I Didn't Watch The Oscars and I Don't Go to the Movies Much Anymore: Doesn't Sound Like Hollywood Notices

I like reading Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood - for one thing, she was a respected traditional journalist who started blogging when that was such a no-no.  I suppose it still is, but I don't think that Nikki Finke cares much (then or not).  Good for her.

Today, I was surfing through her commentary on the Oscars show last night (I didn't watch it) and noticed her reporting that Brian Glazer explained to her that the "theme" of the Academy Awards Presentation Extravaganza this year was to celebrate going to see movies in the theater because so many are opting for "video on demand."

I'll leave it to those who watched the show (Nikki, you) to decide whether or not last night's three hours of stuff achieved that goal.  (Nikki didn't think so.)

My point:  wake up.  It's not just the convenience of watching movies at home that is keeping people out of the theaters.  It's the junk that is being sold to us for very expensive tickets -- not to mention the cost of popcorn. 

You are not competing against the technology with which we watch this stuff so much as the entertainment alternatives we have.  And yes, Mr. Grazer, I mean television.

Some of it is crap, true.  Some of it is not.  One example that comes to mind immediately:  I'm rewatching the Tudors on BBC America, and while it's not exactly 100% accurate (Henry could only hope to look that good, particularly by the time he got to wive number six)  it's well done. 

Another example: The Closer.  It's good entertainment.  I'm sure we can all point to other television programming that we have found to be preferable to the stuff being sold to us at the movie theatres.

Look, I love to go to the movies.  Love it.  Love the experience.  I would like to do this every week.
But I refuse to fill my head with the junk that is being offered to me.  I will not pay for it. 

Looks like film revenues mean lots of other people may share my position on this.  Check out the reviews over at Rotten Tomatoes, Yahoo Movies, etc. and you'll see that there aren't that many five star, home run offerings out there right now either.

Not that every year needs to be 1939, but I mean really. 

Make better movies, and I'll go to the theatre again.  And, maybe, I'll start watching the Oscars, too.

Where Do the 2012 Presidential Candidates Stand on the Issues?

I cannot believe how many debates we've had in this Presidential Campaign.  Hasn't this gone on longer than Dancing With the Stars?  Close to a full season of American Idol, complete with the first few shows with all that bad singing?  I mean really.

Meanwhile, it's not that easy to find a nice, simple to follow web site that lists where the candidates, Democrat and Republican and Independent and Libertarian and Green and Whatever Else, stand on the issues. 

And yes, I just read that Rosanne Barr has announced her candidacy for President with the Green Party.  Perhaps Kinky Friedman will have some campaign advice for here, having run for Governor of Texas a couple of times now.   

Here's what I found in a quick surf:

1.  SelectSmart.com has a questionaire where you answer questions on where you stand on the issues and then the web tells you with which candidate you are most closely aligned.  Fine, if you like hand-holding.  And if you don't worry that Big Brother is gathering more information about you as you answer these questions than you'd like (my assistant Daniel doesn't trust this stuff, hat tip to Danny here). 

2.    VoteSmart.com has lots of info - bios, voting records, things like that.  Doesn't have all the scoop that you'd like ... when I clicked on select issues, it didn't work.  Frustrating. 

3.   Then there is 2012 Presidential Candidates  site that gives you a nice list, issue by issue (see the left sidebar) and candidate by candidate, for the 2012 Presidential Race.  Libertarians, Democrats, Republicans, and some independents are listed here. 

This, in addition to the media coverage of the various candidates (which you have to read for each candidate and then compare as you wish) as well as the candidates' campaign web sites themselves.

Good voting, America. 

Casey Anthony Lawsuit Part Two?

Ye Gads.  Where will it end?  Minding my own business, surfing the web while doing the laundry and halfway watching a Mentalist rerun, and what do I find?

A breaking news story that Casey Anthony and her attorney, Jose Baez, are threatening to sue because her video diary has been hacked.  

You can read about it here at the LA Times. 

Oh, yeah, and how was this scoop released to the world?  Jose Baez appeared on his buddy Geraldo Rivera's show over on Fox TV.

Look, without a big word count here, a big fat plaintiff's lawsuit is a dream come true for Casey Anthony.  Dream. Come. True.

Key will be if there's a deep pocket anywhere to be found to pay for damages based upon copyright infringement, etc.  -- and whether or not there will be arguments advanced for indirect liability.

Gameover - The Latest Malware Threat Has the FBI Issuing Public Warnings

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning to the American public about a new internet attack they are calling "Gameover." 

Read their press release here.

Seems that the evildoers send you an email that looks to be from a very official looking site, informing you that's there has been a problem with a recent financial transaction.  You're instructed to follow the link provided in the message for further details. 

Wham.  If you click on that link, you've allowed the malcious software ("malware") access to your hard drive, where it will spend its time locating and forwarding the user name and passwords for your financial accounts.  Yes, like your checking account.

It's serious stuff -- they're taking lotsa bucks from people and it's called "gameover" because by the time that you know you've been hit, they're already finished with you and taking your hard-earned cash.

PC World has a nice article discussing how this latest threat is another version of the Zeus malware from a few years back.  Along with it, a discussion of the past year's internet thievery highlights.

Here's the thing.  Don't open those attachments connected to emails even if you know the person unless you are expecting them to be sending you a document.  And even then, it's nice to have your security software in place to scan the attachment before it's downloaded.  (Yahoo! Mail provides this via Norton, nice freebie.)

Drew Peterson and the TV Movie: I Admit It – I’m Gonna Watch Rob Lowe

I’ve been keeping up with the Drew Peterson case for it seems like years now (hey, it has been years if you count this December 2007 post) and truth be told, part of me is kinda irked that he’s getting to feel so darn important because now, yes, there is a Lifetime TV Movie bearing his name.

You know he loves this.  He’s even talking to the media via his attorney. 

And I hate that.

However, I am going to watch this movie.  From the previews, Rob Lowe looks to be giving an excellent performance and his hair looks perfect for the role, to boot.  I’m happy to see Penny from the Big Bang Theory getting a chance to show us that we really do need to know her name as an actress (besides hosting whatever awards show she’s doing).

Maybe this movie will help some battered wife out there get the heck out.  At least, that is what I’m going to be telling myself … because this is one guilty pleasure that I’m not going to miss.