Sunday, February 24, 2008
Day 264: Plus or minus one
So, unless I use quotation marks around my name, my efforts to Google myself are thwarted by the fact that there is an H-list celebrity with my name. That's right, I'm referring to Allison Fonte of the 1977 Mickey Mouse Club revival. Thanks to Wikipedia, I have learned that we share more than just a first and last name. Her birthday is June 6 (1964). Mine is June 5 (1986). So we have the same name, plus or minus one letter, AND the same birthday, plus or minus one day (and 22 years - but hey, that means this year she is twice as old as me, and that's kind of neat).
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Day 263: Argue fiercely for your Oscar pick(s) here
(My first "Daily Buzz," or whatever it will be called, sample post)
Each year when the Oscars roll around, my friends have elaborate discussions about who should win what award. Not being the biggest box-office fiend, I usually feel left out and instead argue fiercely for the only one or two nominated films I’ve seen that year. Sometimes it works; but unfortunately “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” isn’t nominated in every category every year.
This year, “Juno” is the only best picture nominee I’ve seen – and of course loved (By the way, Diablo Cody went to my high school, Benet Academy in Lisle, Ill.) I keep telling myself I’ll see “No Country for Old Men” at The Oriental this weekend, but as of right now I’m right on par with my usual singular Oscar pick. So bear with me as I give my best pitch for why “Juno” should win.
I’ve heard gripes and grumbles from reviewers, friends, acquaintances and strangers about every film nominated for best picture – except “Juno.” They say “Atonement” was boring; multiple sources have told me they thought “No Country for Old Men” was too depressing; “Michael Clayton”… well I haven’t really heard anything about it (has anyone even seen it?); honestly, I haven’t heard anything bad about “There Will Be Blood” except that maybe it’s too bloody (okay, I’m scraping the barrel on that one). But everyone I’ve talked to loves “Juno.” It’s unpredictable, lighthearted, sweet and funny - really funny. It's uplifting. There's nothing bad TO say about it. It's just an all-around crowd pleaser. When was the last time an all-around crowd pleaser actually won best picture? I think it's about time. The end.
So, clearly, I'm no movie critic. But I will say this: if we're to trust Rotten Tomatoes, "Atonement," with its pitiful 82% should not even be nominated. "Michael Clayton" isn't looking so good either, with just a 90%. "TWBB" is next with 91%, "Juno" with 93% and finally "NCFOM" with 94%. Rotten Tomatoes doesn't lie. "Juno" and "NCFOM" should be the front runners.
Oh, and my last two cents are that "Ratatouille" should win best animated film, Johnny Depp best actor, Sweeney Todd for whatever else it's nominated for and "Waitress" for whatever it's nominated for (if anything at all. It's just on my mind since I watched it the other night while eating a slice of peanut butter cup pie from Bakers Square. Yum).
Hopefully those of you with some more experience with the movies can argue a better case for your favorites. Obviously I could use some help from you with my picks. So, here's your chance - give me your best shot. Who knows, maybe The Academy will read it and it will influence their decision.
(End of sample blog entry). Okay, so clearly I am all over the map with this blog post and for fear of being seen as a psycho I will have to edit it severely before showing my boss... but at least it's in print somewhere. And I entertained myself in the process. Look for more in the coming days.
Each year when the Oscars roll around, my friends have elaborate discussions about who should win what award. Not being the biggest box-office fiend, I usually feel left out and instead argue fiercely for the only one or two nominated films I’ve seen that year. Sometimes it works; but unfortunately “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” isn’t nominated in every category every year.
This year, “Juno” is the only best picture nominee I’ve seen – and of course loved (By the way, Diablo Cody went to my high school, Benet Academy in Lisle, Ill.) I keep telling myself I’ll see “No Country for Old Men” at The Oriental this weekend, but as of right now I’m right on par with my usual singular Oscar pick. So bear with me as I give my best pitch for why “Juno” should win.
I’ve heard gripes and grumbles from reviewers, friends, acquaintances and strangers about every film nominated for best picture – except “Juno.” They say “Atonement” was boring; multiple sources have told me they thought “No Country for Old Men” was too depressing; “Michael Clayton”… well I haven’t really heard anything about it (has anyone even seen it?); honestly, I haven’t heard anything bad about “There Will Be Blood” except that maybe it’s too bloody (okay, I’m scraping the barrel on that one). But everyone I’ve talked to loves “Juno.” It’s unpredictable, lighthearted, sweet and funny - really funny. It's uplifting. There's nothing bad TO say about it. It's just an all-around crowd pleaser. When was the last time an all-around crowd pleaser actually won best picture? I think it's about time. The end.
So, clearly, I'm no movie critic. But I will say this: if we're to trust Rotten Tomatoes, "Atonement," with its pitiful 82% should not even be nominated. "Michael Clayton" isn't looking so good either, with just a 90%. "TWBB" is next with 91%, "Juno" with 93% and finally "NCFOM" with 94%. Rotten Tomatoes doesn't lie. "Juno" and "NCFOM" should be the front runners.
Oh, and my last two cents are that "Ratatouille" should win best animated film, Johnny Depp best actor, Sweeney Todd for whatever else it's nominated for and "Waitress" for whatever it's nominated for (if anything at all. It's just on my mind since I watched it the other night while eating a slice of peanut butter cup pie from Bakers Square. Yum).
Hopefully those of you with some more experience with the movies can argue a better case for your favorites. Obviously I could use some help from you with my picks. So, here's your chance - give me your best shot. Who knows, maybe The Academy will read it and it will influence their decision.
(End of sample blog entry). Okay, so clearly I am all over the map with this blog post and for fear of being seen as a psycho I will have to edit it severely before showing my boss... but at least it's in print somewhere. And I entertained myself in the process. Look for more in the coming days.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Day 262: I can be a talker - no, THE talker
My oh my, 21st year where have you gone? Day 262?? When did 100 Day even happen? I missed my chance to make a list of 100 of something or bring in 100 pennies for show and tell (that was what I brought on 100 day in first grade. How do I remember that?)
My address has changed since my last blog entry. Now my zip code is 53211. That's Milwaukee. Wisconsin. I am living in what feels like the arctic. I know, that is coming from the Minnesota-born, Chicago-raised gal. This winter is brutal though. Lots of snow and lots of cold. Today I ditched my scarf because it felt warm out. It was 24 degrees.
Anyway, my new job at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is providing me with lots of incredible opportunities. By the end of my first week I had created and published an interactive graphic. Second week brought another. Third week yet another. I also got to sit at a table with Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee (on separate occasions) and videotape editorial board meetings with them. I went backstage of The Lion King and shot video. And tonight, the highlight of my work experience: I videotaped a Burghardt's Sporting Goods employee explain how to select a little league bat and glove. Thrilling, I know. But my most exciting journalistic endeavor is yet to come (if you can believe there is anything more exciting - or maybe magical is the better word - than shaking hands with Barack Obama ::snort::). If I can prove that I am a mover and a shaker and an entertaining and engaging writer, I will get my very own BLOG. Public blog, that is. On JSOnline.com. I know, swoon. (I'm not being sarcastic anymore. I am genuinely crazy about this idea).
So my dream of being a real blogger instead of a closet blogger could come true in the future. The blog will be somewhat similar to Talk of the Day, the blog I wrote for at STLtoday.com, but it will have more personality and it will be all mine (mwahaha). Each day I will write a short commentary on a hot-button news topic and hopefully elicit a lively discussion from readers. I have been brainstorming names for it all day yesterday and today and my favorite one so far is The Talker. Simple, but catchy and surprisingly descriptive. The inspiration came when my boss referred to the hot story of the day as a "talker." Other ideas worth mentioning include: The Daily Discourse, The Convo, Today's Talk, The Daily Buzz. LATER NOTE: after conferring with The Fiance, "The Talker" is out of the race, and "The Daily Buzz" is the front runner.
In the next week I will be writing sample entries, so I might as well post them here. Look for the first one on Day 263 of my 21st year.
P.S. I've been away from blogger so long that I am just now noticing that I can finally link things without typing out html! Thanks Blogger for being nice to Mac users :)
My address has changed since my last blog entry. Now my zip code is 53211. That's Milwaukee. Wisconsin. I am living in what feels like the arctic. I know, that is coming from the Minnesota-born, Chicago-raised gal. This winter is brutal though. Lots of snow and lots of cold. Today I ditched my scarf because it felt warm out. It was 24 degrees.
Anyway, my new job at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is providing me with lots of incredible opportunities. By the end of my first week I had created and published an interactive graphic. Second week brought another. Third week yet another. I also got to sit at a table with Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee (on separate occasions) and videotape editorial board meetings with them. I went backstage of The Lion King and shot video. And tonight, the highlight of my work experience: I videotaped a Burghardt's Sporting Goods employee explain how to select a little league bat and glove. Thrilling, I know. But my most exciting journalistic endeavor is yet to come (if you can believe there is anything more exciting - or maybe magical is the better word - than shaking hands with Barack Obama ::snort::). If I can prove that I am a mover and a shaker and an entertaining and engaging writer, I will get my very own BLOG. Public blog, that is. On JSOnline.com. I know, swoon. (I'm not being sarcastic anymore. I am genuinely crazy about this idea).
So my dream of being a real blogger instead of a closet blogger could come true in the future. The blog will be somewhat similar to Talk of the Day, the blog I wrote for at STLtoday.com, but it will have more personality and it will be all mine (mwahaha). Each day I will write a short commentary on a hot-button news topic and hopefully elicit a lively discussion from readers. I have been brainstorming names for it all day yesterday and today and my favorite one so far is The Talker. Simple, but catchy and surprisingly descriptive. The inspiration came when my boss referred to the hot story of the day as a "talker." Other ideas worth mentioning include: The Daily Discourse, The Convo, Today's Talk, The Daily Buzz. LATER NOTE: after conferring with The Fiance, "The Talker" is out of the race, and "The Daily Buzz" is the front runner.
In the next week I will be writing sample entries, so I might as well post them here. Look for the first one on Day 263 of my 21st year.
P.S. I've been away from blogger so long that I am just now noticing that I can finally link things without typing out html! Thanks Blogger for being nice to Mac users :)
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