In which HLM says what we're all thinking, only meaner. If you're interested in the rest of the fambly picks, peruse them here.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond. Let me kick off the annual Oscar picking session by stating categorically that I think DiCaprio was ROBBED for The Aviator (Jamie Foxx? GIVE ME A BREAK. News flash: becoming an American icon takes a lot more than slipping into a pair of sunglasses and plunking away on a piano. Call me when you've peed into a milk bottle and convincingly portrayed sexual interest in Kate Beckinsale). That being said, this nomination is very tiresome for me, because his work in The Departed is exponentially better than his work here. Why can't the Academy EVER get it right? Already, I'm so, so tired.
Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson. Ryan Gosling is adorable and talented, and most importantly, he dates my BFF Plastic Rachel McAdams, the coolest girl in the universe, and who actually resembles Jem of The Holograms. His movie is too small and lacks name recognition, and that will knock his performance out of serious consideration, which is a shame.
Peter O'Toole, Venus. I still haven't forgiven Peter O'Toole for Troy, and I'm not about to start now.
Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness. So let's recap: I'm in the first section of nominees, on the fourth total nominee, and the Academy has just made its third egregious error. Will Smith is too sentimental and shlocky to merit a nomination, much less a win. You know who should be in this spot? Clive Owen for his masterful performance in Children of Men. Please be advised that this is not the last time we will discuss Children of Men, or my waning tolerance for Will Smith.
Should and Will Win: FOREST WHITAKER, The Last King of Scotland. The man's been a successful working actor for years and has a solid body of work to back him up; also, he's hitting the jackpot here by playing a famously maniacal dictator as a human being and not a caricature. He's won all the prelims and is one of my only locks for the night.
Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine. My love for him is boundless and somewhat inappropriate, and I really enjoyed his performance. Is it Oscar worthy? No. Is it even nomination worthy? Not in my opinion. This is one weak-ass year for this category. If anyone can take it from Murphy, though, it's this guy.
Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children. He's not a big name, and has zero buzz.
Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond. See: lack of buzz, though Hounsou has turned in a bunch of great performances over the years, and this is arguably his best. (And I'm still waiting for the Gladiator sequel, HOUNSOU, so why don't you get on that?)
Should and Will Win: EDDIE MURPHY, Dreamgirls. A lot of people seem to have an irrational resentment of Eddie Murphy, and if anyone has just cause to hate him, it's me. Why? Because I sat through Haunted Mansion. IN THEATRES. ON OPENING WEEKEND. AND I. COULD NOT. GET OUT. But you know what? I still really like him, and in my mind, he will always be Billy Ray Valentine, sticking it to Randolph and Mortimer. This is enough in my eyes to merit an Academy Award. I straight up have not seen Dreamgirls, but again, he's won all the prelims, and I think it's his.
Mark Wahlberg, The Departed. Oh, I see. Instead of nominating DiCaprio, Nicholson, or Damon, we should by all means nominate A WAHLBERG. I will not stand for seeing someone related to a member of the New Kids On The Block win an Oscar. He's this year's Matt Dillon; people are going to pick him, but he's not going to win.
Penelope Cruz, Volver. In another year, she'd have a serious shot with this. In the strongest category this year, though, she's out of her league.
Should Win: Judi Dench, Notes On A Scandal. AWESOME movie. AWESOME performance. Somehow, she managed to channel Frau Briggs, Mrs. Potts, and Caligula into one terrifying, well-coiffed villain. On Oscar night, when Helen Mirren wins, Judi should feel absolutely at liberty to take the stage in whatever sweeping caftan she chooses to wear and gracefully--yet forcefully--pluck the trophy from Mirren's snide, shriveled talons.
Will Win: HELEN MIRREN, The Queen. Black eyes, lifeless eyes...like a doll's eyes. And then it bites you, and those black eyes roll over white, and that terrible high-pitched screamin' starts, and you realize it's you. Helen Mirren? Is EVIL. Her sense of entitlement and smugness regarding the Oscar ceremony has been palpable for weeks now, ever since her Globe win, and I cling to the hope that that will turn some voters off, and cause them to give the statuette to someone else instead.
Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada. Now listen--I love her, she's awesomely versatile, and it's nice to see her do comedy. But how hard do you think it really was for her to play Anna Wintour? If sister didn't deserve a nomination by the Academy for The Hours, how can she possibly deserve one here?
Kate Winslet, Little Children. Kate is my favorite actress, ever. She is AMAZING in this movie, and this is what--her fifth nom? S&S, Titanic, FN, Iris, and now this? It is appalling to me that she has not won yet. Absolutely egregious. And if Mirren and Streep knocked each other out of this, the trophy would be hers over Dench, but that's not going to happen, even with the lifesize voodoo doll of Mirren that is currently stuffed under my bed, waiting for its sentence to be passed tomorrow.
Adriana Barraza, Babel. Couldn't pick her out of a lineup. That's a good thing--I'm all for nominees that don't have a star on the walk--but she has no chance.
Should Win: Cate Blanchett, Notes On A Scandal. Cate, you're beautiful, and you deserve it for hitting this performance OUT OF THE PARK. Allow me to apologize in advance for your forthcoming loss.
Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine. Extraordinarily cute kid and very gifted. What a ridiculous nomination, though. Trust me, it's not very difficult to sit in a diner wearing legwarmers and thick pink glasses, shovelling chocolate ice cream down your throat as you subconsciously sabotage your dreams of pageant glory, getting plumper by the hour. Just ask Jay.
Will Win: JENNIFER HUDSON, Dreamgirls. I'm just acquiescing to the tidal wave of acclaim for her performance, because as I've said, I didn't see Dreamgirls. Pains me to pick a bitch from American Idol to win an Oscar, but she does have a gorge voice, and I sincerely doubt Blanchett gained the momentum to overtake her. Don't look for Breslin to beat her either; LMS was not The Piano.
Rinko Kikuchi, Babel. She totally needs to be in the Jem movie with Rachel McAdams, and I mean that as a compliment.
Cars. Ew. Not their best. It's a very close race between this and HF, but I think Cars loses out; it didn't stretch the borders of animation like Nemo did, wasn't notably emotionally moving, and featured Owen Wilson.
Should and Will Win: HAPPY FEET. Leftover penguin love (the name of my new band) continues to manifest itself this year. More importantly, for those of you who are counting, this will mark the fifth Oscar-winning movie that my husband Elijah has been involved in.
Monster House. Weird sexual jokes in children's movies are always fun, but this one is an afterthought.
Dreamgirls. I'm trusting Jay's fawning, obsequious praise about this film, even though he is a registed animal at the QZ (don't ask) and therefore unreliable about anything that explodes with sequins, big dance numbers, and bitches belting like they're going out of business.
The Good Sheperd. Meh.
Should and Will Win: PAN'S LABYRINTH. Clearly, this should win, but it's unclear if it will get run over by the Dreamgirls-wasn't-nominated-for-best-picture-so-now-we-have-to-atone-for-it-by-giving-them-everything-else juggernaut.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Meh, Part Deux. Granted, the tentacles swarming on Bill Nighy's face were cool, but he's such an awesome actor that he probably just grew them himself through sheer dedication to his craft.
The Prestige. This team couldn't win for Batman Begins and they can't win for this, but they are highly deserving of the nod.
The Black Dahlia. Definitely the redheaded stepchild of this category. It really looks shabby standing next to the well-dressed, well-fed, hygienic, obviously loved children that are the rest of the nominees.
Should and Will Win: CHILDREN OF MEN. WELL, WELL, WELL. LOOK who they FINALLY decided was worth a nomination. The Academy should be ashamed of themselves. Owen, Caine, Cuaron, and the producers all deserved nods for MY best picture of the year. This damn well better win.
The Illusionist. Apparently, I'm one of the very few who liked this film, but I felt the cinematography was evocative of the period and very beautiful.
Pan's Labyrinth. Gorrrrrgeous, and believe me, it was a tough call to make; however, PL has many noms in other categories, and COM only scraped 3. The Academy has proved time and time again that it thinks this way too.
The Prestige.
Curse of the Golden Flower. Not enough box office and face time.
The Devil Wears Prada. Wow, you made modern clothing for fashionable New York women. Congratulations. You want a frigging cookie? Come back when you've constructed handwoven mithril armor for thousands of dwarven soldiers, or cut some lushly colored silk into a Hepburn-esque ballgown. Don't expect me to hand you an Oscar for picking up some Prada boots and a few frumpy sweater sets. This costume design wouldn't even win a Groundhog.
Should and Will Win: DREAMGIRLS. I like big colors. I like feathers and sequins. I like matching outfits. I like money suits. I like bejeweled wigs and elbow length gloves. I had to learn to like them, because I had to dress Jay for a year, and as he would clutch his bedpost and I would lace him up, I had to swallow my revulsion and bedeck him in many fabulous ensembles. I choose Dreamgirls.
Marie Antoinette. SHUT UP, SOFIA COPPOLA. I swear...if I hear one more thing out of you.... Guess what? You can't mix period French gown design with contemporary American pop culture and not expect to piss me off. I'm sorry, but that is just the way it is. "I was a queen, and you took away my crown. My Converse sneakers alone remain: take them, but do not make me suffer long."
The Queen. Wow, they're really reaching now. Why not just throw Night at the Museum into the mix?
Should and Will Win: THE DEPARTED. MARTIN SCORSESE. glglglglglglglglglglglglglglglgl
Letters From Iwo Jima. Are you FREAKING kidding me with this? Why don't we just rename the award after Clint and be done with it?
The Queen. Gratuitous nomination for a film with only one distinguishable merit: Mirren.
United 93. The nomination here is their award.
Deliver Us From Evil. Side note: this reminds me of Deliver Us From Eva, possibly the most overlooked cinematic gem of our times.
Will Win: AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH. There's a lot of love for liberalism in Hollywood right now, and it's always been a strong base for Democrats come election time; this was a great movie and got people talking. Their pity for Al Gore, resentment of Bush, and dim notions about air being good will lead to a victory for the sorely missed Veep.
Iraq In Fragments. Yes, it is, but voting for Gore's movie makes this statement just as strong, in a different way.
Should Win: Jesus Camp. This would get my vote, and if anyone overtakes AIT, this'll be it.
My Country. This is OUUUURRRRRRRRRRRR Country, not My Country.
The Blood of Yingzhou District.
Will Win: RECYCLED LIFE. As usual, I have seen absolutely none of these films, and this is entirely a random pick.
Should Win: Rehearsing a Dream. I like rehearsing things.
Two Hands.
Babel. I was all set to pick this, but then I saw Children of Men. Case closed.
Blood Diamond.
Should and Will Win: CHILDREN OF MEN. You know how sometimes you bet on your favorite NFL team to win, not because you have any conviction that they can actually achieve victory, but just to send a little karma and goodwill their way, just in case? Yeah.
The Departed.
United 93.
After the Wedding.
Days of Glory.
The Lives of Others.
Should and Will Win: PAN'S LABYRINTH. Why, you ask? Because not only have I not seen any of the others, I didn't know they existed until just now. I realize that I neither live in Hollywood nor am an Academy voter, but let's be honest--some of those people have no freaking clue what is going on and only vote on their ballots after they've used them to cut a few lines of coke.
Water.
Apocalypto. Jesse and I picked new Mayan names for ourselves after watching this movie (I think mine was Smoke Frog). That's a fun little fact for you. It's hard to remember anything about the makeup when you spend most of the movie averting your eyes in horror, and while what I do remember was very well done, I detract points for pornographic violence so severe that I missed so much.
Click. WAIT. This can't possibly be the Adam Sandler movie, right? It must be some foreign film. Hold on, I'm going to IMDB. OH MY....THE...WHAT? IT ACTUALLY IS THE ADAM SANDLER MOVIE. I have never been so disgusted with the Oscar nominations as I am right now, including the nominations for Keira Knightley, Matt Dillon, Crash, and Million Dollar Baby.
Should and Will Win: PAN'S LABYRINTH. Far and away the superior choice here.
Will Win: BABEL. I'm too lazy to look it up and see if this is what won the Globe, but I think it is, so...meh.
The Good German.
Should Win: Notes on a Scandal. Hott.
Pan's Labyrinth.
The Queen.
Should Win: "I Need to Wake Up" - AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH.
Will Win: "Listen" - Dreamgirls. Um, it's time to stop giving Oscars to people who write songs to randomly stick in musicals being adapted for the screen. It's okay when you're Chicago and it's one song, but THREE? Unnecessary, given the strength of the original score.
"Love You I Do" - Dreamgirls.
"Our Town" - Cars.
"Patience" - Dreamgirls.
The Danish Poet. I would really like a cheese danish.
Lifted.
Will Win: THE LITTLE MATCHGIRL. I actually saw the trailer for this and it looked ten kinds of cute and imaginative.
Maestro.
Should Win: No Time for Nuts. Is this about squirrels? I imagine it is. If it is, it's my pick for should win. If not, that goes to Matchgirl.
Will Win: BINTA AND THE GREAT IDEA (BINTA Y LA GRAN IDEA). It's fun to say Binta.
Eramos Pocos (One Too Many).
Helmer & Son
The Saviour
Should Win: West Bank Story. With 50% less street dancing.
Apocalypto. Yeah, I can see how editing the mediocre screams of bloodthirsty terror out from the chilling screams of bloodthirsty terror would be a really time-consuming job.
Blood Diamond.
Flags of Our Fathers. Disqualified on basis of containing Ryan Phillipe, and for having a non-emo Jesse Bradford. Read the rule books, people.
Should and Will Win: LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA. Winner, because of the curious breed of guilt that they'll feel over giving Best Director to Scorsese. (Menacing Homer Simpson voice: Feel it......)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.
Apocalypto. Oops, this is the last Apocalypto nomination, and I haven't made my Deus Ex White People joke yet.
Blood Diamond.
Should and Will Win: Dreamgirls.
Flags of our Fathers.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.
Should and Will Win: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Is there any way to get the Kraken itself to actually accept at the ceremony?
Poseidon. (Cold, stony silence.)
Superman Returns. Y'all, he can FLY!
Should and Will Win: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. They deserve it, if only because the text they adapted the screenplay from was Little Women.
Children of Men.
The Departed. Don't...know...what...to...do...........too...many...good...movies...
Little Children.
Notes on a Scandal.
Babel.
Letters from Iwo Jima.
Should and Will Win: Little Miss Sunshine.
Pan's Labyrinth.
The Queen.
Will Win: BABEL. Wins a tight race with LMS.
Should Win: The Departed. Sigh....sigh.
Letters From Iwo Jima. GNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.
Little Miss Sunshine. I can't believe this is seriously competing at this level. Explain to me exactly what makes this deserving of a Best Picture nomination.
The Queen. Why don't you just build a statue in Helen Mirren's honor?
Posted by Nastinchka at February 24, 2007 06:11 PM
Since I'm experiencing problems with Squidley's abyss, I have posted Moo and Sean's picks below.
Performance by an actor in a leading role
MOO: Forest Whitaker.
SEAN: Will Smith.
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
SEAN: Djimon Hounsou. That's the guy from Last Samurai, right? Or Gladiator? Okay.
MOO: Mark Wahlberg. He's paid his dues.
Performance by an actress in a leading role
MOO: (dismissively)Helen Mirren.. I'm SICK of THAT. Penelope Cruz.
SEAN: Helen Mirren.
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
MOO: Jennifer Hudson.
SEAN: Rinko Kikuchi. No reason.
Best animated feature film of the year
MOO, SEAN: Happy Feet's definitely gonna win.
Achievement in art direction
MOO: Dreamgirls.
SEAN: Pirates. I like pirates.
Achievement in cinematography
MOO: Children of Men.
SEAN: The Illusionist sucked. I hated that. That was the worst movie. It was so bad, it was crap. I fell asleep, any movie that made me fall asleep is bad. Pan's Labyrinth, hands down.
Achievement in costume design
MOO: The Queen. I'm visualizing queenly costumes.
SEAN: I'd like to go with Marie Antoinette, please. Because it makes you mad. (Mom sidenote: because he likes girls with puffy skirts.)
Achievement in directing
MOO: Scorsese. He's a paisan. We're in the olive oil business.
SEAN: Clint Eastwood could beat the crap out of Scorsese any day. DYFLP?
Best documentary feature
MOO: Inconvenient Truth. It's poignant, makes you really think.
SEAN: Iraq. Why do you keep asking me why?
Best documentary short subject
MOO: Rehearsing A Dream.
SEAN: Two Hands
Achievement in film editing
MOO: Babel.
SEAN: United 93.
Best foreign language film of the year
MOO: Pan's Labyrinth.
SEAN: Water.
Achievement in makeup
MOO: Apocalypto.
SEAN: Babel. Oh wait. I'm gonna go with, uh, Click. I just have a good feeling about it.
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
MOO: The Queen.
SEAN: Babel.
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
SEAN: Love You I Do, because I do love you I do.
MOO: Listen.
Best motion picture of the year
SEAN: Letters From Iwo Jima.
MOO: Little Miss Sunshine. It has a broad appeal.
Best animated short film
SEAN: No Time For Nuts. Is this about squirrels? I sure hope so.
MOO: No Time For Nuts. Don't make me go there.
Best live action short film
MOO: Letters From Iwo Jima.
SEAN: Letters From Iwo Jima.
Achievement in sound mixing
MOO: Dreamgirls.
SEAN: Flags of Our Fathers.
Achievement in visual effects
MOO: Poseidon.
SEAN: Superman Returns.
Adapted screenplay
MOO: Little Children.
SEAN: Borat!
Original screenplay
MOO: Babel
SEAN: Letters From Iwo Jima.
LOL: Let me get this straight - you think HELEN MIRREN (who, btw, has been of THE most underrated and overlooked great actresses of the modern age and, is finally getting her well-deserved due)has appeared smug and entitled about winning an Oscar but, you were rooting for cocky, head-up-his-ass, world-class champion of sheer jerkdom Eddie Murphy???
Posted by: John Kowalczak at April 2, 2007 05:08 PMWhy do you hate black people?
Posted by: Helen Mirren Is A Bitch at April 2, 2007 05:11 PM"Why do you hate black people?"
LOL: THIS is the best response you could muster???
Please allow me to enlighten you on one fact: Eddie Murphy does NOT constitute nor represent the African-American population (and, BTW, in case you haven't kept up with current events, the correct term is "African-Americans" not..er.."black people"). Thus, disliking Murphy does not imply antipathy toward an entire race of human beings.
Incidentally, you never answered my question.
Posted by: John Kowalczak at April 27, 2007 10:34 AMForest Whitaker, is that you?
Posted by: Holly at April 27, 2007 10:53 AMFirst allow me to answer your "question", you smug jackhole. Yes, I found Helen Mirren's entitlement jarring and unsettling, especially since I think she's an excellent actor and generally such a class act. Also, I'm totally entitled to my opinion, just like you're entitled to dislike Eddie Murphy, so calm down and keep your effing pants on. BTW, LOL.
Now on to other business:
a) I love how you're totally willing to eviscerate my Oscar picks without making any of your own. It must be really nice to make snide comments about someone else's work without having to air your own undoubtedly brilliant philosophies.
b) When did I ever say Eddie Murphy constituted "the African-American population"? How is this even relevant to our discussion? Are you a first-year law student? Thank you for enlightening me that Eddie Murphy is not the only black man in America, though. I tote feel so stupid now LOLZ!
c) Do not make the mistake of accusing me of racism because I made a Kanye West joke. It's not my fault that you weren't smart enough to understand the reference.
d) Why do you hate funny people?
e) Allow me to give you a little tip: the people who read Snarkastic are the LAST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD you want to challenge with "THIS is the best response you could muster?". We're the Hive 2.0, newbie: smarter, faster, funnier, and now with 70% more venom.
f) Facial, Lafleur. TOTAL facial.
Kowalczak, that cut looks pretty bad, man. Good news though! You don't have to look up eviscerate now. See that hole in your bloated, pasty gut? That's what eviscerate means.
I think maybe you should just stop talking for awhile.
Oh, you already did.
Now who would have guessed that Holly's hetero lifemate would open somebody up with the panache of a vascular surgeon on mescaline?
Posted by: jebushchrist at April 27, 2007 02:23 PMTo: Holly
"First allow me to answer your "question", you smug jackhole. Yes, I found Helen Mirren's entitlement jarring and unsettling, especially since I think she's an excellent actor and generally such a class act. Also, I'm totally entitled to my opinion, just like you're entitled to dislike Eddie Murphy, so calm down and keep your effing pants on."
LOL: Who said that you weren't entitled to your opinion? I posed the first question for clarification on your original post (hence the preface "Let me get this straight" - I even extended you the courtesy of highlighting the sentence so that it would stand out all the more [smile])
"I love how you're totally willing to eviscerate my Oscar picks without making any of your own."
That makes two of us.
"It must be really nice to make snide comments about someone else's work without having to air your own undoubtedly brilliant philosophies."
It is, thank you. And you're right - my philosophies ARE "undoubtedly brilliant". However, on a more serious note, there is an old saying that it is better to keep quiet and be thought a fool than to publicly spout one's opinions and remove all doubt - I adhere to the former opinion and, you, apparently, prefer the latter.
"When did I ever say Eddie Murphy constituted "the African-American population"?"
This was in response to the rather bizarre comment "Why do you hate black people?" posted by "Helen Mirren Is A Bitch" which I assumed was in response to my criticism of Murphy. If you are not the person who posted that comment, please disregard my response with my apologies.
"Do not make the mistake of accusing me of racism because I made a Kanye West joke."
LOL: I am actually not even familiar with your Kanye West joke - I was responding only to your Helen Mirren-Eddie Murphy comments.
"Why do you hate funny people?"
Er - I don't (if they actually ARE funny at any rate). Interesting assumption, though.
"Allow me to give you a little tip: the people who read Snarkastic are the LAST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD you want to challenge with "THIS is the best response you could muster?". We're the Hive 2.0, newbie: smarter, faster, funnier, and now with 70% more venom."
LMAO (sorry, that was rude - make that LMBO): Please allow me to return the favor and offer a tip of my own.
Your site may well be "smarter, faster, funnier" and "more venomous" (though compared to what is not evident) but, I have yet to read anything in this particular post that confirms that fact and, I'm afraid that your ill-conceived arguments and puerile vocabulary (is "smug jackhole" REALLY the best you can do?") do very little to fortify your case - though I admit that your use of the word "eviscerate" is a promising start (wink).
"f) Facial, Lafleur. TOTAL facial."
Er - our definitions of "facial" obviously differ. This post seemed more like a weak shot that bounced off the backboard without even touching the rim!
To: Jebushchrist
"Kowalczak, that cut looks pretty bad, man. Good news though! You don't have to look up eviscerate now."
LOL: Thanks JBC, but I was already familiar with the term "eviscerate". You and Holly, on the other hand (to quote of my favorite Helen Mirren characters, Eve Tingle) "should consult your dictionary" - Holly's last post is more reminiscent of the wild and ineffectual flailing of an enraged child that does not even manage to pierce the skin than the cold disembowelment that you describe. However, I must admit that the image of a surgeon performing an incision while high on mescaline (with "panache" no less!)is both vivid and hilarious (in a Monty Python sort of way).
"See that hole in your bloated, pasty gut?"
Er - no. But, then, perhaps you are better at visualizing the non-existent than I.
"I think maybe you should just stop talking for awhile.
Oh, you already did."
I'm afraid that I do lead an active and productive life outside of internet blogs and, did not return to view Holly's response until today.
However, I do believe that you might benefit from your own advice (at least until you have developed a vocabulary significant enough that you will not be so gushingly awed by 3-syllable words at any rate).
To quote Nelson Muntz: "Smell you later".
Posted by: John Kowalczak at April 29, 2007 05:27 AM
CORRECTION ON MY PREVIOUS POST:
"However, I do believe that you might benefit from your own advice (at least until you have developed a vocabulary significant enough that you will not be so gushingly awed by 3-syllable words at any rate)."
Please disregard the typo - "eviscerate" is a FOUR-syllable not a three-syllable word.
Posted by: John Kowalczak at April 29, 2007 07:06 AMHey, buddy? While you are quite welcome to make sweeping generalizations about the rest of the blog, allow me to direct you to the first line. The one that informs readers that I didn't write this entry. You seem to be unfamiliar with the internets, so allow me to further inform you that it's called a "guest post", and to ask that you direct all future correspondence to Livia, its author. I'm not at all sure she'll find replying to you worth her time, as it seems to resemble nothing so much as shouting at a particularly unattractive and poorly constructed wall, but I'll leave that up to her.
Just to avoid confusion--When I converse in the comment threads, it's got my name on it. See?
(Everyone else: Note that "he" never answered MY question.)
Posted by: Holly at April 29, 2007 07:27 AMTo: John Kowalczak
Let me start by saying that I love how you state that you lead an "active and productive life outside of Internet blogs". Which according to your recent activities (which is the only thing I have to judge you on) includes:
#1 ploddingly attacking someone's writing, which you were unable to comprehend, and clearly didn't even read, a week after it was posted,
#2 then responding to the author's rebuttal, 25 days later, still having not understood the original text, and unilaterally determining how an entire race of people should be addressed, as if the color of their skin dictates how they should be categorized. Here's a free life lesson, random guy. I find it's best not to think of people in categories. Also, your grasp of current events, is tenuous, at best, based on the fact that you don't even know who Kanye West is. And, your historical knowledge is also suspect, based on your quote. If you're going to quote someone, you might want to get it right, and you didn't, so let me help you out. Abraham Lincoln (I assume this is what you were helplessly grasping for) said: Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. Coincidentally enough, he did some things that really helped "black people" in this country. If you can, you should have someone read to you about him. Good stuff,
#3 (and my favorite) then waiting another 2 days and writing a response at 5:30 in the morning, followed by you furtively re-reading your own comment for 90 minutes and posting a correction. Also, your correction, needs a correction. That wasn't a typo, jackhole. A typo is when you misspell something. What you did was show your inability to count how many syllables there are in eviscerate. It's a rudimentary skill we learned in 3rd grade. We learned about Lincoln that year too. I guess you picked the wrong year to miss school.
You have the right to your opinion and voice it. Along with that right comes the unenviable position, in your case, of defending the indefensible. You're an idiot, random guy. That much is clear. I don't think you'll hear from Quickdraw McBitch on this, based on the fact that she really does have a life outside of Internet blogs. So, sadly, you got me. And what you just read, above, that was me, kicking your ass. Not my proudest moment, by a long shot, but it's a job that had to be done. Also, I'm no scholar random guy. I'm just a guy who spends the majority of his free time watching sports, shamelessly flirting with women that outclass me, and writing a blog which consists primarily of me talking about pooping. So, this "debate" isn't exactly Lincoln-Douglas, but it's all we've got.
Now I think it's best you go back to what you do best, which from the looks of it, is masturbating to the Gilmore Girls for a few frustratingly hapless unsuccessful minutes followed by crying yourself to sleep in your pillow.
To Holly:
"While you are quite welcome to make sweeping generalizations about the rest of the blog, allow me to direct you to the first line. The one that informs readers that I didn't write this entry."
First, I apologize for the misunderstanding regarding Quickdraw McBitch's last post - since I received responses on my previous post from at least two different handles (i.e. "Quickdraw McBitch", "Helen Mirren is a Bitch", etc.)- both apparently the same person - I assumed that "Holly" was yet another alias among an apparent myriad of others.
Secondly, I stated that I had not yet read anything confirming QM's boast that this site was "faster, smarter," etc. based on THIS PARTICULAR THREAD (i.e. the original post and subsequent comments) - this statement was NOT intended as a general indictment against the site itself. In fact, I believe that I conceded in that same statement that the site MIGHT WELL BE all that she claimed.
"You seem to be unfamiliar with the internets"
LOL: I'm afraid that you are FAR off the mark here though I appreciate your (well-intended, I'm sure) efforts to enlighten me on Internet etiquette.
"[I] ask that you direct all future correspondence to Livia, its author. I'm not at all sure she'll find replying to you worth her time"
No problem - you and Jebushchrist are keeping me sufficiently entertained.
"Just to avoid confusion--When I converse in the comment threads, it's got my name on it. See?"
LOL: Duly noted.
"(Everyone else: Note that "he" never answered MY question.)"
I apologize for ignoring your question - it seemed to be a rhetorical joke for which a response is neither required nor expected. But, here's my (obvious) answer: no,I'm NOT Forest Whitaker but, I would certainly not mind trading places with him for a day! (wink)
To: Jebushchrist
"Let me start by saying that I love how you state that you lead an "active and productive life outside of Internet blogs"."
LOL: I must admit that my life is not quite as exhilarating or significant as yours appears to be(i.e "watching sports, shamelessly flirting with women that outclass me, and writing a blog which consists primarily of me talking about pooping.")but, it pays the bills and keeps me sufficiently content - though I probably WOULD die a happy man if I posted a blog discussing biological excrescence (wink).
"according to your recent activities (which is the only thing I have to judge you on) includes:
#1 ploddingly attacking someone's writing, which you were unable to comprehend, and clearly didn't even read, a week after it was posted,
#2 then responding to the author's rebuttal, 25 days later"
Er, I was not "attacking her writing" (LOL: her writing style, word choice, syntax,grammar etc. had no bearing on the discussion)but requesting clarification on comments included in her original post.
Secondly, what I was unable to comprehend in her original post was her enthusiastic support for Eddie Murphy's Oscar bid despite his overweening arrogance in the weeks, even months, prior to the Oscars while panning the far more deserving Dame Helen Mirren.
Moreover, in regards to the time lapses between my posts on this blog, the explanation for this can be found in the first sentence of your own post.
LOL: I'm afraid your OWN reading comprehension may be a bit suspect.
"[You are]unilaterally determining how an entire race of people should be addressed, as if the color of their skin dictates how they should be categorized."
It is certainly not for me or any other non-African American to determine how African Americans should be addressed nor, was I attempting to do so. I was merely pointing out to the previous poster that the current, socially acceptable term(i.e. based on the stated preference of many African-Americans including prominent leader Jesse Jackson)is "African-American", not "black people (or "colored" or "Negro" for that matter). If you have any further confusion on this point, you may want to carefully re-read my comment on that matter.
"Also, your grasp of current events, is tenuous, at best, based on the fact that you don't even know who Kanye West is."
LOL: Who said I don't know who Kanye West is??
"If you're going to quote someone, you might want to get it right, and you didn't, so let me help you out. Abraham Lincoln (I assume this is what you were helplessly grasping for) said: Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
LOL: I wasn't "grasping" for either the exact quote or the originator (which is why paraphrasing is such a convenient tool)- the point was the message itself not the exact origin of the quote nor the verbatim text.
"Coincidentally enough, he did some things that really helped "black people" in this country."
REALLY?? That was HIM?? I thought Lincoln was the guy from the South who launched a civil war to help Southerners keep their slaves and it was former Alabama governor George Wallace or former Arkansas governor Orval Faubus who helped the - er- "black people"! But, as you have astutely noted, my grasp of history is quite poor (wink)
"#3 (and my favorite) then waiting another 2 days and writing a response at 5:30 in the morning"
LOL: Actually, it was 7:30 am on a Sunday (hence, not a work day)where I live. As for the 2-day lapse, I believe we've already covered this ground.
"followed by you furtively re-reading your own comment for 90 minutes and posting a correction."
Er - no. I didn't "furtively re-read" my comment for 90 minutes (though, LOL, I'm flattered that you believe I am that diligent). I checked back to see if there was a response posted yet and, corrected my typo (apparently, you and I define "typo" differently - for me, a "typo" indicates, not only a mis-spelled word but any unintended keystroke [including incorrect numbers]) for clarification.
LOL: Incidentally, why do you and Quickdraw McBitch/Helen Mirren is a Bitch seem so desperate to make "jackhole" a hip term? - I hate to burst your bubble (okay, I don't REALLY hate to) but, it's NOT happening!
"Also, your correction, needs a correction."
LOL: Speaking of "corrections" and "typos," you may want to delete the comma after the first "correction" so that the sentence "correctly" (pun intended)reads as: "Also, your correction needs a correction."
They taught you about Lincoln and typographical errors but, neglected to teach you basic grammar? Your parents may want to demand their tax money back.(wink)
"You have the right to your opinion and voice it."
Er - thank you for informing me of my First Amendment Rights.
"You're an idiot, random guy. That much is clear."
LOL: JBC, I am rather disappointed in you - until this point, you had actually managed to post a relatively articulate post (or at least one which demonstrated greater intelligence, a more comprehensive vocabulary and better command of the English language than your previous post) but, you have now apparently regressed to your prior proclivity for sophomoric language (i.e. "idiot", "jackhole", etc.)combined with lame insults and some rather bizarre inferences on my previous posts.
"And what you just read, above, that was me, kicking your ass."
LOL: I don't know what you're kicking but, it is certainly not MY A**!
"This "debate" isn't exactly Lincoln-Douglas"
Agreed.
"Now I think it's best you go back to what you do best, which from the looks of it, is masturbating to the Gilmore Girls for a few frustratingly hapless unsuccessful minutes followed by crying yourself to sleep in your pillow"
LMAO (er, LMBO): I don't know what your day job is, JBC, but I would not recommend that you quit it to be a psychologist in the near future!
I suppose I COULD enlighten you about my true sexual inclinations, political opinions, historical knowledge, etc., but where's the fun in THAT?? (smile)
...Will Smith?
Posted by: Holly at April 29, 2007 07:19 PMFirst of all, you don't know me as well as you know all of your new friends, but [LOL] you are going to love me.
You will. Love. Me. Hard. You have a very Polish name.
Which makes you completely credible over defending your hatred of black people.
I really think we should meet.
I'm a [LOL]yer.
You have very eloquent wordage at your disposal. And I would like for you to dispose of it at my bedside table.
I am intrigued by your ideas and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
For information about metaphors, consult MLA.org
Kisses.
I didn't forget Poland.
If you want, maybe we could start by counting the syllables in the words intinerant, indigent and impoverished. They said you was a [LOL]yer, so I just figured.....
Oh hey, you're Polish, do you know Zbigniew Brzezinksi? Dude! That's some sexsyllabic wet action. There. I'll say that while you count.
Start counting. Dirty. Yes. Count it. Count it up. Count it right up.
Man, this shit gets me through [LOL] school.
Posted by: Big Daddy at April 29, 2007 08:51 PMTo: Random
LOL(wink)
LOL: JBC
LMAO (er, LMBO)
Er(smile)
etc. based on THIS PARTICULAR THREAD (i.e.
MY A**! (obvious)
JHC
Posted by: jebushchrist at April 29, 2007 08:54 PMHey, now...HEH HEH. Is my face all red and covered with morphemes.
Jasper Johns, I made a typo. I galdderrned TYPOed!
It's Itinerant, not intinerant. If the syllables stay the same, we might be done with this party before Sex and the City on TBS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_%28Internet%29 : A person who is deliberately inflammatory on the Internet in order to provoke a vehement response from other users.
Except, in this case, replace "vehement response" with "nerve-toxin level hilarity". Love to everybody, especially my smarties. (LOL: not you.)
Posted by: Bobo at April 29, 2007 10:21 PMSeriously, this is like conversing with a less intelligent, less attractive, marginally more persistent Dwight. You know what the best part is? I know I don't have to explain that reference to the readership six times to make sure they understand it. Wink LOL!!!!
Posted by: Eddie Murphy Could Kick Your Ass (Or, As You Seem To Call It, A**) at April 29, 2007 11:59 PMTo: Holly
"Will Smith?"
LOL: Again, no. But keep trying - I'm sure you will guess my true identity eventually.
To: Big Daddy
"You have a very Polish name"
You are quite an astute observer, Big Daddy.
"Which makes you completely credible over defending your hatred of black people."
LOL: You may want to familiarize yourself with American history - the vast majority of the injustices and atrocities committed against African-Americans (i.e. slavery, lynching, segregation, police brutality, etc.) have been performed by NON-Polish Caucasians.
"You have very eloquent wordage at your disposal. And I would like for you to dispose of it at my bedside table."
LOL: I'm afraid I don't walk on that side of the street. However, I'm sure that a man of your intelligence level, personality and - er- proclivities should have no trouble finding a young male companion to your taste. However, you may want to confine your amorous attentions to boys OVER the age of eighteen - you don't want to pull a Michael Jackson (unless, like him, you are a world-famous millionaire artist who can afford powerhouse defense attorneys to get you acquitted). (wink)
To: Bobo
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_%28Internet%29 : A person who is deliberately inflammatory on the Internet in order to provoke a vehement response from other users.
Except, in this case, replace "vehement response" with "nerve-toxin level hilarity". Love to everybody, especially my smarties. (LOL: not you.)"
Thank you Bobo. I must confess that I have derived a certain level of "hilarity" from these exchanges as well.
"Seriously, this is like conversing with a less intelligent, less attractive, marginally more persistent Dwight. You know what the best part is? I know I don't have to explain that reference to the readership six times to make sure they understand it."
I am sure that there IS a certain comfort level in dealing with a small, exclusive insulated clique who understand and appreciate your comments and jokes, however incomprehensible, esoteric or downright lame they may appear to others.
"Posted by Eddie Murphy Could Kick Your Ass (Or, As You Seem To Call It, A**) at April 29, 2007 11:59 PM"
LOL: I refrained from using the vulgar term "ass" in deference to simple common courtesy. However, it makes you you happier - there, I've said it! (smile)
I never said Eddie Murphy couldn't kick my ass (especially if he and big brother Charlie worked me over the way they apparently did to Rick James!) - I stated that Eddie was a "cocky, head-up-his-ass, world champion of jerkdom" not a "p****" (er, sorry - make that "pussy"). By similar token, who can say that, 61 years old or not, Dame Helen couldn't bitch-slap you into the next millennium? (especially if she is channeling Jane Tennison).
LOL: Perhaps we're both lucky that we can simply bitch about them on a blog as opposed to confronting them face to face!
Stay classy, Toledo State Community College Law School and Taxidermy Institution.
Posted by: Wow. at April 30, 2007 10:54 AMI may not like 'em young but I sure do like 'em stupid.
Posted by: Big Daddy at April 30, 2007 05:10 PM"I may not like 'em young but I sure do like 'em stupid."
LOL: Then keep on truckin', Big Daddy.
Who knows - in another two years, George Dubya may come on the market (if Laura divorces him and Condie dumps him, that is).
Posted by: John Kowalczak at May 1, 2007 09:40 AMOoohh....the abject employment of cliches ends with me a puddle around the ankles of champions...Bring it on, Wrocławskich
Posted by: Big Daddy at May 1, 2007 08:10 PMJerkwheat, while I've got you here, can I say how fucking excellent you were on the radio last night?
Posted by: Holly at May 2, 2007 09:20 AM"I am sure that there IS a certain comfort level in dealing with a small, exclusive insulated clique who understand and appreciate your comments and jokes, however incomprehensible, esoteric or downright lame they may appear to others."
LOL: It's called "having friends", you should look into it. (wink) (smile) (wink again)
Posted by: baba oje at May 2, 2007 09:41 AM"Ooohh....the abject employment of cliches ends with me a puddle around the ankles of champions"
LOL: I'm flattered but, I honestly don't think the "abject employment of cliches" had much to do with that condition.
Posted by: John Kowalczak at May 2, 2007 09:44 AMRE: Helen Mirren
"LOL: Bro, I think you may be alone on this one! I am 27 and don?t usually care for older women (sexually speaking) but, MAN, I want to bang the sh*t out of that old lady!
Maybe you should have stayed up to watch her win her award - seeing her bodacious ta-tas bouncing like a baby boy as she walked up the podium mighta changed your point of view!"
http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/the941/2007/02/27/fun-with-the-academy/
Posted by: John Kowalczak at May 2, 2007 08:47 PM"I'm afraid that I do lead an active and productive life outside of internet blogs"
Posted by: John Kowalczak at May 2, 2007 09:02 PMTo: Baba Oje
"I am sure that there IS a certain comfort level in dealing with a small, exclusive insulated clique who understand and appreciate your comments and jokes, however incomprehensible, esoteric or downright lame they may appear to others."
LOL: It's called "having friends", you should look into it. (wink) (smile) (wink again)"
LOL: How do you suppose that I know of what I speak, Baba Oje? (wink back)
To: My Doppelganger (aka "John Kowalczak")
Though I must afford you credit on your Googling skills, one previous Internet post (incidentally, there are several more floating about in Cyberspace somewhere)hardly refutes my point of having a life outside of Internet blogs.
On the other hand, if you can cull dozens, hundreds or thousands of my posts on the net (or just ONE post on votefortheworst.com - which DEFINITELY signifies the lack of a productive life, IMO), I may concede your point.
Posted by: John Kowalczak at May 3, 2007 10:00 AM"To: Czar Kowalczak
Are you coming on to me?"
LOL: If I were, I'd have to point out that you actually instigated the exchange (remember, you winked at me TWICE).
But, I assure you, you are QUITE safe from my prurient pursuits. ([strictly platonic] wink)
Posted by: John Kowalczak at May 3, 2007 08:28 PM