I always look forward to the Academy Awards. Yes, some years the show itself is mostly a yawn fest, but usually there are enough good films, songs and performances nominated (and I always have an opinion about costumes, directing and cinematography, too) that I am very much interested in learning the outcome of the voting. During the years that Billy Crystal hosted, one could be assured that at least the first five minutes would be entertaining, and yes, I must ‘fess up to enjoying making catty comments about some of the “fashion” on display as well.

This year, as everyone who has even a passing interest in film knows, the Oscars offer some added interest. For the first time in decades, 10 films are vying for Best Picture, instead of the usual five. And not since the late ’80s has there been more than one host (although, don’t you find that after the opening monologue/production number, that job usually fades into the woodwork?), with Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin doing the honors this year. What’s really got me anticipating the show, however, is the array of really great films and roles nominated this year. Admit it, some years the pickin’s are pretty slim and it isn’t hard to figure who the winners will be. Happily for those who look forward to entertaining, enlightening, thought-provoking cinema, there’s been a lot of that to choose from this past season.

While between the two of us Harry and I have seen seven of the 10 Best Picture nominees (I haven’t seen Avatar yet, and he doubts he’ll see Precious), we are still frustrated that the movies and performances we most want to see haven’t appeared at our local multiplexes and aren’t likely to, either. We have to drive at least 30 miles to find the one small movie house that will regularly schedule smaller, independent films, and if we can’t get there within a week or two, those are often gone before we can take them in.

It is certainly one of the things one must accept in living in a smaller city, but it can be especially annoying when there are so many good films that just don’t get here. I’ve been eager to see The Hurt Locker, An Education, A Serious Man and A Single Man; and don’t even get me started on the documentaries and foreign films (those are nearly always a wait-’til-it’s-available-through-Netflix situation). I guess I just have to remember to budget some time when I’m in the Big City to zip in to a nearby theater and catch a movie I can be pretty sure won’t make it to my town (if it isn’t distributed by a big studio and it doesn’t have a doomsday scenario, lots of horny and/or murdered teenagers, supernatural creatures, fast cars or lots of explosions, it’s a candidate).

Anyway, here’s to an entertaining awards show tomorrow night; I hope your favorite wins!

– Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader

In 2009, GT readers voted the Amazon Kindle Reader the best travel gadget of the year. Coincidentally, I received my very own Kindle for Christmas. The device also happened to be one of the best sellers for the 2009 holiday season. I’d say Amazon is pretty happy with its product, which has spawned numerous other similar products. Barnes & Nobles’ Nook was released right before the holidays, and Sony has The Reader, the most expensive of the bunch.

I am completely happy with my decision to go electronic. I’m a huge reader, so I was a little skeptical at first, but I couldn’t be more pleased with the Kindle. My book habit was getting expensive; in an attempt to save money, I tried going to the local library, but then my late fees were costing me an arm and a leg. It’s hard to put a time restraint on a book. Plus, books were bulky on my travels, and it always seemed like I was just about to finish a book just as I was leaving for a trip, so I ended up lugging two books around. And I hated the lull in between books. I would finish reading one and not have another to start until I had the time to go buy one.

The Kindle was the solution to all my problems. All the books, magazines and newspapers are cheaper on Amazon then buying them in the store. So even though I’m still shelling out money, I’m saving too. I just bought a book that is a bestseller for $4.98. The device is super lightweight and can store up to 1,500 books. I can lug hundreds of books around at once without any back pain. My Kindle works wirelessly around the world, and books download in seconds. I can finish a book and be started on a new one in minutes. And the best part is, I can read a free sample of any book before I buy it. If you are a voracious reader, you should definitely consider purchasing a Kindle.

And I didn’t have to give up on printed books. My grad school professor made sure I had to purchase plenty of them!

Travel tip — Kindles are treated like laptops, so be sure you take them out and put them in a separate bin before going through security.

– Kim Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive

We are about to enter another wine survey season. GT is the only magazine that conducts a survey of business- and first-class wine in the United States. It is a major task, and I certainly understand why other financially strapped publications don’t take this on.

We are all looking forward to dealing with the airlines that never seem to be able to get the wines to us without our help. Some airlines finds a reason not to send their submissions because they are understaffed or just don’t care enough to follow through. It is really quite amazing how difficult some people can make this very simple task.

The survey itself is very interesting to watch. Not only is there a panel of about 25-30 professional judges, but every wine is poured in a back room and each glass is labeled at the bottom with an identifying number. It is truly a blind tasting. Read about last year’s survey here.

When we award the winners of the GT Tested awards (this past year we held the function at the Andaz Wall Street), we like to have the winners of the wine survey send samples to be served at the function. This year we had about 350 guests at the Andaz Wall Street. It is a big hit, but some airlines, much like the survey itself, try to have their wines at the event and fall short. This year, we had confirmation after confirmation from winners that the wines would be supplied. We listed them on the event program, never to have the wine show up. Of course, this causes problems.

All this so that you, the business luxury traveler, has the best possible wine while traveling at 35,000 feet!

– Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO

On April 25, 1976, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs in a game that was overshadowed by an act of patriotism by Cubs’ centerfielder Rick Monday. Monday saved the U.S. flag from being burned on the field by protesters. This heroic act catapulted Monday into the national spotlight.

On June 10, 2008, my friends and I were in Los Angeles for a game between the Cubs and Dodgers. I took the opportunity to interview Monday, who ironically became a broadcaster for the the Dodgers. I used that interview to produce a GT blog during the week of July 4th. Much to my surprise, the blog was read on the air by David Stein of Sporting News Radio.

Last Thursday, I was in New York for GT’s annual awards event. Midway through the night, my pants zipper broke. I returned to my room to try and fix the problem. After a few futile minutes, I gave up and put on jeans. I figured it was dark in the party room and I wasn’t the main focus anyway.

As I re-entered the party, I heard publisher Fran Gallagher make a comment about a blog, followed by a recording of Stein reading my blog on Rick Monday. I had no idea what was happening when Kim Krol (GT wunderkind) summoned me to the stage.

I arrived at the stage just as Fran announced me as the winner of the Globility award. Then I promptly tripped going up the stairs, only to have actor (and awards presenter) Terrence Howard save me from tumbling off the stage.

If you see any pictures of the moment and I look a bit stunned and disheveled, I was. Two weeks ago I wrote about meeting Terrence Howard. I had no idea it would be under these circumstances.

Fran Gallagher defines globility as: the quality of being open to world of cultures and experiences. I can honestly say, writing this blog has definitely given me plenty of wonderful experiences.

In a former professional life, Laurie encouraged me to take opportunities when presented with them. I took her advice in getting the interview with Monday. The experience turned out to be magical, ending with me accepting the Globility award.

I admit, Fran has been open to some of my offbeat blogs, although he ribs me incessantly about them. I hope I have rewarded his trust. I plan on continually seeking out interesting stuff. I am grateful for every reader and all comments.

– John Wroblewski, distribution specialist, blogger and Globility award winner

This past Thursday, while attending the GT Tested Awards event, I was lucky enough to meet Terrence Howard. Fran Gallagher had told me the day before the event that I would be handing Terrence the awards during the presentation, so it made sense for us to meet. And this is why, not even a half hour into the event, I found myself sitting in a private area, chatting with the chairperson of the Mentor Foundation and Terrence Howard. Had I not already had a few glasses of wine, I would have found the experience much more surreal than I did, but, in reality, talking to Terrence Howard was surprisingly easy.

I can’t recall how the subject came up, but we discussed music and the recording process for a long time. Before our conversation, I had only associated Terrence Howard with acting. While I enjoy movies, it is music that keeps my heart beating day in and day out. It’s amazing to me that as successful as he is as an actor, it seems his true passion is music.

Of course, I was not able to be smooth and play it cool the entire time I talked with Terrence Howard. At one point, when he was explaining how he took on the task of putting lyrics to music, I started babbling about the difference between homophones and homonyms. Oh well, once a grammar nerd, always a grammar nerd — even when chatting up celebrities.

– Kate Gallagher, advertising and editorial coordinator