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2009 was an incredible year for movies. It was the first year that the Academy expanded the list of best picture nominees to 10 and it was only fitting. Every film on that list deserved to be there.

Since the Oscars expanded to 10 entries for best picture, it’s harder to sort the good from the bad. Here are some of my favorite films from 2009.

The Hurt Locker was an extraordinary movie. There really haven’t been any great Iraq War movies until this one. It tells the story of a bomb squad member in Iraq who plays by his own rules. It is a gripping and suspenseful thriller, and while I don’t think it should have won Best Picture, easily was one of my top 5 favorites of the year.

James Cameron continues to amaze us with his incredible imagination and brilliant methods for presenting his visions to us. The 3d technology in Avatar was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

Its no wonder this Avatar has become the highest grossing movie of all time. If you didn’t have a chance to see Avatar, it is going to be rereleased in IMAX after the summer is over.

Both the aforementioned movies were exceptional, but my favorite movie of the year goes to District 9.

Directed by Sharlto Copley and starring Neil Blompkamp in his acting debut, this movie blew away all my expectations. The budget was somewhere in the 20 million range, however the action in this movie was only trumped by Avatar. That is saying something considering all the lackluster action movies Hollywood releases every year (Yes I am talking to you Michael Bay).  Read more...

Contrary to popular belief you do not have all the answers, I know it is hard to believe but sometimes you are just like the rest of us and you do make mistakes. That is why sometimes it may be advisable to listen when people are giving you advice and not just dismiss it out of hand straight away.

For one example we could look at the writing of articles or more generally the art of writing. It is a good idea to read what others have to say on this topic. Newsletters are a good source of information on such things and that is mainly because the people that write these newsletters have a good insight into how you should set out your writing. Some of their tips can be helpful to you and may stop you from making unnecessary mistakes.

This can only be good for you and of course help you to get a head start on your rivals.

One such newsletter that is worth mentioning is called Early to Rise. This informative newsletter has some good advice on not only business opportunities but on copywriting and marketing as well as other great topics.

In the last six months I have had some great information handed to me via this newsletter. It has helped to become a better person and helped my writing to come on in leaps and bonds.

As well as the tips that this newsletter gives me it also sort of inspires me as well in my writing endeavors.

I can honestly say that it is hard to find something on the internet that has had such a profound affect on my writing as this newsletter seems to have done. You just have a sixth sense when it comes to finding something special that you can connect too and in my case it is the “Early to Rise” newsletter.  Read more...

When it comes to doing certain types of work on your computer, sometimes you may feel the need to listen to some music. Sites like Pandora have become incredibly popular in recent years, as they play a continuous list of songs for as long as you want.

These are some bands that I have been listening to recently that have helped get me in the zone.

Ratatat is probably my favorite music to listen to. While they are no doubt very talented, all the music sounds similar enough that you can put on an album of theirs and listen the whole way through.

The newest album from DeadMau5 (pronounced “Dead Mouse” ) is another one I very much enjoy listening to. It is upbeat electronic and gets me going.

Another great upbeat record I have been listening to recently is “Dear Science,” by TV On The Radio. This is also one of my favorite albums of the year 2008, so it very well may be that I am biased with this one.

Another great surprise this year is “Thank Me Later,” the debut album from Drake. While most his songs up until this point have been rap oriented, this album focuses more on his singing. The production is mellow and makes for a great listen while you work.

Finally, “Treats” by Sleigh Bells is an incredible album. It may not be for you though. If you like loud noise that gets you in the zone, then check it out. Take caution when listening to Sleigh Bells, as it is way too intense for most people. If you do not enjoy music like this, you should definitely steer clear of this one.  Read more...

While a lot of episodes of television shows can only be watched once, there are number of shows that retain their brilliance and humor throughout repeat viewing. The following list contains some television shows that I cannot get enough of, even if I have seen the episodes before.

There is a reason The Simpsons has been churning out new episodes for over two decades. No one gets tired of this show. Regardless of who your favorite character is, The Simpsons has something for everyone.

Almost everyone I know has Seinfeld on his or her DVR list. The “show about nothing” continues to make audiences laugh day in and day out, even if we have seen each episode 10 times by now.

Another great show that remains incredibly suspenseful, regardless of if you have seen it, is Dexter. Maybe its the premise of the show, but repeats of this show get my heart pumping like I am viewing it for the first time.

Another great show to watch old episodes of is Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. As long as you don’t know the answers to the questions being asked, it is very entertaining.

While it is only starting its third season, HBO’s True Blood is truly addicting. This is the type of show that you need to watch each episode at least twice in order to catch all the details.

If you are a fan of food, then you will not grow tired of a show like Top Chef Masters. These masters of the kitchen whip up some insanely inventive dishes under grueling circumstances.

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia is another great show to throw on the DVR rotation, as it is short and sweet. Each episode has no bearing on the one before it, and they are all hilarious.  Read more...

One of the best actors in Hollywood today is Christian Bale. You can argue that he’s a little intense, but you cannot question his devotion to his craft.

The guy is so diverse and finally caught his big break with Batman Begins, catapulting him into action star status. Here are some of his finest works in recent memory.

If you didn’t see the Dark Knight, you must not be American. With all the hype and drama surrounding this movie, it managed to exceed everyone’s expectations, both in quality and in its box office take. A true comic book masterpiece, and one can only wonder how it did not get nominated for best picture.

In another film involving deception and playing two sides, Christian Bale was incredible in The Prestige. You never know until the end of this movie whether or not he is a good guy, which I cannot even imagine how hard that is to do. He stole the show from Hugh Jackman.

In The Machinist, Bale plays Trevor Reznik, an emaciated insomniac who is not sure what is real and what is not. His controversial weight loss (reportedly 70 pounds) for this role redefined commitment to a role. Think Memento meets Thinner.

Another incredible Bale performance can be seen in American Psycho, in which Bale plays a New York City hot shot who is, well…psycho, and does some pretty terrible things. Somehow though, you root for him throughout everything he does.

Rescue Dawn – In another performance where Bale had to lose a ton of weight for the role, Rescue Dawn tells the true story of Dieter Dengler, a US pilot who was shot down and imprisoned in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war.  Read more...

In case you didn’t know, New York has some pretty good pizza.

Some would say the best. Most would say the best. Ok, fine, its no question, New York City has the best pizza in the world.

While several of these establishments have been around for over 80 years, some newcomers have taken the influence of old and created a pizza that tastes like it should have been around for a long time. And that’s a good thing.

When it comes to Neapolitan pies there are two winners. Motorino and Keste. Both of these restaurants serve up authentic style pies from Naples with a doughy crust and an emphasis on fresh ingredients. The mozzarella is imported and the basil could not taste fresher. Una Pizza Napoletana would be the winner had it not gone out of business.

When it comes to pizza parlors that have been around forever, Lombardi’s takes the crown. Located just North of Little Italy, Lombardi’s serves up pizzas by the by (sorry, no slices to go here) in their famous coal oven. Lombardi’s is well known to be the oldest pizzeria in all of New York City.

There are several arguments about the best slice in the city. A lot of people like Joe’s in the West Village, but I prefer Bleecker Street Pizza. It’s a clean, simple slice that is on the crispier side. No wonder the food network awarded this as the best slice in all of New York City.

If you are serious about your pizza, then a visit to Brooklyn is a must. With establishments such as Grimaldi’s and Lucali, you would be missing out on serious pizza culture if you have not visited Brookyln.  Read more...

It is not every day that we find someone that we can call our best friend. There are tons people that come and go in our lives; not all of them will be given the title of best friend. Most people who pass our paths in life are just those that we correlate with on an impersonal level. “It is by chance we met . . .By choice we became friends.” Clarence Clemens. Once in a while we will meet someone and know that they will become more than just a regular friend. We can tell people how we feel by using best friend quotes; for everyday circumstances.

Having your partner or your significant other to do things with is breathtaking but having a best friend to talk to or just go shopping with is always a nice treat; best friend quotes can make them feel even more unique. The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had. ~Unknown~.

You can be millions of miles apart and the fact will still remain that you and your best friend will always be; don’t think that you still won’t be able to share great moments. If it is real friendship then you are in for a lifetime of good times. “Together forever, never apart. Maybe in distance, but never in heart. Unknown. It is always nice to tell that special someone how much you care and that you are thinking of them.  Read more...

When we talk about ‘poetry,’ many will think about Wordsworth, Shakespeare or even Burns, mostly as a result of the way we study poetry when we are at school. Children at school are often taught about the classics and, although we can’t deny that the classics are fully deserving of their place in the literary canon, it’s common for them the struggle to gain the interest of some school children.

But just how do we get younger people interested in poetry? Well, some of the schools in the UK might have found a great way. The National Schools Slam Poetry competition holds an annual slam poetry competition between school aged children. The poetry that is performed at this type of event is often incredibly freestyle, a little edgier and modern. This type of poem is often really given a new dimension by being performed and we find rhyme and rhythm are integral.

The children are not just judged on the writing craft. In fact, some of the best slam poems out there would even potentially look quite flat when simply left on paper. But at poetry slam competitions there is a massive requirement of the poet to really bring their poem to life. The poet is expected to portray the meaning of their words in their performances. This is much more demanding, arguably, than a traditional poetry recital.

Performance poetry is becoming really very popular in the USA as well, where television shows like Def Poetry are attracting a growing following. That show, in fact, frequently invites celebrities on to perform their poems, including Kanye West. With its freestyle and rhythm we can see why slam poetry is often compared to hip hop.  Read more...

If you’re into fantasy sports and have never played fantasy basketball, you should know that fantasy basketball is a great way to fill the void between football and baseball seasons. I actually like fantasy basketball the most because I think there’s less luck involved than football (10 weekends vs 81 games) and it isn’t as long as fantasy baseball.

When you are drafting a team in fantasy basketball, there’s definitely luck involved, but usually the general manager who has the most well-balanced team will be in good positioning for the season.

The hardest stats to get someone good at are blocks and assists. There are a few players who do either of these things exceptionally well. The only one who truly does both is Lebron James.

A quick note. If you happen to be lucky enough to have first pick and Lebron James is available, don’t think about it twice. He is your guy. If you have second pick, I would go Kevin Durant.

When it comes to assists, the players that do it better than the rest are Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash. If you can get any of these players on your team assists suddenly won’t be such a concern.

If you are looking for someone who blocks well, Dwight Howard is far and away the best. His free throw percentage is extremely detrimental to your team though, so I’d go for someone else like Pau Gasol or Lamarcus Aldridge.

Rebounds are also a very important stat to consider. It is a good idea to look for a solid rebounder that also has a high free throw percentage. This is not that common and guys like Brook Lopez and Pau Gasol meet the description.  Read more...

Are you looking to get in better shape, but hate running? If you listen to good music, running isn’t nearly as bad.

Take it from me, as I hate running.

But listening to certain albums makes it a breeze for me and it will do the same for you too. Here are some of my favorite albums to run to.

“The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” by The Postal Service is a fantastic song to run to. It starts out slow, but with enough of a beat to keep you going, then speeds up and by the end of the song, you are really running fast (if you can keep up with the beat).

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, by Phoenix is another great one. I don’t know why it took Phoenix so long to get popular in the US but this album rocks. Track 1, Lisztomania is probably my favorite track to start with on a run.

“45:33″, a 45 minute, 33 second song created by LCD Soundsystem for Nike should be on every runner’s playlist. In fact the song itself is a playlist. It starts off mellow builds, it even has a cool down period! How many songs can say that?

I enjoy running to Stadium Arcadium by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. This album reminds me of summer and has a positive vibe to keep me going on a long run. IT is technically a double album, so you don’t have to worry about a shortage of songs or flipping through your ipod mid run. There are a few tracks on this album that you have to skip over, but when songs like “Snow” and “Charlie” come on, it’s worth it.  Read more...