Academy Awards

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences otherwise known as the Oscars named the nominations for this year and The Aviator picked up top honors with 11 nominations including best picture, best director, best actor, best supporting actor, and best supporting actress. Clint Eastwood's picture about a female boxer, Million Dollar Baby and the story about the writer of Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie, Finding Neverland each received seven nominations. Comedic actor Jamie Foxx has really come into his own this year. He was nominated for (and is the odds on favorite to win) best actor for his dead on portrayal of Ray Charles in the movie, Ray. He was also nominated as best supporting actor for his role in Collateral. The indie flick Sideways, the winner of two Golden Globes for best musical or comedy and for best screenplay, has been nominated for five academy awards including best picture, best director, and best supporting actor and actress. If I had any choice in the matter, the winners of the big ones would be: Million Dollar Baby for Best Picture, Martin Scorsese (The Aviator) for Best Director, Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda) for Best Actor, Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby) for Best Actress, Jamie Foxx (Collateral) for Best Supporting Actor, and Cate Blanchett (The Aviator) for Best Supporting Actress. But that's just me.

Consuelo Velasquez, the composer of the song "Besame Mucho", which became a standard in many styles and languages, died in her home in Mexico City on Saturday. She was 84. The song was recorded during WWII and became a big band hit. It was later recorded by the likes of Placido Domingo, Frank Sinatra, Wes Montgomery and The Beatles. The song is near to my heart because it was one of my grandfather's favorite songs, He had a beautiful voice and would sing it to my grandma frequently when his family (12 children and numerous grandchildren) got together.

Music: Besame Mucho - Joao Gilberto
Book: Paradoxes From A to Z by Michael Clark
Movie: Jersey Girl
Iraq: January - 48
Total - 1381