I just put tomorrow's story to bed and didn't get to put in the observation that in spite of the evening's efficient dullness -- god, I miss Sacheen Littlefeather -- there was a definite sense of a generational changing of the guard. I mean, the Coens just won best director(s) and picture. Paul Thomas Anderson tied with them for most nominations. And there's Ellen Page and Diablo Cody (real name Brooke Busey -- I'm contractually and morally obligated to mention that every time I type the words "Diablo Cody"). Add to that the fact that Jack Nicholson actually seemed older than the 98-year-old Robert Boyle and the times they may indeed be a-changing.

On the predictions front, I did pretty poorly this year -- 12 right guesses out of 24. Wesley skunked me by one: 13 out of 24. As usual, I got hosed on the short subjects and the sound categories. As usual, some of the folks I thought should win went ahead and did win, so I guess I should trust my instincts. There's always next year. Besides, not even Tilda Swinton thought she'd actually get an Oscar for best supporting actress.

I hate not to be paying attention to the fact, however inevitable, that "No Country for Old Men" won best picture. But are Sissy Spacek and Quincy Jones at the Oscars together? I'm starting rumors! Did the producer Scott Rudin just thank his partner? Way to not thank a beard, Scott Rudin.

Wait, the band is playing the "Mission: Impossible" theme music over the closing credits. Is that a joke? If Bill Conti really wanted to show off his cojones wouldn't he have had made his strike commentary at the start of the show? Oh well. Thanks for letting me type all over you. 'Night.

Diablo Cody will presumably get to keep her EW column. Her 16th minute might have just turned into a career.

"Ambition." "Amorality." "Deviousness." "Venality." "Remorse." "Decency." "And good old-fashioned Cojones." Helen Mirren is totally playing "Password"!

Daniel Day-Lewis wins best actor and thanks the "golden sapling" that grew out of the mad head of Paul Thomas Anderson. Every winner should be obligated to mention golden saplings from here on out.

This just in from my pal Armida, who's kindly translated Javier Bardem's acceptance speech.

"Mamá, esto va por ti, por los abuelos Rafael y Matilde. Va por los cómicos de España que llevaron la dignidad y el orgullo a nuestro oficio. Esto es para España".

"Mom, this is for you and for grandpa Rafael and grandma Matilde. This is for the Spanish comedians that carried, with dignity and pride, our trade. This is for Spain."

Armida explains: This is specially significant, because the Bardems are a clan of artists, since the Spanish civil war or even before. They were traveling artists that would go from town to town in Franco's Spain and performed at the plazas. These are Javier's grandparents and uncles. The mother, Pilar is a grand dame, a very important actress in Spain. She was politically active against Franco and an active Spainish leftist.

Wesley explains: I'll be able to do this for myself in a few months.

Hey, having soldiers in Baghdad present the documentary-short Oscar was pretty inspired. They should have done the same for the feature category, which Alex Gibney won for "Taxi to the Dark Side." That was the strongest category after supporting actor and cinematography.

The necrology reel is always weird. The selective applause feels tacky. It's like a popularity meter that just makes the whole tribute feel so, so -- Ooo, audible applause for "Sembène Ousmane." Wait, who the bleep is "Sembène Ousmane?" Oh, for crying out loud, Ousmane Sembène. Hey Academy producers, you forgot "Keith Ledger," too.

(I've since done a little research and found out that the name reversal is the French style. So take that, me.)

Isn't Penelope tired of presenting the "foreign-language" film Oscar? Even if she's never done it before, doesn't it seem as if she has?

Patrick Dempsey is "versatile" how exactly?

Oh my God, this "Enchanted" number is like being at somebody-I-can't-stand's wedding reception. I don't want to sleep with anyone in the bridal party, and the bar just closed. I want to go home, but my ride is getting some bridesmaid's phone number. Arrgh.

Somebody please fix John Travolta's tie.

Hey, the audience loves that the "Once" just won. Hollywood likes Frappuccino music, too. Jon Stewart's one-liners are good. He just called super-earnest Glen Hansard "arrogant." Sometimes his rudeness is classy. Ha ha, and he just made Travolta, who's a really good sport, run across the stage for the annual "parked car" gag (this time it was Travolta's jet).

Here are some Academy-approved facts about honorary Oscar-winner Robert Boyle.

Hey hey, it's the "Once" song. I like the guitar shop the producers built behind these two. It's very Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. Speaking of "hall of fame" or "rock 'n' roll" (you decide), heeeeere's Jack, who's been given his most thankless Oscar task in years. He's introducing the semi-obligatory best-picture reel, a lot of which is nothing to brag about. Has anybody seen "Gandhi" lately? What about "Dances With Wolves?" How refreshing would it be if they presented the reel of movies that lost the Oscar?

What was that picture they showed for "Roderick Jaynes," the Coens' editing alias? Incidentally, "The Bourne Ultimatum" has three craft Oscars. If the Academy loved it so much, why didn't they nominate it for anything else?

It's Nicole Kidman. Let the universal bump inspections begin.