NO SPEECH PREPARED… A Gambler’s Guide to the 81st Annual Academy Awards

It’s almost time again for the Oscars – that back-slapping, tear-fest that celebrates Hollywood’s finest. It still astounds me that the Academy Awards retain an audience each year – the ceremony is almost sickeningly self-congratulatory and overstays its welcome by a good three hours. Yet, save for last year, I still manage to watch this event each and every year due to a history that stretches back to adolescence…