.

2.I think automotive Satellite directonal systems (GPS) will become more previlant, and we'll wonder how we lived without it. Already, car DVD players are more and more common.

3. I-Pods are definitely a 2000's trend that we will look back on and laugh about.

4. Eminem may be remembered as a 2000's thing, even though he started gaining popularity in '99.

5. Build-A-Bear (existed in the 90's, gained popularity in the 00's.)

6. Blogging

7. new Star Wars trilogy (maybe...?)

I don't know, it's an interesting subject I can't help but ponder it. At the end of the day, though, it's probably healthiest to just enjoy the decade and not spend too much time analyzing. (As I tend to do!)

Thank you for your insights!

I Love the 2000's

So, I had a discussion with a friend of mine a few months ago about the present state of pop culture.

If you look back at the past few decades, a few things stand out in light of pop culture. For example, the 60's brings distinct images of The Beatles, the type of rock that was popular, political upheaval, and a certain type of television. The 70's, it was more of the hippie decade. Things got happier in pop culture, the music is very distinctly 70's. Star Wars came out in '77, Saturday Night Live started in the mid 70's.

Then, of course, you have the wondrous 80's. We all know, thanks to VH-1, the details of this decade. Saturday morning cartoons, cable television, MTV, Michael Jackson, Atari, and the list goes on and on. Music, movies, television are all distinctly 80's in that decade.

Enter the 90's. Grundge, Nirvana, Beavis and Butthead, Gangsta rap, Bill Clinton, Starbucks, the dot com boom, etc, etc, etc. So many things are distinctly 90's. Great changes and movements in the 90's gave that decade a distinct personality, in pop culture terms.

Now, you may be wondering what the point of this blog is, but hang with me. Now, enter the 2000's. Um...I don't quite understand what differentiates the 2000's from the 90's. To me, it just seems like (strictly from a pop culture stance) the 2000's are just a mediocre continuation of the 90's. Nothing has really happened in pop culture to push things forward.

Politically, this decade has been HUGE!!! Beginning with the whacky 2000 Presidential election, the Bush presidency, Sept.11, 2001, the Iraq War. These political shifts are very distinctly 2000's.

But, come on! Where's the FUN stuff of the 2000's? Is it going to be the XBOX 360? Playstation 3? Blogging? Gay cowboy movies? Advances in CGI effects in movies? What movies have come out this decade that are even worth mentioning? Where's the good music that will define the 2000's? It's 2006, and I haven't seen anything really defining this decade. Everything that's come out so far just seems like stuff that could've come out in the 90's. Maybe I'm just missing it. Maybe you can help me out. Maybe I'm just getting older, and I'm not as in tune with pop culture. Any ideas?

weird sales

Yesterday, I woke up and climbed out of bed. After a quick shower, I put on a shirt, tie, and dress pants. Quickly, I ate a peanut butter sandwich. Then, I headed out the door and piled into my low budget CRX. I began buzzing down the road, toward Nashville, music city.

I had a job interview at a Honda dealership, to be a car salesman of all things. Now, I have absolutely no experience in commissioned sales. So, I had no idea what to expect.

For three and a half long hours, I rumbled down the four lane road through the fields of Tennessee. As I grew closer to Nashville, the nerves started in. Did I really want this job? What was in store for me? I had no idea.

Finally, I arrived in Nashville. So, following my low budget internet directions, I located the Honda dealership. I walked through the double doors confidently, hoping this could be the opportunity I was looking for.

The interview process was fairly quick. I rambled on about sales, how I see the job as a good fit, and etc. Most of it was sincere. The man interviewing me had no qualms telling me how it really was. "Your boss ever yell at you?" A strange interview question. But, apparently, they like to yell. But, probably not a big deal.

Mike hired me on the spot. I guess I look like good sales material. Who knows? But now, I'm formulating a plan to move to Nashville in the next couple of weeks.

I met a friend of mine for dinner, then I headed back to Athens, three and a half more hours of driving. I guess the trip was worthwhile.