Last night was the 81st Annual Academy Awards, and though it is indeed the gay SuperBowl, I was not that excited. The last several years have left me completely underwhelmed and I watch mostly just to see those 3 actual moments that people will talk about for the next week or two. Even with good hosts, something about the way the Oscars work made me feel like I was at a bad charity dinner- lots of interesting people doing nothing at all of interest.
This year, I was VERY pleasantly surprised! Since the winners were really not all that surprising, I want to instead talk about the show itself. Although I should note that Sean Penn’s speech was incredible, and most of the women looked AMAZING! This year they brought in new producers and completely changed the format and from top to bottom, the changes were a definite winner for me.
First off, Hugh Jackman was an incredible host! He was funny and entertaining, without simply using standup which was a nice change. He also wasn’t afraid to bring his musical background into the show, which seemed to be backed up well by the producers. This both made me happy, and of course made the show even gayer than before.
Another major change was the way that they presented the Acting awards. In years past, the last year’s winners of the opposite sex gave the award to the current winner after a small speech and clips from the nominees’ performances. This year, they pulled 5 (one for each nominee) previous winners of the same category, and each of them gave a personal tribute to the nominees. Each speech was so personal and moving, it actually felt the all the nominees were being honored, and by their peers. Several of them had tears in their eyes, and no wonder. It was moving.
They also had each team of presenters for non-acting categories present more than one award. This did several things. First, it saved time introducing people, which is always an issue. Secondly it allowed the presenters to actually carry through their personal presentation style so that nothing seemed rushed. Very nice all around.
Something else that was totally new were montages that included movies not at all mentioned in the Oscars. They did one for love, comedy, and action, and I would say at least 80% of the movies shown were all great movies that had no chance of winning a nomination. By showing these movies, it felt like they were still acknowledging their great effort, even though it was outside the traditional Academy honors.
The memorial was also made more moving when Queen Latifah sang. She was really good, looked great, and added a nice depth to the somber moment.
While all of these changes may seem small, in many ways for the show, they were revolutionary. And with ratings for the event consistently sliding, it was nice to see them finally make some changes that the audience could embrace. All in all it was more entertaining, and the show seemed far more personal than ever before.
Bravo!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
25 Random things about Rick Raven
Ok. I am not a surveyist on blogs or Facebook, but this one has swept everyone away. Since most everyone I know has done this, I figure it’s only fair that I participate, especially since even people that don’t do surveys did this. Here are 25 Things about me.
Rules (if doing this on Facebook): Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
1. My full name is legally Richard Warren Daniel LeBaron Sieger Raven. Yes, all 6. For reference, that is 1 first, 2 middle, and 3 last. When your family is as insane as mine is, this really shouldn’t surprise you.
2. I have more siblings than anyone I know, many of which who are adopted like I am, and I am the oldest of them all.
3. I spent almost all of my life living in the Midwest but it is my least favorite place in the world. I am an urbanist at heart, and if I can’t have my subways- preferably the 24 hour sort (get on it Boston!) and a Starbucks in walking distance, then I am miserable.
4. I love animals, but cats drive me crazy as pets. The only exceptions are the weird cats that act like dogs. Sorry, but if I am going to put that much effort into something, I want something out of it too. This is also why I don’t date men with cat personalities.
5. I believe in every line in the song Affirmation by Savage Garden.
6. I am a hopeless romantic at heart, and will always fall for the “thunderbolt” type of love, sweet small things and grand gestures, sacrificing just about anything for it.
7. Very few things actually scare me, but for some reason I have an uncontrollable fear of the sensation of falling.
8. Whether you believe that there is truth behind horoscopes normally, anything you ever read about a Sagittarius will be true about me.
9. Maybe in part because of #8, I definitely find truth in signs. I am not so big on the daily type of horoscopes, but your birth determining certain traits definitely seems realistic to me, especially since it turns out to be true so often. I also believe that your name signifies a lot of who you are as well.
10. A long time ago a friend’s dad said that he felt anyone who didn’t give at least a week of their time a year to a good cause wasn’t worth the space they take up on this Earth. I completely agree.
11. I like dorky things like video games and comic books. In fact, I am pretty sure that many skills I use as an adult were developed from playing card and video games and reading books and comics as a kid.
12. In many ways I am an incredibly motivated person and am also very motivational to others, but for some reason I have no way of making myself motivated to do something if the motivation isn’t already there.
13. I am definitely more of a visionary than a nuts and bolts kind of guy. I like seeing the grand design and greater picture of things than see the details behind how it works in the same way that I like creating something or teaching something more than I like doing it.
14. If I lived several centuries or even millennia ago, I would definitely be a philosopher. I think I do many of the same things now. I love thinking deeply about a great many things and talking about them with my friends, or even random people. I get accused of “putting too much thought into it” which pretty much is the basis of philosophy, but no one really considers it useful enough to call it a profession anymore.
15. I thrive on people. I am not one of those people who hates going to Starbucks to read, but quite the opposite. I love the energy of people being around, whether it is working or being social, and being around people gives me more energy and motivation.
16. I hate hate hate companies like Wal-Mart but totally support good big businesses like Starbucks. Treat the community, your employees, and the world well and we’ll get along fine. If not NO money from me. (I haven’t spent money at Wal-Mart in YEARS).
17. I like sweet girlie alcohol drinks, but at the same time am totally fine taking shots of whiskey or Jager if the situation arises. Nothing thus far has eclipsed a Spastic Toad in my estimation.
18. I think snow is far better than rain. While storms can be beautiful, the rain they bring never seems to be. Snow on the other hand is beautiful and never seems to soak me the way rain does. Who wants to be drenched?
19. I like every type of food, unless it has onions in it. Onions are the devil to my tongue, but the wide array of interesting food in the world all appeals to me from home cooked Italian to crazy Thai dishes. Good thing I live in NYC so I can placate all my palates.
20. On any given day you are more likely to find me in an Oxford-style shirt and jeans, though I also love suits and think that no outfit is cooler than jeans, t-shirt and a sports coat.
21. I remember movies and actors far better than music and singers. The exception is if a movie provokes no emotion or intellectual interest. In that case it will be immediately forgotten, whereas if a song moves me it will be with me forever. Movies just seem to do that more often.
22. I love art, wine, and architecture, but sadly know little of any of them. I can look at something or taste something and tell you I like or dislike it, but for the life of me can’t tell you why.
23. I don’t smoke, and never will, but am drawn to the taste of cigars, but hate the smell, and hate the taste of cigarettes but love the smell coming from another. But then hate all smoke smell on a person when not smoking, hence rarely dating smokers. Strange, no?
24. I love working out and being physically active, but when I am not doing such things, I find it hard to remember the joy I feel when doing it, which is why I sometimes completely slack off in that department.
25. I am an incredible judge of people, their emotions, capabilities, moods, etc. I can tell you instantly if 2 people are a good match for each other as friends, business, whatever. This skill completely fails me when I add myself into the equation which is why I make stupid mistakes trusting people.
Strangely, this list took me more than a week to complete. Hmmm.
Rules (if doing this on Facebook): Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
1. My full name is legally Richard Warren Daniel LeBaron Sieger Raven. Yes, all 6. For reference, that is 1 first, 2 middle, and 3 last. When your family is as insane as mine is, this really shouldn’t surprise you.
2. I have more siblings than anyone I know, many of which who are adopted like I am, and I am the oldest of them all.
3. I spent almost all of my life living in the Midwest but it is my least favorite place in the world. I am an urbanist at heart, and if I can’t have my subways- preferably the 24 hour sort (get on it Boston!) and a Starbucks in walking distance, then I am miserable.
4. I love animals, but cats drive me crazy as pets. The only exceptions are the weird cats that act like dogs. Sorry, but if I am going to put that much effort into something, I want something out of it too. This is also why I don’t date men with cat personalities.
5. I believe in every line in the song Affirmation by Savage Garden.
6. I am a hopeless romantic at heart, and will always fall for the “thunderbolt” type of love, sweet small things and grand gestures, sacrificing just about anything for it.
7. Very few things actually scare me, but for some reason I have an uncontrollable fear of the sensation of falling.
8. Whether you believe that there is truth behind horoscopes normally, anything you ever read about a Sagittarius will be true about me.
9. Maybe in part because of #8, I definitely find truth in signs. I am not so big on the daily type of horoscopes, but your birth determining certain traits definitely seems realistic to me, especially since it turns out to be true so often. I also believe that your name signifies a lot of who you are as well.
10. A long time ago a friend’s dad said that he felt anyone who didn’t give at least a week of their time a year to a good cause wasn’t worth the space they take up on this Earth. I completely agree.
11. I like dorky things like video games and comic books. In fact, I am pretty sure that many skills I use as an adult were developed from playing card and video games and reading books and comics as a kid.
12. In many ways I am an incredibly motivated person and am also very motivational to others, but for some reason I have no way of making myself motivated to do something if the motivation isn’t already there.
13. I am definitely more of a visionary than a nuts and bolts kind of guy. I like seeing the grand design and greater picture of things than see the details behind how it works in the same way that I like creating something or teaching something more than I like doing it.
14. If I lived several centuries or even millennia ago, I would definitely be a philosopher. I think I do many of the same things now. I love thinking deeply about a great many things and talking about them with my friends, or even random people. I get accused of “putting too much thought into it” which pretty much is the basis of philosophy, but no one really considers it useful enough to call it a profession anymore.
15. I thrive on people. I am not one of those people who hates going to Starbucks to read, but quite the opposite. I love the energy of people being around, whether it is working or being social, and being around people gives me more energy and motivation.
16. I hate hate hate companies like Wal-Mart but totally support good big businesses like Starbucks. Treat the community, your employees, and the world well and we’ll get along fine. If not NO money from me. (I haven’t spent money at Wal-Mart in YEARS).
17. I like sweet girlie alcohol drinks, but at the same time am totally fine taking shots of whiskey or Jager if the situation arises. Nothing thus far has eclipsed a Spastic Toad in my estimation.
18. I think snow is far better than rain. While storms can be beautiful, the rain they bring never seems to be. Snow on the other hand is beautiful and never seems to soak me the way rain does. Who wants to be drenched?
19. I like every type of food, unless it has onions in it. Onions are the devil to my tongue, but the wide array of interesting food in the world all appeals to me from home cooked Italian to crazy Thai dishes. Good thing I live in NYC so I can placate all my palates.
20. On any given day you are more likely to find me in an Oxford-style shirt and jeans, though I also love suits and think that no outfit is cooler than jeans, t-shirt and a sports coat.
21. I remember movies and actors far better than music and singers. The exception is if a movie provokes no emotion or intellectual interest. In that case it will be immediately forgotten, whereas if a song moves me it will be with me forever. Movies just seem to do that more often.
22. I love art, wine, and architecture, but sadly know little of any of them. I can look at something or taste something and tell you I like or dislike it, but for the life of me can’t tell you why.
23. I don’t smoke, and never will, but am drawn to the taste of cigars, but hate the smell, and hate the taste of cigarettes but love the smell coming from another. But then hate all smoke smell on a person when not smoking, hence rarely dating smokers. Strange, no?
24. I love working out and being physically active, but when I am not doing such things, I find it hard to remember the joy I feel when doing it, which is why I sometimes completely slack off in that department.
25. I am an incredible judge of people, their emotions, capabilities, moods, etc. I can tell you instantly if 2 people are a good match for each other as friends, business, whatever. This skill completely fails me when I add myself into the equation which is why I make stupid mistakes trusting people.
Strangely, this list took me more than a week to complete. Hmmm.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
To my unconventional Valentine
This year, rather than extol the virtues or reiterate the vices of Valentine’s Day, I decided to take a que from one of our local magazines. Rather than talk of love between people, they dedicated the article to something we can all (at least the magazine’s audience) agree to love: The City. Given that I have no partner to sing praises to, I decided to give my valentine to this island I live on and love oh so much.
Dear New York City,
On this day of lovers, I wanted to share with you how you have reached into the deepest parts of my soul and made me so happy.
How I love that you provide me with a Starbucks close enough to walk to no matter where I find myself.
How I smile every time I turn a corner and realize that there is something I hadn’t noticed about a street I pass every day.
How I love that your subways will always help me make my way home, no matter the hour.
How could I not be thrilled by the multitude of brilliant shows you produce and house every single day?
How I love that even within the sprawling buildings, you always seem to have room for a park filled with green in every neighborhood.
What words do I have to describe the delight I feel knowing that walking down the streets, everyone is able to be who they are without fear of reprisal?
What a wondrous thing it is that out of the millions of people you house, you always seem to provide opportunities to bump into random friends as though we were in a small Midwestern town.
And how can one not love your beauty? Fountains and sculptures, architectural brilliance, and cultural uniqueness make you shine.
Of course how can their be love without taste? Your existence ensures that no matter what my tongue wants, I can find. You can provide new and thrilling, or warm and comforting at any time.
And lastly, my sweet Valentine, I thank you for the people you bring together. So many walks of life, so many reasons for friends to visit, so many people, all brought together by you.
For this and all the wonderful things you are, and all the wonderful things you do for me and to the world, Happy Valentine’s Day!
-Your Loving Valentine, Rick
Dear New York City,
On this day of lovers, I wanted to share with you how you have reached into the deepest parts of my soul and made me so happy.
How I love that you provide me with a Starbucks close enough to walk to no matter where I find myself.
How I smile every time I turn a corner and realize that there is something I hadn’t noticed about a street I pass every day.
How I love that your subways will always help me make my way home, no matter the hour.
How could I not be thrilled by the multitude of brilliant shows you produce and house every single day?
How I love that even within the sprawling buildings, you always seem to have room for a park filled with green in every neighborhood.
What words do I have to describe the delight I feel knowing that walking down the streets, everyone is able to be who they are without fear of reprisal?
What a wondrous thing it is that out of the millions of people you house, you always seem to provide opportunities to bump into random friends as though we were in a small Midwestern town.
And how can one not love your beauty? Fountains and sculptures, architectural brilliance, and cultural uniqueness make you shine.
Of course how can their be love without taste? Your existence ensures that no matter what my tongue wants, I can find. You can provide new and thrilling, or warm and comforting at any time.
And lastly, my sweet Valentine, I thank you for the people you bring together. So many walks of life, so many reasons for friends to visit, so many people, all brought together by you.
For this and all the wonderful things you are, and all the wonderful things you do for me and to the world, Happy Valentine’s Day!
-Your Loving Valentine, Rick
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