The Post Oscar Post

I know this is late, and I apologize to all the readers I was gonna post this yesterday but I was tired (lazy) and I couldn't post but anyways here it is so enjoy.

The 81st Oscars was a long show that spanned 3 hours and 30 minutes with commercials but they were pretty fun to watch this year as the presenters did a good job of dropping in jokes or witty humour when needed and the acceptance speeches were kept short partly because there is a 45 second limit and also there were repetitive winners, most notably Slumdog Millionaire which took home 8 Oscar statuettes, second most in history behind Lord of the Rings: Return of the King which won 11, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best director. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button took home 3 awards although it was nominated for 13, tying it with Chicago and Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for the most nominations for a movie. The Dark Knight and Milk each took home 2 awards and had 8 nominations each.

Hugh Jackman did an awesome job of hosting the event and his performance with Beyonce, Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper, Vanessa Hudgens, and Zac Efron will go down as one of the best in Oscar history and also one of the funnest to watch though I must say it was really long and got kinda boring near the end. Although viewership is estimated to be up by 13 percent from last years show, which was hurt by the writer's strike, it still projects to be one of the three least watched Oscars since 1996. I praise the Oscars for taking a chance though as they changed up the nominations format for the individual acting awards by having five previous winners of the award praise the nominees rather than showing short 'clip-scenes' from the movies of the actors and actresses nominated. Furthermore Judd Apatow aired a new short film in which James Franco and Seth Rogan reprised their roles from Apatow's Pineapple Express, it was the first short film to be aired at the Oscars since 2006.

For those of you interested in how Nate Silver's Oscar predictions on the major awards went, he was 4 out of 6 the only ones he got wrong were Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress. he had Mickey Rourke winning Best Actor, for his role in The Wrestler, by a 71% chance to win but he lost to Sean Penn, who was second on Silver's list, and had a 19% chance to win for his role in Milk. As for the Best Supporting Actress award he had Taraji Henson winning with a 51% chance to win for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button but she lost to Penelope Cruz, who was also second on Silver's list with a 25% chance to win, for her role in Vicky Christina Barcelona. So even though Silver got two wrong its not like he was totally far off with his predictions.

Peace and Much Love To Ya

If You're Like Me...

...You'll be incredibly overjoyed by this list:

OH.EM.EFF.GEE *DIES*

This is a bonus post from yours truly. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! =)

- Franny.

Obama or the Queen?

Before I begin my post, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our newest blogger, Mehpara Khan! I'm slightly upset that Middle Earth is not actually there but one can still dream. I'm looking forward to her coming posts and I'm sure you all are too! =)

But for now, you have to settle for my (quick) post about the greatest thing that has happened to Canada for awhile now...the arrival of President Barack Obama in our nation's capital! I've been excited for this event ever since it was announced and wished to attend, but alas, I did not receive an invitation from (my man) Stephen Harper. But no hard feelings! I'm glad that even though Obama was greeted with a very cold Ottawa day, there were plenty of people at Parliament Hill waiting to greet him him Canadian-style (overjoyed). Which brings me to my question: Are Canadians more excited about seeing Obama in Canada or the Queen in Canada? You tell me!

I don't have much to cover about the event because I managed to catch about half the presser and everything else was behind closed doors...but I'm sure everything was fine and dandy! I was extremely happy that Harper went on the Sit Room with Wolfie and did a great job answering Wolf's 'hard-hitting' questions. Of course, I wish Stephen did an interview with Anderson Cooper so I could see their pretty blue eyes in action, but once more, that's reserved for my dreams...

The presser wasn't very exciting but Obama made a cute remark at one of Canadian Press' journalists which she didn't have any reaction to because she was probably too nervous to know what's going on...but nonetheless, Canada got to see the smile that charmed all of America. I was also excited about seeing Chuck Todd in the press crowd! Chuck Todd was in Canada! He rocks my socks =)

Maybe I should wrap this up before things get too out of hand (for example: me typing out my dreams). The interview that Stephen did with Peter Mansbridge was very cute. You could tell he was very impressed by Obama and apparently they hit it off since they were talking about family and now call each other "Stephen and Barack" (oddly enough, that made me think sexydirty inappropriate thoughts).

One tip for the next time POTUS comes to town: bring RAHM EFFING EMANUEL, Tim Geithner, Peter Orszag, Robert Gibbs, David Axelrod, and maybe even VPOTUS along with you! I promise if you bring one, few, or all of them I will buy a damn ticket to Ottawa to hopefully catch a glimpse of that entourage. OR Stephen, you could bring me on your next trip to the White House. I'll be checking my email and waiting by the phone daily for this invitation.

Until next time, Ciao!

- Franny.

PS. If any of you guys happen to see PM Harper in the coming days and weeks, please give him my email and/or number and explain to him why he should contact me. Thank you!

Yes I'm Random and Yes I'm Token

Hello all,

So the other night I was on MSN when my cousin asked me to bring something different to his blog. And i was like me? Why me?

Then I realised for a bunch of people who live on the other side of the world all supposedly within a block of each other, being a born and bred kiwi in New Zealand would be totally different.

So henceforth, I am your token kiwi girl here to be different. You may, if you wish, call me token.

This is the first thing about New Zealand I have to tell you. There is no "Middle Earth", no "Mordor" and no "one ring to rule them all". But I have seen people with some pretty ugly feet...

So now you know why I'm writing on this blog, and my cousin assures me that people do actually read this thing but I don't really believe him. Do let me know if there is anything specific about NZ you'd like to know, I might be able to save you a trip.

Ok, that's me. Join me next time where I tell you about how there's more sheep than people in New Zealand and how a wife beater is actually a white singlet, exciting stuff....

Valentines Day Is...

Tomorrow of course and for all the guys out there who don’t take this day seriously just a heads up, your girlfriend does so you gotta make sure you don’t screw up on Valentine’s day or your gonna be in for a long month. So to help out as best I can to everybody out there, I’ve come up with a best 10 list of love songs that I feel carry the message of what love is. I got an oldskool feeling to me ya heard, so if you find you don’t know many people on the list don’t think I’m crazy or something, and keep in mind I’m just trying to help you. For those of you who have been spurned and are gonna hate the love list and me for creating it fear not I got a breakup songs list too and that one is filled with more recent artists mainly ‘cause I kinda threw it together last minute but it’s still good too and if it helps you to hate me go ahead. So I wish y’all a happy Valentine’s day and remember somebody loves you (hopefully you’ve already found them), if nobody does remember I will always love you (especially ‘cause you read the blog).

Without further ado here are the lists:

Top 10 Love Songs
10. Bon Jovi - "Always"
9. Lyfe Jennings - "Midnight Train"
8. Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You"
7. Norah Jones - "Come Away With Me"
6. Stevie Wonder - "You Are the Sunshine Of My Life"
5. Barry White - "You're the First, the Last, My Everything"
4. Paul McCartney - "My Love"
3. Boyz II Men - "I'll Make Love To You"
2. Marvin Gaye – "Let’s Get It On" and "I Want You"
1. Beatles - "I Want To Hold Your Hand"

Honourable Mention: Any ballad by Prince

Top 10 Breakup Songs
10. Bob Marley & The Wailers – "No Woman, No Cry"
9. Carole King - "It's Too Late"
8. Kanye West - "Heartless"
7. Carrie Underwood - "Before He Cheats"
6. Mary J. Blige - "Not Goin’ Cry"
5. Justin Timberlake - "Cry Me a River”
4. Three Days Grace - "(I Hate) Everything About You"
3. Beyonce – "Irreplaceable"
2. Lyfe Jennings – "Goodbye"
1. Gloria Gaynor - "I Will Survive"

Honourable Mention: Kelly Clarkson - "Since U Been Gone"

Peace and Much Love To Ya

A Fiasco at the Grammys

“Yea, uh a fresh cool young Lu, trying to cash his microphone check 2, 1, 2, want to believe my own hype but it's too untrue, the world brought me to my knees what have you brung you, did you improve on the design, did you do something new, well your name ain't on the guest list, who brung you?, you the more famous person you come through, and the sexy lady next to you, you come to, and then it hit me, standing outside of heaven waiting for god to come and get me, I'm too uncouth, unschooled to the rules, and two gum shoe, too much of a newcomer, and too uncool”

The quote above is the first verse of Lupe Fiasco’s hit single “Superstar” and he was indeed brought to his knees and deemed too uncool last night at the Grammy’s as he did not win a single one even though he was nominated for 4 and would have won at least 3 if the Grammy’s were about real music when it comes to rap.

He mainly lost to Lil Wayne who took home 5 Grammy’s including Best Rap Album of the Year, Best Rap Solo Performance, and Best Rap Song all of which Lupe was a nominee. The fourth Grammy Lupe didn’t win went to Estelle and Kanye West who won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “American Boy” which should not have been nominated really since it’s a pop song and Kanye doesn’t really rap well on it “Superstar” was far more deserving.

As the whole Lil Wayne vs. Lupe Fiasco argument goes on, Lil Weezy fans are rejoicing as Fiasco fans, such as myself, are left ranting against the establishment. There's no way “A Milli” should've beat out “Paris, Tokyo” for Best Rap Solo Performance I mean Weezy says in the song, "I'm a venereal disease like a menstrual bleed" which first, is inaccurate as a venereal disease is a STD and a menstrual bleed is a period and second who the fuck compares themselves to either?! However that award should have gone to Nas for “N.i.*.*.e.r. (The Slave and The Master)” but of course that would be too controversial like his album which he had to keep untitled after he received backlash from everybody for naming it Ni**er, it’s surprising he was even nominated. Best Rap song should have went to Fiasco for “Superstar” but it went to the far more inferior and utterly stupid “Lollipop,” if a catchy no concept song was to win I’d rather it have been “Low.” “Lollipop” embodies why some people hate rap these days as its all about bitches and ho’s who in Weezy’s case like to lick his “Lollipop” seriously don’t tell me the people who decide these things don’t know what that means.

But I could excuse some of those ‘cause I do like Weezy too but there is no way in hell Tha Carter III should have beat out The Cool for Best Rap Album. Tha Carter III may have been the best selling album but it in no way was the best rap album. The Cool was a dark and loose concept album that stems from a track of the same name from Lupe’s debut album, Food & Liquor. The album tells the story of the little boy from "He Say, She Say" who grew up without a father, and the people that step in to raise him are the Streets and the Game. In between the story there are songs about sexual abuse ("Intruder Alert"), the paradigm of dreams versus reality ("Hip Hop Saved My Life"), and child soldiers ("Little Weapon"). Fiasco tapped into emotions surely shared by some of his followers, creating a soundtrack for those dealing with challenges. Even his single "Superstar," had a deeper message buried between the rhymes. Whereas Tha Carter III had no concept and is just purely entertainment whereas The Cool educates the masses. Maybe Fiasco will have to “Dumb it Down” to win a Grammy. I’m pretty pissed because the people know that Fiasco was more deserving and that’s all that should matter not how many records you sell. It should be quality over quantity but sadly the music industry doesn't see it that way. Furthermore, people shouldn't complain that rap has become too commercial and artists are "selling out" and that all rap music is about is sex, drugs, and money because you're the ones buying the albums and real rap is out there like Fiasco's The Cool and Nas' Untitled but since they don't come with a catchy jingle they don't get played or bought.


Also Lupe will not be retiring anytime soon as we have just found out from his blog that he will be releasing a new album possibly sometime in June titled, The Great American Rap Album instead of his triple disc retirement album LupE.N.D. also he will release another album entitled In The Jaws Of The Lords Of Death with his band Japanese Cartoon for whom he is the lead (faux-British) singer Percival Fats.

*Note: all links to youtube if you wanna hear the songs

Til next time,
Peace and Much Love To Ya

Everyone is MIA.

So there hasn't been anything posted for awhile because I don't know where one of my bloggers is and I don't know if my other blogger has anything to contribute as of late. I wish I could post lengthy discussions on a specific topic but it's too damn hard with school and my need to watch the West Wing =P But I come bringing little news bites just to keep thing going.

Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination to be Obama's Secretary of Health and Human Services today. And why did he do this? Well think about Tim Geithner but the failed counterpart...yes, it was because of pesky TAX issues! Tom didn't want to be a drag on the administration so instead of fighting it out until the very end like Tim did, he's decided to just step back and allow the administration to move forward (how selfless). So who's on the shortlist to become the next Sec. of HHS? Not a clue but some people somewhere (you know who you are =P) want Howard Dean to fill the position but other people (I know who I am and you know who you are =P) want Ezekiel Emanuel (older brother of Rahm and Ari Emanuel) to do it. But that's just wishful thinking.

That enormous withdrawal hid the withdrawal of Performance Czar Nancy Killefer, who would've been the first to take hold that title if she didn't run into issues with, you guessed it, TAXES! OMG PEOPLE! PAY YOUR DAMN TAXES! I forgave Geithner because he's just too cute he was an honest mistake and he was the first in line. But these other ones, even though they're mistakes as well, is making me increasingly more intolerable of people in high positions 'forgetting' to pay their taxes. But I still wish both Nancy and Tom the best of luck in whatever they're planning to do after rejecting the Obama Administration.

I seriously need some more people to blog about other topics because I am incapable of being well-rounded =P If you read this and want to blog, leave a comment! We need you! Thanks!

Until next time (which hopefully will be sooner rather than later), Ciao!

- Franny.