I've been M.I.A again, mostly because I've been doing work. Lately, it's been that feeling that I'm working all the time, but am still behind in all my classes. I guess I'm not behind on normal person standards. I've done almost all of the reading through Wednesday. Usually I'm done with all the reading by Wednesday by the end of the weekend. Also, I did not do as much work on Moot Court as I would have liked (usually because me editing a section would result in me searching for a non existent SCOTUS cite that I just need for one stupid sentence). Also I made it a goal last Tuesday to send out four more job apps. That didn't happen. Hopefully today will be a Moot Court/Job App day. Or maybe I'll just edit my cover letter in Property. We'll see.

Tomorrow's Mardi Gras and since I made no jambalaya last year, I think I have to do it this year despite all of this stuff. If anything, at least i won't have to cook for the next year, right? I always end up with so many leftovers.

And this week is Noise Pop. I've got tickets to a Friday show. Wanted to see Ra Ra Riot, but they sold out. Instead, we're going to see St. Vincent. Also put my name down for some contest for AC Newman tickets, but we'll see how that goes.

What else? Oscars last night! Kate Winslet finally won. I really thought Hugh Jackman was a great host and that they didn't show enough of him. As much as I love the Daily Show, Jon Stewart has been a very awkward host. Not too many nightmare dresses this year. I guess if I had to choose any oscar movie this year to see, I chose the right one. Slumdog was the big winner of the night. Usually, I vote for the big movies that I've seen by default, so that went in my favor this year. I got 17/24 this year. Pretty good. Also, yeah, who didn't see Heath Ledger's Best Supporting Actor win coming? What I didn't like this year was how, instead of showing clips for the acting roles, they had previous winners come and tell the already big headed actors how great they were (also missing as presenters were last year's winners Javier Bardeim and Daniel Day Lewis). I'm glad Tina Fey presented.

Question, though, that came up when Milk won its first award (screenplay i think). Since Prop 8 passed by such a small margin, would it have made a different if Milk was released a few weeks or even a month before? I guess even with a margin that small it might not have, but it's something to think about I guess. They're hearing the case soon here. I kind of want to watch, but it's probably going to be incredibly crowded.

Anyway, yesterday I also volunteered for the National Trial Competition. I got some flyer for it in my SIC box a couple of weeks ago and thought it sounded cool. It didn't sound as cool when I had to go to bed early Saturday night and wake up Sunday night knowing that I was going to spend half of my day on that instead of my brief. It also didn't sound as cool when it decided to be cold and rainy on the day that I actually decided to leave the tower. It was actually fun. I was the bailiff, so I kept time for everyone. It wasn't actually as easy as it sounds. I didn't have a timer and I had to make sure to stop timing when there were objections. It was fun though. The case was based on the Michael Vicks case, so they talked about killing dogs a lot and the people in the competition were incredibly intense. A lot of shouting and Phoenix Wright moves. Pretty cool.

Anyway, I need to get back to reviewing my notes for property before class starts. Just wanted to say I'm still alive.

Oscar Nominations

I guess it's that time of year again, isn't it? I always look forward to the announcement of the Oscar Nominations so I can see them spell out all the great movies that I have yet to see. I want to make an effort to see more of the movies before the Academy Awards roll around, so I guess I can make it another good project of mine for now. Problem is that I can't Netflix these movies because I've seen all the ones that are out on DVD already (actually it looks like a couple of the Documentaries have already been released).

On the whole, I think I could have called a lot of these nominations based on the buzz I've heard. Meryl Streep's nominated again. Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married, which I thought just looked like Angst the Movie, but might have to check out. Angelina and Brad are both nominated, how cute. I could go through the who list, but that seems unnecessary.

I knew The Dark Knight was not going to get the Best Picture Nomination since it's a comic book movie and all, but I was still disappointed to see it missing from the list. The movie was amazing. Critics loved it. I don't get why it didn't make it on the list. Are they just being snobs? Whatever. Heath Ledger was nominated for Best Supporting Actor as everyone expected. It happens to be the anniversary of his death (and Roe v. Wade). Time's gone by quickly, hasn't it? I remember being in the Greenpeace office when someone heard someone in the other news say that he had passed away. I didn't believe her until I got confirmation from ONTD. No go for Chris Nolan for director.

Kate Winslet is nominated for her role in The Reader. I haven't actually seen the movie, but can I just say that they need to give her an Oscar already? This is her sixth nomination. She's clearly doing something right. Show her some love Academy!! Likewise, I feel like Leonardo DiCaprio needs to get one too. I was kind of hoping that with Revolutionary Road out this year (which I think only got one nomination), Kate and Leo would both be nominated. Oh well. :(

Benjamin Button and Slumdog Millionaire got the most nominations, I think. I loved Slumdog, though it looks like there's been some huge backlash against the film lately. I would like to see Benjamin Button, but I don't know if I have the time to sit through a movie that long.

Also, Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder? I loved that movie. He was definitely one of the highlights of it (along with Tom Cruise). I'd heard buzz about a nomination, but I didn't actually believe him. I'd be rooting for him if I didn't want it to go to Heath.

What movies have I seen? The Dark Knight, Slumdog Millionaire, In Bruges (which I think is nominated for Original Screenplay), WALL-E, Kung Fu Panda, Tropic Thunder, Iron Man (Sound Editing). I think that's it.

How embarassing. I also think it says something about me that the category in which I've seen the most films has been Animated Features. Honestly though. I loved Kung Fu Panda and Bolt looked cute, but why even nominate them? I don't think they have anything against WALL-E.

Since I didn't win free tickets to the Department of Eagles show (that suddenly sold out on me) this weekend, I might try to catch up.