The nominations came out today, and so did a barrage of verbiage.

Let’s put this in perspective, in light of recent events perhaps shocking would be a word best used to describe the mindset that equates a difference of faith/expression/opinion with the right to murder.

A snub is a marked lack of cordiality, it is related to shunning behavior; the avoidance or ignoring of something or somebody due to excessive caution, or distaste.

A newsworthy snub/shunning was the United State’s lack of representation at the Paris Unity March — from all accounts due to excessive caution, and not an aversion to France.

I know, I know, I’m being a harpy again but come on. The Academy Awards are about excellence in movie entertainment, determined by the opinions of the Academy members. The Academy is made up of film professionals, and they skew, generally, to the tastes of older actors. Tastes, opinions — get my drift? It is worth mentioning again, that this fun, glamorous, and very often frivolous evening at the Oscars is one of the major sources of revenue for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; which supports education in films arts, a library, and now a museum to be constructed next to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Okay, I’m climbing off my high horse now and getting back to work on my second novel. I’ll leave the comments open, but I’m going to be scarce around here until I’m finished with this draft.

A full list of the nominees can be found here, at Variety.

And a hat tip to Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times for his insight, and shunning of hyperbole.