Best Picture of the Year

I don't get to (or choose to) watch every movie that comes out every year. But I just saw a film that is easily the best one I've seen this year: Winter's Bone. Bleak and beautiful, it tells a story of a seventeen-year-old with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her plight and how she handles it are captivating, and the cast of unknowns is perfect in this setting. Highly recommended.

Innovative mobile keyboard design

Here's a demo of a remarkable new way to input data into a mobile device.

Best New Flavor of the Year

"Anything Goes" sauce, from Fresh Market. Think of it as ketchup with pepper, but it's more complicated than that. It has a very nice black pepper flavor but without the heat you might expect from that much pepper flavor. The tomato sauce is thinner than good ole American ketchup, but that doesn't detract from the total product. This morning I added it to an omelet with a little sour cream for a nice effect.

This is good stuff!

Axiom 43

Never try to buy a glass of good wine in a sports bar.

An excellent Chicago jazz pianist

My cousin Harold just made me aware of a stunning jazz talent from Las Vegas named Mike Jones. He recently recorded a gig in Chicago at the Green Mill, and he put it online for free download. Strongly recommended, after only listening to "There is no Greater Love," which is influenced by Oscar Peterson. His bio lists Art Tatum and James P. Johnson as other influences. A musician to watch, and to seek out when you're in Vegas.