Here's my pick of oscar winners tonight.....
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Javier Bardem in “Biutiful” (Roadside Attractions)
Jeff Bridges in “True Grit” (Paramount)
Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Colin Firth in “The King's Speech” (The Weinstein Company) - WILL WIN / SHOULD WIN / WON
James Franco in “127 Hours” (Fox Searchlight)
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Christian Bale in “The Fighter” (Paramount) - WILL WIN / WON
John Hawkes in “Winter's Bone” (Roadside Attractions)
Jeremy Renner in “The Town” (Warner Bros.)
Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right” (Focus Features)
Geoffrey Rush in “The King's Speech” (The Weinstein Company) - SHOULD WIN
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right” (Focus Features) - SHOULD WIN
Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole” (Lionsgate)
Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter's Bone” (Roadside Attractions)
Natalie Portman in “Black Swan” (Fox Searchlight) - WILL WIN / WON
Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine” (The Weinstein Company)
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Amy Adams in “The Fighter” (Paramount)
Helena Bonham Carter in “The King's Speech” (The Weinstein Company) - SHOULD WIN
Melissa Leo in “The Fighter” (Paramount) - WILL WIN / WON
Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit” (Paramount)
Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Best animated feature film of the year
“How to Train Your Dragon” (Paramount) Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
“The Illusionist” (Sony Pictures Classics) Sylvain Chomet
“Toy Story 3” (Walt Disney) Lee Unkrich - WILL WIN/SHOULD WIN / WON
Achievement in directing
“Black Swan” (Fox Searchlight) Darren Aronofsky
“The Fighter” (Paramount) David O. Russell
“The King's Speech” (The Weinstein Company) Tom Hooper - WON
“The Social Network” (Sony Pictures Releasing) David Fincher - WILL WIN / SHOULD WIN
“True Grit” (Paramount) Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Best documentary feature
“Exit through the Gift Shop”
“Gasland”
“Inside Job” - WON
“Restrepo”
“Waste Land” (Arthouse Films)
“Killing in the Name”
“Poster Girl”
“Strangers No More”
“Sun Come Up”
“The Warriors of Qiugang”
Did not have a chance to watch any documentary this year but have been looking forward to Exit through the Gift Shop which I think might win.
Best foreign language film of the year
“Biutiful” (Roadside Attractions) - WILL WIN
“Dogtooth” (Kino International)
“In a Better World” (Sony Pictures Classics) - WON
“Incendies” (Sony Pictures Classics)
“Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi)” (Cohen Media Group)
Achievement in makeup
“Barney's Version” (Sony Pictures Classics) Adrien Morot
“The Way Back” (Newmarket Films in association with
Wrekin Hill Entertainment and Image Entertainment)
“The Wolfman” (Universal) Rick Baker and Dave Elsey - WON
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“How to Train Your Dragon” (Paramount) John Powell
“Inception” (Warner Bros.) Hans Zimmer
“The King's Speech” (The Weinstein Company) Alexandre Desplat
“127 Hours” (Fox Searchlight) A.R. Rahman
“The Social Network” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - WILL WIN/SHOULD WIN / WON
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Coming Home” from “Country Strong”
“I See the Light” from “Tangled”
“If I Rise” from “127 Hours”
“We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3” - SHOULD WIN / WON
Best motion picture of the year
“Black Swan” (Fox Searchlight)
“The Fighter” (Paramount)
“Inception” (Warner Bros.)
“The Kids Are All Right” (Focus Features)
“The King's Speech” (The Weinstein Company) - WILL WIN / SHOULD WIN / WON
“127 Hours” (Fox Searchlight)
“The Social Network” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
“Toy Story 3” (Walt Disney)
“True Grit” (Paramount)
“Winter's Bone” (Roadside Attractions)
Best animated short film
“Day & Night” (Walt Disney) - SHOULD WIN / WILL WIN
“The Gruffalo”
“Let's Pollute”
“The Lost Thing” (Nick Batzias for Madman Entertainment) - WON
“Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey
Diary)”
Adapted screenplay
“127 Hours” (Fox Searchlight) Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
“The Social Network” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin - WILL WIN / WON
“Toy Story 3” (Walt Disney) Screenplay by Michael Arndt Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton And Lee Unkrich - SHOULD WIN
“True Grit” (Paramount) Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Winter's Bone” (Roadside Attractions) Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini
Original screenplay
“Another Year” (Sony Pictures Classics) Written by Mike Leigh
“The Fighter” (Paramount) Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson
Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric
Johnson
“Inception” (Warner Bros.) Written by Christopher Nolan
“The Kids Are All Right” (Focus Features) Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
“The King's Speech” (The Weinstein Company) Screenplay by David Seidler - WILL WIN/SHOULD WIN / WON
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
BREAKING: Obama Asks Justice Department to Stop Defending DOMA in Court, Declares Section 3 'Unconstitutional' - Towleroad | #gay #news
Attorney General Eric Holder has just released a statement regarding the Justice Department's defense of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), saying that President Obama "has concluded that Section 3 of DOMA, as applied to legally married same-sex couples, fails to meet "a heightened standard of scrutiny" and is therefore "unconstitutional."
Holder continues: "Given that conclusion, the President has instructed the Department not to defend the statute in such cases. I fully concur with the President’s determination."
The memo notes that the White House is not ending enforcement of DOMA, just its defense in court. Congress must repeal the law or a court must rule in one of the pending cases for enforcement to change.
Full statement from Attorney General Eric Holder:
Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/02/breaking-obama-asks-justice-department-to-stop-defending-doma-in-court.html#ixzz1Eo8quQnT
Holder continues: "Given that conclusion, the President has instructed the Department not to defend the statute in such cases. I fully concur with the President’s determination."
The memo notes that the White House is not ending enforcement of DOMA, just its defense in court. Congress must repeal the law or a court must rule in one of the pending cases for enforcement to change.
Full statement from Attorney General Eric Holder:
The Attorney General made the following statement today about the Department’s course of action in two lawsuits, Pedersen v. OPM and Windsor v. United States, challenging Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage for federal purposes as only between a man and a woman:
In the two years since this Administration took office, the Department of Justice has defended Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act on several occasions in federal court. Each of those cases evaluating Section 3 was considered in jurisdictions in which binding circuit court precedents hold that laws singling out people based on sexual orientation, as DOMA does, are constitutional if there is a rational basis for their enactment. While the President opposes DOMA and believes it should be repealed, the Department has defended it in court because we were able to advance reasonable arguments under that rational basis standard.
Section 3 of DOMA has now been challenged in the Second Circuit, however, which has no established or binding standard for how laws concerning sexual orientation should be treated. In these cases, the Administration faces for the first time the question of whether laws regarding sexual orientation are subject to the more permissive standard of review or whether a more rigorous standard, under which laws targeting minority groups with a history of discrimination are viewed with suspicion by the courts, should apply.
After careful consideration, including a review of my recommendation, the President has concluded that given a number of factors, including a documented history of discrimination, classifications based on sexual orientation should be subject to a more heightened standard of scrutiny. The President has also concluded that Section 3 of DOMA, as applied to legally married same-sex couples, fails to meet that standard and is therefore unconstitutional. Given that conclusion, the President has instructed the Department not to defend the statute in such cases. I fully concur with the President’s determination.
Consequently, the Department will not defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of DOMA as applied to same-sex married couples in the two cases filed in the Second Circuit. We will, however, remain parties to the cases and continue to represent the interests of the United States throughout the litigation. I have informed Members of Congress of this decision, so Members who wish to defend the statute may pursue that option. The Department will also work closely with the courts to ensure that Congress has a full and fair opportunity to participate in pending litigation.
Furthermore, pursuant to the President’s instructions, and upon further notification to Congress, I will instruct Department attorneys to advise courts in other pending DOMA litigation of the President's and my conclusions that a heightened standard should apply, that Section 3 is unconstitutional under that standard and that the Department will cease defense of Section 3.
The Department has a longstanding practice of defending the constitutionality of duly-enacted statutes if reasonable arguments can be made in their defense. At the same time, the Department in the past has declined to defend statutes despite the availability of professionally responsible arguments, in part because – as here – the Department does not consider every such argument to be a “reasonable” one. Moreover, the Department has declined to defend a statute in cases, like this one, where the President has concluded that the statute is unconstitutional.
Much of the legal landscape has changed in the 15 years since Congress passed DOMA. The Supreme Court has ruled that laws criminalizing homosexual conduct are unconstitutional. Congress has repealed the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Several lower courts have ruled DOMA itself to be unconstitutional. Section 3 of DOMA will continue to remain in effect unless Congress repeals it or there is a final judicial finding that strikes it down, and the President has informed me that the Executive Branch will continue to enforce the law. But while both the wisdom and the legality of Section 3 of DOMA will continue to be the subject of both extensive litigation and public debate, this Administration will no longer assert its constitutionality in court.
Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/02/breaking-obama-asks-justice-department-to-stop-defending-doma-in-court.html#ixzz1Eo8quQnT
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Adele Live on Letterman 2/21/11
Day in the Life of Joe Middle-Class Republican by John Gray
Just read this post on another blog and even though it is written in 2004, it rings true for me... especially in light of the union busting measures that a few Republican majority states are trying to do in their states.
Day in the Life of Joe Middle-Class Republican
By John Gray – Published by TvNewsLies.org – July, 2004
Article link: http://tvnewslies.org/html/day_in_the_life_of_joe_middle-.html
Joe gets up at 6:00am to prepare his morning coffee. He fills his pot full of good clean drinking water because some liberal fought for minimum water quality standards. He takes his daily medication with his first swallow of coffee. His medications are safe to take because some liberal fought to insure their safety and work as advertised.
All but $10.00 of his medications are paid for by his employers medical plan because some liberal union workers fought the ir employers for paid medical insurance, now Joe gets it too. He prepares his morning breakfast, bacon and eggs this day. Joe’s bacon is safe to eat because some liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.
Joe takes his morning shower reaching for his shampoo; His bottle is properly labeled with every ingredient and the amount of its contents because some liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contained. Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some tree hugging liberal fought for laws to stop industries from polluting our air. He walks to the subway station for his government subsidized ride to work; it saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees. You see, some liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.
Joe begins his work day; he has a good job with excellent pay, medicals benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe’s employer pays these standards because Joe’s employer doesn’t want his employees to call the union. If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed he’ll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some liberal didn’t think he should loose his home because of his temporary misfortune.
Its noon time, Joe needs to make a Bank Deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe’s deposit is federally insured by the FSLIC because some liberal wanted to protect Joe’s money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the depression.
Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae underwritten Mortgage and his below market federal student loan because some stupid liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his life-time.
Joe is home from work, he plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive to dads; his car is among the safest in the world because some liberal fought for car safety standards. He arrives at his boyhood home. He was the third generation to live in the house financed by Farmers Home Administration because bankers didn’t want to make rural loans. The house didn’t have electric until some big government liberal stuck his nose where it didn’t belong and demanded rural electrification. (Those rural Republican’s would still be sitting in the dark)
He is happy to see his dad who is now retired. His dad lives on Social Security and his union pension because some liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn’t have to. After his visit with dad he gets back in his car for the ride home.
He turns on a radio talk show, the host’s keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. (He doesn’t tell Joe that his beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day) Joe agrees, “We don’t need those big government liberals ruining our lives; after all, I’m a self made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have”.
By John Gray
Day in the Life of Joe Middle-Class Republican
By John Gray – Published by TvNewsLies.org – July, 2004
Article link: http://tvnewslies.org/html/day_in_the_life_of_joe_middle-.html
Joe gets up at 6:00am to prepare his morning coffee. He fills his pot full of good clean drinking water because some liberal fought for minimum water quality standards. He takes his daily medication with his first swallow of coffee. His medications are safe to take because some liberal fought to insure their safety and work as advertised.
All but $10.00 of his medications are paid for by his employers medical plan because some liberal union workers fought the ir employers for paid medical insurance, now Joe gets it too. He prepares his morning breakfast, bacon and eggs this day. Joe’s bacon is safe to eat because some liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.
Joe takes his morning shower reaching for his shampoo; His bottle is properly labeled with every ingredient and the amount of its contents because some liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contained. Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some tree hugging liberal fought for laws to stop industries from polluting our air. He walks to the subway station for his government subsidized ride to work; it saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees. You see, some liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.
Joe begins his work day; he has a good job with excellent pay, medicals benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe’s employer pays these standards because Joe’s employer doesn’t want his employees to call the union. If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed he’ll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some liberal didn’t think he should loose his home because of his temporary misfortune.
Its noon time, Joe needs to make a Bank Deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe’s deposit is federally insured by the FSLIC because some liberal wanted to protect Joe’s money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the depression.
Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae underwritten Mortgage and his below market federal student loan because some stupid liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his life-time.
Joe is home from work, he plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive to dads; his car is among the safest in the world because some liberal fought for car safety standards. He arrives at his boyhood home. He was the third generation to live in the house financed by Farmers Home Administration because bankers didn’t want to make rural loans. The house didn’t have electric until some big government liberal stuck his nose where it didn’t belong and demanded rural electrification. (Those rural Republican’s would still be sitting in the dark)
He is happy to see his dad who is now retired. His dad lives on Social Security and his union pension because some liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn’t have to. After his visit with dad he gets back in his car for the ride home.
He turns on a radio talk show, the host’s keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. (He doesn’t tell Joe that his beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day) Joe agrees, “We don’t need those big government liberals ruining our lives; after all, I’m a self made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have”.
By John Gray
IMMIGRATION: WE GIVE A DAMN
Thank you, Judy and Karin - and if you have not ordered it yet, Judy Rickard's book, TORN APART - United by Love and Divided by Law is now available for purchase! Use code OUT416 when you order and Out4Immigration will get a $4 donation directly.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) In Opposition to the Pence Amendment
I saw Rep Jackie Speier's speech on youtube.com and just had to type an email to her....
Dear Jackie,I personally want to thank you for your courage of coming out and speaking out about the difficult decision you had to make to end your pregnancy.This is something that we, as citizens and voters, are not privy to and really, don't need to be privy to. I am sure your husband and you have had to make that difficult decision and I know it is not a easy decision to make.....My husband and I have just adopted a beautiful 3 year old baby daughter and on behalf of her and all the woman in this country... I just want to say thank you for protecting her rights to choose. I hope everyday that woman do not have to make those decisions, but I understand that it is not an easy decision to make and we should allow the woman her right to choose what she wants to do with her body.So - I just want to say THANK YOU! Thank you for being vulnerable and thank you for standing up for a woman's right to choose.Amos
Zach Wahls Talks About His Inspiring Speech
Last month, the anti-gay Iowa house decided to put a vote to amend the constitution to ban marriage equality... something that has been legal in IOWA for some time now.
This teenager spoke out against the appeal, in the hearing about his family. This is his speech... it was well spoken, eloquent and touching - made me a bit teary eyed to hear him speak.
Apparently, his speech touches a lot of people and there has been a lot of views on this youtube video... so much so that he has appeared on Lawrence O'Donnell's show as well as Ellen's.
All I have to say to the moms who brought him up is this - congratulations! You must so proud of your son, standing up to fight for what is right! And thank you for bringing him up and bringing him into this world. I am not sure when we can experience FULL Equality, but with more young people like him growing up and speaking out, I am pretty sure, we can achieve that soon. I am hopeful.
If you have not heard his speech, well, here it is....
Here's the video of Zach on Ellen's show.
This teenager spoke out against the appeal, in the hearing about his family. This is his speech... it was well spoken, eloquent and touching - made me a bit teary eyed to hear him speak.
Apparently, his speech touches a lot of people and there has been a lot of views on this youtube video... so much so that he has appeared on Lawrence O'Donnell's show as well as Ellen's.
All I have to say to the moms who brought him up is this - congratulations! You must so proud of your son, standing up to fight for what is right! And thank you for bringing him up and bringing him into this world. I am not sure when we can experience FULL Equality, but with more young people like him growing up and speaking out, I am pretty sure, we can achieve that soon. I am hopeful.
If you have not heard his speech, well, here it is....
Here's the video of Zach on Ellen's show.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
[HD] - The BRIT Awards 2011 - Adele sings Someone Like You
I think this woman, Adele,
is amazing... her first album, 19
, won her 2 grammys and I am sure her 2nd album, 21
, will win her more accolades.....
is amazing... her first album, 19, won her 2 grammys and I am sure her 2nd album, 21, will win her more accolades.....Her voice is raw, emotional and just reminds me so much of Dusty Springfield - another UK lady singer that I am in love with.
Anyway, hear her sing her latest song, "Someone Like You" on the Brit Awards accompanied by just a piano.... awesome!
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