Raf

That's very nice, Eagle. But please let me be clear: they MUST choose three finalists, but there's no way on earth we'll win the breaking news category. This is New Orleans' year, and I surrender. Making the finalist list two years in a row is reward in itself. The other two categories are different, and I truly hope the investigative team wins it.

This year's finalists for that annual newspaper prize thingy. Please note the investigative reporting (I had nothing to do with that), breaking news (I was an editor, one of many, on that) and the Feature Photography categories (naturally, I had nothing to do with that). I'm a realist, so I'm not expecting to be celebrating come April. Let's see: Fort Lauderdale's paper and Hurricane Wilma is up against New Orleans' paper and Hurricane Katrina. Oh yeah, it's gonna be a close one. Yeh right. But to be nominated again. :)

I don't have a problem with apocryphal stories being told to make a point, and I don't always think you need a "this didn't REALLY happen, but I'm just using this illustration" to do it. Were Jesus' parables understood to be strictly illustrative? I don't see any disclaimers on his stories, but I never figured on these things actually having taken place. A little discernment on the part of the reader/listener is called for.

Tom is right; it's not evidence at all. A picture and a person would qualify as proof, but we have neither the picture nor the person. And the person, being dead, can't answer basic questions about what she said, what she meant when she said it, and whether her words were correctly interpreted by the hearer. Further, you can't ask the person whether she's telling what she personally witnessed or what her proven liar husband told her. I'm not saying it shouldn't be believed. I am saying that no judge in his right mind would allow this evidence in a courtroom.

Welcome, Clifhanger. Umm... interesting first post. I wonder what you'll think after you've been around a while. :)

Mrs. Wierwille is not available for cross-examination. I would not consider her a credible witness, for various reasons. Did she actually witness it, or did VPW tell her, "that's the man I healed"? And if she is claiming to have witnessed it, is that claim credible? I don't know if this event happened or not. If it happened, to God be the glory. If it didn't... I don't give a rat's mass. It would just be another in a long line of self-promoting Wierwillian inventions.

I doubt Wierwille made it up. Original thoughts weren't exactly his forte. It's a gag he heard or read somewhere, and whether he read it in an actual newspaper clipping, a homiletic joke book, or an old piece of literature, it falls square into the category of teaching devices. It doesn't need to be true: it only needs to illustrate a point. The snowstorm LIE, though, was something else entirely. That was a LIE. See, there, he LIED about something. It was an UNTRUTH, see, and that's what makes it different. See, he tried to pass it off as not only true, but as evidence of his extraordinary calling, even though it was a LIE, just like the other snowstorm he LIED about.

Is that dialogue from Sybil?

Las Vegas IS Sin City! Rhino's up!

Las Vegas, The Movie.

My feeling is that it was not a matter of whether you could accept the subject matter or not. I think it's a matter of, whether or not you accept the social message behind Brokeback Mountain, it was a boring movie.

I know, I know... That's why no one wanted to answer. No one wants to be next. :)

Good point. Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead.

Line of the night: Martin Scorcese: zero Oscars. Three-6 Mafia: one.

Catch him in Red Dragon as Freddy Lounds. One of the best things about that movie. Also was in Boogie Nights, Happiness, Almost Famous, The Talented Mr. Ripley and Patch Adams. Excellent actor.

The Oscar was just announced a few mintues ago. I am SO FRIGGIN HAPPY right now. Earlier on this thread, I said it probably wouldn't win, but it deserved a nomination. At the time I did not know what the competition would be. Once I knew the competition, I was with Crash all the way. This was such an upset, I actually feel as if I won the award.

It's down to director and picture, I think. I see Brokeback won best original score a little while ago. Okay, best director time. Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain. Dang. He's thanking the fictional characters of the movie. Ugh. Best pic: here we go... Jack Nicholson presenting? What a riot. And the winner is... Crash!!!!!!!! YES!!!

Hey, I didn't come in until a few minutes ago, but since I'm here and it's on... Adapted Screenplay: Brokeback Mountain wins it. Larry McMurtry is wearing jeans. Cool. Original Screenplay: Crash. It's war.

Philip Seymour Hoffman just won best actor. Expected, and well-deserved. Is it my imagination, or is Brokeback Mountain getting shut out thus far? Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon! A surprise winner! Didn't see any of the movies.

Ditto.

Now THAT's an ebay item. Bravo. I hope it sells.

Uh, yeah, Rent was the answer.

Silence of the Lambs and Forrest Gump bucked that trend. But yes, early releases usually don't get Best Pitcure Oscars.

:)

"No, I'm through with everything here. I want peace. I want to see if somewhere there isn't something left in life of charm and grace. Do you know what I'm talking about?" "No! I only know that I love you." "That's your misfortune." === "I've always thought a good lashing with a buggy whip would benefit you immensely." This should be ridiculously easy, but if there's any trouble with it (I'll die of shock) and then post the easiest clue of all.