Many of those who followed my live coverage of the Oscars on Sunday night have been asking how I managed to post insider reports as they happened while remaining at home in my pajamas, and nowhere near Hollywood. And until this photo was leaked on Twitter, I had no intention of revealing my secret. However, in light of this recent development, I feel the need to explain. Continue reading I can explain…
Every office has its odd ball. You know, that member who’s just a little different from the rest of the staff? Our editorial room at Siuslaw News is no exception. It’s just that our odd ball happens to be a rabid, blindfolded squirrel named “Skippy.” But like every odd ball, he is uniquely qualified to perform a certain function that no one can do quite as well. Which is why, in spite of the risk of being attacked and bitten, I continue working with our editor; because she has the final say on keeping Skippy.
What is Skippy’s function? To assist me each Tuesday in choosing a random photo from The Box, which is a collection of unclaimed and unidentified photos in our newsroom dating back to the 1980s. The selection process begins with me dumping the contents of The Box onto the floor of our newsroom after my fellow reporters are deep in thought (drooling on their keyboards). To assure that the selection process is completely random, I then yell “RELEASE THE SQUIRREL!” and let Skippy loose in the newsroom. The photo closest to the first reporter to scream — whether it be a man or woman — is chosen. Continue reading Photo from The Box reveals link to Harry Potter, Hunger Games
Being a journalist, I am bringing you Academy Awards updates and observations throughout the evening LIVE! As they happen!
On my television…
In a surprise win, the Oscar for Best Picture went to “12 Years a Slave.” In his acceptance speech, Brad Pitt thanked the Academy and pointed out that “The best film of the year doesn’t have to be a big-budget, big star-driven movie like Gravity.” Moments later he was tragically struck by a falling chandelier.
Being a journalist, I am bringing you Academy Awards updates and observations throughout the evening LIVE! As they happen!
On my television…
Cate Blanchett won for Best Actress, becoming the first major award winner of the evening that wasn’t associated with “Gravity.” In an ironic twist, she tripped on her way out and landed on her face. Proving that everything actually IS associated with gravity.
Being a journalist, I am bringing you Academy Awards updates and observations throughout the evening LIVE! As they happen!
On my television…
Okay, for those who have been unable to watch the Oscars this year due to unavoidable circumstances (The Walking Dead), here are the winners so far:
Anyone who had anything to do with the movie “Gravity.”
The Academy even created a new award recognizing the planet Earth for having gravity…
Being a journalist, I am bringing you Academy Awards updates and observations throughout the evening LIVE! As they happen!
On my television…
I really thought I might win an Oscar for Best Live-Action Short since it was the only category Gravity wasn’t nominated in. I guess it’s about who you know.
And probably talent.
Being a journalist, I will be bringing you Academy Awards updates and observations throughout the evening LIVE! As they happen!
On my television.
We’ll begin with the red carpet, where stylist experts have been providing detailed descriptions of the extravagant fashions worn to Hollywood’s biggest night. For example:
“And there’ Mathew McConaughey wearing a white jacket and black tie. With him is his beautiful wife, wearing a pink dress. Oh, and there’s Jennifer Roberts in a striking dress!”
Wow. Great job, Seal.
For those who were expecting to find my weekly Flashback Sunday this morning, I apologize if, by not being here, it has upset you. Or possibly the space-time continuum — in which case we’ll all be upset soon enough. But just like my missing assignment in Mrs. Flunkem’s fifth-grade class, I have a good excuse. Although this one doesn’t include a vortex swallowing my homework and several of my socks (which I figured my Mom could attest to as a way to bolster my story [And no, it didn’t work]). The reason for this morning’s absence of Flashback Sunday isn’t really an excuse as much as a decision to take this feature in a new direction I’m calling:
Post Traumatic Sunday. Continue reading Choosing room colors with your spouse? Start with neutral corners
Though the Olympic flame as been extinguished and the final portable commode pumped dry, I’m still thinking of polymer-wrapped ski jumpers leaning forward and flying silently through the air toward a graceful — seemingly magical — touchdown near the Subway Sandwich banner. There are several reasons this image has stuck with me, including the many stark contrasts between these jumpers and when I attempted something similar, using a pair of roller skates and my children’s backyard slide. I’m not going to get into the details here because 1) this is supposed to be a post about writing, and 2) I can’t risk putting my kids back into therapy.
All I will tell you is that there was a fair amount of screaming (from me, not the kids), not much “hang time” and a nearly fatal touch-down, which was technically more of an Olympic-sized face-plant. And we’ll just leave it at that. But for anyone who saw my “pole dancing” video knows I’m not exaggerating.
Believe it or not, there’s actually a reason I brought up ski jumping in regard to this week’s Nickel’s Worth on Writing. I realize this isn’t always the case. However, as I watched the Olympics I couldn’t help but think of how, from start to finish, the act of ski jumping is an analogy for what a writer goes through, from manuscript to publication. Except without the risk of landing in a tree (depending on your publisher’s marketing plan.) Continue reading I know the Olympics are over, but here’s one last horrible writing analogy
(As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I was recently convicted of asked to be an accessory to a staff contributor at Long Awkward Pause. Here’s this week’s incriminating evidence post…)
HOLLYWOOD (sort of) — As excitement over the much-anticipated glitz and glamour of this Sunday’s Academy Awards builds throughout Hollywood, Oscar winners for Technical Achievement were the first to bask in the spotlight during an equally prestigious awards ceremony held last night at a lavishly decorated Blockbuster Video warehouse in Culver City. The evening began with nominees arriving in style aboard rented school bus shuttles adorned with banners reading “On To State The Oscars!” Like a major Hollywood premier, beams of light criss-crossed the night sky as unemployed SAG members waved flashlights to keep shuttles out of the KFC parking lot across the street.
“These members of the Academy deserve to be recognized for their achievements,” Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said during a phone interview. “And just because we don’t know what they do exactly, or who they are, doesn’t mean their night should be any less special. Or held during the actual Oscars ceremony.”
Upon arrival, nominees stepped from their shuttles and onto the red carpet, where camera flashes erupted amid a frenzy of selfies. One overzealous autograph seeker had to be led away as he frantically waved a piece of paper, screaming, “Whose paying for these busses!” (Continue Reading…)
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