The 2010 Academy Award Nominations are out.
AMPAS, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has just released the full Oscar nominations list for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. The list was released just after the Oscar Nominations Awards Ceremony held this morning. This year, the Oscar Nominations include 10 movies in the Best Picture Category.
There are some surprises for Best Picture, where the nominees are: Avatar, The Blind Side, An Education,The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air.
But the Best Picure race is really between Avatar and The Hurt Locker, which have 9 nominations each, and directors, James Cameron and Katheryn Bigelow, who were once husband and wife.
Here's the full list of Oscar Nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards:
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart" (Fox Searchlight)
George Clooney in "Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
Colin Firth in "A Single Man" (The Weinstein Company)
Morgan Freeman in "Invictus" (Warner Bros.)
Jeremy Renner in "The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment)
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Matt Damon in "Invictus" (Warner Bros.)
Woody Harrelson in "The Messenger" (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
Christopher Plummer in "The Last Station" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Stanley Tucci in "The Lovely Bones" (DreamWorks in association with Film4, Distributed by Paramount)
Christoph Waltz in "Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company)
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side" (Warner Bros.)
Helen Mirren in "The Last Station" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Carey Mulligan in "An Education" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate)
Meryl Streep in "Julie & Julia" (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Penélope Cruz in "Nine" (The Weinstein Company)
Vera Farmiga in "Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
Maggie Gyllenhaal in "Crazy Heart" (Fox Searchlight)
Anna Kendrick in "Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
Mo’Nique in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate)
Best animated feature film of the year
"Coraline" (Focus Features), Henry Selick
"Fantastic Mr. Fox" (20th Century Fox), Wes Anderson
"The Princess and the Frog" (Walt Disney), John Musker and Ron Clements
"The Secret of Kells" (GKIDS), Tomm Moore
"Up" (Walt Disney), Pete Docter
Achievement in art direction
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox), Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg, Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" (Sony Pictures Classics), Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro, Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
"Nine" (The Weinstein Company), Art Direction: John Myhre, Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
"Sherlock Holmes" (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood, Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
"The Young Victoria" (Apparition), Art Direction: Patrice Vermette, Set Decoration: Maggie Gray
Achievement in cinematography
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox), Mauro Fiore
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (Warner Bros.), Bruno Delbonnel
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment), Barry Ackroyd
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company), Robert Richardson
"The White Ribbon" (Sony Pictures Classics), Christian Berger
Achievement in costume design
"Bright Star" (Apparition), Janet Patterson
"Coco before Chanel" (Sony Pictures Classics), Catherine Leterrier
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" (Sony Pictures Classics), Monique Prudhomme
"Nine" (The Weinstein Company), Colleen Atwood
"The Young Victoria" (Apparition), Sandy Powell
Achievement in directing
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox), James Cameron
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment), Kathryn Bigelow
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company), Quentin Tarantino
"Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire" (Lionsgate), Lee Daniels
"Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios), Jason Reitman
Best documentary feature
“Burma VJ” (Oscilloscope Laboratories), A Magic Hour Films Production, Anders østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller
“The Cove” (Roadside Attractions), An Oceanic Preservation Society Production, Nominees to be determined
“Food, Inc.” (Magnolia Pictures), A Robert Kenner Films Production, Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers”, A Kovno Communications Production, Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
“Which Way Home”, A Mr. Mudd Production, Rebecca Cammisa
Best documentary short subject
"China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan, Province", A Downtown Community Television Center Production, Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill
"The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner", A Just Media Production, Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
"The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant", A Community Media Production, Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
"Music by Prudence", An iThemba Production, Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
"Rabbit à la Berlin" (Deckert Distribution), An MS Films Production, Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra
Achievement in film editing
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox), Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
"District 9" (Sony Pictures Releasing), Julian Clarke
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment), Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company), Sally Menke
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate), Joe Klotz
Best foreign language film of the year
"Ajami" (Kino International), An Inosan Production, Israel
"El Secreto de Sus Ojos" (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haddock Films Production, Argentina
"The Milk of Sorrow", A Wanda Visión/Oberon Cinematogrà/Vela Production, Peru
"Un Prophète" (Sony Pictures Classics), A Why Not/Page 114/Chic Films Production, France
"The White Ribbon" (Sony Pictures Classics), An X Filme Creative Pool/Wega Film/Les Films du Losange/Lucky Red Production, Germany
Achievement in makeup
"Il Divo" (MPI Media Group through Music Box), Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
"Star Trek" (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
"The Young Victoria" (Apparition), Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox), James Horner
"Fantastic Mr. Fox” (20th Century Fox), Alexandre Desplat
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
“Sherlock Holmes” (Warner Bros.), Hans Zimmer
"Up" (Walt Disney), Michael Giacchino
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
"Almost There" from "The Princess and the Frog" (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
"Down in New Orleans" from "The Princess and the Frog" (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
"Loin de Paname" from "Paris 36" (Sony Pictures Classics), Music by Reinhardt Wagner, Lyric by Frank Thomas
"Take It All" from "Nine" (The Weinstein Company), Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
"The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" from "Crazy Heart" (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
Best motion picture of the year
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox), A Lightstorm Entertainment Production, James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
"The Blind Side" (Warner Bros.), An Alcon Entertainment Production, Nominees to be determined
"District 9" (Sony Pictures Releasing), A Block/Hanson Production, Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
"An Education" (Sony Pictures Classics), A Finola Dwyer/Wildgaze Films Production, Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment), A Voltage Pictures Production, Nominees to be determined
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company), A Weinstein Company/Universal Pictures/A Band Apart/Zehnte Babelsberg Production, Lawrence Bender, Producer
"Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire" (Lionsgate), A Lee Daniels Entertainment/Smokewood Entertainment Production, Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
"A Serious Man" (Focus Features), A Working Title Films Production, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
"Up" (Walt Disney), A Pixar Production, Jonas Rivera, Producer
"Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios), A Montecito Picture Company Production, Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers
Best animated short film
"French Roast" , A Pumpkin Factory/Bibo Films Production, Fabrice O. Joubert
"Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty" (Brown Bag Films), A Brown Bag Films Production, Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
"The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)", A Kandor Graphics and Green Moon Production, Javier Recio Gracia
“Logorama” (Autour de Minuit), An Autour de Minuit Production, Nicolas Schmerkin
“A Matter of Loaf and Death” (Aardman Animations), An Aardman Animations Production, Nick Park
Best live action short film
"The Door" (Network Ireland Television), An Octagon Films Production, Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
"Instead of Abracadabra", (The Swedish Film Institute), A Directörn & Fabrikörn Production, Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
"Kavi", A Gregg Helvey Production, Gregg Helvey
"Miracle Fish", (Premium Films), A Druid Films Production, Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
"The New Tenants", A Park Pictures and M & M Production, Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson
Achievement in sound editing
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company), Wylie Stateman
"Star Trek" (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
"Up" (Walt Disney), Michael Silvers and Tom Myers
Achievement in sound mixing
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company), Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
"Star Trek" (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro, Distributed by Paramount), Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson
Achievement in visual effects
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox), Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
"District 9" (Sony Pictures Releasing) , Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
"Star Trek" (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton
Adapted screenplay
"District 9" (Sony Pictures Releasing), Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
"An Education" (Sony Pictures Classics), Screenplay by Nick Hornby
"In the Loop" (IFC Films), Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate), Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
"Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios) , Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
Original screenplay
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment), Written by Mark Boal
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company), Written by Quentin Tarantino
"The Messenger" (Oscilloscope Laboratories), Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
"A Serious Man" (Focus Features), Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
"Up" (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
More Oscar nominations analysis and breakdown coming today.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Oscar Best Picture Nom for District 9 gets Twitter applause
The Oscar Best Picture Nomination for District 9 got an enthusiastic Twitter applause. The science fiction movie about an alien race held captive in a Johannesburg, South Africa ghetto called District 9 was a hit during the Summer Movie Season.
Still, District 9, without a major star or the path-breaking effects of Avatar, did not take awards season by storm. But when talk about the best screenplay and story came up, District 9 was always in the conversation.
That District 9 scored an Oscar Best Picture Nomination is a by-product of a system where 10 Best Picture Nominees were selected. And while some, like Celeb Blogger Perez Hilton, think that 10 is five too many, and others were upset that Star Trek wasn't in the Best Picture group, the Twitter response was favorable and interesting. Here's a sample:
Stay tuned for more analysis and news.
Still, District 9, without a major star or the path-breaking effects of Avatar, did not take awards season by storm. But when talk about the best screenplay and story came up, District 9 was always in the conversation.
That District 9 scored an Oscar Best Picture Nomination is a by-product of a system where 10 Best Picture Nominees were selected. And while some, like Celeb Blogger Perez Hilton, think that 10 is five too many, and others were upset that Star Trek wasn't in the Best Picture group, the Twitter response was favorable and interesting. Here's a sample:
benyerks RT @mygeektime: DISTRICT 9 ...nominated for BEST PICTURE and SCREENPLAY.... WOW.... NICE!
less than 20 seconds ago from TweetDeck
ahlhelm RT @ThatKevinSmith: Ten fucking slots for Best Picture, and not a-one of 'em for JJ's STAR TREK? That list can't have TWO giant sci-fi movie's on it?
knowsurprises The Oscars are a mixed bag, but i'm glad to see some Sci-fi love for District 9 in best picture. I'm not excited about Sandra Bullock at all
half a minute ago from web
Febreze_Fresh Oscar nominations were announced this morning http://bit.ly/cLJeqP . What film do you think will win Best Picture?
half a minute ago from web
Cheyenne_Lexi @eonline avatar hopefully not best picture! Graphics maybe
half a minute ago from Mobile Web
thordiakow The Blind Side and Up on the Best Picture nom. list? No way man
half a minute ago from web
AvinashBidaia RT @ndtv: Oscar nominations: Best Picture - Destrict 9,Inglorious Basterds, Avatar, Up, Up in the Air, Blind Side| seen these and love them
half a minute ago from UberTwitter
WeFlySpitfires @Sypster If Avatar wins best picture, I will... never watch the Oscars every again. There!
half a minute ago from web
Stay tuned for more analysis and news.
2010 Oscar Nominations List: Oscar has 10 Best Picture candidates
AMPAS, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has just released the full Oscar nominations list for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. The list was released just after the Oscar Nominations Awards Ceremony held this morning. This year, the Oscar Nominations include 10 movies in the Best Picture Category.
There are some surprises for Best Picture, where the nominees are: Avatar, The Blind Side, An Education,The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air.
Here's the full list of Oscar Nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards:
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight)
George Clooney in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
Colin Firth in “A Single Man” (The Weinstein Company)
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus” (Warner Bros.)
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment)
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Matt Damon in “Invictus” (Warner Bros.)
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger” (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones” (DreamWorks in association with Film4, Distributed by Paramount)
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company)
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side” (Warner Bros.)
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Carey Mulligan in “An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Penélope Cruz in “Nine” (The Weinstein Company)
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight)
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
Best animated feature film of the year
“Coraline” (Focus Features), Henry Selick
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” (20th Century Fox), Wes Anderson
“The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney), John Musker and Ron Clements
“The Secret of Kells” (GKIDS), Tomm Moore
“Up” (Walt Disney), Pete Docter
Achievement in art direction
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg, Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (Sony Pictures Classics), Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro, Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
“Nine” (The Weinstein Company), Art Direction: John Myhre, Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
“Sherlock Holmes” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood, Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
“The Young Victoria” (Apparition), Art Direction: Patrice Vermette, Set Decoration: Maggie Gray
Achievement in cinematography
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Mauro Fiore
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (Warner Bros.), Bruno Delbonnel
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Barry Ackroyd
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Robert Richardson
“The White Ribbon” (Sony Pictures Classics), Christian Berger
Achievement in costume design
“Bright Star” (Apparition), Janet Patterson
“Coco before Chanel” (Sony Pictures Classics), Catherine Leterrier
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (Sony Pictures Classics), Monique Prudhomme
“Nine” (The Weinstein Company), Colleen Atwood
“The Young Victoria” (Apparition), Sandy Powell
Achievement in directing
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), James Cameron
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Kathryn Bigelow
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Quentin Tarantino
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Lee Daniels
“Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios), Jason Reitman
Best documentary feature
“Burma VJ” (Oscilloscope Laboratories), A Magic Hour Films Production, Anders østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller
“The Cove” (Roadside Attractions), An Oceanic Preservation Society Production, Nominees to be determined
“Food, Inc.” (Magnolia Pictures), A Robert Kenner Films Production, Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers”, A Kovno Communications Production, Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
“Which Way Home”, A Mr. Mudd Production, Rebecca Cammisa
Best documentary short subject
“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan, Province”, A Downtown Community Television Center Production, Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill
“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner”, A Just Media Production, Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant”, A Community Media Production, Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
“Music by Prudence”, An iThemba Production, Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
“Rabbit à la Berlin” (Deckert Distribution), An MS Films Production, Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra
Achievement in film editing
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Julian Clarke
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Sally Menke
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Joe Klotz
Best foreign language film of the year
“Ajami” (Kino International), An Inosan Production, Israel
“El Secreto de Sus Ojos” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haddock Films Production, Argentina
“The Milk of Sorrow”, A Wanda Visión/Oberon Cinematogrà/Vela Production, Peru
“Un Prophète” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Why Not/Page 114/Chic Films Production, France
“The White Ribbon” (Sony Pictures Classics), An X Filme Creative Pool/Wega Film/Les Films du Losange/Lucky Red Production, Germany
Achievement in makeup
“Il Divo” (MPI Media Group through Music Box), Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
“The Young Victoria” (Apparition), Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), James Horner
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” (20th Century Fox), Alexandre Desplat
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
“Sherlock Holmes” (Warner Bros.), Hans Zimmer
“Up” (Walt Disney), Michael Giacchino
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” (Sony Pictures Classics), Music by Reinhardt Wagner, Lyric by Frank Thomas
“Take It All” from “Nine” (The Weinstein Company), Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
Best motion picture of the year
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), A Lightstorm Entertainment Production, James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
“The Blind Side” (Warner Bros.), An Alcon Entertainment Production, Nominees to be determined
“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing), A Block/Hanson Production, Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
“An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Finola Dwyer/Wildgaze Films Production, Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), A Voltage Pictures Production, Nominees to be determined
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), A Weinstein Company/Universal Pictures/A Band Apart/Zehnte Babelsberg Production, Lawrence Bender, Producer
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), A Lee Daniels Entertainment/Smokewood Entertainment Production, Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
“A Serious Man” (Focus Features), A Working Title Films Production, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
“Up” (Walt Disney), A Pixar Production, Jonas Rivera, Producer
“Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios), A Montecito Picture Company Production, Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers
Best animated short film
“French Roast” , A Pumpkin Factory/Bibo Films Production, Fabrice O. Joubert
“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” (Brown Bag Films), A Brown Bag Films Production, Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)”, A Kandor Graphics and Green Moon Production, Javier Recio Gracia
“Logorama” (Autour de Minuit), An Autour de Minuit Production, Nicolas Schmerkin
“A Matter of Loaf and Death” (Aardman Animations), An Aardman Animations Production, Nick Park
Best live action short film
“The Door” (Network Ireland Television), An Octagon Films Production, Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
“Instead of Abracadabra”, (The Swedish Film Institute), A Directörn & Fabrikörn Production, Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
“Kavi”, A Gregg Helvey Production, Gregg Helvey
“Miracle Fish”, (Premium Films), A Druid Films Production, Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
“The New Tenants”, A Park Pictures and M & M Production, Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson
Achievement in sound editing
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Wylie Stateman
“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
“Up” (Walt Disney), Michael Silvers and Tom Myers
Achievement in sound mixing
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro, Distributed by Paramount), Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson
Achievement in visual effects
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing) , Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton
Adapted screenplay
“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
“An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics), Screenplay by Nick Hornby
“In the Loop” (IFC Films), Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
“Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios) , Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
Original screenplay
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Written by Mark Boal
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Written by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” (Oscilloscope Laboratories), Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” (Focus Features), Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Up” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
More analysis and breakdown coming today.
There are some surprises for Best Picture, where the nominees are: Avatar, The Blind Side, An Education,The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air.
Here's the full list of Oscar Nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards:
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight)
George Clooney in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
Colin Firth in “A Single Man” (The Weinstein Company)
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus” (Warner Bros.)
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment)
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Matt Damon in “Invictus” (Warner Bros.)
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger” (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones” (DreamWorks in association with Film4, Distributed by Paramount)
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company)
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side” (Warner Bros.)
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Carey Mulligan in “An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Penélope Cruz in “Nine” (The Weinstein Company)
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight)
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
Best animated feature film of the year
“Coraline” (Focus Features), Henry Selick
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” (20th Century Fox), Wes Anderson
“The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney), John Musker and Ron Clements
“The Secret of Kells” (GKIDS), Tomm Moore
“Up” (Walt Disney), Pete Docter
Achievement in art direction
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg, Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (Sony Pictures Classics), Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro, Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
“Nine” (The Weinstein Company), Art Direction: John Myhre, Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
“Sherlock Holmes” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood, Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
“The Young Victoria” (Apparition), Art Direction: Patrice Vermette, Set Decoration: Maggie Gray
Achievement in cinematography
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Mauro Fiore
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (Warner Bros.), Bruno Delbonnel
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Barry Ackroyd
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Robert Richardson
“The White Ribbon” (Sony Pictures Classics), Christian Berger
Achievement in costume design
“Bright Star” (Apparition), Janet Patterson
“Coco before Chanel” (Sony Pictures Classics), Catherine Leterrier
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (Sony Pictures Classics), Monique Prudhomme
“Nine” (The Weinstein Company), Colleen Atwood
“The Young Victoria” (Apparition), Sandy Powell
Achievement in directing
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), James Cameron
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Kathryn Bigelow
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Quentin Tarantino
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Lee Daniels
“Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios), Jason Reitman
Best documentary feature
“Burma VJ” (Oscilloscope Laboratories), A Magic Hour Films Production, Anders østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller
“The Cove” (Roadside Attractions), An Oceanic Preservation Society Production, Nominees to be determined
“Food, Inc.” (Magnolia Pictures), A Robert Kenner Films Production, Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers”, A Kovno Communications Production, Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
“Which Way Home”, A Mr. Mudd Production, Rebecca Cammisa
Best documentary short subject
“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan, Province”, A Downtown Community Television Center Production, Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill
“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner”, A Just Media Production, Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant”, A Community Media Production, Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
“Music by Prudence”, An iThemba Production, Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
“Rabbit à la Berlin” (Deckert Distribution), An MS Films Production, Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra
Achievement in film editing
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Julian Clarke
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Sally Menke
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Joe Klotz
Best foreign language film of the year
“Ajami” (Kino International), An Inosan Production, Israel
“El Secreto de Sus Ojos” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haddock Films Production, Argentina
“The Milk of Sorrow”, A Wanda Visión/Oberon Cinematogrà/Vela Production, Peru
“Un Prophète” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Why Not/Page 114/Chic Films Production, France
“The White Ribbon” (Sony Pictures Classics), An X Filme Creative Pool/Wega Film/Les Films du Losange/Lucky Red Production, Germany
Achievement in makeup
“Il Divo” (MPI Media Group through Music Box), Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
“The Young Victoria” (Apparition), Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), James Horner
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” (20th Century Fox), Alexandre Desplat
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
“Sherlock Holmes” (Warner Bros.), Hans Zimmer
“Up” (Walt Disney), Michael Giacchino
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney), Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” (Sony Pictures Classics), Music by Reinhardt Wagner, Lyric by Frank Thomas
“Take It All” from “Nine” (The Weinstein Company), Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
Best motion picture of the year
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), A Lightstorm Entertainment Production, James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
“The Blind Side” (Warner Bros.), An Alcon Entertainment Production, Nominees to be determined
“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing), A Block/Hanson Production, Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
“An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Finola Dwyer/Wildgaze Films Production, Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), A Voltage Pictures Production, Nominees to be determined
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), A Weinstein Company/Universal Pictures/A Band Apart/Zehnte Babelsberg Production, Lawrence Bender, Producer
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), A Lee Daniels Entertainment/Smokewood Entertainment Production, Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
“A Serious Man” (Focus Features), A Working Title Films Production, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
“Up” (Walt Disney), A Pixar Production, Jonas Rivera, Producer
“Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios), A Montecito Picture Company Production, Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers
Best animated short film
“French Roast” , A Pumpkin Factory/Bibo Films Production, Fabrice O. Joubert
“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” (Brown Bag Films), A Brown Bag Films Production, Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)”, A Kandor Graphics and Green Moon Production, Javier Recio Gracia
“Logorama” (Autour de Minuit), An Autour de Minuit Production, Nicolas Schmerkin
“A Matter of Loaf and Death” (Aardman Animations), An Aardman Animations Production, Nick Park
Best live action short film
“The Door” (Network Ireland Television), An Octagon Films Production, Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
“Instead of Abracadabra”, (The Swedish Film Institute), A Directörn & Fabrikörn Production, Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
“Kavi”, A Gregg Helvey Production, Gregg Helvey
“Miracle Fish”, (Premium Films), A Druid Films Production, Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
“The New Tenants”, A Park Pictures and M & M Production, Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson
Achievement in sound editing
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Wylie Stateman
“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
“Up” (Walt Disney), Michael Silvers and Tom Myers
Achievement in sound mixing
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro, Distributed by Paramount), Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson
Achievement in visual effects
“Avatar” (20th Century Fox), Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing) , Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
“Star Trek” (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment), Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton
Adapted screenplay
“District 9” (Sony Pictures Releasing), Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
“An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics), Screenplay by Nick Hornby
“In the Loop” (IFC Films), Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
“Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios) , Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
Original screenplay
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Written by Mark Boal
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Written by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” (Oscilloscope Laboratories), Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” (Focus Features), Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Up” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
More analysis and breakdown coming today.
Oscar Best Picture Noms to Avatar, Hurt Locker, not Star Trek
The Oscar Nominations just concluded and not without some surprises. The final list will be out shortly, but for Best Picture the nominees are: Avatar, The Blind Side, An Education,The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air.
That a nomination did not go to Star Trek was a shock to many on the Facebook Livestream, which indicates how the public's going to respond to the news of the list. But with that, Emeryville-based Pixar scored a Best Picture nomination for its animated movie, Up. And in general, I can't remember a Best Picture list that included so many science fiction and animated movies: Avatar, District 9, and Up.
Congratulations to the compelling movie Precious, where Director Lee Daniels, Gaborney Sidibe, Mo'Nique, and the movie itself were honored with nominations in the Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Film Editing, Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture categories.
Other Best Picture surprises were for The Blind Side, the excellent story about Baltimore Ravens Offensive Tackle Michael Oher and the family who adopted him. While the story is largely around Sandra Bullocks great performance, some forget that without Michael Oher there would be no The Blind Side.
More updates, soon.
That a nomination did not go to Star Trek was a shock to many on the Facebook Livestream, which indicates how the public's going to respond to the news of the list. But with that, Emeryville-based Pixar scored a Best Picture nomination for its animated movie, Up. And in general, I can't remember a Best Picture list that included so many science fiction and animated movies: Avatar, District 9, and Up.
Congratulations to the compelling movie Precious, where Director Lee Daniels, Gaborney Sidibe, Mo'Nique, and the movie itself were honored with nominations in the Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Film Editing, Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture categories.
Other Best Picture surprises were for The Blind Side, the excellent story about Baltimore Ravens Offensive Tackle Michael Oher and the family who adopted him. While the story is largely around Sandra Bullocks great performance, some forget that without Michael Oher there would be no The Blind Side.
More updates, soon.
Oscar Nominations Livestream Live blog
Oscar Nominations Livestream Live blog. After months of movie watching, opinion sharing, and speculation tracking the day that the nominations for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards is here. Oscar Nomination Ballots were due January 23rd at 5 PM; they've been collected by Price WaterHouse for The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Special screenings to determine the nominees have been done and the Academy members have spoken. Now, the event featuring Anne Hathaway and AMPAS President Tom Sherak, is coming in the morning and you can see it live here:
It starts at 5:38 AM - Refresh for updates.
Starts with the great announcement music.
Best Actors, Actress, Director, Supporting Actor, and Actress true to form with Golden Globes.
Wow. Star Trek not on Best Picture list?
Congrats to Emeryville's Pixar for Best Picture nom for UP.
District 9 gets Best Picture nom.
Best Picture: Avatar, The Blind Side, An Education,The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air.
academyawards on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free
It starts at 5:38 AM - Refresh for updates.
Starts with the great announcement music.
Best Actors, Actress, Director, Supporting Actor, and Actress true to form with Golden Globes.
Wow. Star Trek not on Best Picture list?
Congrats to Emeryville's Pixar for Best Picture nom for UP.
District 9 gets Best Picture nom.
Best Picture: Avatar, The Blind Side, An Education,The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air.
Oscar Nominations Livestream here at 5 AM PST / 8 AM EST
After months of movie watching, opinion sharing, and speculation tracking the day that the nominations for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards is here. Oscar Nomination Ballots were due January 23rd at 5 PM; they've been collected by Price WaterHouse for The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Special screenings to determine the nominees have been done and the Academy members have spoken. Now, the event featuring Anne Hathaway and AMPAS President Tom Sherak, is coming in the morning and you can see it live here:
It starts at 5 AM PST / 8 AM PST. This blogger has never tried to predict which movie was going to be nominated, and will not take up the practice in 2010. Stay tuned.
Watch live streaming video from academyawards at livestream.com
It starts at 5 AM PST / 8 AM PST. This blogger has never tried to predict which movie was going to be nominated, and will not take up the practice in 2010. Stay tuned.
New Zennie62 Widget by Widgetbox has 10 rotating feeds
Widgetbox.com has created a new version of the Zennie62 Widget. This one's unlike any you've seen before. It has tabs representing this blogger's Zennie62.com blog, as well as the Oakland Focus, New York Focus, and San Francisco Focus blogs.
And as the Super Bowl is coming, there's a tab for two more Zennie Abraham blogs: the Super Bowl Blog, and the NFL Business Blog. The Zennie62 Widget also has tabs for the CNN iReport, YouTube, and Blip.tv video channels and the Zennie62 Twitter account.
That's 10 feeds all in one widget. But that's not the only feature: the widget rotates feeds every five seconds, so you can see one feed at a time and its latest contents.
The new widget is the creation of San Francisco-based Widgetbox.com and under my specifications. Now, I have all of my online broadcasts in one place. Most widgets have one feed; this one goes far beyond that.
The widget can be placed on a blog or website, Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter pages.
Thanks to Steve Kloft of Widgetbox for creating the new widget. Below and to the right are version of the Zennie62 Widget. Get one!:
And as the Super Bowl is coming, there's a tab for two more Zennie Abraham blogs: the Super Bowl Blog, and the NFL Business Blog. The Zennie62 Widget also has tabs for the CNN iReport, YouTube, and Blip.tv video channels and the Zennie62 Twitter account.
That's 10 feeds all in one widget. But that's not the only feature: the widget rotates feeds every five seconds, so you can see one feed at a time and its latest contents.
The new widget is the creation of San Francisco-based Widgetbox.com and under my specifications. Now, I have all of my online broadcasts in one place. Most widgets have one feed; this one goes far beyond that.
The widget can be placed on a blog or website, Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter pages.
Thanks to Steve Kloft of Widgetbox for creating the new widget. Below and to the right are version of the Zennie62 Widget. Get one!:
Monday, February 01, 2010
Oscar Nominations Livestream here at 5 AM PST / 8 AM EST
After months of movie watching, opinion sharing, and speculation tracking the day that the nominations for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards is here. Oscar Nomination Ballots were due January 23rd at 5 PM; they've been collected by Price WaterHouse for The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Special screenings to determine the nominees have been done and the Academy members have spoken. Now, the event featuring Anne Hathaway and AMPAS President Tom Sherak, is coming in the morning and you can see it live here:
It starts at 5 AM PST / 8 AM PST. This blogger has never tried to predict which movie was going to be nominated, and will not take up the practice in 2010. Stay tuned.
Watch live streaming video from academyawards at livestream.com
It starts at 5 AM PST / 8 AM PST. This blogger has never tried to predict which movie was going to be nominated, and will not take up the practice in 2010. Stay tuned.
Grammy Awards Time
With the 2010 Grammy Awards now officially over, speculation as to how they can draw the same ratings have begun. There was a huge 35% increase in numbers from 2009. The fashion was extravagant as usual, (Ciara wore over $250,000 in Cartier jewelry). Pink awed the crowds, she was incredible and soulful. And Beyonce proved herself as the Queen of the 2010 Grammy Awards by taking home six, a record breaking feat. I was pleasantly surprised that they allowed performers such long set times although this meant that Beyonce (unfortunately) had enough time to do her best impression of Alanis Morisette. Yes, I am confused about that one too... But all in all the show proved to be a success. Most importantly, by celebrating Michael Jackson with a stunning tribute sung by Usher, Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood, and a glowing Jennifer Hudson.
Now onto some other exciting news! If you are regular readers of this blog then you might have noticed videos and posts by yours truly recently. I thought a little bit of an introduction might be beneficial. I have been blogging for a long time and keep it appealing and fresh over at SomeRedCat.tumblr.com. And I am now extremely happy to be contributing something new to Zennie62.com.
I love everything pop culture. But what does that really mean you ask...? Well, it means that I am equally excited about who’s a hot mess on the red carpet as I am in what the next exhibit at SF MOMA is… I want to know what the international gross of Avatar is thus far as well as where the hell Brandy went (where are you girl?)… You know, I’m talking REALLY important stuff here.
But honestly, Life is meant to be fun! And this is Hollwood gossip, not brain surgery. I'm sticking with what I know, and I plan on delivering it to you with a smile and some sass.
A little more about me.. Likes- dance parties (even if they’re solo), Bette Midler, traveling, exploring San Francisco with my camera, Martin Short, Kant & Boas, spending Saturday with Jack Daniels and my friends, then Sunday with the New York Times, Dislikes- Ignorant people who don't like to have fun, when they tuck the sheet under the mattress at hotels, bananas, kiwis, indoor voices.
Have any questions or misplaced internet aggression?? Email me at SomeRedCat at gmail dot com & stalk me at SomeRedCat.tumblr.com
xoCat
Super Bowl XLIVL: Saints Coach Sean Payton takes Bill Walsh approach
In 1982, when the San Francisco 49ers traveled to Detroit to play the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI, Head Coach Bill Walsh dressed as a hotel bellman helping his team with their bags. The idea was to loosen up the Niners as it was their first Super Bowl.
Today, in 2010, we have the New Orleans Saints in their first Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIVL. And its apparent that Saints Head Coach Sean Payton saw the NFL Films movies of the late, great Coach Walsh. According to the NFL Network today, Coach Payton dressed as a hotel doorman along with several members of the Saints organization as the team was coming off their bus.
All to keep the Saints relaxed.
It worked for Bill Walsh and the San Francisco 49ers in 1982; the Niners won Super Bowl XVI 26 to 21. But 2010's a generation away and Coach Walsh wasn't up against the Colts Offense in Super Bowl XLIVL.
Stay tuned.
Today, in 2010, we have the New Orleans Saints in their first Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIVL. And its apparent that Saints Head Coach Sean Payton saw the NFL Films movies of the late, great Coach Walsh. According to the NFL Network today, Coach Payton dressed as a hotel doorman along with several members of the Saints organization as the team was coming off their bus.
All to keep the Saints relaxed.
It worked for Bill Walsh and the San Francisco 49ers in 1982; the Niners won Super Bowl XVI 26 to 21. But 2010's a generation away and Coach Walsh wasn't up against the Colts Offense in Super Bowl XLIVL.
Stay tuned.
Herb Caen lives through the SF Chronicle and New Media
Carl Nolte's take on Herb Caen is a worthy read, but for San Franciscans who've never heard of him - and the numnber's growing year-by-year - it's going to reach a small audience and then be quickly forgotten. That's sad, because Herb Caen is very much alive.
Herb Caen is alive in those of us who wanted to be like him, and still do. Who wanted to share how they saw San Francisco with the World. In the past, media wasn't fragmented; today it is. But because of that, he's everywhere.
Had he lived, Herb Caen would have still been a columnist, but a grouchy one, because his minders would not have had any idea how to get him plugged into New Media, and he most certainly would have resisted for a time. But his young fans would save him.
Herb Caen is alive. He lives in the people who use camcorders and cell phones to capture moments in San Francisco. Remember the Muni Driver who was getting a massage? The person who recorded him had Herb's sprit. Even the Oscar Grant Murder had Herb Caen's involvement in the form of the people who held up cell phones and camcorders to capture it as it was happening. And Herb Caen is very much in me. I had him in mind when I created this Golden Globe Awards video:
And this video on New Media, which was a tour of San Francisco, featuring talks with San Franciscans, including Mayor Newsom:
But if you're thinking I'm trying to say I'm Herb Caen - no, not exactly. We're all Herb Caen. I'm trying to show that we are him, today. We just need the proper vessel to show it and Herb Caen's sprit.
Herb Caen is alive. The problem is the San Francisco Chronicle hasn't figured out how to reassemble him today. Here's how.
Using YouTube's "direct" feature and a special web page, SFGate can have a new section called "I am Herb Caen: Herb Caen's San Francisco." The idea is to go to places that Herb would have either gone to or may have if they're new and make videos about them and what the person sees and upload them to the page. The result over time will be a powerful platform of San Francisco from his point of view as San Franciscans and visitors see it, expressed in videos.
In fact, here's an idea: each video should start with the title "I am Herb Caen."
Stay tuned.
Herb Caen is alive in those of us who wanted to be like him, and still do. Who wanted to share how they saw San Francisco with the World. In the past, media wasn't fragmented; today it is. But because of that, he's everywhere.
Had he lived, Herb Caen would have still been a columnist, but a grouchy one, because his minders would not have had any idea how to get him plugged into New Media, and he most certainly would have resisted for a time. But his young fans would save him.
Herb Caen is alive. He lives in the people who use camcorders and cell phones to capture moments in San Francisco. Remember the Muni Driver who was getting a massage? The person who recorded him had Herb's sprit. Even the Oscar Grant Murder had Herb Caen's involvement in the form of the people who held up cell phones and camcorders to capture it as it was happening. And Herb Caen is very much in me. I had him in mind when I created this Golden Globe Awards video:
And this video on New Media, which was a tour of San Francisco, featuring talks with San Franciscans, including Mayor Newsom:
But if you're thinking I'm trying to say I'm Herb Caen - no, not exactly. We're all Herb Caen. I'm trying to show that we are him, today. We just need the proper vessel to show it and Herb Caen's sprit.
Herb Caen is alive. The problem is the San Francisco Chronicle hasn't figured out how to reassemble him today. Here's how.
Using YouTube's "direct" feature and a special web page, SFGate can have a new section called "I am Herb Caen: Herb Caen's San Francisco." The idea is to go to places that Herb would have either gone to or may have if they're new and make videos about them and what the person sees and upload them to the page. The result over time will be a powerful platform of San Francisco from his point of view as San Franciscans and visitors see it, expressed in videos.
In fact, here's an idea: each video should start with the title "I am Herb Caen."
Stay tuned.
Ecuador President Correa takes doctors to Haiti, no donation, blasts donors
On Friday, January 29th, Ecuador President Rafael Correa went to visit earthquake damaged Haiti, with 12 doctors, and while making no monetary donation, blasted donor nations.
"There is a lot of imperialism among the donors. They donate first, but most of it goes back to them," Correct said at a joint press conference with Haiti's President Rene Preval.
That's the kind of politics Rafael Correa's known for. To mask the fact that Ecuador's not giving money to Haiti, Correa blasts those countries who have done so, which includes the United States.
To hide the fact that Rafael Correa wants to nationalize oil production in Ecuador, he asks for money to avoid oil extraction and production in what is considered an Ecuadorian biological preserve, then when he doesn't get the money, makes plans to do so with Ecuador's state-run oil company.
If Ecuador wanted to help Haiti, they would have spent money. With an economy projected to grow in 2010 and a budget in the billions, Ecuador could afford at least a few million for Haiti. And if Ecuador really wanted to protect the Amazon, it would not work to produce oil in it, itself.
Stay tuned.
"There is a lot of imperialism among the donors. They donate first, but most of it goes back to them," Correct said at a joint press conference with Haiti's President Rene Preval.
That's the kind of politics Rafael Correa's known for. To mask the fact that Ecuador's not giving money to Haiti, Correa blasts those countries who have done so, which includes the United States.
To hide the fact that Rafael Correa wants to nationalize oil production in Ecuador, he asks for money to avoid oil extraction and production in what is considered an Ecuadorian biological preserve, then when he doesn't get the money, makes plans to do so with Ecuador's state-run oil company.
If Ecuador wanted to help Haiti, they would have spent money. With an economy projected to grow in 2010 and a budget in the billions, Ecuador could afford at least a few million for Haiti. And if Ecuador really wanted to protect the Amazon, it would not work to produce oil in it, itself.
Stay tuned.
Oakland's iGrow weed Superstore in video
CNN's Dan Simon pays a visit to the new Oakland iGrow Superstore. The weed house is 15,000 square feet and just next to the Oakland Airport on 70 Hegenberger Drive. iGrow is developed for medicinal marijuana cultivation and they have a doctor in the building.
At iGrow, you can learn how to grow marijuana, get a cannabis card, and by all the equipment you need to have a growing crop of marijuana.
With this, and the blessings of the City of Oakland, America has taken one more step toward the eventual full legalization of marijuana.
Stay tuned.
At iGrow, you can learn how to grow marijuana, get a cannabis card, and by all the equipment you need to have a growing crop of marijuana.
With this, and the blessings of the City of Oakland, America has taken one more step toward the eventual full legalization of marijuana.
Stay tuned.
Green Day wins Grammy Award for Best Rock Album
Green Day, who's American Idiot musical is set to debut on Broadway, won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. At the Grammys, Billie Joe Armstrong and the Berkeley-born Green Day band did "21 Guns," from their album 21st Century Breakdown, which won the Best Rock Album Grammy.
Here, CNN captures the band practicing for their performance at The Grammys.
Green Day took the 2004 hit American Idiot and turned it into a popular play here on the West Coast. According to Wikipedia, American Idiot is about..
Stay tuned
Here, CNN captures the band practicing for their performance at The Grammys.
Green Day took the 2004 hit American Idiot and turned it into a popular play here on the West Coast. According to Wikipedia, American Idiot is about..
The album's protagonist, Jesus of Suburbia, emerged out of Armstrong asking himself what sort of person the title of "American Idiot" referred to. Armstrong described the character as essentially an anti-hero, a powerless "everyman" desensitized by a "steady diet of soda pop and Ritalin". Jesus of Suburbia hates his town and those close to him, so he leaves for the city.
As the album progresses the characters St. Jimmy and Whatsername are introduced. St. Jimmy is a punk rock freedom fighter. Whatsername, inspired by the Bikini Kill song "Rebel Girl", is a "Mother Revolution" figure that Armstrong described as "kind of St. Jimmy's nemesis in a lot of ways".
Both characters illustrate the "rage vs. love" theme of the album, in that "you can go with the blind rebellion of self-destruction, where Saint Jimmy is. But there's a more love-driven side to that, which is following your beliefs and ethics. And that's where Jesus of Suburbia really wants to go", according to Armstrong.
Near the end of the story, St. Jimmy apparently commits suicide. While the singer did not want to give away the details of the story's resolution, he said the intention is for the listener to ultimately realize that Jesus of Suburbia is really St. Jimmy, and Jimmy is "part of the main character that pretty much dies". In the album's final song, "Whatsername", Jesus of Suburbia loses his connection with Whatsername as well.
Stay tuned
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Taylor Swift wins Album of The Year at the Grammy Awards
The 2009 fairy tale story that is Taylor Swift continues in 2010. While Beyonce took home more Grammys than any female artist in Grammy history, Taylor Swift got three awards, including Album of The Year for the awesome Fearless.
Last year is seemed Taylor Swift could do no wrong, as she scored every award, major and not, that was in sight, including Country Music Entertainer of the Year.
At the Grammys, Taylor may have expected her long ride to end; it didn't. That should explain her wonderfully enthusiastic reaction to her award. (The video from that is not yet up as of this writing.)
Taylor Swift also had another dream come true when she got to perform with her childhood favorite, Stevie Nicks. The two performed songs from Fleetwood Mac and You Belong with Me, from Swift's Fearless album.
Stay tuned.
Last year is seemed Taylor Swift could do no wrong, as she scored every award, major and not, that was in sight, including Country Music Entertainer of the Year.
At the Grammys, Taylor may have expected her long ride to end; it didn't. That should explain her wonderfully enthusiastic reaction to her award. (The video from that is not yet up as of this writing.)
Taylor Swift also had another dream come true when she got to perform with her childhood favorite, Stevie Nicks. The two performed songs from Fleetwood Mac and You Belong with Me, from Swift's Fearless album.
Stay tuned.
Stephen Colbert's Opening Speech bombs at Grammy Awards
Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report is hilarious and his show is an American Cultural treasure. But Stephen Colbert's opening speech at the 2010 Grammy Awards just plain bombed. Either Stephen Colbert was before the wrong audience or he had the wrong material.
Whatever the case, watching Colbert struggle through his almost four minutes of his common "let's play the out-of-touch conservative trying-to-be hip, but not" character hurt as much as having the needle of a flu shot driven into your arm.
It was that bad.
The only part that saved Stephen Colbert from being a totally awful opening was pulling his Apple iPad out of his suit. "Does this make me cool?" He asked Jay-Z, for whom he slightly annoyed with his "What up, Z?" question at the start of the disaster. The look on Jay-Z's face was enough to make Stephen Colbert's skin crawl, and that's where it went bad. Stephen Colbert never recovered from that.
Yes. The fact that Colbert was bombing was the "in joke" but it ventured too far into his bombing actually not being funny. Colbert's humor is perfect for events like the White House Correspondents Dinner, but it wasn't a good idea to have him give the opening speech at The Grammys. Watching someone who's so talented just major league bomb at The Grammys was not fun at all.
Whatever the case, watching Colbert struggle through his almost four minutes of his common "let's play the out-of-touch conservative trying-to-be hip, but not" character hurt as much as having the needle of a flu shot driven into your arm.
It was that bad.
The only part that saved Stephen Colbert from being a totally awful opening was pulling his Apple iPad out of his suit. "Does this make me cool?" He asked Jay-Z, for whom he slightly annoyed with his "What up, Z?" question at the start of the disaster. The look on Jay-Z's face was enough to make Stephen Colbert's skin crawl, and that's where it went bad. Stephen Colbert never recovered from that.
Yes. The fact that Colbert was bombing was the "in joke" but it ventured too far into his bombing actually not being funny. Colbert's humor is perfect for events like the White House Correspondents Dinner, but it wasn't a good idea to have him give the opening speech at The Grammys. Watching someone who's so talented just major league bomb at The Grammys was not fun at all.
Grammy Awards 2010: Beyonce performance wows the crowd
Beyonce's militaristic, head-banging performance was the Twitter talk of the 2010 Grammy Awards. Escorted by a group of black armored suit wearing dancers, Beyonce looked more like a super hot drill sergeant than a pop singer.
The design of Beyonce's performance brought up memories of Michael Jackson in This Is It performing HisTory. And it was very much like Emimen's 2002 MTV Music Awards performance of Slim Shady when he walked into Radio City Music Hall with an army of white men all dressed and cut to look just like him.
One thing you have to say: Beyonce is hot. No question about it. She's also the hottest Grammy winner, taking home six Grammys, the most by a female performer in one year.
The design of Beyonce's performance brought up memories of Michael Jackson in This Is It performing HisTory. And it was very much like Emimen's 2002 MTV Music Awards performance of Slim Shady when he walked into Radio City Music Hall with an army of white men all dressed and cut to look just like him.
One thing you have to say: Beyonce is hot. No question about it. She's also the hottest Grammy winner, taking home six Grammys, the most by a female performer in one year.
Grammy Awards 2010: Miley Cyrus greeting fans with her mom
YouTube user Michalyse was one of the fans at the Red Carpet for the 2010 Grammy Awards, when superstar singer Miley Cyrus walked in and came over to sign autographs.
Miley Cyrus, wearing a short black cocktail dress, was with her Mom Tish, and not her boyfriend Liam Hemsworth. (They're not engaged, but reportedly they are still dating. Still one wonders where he was.)
You can hear the crowd, which sounds like her demographic of females 13 to 17, screaming her name. It's a very good video uploaded rapidly.
Miley was a presenter at the 2010 Grammy Awards.
Miley Cyrus, wearing a short black cocktail dress, was with her Mom Tish, and not her boyfriend Liam Hemsworth. (They're not engaged, but reportedly they are still dating. Still one wonders where he was.)
You can hear the crowd, which sounds like her demographic of females 13 to 17, screaming her name. It's a very good video uploaded rapidly.
Miley was a presenter at the 2010 Grammy Awards.
Lady Gaga and Elton John get Grammy's started
The rumored and much anticipated Grammy Awards pairing of Lady Gaga and Sir Elton John happened, and go the Grammys off to a rousing start. Lady Gaga and Elton John are both piano wizards, so it was fitting that they produced a piano duet of a number of songs from past and present:
Sir Elton John had his own signature glitter glasses and both had a kind of "soot' makeup. Elton can still jam on the piano. It was cool: young and old, past and present, both massively brilliant.
Other performances that will be featured are Beyonce Rocks doing Alanis Morissette's 'You Oughta Know', Pink literally "up in the air" for 'Glitter in The Air', Taylor Swift And Stevie Nicks singing the Fleetwood Mac song Rhiannon, and Taylor Swift's You Belong With Me from her album Fearless.
Stay tuned.
Sir Elton John had his own signature glitter glasses and both had a kind of "soot' makeup. Elton can still jam on the piano. It was cool: young and old, past and present, both massively brilliant.
Other performances that will be featured are Beyonce Rocks doing Alanis Morissette's 'You Oughta Know', Pink literally "up in the air" for 'Glitter in The Air', Taylor Swift And Stevie Nicks singing the Fleetwood Mac song Rhiannon, and Taylor Swift's You Belong With Me from her album Fearless.
Stay tuned.
Zennie62 Widget beats SFGate Widget, approaching NY Times Widget
Last year, my friend Steve Kloft (who's a consultant to several top New Media companies), came to me by my surprise having already created a widget for me called "The Zennie Abraham Widget". The best thing is I never asked for it or even thought of it. It was Steve's creation; his idea to promote me.
That's a friend.
Steve was then and still is now a consultant to WidgetBox, which I later featured in a video on the firm here:
That's a friend.
Steve was then and still is now a consultant to WidgetBox, which I later featured in a video on the firm here:
YouTube has President Obama's full State of The Union Address
Thanks to The White House and YouTube News and Politics Editor Steve Grove, YouTube has the full, high-definition video presentation of the State of The Union Address President Barack Obama gave on Wednesday, January 27, 2010. If you missed it, you can watch it right here on video without leaving this post:
The speech was one of the greatest President Obama has made in history because it came at a time when he, and America, needed a great speech. Obama needed it to reset the course of his young presidency. The United States needed it to establish a vision of a possible, full employment economic recovery.
The problem America has suffered under is that while America's economy has grown at a three percent rate in the 2009 third quarter and at 5.1 percent in the 2009 fourth quarter, unemployment is still at high levels.
This is so because before the last two quarters of growth, America's economy was on a steady path of recession for almost two years. Job production has not yet followed this growth and credit is still tight.
The result was a feeling that America was not on the right track. But President Obama's State of The Union Address changed that. According to a CBS poll, 83 percent of Americans supported the proposals President Obama described in his speech.
The full text of the speech is presented by the New York Times, here.
Stay tuned.
The speech was one of the greatest President Obama has made in history because it came at a time when he, and America, needed a great speech. Obama needed it to reset the course of his young presidency. The United States needed it to establish a vision of a possible, full employment economic recovery.
The problem America has suffered under is that while America's economy has grown at a three percent rate in the 2009 third quarter and at 5.1 percent in the 2009 fourth quarter, unemployment is still at high levels.
This is so because before the last two quarters of growth, America's economy was on a steady path of recession for almost two years. Job production has not yet followed this growth and credit is still tight.
The result was a feeling that America was not on the right track. But President Obama's State of The Union Address changed that. According to a CBS poll, 83 percent of Americans supported the proposals President Obama described in his speech.
The full text of the speech is presented by the New York Times, here.
Stay tuned.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Miss America 2010 Winner: Rush Limbaugh dancing to Lady Gaga
The official Miss America 2010 Winner was Miss Virginia Caressa Cameron. But the real Miss America 2010 Winner was Rush Limbaugh dancing to Lady Gaga, which is becoming a YouTube and Blip.tv hit.
First, Limbaugh, the Couch Potato Conservative blowhard and radio star - who made news first by being named a judge in the wake of his blast of a female caller "April", telling her to get the "tampon out of her ears" (as he was insulting Haiti after the earthquake) - was named judge of the pageant.
Second, Rush Limbaugh, discovering he was happy to be alive in the wake of his unfortunate chest pain incident on New Year's Eve morning, got off a what can only by called a "dry heave" of a dance to Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" during the pageant. It was a hilarious scene worthy of analysis on video:
All kidding aside, it's great to see Rush Limbaugh getting lose and enjoying life. No word on Lady Gaga's opinion of Limbaugh's dancing. But if you're interested in what a "dry heave" dance is, it was created by the writers of Seinfeld and done by Julia Louise-Dryfus as "Elaine" and seen here:
Stay tuned.
Rush Limbaugh cuts ..something (photo by Alan Colmes)
First, Limbaugh, the Couch Potato Conservative blowhard and radio star - who made news first by being named a judge in the wake of his blast of a female caller "April", telling her to get the "tampon out of her ears" (as he was insulting Haiti after the earthquake) - was named judge of the pageant.
Second, Rush Limbaugh, discovering he was happy to be alive in the wake of his unfortunate chest pain incident on New Year's Eve morning, got off a what can only by called a "dry heave" of a dance to Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" during the pageant. It was a hilarious scene worthy of analysis on video:
All kidding aside, it's great to see Rush Limbaugh getting lose and enjoying life. No word on Lady Gaga's opinion of Limbaugh's dancing. But if you're interested in what a "dry heave" dance is, it was created by the writers of Seinfeld and done by Julia Louise-Dryfus as "Elaine" and seen here:
Stay tuned.
001 - Sfist Oscar blog post gets Zennie story wrong
UPDATE: Zennie62 video views according to TubeMogul.
If there's one thing I can't stand it's getting the story completely wrong about another person. Like "Lady Gaga is dead" or "Johnny Depp is dead" for example. The blog Sfist has taken things too far with respect to this blogger and I'm calling them on it. The Sfist making fun of my Oscar predicament was the last straw. They got it wrong.
First, SFist refers to me, Zennie Abraham, as their "Old Pal, Zennie". Well, I'm asking them to stop it, or if I am their "Old Pal" then take the "Old Pal" to lunch. I've never met a single soul over at SFist and would not know any one of them if they walked past me, and they probably have.
I do not know Sfist Editor Brock Keeling by face or any of the other editors at SFist. I've invited Brock to lunch, but he's never taken me up on the invitation (until an email I got as I was writing this). Meanwhile, I feel that at times, and as I've added up, SFist is trying to selectively take some of the 800 blog posts I've written on SFGate.com alone and make me look like a black buffoon.
Yes, it started with my take on Star Trek and black men, which I stand by. At the time, there was a question of how minorities would be shown in a show that was known for its racial diversity and that I grew up with.
While the Star Trek movie was much better than I expected, and I'm a fan of it, the movie was still a wee bit off. What I want of the World is for people to think in terms of diversity first and that's a battle, along with advancing women in business and politics, that I will fight forever.
I try to help people by showing them, openly, how to make money with videos on YouTube. (How many times have I talked about the YouTube Partner Program?). I like helping people, as my friend Sarah Austin shows:
I wish Sfist would present that side of me.
SFist always of late uses a video that's of me doing something not serious (Zennie Abraham goes to White Castle) or if its a blog, about race (Harry Reid). SFist skipped over my blog posts on Haiti. They didn't even pay attention to my Haiti donation list. Matters about Oakland's draconian parking problem are not there at SFist. My interview with Craig Newmark was ignored by SFst. Why?
No. I'm not perfect. I'm a terrible proofreader. I'm at points undisciplined. I talk alot, to a lot of people. I hate tech event where there are a few folks of color. I hate it when people segregate themselves by race. I'm not an ideologue. I favor big business. And I'm perhaps too wonkish. But I am extremely creative. I do know how to write for the Internet. Bots love me and some people, too. It's the reason I'm the highest traffic generator at SFGate.com.
I've generated over 1 million visitors at SFGate.com for three straight months including January, and discovered and developed a formula that allow me to cover both the national and World traffic generating content, then once I reach a point, mix in the local news with it.
I use the strategy for my own blog system and only Google's irrational protection of news websites over blogs keeps the same performance from being repeated by my blogs. If anyone were smart, they'd pay attention: SFGate.com does.
I'm trying to help advance media's future. We can disagree on a lot of things, but one thing we can all agree on is we need to fashion a course for news that's sustainable. News, like it or not, is now a commodity market. But the reason many news organizations fail is they treat it like its at their whim. The idea that "the editor knows best" is the reason many news efforts fail.
In the old days, blacks were shut out of newsrooms. Today, in this tech-led culture, any one can make a difference regardless of race, color, or sex. That's what I'm trying to prove and I love it when some get pissed off about it. Tech can overcome racism and prejudice, if one knows what they're doing. Why Sfist can't present that is beyond me.
But the bottom line is SFist got it wrong. AMPAS (the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)invited me to apply for a press credential for The Oscars. Anyone would be excited if they were given such an opportunity. The Oscar invite was to me a gauge - a measure - of the impact of what I've done. I have the metrics; I should be at the Oscars. But if not, I just want to know what I need to do to change that for 2011. There's nothing wrong with that.
If there's one thing I can't stand it's getting the story completely wrong about another person. Like "Lady Gaga is dead" or "Johnny Depp is dead" for example. The blog Sfist has taken things too far with respect to this blogger and I'm calling them on it. The Sfist making fun of my Oscar predicament was the last straw. They got it wrong.
Sfist never shows this side of Zennie
First, SFist refers to me, Zennie Abraham, as their "Old Pal, Zennie". Well, I'm asking them to stop it, or if I am their "Old Pal" then take the "Old Pal" to lunch. I've never met a single soul over at SFist and would not know any one of them if they walked past me, and they probably have.
I do not know Sfist Editor Brock Keeling by face or any of the other editors at SFist. I've invited Brock to lunch, but he's never taken me up on the invitation (until an email I got as I was writing this). Meanwhile, I feel that at times, and as I've added up, SFist is trying to selectively take some of the 800 blog posts I've written on SFGate.com alone and make me look like a black buffoon.
Yes, it started with my take on Star Trek and black men, which I stand by. At the time, there was a question of how minorities would be shown in a show that was known for its racial diversity and that I grew up with.
While the Star Trek movie was much better than I expected, and I'm a fan of it, the movie was still a wee bit off. What I want of the World is for people to think in terms of diversity first and that's a battle, along with advancing women in business and politics, that I will fight forever.
I try to help people by showing them, openly, how to make money with videos on YouTube. (How many times have I talked about the YouTube Partner Program?). I like helping people, as my friend Sarah Austin shows:
I wish Sfist would present that side of me.
SFist always of late uses a video that's of me doing something not serious (Zennie Abraham goes to White Castle) or if its a blog, about race (Harry Reid). SFist skipped over my blog posts on Haiti. They didn't even pay attention to my Haiti donation list. Matters about Oakland's draconian parking problem are not there at SFist. My interview with Craig Newmark was ignored by SFst. Why?
No. I'm not perfect. I'm a terrible proofreader. I'm at points undisciplined. I talk alot, to a lot of people. I hate tech event where there are a few folks of color. I hate it when people segregate themselves by race. I'm not an ideologue. I favor big business. And I'm perhaps too wonkish. But I am extremely creative. I do know how to write for the Internet. Bots love me and some people, too. It's the reason I'm the highest traffic generator at SFGate.com.
I've generated over 1 million visitors at SFGate.com for three straight months including January, and discovered and developed a formula that allow me to cover both the national and World traffic generating content, then once I reach a point, mix in the local news with it.
I use the strategy for my own blog system and only Google's irrational protection of news websites over blogs keeps the same performance from being repeated by my blogs. If anyone were smart, they'd pay attention: SFGate.com does.
I'm trying to help advance media's future. We can disagree on a lot of things, but one thing we can all agree on is we need to fashion a course for news that's sustainable. News, like it or not, is now a commodity market. But the reason many news organizations fail is they treat it like its at their whim. The idea that "the editor knows best" is the reason many news efforts fail.
In the old days, blacks were shut out of newsrooms. Today, in this tech-led culture, any one can make a difference regardless of race, color, or sex. That's what I'm trying to prove and I love it when some get pissed off about it. Tech can overcome racism and prejudice, if one knows what they're doing. Why Sfist can't present that is beyond me.
But the bottom line is SFist got it wrong. AMPAS (the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)invited me to apply for a press credential for The Oscars. Anyone would be excited if they were given such an opportunity. The Oscar invite was to me a gauge - a measure - of the impact of what I've done. I have the metrics; I should be at the Oscars. But if not, I just want to know what I need to do to change that for 2011. There's nothing wrong with that.
001 - Mike Silver's in The Audi Efficiency Challenge charity drive to Super Bowl XLIV
My long time friend Yahoo! Sports Mike Silver's in The Audi Efficiency Challenge charity drive to Super Bowl XLIV. This is the email he sent on the event:
Hey everyone... I'm fired up to participate in the Audi Efficiency Challenge, beginning tomorrow in Washington D.C. and ending at the site of Super Bowl XLIV. It is a race to see who can make the drive (in a state-of-the-art, clean-diesel SUV) with the most fuel efficiency, and I am trying to win $20,000 for a pair of Type 1 diabetes-related charities, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Diabetic Youth Foundation. As many of you know, my 10-year-old son has Type 1 and it is a daily and constant challenge for our family and for those of the up to three million Americans with the condition. I hope you will check out my new website and offer any support that you can. There are direct links for both charities. And please spread the word! I totally appreciate it.
http://www.ridewithsilver.com
Mike Silver
001 - Domino's new pizza taste is just awful - an update
On December 20th, this blogger conducted his own informal taste test of the new Domino's Pizza formula. It was terrible:
I read that Domino's Pizza had a new recipe that aimed to "put away the competition" as CBS News reported. So I decided to order a sausage, bell peppers, and cheese version from the store on Grand Avenue here in Oakland.
Aside from the fact that the delivery person didn't understand how to use the intercom system where I live, and had to come twice, the pizza itself was just plain awful. Now, it was cold but warming it just worsened things. I'm sorry. I read that Domino's spend two years developing this new taste; what the heck were they thinking?
A pizza is made by the crust, the sauce, and the cheese. The Domino cheese, whatever it is, is so bad I don't even want to finish my pizza. And the sauce is so bland, it might as well not be on the pizza.
I'm now eating the Cesar Salad I ordered to go with it. In fact, I'd have been happier with just the salad!
Since then, commenters and emailer have responded to explain how much they like the new taste or to say I didn't have the new version of the pizza. So to prove that wasn't the case, I uploaded the video above. You can see that the box claims the new pizza is the one with Domino's Pizza'a new taste. And that was the pizza I called terrible.
Then, I received this email:
Hi Sir,
With refrence to our telephonic conversation ragrading your last experience with us at Domino's pizza I sincerely appologize for the inconvinience you had .
Just to make it up your next order is on us .
Again we appologize for inconvinience you had.
Best regards
Apparently Domino's Pizza Headquarters saw the blog post, contacted the Oakland Grand Avenue store, and the manager contacted me. He offered to provide another pizza made to order by my instructions, and on Domino's Pizza.
Since then, the call to order one has not yet happened, but Domino's Pizza has not stood still. Now, the fast food giant claims their last pizza version was terrible. The new marketing strategy has taken many by surprise. Econsultancy wrote:
Domino's Pizza has a confession to make: the pizza it has been selling for decades sucks. If you ever thought that the crust tasted like cardboard, or that the sauce tasted like ketchup, Domino's isn't going to argue with you. It knows.
Wow. But the problem I has was the new taste was worst than the old one. Of those who took issue with my blog post, I think most were Domino's Pizza plants: people hired by the firm to respond to my often-seen blog post either by commentary or email. Domino's has worked aggressively to get the word out that their new pizza is really better. They even have their own YouTube channel, with their latest pizza taste-test videos just having been uploaded one week ago:
Is all of this really the best approach? I don't know, but I'm going to take them up on their pizza offer.
Stay tuned.
Friday, January 29, 2010
001 - California lawmakers want to take free parking away from you
No free parking? This article in the LA Times has a number of people up in arms. Apparently California State Senator Alan Lowenthal (D- Long Beach) wants cities to reduce the availability of free parking. And just as the City of Oakland's thrown a parking choke chain around Oaklanders. His proposal won Senate approval. He says this:
"Free parking has significant social, economic and environmental costs. It increases congestion and greenhouse gas emissions."
It's this - wanting to take away free parking - that's the kind of stupid squeezing of Californians during what is now a jobless recovery that will doom Democrats in November. Lowenthal has the backing of the Sierra Club, which picked the wrong issue to wade into, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The bill reportedly provides financial incentives for cities and counties to stop providing free parking on the street.
The question is, will it provide campaign financing for any Democrat who backs it. The ones who do will get a swift ticket out of office in California. It's really just a money grab dressed up as an environmental concern.
Stay tuned.
"Free parking has significant social, economic and environmental costs. It increases congestion and greenhouse gas emissions."
It's this - wanting to take away free parking - that's the kind of stupid squeezing of Californians during what is now a jobless recovery that will doom Democrats in November. Lowenthal has the backing of the Sierra Club, which picked the wrong issue to wade into, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The bill reportedly provides financial incentives for cities and counties to stop providing free parking on the street.
The question is, will it provide campaign financing for any Democrat who backs it. The ones who do will get a swift ticket out of office in California. It's really just a money grab dressed up as an environmental concern.
Stay tuned.
001- Bank of America website is down as of 12:17 PST
Wow, the website for the Bank of America really is down as of this writing. After a long load time, the result is "page not available". Moreover, it looks like the servers are not responding and their may be what's called a "DNS" (Domain Name System) problem. The reason for that assertion is the logo links do not come up in the page that you see below:
So, even with the special page Bank of America page, we can aee what looks like a DNS issue. We can't browse, and B of A may be getting numbers but not pages. The DNS system is supposed to convert number codes into the readable webpages we're all know. This blogger's bet is that's not happening.
The question is why?
The impact is that millions of people around the World can't get in to see their accounts. However, it does not appear to be impacting account transactions offline. For example, credit and debt cards my friends have are working as of this writing.
As of 12:17 PST, the Bank of America website is still down. A cyber attack has not been determined as the cause of the problem.
Stay tuned.
So, even with the special page Bank of America page, we can aee what looks like a DNS issue. We can't browse, and B of A may be getting numbers but not pages. The DNS system is supposed to convert number codes into the readable webpages we're all know. This blogger's bet is that's not happening.
The question is why?
The impact is that millions of people around the World can't get in to see their accounts. However, it does not appear to be impacting account transactions offline. For example, credit and debt cards my friends have are working as of this writing.
As of 12:17 PST, the Bank of America website is still down. A cyber attack has not been determined as the cause of the problem.
Stay tuned.
Oakland Library: novelist Daniel Alarcon event Saturday-007
We love you Oakland Library - Oakland Word kickoff Sat with award-winning authors; free creative writing workshops this SpringFinally write your novel, poem, blog, essay - with the brand new **and free** Oakland Word creative writing workshops. Program jumps off this Sat, Jan. 30 at 1pm at the Oakland Public Library Main Branch, 125 14th St. Words and music by award-winning novelist DANIEL ALARCÓN, author of Lost City Radio and War by Candlelight, poet and writer TENNESSEE REED, author of Spell Albuquerque: Memoir of a “Difficult” Student and multiple poetry collections, Oakland Word instructors, LINDA GONZÁLEZ, CLAIRE LIGHT, CARRIE LEILAM LOVE and BISOLA MARIGNAY, beats by DJ MAX CHAMP
***The party is free and open to the public.***
More details from organizers:
To provoke dialogue and encourage creativity among underrepresented youths and adults, the Oakland Public Library is offering free writing workshops during the months of February and March. The program, called Oakland Word, launches Saturday, January 30, at 1 p.m. with a kick-off party at the Main Library, 125 14th Street, in Oakland.
During the first of two sessions, a variety of Oakland Word workshops will be available at three Library locations, starting February 3 and concluding March 6:
Asian Branch, 388 9th Street (238-3400)
§ Intro to Writing Short Fiction (Fridays, 4 – 5:30 pm)
§ Writing Life Stories (Saturdays, 4 – 5:30 pm)
§ Teens: Blogging 101 Seminar (one day only: Saturday, March 6, 12:30 – 3:30 pm)
Cesar E. Chavez Branch, 3301 East 12th Street, Ste. 271 (535-5620)
§ Urban Fiction: Elements of Short Story Writing (Saturdays, 2:15 – 3:45 pm)
§ Take Charge of Your Work: Career Development (Saturdays, 4 – 5: 30 pm)
Main Library, 125 145th Street (238-3134)
§ Life Stories in Poetry and Prose (Thursdays, 6 – 7:30 pm)
§ Writing and Speaking Word: Poetry and Spoken Word (Saturdays, 3:30 – 5 pm)
§ Soul Song: Song Writing Seminar (one day only: Sunday, Feb. 28, 2 – 5 pm)
§ Literature of Oakland: Reading & Writing about Oakland Public Library (Wednesdays, 6 – 7:30 pm)
§ From the Heart: Love Poetry Seminar (one day only: Sunday, Feb. 14, 2 – 5 pm)
Courses at Chávez Branch will be taught by bilingual (fluent in Spanish and English) instructors. Some Asian Branch classes will be held at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, upstairs from the Asian Branch Library, at 388 Ninth Street, Suite 290 (call Asian Branch at 238-3400 for information).
A second session will begin in March and conclude in late April (details about class offerings are forthcoming).
Oakland Word is funded by a grant from the California State Library
Anyone interested in participating in the Oakland Word writing workshops will need to register in advance. For information, call (510) 238-6572 or email theoaklandword@gmail.com. Information is also available online at http://www.oaklandword.org. For information in Spanish, call the Chávez Branch (535-5620).
Obama SOTU: Red State's "cocky" word of White Supremacists is not Sci Fi
Red State's Erick Erickson, now identified as one of Thursday's "Worst Person's in The World" by MSNBC's Keith Olbermann on Countdown, was given a chance to walk back what this blogger identified as his really misguided and historically racist application of the word "cocky" to describe how President Obama delivered his State of The Union Address Wednesday night.
Indeed, since his blog post compares to that from a forum member of the White Supremacist Group, Stormfront, you'd think he would be eager to reconsider what I had hoped would have been an off-handed, beer-fueled, post television party blog statement.
Erick Erickson not only failed to do that, he actually slammed his head right into what for me is an even bigger problem: his total lack of understanding of The Star Wars Saga.
In his latest RedState post, Erickson brings up the scene in Star Wars - Episode Four: A New Hope, where Han Solo says to a young Luke Skywalker "Don't get cocky" as an example, of how Erick was using the term "cocky".
And that's exactly my point. Erick, I know George Lucas (we met at Aqua four years ago and for the second time, and only San Francisco locals or well traveled people reading this will know that establishment) and thus by extension I know Han Solo.
Erick Erickson, you're no Han Solo.
Han Solo was trying to tell Luke Skywalker to know his place in the scheme of things. Han Solo was trying to tell Luke Skywalker not to get too big for his pants. Thus, the word "cocky".
Han Solo is not a racist because he never told Lando Calrissian to not "get cocky", and Lando's black. Indeed, Han Solo was smart enough to know that he would need Lando's help, and got it in Star Wars - Episode Five: The Empire Strikes Back and in Star Wars - Episode Six: Return of The Jedi, shown here:
Han Solo and Lando Calrissian were good friends in life and in business. They were equals with complementary skills. Han Solo would never tell Lando Calrissian to know his place, because to douse Lando's fire, to try and "box in" his personality would have threatened Han Solo's life.
This never occurred to Erick Erickson because he apparently only sees African Americans as "less than" and can't stand that America has a black man as president. I make this assertion because Erickson called President Obama's Nobel Prize win an "Affirmative Action Quota Pick" and he thought it was funny.
I'm not laughing; it's disgusting. And it's why I stand by my assertion that Erick Erickson's "cocky" statement to insult President Obama was used in the same way that members of the White Supremacist Group Stormfront would do, and have done as I demonstrated in my original blog post. Indeed, Erickson's unfortunately allowed himself to be painted by others as a racist, let's hope and pray he's not proud of the charge.
Racism is a mental illness to be treated, not fostered or celebrated.
If Erick Erickson wants lessons in how to have friends of different colors without putting them down, there are two people he should consult: Han Solo and me.
Stay tuned.
Indeed, since his blog post compares to that from a forum member of the White Supremacist Group, Stormfront, you'd think he would be eager to reconsider what I had hoped would have been an off-handed, beer-fueled, post television party blog statement.
Erick Erickson not only failed to do that, he actually slammed his head right into what for me is an even bigger problem: his total lack of understanding of The Star Wars Saga.
In his latest RedState post, Erickson brings up the scene in Star Wars - Episode Four: A New Hope, where Han Solo says to a young Luke Skywalker "Don't get cocky" as an example, of how Erick was using the term "cocky".
And that's exactly my point. Erick, I know George Lucas (we met at Aqua four years ago and for the second time, and only San Francisco locals or well traveled people reading this will know that establishment) and thus by extension I know Han Solo.
Erick Erickson, you're no Han Solo.
Han Solo was trying to tell Luke Skywalker to know his place in the scheme of things. Han Solo was trying to tell Luke Skywalker not to get too big for his pants. Thus, the word "cocky".
Han Solo is not a racist because he never told Lando Calrissian to not "get cocky", and Lando's black. Indeed, Han Solo was smart enough to know that he would need Lando's help, and got it in Star Wars - Episode Five: The Empire Strikes Back and in Star Wars - Episode Six: Return of The Jedi, shown here:
Han Solo and Lando Calrissian were good friends in life and in business. They were equals with complementary skills. Han Solo would never tell Lando Calrissian to know his place, because to douse Lando's fire, to try and "box in" his personality would have threatened Han Solo's life.
This never occurred to Erick Erickson because he apparently only sees African Americans as "less than" and can't stand that America has a black man as president. I make this assertion because Erickson called President Obama's Nobel Prize win an "Affirmative Action Quota Pick" and he thought it was funny.
I'm not laughing; it's disgusting. And it's why I stand by my assertion that Erick Erickson's "cocky" statement to insult President Obama was used in the same way that members of the White Supremacist Group Stormfront would do, and have done as I demonstrated in my original blog post. Indeed, Erickson's unfortunately allowed himself to be painted by others as a racist, let's hope and pray he's not proud of the charge.
Racism is a mental illness to be treated, not fostered or celebrated.
If Erick Erickson wants lessons in how to have friends of different colors without putting them down, there are two people he should consult: Han Solo and me.
Stay tuned.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
John Edwards and Elizabeth split after 30 years -Cat
John Edwards and Elizabeth, his wife of over 30 years, have separated. Elizabeth faithfully supported her husband in 2006 when he divulged to her that he had strayed from the marriage. It would later come out to the public. And to add insult to injury, a few years ago rumblings started to surface that John Edwards was in fact the father of Rielle’s daughter. Edwards vehemently denied this. Well, three weeks ago the truth came out and Edwards admitted that he is indeed the father of Rielle’s daughter.
That was the final breaking point for Elizabeth Edwards. Unfortunately, this story cannot be reported without acknowledging a certain circulating rumor. One in which there is a sex tape involving John Edwards and a visibly very pregnant Rielle Hunter.
Stay tuned.
*posted by Cat of someredcat.tumblr.com
Obama SOTU: Red State's "cocky" word used by White Supremacists
President Barack Obama's State of The Union (SOTU) Address has been hailed as a success, with long-time political observer Howard Feinman saying on MSNBC the speech was so good they should get ready to "carve another space in Mount Rushmore."
Indeed, President Obama's speech was a successful game of "take away": in one night Obama took the staples of Republican election success - tax credits, pro-business policies, and nuclear power - away from them, and the GOP cheered in the process. But when the hangover from the SOTU cleared, and the GOP realized what happened, some conservatives went for the racial-code-word jugular and sounded like White Supremacists in the process.
One such example is Red State's Erick Erickson.
In his Red State blog post, Erick Erickson used a word that's has a totally racist connection to describe President Obama's delivery: "cocky."
Erick Erickson, forgetting that Barack Obama is President of The United States, or perhaps upset about it, echoed the same views expressed over at the White Supremacist website Stormfront.
In a rather wild thread called "Politically Correct Racism", Valhalladream
let loose with the "C" word on Valentines Day, 2009 (there must be something wrong because Valhalladream should have been out with his girlfriend, right?) Valhalladream writes:
What Red State's Erick Erickson wrote is the same. In other words, Erick Erickson and Red State apparently think that this African American President needs to be "slammed back" because he's too "cocky" and presumably like other black men should know his place.
Really? Really?
I do hope that's one blog post Erick Erickson wants to have back.
Stay tuned.
Indeed, President Obama's speech was a successful game of "take away": in one night Obama took the staples of Republican election success - tax credits, pro-business policies, and nuclear power - away from them, and the GOP cheered in the process. But when the hangover from the SOTU cleared, and the GOP realized what happened, some conservatives went for the racial-code-word jugular and sounded like White Supremacists in the process.
One such example is Red State's Erick Erickson.
In his Red State blog post, Erick Erickson used a word that's has a totally racist connection to describe President Obama's delivery: "cocky."
What you did not know at home listening to Barack Obama’s speech tonight is that he inserted a few quips that were not in the prepared text. They were cocky and snide.
Erick Erickson, forgetting that Barack Obama is President of The United States, or perhaps upset about it, echoed the same views expressed over at the White Supremacist website Stormfront.
In a rather wild thread called "Politically Correct Racism", Valhalladream
let loose with the "C" word on Valentines Day, 2009 (there must be something wrong because Valhalladream should have been out with his girlfriend, right?) Valhalladream writes:
And the problem is - is that we are just so used to it. We laugh about it - shrug it off. Time has come to get just as "touchy" as them. Oh, and you know the election which was supposed to bring the country together in one big kum-by-ya love in and it will be like mixing coffee and cream and we will all "get along" and live happily ever after? NOT! I have been so much more openly antagonistic towards blacks - especially the ones who think they own the freakin' world now because of that black sob in MY white house. They are getting really cocky. One crackhead in his pimp-mobile blocked an intersection and I opened my window and said "You better move that car you black ba_ _ _ _ _d!" He looked at me I think in shock and didn't know how to react. I would have never done that a year ago. I don't care. They need to be slammed back
What Red State's Erick Erickson wrote is the same. In other words, Erick Erickson and Red State apparently think that this African American President needs to be "slammed back" because he's too "cocky" and presumably like other black men should know his place.
Really? Really?
I do hope that's one blog post Erick Erickson wants to have back.
Stay tuned.
Tiger Woods sex rehab work trashed by Loredana Jolie
Tiger Woods sex rehab work is being trashed by former mistress Loredana Jolie. In New York Post's Page 6, Loredana Jolie let loose with another set of bombshell comments targeted directly at The World's Greatest Golfer. Just a month ago, Loredana Jolie claimed Tiger Woods was bisexual in the same Page Six section, and by the same representative Teisha Dynell (who's increased her online visibility of late).
As part of her upcoming "tell-all" book, Loredana Jolie through Teisha Dynell claims that Tiger Woods sex rehab in Mississippi will not work. In Page Six she says:
Tiger Woods Management had no response for the NY Post.
Loredana Jolie
As part of her upcoming "tell-all" book, Loredana Jolie through Teisha Dynell claims that Tiger Woods sex rehab in Mississippi will not work. In Page Six she says:
"He would engage in sex from 9 p.m. until the sun came up the next morning. But he wasn't a healthy guy. He couldn't sleep and would stay up all night. I am not really sure rehab for sex addiction will help him...Tiger's sexual fantasies were not normal. He likes role-playing, he likes to be the guy in control and wearing a suit while there are girls performing girl-on-girl and guys entertaining guys. By that, I mean they would dance for each other like girls would do for a man," the would-be author claimed.
Tiger Woods Management had no response for the NY Post.
Jessica Simpson farted is news? Simpson giving to Haiti is better
The webpage does not lie, even when it's changed. US Magazine writes "EXCLUSIVE: Oops! Jessica Simpson Farts During Business Meeting". Unbelievable.
Not that Jessica Simpson farted during a business meeting, but that it wound up on the front of US Magazine. (One wonders if she gave to Haiti?) There's certainly a connection between her body concerns and what she's putting in it...
But is this going too far?
The metric test here is of interest. Will this post get click? Yes. How many? A lot. Why? Who knows. Forget the really important question, which is "what did she eat?" this news is all over the place. Still, US Magazine reports:
Yes, people are voyeurs, and they will certainly be interested in a lot of what celebs do, but farting? And what about the US Magazine claim that It wasn't Simpson's first brush with public flatulence
OK. I just can't help but wonder where this is going to go. One certainty is whatever squeaky-clean image Jessica Simpson had is gone.
Jessica Simpson giving to Haiti is better news; if she did. Stay tuned.
Not that Jessica Simpson farted during a business meeting, but that it wound up on the front of US Magazine. (One wonders if she gave to Haiti?) There's certainly a connection between her body concerns and what she's putting in it...
But is this going too far?
The metric test here is of interest. Will this post get click? Yes. How many? A lot. Why? Who knows. Forget the really important question, which is "what did she eat?" this news is all over the place. Still, US Magazine reports:
A source tells Us Weekly that Jessica Simpson had a, ahem, windy moment during a business meeting for her denim line in late January. "While one of the executives was speaking in a room full of five people, Jessica let out a very loud fart," says the insider.
Oh, Jess! Recap her most outrageous moments
"Her mother [Tina Simpson] was there, and it prompted her to turn around and yell, 'Jessica!' The tension was extreme. No one knew what to say."
Yes, people are voyeurs, and they will certainly be interested in a lot of what celebs do, but farting? And what about the US Magazine claim that It wasn't Simpson's first brush with public flatulence
OK. I just can't help but wonder where this is going to go. One certainty is whatever squeaky-clean image Jessica Simpson had is gone.
Jessica Simpson giving to Haiti is better news; if she did. Stay tuned.
Technorati blog directory update screw up, upsets bloggers
Technorati.com is the popular and widely used blog directory. It has hundreds of thousands of blogs representing millions of pages in its system. At one point in the past, before Google News and Google Trends, Technorati's "most popular tag" system was the go-to app to learn what topics bloggers were writing about the most at a particular time of a given day.
But today, Technorati, once the darling of the blogosphere, has gotten lazy. Technorati's more like a news website now, and less like the blog directory it was loved as. The greatest example of this is the blog update system.
It simply takes forever for Technorati to update blogs. Take this profile for Zennie62.com here. It has the old name of "Zennie's Zeitgeist" in the description. This blogger updated that description two weeks ago, and yet the old one still remains.
So the problem resulted in a trip over to Get Satisfaction, the customer service website that represents Technorati, and where a number of bloggers - 46 in all - were issuing the same "what the hell is going on" complaint. For example:
And so on.
Technorati needs to get its service act together if it wants to continue to be considered as an authority on blogs and blogging. It's information on The State of The Blogosphere is valuable, and its blog ranking of the Top 100 blogs and the authority ratings are useful, but not updating blogs in its directory in a timely fashion is hurting its credibility.
But today, Technorati, once the darling of the blogosphere, has gotten lazy. Technorati's more like a news website now, and less like the blog directory it was loved as. The greatest example of this is the blog update system.
It simply takes forever for Technorati to update blogs. Take this profile for Zennie62.com here. It has the old name of "Zennie's Zeitgeist" in the description. This blogger updated that description two weeks ago, and yet the old one still remains.
So the problem resulted in a trip over to Get Satisfaction, the customer service website that represents Technorati, and where a number of bloggers - 46 in all - were issuing the same "what the hell is going on" complaint. For example:
vjack replied 3 months ago
Wow! 17 days and no responses! I submitted claims but never received the email with additional information that was supposed to be coming. Should it take more than 2-3 weeks for these claims to go through?
kalamarie replied 3 months ago
My blog is being indexed by Google and Bing and it only took a week. Come on guys!
http://amatterofhowyouseeit.com/
And so on.
Technorati needs to get its service act together if it wants to continue to be considered as an authority on blogs and blogging. It's information on The State of The Blogosphere is valuable, and its blog ranking of the Top 100 blogs and the authority ratings are useful, but not updating blogs in its directory in a timely fashion is hurting its credibility.
Draeger Construction rebuilds the Bay Area, is Haiti next?
Who makes the buildings of the San Francisco Bay Area? That's something this blogger's wondered about as, with a background in City Planning and a masters from Cal and undergrad degree from Texas-Arlington, the "who" behind buildings is as important as the building itself. Some times emals jog one's brain, and one I got on a Haiti-related building issue I can't go into now start me on to this path of interest.
So in going to cities like Burlingame and Emeryville, where apartment complexes are in abundance, the one question I've had is "who is building them."
In the case of some interesting venues, that answer is Draeger Construction company. According to its website..
In the wake of the Haiti 7.0 Earthquake, finding firms with experience in making quake-safe buildings like Draeger Construction become very important. The problem is most people don't know how to find companies that have such expertise; this blog post, and others to come, should help.
A Drager-built building in Burlingame
So in going to cities like Burlingame and Emeryville, where apartment complexes are in abundance, the one question I've had is "who is building them."
In the case of some interesting venues, that answer is Draeger Construction company. According to its website..
Draeger Construction is a full service contractor based in Northern California. For over 30 years this family owned and operated business has successfully performed thousands of reconstruction projects. Draeger Construction specializes in all aspects of multi-family and commercial reconstruction and in solving complex structural problems for it's clients. We have differentiated ourselves by obtaining licenses in the specialty trades, to offer our clients a cost saving advantage.
In the wake of the Haiti 7.0 Earthquake, finding firms with experience in making quake-safe buildings like Draeger Construction become very important. The problem is most people don't know how to find companies that have such expertise; this blog post, and others to come, should help.
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