AwwwJeez

Yeah, I deserve some kinda medal, that's fer sure. So much has taken place in the last week that my head is still spinning...but I shall try to slow it down so that you, my kind, patient and gentle readers, might keep up.

First of all, I am no longer a third grade teacher. Thanks to the current conditions throughout the Los Angeles area and especially in the horribly run Pasadena USD, so many families with kids are packing up and leaving the area (thanks to high rent and impossibly high home prices) that the public schools are emptying out faster than a gashed-out oilpan in a speeding Pinto. And as a result, the shifting of teachers required the reduction of personnel, which, unfortunately, included the last man hired (yours truly). So, here I am, back on the sub circuit once again. Apparently it was too much to ask of the gods of teaching that I finish out my first year in one place, with one class of kids. While the gig had its problems, it was a job, and a good one. I'll miss it.

So, if that ain't enough....well, it oughta be. Frankly, elsewise, things are okay. Debs has just ended eight weeks of vacation (damned librarians) and is now already grousing about work. Understandably. She is also about to start another German class at PCC, and has been reviewing like a madwoman for the last several days. Bridgette, meanwhile, is slogging through tenth grade (is there another way?) but is doing what she can to make things tolerable as she works within the school's Drama department and Pep Squad. She is also deep in her current music, burying herself in current bands like My Chemical Romance, From First to Last, Circa Survive, and Hawthorne Heights (and if any of her friends see that I included them in the list, she'd kill me--they're her avowed "guilty pleasure").

Speaking of music, I've been dipping into stuff I haven't heard in a long time thanks to the Xmas acquisition of a Creative Zen Micro 5g MP3 Player, which in theory holds around 2000 songs. Apparently all the songs I listen to are ten minutes or more, because I can only fit around 950 on mine. I must be doing something wrong. Nevertheless, 950 is a formidable amount, and the thing follows me everywhere. One day, when I grow up, I shall attain the 20 gig version. Then I shall only weep in awe and glee.

Speaking again of music, I'm still going strong with the terrific "Occasional Consort," doing ancient musics of all sorts, and enjoying it immensely. Once a decent recording of our work is recorded, I'll post it. In the meantime, neighbor Doc Lieb and I are plotting a dirty blues jam when both of us get the same time off...He gave me a CD of stuff he likes recently--Leadbelly, Robert Johnson, the Memphis Jug Band and the amazing Jim Jackson--and we've since made plans to cover the lot.

I think soon there will be some nice new additions to the Music page (about time!) and there are definitely some new Movies on the Flim page.

BUT WAIT! WHAT ABOUT THE NEWWWWWWS!?!?!?!

Awww jeez.

Well, the blogs have all been aflame with the latest story about a Dubai-based company taking over operations at numerous US ports. The major qualms about this deal are that---well, there are a couple of reasons. For one, two of the 9/11 hijackers were from the United Arab Emirates; secondly, it's been proven that much of the cash that financed the operation came through UAE banks; and thirdly, the UAE may be considered an "ally," but they are hardly our ideal in democracy: companies there are all owned and operated by the Royal Families. Seems like a no-brainer to me--now's a bad time to turn over operations to any foreign entity, let alone one with such a record. And even if it's true, as Bush and his people say, that port security isn't affected, no matter where one sits on the ideological fence it's a political blunder of the highest order. Even high level Republicans are against this deal.

Next, the War in Iraq is finally becoming the long-anticipated quagmire many of us knew it would become. Fighting between the Shiites and the Sunnis is growing every day, and with the destruction this week of a major Sunni shrine by who-knows-who, there doesn't seem to be any way of avoiding civil war. And here even arch-conservatives like William F. Buckley, Jr. are weighing in, finally admitting that the US has failed in its mission in Iraq. No shit!

And the brouhaha over the publishing of a series of cartoons portraying the prophet Muhammad has hit a high note this week with the issuing of a fatwa against the artists in question. The editor of the Danish paper broke his silence the other day in a reasonably reasoned response.

Hard to fathom a culture that response so brutally to something so relatively harmless. I think the Prophet himself must have some sense of humor.

AND FINALLY.....YOU'VE WAITED FOR IT....

My 2005 OSCAR PICKS!

All right, so this year wasn't exactly a barnburner. It had some very good points, and here are my predictions for the top prizes.

Best Picture: Brokeback Mountain

I was particularly keen on seeing "Good Night and Good Luck" get the top prize this year, as it really was an amazing work. But, when a tsunami of publicity is heading your way, you might as well acknowledge its existence and head for higher ground ASAP. BBM is a fine replacement--gorgeously shot and very well acted, especially by Aussie Heath Ledger.

Best Director: Ang Lee

Although Clooney is turning into a helluva talent, I gotta say that they'll hang it on Ang.

Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman

Again, unless it's a BBM sweep night and Heath Ledger scores, it's gotta go to PSH and his unbelieveably good take on Truman Capote. Definitely one of the best actors working today in film, bar none.

Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon

For her turn as June Carter Cash, Reese provided the heart & soul of "Walk The Line" that was unbeatable. A lock, IMHO.

Best Supporting: Boy, these are tough to call. I don't know anyone who's seen "North Country" or "Cinderella Man" or even heard of "Junebug," so I'm a tad stumped. I can make some educated guesses based on what I've seen, but guesses they remain. Here we go:

Actress: Rachel Weisz

Actor: Jake Gyllenhall

If I get all seven right, any of my faithful readers should feel perfectly free to buy me dinner, should you be so inclined.

'Til next time..............................