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2009 Oscar Predictions: Best Picture

By Orlando on Sun, 02/08/2009 - 10:55am | Arts & Entertainment

The big night is almost here and everyone is wondering: Will they go ridiculously overboard in stimulating the economy or will the show be more circumspect in an acknowledgement that average America isn't buying up Harry Winston diamonds like we used to?

I'll leave these important questions to others while I go out on a (short) limb and make some predictions, starting with Best Picture. I'll do my best to get to the other categories as well, but that leaves me with 8 movies to see in two weeks, so no promises.

Topics: 
Arts & Entertainment
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Four daughters, Two Very Different Examples: George W. Bush vs. Barack Obama

By Orlando on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 10:03am | Politics

To say that George Bush and Barack Obama don’t have much in common is an almost laughable understatement. About the only thing they share is the fact that each has two daughters. After Obama’s mea culpa yesterday, I was thinking about what different examples the fathers have set.

From watching their father in action, Barbara and Jenna Bush learned some interesting lessons:

Topics: 
Politics
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Around the World in 80 Songs: Turkey

By Orlando on Mon, 02/02/2009 - 9:25pm | Arts & Entertainment

Currently, sitting atop the Turkish Pop Chart is a singer called Murat Dalkilic, singing Kasaba.

Topics: 
Arts & Entertainment
Series: 
Around the World in 80 Songs
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Review: Rachel Getting Married

By Orlando on Thu, 01/29/2009 - 10:36am | Arts & Entertainment

In the film Rachel Getting Married, Anne Hathaway plays Kym, a young woman fresh from another stint in rehab who returns home just in time for her sister Rachel's wedding. Kym, accustomed to being the center of attention, struggles to integrate into her suddenly extended family of in-laws, bridal party, and old family friends.

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Arts & Entertainment
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Around the World in 80 Songs: Kenya

By Orlando on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 8:20pm | Arts & Entertainment

 

I’m not quite ready to let the inauguration of President Barack Obama be in the past, so this week, I’ve been looking into the music of Kenya, home of Obama’s father.

First up: Ken wa Maria, headliner of the Yatta Orchestra International Band, a popular Kamba act. wa Maria seems to be a bit larger than life, attracting as much attention for his controversial lyrics and his will-he-or-won’t-he-run political ambitions as for his music.

Topics: 
Arts & Entertainment
Series: 
Around the World in 80 Songs
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Did the Power of Positive Thinking Get President Obama Elected?

By Orlando on Sun, 01/25/2009 - 2:54pm | Politics

What a week. I've been home for four days and it still doesn't seem real. I've talked and written about the things we did while in DC, but I've been slower in finding the right words to express how I felt about the experience. 

Topics: 
Politics
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The View From the Mall, Rick Warren, and Transportation Issues

By Orlando on Wed, 01/21/2009 - 9:48am | Politics

Usually, on leaving day I get a wistful feeling, reflecting on the good times that I've had, happy to be getting home but sad that my vacation is over.

I don't feel like that today. Yesterday was a day that I will never forget, but today I'm even happier. My head is filled with hope and possibilities for the future.

Topics: 
Politics
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Orlando Makes New Friends

By Orlando on Tue, 01/20/2009 - 1:07am | Politics

Today was long. We (my cousin and I) started our day outside of Allentown, PA, and drove south, stopping briefly to pick up Genghis near Philadelphia. Having never driven in DC before, I was glad to have someone in the car who knew where he was going. So, thanks G.

Topics: 
Politics
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Around the World in 80 Songs: American Patriots Love Music Too

By Orlando on Sun, 01/18/2009 - 11:33pm | Arts & Entertainment

 

In honor of the 44th President, this week I went looking for some songs about the good ole US of A. There’s actually a current ranking of patriotic songs, which I must admit seems a little bizarre. But people listen to the nose flute, so who am I to judge?

Topics: 
Arts & Entertainment
Series: 
Around the World in 80 Songs

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Orlando is a teacher and aspiring novelist, living a mysterious and reclusive life somewhere in Asia. She used to live a reclusive and mysterious life somewhere in Indiana until Mitch Daniels and Mike Pence became national figures, making it far too humiliating to continue residing there. In her spare time, she travels the world--or her small part of it--snapping pictures and writing down random thoughts to share with the dagblog crowd.

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