This Sunday, the biggest and greatest Hollywood stars will gather at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the 85th Academy Awards. Over the last 85 years, the film industry’s biggest event has experienced its fair share of ups and downs despite meticulous minute-by-minute planning.

Sometimes putting together a room full of Hollywood stars is a recipe for drama — and not the entertaining kind. It could mean dealing with inflated celebrity egos, like when James Cameron accepted his second Oscar for Titanic at the Academy Awards in 1998 and declared himself “king of the world,” quoting his film’s own protagonist. It could mean gritting through four hours of lackluster hosts who miss the mark completely like 2011′s hosting duo, James Franco and Anne Hathaway, who were called “spectacularly bad” despite being generally well-liked actors.

Other times, however, the planning is worth every sleepless hour and things come together in a way to make the event a shining success that is praised for years to come. Take for instance Billy Crystal’s first-time hosting success that led to another eight appearances as Academy Awards host. Bob Hope also successfully hosted or co-hosted the Academy Awards for fourteen years, and “the king of late night” Johnny Carson was given the reins as host multiple times.

Clearly what the success of the Oscars comes down to, in large part, is having an entertaining host who can roll with the punches and keep time without the help of a strict script.

That brings us to this year’s host, Seth MacFarlane, who is best known for the creation of Family Guy, a satirical and oftentimes crude cartoon, and its spin-offs. This may be the reason that many people would underestimate or entirely overlook Seth MacFarlane when it comes to Hollywood appearances that demand elegance.

Despite the baser humor we’re exposed to on Family Guy and his knack for wildly inappropriate puns, in the past few years Seth MacFarlane has become more respected in the industry for his comedic style and keen eye for a worthwhile production. In other words: the man knows humor and how to deliver. When it comes to celebrities who can stay afloat off-script, MacFarlane could potentially be perfect for the job. Unfortunately it’ll be impossible to know how his stage presence holds up until the big show Sunday evening.

If you’re looking for information about the 85th (or previous) Academy Awards, be sure to consult the BOTW Directory — your ultimate resource for meaningful guidance on the web. Whether you’re interested in the red carpet fashion, nominees and winner predictions, or just want to find more opinions about whether or not MacFarlane has what it takes to host, Best of the Web can direct you to blogs, online magazines, and other websites completely dedicated to this Sunday night & Hollywood’s biggest annual event.

This weekend, the northeast coast of the U.S. is preparing for the season’s first blizzard. While on Long Island, where BOTW headquarters is located, we’re anticipating 12-18 inches of snowfall between now and Saturday afternoon, residents in upstate New York and further north into New England are expecting as much as four feet before the precipitation ends.

Since the blizzard was first forecast earlier this week, residents along the northeast coast have been scrambling for emergency supplies. Those from Long Island and New Jersey are especially eager to stock up in case  there is further destruction where they’ve only just recovered from Hurricane Sandy. With a forecast that includes up to 60 miles-per-hour winds, many people are particularly concerned with potential power outages since the Long Island Power Authority handled the hurricane recovery efforts so poorly just a few months ago.

It seems as though LIPA is all too aware of having left a bitter taste in the mouth of many of its customers: they have already sent out blizzard warnings that include details about their preparation efforts such as having extra crew teams dedicated to the power lines as well as tree trimmers to quickly remove obstacles that may inconvenience residents, cause traffic problems, or further damage property.

In addition to these preparation measures, the power company recommends that everyone within the storm’s path acquires a battery-powered radio or TV, replacement batteries, electric pump supplies, non-perishable foods, bottled water, and a first aid kit. For further advice in storm safety and preparedness, consult the reliable resources featured in the BOTW Directory. From emergency supplies to practical advice, turn to BOTW for meaningful guidance during the snowy weekend.

Life on the web is fast paced. While Internet marketers are still adjusting to the most recent Google algorithm updates, they’re also forced to constantly refine their efforts, adapt to new white hat standards, and create quality content all while still being able to deliver measurable results.

In 2012, we saw a lot of updates and redesigns in the world’s most popular social networks. Social media gurus and Internet marketers alike are beginning to imagine and anticipate the innovative changes 2013 will bring to online communication and social media marketing. Here are a couple changes marketers predict businesses will be focused on during 2013 based on the last year:

Return on Investment

Many companies have a social media presence because it is considered a prerequisite to credibility in the big digital picture. Most brands on social networks understand the importance of maintaining open lines of communication with customers, earning likes or followers, and giving their fans exclusive content. Now, however, Internet marketers and brands are faced with the challenge of meeting more than the minimum standards for having a social media presence while making it profitable.

Mobile Optimization

Most consumers now own smartphones with all the apps necessary to consume your digital content through the palm of their hands, from any location. The ease of access and convenience of mobile applications means this is a side of your marketing strategy that cannot be ignored. Businesses need to focus not only on providing digestible content across multiple platforms, but also on creating exclusively mobile content to increase demand in their mobile presence.

Congratulations! After much discussion about the Mayan calendar coming to an end and the planet Earth and all her inhabitants meeting their doom, it seems that humankind has survived yet another apocalypse. If you were one of the gullible few who expected to meet their maker or face hordes of zombies or see the sun explode last Friday, don’t feel too embarrassed (or let down)! Apocalypses are predicted on a near annual basis nowadays, and we’ve got a gut feeling another prediction is on the horizon.

But for those of you who were not expecting to face the rapture or some other global catastrophe one week ago, lives carry on as normal into the New Year. Whether your plans involve cramming into the overcrowded Times Square in the Big Apple, hitting the bars, hosting a party, or simply getting cozy in front of the television with a glass of wine and that special someone to kiss when the clock strikes midnight, you can find fun ideas for ringing in the new year from Best of the Web.

If you’re playing host in the final minutes of 2012, you can find party planning advice, cheap New Year’s decorations, and deliciously festive recipes on sites featured in the directory. There you’ll even discover fun activities such as themed arts & crafts projects to keep young ones entertained until the ball drops, if they can stay awake for it. Even if you don’t have big plans for celebrating the start of another year, you can satisfy all your curiosities about New Year traditions through the resources offered by Best of the Web.

Don’t worry, last-minute shoppers: you are not alone. Every year, on the night before Christmas, shopping centers and strip malls are flooded by an influx of frantic holiday customers eager to cross the final items off their gift lists.

This year, if you’re having trouble finding the perfect gift for someone special, turn to the consumer resources featured in Best of the Web. From the latest coupons & discounts for online retailers to creative ideas for the frugal gifter, the BOTW Directories can help guide you to a happy holiday painlessly.

If it’s overnight delivery you need, look no further. There are countless retailers listed with the BOTW seal of approval guaranteeing deliveries by Christmas. Trying to give a lot of gifts with a little spending cash? Find sites exclusively offering seasonal discount codes, or crafty ways to give thoughtful gifts without spending a dime.

Or if you’re one of the lucky few who doesn’t need to scramble for gifts in the last days before the holiday, there’s no need to wait for the rest of your family to put the finishing touches on holiday preparations. Blogs featuring the retelling of past holidays or the surge in charitable activity during the season will keep your spirits bright & help pass the time before the real festivities begin.

Whether this weekend consists of frantically finishing your holiday to-do list or just looking for ways to spread the holiday cheer, you can rely on Best of the Web to safely guide you through the long weekend.

Happy holidays from all of us at Best of the Web!