My Day / My Predictions

I just returned from a 60th birthday celebration for my cousin Lewis. Lewis told me a nice D.T. from his Rabbi - Rabbi Lehrfeld of Staten Island. He said that the Jews had to see as well as hear the decalogue so that there wouldn't be any misunderstanding. Foe example; Lo Tirtzach could have been misunderstood, as it's a homonym. So it had to be seen so that it was clear that it's with an alef, meaning don't and not with a vav, meaning for Him. This is important to get right, to not mistakenly think that murder in the name of G-d is a commandment.

I just looked at my hits for the day and see that I'm the number one result if you google "Is Harry Morgan still alive?" (The answer is yes, according to alive or dead.com.) It's a bit weird for that to be among today's key words because at the party "alive or dead" came up. It all started when one of my cousins pointed out that Ernest Borgnine is the oldest living best actor winner.

I recommended that my parents give Slifkin's Perek Shira book as a gift. Another cousin was very excited by the book. When he travels with his wife he always marvels at nature. And even in his own (literal) backyard he notices things. For example he picked up on the fact that birds drop there food often but this seems to be part of the plan as it spreads food that is gathered by other creatures. It was nice to see someone for whom Slifkin's work seems a perfect fit.

It was nice to make some relatives laugh when I wondered if General Chow had been good for the Jews and then noted that the Jews have been good to him. Dinner was Chinese. My cousins kids don't like Chinese food, I hope this doesn't cause anyone to question their yichus.

My cousin started wondering about old family books. The oldest one I have (I just checked) is a set of Chumashim from 1927. He remembers family books that date back further than that.

Soon the Oscars will start. Here are my predictions:

I'm betting on the favorites. It's impossible to know for sure that Crash won't stage an upset. Maybe a split, best director for Brokeback and best film for Crash.

If I were to bet though, I'd go with Brokeback for both of those biggies, as well as adapted screenplay.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman will get best actor (though David Strathairn deserves it.)

Reese Witherspoon is a shoe in too. (The one with a chance for an upset is Felicity Hufman)

Rachel Weisz is going to get supporting actress, though they say that's generally (and paticularly this year) hard to call. (Amy Adams has a good shot and really deserves it.)

George Clooney's going to get supporting actor, though Matt Dillon has a strong chance (and Paul Giamatti is my third bet, if they decide to give him what he didn't get last year).

Original Screenplay: Crash
Foreign Film: Tsotsi (the close competition is Paradise Now)
Animated Feature: Wallace and Gromit
Score: Brokeback
Song: Crash
Art: Geisha
Cinematography: Brokeback
Costume: Geisha
Make Up: Narnia
Documentary Feature: Penguins
Sound: Kong
Visual Effects: Kong
Editing: Crash
Short Animated: Moon and Son
Short Live Action: Six Shooter
Doc Short: Rwanda