***Official Al Gore/Oscars Thread*** Warning: Potential Spoilers

Ok, yes, I know it's still a bit early for this but I am on pins and needles.

No, it's not because I'm hoping Mr. Gore will announce his candidacy for President tonight. Enticing as that must be for Mr Gore if he is harboring a secret intention to jump in, I don't think he will. Actually, I'm anticipating that the Academy Award for best documentary will go to An Inconvenient Truth and the only thing I'm more passionate about than a President Albert Gore is the issue of climate change and global warming.

The exposure this will get tonight in terms of turning the mainstream to the topic of global warming is priceless. After tonight, hundreds of thousands more people will purchase this documentary and become enlightened and terrified.

I have to tell you folks. I have two young daughters as well as scores of other children in my life that are going to have to deal, along with their contemporaries, with the unknowns that global warming will introduce them (and us) to. I'm scared as hell for them.

I work in Ft Worth, Texas but I live in a town in the countryside south of FTW. I am also the webmaster of a top solar products website. In that capacity part of my job is to create topical content for the site. The Barnett Shale Natural Gas deposit was discovered here in 1981 but the technology to access it had to catch up and now there are drilling rigs all over N. Texas. Pipelines to transport the gas are also being constructed and on those pipelines are monitoring points that primarily use solar panels as their source for powering the sensors. I was out the other day taking pictures of these applications to use on the website. In doing so, I found myself on a road that rose fairly well around the surrounding landscape snapping a drilling rig. As I was getting into my truck I looked off into the distance to glimpse downtown FTW and was appalled at what I saw.

I've lived in this area since 1982 and I've been on that road before many times. Years ago, from that vantage point about 15 miles from downtown, you could actually make out the highrise buildings. Now, as I looked, there was about a 1000+ foot layer of sludge obscurring my view of downtown. That layer extended for as far as I could see to the west; my views in the other directions were partially obscured. I've already seen, but was not surprised, the same layer of smut over Dallas but it's the first time I really noticed it over FTW. I'm sure it's been there for some time but I don't usually work in FTW and now that I do I'm going there in the dark of the morning and leaving it behind me on the way home. So, I simply hadn't noticed before. I was shocked.

The Dallas/Ft Worth Metroplex covers 15,000 square miles and has about 7,000,000 residents, all of them contributing to this sludge and then breathing it in. In the summer, it'll be even worse. Can't even hope for a windy day to clear it out because it simply get's blown downwind to burns the eyes of folks in the countryside. This is occurring 24/7, though not as bad on the weekend. 365 days a year. In just one metropolitan area. The thought of multiplying this by thousands of other cities is terrifying. The cumulative effect infers profound damage being done to our atmosphere.

People have to think of this issue in terms of their children and grandchildren. Mr. Gore does very well to illustrate the trends so that people will associate the effects of global warming with the lifetimes of their children. When I saw him go up on that scissor lift to show where CO₂ concentrations would be in the year 2050, the FIRST thing I thought about was my daughters.

After tonight, there will be public validation on an epic scale that's worth more than all the climate scientists in the world could muster, deserve it as they might. Failing background, the general public shys from science. They do not shy from the Oscars. Tomorrow, Gore's name and global warming will be broadcasted on TV, radio and the internets and printed on the front pages of newspapers and in magazines the world over. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of a new way of thinking for the masses.

If not, watch the spoilers folks!

Yea, like that'll happen. :)

no spoilers in this instance.

as he is not a producer of the film.

He is a presenter tonight though.

but it's Al's baby.

who knows though, Al might go up on stage with him to accept the award.

So.. hopefully he'll have more than one stage appearance tonight!

and I'm sure very well received. :)

:)

A DU MOVIE THREAD....lol...:hi:

I have to warn you though... I've been taking a film studies class this term and I've been studing up!

You rock Catchawave! :hi:

Back atcha' :toast:

I saw all but one of the nominated feature length documentaries, and I have to say that Al Gore doesn't have a lock on this category.

"My Country, My Country," about an Iraqi doctor dealing with the aftermath of the U.S. invasion and the 2005 elections, and "Deliver Us from Evil," about a repeat sexual offending priest that was sheltered by the men in charge of the Catholic church, are both excellent movies that deserved definite consideration.

Also for the live action shorts root for "Binta's Great Idea"--a wonderful story about a Sengalese fisherman who's daughter comes up with the plan to adopt a Western born child so they can learn the value of happiness not just materials. Fantastic movie--made me so happy.

For animated short it's a toss up between "Maestro" and "The Danish Poet." Both were great in their own way.

I unfortunately didn't get to see "Jesus Camp" or any of the documentary shorts, but I have to say that living close to Washington, DC certainly has benefits during Oscar time.

Everybody really enjoy the ceremony tonight. I'll be rooting for Al, but I'll be happy if any of those three win.

Remember Grammy night--when the Dixie Chicks took home 5 awards, and my neighbors had to call to complain because of all my celebrating? Quadruple that if Al Gore gets the Oscar.

Peace People.

While I have not seen the others, I suspect the Iraq one will win. On the other hand - how many of the Oscar voters actually see ALL the films even though they get them free? That bodes better for AIT. We just may have to settle for the rousing cheers when the film is announced before the Oscar is presented. I really really hope AIT wins, but will not be surprised if it does not.

nominees.

He won the election but didn't get to take the position and instead is doing great things for the whole world.
Yes the world won and the usa lost. Irony.

If the academy tosses out a surprise (and I expect that they just might).

That old saying about counting chickens often seems to have been forgotten around there parts....

If it is Diebold, we are so screwn 111!!1111 I'm series.

that was perfect. Funniest part of the evening so far for me!

they looked fabulous, Tipper's wearing Bill Blass, Al in Ralph Lauren :toast:

Good luck Davis Guggenheim (the nominee) and Al Gore

Just bought em myself and looking forward to watching them. It's for things like this that I really love the Internet. An opportunity to see/hear/learn things that were almost entirely closed to me beforehand.

:rofl:

man, I wish he would run.