Yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll have six more weeks of winter. Whatever. The really important news flash Tuesday morning has nothing to do with groundhogs and everything to do with stars.

    The Oscar nominations are being announced, and they are ...

    Of greatest import for southeastern Connecticut folks is the fact that Waterford native Geoffrey Fletcher was nominated for best adapted screenplay for "Precious." And what a well-earned nomination it is.

    Best Picture
    Nominees: Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air

    Good news: The underappreciated "A Serious Man" was nominated.

    Bad news: That and "Up" were the only comedic films (and "Serious Man" is a dark comedy at best) to be nominated. No "Julie & Julia," no "(500) Days of Summer," no "The Hangover."

    Leading Actress
    Nominees: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side; Helen Mirren, The Last Station; Carey Mulligan, An Education; Gabourey Sidibe, Precious; Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

     Surprises: None -- absolutely none!

     Leading Actor
     Nominees: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart; George Clooney, Up in the Air; Colin Firth, A Single Man; Morgan Freeman, Invictus; Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

     Good news: Jeremy Renner gets a nomination -- a well-earned nod for a non-star.

     Supporting Actress
     Nominees: Penelope Cruz, Nine; Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air; Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart; Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air; Mo'nique, Precious

      Surprise: Really? Maggie Gyllenhaal in "Crazy Heart"? She was fine, but Oscar-worthy?

     Supporting Actor
     Nominees: Matt Damon, Invictus; Woody Harrelson, The Messenger; Christopher Plummer, The Last Station; Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones; Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

     Like the lead actress category, this was a totally surprise-free list of nominees.

     Director
     Nominees: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker; James Cameron, Avatar; Lee Daniels, Precious; Jason Reitman, Up in the Air; Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

     Good news: Lee Daniels' "Precious" was the best movie of the year, and the fact that there was some question he might get nominated was absurd. Thank god he did get a nod.