Month: March 2010

Put on a happy face

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The weather has been so nice this past week. I love it.

(Trip to the city was so nice. I got to show Linda this view, plus I got to see Elvin for the first time in almost 6 years?)

However… it makes me feel like it’s summer vacation already. Oh, how I long for summer vacation. I have no school obligations during summer vacation. Schoolwork looms like a storm cloud over my lovely spring break. Same goes for winter break, although it’s a bit less then since it’s intersession.

Just wanted to say my bit about how nice the weather has been. I haven’t been appreciating it properly.
“I’m going to do my work outside!”
“You’re doing your work?”
Oh well.

So I upgraded my MS Office pack from 2003 to 2007, primarily because I wanted OneNote. Not sure why… but I did. I remember using Word 2007 a while back and the little “Ribbon” thing or whatever frustrated me. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! I usually use OpenOffice, but I do get a little frustrated with it every now and then. What’s better? Office 2007 or OpenOffice 3.1?

82nd Academy Awards!

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Here it is! A week late, but here it is!

Just because I need to do commentary, here’s winners and some commentary!

Best Documentary Feature: The Cove
I heard a lot of great things about this documentary. It got a lot of positive feedback and publicity, like when it was available for purchase on Youtube. I want to see this. Dolphins!Best Documentary Short: “Music by Prudence”
Some funny stuff happened for the acceptance of this award. Seemed like a nice short.

Best Live Action Short: The New Tenants
I don’t know anything about this, I’m sorry.

Best Animated Short: Logorama
I don’t know much about this, but from the little clip shown, it seemed pretty interesting. Lots of “sponsors'” logos in this movie.

Best Original Score: Up
Great score. I just learned to play the main theme. “Ellie’s Badge” makes me tear up a little bit.

Best Original Song: “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart”)
I didn’t hear the song because they didn’t perform the original songs this year really… but I’m sure it’s fine.

Best  Sound Editing: The Hurt Locker
Sure. I haven’t seen it, so I cannot say how it deserves its awards, but I’m sure it deserved its sweep without the underdog factor.

Best Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker
Sure. I haven’t seen it, so I cannot say how it deserves its awards, but I’m sure it deserved its sweep without the underdog factor.

Best Art Direction: Avatar
This definitely proved that film is art, but there were some tough films in the running for this category. I guess the amazing visuals just sold it.

Best Cinematography: Avatar
Again, the artistic and cinematic value of this movie was pretty awesome.

Best Makeup: Star Trek
Pretty good makeup there. I thought the alien transformations were great.

Best Costume Design: The Young Victoria
Didn’t see this either,  but I’m going to assume this movie was pretty great because it got several nominations.

Best Film Editing: The Hurt Locker
Sure. I haven’t seen it, so I cannot say how it deserves its awards, but I’m sure it deserved its sweep without the underdog factor.

Best Visual Effects: Avatar
Yep, the visual effects were fantastically amazing for this movie. Hands down, no contest, sorry District 9 and Star Trek.

Best Foreign Language Film: El Secreto de sus ojos (Argentina)
Hm… apparently not the favorite. The European films were the favorites, I think. But I’m sure it was great.

Best Original Screenplay: The Hurt Locker
Sure. I haven’t seen it, so I cannot say how it deserves its awards, but I’m sure it deserved its sweep without the underdog factor.

Best Adapted Screenplay: Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
I heard good things about Precious. I don’t know how the other contenders were.

Best Animated Feature: Up
Such an amazing movie. Sorry to the other ones, but this was a fantastic-amazing film.

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds)
He was cleaning up at the other awards shows, wasn’t he? Didn’t see it, but I heard this was a great performance.

Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique (Precious: Based on the Novel “Push”: by Sapphire)
She definitely cleaned up awards. You can’t beat being an abusive mother with not-pretty sobs.

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
This has been a long time coming, for sure. He deserves this. George Clooney knew this and began drinking away his sorrows on the red carpet, hahaha.

Best Actress: Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)
Mmm.. not sure how I feel about this one. Granted, Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep are regulars in this category. Gabourey Sidibe is new, so I definitely would’ve been bothered by her winning. I don’t know much about Carey Mulligan. But this is Sandra’s first nomination, and she got a Razzie this year. I don’t know, I didn’t think her acting was that fantastic, but the Academy thought otherwise.

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow
The first time a woman has won. (It was almost the first time an African-American won, too.) She made history and said “Shove it” to her ex at the same time. Good job.

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Sure. I haven’t seen it, so I cannot say how it deserves its awards, but I’m sure it deserved its sweep without the underdog factor.

And now for some highlights from the show itself.

Neil Patrick Harris’s opening number was awesome. Sequined tux and prison rape joke and all. Amazing stuff. ♥

Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin were quite funny, although I feel like their bit ran a little longer than it needed to. I know why they stared down George Clooney, but why did he glare back? Haha, oh well.

Elinor Burkett’s Kanye moment was so awkward. Roger Ross Williams, director of “Music by Prudence”, was supposed to accept the award, and he was making his speech when Burkett pushed her way to the mic and didn’t let him talk. It was extremely awkward. Apparently she wasn’t on the project anymore? I side with Williams because Kanye moments like that are unacceptable. My comment: “Is this how T-Swift is getting back at Kanye? Get this white woman to Kanye the black man?”

Ben Stiller as a Na’vi was awkward, but pretty funny. I’m glad no Sasha Baren Cohen. Confused his braid for his tail, too. Teehee.

Legion of Extraordinary Dancers performing to a montage of Best Original Score pieces. I really liked the performance, but it was really long… maybe we could’ve had time for the songs like we’ve done for the past almost 100 years? Still. I love the LXD dancers. They’re pretty awesome.

John Hughes’ tribute was touching. It was nice seeing Matthrew Broderick, Molly Ringwald, McCaulay Caulkin, and Judd Nelson. (I don’t know the other people, but I know of them.) It was really nice. I still need to see a John Hughes movie.

In memoriam presentation was very nice except they snubbed Farrah Fawcett, Bea Arthur, buncha people. But I saw Patrick Swayze, Natasha Richardson, Brittany Murphy, Roy Disney, David Carradine, Michael Jackson. That was controversial with MJ getting in there and not Farah Fawcett. FARAH FAWCETT. Come on. It’s bad enough her death got overshadowed by Michael Jackson.

“Text ‘DOLPHIN’ to 44144” during the Best Documentary win. Awkward stealth whipping out that banner and then awkward immediate cut away.

Sandra Bullock’s win was a bit awkward because her speech was long, albeit very heartwarming. She tried hugging Meryl Streep who seemed to push her away, wave her off, like, “Oh, go get your award, dear” or as I saw it “Get away from me and the award that should be added to my massive collection.”

Fun quotes during the show:
Steve Martin: “Look, it’s that damn Helen Mirren.”
Alec Baldwin: “Steve, that’s Dame Helen Mirren.”

“I love you more than rainbows.” – Ryan Bingham for Best Original Song

“If you wanna be creative, get out there and do it. It’s not a waste of time.” – Michael Giacchino for Best Original Score

“Oscar and Penelope, that’s an über-Bingo.” – Christoph Waltz for Best Supporting Actor (presented by Penélope Cruz)

“It’s a collaboration: a collaboration between handsome gifted people and sickly mole people.” – Robert Downey Jr. on actors and writers with Tina Fey, the writer.

“Dolphins are this year’s penguins.” – The people from The Cove

“Thank you Mom and Dad for turning me on to such a groovy profession!” – Jeff Bridges for Best Actor

“Well, the time has come.” – Barbara Streisand after talking about how the day would make history in regards to the first African-American or female best director winner.

Asian Supermarkets!

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So yesterday, walking through our local Korean supermarket, I realized I used to have so much fun at the supermarket as a little kid!

Things I used to do in Asian supermarkets include:

– Sitting on the rice bags (Parents: “Don’t put your butt on rice other people have to eat.” Good point.)
– Fence with the crabs
– Make fish faces at the fish
– Play with the ice in the seafood section (Not very hygienic…)
– Get lost (Just about every time… this was less fun than everything else xD)

One of these days, I want to grab some friends and a video camera and try this out again. (Except that rice thing. Now I feel bad if I even think about sitting on someone else’s rice. ><) Let’s Youtube that stuff.
The supermarket is still fun, I just can’t be nearly as crazy as I used to be. Did you guys ever do fun stuff at the supermarket? I remember I used to get free cookies at the A&P bakery just by asking. Good times.

Also, question for those of you who don’t really go to Asian supermarkets, what do you think of them? I don’t find bins of seafood just sitting around weird at all, but that’s because I’ve been seeing them for years now. How else are you supposed to buy crabs?? I don’t understand.

Currently watching: Slumdog Millionaire
Currently humming: “Dancing in the Moonlight” – Toploader
Currently craving: Crêpes with Nutella, whipped cream, strawberries, and bananas