I’m a total modern movie nut so am frequently on Apple’s movie trailer site instead of sleeping at night. 

Here’s a list of 10 movies that I want to see this year:

1. The Invisible – could be an exciting ride down a fairly typical storyline.
2. Slow Burn – Ray Liotta. ‘Nuff said.
3. Next — Nicholas Cage hasn’t done a good movie in quite awhile, but I can’t resist the sci-fi nature of this flick.
4. Lonely Hearts – I detest Jared Leto but love the film noir look here.  Hopefully I’ll be able to stomach James Gandolfini’s Sopranos accent throughout this movie.
5. Gray Matters — After backpacking through Europe with my sister, this movie hits close to home.
6. The Kingdom – Detest Jamie Foxx, but it’s got Chris Cooper and Jason Bateman who has been making a huge comeback in some pretty funny roles. We’ll have to see how he does in a drama.
7. Mr. Brooks – Who would’ve guessed Kevin Costner would play a serial killer? And Demi Moore is still alive and acting?  I figured she torpedoed her career after Striptease.
8. Sunshine – the earth is doomed and they are our last hope to re-ignite the dying sun. What’s not to love?
9. Rescue Dawn — I don’t think it’s possible for Christian Bale to star in any movie that I don’t like.
10. Spiderman 3 — I don’t have to explain this.

Fresh off the press from my pal Tony, on how to answer questions from your significant other:

“Without question.” - In response to, “Am I prettier than her?”

“No.” - In response to, “Does this make me look fat?” or “Am I getting fat?” or “Does size matter?” (this works both ways, according to Friends)

“Yes, dear.” - In response to, “Do you think {we|you} can ____?”

“I didn’t even notice her.” - In response to any question or phrase involving another female (e.g. “Good lord. That girl’s boobs were hanging right out of her shirt!”)

“I love you exactly the way you are.” - In response to any question fitting this template: “Would you like me better if I {were|had} _____?”

This list won’t be complete until it has a response for “Would you eat my dog?”

I was in Chicago this past new year’s and did the obligatory walk down Michigan avenue. This street is a people watchers dream — all hours of the day the street is bustling with people of all ages and genders. The Chicago Hershey’s Store is a very popular tourist attraction and was just freakin’ packed when we approached it. While I was standing outside, I pointed my camera up to capture this and loved the ominous and quiet look. You wouldn’t have guessed there were hundreds of people walking around me at the very same time. I had a few different exposures of this same scene, but like this one in particular because of the way it teases you with the deep shadows of the building towards the top of the frame.

Here’s a shot from a Pearl Jam concert when I was in Prague last September that I took hand-held with my Canon SD-450. Tickets on the floor were $45 and 1/2 the price of nosebleed seats. Reason? “Europeans are lazy and want to sit” was the explanation given by the locals.

I’m an uncle for the second time!  My sister-in-law gave birth last night to my brand new nephew, Kyle Matthew, who came roaring in at 12:05am weighing 7 lbs 2 oz.