Stand strong, Maria

Washingtonians, specifically those from the state's liberal capital of Seattle, have been carping at the state's junior senator, Maria Cantwell, as she mounts a re-election campaign. Keep in mind that Sen. Cantwell barely edged Sen. Slade Gorton in 2000, and she faces Gorton's former chief of staff, Mike McGavick, who is also a well-funded former CEO of Safeco Insurance.

But for goodness' sake, the liberals in this state should be attacking everyone to the right and leave the one defender of the center and left alone!

Joel Connely of the Seattle P-I has an interesting commentary about this in his March 24 column.

Sen. Cantwell needs as much help as we can give her to remain in the Senate. She deserves to stay there. If nothing else, think about the Democrats regaining control of one or both chambers of Congress and the possibility of accountability in government that would return.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.

Hero of the Week: Helen Thomas

President Bush on Tuesday did something that has been pretty rare during his administration: he held a press conference. But Tuesday was even more rare -- he called on Helen Thomas. Thomas, known for her bulldog tactics and experience in covering nine -- nine -- presidents from Kennedy to W. She';s known for calling it like it is, and Bush found out again why she is the dean of the press corps.

Here's a transcript of the exchange:

THE PRESIDENT: Helen. After that brilliant performance at the Grid Iron, I am -- (laughter.)

Q You're going to be sorry. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Well, then, let me take it back. (Laughter.)

Q I'd like to ask you, Mr. President, your decision to invade Iraq has caused the deaths of thousands of Americans and Iraqis, wounds of Americans and Iraqis for a lifetime. Every reason given, publicly at least, has turned out not to be true. My question is, why did you really want to go to war? From the moment you stepped into the White House, from your Cabinet -- your Cabinet officers, intelligence people, and so forth -- what was your real reason? You have said it wasn't oil -- quest for oil, it hasn't been Israel, or anything else. What was it?

THE PRESIDENT: I think your premise -- in all due respect to your question and to you as a lifelong journalist -- is that -- I didn't want war. To assume I wanted war is just flat wrong, Helen, in all due respect --

Q Everything --

THE PRESIDENT: Hold on for a second, please.

Q -- everything I've heard --

THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me, excuse me. No President wants war. Everything you may have heard is that, but it's just simply not true. My attitude about the defense of this country changed on September the 11th. We -- when we got attacked, I vowed then and there to use every asset at my disposal to protect the American people. Our foreign policy changed on that day, Helen. You know, we used to think we were secure because of oceans and previous diplomacy. But we realized on September the 11th, 2001, that killers could destroy innocent life. And I'm never going to forget it. And I'm never going to forget the vow I made to the American people that we will do everything in our power to protect our people.

Part of that meant to make sure that we didn't allow people to provide safe haven to an enemy. And that's why I went into Iraq -- hold on for a second --

Q They didn't do anything to you, or to our country.

THE PRESIDENT: Look -- excuse me for a second, please. Excuse me for a second. They did. The Taliban provided safe haven for al Qaeda. That's where al Qaeda trained --

Q I'm talking about Iraq --

THE PRESIDENT: Helen, excuse me. That's where -- Afghanistan provided safe haven for al Qaeda. That's where they trained. That's where they plotted. That's where they planned the attacks that killed thousands of innocent Americans.

I also saw a threat in Iraq. I was hoping to solve this problem diplomatically. That's why I went to the Security Council; that's why it was important to pass 1441, which was unanimously passed. And the world said, disarm, disclose, or face serious consequences --

Q -- go to war --

THE PRESIDENT: -- and therefore, we worked with the world, we worked to make sure that Saddam Hussein heard the message of the world. And when he chose to deny inspectors, when he chose not to disclose, then I had the difficult decision to make to remove him. And we did, and the world is safer for it.

Q Thank you, sir. Secretary Rumsfeld -- (laughter.)

Q Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: You're welcome. (Laughter.) I didn't really regret it. I kind of semi-regretted it. (Laughter.)

Go Helen, go!

-- Wenatchee, Wash.

Keep it clean, people

Attention all commenters:
I deleted five comments today that were personal attacks on me or that used profanity. Any future postings like that will be deleted. Don't make me switch to moderated comments because I don't want that hassle. But I also don't want things on nmy blog that attack me or use profanity.

Follow the rules or click on.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.

Weird news

OK, two strange items in the news this week. And, despite knowing that I should be more respectful toward the recently deceased, the jokes I am thinking in my mind are hilarious.

Miss Deaf Texas killed by train
AUSTIN - The reigning Miss Deaf Texas died Monday afternoon after being struck by a train, officials said.

Tara Rose McAvoy, 18, was walking near railroad tracks when she was struck by a Union Pacific train, authorities said. A witness told Austin television station KTBC the train sounded its horn right up until the accident occurred.

Former game show host Peter Tomarken killed in plane crash
SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Peter Tomarken was known as host of the hit 1980s game show "Press Your Luck," in which contestants often shouted the slogan "big bucks, no whammies."

He left the world Monday as a humanitarian trying to provide a free flight for someone in need of medical help. Tomarken, 63, and wife Kathleen Abigail Tomarken, 41, were killed when their small plane crashed in Santa Monica Bay shortly after takeoff on a charity flight, authorities said.

Oh, the irony! The humor! The "Press Your Luck" guy had the worst luck -- the Whammies got him! A deaf girl, an ambassador for the hard of hearing, killed when a train careened toward her, its horn blaring.

Weird news, indeed.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.

Liberal hero of the day: Russ Feingold

Sen. Russ Feingold, A Wisconsin Democrat and one of the more outspoken foes of the president's policies, announced he would bring a bill in the Senate that would censure President Bush over the domestic spying.

Senator proposing censure of president

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Saying that President Bush misled Americans about the legality of his domestic-eavesdropping program, Sen. Russ Feingold said Sunday he would introduce a resolution to censure him.

"The president has broken the law and, in some way, he must be held accountable," said the Wisconsin Democrat, a potential White House contender in 2008.

A censure resolution, which simply would scold the president, has been used just once in U.S. history, against Andrew Jackson in 1834.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., called the proposal "a crazy political move" that would weaken the U.S. during wartime.

The five-page resolution, to be introduced today, contends that Bush violated the law when he set up the eavesdropping program within the National Security Agency after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Bush claims that his authority as commander in chief, as well as a September 2001 congressional authorization to use force in the fight against terrorism, gave him the power to authorize the warrantless surveillance.

The White House had no immediate response Sunday.

The resolution says the president "repeatedly misled the public" before the disclosure of the NSA program last December when he indicated that the administration was relying on court orders to wiretap terrorism suspects inside the U.S.

"Congress has to reassert our system of government, and the cleanest and the most efficient way to do that is to censure the president," Feingold said.

The president's actions were "in the strike zone" in terms of being an impeachable offense, Feingold said, but he questioned whether impeaching Bush and removing him from office would be good for the country.

In the House, Rep. John Conyers of Michigan is pushing legislation that would call on the Republican-controlled Congress to determine whether there are grounds for impeachment.

Frist, appearing on ABC's "This Week," said he hoped al-Qaida and other enemies of the U.S. were not listening to the infighting. "The signal that it sends, that there is in any way a lack of support for our commander in chief who is leading us with a bold vision in a way that is making our homeland safer, is wrong," Frist said.

Feingold may be using this as a way to fire up the base in advance of the Democratic fundraising season and primaries, just two years away. At least he stands where he believes.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.

WASL Update: March 13

Everything appeared to be screwed up as expected. The sophomores and freshmen generally knew where to be because they were in their regular culminating project groups, which met in the regular locations. Some seniors were ready to give presentations, but locations were confused if the regular room was being used for testing. Juniors, on a complicated rotation schedule, were most confused, but within 15 minutes after the start of testing, the halls were empty.

It's 11:05 a.m. As I type this, and testing began at 10:26. The building is silent.

The office had a scuffle at about 10:35, when I was down there. Apparently some confusion on location led some students to express their frustration in a way that was not acceptable. I don't know details. Three administrators, a campus supervisor and two police officers were speaking with a group of about eight to 10 students. I did not recognize any.

I look forward to debriefing students later.

EVENING UPDATE:
After spoeaking with some students this afternoon, it appeared the test itself was the least troublesome part of the day. Most had more complaints about the schedule, and the non-sophomores had nothing but contempt for how their time had been used -- as filler.

A colleague praised the sophomores in his testing group. He said they were "all business." However, with something that has been in the works for 13 years, he noted it seemed like members of the school board and district administration should have been visible on campus, even going so far as to encourage students and thank them for taking the test seriously. Yet none of these bigwigs was seen around Monday. That's a shame since only high schools are testing this week. Maybe we'll see more of the brass later in the week.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.

The 'Big Day' has arrived

After 13 years of education reform, the day has arrived. Starting tomorrow, March 13, sophomores around Washington will begin taking the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, our state's high-stakes test. All eyes have been on the Class of 2008 for more than a decade, and tomorrow they will begin to show whether all the reforms have worked as intended.

The conventional wisdom says that when we get the scores back in June we'll see marked improvements in the number of students who have met standard in all three required areas -- reading, writing and mathematics. Of last year's sophomores statewide, just under half met the standard in those areas. Science becomes a requirement in two years.

The good news for the 10th graders this year is that students get five chances to pass before they graduate. And, for some students, there is the additional opportunity to have an alternate assessment.

In speaking with colleagues I know all around the state, right now, it's all about the WASL. Yet at my school, it seems there is a less intense attitude toward the test. Maybe it's because we've got larger issues than just whether sophomores pass (thanks, "No Child Left Behind") or maybe our sophomores are just more confident. We'll find out this week and again in April as those kids put pencil to paper to show what they know.

I've said often to colleagues and friends that we're in a purgatory of sorts for at least two more years. By 2008, we'll have gone down one of two paths. Either nearly all students will be passing the WASL, and we'll know our efforts were successful, or we will be in the same spot we're in today, families will bring lawsuits challenging the graduation requirement and the Legislature will act swiftly to ensure we don't deny diplomas to thousands of kids.

It's been 13 years in the making, and tomorrow is the first day down one of those two paths.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.

A bright day at state conference

The results are in for the Washington state journalism conference and contest, and it was a banner day for my students -- the best ever. Both the newspaper and yearbook earned Best of Show honors, and one student was named state Journalist of the Year. Five other students earned individual honors in on-site contests.

In addition to the contest, it was also a successful day of learning. I poresented two sessions, which were well-attended by interested and enthusiastic student journalists from around the state. In my first class, I presented on a new topic for me -- creating charts -- and one that I ended up putting together at the last minute despite planning it for months. The second class was a topic I updated from past presentations.

Both used examples of my students' and professionals' work; in particular, I showed off election candidate coverage by my students. I was surprised by the lack of candidate coverage in any of the other schools' papers. None did candidate profiles. I climbed on my soapbox and made sure people knew how important it was that they do such things -- and how easy it was to create the coverage.

It was heartening to see the enthusiasm and also for kids to be scribbling down ideas they got based on my teaching. I told one staff that their paper was ripe for some charts, and they agreed.

One of the best parts of the conference is the chance to see my journalism buddies from around the state. It is nice to touch base with people who do the same job as me in their schools.

The weather for the day was grand, and despite worries of snow on mountain passes, everything was fine. On Friday night, on my way to the state board meeting in Tukwila, I had been making awesome time. Just at the intersection of I-90 and I-405, it started to hail. Then the hail changed from small ice pellets to blueberry-sized snowball-hail, which I had never seen before. Then the lighning started. And of course, it was 4:30 p.m. on Friday. I moved at less than five miles per hour on the on ramp, wishing people would let me and my studded tires through. It took me an hour to go 10 miles.

Next stop: National convention in San Francisco!

-- Issaquah, Wash.

Me, me, me so holy

Props to my sistah over at Vestal Vespa, who righteously showed this parody video. Now that's some funny stuff.

Just trying to spread the good laughs around.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.

Oscar Night roundup

The show was a bit too long this year, but it moved along well. Of course, I am always more engaged when I have seen many of the performances. I hope the conservatives don't claim that the loss fo "Brokeback Mountain" for Best Picture is somehow a vindication for the social conservatives. It's not. "Crash" was a fine film. It was also the safest choice for uncomfortable Academy voters, who faced choices of racism ("Crash"), homosexuality or homosexuals ("Brokeback Mountain" and "Capote"), terrorism and Middle East politics ("Munich") or the perceived media bias toward liberalism ("Good Night, and Good Luck.").

My scorecard (11 of 16 correct)
Best Motion Picture of the Year
Prediction: Brokeback Mountain
My Own Vote: Brokeback Mountain
Winner: Crash (which I pegged as a possible dark horse)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Prediction: Philip Seymour Hoffman
My Own Vote: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Winner: Philip Seymour Hoffman

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Prediction: Reese Witherspoon
My Own Vote: Felicity Huffman
Winner: Reese Witherspoon

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Prediction: George Clooney
My Own Vote: George Clooney
Winner: George Clooney

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Prediction: Rachel Weisz
My Own Vote: Amy Adams
Winner: Rachel Weisz

Best Achievement in Directing
Prediction: Ang Lee
My Own Vote: Ang Lee
Winner: Ang Lee

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Prediction: Good Night, and Good Luck.
My Own Vote: Good Night, and Good Luck.
Winner: Crash (as I pegged as a dark horse)

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Prediction: Brokeback Mountain
My Own Vote: Brokeback Mountain
Winner: Brokeback Mountain

Best Achievement in Cinematography
Prediction: Brokeback Mountain
My Own Vote: Brokeback Mountain
Winner: Memoirs of a Geisha

Best Achievement in Costume Design
Prediction: Memoirs of a Geisha
My Own Vote: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Winner: Memoirs of a Geisha (second for Quincy native Colleen Atwood)

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
Prediction: Brokeback Mountain
My Own Vote: Brokeback Mountain
Winner: Brokeback Mountain

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
Prediction: I have no idea
My Own Vote: Dolly Parton
Winner: Hustle & Flow (!)

Best Achievement in Makeup
Prediction: I have no idea.
My Own Vote: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Winner: Chronicles of Narnia

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing
Prediction: King Kong
My Own Vote:King Kong
Winner: King Kong

Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Prediction: I have no idea.
My Own Vote: King Kong, again.
Winner: King Kong

Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Prediction: King Kong
My Own Vote: King Kong
Winner: King Kong

Good stuff
Jon Stewart brought some of his trademark humor to the hosting responsibilities. His early jokes were a bit off, and it was clear the stars were not amused. They like having their egos stroked. They would love Oprah Winfrey or Larry King to host, I bet. Instead, Stewart found his groove when he rolled a tape of some faux commercials for Best Actress. The ads smearing the contenders were hilarious, especially the one attacking Dame Judy Dench by a group called "Dames for Truth." Also, his faux sketch with Tom Hanks mocking all the bad acceptance speech idiosyncrasies was hilarious. Now that's funny.

It was good to have the Best Picture nominees as exits before a commercial break instead of just plugged in at varied intervals.

Tribute to films that tackled tough issues: Nice.

Best Acceptance Speech: George Clooney for Best Supporting Actor. He reminded us why film is important as an American art form and that commercialism is not the measure of greatness. In what was the first acceptance speech of the evening, he said he was glad to be "out of touch" -- a reference to the criticism this year that Hollywood was out of touch with America's heartland. I bet that will be a clip that leads tomorrow's news coverage.

Bad stuff
Lauren Bacall looked like she was barely able to ambulate to the podium. She made her Frankenstein-like walk to the lectern, and then gripped it as if she were about to collapse. She then stumbled through her speech as if she had downed one too many pain killers. It evoked memories of the year Elizabeth Taylor gave an awards introduction for best picture at the Golden Globes and could hardly get through the script and then looked absolutely disoriented when she declared "Gladiator" as the winner. It's sad what happens to former leading ladies. Let them fade in peace.

Will Ferrell and Steve Carell introducing the award for Make-Up seemed a bit insulting. They appeared with atrocious make-up, in a way mocking the art of make-up. Ferrell and Carell should be lucky enough to have good make-up artists work on them -- they need it.

That's it for another year.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.

GOP freefall

Look at the last nine months or so with the national Republicans:

• The bungling of relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina
• The increasing insurgency and death toll in Iraq
• Tthe vice president accidentally shooting someone in the face
• The Defense Department maintaining a covert data-collection operation despite being told by Congress to stop
• The approval of a plan to allow an Arab country to operate six major American ports with little assurances of safety and security (let alone awareness of the public relations nightmare)
• The continuing scandals with Members of Congress such as Randy Cunningham and Tom DeLay
• The mishandling of a Supreme Court nomination resulting in a withdrawl
  
• The dwindling approval ratings of the president
• The backbiting and infighting in Congress and among prospective presidential candidates
  

I just have to ask: What the hell is wrong with the Republican Party?

The best things to happen to the Democrats for 2006 and 2008 have all happened in the last year. If the Dems can just use these issues to show how inept and foolish the Republican Party is at so many things -- running the country for one, remembering the people who voted for them for another.

Remember when Republican was a word that stood for something? It stood for smaller government, which is necessary for commerce and industry to prosper. It stood for restricted government, which meant the government should not meddle in the personal and private affairs of the people. It stood for fiscal responsibility, which meant that the government took what it needed and planned for the future.

Now, it seems, Republicans stand for everything they once opposed. This administration and its rubber-stamp Congress has approved a massive expansion of government and a reorganization of agencies that has not improved anything and made Franklin Roosevelt's alphabet soup look like broth. The Congressional leadership has worked to infiltrate government into nearly every facet of American life from birth to death, even calling members back for a late-night session to stop the humane end-of-life act of a shell of a woman in Florida. This administration and its short-sighted shills in Congress have approved huge deficit spending largely as a result of tax cuts for people and corporations most able to pay, tax cuts which will hurt the future of our nation and of our children.

Now, the Democrats must appeal to the people who, 25 years ago, were caught up in a wave spread by a handsome and charming former actor from California who made them feel good while he screwed them. If they can bring those people -- people now burned by a scorched-earth ideology -- back to the Democrat Party, all the while energizing younger voters and newer voters, a new day may dawn on the republic.

I don't know if it will happen in 2006 or even in 2008. But it will happen. The Republicans are in a freefall, and the only net is their reliance on fear, a net that has so many holes in it, I doubt it can withstand another fall.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.

Being social

It's good to be social. The sun has been shining the last few days, its rays barely able to warm the frosty air and nudge a dreary winter into spring. It's also a signal to get out of the routine and go out with some friends.

I took in a jazz concert Friday night -- it was a student concert, which was the culmination of several days of workshops taught by some big names in jazz music. And, while the student performances were nice, those pros really jammed! The pros included Jeff Hamilton, drums; Christoph Luty, bass; Tamir Hendelman, piano; Gilbert Castellanos, trumpet; Bruce Paulson, trombone; and Tom Peterson, saxophone. Wow!

After, my friends and I went to a great little dessert and wine place a few blocks away. I had a nice slab of carrot cake and a glass of wine, which was the perfect accompaniment to the conversation of my friends.

Spring is in the air, and the sun is starting to shine again. Yes, it was good to be social.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.

Oscar Picks

Longtime Loganite fans know I love my film. I go to a lot of movies -- usually in Seattle or when I travel to Phoenix. The best part about the films in 2005 was that it shaped up to be a great year on screen. It has been a few years since I have seen so many of the nominated films and performances (Thank you, Netflix, for the DVDs of films that came out in limited release early in the tear). So, here are my comments on this year's Oscars. I have listed my predicted winner and my own vote.

Best Motion Picture of the Year
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Munich
Prediction: Brokeback Mountain
My Own Vote: Brokeback Mountain
This is, hands down, the best film of the year. Its themes, its composition and its performances make it a standout among strong films. I sure liked Capote and Good Night, and Good Luck., and Crash could also be a dark horse, but I think Hollywood is ready to make Brokeback Mountain its film of the year.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote
Terrence Howard for Hustle & Flow
Heath Ledger for Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix for Walk the Line
David Strathairn for Good Night, and Good Luck.
Prediction: Philip Seymour Hoffman
My Own Vote: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Hoffman literally became Truman Capote for the role, and the film's success hinges on that performance. Joaquin Phoenix is a strong second place as Johnny Cash, but I think it is just a year of too many strong performances.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Judi Dench for Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman for Transamerica
Keira Knightley for Pride & Prejudice
Charlize Theron for North Country
Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line
Prediction: Reese Witherspoon
My Own Vote: Felicity Huffman
Oscar is all about whose turn it is. Witherspoon certainly gave a phenomenal performance, and Huffman has not paid her dues in feature films. Still, her performance as a transgender man is moving and amazing.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
George Clooney for Syriana
Matt Dillon for Crash
Paul Giamatti for Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhaal for Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt for A History of Violence
Prediction: George Clooney
My Own Vote: Matt Dillon deserves a nod, if only as recognition of the plethora of wonderful performances by the entire cast of Crash. Jake Gyllenhall's role was basically a secondary leading role, as was Clooney's, but the Academy will want to recognize Clooney's amazing year in film.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams for Junebug
Catherine Keener for Capote
Frances McDormand for North Country
Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams for Brokeback Mountain
Prediction: Rachel Weisz
My Own Vote: Amy Adams
I absolutely loved Amy Adams and Junebug! She made that movie so entertaining -- just the right touch. Michelle Williams earned a nomination in the Brokeback Mountain frenzy, but her performance was not that notable. Catherine Keener was fantastic in Capote, too.

Best Achievement in Directing
George Clooney for Good Night, and Good Luck.
Paul Haggis for Crash
Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain
Bennett Miller for Capote
Steven Spielberg for Munich
Prediction: Ang Lee
My Own Vote: Ang Lee
All the other films were well directed, but I can't see how a film can get Best Picture and not have its director also win. Lee's beautiful and spareshots build the tension in this story. Well done.

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Match Point
The Squid and the Whale
Syriana
Prediction: Good Night, and Good Luck.
My Own Vote: Good Night, and Good Luck.
The blend of real footage with acting is masterful. The script inspires. Dark horse: Crash, again.

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
The Constant Gardener
A History of Violence
Munich
Prediction: Brokeback Mountain
My Own Vote: Brokeback Mountain
Hands down. Duh.

Best Achievement in Cinematography
Batman Begins
Brokeback Mountain
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Memoirs of a Geisha
The New World
Prediction: Brokeback Mountain
My Own Vote: Brokeback Mountain
The shots are amazing. Still, wouldn't it be cool if Batman Begins won an Oscar?

Best Achievement in Costume Design
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Memoirs of a Geisha
Mrs. Henderson Presents
Pride & Prejudice
Walk the Line
Prediction: Memoirs of a Geisha
My Own Vote: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Colleen Atwood should win again. By the way, she grew up near Wenatchee, and her sister works for the school district. But, I loved Charlie's look, and it was fun.

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
Brokeback Mountain
The Constant Gardener
Memoirs of a Geisha
Munich
Pride & Prejudice
Prediction: Brokeback Mountain
My Own Vote: Brokeback Mountain
Honestly, I saw three of these five, and I only remember the score from Brokeback Mountain. Maybe The Constant Gardener will make a strong showing.

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
Hustle & Flow -- Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman, Paul Beauregard ("It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp")
Crash -- Michael Becker, Kathleen York ("In the Deep")
Transamerica -- Dolly Parton ("Travelin' Thru")
Prediction: I have no idea
My Own Vote: Dolly Parton
This song was only used during the end credits, but it was sweet. But, wouldn't it be cool to have a big ol' rap song win an Oscar?

Best Achievement in Makeup
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Cinderella Man
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Prediction: I have no idea.
My Own Vote: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Best Achievement in Sound
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
King Kong
Memoirs of a Geisha
Walk the Line
War of the Worlds
Prediction: King Kong
My Own Vote:King Kong
Dude, if that movie can't win a sound award, nothing can. Still, when Walk the Line is all about sound and music, it could be a favorite.

Best Achievement in Sound Editing
King Kong
Memoirs of a Geisha
War of the Worlds
Prediction: I have no idea.
My Own Vote: King Kong, again.

Best Achievement in Visual Effects
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
King Kong
War of the Worlds
Prediction: King Kong
My Own Vote: King Kong
That movie is entirely visual effects. However, what I saw of Narnia was also impressive.

It should be a fun evening of awards. And, with Jon Stewart as the host, things will at least be interesting when the awards part starts to drag.

I'll check back Sunday to update my ballot and show whether I was on the mark or way off.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.