WASHINGTON - The US House defeated a bill Wednesday to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting by four months to June 12th.
Good.
The argument that folks should be given more time to prepare for the switch is a bunch of bull-butter. News of the analog-to-digital switch has been before us for over a year and a half. People won't be more prepared four months from now or four years from now. If you don't have cable and you're concerned about having to spend the $40 - $60 for the converter box, then just take the next few months to save up for it. You won't miss anything in the meantime. Otherwise, buy a newspaper once a week and you'll be all caught up on the week's events. Flip the switch! Forward I say! Forward! THE FUTURE IS NIGH!
Sharon and I have seen five of the movies up for awards in a few weeks. Gravity reigns, though inspiration and hope always land on top.
Richard Jenkins in The Visitor, lead actor. Beautiful movie, though quiet and melancholy. Jenkins is a master character actor. You've seen him many times. If you have a problem with immigrants, legal or illegal, or with the ridiculous immigration policies of our country, this movie is tender and frustrating and worthy of your time.
In a year of heavy, tense movies, Doubt applies the gravity in buckets. Meryl Streep in Doubt, lead actress, Amy Adams in Doubt, supporting actress, Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt, supporting actor, Viola Davis in Doubt, supporting actress. All excellent performances, no doubt.
Michael Shannon, supporting actor, in Revolutionary Road, another serious and tragic story, set in the mid-50's, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Michael Shannon plays a small part as a WWII vet suffering from mental illness. He delivers some of the most honest and devastating lines of the movie. Sharon and I just caught this one last Saturday. If you enjoy the traditional life, you might not like it, but interestingly, the tragedy of the characters was somehow reassuring to us as we examined and compared our own life choices.
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, supporting actor. Creepiest performance of the last several years. Impossible to forget.
WALL-E for best animated feature. Great film.
Slumdog Millionaire, both up for best picture and best director, Danny Boyle. This has been our favorite film so far in the last several months. Please see this one. I can count at least forty-seven emotions that we are capable of feeling as humans. You'll feel fifteen-twenty of them as you watch this film, but you'll sigh a happy sigh as the credits roll. Hooray for Bollywood!
...and speaking of happy sighs, Congratulations Mr. President.
Have a good weekend, and Godspeed, John Glenn,
Dave
