This year marked the 81st Academy Awards, and boy were they outstanding!!!!!! I have watched the Oscars for as long as I can remember (at least 30 years), and this year saw a return to the showcase it once was!
This year's host was none other than Hugh Jackman! Not only does the man look good, but he can sing AND dance. He looked in his element as he danced and sang his way through the opening number. Thank you for such a memorable experience for an avid watcher. When I watched some of the news highlights (and Oprah's Post-Oscar Special), the buzz was that once again, the Academy had returned to it's showmanship roots, and the air was filled with voices of gratitude.
For me, the most brilliant, and touching, experiences were the four main acting categories. How amazing to watch five previous winners from the following categories, step forward from behind the curtains and have gracious words for each one of the nominees in their respective categories:
Best Supporting Actress - Tilda Swinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Eva Marie Saint, Goldie Hawn, & Anjelica Huston
Best Supporting Actor - Alan Arkin, Joel Grey, Cuba Gooding Jr., Christopher Walken, & Kevin Kline
Best Actor - Robert DeNiro, Ben Kingsley, Adrian Brody, Michael Douglas, & Anthony Hopkins
Best Actress - Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Shirley MacLaine, Sophia Loren, & Halle Berry
BEAUTIFUL! I was moved to tears as elegant words were spoken, particularly to Penelope Cruz, and Kate Winslet.
Even more touching was the acceptance speech by Heath Ledger's father, mother, and sister as they humbly accepted the second ever post-humous award to be handed out to the Academy. Heath wholeheartedly deserved the Oscar nod, and would have won even if he was around. His performance was nothing like anything I had ever seen him pull out of his repertoire, including Brokeback Mountain. We love you Heath!!!!!
On a final note to the night, I truly appreciated Sean Penn's sentiments in his speech. Despite the fact that even he knows he is difficult to work with (and alluded to it in his acceptance speech), it is a testament to his abilities as an actor to have brought Harvey Milk to life. Mr. Penn stood on a very solid and worthwhile soapbox to call to and end to inequality and that all humans, regardless of their sexuality, have equal rights. We are ALL human beings.
Once again, thank you to Bill Condon, Laurence Marks for producing one of my favorite Oscars of ALL TIMES!!!! OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
And now for the news we wish didn't happen......
Like the universal Yin-Yang, there is always a mixture of good and bad on this planet. Some day, I would love to see the news be 70% good news, and 30% bad news, and then slowly wipe bad news off of this planet. I am a firm believer that although something bad might be happening, there is always something good that can come out of it. It may take time to show itself, but it usually does.
In my lifetime I have witnessed two space shuttle launches end in the loss of life as astronauts flew towards the stars. In 1986 the Space Shuttle Challenger, and the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. We have come so far with technology, and it's great there have been so few crashes, but history, good or bad, should never be forgotten. I am glad that fear never enters into the vocabulary of our courageous astronauts. There have now been unmanned missions to Mars, we've sent the Hubble telescope to the end of our known universe, and we now have the Space Station Mir.
September 11, 2001 an attack unlike any other was launched against the United States. Two hijacked jets slammed into the twin towers in New York. A third hijacked plane crashed into the Pentagon, and a fourth planeheaded for Washington, D.C. was valiantly overtaken by passengers, and a crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The aftermath broadcast was mind-numbing. It's been almost eight years, and the effects of that one day are still being felt by many people, globally. Security is at an all time high. I feel like sometimes you can't even sneeze without someone finding out about it. People come together at times like these, and it was amazing to see bands of "brothers" valiantly search for lost souls in the rubble, and cry on each others shoulders at times of such despair. "Brother"hood amongs our services workers is an undeniable power. To this day, the church next to the twin towers, stands firmly as a reminder of strength and resistance to those that try to oppress. A planet came together to mourn and support those who had lost a loved one. I attended a memorial in town, and it was beautiful.
In early Februaryof 2009, wildfires broke out in Australia the likes of which have never been seen before. Hundreds of human lives were lost, and I can only imagine what the death toll will be for the wildlife (those numbers haven't even been estimated yet). The most horrific part of this is that one human being is responsible for part of the wildfires. I hope that authorities catch the person, or persons, responsible, so that justice is properly served. Like the story that follows, I'm sure the same kind of reaction is taking place on the continent of Australia. One of rising out of the ashes.
In the city I'm from, Kamloops, BC, we also suffered a wildfire of epic proportions about 40 minutes from town. In 2003, a gentleman decided to put his cigarette out in a field as dry as hay. Of all the ironic things, he was an auxiliary firefighter, and was asked by his buddy if "he thought it was a good idea to do that" prior to dropping his cigarette. Thanks to this action, the small town of Louis Creek was destroyed, and had to be re-built by the ground up. A local mill was destroyed, taking with it, the jobs of many. Houses, family pets, and livelihoods were lost, and we were VERY fortunate that only a few lives of a rescue crew were lost when a helicopter went down, succumb by the thick walls of smoke. I was fortunate enough to have time to volunteer at our local animal shelter during this time, and again, the outpouring of support was nothing shy of breathtaking. Thousands of dollars were raised for care of people and animals. I even got myself an amazing little dog out of the whole ordeal. People showed up at the shelter with donations of food, blankets, money, and hours and hours of time. People opened up their homes to humans and animals alike. It was one of the most amazing volunteer experiences I have ever taken part in. I'm sure my tears fell in litres from sheer joy because of a town of 80,000 coming together for the sake of 3,000 plus pets and livestock. God Bless their hearts!
So, despite, having moments like this occur on my radar of time, I know in my heart of hearts that there is always a pearl to be found.........always!
In my lifetime I have witnessed two space shuttle launches end in the loss of life as astronauts flew towards the stars. In 1986 the Space Shuttle Challenger, and the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. We have come so far with technology, and it's great there have been so few crashes, but history, good or bad, should never be forgotten. I am glad that fear never enters into the vocabulary of our courageous astronauts. There have now been unmanned missions to Mars, we've sent the Hubble telescope to the end of our known universe, and we now have the Space Station Mir.
September 11, 2001 an attack unlike any other was launched against the United States. Two hijacked jets slammed into the twin towers in New York. A third hijacked plane crashed into the Pentagon, and a fourth planeheaded for Washington, D.C. was valiantly overtaken by passengers, and a crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The aftermath broadcast was mind-numbing. It's been almost eight years, and the effects of that one day are still being felt by many people, globally. Security is at an all time high. I feel like sometimes you can't even sneeze without someone finding out about it. People come together at times like these, and it was amazing to see bands of "brothers" valiantly search for lost souls in the rubble, and cry on each others shoulders at times of such despair. "Brother"hood amongs our services workers is an undeniable power. To this day, the church next to the twin towers, stands firmly as a reminder of strength and resistance to those that try to oppress. A planet came together to mourn and support those who had lost a loved one. I attended a memorial in town, and it was beautiful.
In early Februaryof 2009, wildfires broke out in Australia the likes of which have never been seen before. Hundreds of human lives were lost, and I can only imagine what the death toll will be for the wildlife (those numbers haven't even been estimated yet). The most horrific part of this is that one human being is responsible for part of the wildfires. I hope that authorities catch the person, or persons, responsible, so that justice is properly served. Like the story that follows, I'm sure the same kind of reaction is taking place on the continent of Australia. One of rising out of the ashes.
In the city I'm from, Kamloops, BC, we also suffered a wildfire of epic proportions about 40 minutes from town. In 2003, a gentleman decided to put his cigarette out in a field as dry as hay. Of all the ironic things, he was an auxiliary firefighter, and was asked by his buddy if "he thought it was a good idea to do that" prior to dropping his cigarette. Thanks to this action, the small town of Louis Creek was destroyed, and had to be re-built by the ground up. A local mill was destroyed, taking with it, the jobs of many. Houses, family pets, and livelihoods were lost, and we were VERY fortunate that only a few lives of a rescue crew were lost when a helicopter went down, succumb by the thick walls of smoke. I was fortunate enough to have time to volunteer at our local animal shelter during this time, and again, the outpouring of support was nothing shy of breathtaking. Thousands of dollars were raised for care of people and animals. I even got myself an amazing little dog out of the whole ordeal. People showed up at the shelter with donations of food, blankets, money, and hours and hours of time. People opened up their homes to humans and animals alike. It was one of the most amazing volunteer experiences I have ever taken part in. I'm sure my tears fell in litres from sheer joy because of a town of 80,000 coming together for the sake of 3,000 plus pets and livestock. God Bless their hearts!
So, despite, having moments like this occur on my radar of time, I know in my heart of hearts that there is always a pearl to be found.........always!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Dawning of a New Era
We walk through our lifetime, and sometimes forget that unless we put it in writing, moments in time will be forgotten. There are things in my lifetime, that I hope will remain forever on this Blog. We learn from mistakes made (hopefully), and are inspired by true events. This is one I have witness through the media of television. Oh to have been there.....
This year, 2009, one of those positive events has occurred. I don't consider myself a political human being (I do exercise my right to vote), but was completely enthralled with the United States politics this particular year. Although I have been raised in a generation where color is not of importance, and humanity is, an African-American President has come to watch over the United States for the next four years. It will be a painful growing period for all involved, but a breath of fresh air. Like any house that needs cleaning, especially that good old-fashioned Spring cleaning, one usually starts with emptying out the closets in order to re-organize. I truly see this as Barack Obama's first task for what will be a difficult, but rewarding, term.
The White House will have the sound of children's laughter filling it again, with a strong example of a solid marriage and sound family that will forge through a nation in crisis. Call me old fashioned, but family is the foundation to all good beginnings. I cried tears of joy watching a well-spoken man take the Presidential Oath on a Bible that sat in the Congress Library since Lincoln's Inauguration. It sent chills down my spine. Imagine, the man that paved the way for freedom for slaves, and a man whose freedom he fought for, taking the Oath on the exact same Bible. Absolutely touching!
While the world tailspins financially, this planet, for a moment in time, joined an unfathomable universal energy in support of a new found freedom...................the freedom Lincoln started.........leaving the color of one's skin behind, and recognizing people for WHO they are and what they can do.
This year, 2009, one of those positive events has occurred. I don't consider myself a political human being (I do exercise my right to vote), but was completely enthralled with the United States politics this particular year. Although I have been raised in a generation where color is not of importance, and humanity is, an African-American President has come to watch over the United States for the next four years. It will be a painful growing period for all involved, but a breath of fresh air. Like any house that needs cleaning, especially that good old-fashioned Spring cleaning, one usually starts with emptying out the closets in order to re-organize. I truly see this as Barack Obama's first task for what will be a difficult, but rewarding, term.
The White House will have the sound of children's laughter filling it again, with a strong example of a solid marriage and sound family that will forge through a nation in crisis. Call me old fashioned, but family is the foundation to all good beginnings. I cried tears of joy watching a well-spoken man take the Presidential Oath on a Bible that sat in the Congress Library since Lincoln's Inauguration. It sent chills down my spine. Imagine, the man that paved the way for freedom for slaves, and a man whose freedom he fought for, taking the Oath on the exact same Bible. Absolutely touching!
While the world tailspins financially, this planet, for a moment in time, joined an unfathomable universal energy in support of a new found freedom...................the freedom Lincoln started.........leaving the color of one's skin behind, and recognizing people for WHO they are and what they can do.
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