My friend and sometimes co-conspirator Joe Long tells me that I should start blogging again because I need an outlet for some frustrations I’m experiencing. He’s right, you know. The problem is that I don’t want to let the whole world in on the darkness of my current state of mind. Over-exposure to the darkness is no better for you than over-exposure to sunlight, I’m learning. So I’m going to let loose for a minute and just get some things off my chest.

1) Sometimes, I question my own commitment to Sparkle Motion.

2) I know why the caged bird sings.

3) Hard times are spreading just like the flu/Watch out, homeboy, don’t let it catch you

4) Mother, my friends are no longer my friends and the games we once played have no meaning. I’ve grown serious and shy and they can’t figure why so they’ve left me to my own daydreaming.

5) To any person who operates their business based on fear and intimidation, I am not afraid of you and I will beat your ass.

6) I don’t know what “family” means, I only know that I’m part of one and I’m not doing a very good job at my part. I’m sorry.

7) I am a better singer than almost anyone I saw audition for American Idol. There is a crime going on here.

Something about the taste of an R.C. Cola is so much better than Coca-Cola. I miss the old R.C. Cola cans.

9) Avoid entangling alliances with people who don’t value your judgments.

10) I am not above reproach, but neither am I below it.

11) If you do something for someone believing that they owe you because of your kindness, say hello to Mickey and Donald for me.

12) If you’re going to spread something, spread truth. Without it, love is only an afterthought.

13) Most of the time, you’re not really bringing sexy back. Justin is bringing sexy back; you, however, probably aren’t.

14) Just because you can’t find something wrong with it doesn’t mean it’s fine.

I don’t think I really got anything off my chest here or said anything terribly profound. But it was nice to write something for a change instead of letting this blog take up room in cyberspace unused.

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I sat here watching the nominations for the 79th Academy Awards and I was equally stunned and impressed with the nominations. Having seen all the nominated pictures, I was unsurprised at some of the choices (Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, Helen Mirren in The Queen) and blown away at the academy for recognizing others (in particular, Ryan Gosling’s award-worthy performance as a drug-addicted inner-city high school teacher in the little-seen but completely stunning film Half Nelson).

While the movie Dreamgirls received individual nominations for actors Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy, the film was surprisingly not nominated for best picture. Though the film received seven total nominations, the fact that it didn’t receive a best picture nomination marks a shift in the dynamics of the way the Academy traditionally votes. Remember a little film called Chicago?

It is hoped within the Hollywood community that this year’s nomination of director Martin Scorcese for The Departed will finally break the curse that seems to have followed him throughout his career. It’s about time he received the kudos that he so richly deserves from the community whose work he has influenced consistently.

The nominations of Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou for the movie Blood Diamond seemed uncharacteristic and, while a compelling picture at times, the film lacked Oscar-worthy performances from either actor. DiCaprio’s performance in The Departed was much more intriguing and gritty, a near-perfect delivery from the young actor whose work has consistently matured over the life of his career.

Every year I hope to see certain things happen and every year I seem to be let down. But this year, Ryan Gosling is the big story to watch. If you haven’t ever heard of or seen the movie Half Nelson, time to order it from Netflix.

79th Annual Academy Award Nominees

Best Picture:

Little Miss Sunshine
The Departed
The Queen
Babel
Letters From Iwo Jima

Best Actor:

Ryan Gosling, Half-Nelson
Forrest Whittaker, The Last King Of Scotland
Peter O’Toole, Venus
Will Smith, The Pursuit Of Happyness
Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond

Best Supporting Actor:

Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine
Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children
Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond
Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls
Mark Wahlberg, The Departed

Best Actress:

Penelope Cruz, Volver
Judi Dench, Notes On A Scandal
Helen Mirren, The Queen
Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet, Little Children

Best Supporting Actress:

Adriana Barraza, Babel
Cate Blanchett, Notes On A Scandal
Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi, Babel

Best Director:

Alejandro Gonzales Innaritu, Babel
Clint Eastwood, Letters From Iwo Jima
Stephen Frears, The Queen
Martin Scorcese, The Departed
Paul Greengrass, United 93

For a complete list of nominees go to http://www.oscar.com/nominees/?pn=list

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