Photograph of Kathy Bates and AMPAS President Sid Ganis announcing the nominations by Chris Pizzello/AP While the writers' strike continues and prospects of an awards ceremony are unclear, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences went ahead and announced the contenders for their 80th annual back-slapping ceremony. Oscar-winning friend of the academy Kathy Bates was on hand to announce this year's golden picks. From Bob Dylan to Michael Clayton, many of the nominations......

MUSIC: When we talked to Jonny Greenwood (pictured) back in October, Radiohead's In Rainbows wasn't the only focus. His composition titled Popcorn Superhet Receiver will be performed tonight by The Wordless Music Orchestra with Brad Lubman as conductor. When we asked Greenwood if he would be in attendance, he said "I’d love to but I can’t really justify the flight just to come to that. I’d feel a bit weird about it. If I was......

We interviewed hundreds of people this year, from long-time rockers to the designer of New York’s subway map. Here are a few conversations you may have missed:On the day Radiohead’s In Rainbows was released exclusively online, musician Jonny Greenwood talked about the “experiment.” Doctor for the uninsured Jay Parkinson told us how to save $1,250 on our next MRI. Beastie Boy Adam Horovitz wondered why they can't make a quiet truck. Actor/Director John Turturro......

Jonny Greenwood was named the BBC’s composer-in-residence in 2004; during this time he debuted "Popcorn Superhet Receiver", a twenty-minute work for string orchestra inspired, in part, by the phenomenon of white noise and Penderecki’s "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima". Tickets are on sale for a two-night performance of the composition at The Church of St. John the Apostle in January as part of The Wordless Music Series; works by John Adams and Gavin Bryars......

THEATER: Tonight is the first annual Downtown Clown Golden Nose Awards, where the highly coveted award for Clown of the Year will be announced, among other wacky honors. The semi-formal event – "noses optional" – will kick off with a glamorous red carpet entrance (expect tiny limos filled past capacity) and feature performances by nominees, spectacular dance numbers and fabulous door prizes. - John Del Signore 7:30pm Red Carpet, Show at 8:00pm // The Kraine......

Last night we were incredibely lucky to be at the Theater at Madison Square Garden for the first of two Radiohead shows at the venue this week. We were also lucky to get general admission tickets, which meant (after getting there just over three hours before the band went on) we were about 15 feet from the Jonny Greenwood. Our camera battery died two songs in, but here are the pictures we managed to......