Corn Sex

Okay - I know the above heading is going to generate some really weird traffic here at woofreakinhoo. But just to show you that I read all sorts of weird stuff...

The Omnivore’s Dilemma is a book full of the horrors of the feed lot, the chemicals pumped into our food stuff, the petroleum journey our salads go on to reach our plates, and yes, corn sex.

I've read Pollan before and I really admire how he writes about Food Justice issues. True, it may make you never want to eat a Chicken Nugget again (not a bad thing) but I highly recommend this book, or any book by Pollan. He writes about important stuff - not that writing about Bordersnakes and Mexican Drug wars are not important, just in a different, um..way. Oh screw it. That stuff is just fun. Pollan writes about stuff that is an important as hell. Like how the processed foods we are ingesting are killing us - and he is not afraid to lay out the truth, but often with humour, and lots of cool facts (like how corn has sex).

Put down that six pack of nuggets and go read it.

I always remember Jay Leno being on a Letterman a long time ago and talking about if a live chicken ever came face to face with a nugget he'd say,

"I see nothing that offends me here."

Bordersnakes!

A while back I mentioned my shower room Lansdale discussion - that sounds weird to write that out... yeah, so I am talking books with this half-naked guy....

Anyway. The writers that shower room guy talked about was James Crumley. I picked up a couple of his books, including his most well-known: The Last Good Kiss. Right now I am reading Bordersnakes and loving the hell out of it. It does feel like Lansdale, but somehow different. Publisher's weekly says that it is,"Lit by flashes of brutal lyricism but bordering on incoherence" - a pretty good description. Lansdale seems more in control than this guy. But I kind of admire the craziness of the writing.

It's always interesting when the heroes aren't so good and the bad guys aren't so bad. It also makes me wonder how much Tequila and cocaine the writer did as background research. It turns out that Crumley just died this past Sept.

Until next year.

One last pic from my recent trip to Mexico. A fitting image as the memory fades and I start the countdown until next time.

And the oscar pool goes to....

Me. I should have put some money down this year - I skipped a few categories (see below), but my total score was 20 correct out of 24 categories.

I came away with some coffee money and a little left over for some bacon and eggs....mmm....victory.

The Great Craigini Predicts

Okay, I am an oscar geek - always have been - I've been watching them since I was a wee lad in Saskatchewan.

The party is at my place tonight - and for the record, here are my picks.

I skipped a few categories, but most are here. I warn you, I am a strong competitor in the pool (though, I lost by a nose last year!)

Here goes:

Best Picture
Slumdog Millionaire
Directing
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Actor in a Leading Role
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon

Actress in a Leading Role

Kate Winslet - The Reader

Actor in a Supporting Role

Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Actress in a Supporting Role
Penélope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona


Foreign Language Film
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Milk - Dustin Lance Black
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Slumdog Millionaire - Simon Beaufoy
Documentary Feature
Man on Wire
Music (Score)
Slumdog Millionaire

Music (Song)

“Jai Ho” (Slumdog Millionaire)
Film Editing
Slumdog Millionaire

Cinematography
Slumdog Millionaire -
Anthony Dod Mantle
Costume Design
The Duchess - Michael O’Connor
Sound Mixing
The Dark Knight - Lora Hirschberg,
Gary Rizzo, Ed Novick
Sound Editing
The Dark Knight - Richard King

Art Direction
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -
Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo

Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -