smidgy

Oscars 2008: What's the big deal?

Yes, it's that time of the year again, and not even the writer's strike was able to stop the Academy Awards from rearing its ugly head once again. Writer A.O. Scott from the International Herald Tribune gives his take on the 2008 Oscars and wonders if the Oscars are worthy of all the attention:

Like anyone else I'm glad when my favorites win and dismayed when they fall short. So I am not against the Oscars, any more than I'm dismissive of the Salesman of the Year or the Employee of the Month, or opposed to lavish annual trade association conventions for actuaries or ophthalmologists. But I am nonetheless bothered by the disproportionate importance that the Academy Awards have taken on, and by the distorting influence they exercise over the way Americans make, market and see movies. The Oscars themselves may be harmless fun, but the idea that they matter is as dangerous as it is ridiculous.

Releasing ambitious, serious films into theaters has become a brutal blood sport, while going to watch them has become, for the most part, a seasonal activity. From January through August the theaters are crowded with highly commercial franchise entertainment, most of it designed for the adolescent palate, with a sprinkling of alternatives for grown-up cinephiles. There follows in the last third of the year, roughly from the Toronto International Film Festival in September through Christmas, an avalanche of art. Movies arrive on autumn weekends by the dozen: tiny gems and aspiring masterpieces, heavy with significance or filigreed with nuance, all craning toward February, when their midsize budgets and grand ambitions will be validated like parking receipts at a shopping mall on Hollywood Boulevard.

Absolut Music Robot Likes Ping Pong Balls

The Absolut Quartet is a giant electromechanical sculpture which somehow manages to combine ping pong balls, a marimba and brandy glasses to produce sweet, sweet melodies. This dazzling piece of musical engineering was created by Dan Paluska and Jeff Lieberman. For those of you living in New York City, you can visit this crazy contraption in person at 186 Orchard Street.

Via Make

TV, Post Strike

Hayden Panettiere of TV Show Heroes

Now that the writer's strike in the US is finally over, the question becomes, "what happens next?".
This article has some answers, although a lot is still in the hands of TV execs. In short, big shows like Lost, Heroes and 24 will return, although perhaps not this season. Lower rated shows could be cancelled entirely. Hopefully they won't cancel Bionic Woman.

Update 1: Here is a more comprehensive guide from the New York Times

Coffee Guide for Buzz Fanatics

Coffee addicts of the world, rejoice. Here is the guide you never knew you were looking for but will be happy to discover: Caffeine: A User's Guide to Getting Optimally wired. This article gives some suggestions on how to keep the buzz going throughout the day and also covers some of the health benefits and risks of coffee consumption.

Via Digg

Hillary Clinton Boldly Chasing Obama Votes

We all know the mighty Oprah has given much love to the Obama camp, leaving poor Hillary without the support of one of America's most influential women. Not to be outdone on any front, Hillary has decided to go steal some of Oprah's thunder by splurging on a Winfresque makeover, courtesy of hairmixer.com.

Pause Button for People

From the Improv Everywhere web site:

On a cold Saturday in New York City, the world’s largest train station came to a sudden halt. Over 200 Improv Everywhere Agents froze in place at the exact same second for five minutes in the Main Concourse of Grand Central Station. Over 500,000 people rush through Grand Central every day, but today, things slowed down just a bit as commuters and tourists alike stopped to notice what was happening around.