======= Date Modified 11 37 2010 23:37:55 =======
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's that time of year already.... and we have Ricky Gervais here to present, and Winnona Ryder, to open, but not walk off with, the gold envelopes. Please keep your acceptance speeches to a minute each, we are on aschedule here.

First up, Wally gets an Oscar for funniest poster, any more ladies and gents? So here Wal, Winnona has handed you the PGF Oscar, with its snowman like silhouette: (snowman)


Please offer up your own awards.

Well knock me down with a feather...I really don't know what to say? Let me make myself cry [mental note: I lost a lot of data this week and it's likely put me back a month] while I give you my acceptance speech - sniffle, sob, wail.

Theme tune as I walk on stage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJmr5CKY73M

A wise person (my co-supervisor) once said to me: you're a bit maniacal when you explain things to me and I think you need to pick up your pace with your work because you only have 9 months left. That was about a week ago. Well, look at me me now one week later...I'm one month further back [activate canned laughter machine]. [Mental note: Let's see if I can make this pretentious like a real Oscar speech] We live in radically changing times, have just faced very near world economic collapse, we almost all died of swine flu and our very existence as future academics and research lies in question because of the immense changes that are currently taking place in UK academia. But one man, one man refused to be shaken, refused to just lay down and accept fate. This man offered to help the Prime Minister, swims 3 times a week and resubmitted a rejected paper to another journal - pending Editor approval for review[Mental note: Start crying heavily now]...sob...that man was ME.

So who do I think deserves an Oscar?

Bilbobaggins for most informative, sage-like posts.
Sneaks for best accountability thread in the UK.
Chrisrolinski for best thread portrayal of fighting your PhD to the bitter end.
Slizor for best posts for inflicting self-injury through exercise.
PhDBug for best thread for female health awareness.
Satchi for best fashion tips for females thread.
Eska for most interactive, original threads - but a Razzie for worst dressed Avatar.
Keenbean for best dressed avatar.
Keepcalm for best thread for making me feel inadequate in terms of my work output.
Teek for writing what I consider to be trendy and cool posts - I'm obviously not saying you're from the 70s, but I just get the urge to listen to The Who or Jimmi Hendrix whenever I'm reading them.
Algaequeen for most stylish threads. It's the way you use your 'its', 'ands' and 'buts' - damn well inimitable.

There are obviously many others deserving of Oscars, and I shall be back over the coming days with my suggestions.

I guess that means I'm the Bjork of the PGF oscars...

======= Date Modified 12 Mar 2010 10:36:12 =======
Well I'm wearing george **sneaks hides in shame**

I think i deserve an oscar for the most useless accountability thread - i.e. it doesn't actually hold me or anyone else accountable for anything!

I think bilbobaggins deserves one for being the most inspirational poster - who makes me feel like a complete nob for moaning about trivial matters such as loopy supervisors!

Wal - oscar for most useful pirate software distributor
Eska - for most inappapropriate crushes i.e. wierd hippy men in 2nd hand shops

I nominate Sue for best foreign poster and highest tomato achiever (+ and for not giving up posting with the day/night timelag from Europe/Australia)

======= Date Modified 12 Mar 2010 12:18:36 =======
I nominate Cleverclogs (if he's still about) for best "baddie" award. How I miss the strongly-worded "discussions". *sigh*

Don't know if she's still about at all (PM might get her though), but I'd like to nominate Lara for the you-can-get-a-PhD-if-you-hang-on-in-there award.

I'd like to nominate Sneaks for "most creative sleeping arrangements" (she assures me no animals were harmed in the stealing of that dog basket) and also for "best marriage management techniques" (ie - distracting her hubby with the lure of video games so she can actually work).

Sue gets one for "crisis-line support", on account of always being up when one of us is having a 3am meltdown, and giving utterly wise advice to boot.

Wally's posts have been acknowledged but I think he also deserves an award for "new man of academia" as he's always bashing his own gender and being nice to the girls.

Natassia for "most glamorous academic" as her recent posts have had me looking at my dishevelled countenance in shame!

Mathkitty for "most delightful number-cruncher", she really must be the loveliest mathematician I've almost met.

Ev for "just when you needed her” as she often pops up to support people on quieter threads.

R_U_4_REAL_NICK for “most time-consuming name to type”, and perhaps a sideline in being utterly blunt in an amusing way.

Maria1 for “making everyone think about babies” – congrats on the triplets again!

Ah so many, but I think I should stop lest I get the coveted “ultimate procrastinator”.

Thanks for the Oscar Sneaks, although I am convinced I have the same number of inappropriate crushes as other people, only I talk about it when others don't... (I have a secret thing about Nicky Clarke, the hairdresser to, and this is possibly my most embarrassing one of all - but there, you all know about it now - I secretly like camp straight blokes with good wafty hair). The charity shop man is not a hippy, he is, in fact, very dapper with short grey hair, and, yes, I do feel quite embarrassed about that - my old mate reckons he could be a best selling novelist who works in there to get a bit of company during the day - she is obviously a very good friend.

I'd like to give Badhaircut an Oscar for best ghost of academic futures.

Billbobaggins deserves an Oscar for outstanding contributions to the forum. Tirelessly helpful and supportive, I'm so glad she's around to help the newbies because I've become a bit jaded on that score. 

Sue for best feminist, and well adjusted role model.

Thanks Wal, Sneaks and Eska. I gratefully accept for the multiple reasons mentioned! I've found this forum to be a true life-saver throughout my second go at a PhD, and I'm glad if I can give something back in return. Can I please dedicate this award to everyone else who has supported me in many ways. Much appreciated.

And very welcome cos I've just come down with shingles, so need a pick-me-up! :p

Oh heck, Bilbo. Sorry to hear you've got shingles - it can be horrible. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Yes, sorry to hear you've got shingles Bilbo - hope they don't drive you crazy, and go soon.

Doesn't feel like I'm well-adjusted a lot of the time Eska, but if I occasionally give that impression, then my faking this must be working!;-)

And an award to Wj_Gibson too, for giving us the grim facts on the job market, but persevering anyway.

lol hi everyone, wally thanks very much for the award, I have been informed I have a certain style of writing but I'm not sure how it's that different from anyone elses but I will gladly accept any award you give me! hopefully it helps in a good way! :-) ....although I'm not sure how something can help in a bad way, except tough love I suppose, but I digress!

I agree wholeheartedly with all the awards mentioned below, and I would like to include chrisrolinksi in the 'it sucks but I'm doing it anyway' award, for combining the phd with living abroad for the final year, long distance relationships, job hunting, article writing and what is apparently now a tooth ache, and for keeping positive the whole way through, dispensing lovely words and advice! :-)