A Busy Dad Of Two | Movies, Music & Tech Blog | Dad Blogger | Busy Dad Blog

2013 Academy Awards - Who Will Win?

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 03:53:00 +0000

The 2013 Academy Awards are just a few days away. It has become a ritual which I started over 20 years ago, where I pull up a comfy piece of sofa, grab a tasty beverage and watch - hoping that the Academy gets it right.

Last year - they got it wrong. The Artist? Really? Has anyone even seen that film? Well, what's past is past and I can only hope that they give the statues to the most deserving nominees this year. (Of course, if you don't even nominate the most deserving people, you're already playing from behind.) So, without further commentary, I present to you my picks for the 2013 Academy Awards.

Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Anne Hathaway. She didn't have a ton of screen time but thanks to one gut wrenching song, Hathaway is a lock to win the statue for her performance as Fantine in Les Misérables.
Should Win: Anne Hathaway. She separated herself with that memorable single-take performance.

Best Supporting Actor
Will Win: Tommy Lee Jones. It's a neck and neck battle with DeNiro but Jones won the SAG award and those actors who voted for him then will likely vote for him again here.
Should Win: Robert DeNiro. Perhaps his best performance in over a decade, DeNiro is excellent in Silver Linings Playbook.

Best Actress
Will Win: Jennifer Lawrence. She really elevated her craft in Silver Linings Playbook. Jessica Chastain's performance has received a lot of glowing reviews but I just didn't see enough to warrant the Oscar.
Should Win: Jennifer Lawrence. The best of this group, by far.

Best Actor
Will Win: Daniel-Day Lewis. He's won every major pre-Oscar award. There's no stopping this train.
Should Win: Daniel-Day Lewis. He's an acting juggernaut. If there ever was a lock - this is it. Bet the farm. (Although, Denzel Washington was outstanding in Flight.)

Best Director
Will Win: Steven Spielberg. His masterful direction has never been better.
Should Win: Ben Affleck - but he's not nominated (oops! Academy). Steven Spielberg. He can thank Ben later.

Best Picture
Will Win: Argo. A few weeks ago I would have said Lincoln, easy. But now, Argo looks to be the pick. The film has been picking up awards left and right en route to the Oscars and should be able to win one final award on Sunday.
Should Win: Argo. Lincoln was really, really good, but for Argo, everything has come together. It will be the first movie since 1989 (Driving Miss Daisy) to win Best Picture without a Best Director nomination but Ben Affleck will take it, I'm sure.

Roll Back From iTunes 11

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:40:00 +0000

It used to be that if Apple rolled out an update for one of its products, I simply clicked the update button and assumed everything would be all puppy dogs and ice cream. That all changed after I updated to iTunes 11.

The new version of iTunes, which many media types claim is more polished and less busy than previous versions, is, in my opinion, just the opposite. Not only that, Apple ripped from iTunes some of the great features that users loved. Gone is cover flow - a feature that was highly touted when Apple introduced it IN 2006. Gone is the gapless playback editor - a tool that is helpful when ripping live shows or concept albums. My favorite feature was iTunes DJ. I even went as far as to purchase an Airport Express so I could stream music to my stereo. In conjunction with the remote app, my guests could log in to my library and request songs that would automatically be played. With DJ being removed and replaced with the lackluster Up Next feature, guests are out of luck unless I give them complete access (something I don't want to have to do).

A quick Google search indicates that I am not alone when it comes to my opinion of iTunes 11 and many people are looking for a painless way to revert back to iTunes 10.7. Fortunately, there's a way - an easy way - and thanks to an Apple Support Forum member called turingtest2, it's easily explained.

Per turingtest2's instructions (Note - this is for Windows 7):

1. First download a copy of iTunes 10.7 here. (Get it while the link lasts!)

2. Uninstall iTunes 11 and the following supporting applications: Apple Application Support, Apple Mobile Device Support. touringtest2 recommends uninstalling Bonjour as well but since my version was not modified with the iTunes 11 update, I left it untouched. Reboot your machine.

3. Find the file "itunesLibrary.itl" in your My Music\iTunes folder. Rename it something like "iTunesLibrary_old.itl."

4. Navigate to the My Music\iTunes\Previous iTunes Libraries folder and find the most recent iTunes library back up. Copy that file to the My Music \ iTunes folder and rename it "iTunesLibrary.itl." See the image on touringtest2's post.

5. Install iTunes 10.7. Your library (music, apps, etc.) should all be right where you left them (save for any recent updates).

I followed these instructions fully expecting a three hour headache caused by "can't find this file" and "can't open that file." Not the case. The roll back seemed to go off without a hitch.

if you're like me, and want to get back to iTunes 10.7, follow touringtest2's instructions and you'll be back to cover flow and iTunes DJ in no time.

Kentucky Derby 2012 - Picks & Analysis

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Fri, 04 May 2012 05:15:00 +0000

I'm a big horse racing fan - been so for a long time. I'm only an average horse player but when it comes to the Kentucky Derby I've done pretty well. I've picked and wagered on three of the last five Derby winners (Street Sense, Super Saver and Animal Kingdom) and hopefully this year, I can make it four of the last six and three in a row. My analysis is simple: don't do too much analysis. There are literally hundreds of angles that you can play and in a field of 20 horses you can literally spend days trying to figure out how a horse will perform based on any number of factors: speed, weather, pace, track condition, weather, bloodlines, jockeys, trainers, equipment, etc. The list goes on and on. So, as I write this, I've spent about 45 minutes looking over the contenders. There's a pretty deep field this year but I'm ready to offer up my picks - picks I will myself play. If you choose to use my selections, good luck. Let me know in a comment if I helped you out.

We've got a very tough field to predict this year. Let's start with the horses I have eliminated: Optimizer, Rousing Sermon, Trinniberg, Alpha, Prospective, El Padrino, Sabercat and Liason. Down to 12. There's something to like about each of the other horses remaining, which makes it tough to pick just one but ultimately that's what I'll do. Of the horses remaining, three are animals that like to be on or up very close to the leads: Hansen, Bodemeister and Take Charge Indy. (Trinniberg is also a speed horse.) Bodemeiser is the likely post time favorite and I think the horse is for real but I have a hard time seeing him get away like he did in the Arkansas Derby. Plus, it's a fact that no horse has won the Derby without competing as a 2 year old since, wait for it, 1882 (Apollo). If a speed duel shapes up, and it very well could, you have to think a horse from off the pace or a deep closer will come from the clouds to win. And that's exactly what I'm looking at.

Dullahan is an intriguing horse. After getting off slowly, he let loose a huge closing move last time out in the Bluegrass to run down Hansen by over a length. That's impressive. But if Dullahan winds up too far back early, his closing kick might come up just short. Daddy Nose Best is also a live play. Another closing type that likes to sit up closer to the pace. In the right spot, he could be ready to pounce but his lack of quality competition leads me elsewhere. Okay it's time to stop dancing around it...

When I look for a Derby winner, I look for a horse that's lightly raced (but not too lightly races), has an experienced jockey who can get through traffic, and who might be peaking at the right time. And, if I have had success in the past with certain connections (trainers, jockeys, etc.) I've been know to go back to the well again. This time literally. Went The Day Well, leaving from post #13, is my pick to win the 2012 Kentucky Derby. Went The Day Well comes from owners Team Valor, trainer Graham Motion and jockey John Velazquez - all the same folks involved in Animal Kingdom's win last year. Plus, Went The Day Well comes off of a win in the Spiral Stakes, the same race that Animal Kingdom won before he mowed down the field in the 2011 Derby. And the best thing? No one is talking about Went The Day Well. The morning line of 20/1 is about where I am expecting the odds to wind up at post time, providing a good price for a horse with a live shot. Is Went The Day Well the best horse in the race? Not by a long shot. I'm just hoping he's the best horse on Derby day.

Went The Day Well

I used to get nutty with exotics and combinations when I bet the Derby. Not any more. I'll bet Went The Day Well to win and I'll bet him over the field in an exacta. If Went The Day Well wins, I'll be thrilled that I cashed my tickets but I'll be even more thrilled to have picked three Kentucky Derby wins in a row. Something about being able to do that is pretty cool. Looking back at the previous two Kentucky Derbys, it's pretty clear that this is a much deeper field than either of the 2010 or 2011 races so my short streak might well be in jeopardy. But I'm sticking with Went The Day Well and hopefully my good luck will prevail. After all, thirteen is a lucky number, right?

Draw Something's Three Major Flaws

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:03:00 +0000

The latest app addiction to hit mobile devices is OMGPOP's Draw Something. Pictionary meets Hang Man in this game of not-so-quick draw between you and your ~~opponent~~ partner. The game became such a success that rival game maker Zynga bought OMGPOP soon after Draw Something went viral. I play Draw Something. My friends play Draw Something. But why do we play Draw Something. I've been asking myself that question ever since I started playing the game. There are at least three major reasons why this game doesn't rank with other similar games.

First, and maybe the most obvious - this is not a competitive game. Game partners take turns drawing pictures while the non-drawing partner attempts to guess the drawing by spelling it out from a selection of twelve letters. You WANT your partner to guess the word (as in Pictionary) so there's no strategy here - just draw the picture as best you can. Perhaps if teams of two were competing against other teams of two, this game would be more exciting. However, without the competitive nature, it's pretty much a ho-hum time-passer.

Next, there's no goal. Each time one of the partners correctly guesses a word your team's streak of correct guesses grows. One way to reward players for longer streaks would be to offer coins, bonus words, badges, etc. each time a team reached a specific level. In Draw Something there are no rewards for extended streaks. If you miss a word, the streak resets at 1. Without a goal/reward system in place who cares if your streak drops back to 1? It's not like you were working toward a specific level or anything. Plus, and OMGPOP/Zynga should be listening here: if you provide incentive to continue a streak, players will be more likely to spend for in-app purchases that can help keep a streak alive (like bombs, which remove incorrect letters).

Finally, there's no way to prevent players from just writing the words. If the word selected is "sofa" and the person drawing just can't make it happen, they can just write SOFA on the screen. Then the guesser simply enters SOFA into the word spaces and voila! - the streak continues. I would guess that it's difficult to police this obvious way of cheating but the fact that it's possible detracts from the game. Sure, in Words With Friends the player can look up words on Google to see if they're legit. However, that requires an extra step and, for many people, too much extra time. With Draw Something, there's no extra step - you can just write the word.

I will likely continue to play Draw Something because my friends like to play - sometimes a real work of art comes through on my screen - almost never drawn by me. But in its current version, if Draw Something were to be erased from the App Store tomorrow, I think I'd somehow manage to get by.

Windows Homegroup: A Blessing & A Curse

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:36:00 +0000

Here's another post that I'm hoping helps others solve a problem I had been wrestling with for hours.

With several Windows 7 computers in the house I wanted to be able to share files over my network without broadcasting the shared folders to anyone and everyone. Microsoft has created a clever built-in tool that can accommodate this: Windows Homegroup. Windows Homegroup is a great feature - when it works. The idea is simple: two or more computers join a Homegroup and files are shared only among those computers and not to any other computer (non-homegroup member) on your network. For my family, it's a great tool for another reason: I can share files between my computer and my wife's computer but our kids, who use a Windows XP machine, can't see them. (Homegroup requires Windows 7.) Windows Homegroup has the right idea - let your files be seen by only those you want to see them. Problem is, sometimes even the people you want to see your files can't because Homegroup gets all whacked-out. Here's how I fixed the problem.

The problem was this: My wired desktop could see my wireless laptop Homegroup files but my wireless laptop couldn't see my wired desktop Homegroup files. I Googled for hours trying to fix this problem. A lot of people seem to be having it, some blaming their router, some blaming their NIC card, some just throwing up their hands and refusing to put any more time into it. Not me. I tinkered and I toyed and I figured out how to fix it. The problem appears to be rooted in the Windows Credentials Manager. First, remove any Homegroups that are on your network. Each machine should un-join the Homegroup it's a member of. Then, to access Credential Manager, go into the CONTROL PANEL and click on CREDENTIAL MANAGER. Use the chevron next to each entry and clear out any credentials you find (you may find some old stuff in there) - Windows will recreate any it needs when it needs them. I found that there were some oddball credentials and likely some that were conflicting with the Homegroup - not allowing proper access. In order for Homegroup to work, there needs to be credentials from each computer in the other computer's Credential Manager. (I.E. Computer A needs to be listed on Computer B and vice versa.) Now, recreate a home group on one computer and join it from another. Each computer should then create credentials on the other computer and the Homegroup should be working as expected.

Click The Image To Enlarge

Obviously, you want to be sure of the basics: make sure the computers are part of the same network, make sure they have unique names, etc. However, after hours and hours of searching, I discovered this fix and so far (knock on wood), it's been working perfectly. I hope someone else finds this and uses it to help fix their Homegroup issues.

An Easy Way To Save On Gas Prices

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 02:47:00 +0000

I'm sure this hint has probably been circulated around the web dozens, if not hundreds of times by now but it bears repeating. Gas prices are averaging over $4.00/gallon in several areas once again and many people are just unable to reduce the number of miles they drive. We are a social people. We want to visit friends & family, go on vacation, go to a ballgame, etc. So how can you save money on gas even when you can't cut back on miles. The answer is: grocery store fuel discounts.

Many grocery stores offer this "perk" for shoppers. Our local grocery store, Giant Eagle, offers 10 cents off per gallon for every $50 you spend in the store (excluding alcohol, tobacco, and a few other items). That's great. Already I'm earning 10 - 20 cents off per gallon every weekly shopping trip. But here's the best part, you can earn cents off per gallon for shopping elsewhere as well. How? Buy gift cards to the other places you shop while at the grocery store. If your store is like mine, I get an additional 10 cents off per $50 gift card purchased at Giant Eagle. Today I bought a new faucet at Lowes. Instead of charging the purchase or paying cash, I bought two $50 Lowes gift cards at Giant Eagle and earned 20 cents off per gallon in fuel discounts. Save on gas when I buy at Lowes? Yes, please.

And most grocery stores have a bunch of gift cards to choose from. Going out to dinner this weekend? Pick up the gift card to the restaurant and save on the gas you use to get there. Buy on Amazon? (I do - a lot!) Buy Amazon gift cards at your grocery store, earn fuel discounts and save on gas! (Plus, when you order stuff online, you save the gas you'd have used to go to the store.) Presently we have $1.20 off per gallon in fuel discounts. That brings the price down from the current pump price of $3.85 to $2.65. Still high (I miss the days of 99 cent gas) but certainly more affordable than $3.85. And all this savings just by shopping at all the places I normally would and spending the same money I normally would. It requires that one more step of planning ahead and buying the gift cards but in the end, it's definitely worth it.

Art Work From An Eight Year Old: Gadgets

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:00:00 +0000

My son decided to draw some of his favorite gadgets the other day. Then he asked me to put them on my blog. So, why not? Here are five simple sketches of some popular gadgets, all drawn by my 8 year-old, Anthony.

iPod Touch with Yankees SkinIt

iPod Nano

Leapster

Nintendo DS

iPod Shuffle

Tech Tips: Make Your Samsung TV Wireless - For Less

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 03:22:00 +0000

One of the reasons I wanted to start a blog was so that I could share the how-to tips & tricks that I find so that others may benefit from my experience. I love that about the web - the sharing of information in order to help others - and I wanted to do the same. So here's one money saver that I found, well, by searching the web.

I have a Samsung B-Series LCD TV that has an Ethernet port but it doesn't have built-in wireless. Samsung wants you to spend $80 or so on their USB Linkstick in order to make the TV wireless. To me that seemed like a large chunk of change when other wireless adapters are selling for much less. I made due with a print server connected to TV bridging the gap to my wireless network for a couple years but with the G print server not being compatible with an N router, I was stuck in the slow lane. A quick search online (where else?) led me to the $30 Rosewill RNX-N1 Wireless-N 2.0 Dongle. This N/G adapter works perfectly on my Samsung TV in place of their pricey Linkstick. It was a breeze to set up (in less than 5 minutes) and it allowed me to go out and get that N router that I have been coveting.

Sometimes the best solution isn't the most expensive. By going with the Rosewill Wireless Adapter I was able to put that $50 I saved toward the N router. The connection range and throughput are stronger and now my television is wireless. Sweet!

A Night At The Theater: Guys And Dolls

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 03:36:00 +0000

My son is 8 years old. Lately I've been trying to introduce him to the arts a little more. Now, I know that an 8 year old isn't going to "get" everything but that's okay. I just think it's important to expose him to the arts - let him take in what he can. Recently my wife and I took him to see Brian Regan, a hilarious stand up comedian. He din't get all of the jokes but I think he enjoyed the experience. A couple weeks ago I learned that our local high school would be putting on perhaps my favorite musical of all time, Guys And Dolls. I asked my son if he was interested in seeing it with me. After the expected questions like "what's a doll?," "what's a craps game" (and how do you play), and a few others, he said yes he'd like to go. I suspect that part of why he said yes was because he wanted to see the show and part of why he said yes was so he could stay up late. Regardless, we attended the show on opening night.

I am not a big fan of musicals but there's something about Guys And Dolls that just works for me. Maybe it's the gambling theme. Maybe it's the fact that the movie version starred Frank Sinatra, one of my favorite crooners. Whatever it is, the show is always a winner in my book. My son sat there taking it in - enjoying it, so he said. At intermission we shared a Mountain Dew and a bag of Cheetos. The second half of the show featured the crap game in the sewer where Sky Masterson sings "Luck Be A Lady." That scene was a highlight for my son, also a fan of Frank Sinatra thanks to me. As I watched the show, I had to remind myself that these were high school kids up there performing their hearts out - doing such a great job. It made me wish I tried out for musicals when I was in high school. The crowd in the lobby was slow to leave as they were congratulating the cast on a great performance.

As we were walking to the car, I told my son that when he's in high school he should try out for roles in shows like Guys And Dolls. He responded as I expected, "no way!" He's too young to be interested in performing and singing for long stretches in front of hundreds of people. I'm just happy that he spends 4 minutes performing in front of his classmates at the school talent show. But, at least after tonight, he's been exposed to a small-town performance of a big-name show and maybe he'll remember this 8 or 9 years from now when he's in high school. Maybe he'll remember seeing Guys And Dolls with his Dad when he was 8, how much fun the kids had on stage performing and maybe then he'll want to give it a go. Or, perhaps it will be the next "art" we expose him to that peaks his interest. Actually it's not an "Art" at all - it's an "Al." His next trip to a theater is to see Weird Al. That should be interesting.

How to Clean Grout in Tile Floors

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:19:00 +0000

After nearly ten years in our home and much foot traffic, the light color grout in our tile floor has turned to a noticeably darker color. It was time to address this problem – and I knew it wasn’t going to be fun. The prospect of taking a toothbrush to every line of grout was something I wasn’t too keen on but I knew it had to be done. But how? What’s the best way to get the ground in dirt out of the grout? A friend of mine shared with me his solution, which works like a charm. Here’s how to do it.

Buy a spray bottle of Clorox Clean Up with Bleach (about $4) and a stiff bristled grout cleaning brush (about $4). I picked them up at my local Lowe’s. Grab a couple old washcloths/rags/towels that you can toss out after the job is complete. You may also wish to wear latex gloves when cleaning the floor (they can be had for a buck or two). Spray the Clorox Clean Up on a few lines of grout at a time. Try to spray only on the grout lines in order to conserve the cleaner. Wait about 15 seconds and start scrubbing. Apply medium pressure using the grout brush (more pressure if needed to remove stubborn stains). Wet one of your washcloths/rags/towels to be used to wipe the dirty solution away after you’ve scrubbed the grout lines. Work in small areas, completing one section of floor at a time before moving on to the next section. Allow the grout to fully dry and you’ll see a major difference. Here are a couple of photos that show the before and after on my floor.

It’s not the most fun job in the world and if you have a large tiled area it will take some time. However, the results are undeniably noticeable.

Baseball Cards: Collecting With Your Kids

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:33:00 +0000

Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m 39 and I still collect baseball cards. Go ahead and chuckle to yourself. I’ll wait. Ok, let me explain. Ever since I was a kid I collected sports cards. It started with football cards but since more kids my age were collecting baseball cards, I switched. Back then, packs of cards were 35 cents each and the only way to build a set...

Read the rest of my guest blog post at www.multitestingmommy.com.

Office Desk Dilemma

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:23:00 +0000

Several years ago when I was working in the modular home industry, we converted our family room into an office. We pulled up the carpet, installed laminate, added a door and bought a large desk unit. At the time it seemed like the perfect set up. I needed a spot for my home computer (and home stuff) and another spot for my work computer (and work stuff). The “U” shape desk accommodated this requirement perfectly…until it didn’t. Eventually I changed jobs and I no longer really needed the “work” part of my desk. Right around that time, however, my wife started blogging and now she can certainly use the desk space. The problem is there’s not enough room for two chairs inside the “U.”

Our "U" Shaped Desk

Another Angle On The "U" Shaped Desk

So, now we’re stuck. We have this really functional desk with overhead storage, a three drawer under desk storage unit and a two drawer lateral file but we could use something completely different. We thought about simply adding a small desk to another part of the room but we wind up killing the entire room that way. There’s no way to alter the current layout of our current desk unit to accommodate two users – the pieces we bought facilitate a “one way only” set-up. While we’d prefer to not replace everything we have, we recognize that it may be the only way to go. One thought we have is to get a face-to-face set up with apothecary-type storage in the middle against the wall, however I don’t know if that’s the ideal option.

So I ask you, dear reader, what set up do you use for a home office with two (simultaneous) users? If you have a suggestion please leave a comment. Your input is appreciated.

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:35:00 +0000

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey tells the story of Kevin Clash, the man and the voice behind Elmo, one of the most beloved Muppets of all time. Most people who know me know that I'm a huge Muppet fan. Growing up I almost never missed an episode of Sesame Street or The Muppet Show so when I heard about this documentary right away I added it to my must see list.

Kevin Clash was fascinated with puppetry. As a child he'd create his own Muppet-like characters and perform locally in his native Maryland. Through perseverance and dedication, and despite being mocked for his choices, Clash finds his way onto some notable television shows and then ultimately into the Jim Henson family of puppeteers. Fantastic as that may be, the film's real message is about how Clash took a cast-off Muppet and gave it new life. Elmo needed Clash in order to become the huge favorite that he is. And Clash, well, his commitment to Elmo is clear.

There are several tear-jerk moments in the documentary, one of which in particular shows just how important Elmo is in the lives of children all over the world. Through moments like these we learn that despite his elevated celebrity status as the performer of Elmo, Clash remains down to earth and modest. That's a great message no matter what career path you choose.

Try as I might, getting my two children to enjoy The Muppets as much as I do is very difficult. Perhaps they think that the Muppets are "Dad's thing," or that they are too old for the Muppets (5 and 8 too old? - not a chance). Perhaps if they watch this film, the different angle might turn them my way. Perhaps they'll agree that Being Elmo is an inspirational (celebrational, muppetational) film that itself is very much like a Muppet: full of fur, felt, foam and a lot of heart.

4/5 stars

2012 Oscars: Academy Award Opinions & Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:26:00 +0000

The 84th Academy Awards are set for this Sunday night, February 26 and to me, it's like a 2nd Super Bowl (alright, maybe not quite on that level - and certainly incomparable of late). No matter - the Oscars are a cinephile's favorite evening of the year. It's a celebration of film and the people who make them. It's on this night when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences honor the very best films, actors and filmmakers of the past year. Only, sometimes, they get it wrong.

This year, for example, there are plenty of Oscar snubs. Plenty of non-nominees that somehow went unrecognized by their peers: Albert Brooks (Supporting Actor for his performance in Drive), Tilda Swinton (Lead Actress for her performance in We Need To Talk About Kevin), Michael Shannon (Lead Actor for his performance in Take Shelter). There are others. Of course, not everyone can be nominated, right? I mean, imagine if there were 9 or 10 films nominated for Best Picture. That would be absurd, wouldn't it? What is that you say? There are NINE films nominated? Maybe every deserving performance CAN be recognized. If we're allowing nine films to be nominated for Best Picture, why not allow more than five actors, actresses or directors to be nominated for their work? But I digress...

Before I divulge my opinions and predictions for Oscar 2012, let me provide a short list of films that, while not nominated for Best Picture, were among my favorites from what I feel was generally a weak year in cinema. In no particular order: The Muppets, Margin Call, Take Shelter, Contagion and Jack & Jill. (Just kidding about that last one. I didn't see it.) And now, here are some of the worst films I've seen from 2011, again in no particular order (except for the first one, which was the worst): The Tree Of Life, The Smurfs, Zookeeper, Paul, The Hangover II and Rango.

Moving on, I present to you my opinions and predictions for Oscar 2012.

BEST PICTURE:
There are nine nominees - I've seen them all. The two best films of the year begin with the same letter of the alphabet, and it's not 'H'. Midnight In Paris was very, very good but Moneyball is the Best Picture of the year. It's got everything a best picture should have: great acting, excellent directing, a well written script and a compelling (true) story. It's the most complete package of all the nominees. Unfortunately, it's going to lose to The Artist, a film that, while clever and cute, is more novelty than anything. If The Artist wins, it will go down as one of the Academy's biggest mistakes (right there with Shakespeare In Love, Out Of Africa and some would say, The Kings Speech). Like another over-rated Best Picture winner, Slumdog Millionaire, it seems that The Artist is picking up steam at just the right time.

Will win: THE ARTIST
Should win: MONEYBALL

BEST DIRECTOR:
For the last five years in a row, the Best Director Oscar was given to the director of the Best Picture winner. If that trend continues, Michel Hazanavicius will take home the statue. Should he? In a word, no. Watch The Artist and then tell me, really, was it the direction that made this film what it is? Nope - it's, for the most part, the novelty of silence. The pretentious Terrence Malik doesn't belong in this competition. Alexander Payne made a good movie but the best thing about The Descendants is Shailene Woodly and she didn't even get a nomination. Martin Scorsese should win (only) his second Best Director Oscar for Hugo. Scorsese uses 3-D as well as or better than any director working. His implementation of 3-D for Hugo enhances the film perfectly without distracting from the story. It seems so simple yet many have failed at this task. Scorsese masterfully directs a film that takes place in so many distinct yet intricate locations (a bustling train station and the inside of a clock tower to name a couple) and in doing so, he makes the difficult look effortless.

Will win: MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS
Should win: MARTIN SCORSESE

BEST ACTOR:
Pundits have this down to a two-man race: George Clooney in The Descendants and Jean Dujardin in The Artist. Many are forgetting the excellent performance turned in by Brad Pitt in Moneyball. He was perfect as Billy Beane, the GM of the Oakland A's who created a new way to build a baseball team. Gary Oldman, who has seemingly been acting for 1,000 years, picked up his first nomination for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Congrats on the nomination Gary, now enjoy the show. Dujardin is very good. He's everything he has to be and he does it without uttering (nearly) a word. It's his job to carry the film and I suppose that's why the Academy will award him the Oscar. But, really, isn't it time to recognize Brad Pitt? He's been a consistently strong actor for a long time and his turn in Moneyball won wide acclaim. He deserves it.

Will win: JEAN DUJARDIN
Should win: BRAD PITT

BEST ACTRESS:
Entertainment Weekly has this as a close call between Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady and Viola Davis in The Help. As of this writing I have not seen The Iron Lady but I don't think it matters - Viola Davis will win and should win. Quite possibly the performance in any acting category this year, she should easily walk away with the Oscar. And her acceptance speech should be emotional and poignant.

Will win: VIOLA DAVIS
Should win: VIOLA DAVIS

Quick picks on the other categories:

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Will Win: CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER in Beginners
Should Win: MAX VON SYDOW in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Von Sydow was the best thing about an otherwise mediocre film.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Will Win: OCTAVIA SPENCER in The Help
Should Win: OCTAVIA SPENCER in The Help
Spencer has won all the pre-Oscar awards, she won't lose this one.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Will Win: BRIDESMAIDS
Should Win MARGIN CALL or MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
Bridesmaids is tremendously over-rated but this is its best shot at an Oscar.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Will Win: THE DESCENDANTS
Should Win: MONEYBALL
Moneyball was sharp.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG:
Will Win: "MAN OR MUPPET" from The Muppets
Should Win: "MAN OR MUPPET" from The Muppets
Give one to the frog.

Agree? Disagree? Think I'm a complete nut-job? Leave a comment and let me know. Enjoy the Oscars!

Hello World

noreply@blogger.com (A Busy Dad Of Two (Dave)) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:23:00 +0000

I'm probably about 5 years too late to the blog party. Usually, I'm one of the first people to try out the cool new technology or the latest killer web app. Not this time. I was beaten to the blog punch by by wife, A Busy Mom Of Two. She's been there, done that and I'm just arriving at the station. Oh well, no worries. I'll see how far I can ride this train and honestly, if I get tired of it (or if blogging moves on without me) I'll just hop off.

So, hello world! I'm blogging now! What will you read on these here virtual pages? I'll blog about almost anything. I love good movies and good customer service. I enjoy great music and great gadgets that make life easier. I believe technology is for moving a society forward and we should embrace it; not haphazardly, but with a cautionary eye and a great deal of hope. So: movies, music, tech and more. Whenever something strikes me as cool, helpful, important, interesting or simply blog-worthy, I'll take it to the blog. I hope you'll join me as I share what I can. Sometimes I won't blog as frequently as I'd like. Things can get hectic. After all, I am a busy dad of two.