I want my Rocky

It's a sad day here in Colorado.

Earlier today, Scripps announced that the Rocky Mountain News will be closing its doors tomorrow.

Another paper on Auraria?

Apparently there's going to be a new newspaper on the Auraria campus.

According to Face The State, a new conservative student-run newspaper called The Constitutional Reporter is about to launch. The paper's managing editor, Sean Doherty, said that as a freshman, he was frustrated with the coverage from The Metropolitan – Metro's student-run newspaper – and wanted to start his own paper.

And while I encourage young people to get their voices out, I wonder why Sean didn't try and work with The Met. Making change within an established system works far better than creating something new in order to combat it.

As cool as it would be to see another strong paper emerge on the campus (competition increases quality), but my gut says it's not going to last. Remember when the Ram Republic launched up at CSU? It lasted a whole three issues and folded.

We'll see what happens when The Reporter's staff begins graduating.

Post-Oscar look

Six out of eight isn't too bad. My evaluations of last night's Oscar winners

Best Actor
My prediction: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Actual winner: Sean Penn, Milk

From everything I've heard in the past few weeks, Penn was gaining a lot of momentum. I figured Rourke still carried enough buzz from his Golden Globes win. Both put up fantastic performances and either would've been a good choice.

Side note: Clint Eastwood should've had a nomination for "Gran Torino."

Best Actress
My prediction/winner: Kate Winslet, The Reader

Winslet was honored for her performances from both "The Reader" and "Revolutionary Road." It was really a no-brainer.

Best Supporting Actor
My prediction/winner: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

If there was ever a sure bet for the Oscars, it's Heath Ledger for best supporting actor. His performance as the Joker was long thought up as Oscar-worthy, but with his death, it was a given he was going to win.

Best Supporting Actress
My prediction/winner: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Marisa Tomei ("The Wrestler") and Taraji P. Henson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") both had fantastic performances, but awards season is all about momentum. Cruz was taking home awards left and right coming into the final stretch.

Best Animated Feature Film
My prediction/winner: Wall-E

"Bolt" and "Kung Fu Panda" were cute, but "Wall-E" was one of the best films of the year. And, as Jack Black said, don't bet against Pixar.

Best Director
My prediction/winner: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

This was "Slumdog's" year and Danny Boyle was its captain. No-brainer.

Best Foreign Film
My prediction: Waltz With Bashir (Israel)
Winner: Departures (Japan)

Total shocker. I thought "Waltz With Bashir" was an amazing film and was going to run away with the award.

Best Picture
My prediction/winner: Slumdog Millionaire

Anything but "Slumdog" would've been a shocker. "Curious" was cute. "Milk" and "Frost/Nixon" showed big moments in history. "The Reader" was good, but not necessarily the film to take the fifth spot. "Slumdog" had grit, emotion and an engrossing plot.

Side note: No "Gran Torino"? What about "Revolutionary Road"? A DiCaprio/Winslet vehicle helmed by Sam Mendes has to have Oscar nominee written all over it.

Bold predictions
• Ang Lee is going to get buzz for either "A Little Game" or "Taking Woodstock." Both are slated to be released late this year.
• If "Watchmen" the movie is nearly as good as the graphic novel, fans will be clamoring for an Oscar nod. It won't happen. Comic book flicks get no love.
• Meryl Streep will get another nomination.
• The Coen Brothers will get nominated for "A Serious Man."

'09 Oscar Predictions

My picks, what's yours?

Best Actor – Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Best Actress – Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best Supporting Actor – Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress – Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Animated Feature Film – Wall-E
Best Director – Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Foreign Film – Waltz With Bashir
Best Picture – Slumdog Millionaire

Miley's mistakes

What’s more fun that pulling back the corners of your eyes and mocking Asians everywhere — Oh, Miley Cyrus, what won’t you do for a cheap laugh.

And that first “apology” you wrote on your blog was beautiful. Saying you were just making a “goofy face” and denying you were making fun of any ethnicities was simply stupid. Not only because it was a lie but because denying something you clearly did and defending your actions doesn’t make it go away.

If your managers were smart, they would’ve told you to issue a real apology and owning up to her actions. The general public would’ve accepted it and moved on. Take a look at A-Rod.

But since it was against Asians, it’ll go away in a few weeks. Sadly, that’s how these incidents usually work.

Look you’re a huge star for Disney, a role model for millions around the world. That’s a responsibility you need to accept and embrace. How frustrating is it for me to explain to my nieces and nephews why their idol is making fun of them?

I saw you issued a new apology recently, saying you’re sorry and how this ordeal is a lesson you’ve learned.

It’s a little late, but let’s hope the lesson sticks.

Fun with dieting

Some people in this world are blessed with super metabolisms. You know, the ones who can eat anything and everything they want and never gain a pound.

Unfortunately, I am not one of them, so like every year, I’m on a diet. I suppose it’d be smarter, and probably healthier, to maintain my weight when I’m lighter. But what’s the fun in that? When would I get to gorge on absurd amounts of food?

Never, according to most dieticians, but I don’t care.

What’s fun is being able to lose the weight and become super fit and muscley.

Hmm, maybe I don’t want to be one of those super metabolistic folks. They have trouble keeping weight on. That must suck.