Michael Caine used to be a great actor and really took pride in his craft, but movie stardom ruined his talent. The fat paychecks and slim demands made him lazy and most of the roles were created for him to play a version of the same Michael Caine character.

I think this happens to a lot of movie stars and it takes discipline to avoid. If you notice Daniel Day Lewis does very few roles (5 films in the last 15 years). Meryl Streep is not in a ton of films. You know they're offered a lot of work for a lot of money but turn it down, whereas Nicholas Cage has had many issues with the IRS and has been a big real estate investor and taken a lot of roles for the needed cash.

I judge Matthew McConaughey by shirt's on or shirt's off. If the shirt stays on he's acting and he can be very good (Lincoln Lawyer, Bernie, Killer Joe); if the shirt is off he's here to party (Magic Mike, anything he made with Kate Hudson). 

Daniel Craig is a movie star and an actor. He's very good in "Road To Perdition" and as a freedom fighter in "Defiance", and he cuts a great star turn as James Bond and in the "Girl Who Played With Fire."

"Matt, I understand the criticism, but you had to see the size of the check."

The best recent James Bond movie is "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol". The plot has stolen nuclear codes and international locations and great action scenes. And Brad Bird from Pixar (Incredibles, Ratatouille) directed wonderfully. Change the actors and character nationalities and it is a Bond film.

"Torpedo" by Sanchez Abuli/Jordi Bernet ( 1930's noir crime story graphic novel), "Upgunned" by David Schow (crime action), and Adam Carolla's "Not Taco Bell Material."

I would violate the COC. Loudly and repeatedly. With gusto and the occasional fleck of spit. 

Diane, you're young so you won't remember that this machine (or ones like it) were the future of bookselling 10 years ago. It was the savior of Borders. There is probably a warehouse sitting somewhere filled with these and they're happy to sell one on occasion. The future is improved e-readers; turn that bookstore space into a Frogurt store and nail salon.

I loved the original "Alien" movie, and one of the best parts about it was that the crew were suited for a normal workplace (in this instance a refinery in space returning to Earth) and they come across something that defies explanation. It was gritty and they had little annoying problems with each other and some were new to the ship while others were veterans.

I found my first issue with "Prometheus" when the crew wakes to find out the purpose of their mission. Why would you sign up for something so hazardous as long-distance space travel to a barren rock without knowing even the cover story about alien visitors? No one seemed to be quite prepared for the job they were hired to do and there were too many faces that were just on board to die as the story needed. 

I liked the visuals and I'm a fan of Ridley Scott (even his least successful films have much to recommend) but the story has left me cold since I saw the film.

I used to watch a lot of NHL hockey, and I still love the sport, but I find it difficult to watch a player leave his skates and slam an opponent in the head with his shoulder, thereby knocking him out of the game. Sidney Crosby is just one of many former stars who aren't on the ice in their prime due to serious concussions. These didn't used to happen prior to the league mandating helmets. Maybe they made the game safer for most but there are more head injuries as players go for the (nominally protected) head more often. 

Another part of this is money. The Players union negotiates contracts and the retired veterans are never happy with funding for their pensions and healthcare, and some from way back or who didn't play long enough don't even get healthcare or pensions. The complaints about money have been around since the 1980's and I think retirees and lawyers have latched on to a genuine issue (the league doctors knew about head trauma and sent players back into games) and are trying to get paid.

sorry, double post

Goat cheese is a dog whistle for white working-class voters, goat cheese is a reference to Obama! That's racist!

Since all of my top 10 list is taken above...

1. Cheeseburgers. With bacon, as the good Lord intended.

2. Women doing stripper pole dancing as exercise, (as the good...)

3. Sports on digital television. If you're willing to pay for it every game everywhere in the world is on TV.

4. Aluminum is a good one too, think of all the things aluminum is used for. Strong and lightweight and inexpensive.  

This is one of the first stories where I heard about this kind of scheme. It's been around for a few years.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Adam-Smith-Institute-Blog/2011/0102/European-nations-begin-seizing-private-pensions

My thoughts were that he sounds like Rowan Atkinson. In the clip he discusses the name "Bob" and the humor in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zByPDd1lctY

I watched the race this morning on BBC America, the Oxford boat ran over him. His head dunked under the water, and then came up after it passed. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaRWzXqWlEY