Random blips on the radar:

[judecorp]

• Two more today: This Ain't Your Grandma's Mansion Cache and In Like Flynt Cache


• I never knew Larry Flynt lived in Bexley. Fascinating.


• My cat should never ever ever knead my upper inner thigh through my pajama pants ever again.


• My picks were really good this year.


• Adrien Brody is so totally adorable.


• I have a really short fuse sometimes and I don't know why. Sorry, Steve.


• I didn't like Michael Moore's speech very much.


• I wish the government wasn't planning to levy $100billion to essentially provide social services to some other country, while basically ruining ours.


• There is a sleeping girl in my bed, and she is the most precious thing ever.


• So now I'm going to go to bed, too.

Comments

[yarnaddict.livejournal.com]

I didn't like Michael Moore's speech either. Whether one supports the war or not, I feel that what he said was extremely inappropriate at the time and place that he said it. I fully support his right to hold those opinions, and to express them, but I do not think that he should have said it when and where he said it.

I /was/ glad to see so many people wishing for peace and the swift end to this war, without expressing opinions about whether this is right or wrong.

[binkiegirl.livejournal.com]

Well, since Michael Moore doesn't seem to be getting invited to too many talk shows these days, I can't think of a better time.

Not talk about the war? It's less than a week old...The boo's were incredibly loud but didn't sound like a lot of people and I didn't see a single person booing when they panned the audience.

I can't think of a single thing wrong with what he said. And I don't even agree with (everything) he said.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Well, since Michael Moore doesn't seem to be getting invited to too many talk shows these days, I can't think of a better time.

True.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I guess in some ways I agree with binkiegirl about there really being no other similar time to air those concerns. I totally agree with everything Michael Moore said, even, so I don't know why I'm bitching. I guess I selfishly didn't like the mood of my Oscars ruptured, even for a second, though that was the whole point of the thing.

I'm glad that some people felt the urge to speak their minds aloud in so public a forum, and I'm glad that so many people were wishing for peace. I think that Moore was wishing for peace in his own way, he's just more inciting. I guess that's his place in life, you know? He's doing a phenomenal job. I don't know why, but I just wish he'd left the election part out. I have no idea why exactly I even felt that way.

[yarnaddict.livejournal.com]

I don't see why he should have any more of an opportunity to make a nationally public statement on the matter than you or I, especially at an event such as the Oscars, which is /not/ a forum for bitching about the political and social leaders of the world.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

He has more of an opportunity because he was a nominee. I know that /I/ wasn't nominated, so I didn't even have a chance to speak at the Oscars. But he won, so he got his 45 seconds to use any way he wanted.

This isn't the first time that an award show was used to deliver a political message. I don't remember the year, but one year REM won a whole lot of awards at the MTV Video Music Awards, and every time they went up to claim an award, Michael Stipe was wearing a different tshirt. (Each tshirt had a message.)

[yarnaddict.livejournal.com]

There is a time and a place for everything. There are /plenty/ of opportunities to publicly and visibly protest this war. I don't think it was appropriate for him to disrupt the evening for all these people who came to see and watch the Oscars with his personal dig against the president and his actions.

Of course, this is simply my personal opinion, and I have no intention of trying to force it upon anyone else.

[yarnaddict.livejournal.com]

And... I'm not disupting that Moore has the right to speak out in that forum. I'm just saying that I don't think it was appropriate.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

In a lot of ways I agree with you, since I found it sort of trashy to have that whole display in the middle of the Oscars. And then my mind starts thinking, "Well, heck, isn't this sort of in-your-face tactic exactly /why/ they gave him the Oscar in the first place?"

Maybe the Academy is trying to say something.

[binkiegirl.livejournal.com]

I was quite impressed with Michael Moore's as well as Adrien Brody's speeches. Anyone who thinks he wouldn't speak his mind is insane and I'm glad he didn't change who he is as a person. He's trying to get people stop being apathetic so he chooses to say controversial things to help facilitate that.

Brody's speech was poignant and personal. He used his time to pay tribute to those who are risking their life in a far away desert.

Thank God we have not only differing opinions, but alternative means to express those opinions. It's what's great about America...

And frankly, it's good to hear the left saying inflammatory things...it'll give Rush something to talk about tomorrow.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, it wasn't like I was expecting him to be quiet, I mean, this is /Michael Moore/ we're talking about. I wasn't surprised, it just soured my mood a little. It wasn't even like I didn't agree with him, it was totally selfish on my part. Like, there I was with Jennifer's Cheetos and my Stewart's orange cream soda lolling away watching the Oscars - it totally jolted my mood for a little bit. Which, arguably, was the total point.

I'm anxious to see what the Right says about it, though. I think there need to be more Leftists who aren't afraid to act like Leftists.

[yarnaddict.livejournal.com]

I think we need to hear more from people who are neither Leftists nor Rightists, but very firmly in the middle. Like me. Perhaps I should take some public speaking, confidence, and debate classes. So many people are making social and political issues out to be black and white, strictly right or wrong with no grey area, and I don't think that does justice to the issues or the concerns of the people involved.

But that's another topic, and if you don't want it discussed in your LJ, feel free to say so. =)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I think you /should/ speak your mind - not because you're in the middle, but because everyone should speak his/her mind. Of course I'm a strong proponent of that!

I would argue, though, that most people /are/ in the middle, and the majority of the people we hear from regularly (read: politicians, media) are somewhere in the middle, though leaning toward one side or the other. And then there are those who are firmly on one side or the other, and there are some who are vocal (Michael Moore, Rush Limbaugh) but not many. And none of them are politicians.

I feel like we need some politicians who have the guts to be one or the other, instead of the constant stream of Republicrats we've had for a while. Nothing gets done that way! (Arguably, though, Dubya is one of the Rightest Rights we've had in a while.)

[chaptal.livejournal.com]

Did you see the mansion? Right across from the Columbus School for Girls.

Hustler's offices were in the Buckeye Building on Gay Street.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah - Ha ha, that was the funny thing!

The cache we went to gave the coordinates of the Flynt mansion, and asked, "Which Columbus landmark is across the street?" When I saw CSG, I almost DIED!

[thatpatti.livejournal.com]

adrien brody is *so* cute. i really need to see that movie.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Oh, definitely see it! It was really really amazing. I had picked it for Best Picture, not because I didn't think Chicago was a great movie (I loved it) but because comparing the two of them were like apples and oranges. I'm glad there was a split, though, so Adrien Brody and Roman Polanski won, even though Chicago did.

Michael Moore's speech

[vorpalbla.livejournal.com]

Where can I find it?

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Damn good question. I don't rightly know. Especially since it was 45 seconds long.

There were a couple of "blah blah thank you blah"s, and then he said something about how he invited the other documentary nominees up with him to celebrate documentaries, and how they try to bring a shred of truth to our fictitious lives. He then said something to the effect of, "our fictitious president, our fictitious [something else, I forget], and this fictitious war!"

And while I pretty much agree with exactly what he said, it just struck me wrong. The booing started when he bashed the president. Honestly, I think it would have sat less wrong with me if he hadn't talked about the President. I don't know why... I guess because all that eelction stuff happened so long ago. *shrug* It just seemed to really throw the mood of the Oscars for a while, and I didn't like that. I just wanted the plain old Oscars.

But as binkiegirl said, it's not like he's getting invited to talk shows, so I guess that was his chance.

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[vorpalbla.livejournal.com]

I have always found the "plain old Oscars" infernally boring. I mean, they're a bunch of awards being given out, and most of them are bought inside the industry (it's not like Roger Ebert is giving them out). A controversial speaker like Michael Moore seems like one of the few things that could make them worth watching.

Did anyone else protest or make comments about the war? Any rah-rah patriotism?

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

There was no rah-rah patriotism that I saw. I missed the red carpet stuff and the first couple of minutes of the actual Oscars. I watch the Oscars every year. I adore them. Whether they're bought from inside or not, I like trying to pick the winners and see how right I was. =P

Some other people gave more subtle messages, things like "Bring the troops home safely," and stuff like that. Susan Sarandon gave a peace sign. Adrien Brody gave a longer speech about a personal friend of his who was currently in Kuwait. Someone else, damn I wish I could remember whom, said something else about the war being bad. There were comments here and there that were anti-war, but no one (and I say this with pride) can be as hot and inflammatory as Mr. Moore. :)

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[michael622.livejournal.com]

What did you think of Steve Martin's comment afterwards?

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[jeffholton.livejournal.com]

I didn't actually watch the Oscars, but I read about Moore's and Martin's comments in the paper.

And, as usual, I think Steve Martin is a crackup. He's hysterical, and his follow-up comment was just what was needed to restore levity to the whole evening. Bravo, Martin!

Now, in regards to smurfy's...

My cat should never ever ever knead my upper inner thigh through my pajama pants ever again.

...have you seen "The Truth About Cats and Dogs?"

You can love your pets.

Just don't love your pets.

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[michael622.livejournal.com]

I heart Steve Martin.

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Won't you be my pet?

(I agree, Steve Martin is good.)

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[jeffholton.livejournal.com]

I may be losing weight, but I'd still make a rather heavy pet.

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

You're making me all steamy.

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[jeffholton.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear! That CAN'T be good!

*gets some ice and rubs it all over you*

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I remember thinking it was very smart and very clever at the time, but I can't remember what he said now. Was it something about Michael Moore being stuffed into a trunk?

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[michael622.livejournal.com]

*laugh* He said something to the effect of, "Back stage - it was so sweet. You should have seen it - the teamsters are helping Michael Moore into the trunk of his limo." I thought it was /really/ clever.

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, the Teamsters. HA HA HA HA HA!

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

"I've invited my fellow documentary nominees on stage with us here in solidarity with me because we like non-fiction and we live in fictitious times. We live in the time where we have fictitious election results that elect a fictitious president. We live in a time where we have a man who's sending us to war for fictitious reasons, whether it's the fiction of duct tape or the fiction of orange alerts.... We are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame on you, Mr. Bush, shame on you."

-Michael Moore, accepting the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature

Re: Michael Moore's speech

[thatpatti.livejournal.com]

i think there's a link to it over in conservatism.

[michael622.livejournal.com]

I agreed with what Moore said, but I didn't approve of his using the Oscars as a platform to say it. Some people say that there was no other time, or that we should shout this message every day ... but I think he's defeating his own purpose. There are people who really /need/ to hear that message, but they will completely disregard it now because of /when/ and /where/ he said it. Sometimes, when and where are as important - or more important - than the message itself.

[yarnaddict.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, and that's the point I've been trying to make - but you made it better than I did. =) I don't agree with what Moore said, personally, but I respect fully his right to say it. It's a matter of time and place. And people who, like me, are in the middle ground when it comes to opinions on this 'war' see him exercising his rights to free speech in that manner, and it turns us /away/ from his message.

[michael622.livejournal.com]

Hehehe. I like the way I said it in sos_usa better. To quote myself:

The point is not "What do people who agree with me think is appropriate or inappropriate?" The point is, if you are trying to convince someone who disagrees with you that your opinion is the correct one, you have to do so at a time and place when they are receptive to what you have to say. We can all fart into the wind all day long, but unless the wind is going north-northeast, nobody's going to smell it.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I mostly agree with you. But I will say that I think the people who don't want to hear his message will choose not to hear it regardless of how he says it. Different people have different tactics, and that tactic is clearly Moore's. After all, it's what he was given the Oscar for in the first place. :)

[00solstice.livejournal.com]

It's okay, I should have known better anyway. Besides, I think the world events are putting everyone on edge. We all have strong beliefs, and people on both sides of the fence are being challenged, yet the events across the globe are (for most part, in a direct sense) out of our control. I think that sort of grave concern and relative helplessness really puts stress on people in general.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Besides, I think the world events are putting everyone on edge.

I agree. And I think that even though you claim to be emotionally separated from these sorts of things, that's not entirely true. I think you definitely try to keep knee-jerk gut reactions out of your final decisions, but things are definitely affecting you emotionally, and that's okay.

See, you're not dead. When are we taking a bike ride?

Re:

[00solstice.livejournal.com]

heh. Thanks. :-)

Friday is gonna rock, but you'll be in work during the day and I'll be at work in the evening.

We can tenatively shoot for Saturday, and if it rains we'll reschedule for the following weekend.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Saturday I have tentative lunch plans, but lunch doesn't last forever. I hope it's nice out!