The Oscar nominations were announced this morning. It's too early to pick any of the winners with absolute certainty, but there is a quick and easy way to handicap a couple of the awards. For best supporting actress, pick the nominee who is most likely to fade into mediocrity within one week of the pageant. For best actress, go with the person most likely to embarass herself with a narcissistic, maudlin speach that goes on forever, and is interrupted several times by uncontrolled sobbing. I see Queen Latifah as the one who can best follow in the tradition of Marcia Gay-Harden, Mira Sorvino, Whoopi Goldberg, and Mercedes Ruehl. And I'm sure Renee Zellweger's acceptance speach will be one for the ages.