I remember how hard it was in the beginning to cross over into a less-meat more-vegetable diet. Grocery stores don’t make this easy because what you’re accustom to and craving is texture. So, when the only soy meat you can find is either over-priced veggie burgers and silken tofu that has no business being on the shelf sold as a meat substitute one is left to wonder how you can survive. Well, the truth is what you’re looking for is not available at your local grocer for unknown reasons except that maybe you haven’t requested they buy what you want.

The only tofu I’ve ever found to be dense enough to enjoy is Wildwood Super Firm Tofu. Reason being is that when the tofu is made it is pressed for a much longer period of time so as to get most of the water out.  There isn’t any need to have to drain this tofu either as it’s vacuumed sealed with little water already.  The end result is more dense like cheese, which, in my opinion helps as I can easily cut out meat and cheese with this texture.

This is a simple taco recipe.

• Slice the tofu a quarter of an inch thick or less.

• Mix 2 teaspoons Better than Bouillon no-beef in 3/4 cup water (you can use less as this will be on the salty side)

• Smash one piece of garlic

• Teaspoon of Onion powder (or fresh onion)

• Teaspoon of Peanut or Olive oil

• Teaspoon of Cumin

Place tofu in shallow pan of this mix and bake at 400 for 20 minutes. Then broil on 500 for 5 or so minutes on each side – just enough time to dry the surface.

I use this recipe for almost any type of dish I want to make with tofu as it yields the best results for quickly infusing flavor into the tofu. If you wish to fry the tofu with what ever it is that you’re cooking you can always marinade the tofu overnight.  Wildwood Super Firm Tofu doesn’t fall apart like every brand I have ever tried.  Believe me I’m not getting paid to push Wildwood Super Firm Tofu but I would like to start a trend of more dense tofu.

Enjoy!

This April however, I had the chance to take a trip to North Carolina with a friend to mountain bike and experience an all new terrain.  One, not so tight and fast but rather long climbs and endless descents down enormous mountain sides.

What you’ll need is one 3 to 5 Quart pot. Something deep preferably. A wooden spoon, this could be metal but I like the way wood feels while stirring. A sort of extension of my senses slightly dulled.  You’ll also need a blender to puree the soup.

First, on medium high heat melt the butter.  Drop in the sliced mushrooms and simmer down until all the water has evaporated.  Add the chopped yellow onion and saute until the onions are transparent.  Add your heaping tablespoon of flour and mix well.  This is called a roux and is what will help keep our soup thick.  You can double the flour in this stage if you desire a thicker soup next time.

Drop in your garlic, pour in your stock, add your bundle of thyme put a lid on your pot and continue to cook on medium high heat for one hour.

After one hour pull the bundle of thyme and transfer half of the soup into your blender (or less, you only want to fill the blender 1/3rd) place lid on blender and put a towel on top to help control splash as this soup is hot and will scaled if it hits your skin.  Blend each batch perfectly smooth and place in empty pot.  I typically use the same pot and transfer from blender to Pyrex bowl and back to the same pot.  Pyrex can handle the heat.  I should get a free Pyrex something or another for plugging them but I really don’t trust other glass companies to heat like this.  Just a thought.

Once back in the pot I pour in the cream or half & half and stir for about 5 minutes on low heat and then it’s ready to serve.  Enjoy! It’s that simple.

Pet Portraiture can be an area of concern.  I’ve seen animals dragged into a studio and treated like an elephant in a circus.  On that same note I’ve seen children dragged into my studio and treated like those same elephants.  We must remember that we can always try and try again to capture a respectable portrait but if we’re going to beat it out of someone or something than why would someone want a portrait in the first place? This photographer has never allowed abuse in his studio for the sake of profit and never will.

I’ll take my foot off that soapbox and replace it with this photo.  The epidemy of love and respect.  As she learns that the camera won’t eat her.

I’ve named her Erin after Erin Gray the actress.  Just something about the cats stare that reminded me of Erin Gray.  Anyway, we felt the need to get another pet for the sake of Mollie who I felt was not appreciating life as much.  So, the idea was to complicate things for her to force Mollie to appreciate all that she has again.

The first few hours was great, Mollie really liked the kitten until she realized the cat wasn’t leaving.  Mollie’s been guarding her food bowl ever-since.

Btw: Scratching posts actually work!

Our reason for purchasing this set was for entertaining guests.  We’ve had such a busy year and only ever made time for family to come over.  I thought it would be nice to entertain friends this holiday season.

As you can see from the photo the mess we had to deal with and I must say it was all worth it.  The set was Everyday White and so far the quality is top notch.  It’s actually better than I was hoping to purchase but I figured after this many years it’s time to go beyond the cheap stoneware sets for $50.  I will do a full review of this dinnerware after a month of use.

Tomorrow… I’ll write about the new family member.

The other thing I miss about black and white film is being committed to monotone.  Sensors now-a-days allow me to convert between color and not and I get so torn between the two.  I absolutely love this photo in black and white but to be honest there’s something special about the color version.  I guess the color version feels more… real.

I like the colder unrealistic nature of this version though.  I think it works with her expression, pose, my lighting, and composition.

This almost reminds me of the Twilight series.  Believe it or not the photograph wasn’t overly processed.  At least… I didn’t do anything that I couldn’t achieve quickly in the darkroom.

I think the key to this is actually the key-light.  You’ll notice from the catch-lights in her eyes where I placed the light.  This was not photographed at night but rather morning light in the shade notched back about 3 stops.

I’ve been such a fan of 1970′s portraiture.  Particularly the colors and the mood that was always set by a mysterious looking female.  This is my recreation of that look.  Not an exact match, no, that would be too easy.  What I wanted to do was create something with atmosphere and character.

As you can tell I did use flash in the shade to put the light where I wanted it.  On the subject.  I turned down the ambient exposure as much as I could but I’ll admit I still didn’t have enough flash power.  If I go for this portrait style again I’m bringing more power.  I had to do a little dodging and burning to get things where I really wanted them to be.  I can’t complain as this is something I’d have done in the days of film anyway.

I call this one 150009 and I’m sure you’ve guessed why but what most intrigues me about this scenery is the mixture of elements.  If you’ve taken a drive through Safety Harbor you know where this is.  You’ll also know that in time this hodgepodge will be replaced by something different and it’s likely to be less… creative in looks.  For now, the image lives.

I call this Lightroom Preset Lost Little Girl.  It’s a Black and White with a Lith-like effect and Holga camera.

Download the Lightroom Preset here (right click “save as” most browsers want to display the code)

This was fun getting out to photograph the fine details we so often walk right by without taking notice.  I was actually just walking to get a coffee from Star Bucks that day.

There’s a park in downtown Safety Harbor with this tile statue peice in the middle.  It looks here as though one of the statues is missing.  I thought the pattern of circles and lines looked great for a point-of-view photo.

Download the Lightroom Preset here (right click “save as” most browsers want to display the code)

The first is my preset designed for this photo but the second is a nice Effects Vignetting which I think goes well for landscapes.  Enjoy.

Download the Lightroom Preset here (right click “save as” most browsers want to display the code)

Download the Lightroom Preset here (right click “save as” most browsers want to display the code)

Yes, the lady saw I was trying to take a photo, she looked at me several times and I stood there patiently waiting not saying a word and not looking upset.  She finally picked her child up and walked out of the frame.  As she past me she said without provocation “Don’t worry, they’ll be another sunset tomorrow.”.

My jaw hit the sand at her blatant rudeness I couldn’t speak.  For just a moment I thought, what if she died tonight and there was no heaven or hell but just that it was all over.  There really wouldn’t be another Sunset for her or me or anyone else.  So, I don’t want to take even a sunset for granted.  That and I’m sure taking things for granted pisses God off.

Download the Lightroom Preset here (right click “save as” most browsers want to display the code)

Download the Lightroom Preset here (right click “save as” most browsers want to display the code)

I’ve been working on profiling my own work.  Basically, creating the color and black and white profiles that suite me not just the lab experts at Agfa.  Although I’ve never really achieved the same look as Agfa Portrait 160 I have achieved very desirable results.

To start, a simple portrait of Mollie with my own Black and White profile that I felt was a mix between TMax 100 and a little more than medium contrast paper hopefully more like kodak.

I’m also giving away the Lightroom Presets I make.  Download link here (right click “save as” most browsers want to display the code).

Magadog, Tampa Bays very own Ska Band formed in 1992 as part of the Third Wave with influences such as The Specials, and The Toasters graced my studio this past Thursday night for a photo-shoot.
I’ve had the privileged of seeing Magadog perform live 3 times now.  I first met Magadog at Skipper’s Smoke house in 2007.  I’ve been a fan of Punk Rock all my life so Ska being a form of post-punk-influenced-something-or-another I found them more enjoyable than Rancid.  Magadog is the kind of band that makes you want to dance… and I don’t dance.

The second and third time I saw these guys was at the Dunedin Brewery.  Which has awesome beer btw that’s left me stumbling around downtown Dunedin.  The brewery gets jam packed with people from all walks of life and Magadog is right there in everyone’s face the whole atmosphere is a meld of music, dance, and beer.

I hung out with Magadog after the shoot at New World Brewery.  This was my first time being at New World Brewery, it’s a quaint bar with Foosball tables.  Sadly, I didn’t get to play any Foosball but I did have some great beer and conversation.  Not to mention a few bar regulars I found entertaining to listen to/look at.

Magadog’s next album “Ybor City” is currently in the works.  I have not yet heard when it will be released but I have heard a few snippets of the songs to be included and I have to admit I’m excited for them.  Magadog’s music is deffinately maturing without compromise.  Yes, there’s a bear-skin rug in my studio and David (resembling very much like a snooping cat) found it.

Sure, there are plug-ins for Photoshop that can make this all happen in minutes but those where made for non-pro’s and they show.  No, I actually like the effect.  The only issue I have is that when I’m taking photo’s of my loved ones I really don’t want to see these effects destroying those perfect image.  I will save these effects for the Graduation/Senior photos and Bands and Artists but not real portraiture.  Not unless a client really wants this look.

This past week I have explored (a little more anyway) the Suncoast Trail, Dunedin, Ybor City (because of a Birthday) parts of Palm Harbor and finally saw the end in Tarpon Springs.  I was sad when I reached the end actually.  I wasn’t sure if there was just another section that continued down the road or if the Suncoast Trail really ended right there.

That’s my sad bike that I’ve had to had the bottom bracket serviced and two flat tires on this journey.  If you look closely on the back tire you’ll see I pulled out one of the tubes I had to replace so i could grab my phone for a picture.  The sum of my journey was to find some sort of end and this is it.  Two red signs on aluminum post with nine reflectors each.  Each telling me not to go flying 20 mph into a ditch (if I’m lucky) or the road just ahead.

I really enjoy photographing Seniors.  Life is so new to them yet they have no idea how much bigger it is and can be.  It’s an infinite universe with infinite possibilities so shatter the mold you’ve been pressed in and grow!

A big Congrats to Anyelin who is my first Senior to test my new store front for selling prints.  For family members please feel free to register and login here.

Model Mayhem #1062065

I’d like to introduce Vittorio I met at Model Mayhem and had the privilege to photograph him a few weeks ago.

Vittorio is currently pursuing acting in Los Angeles and is attending LACC Theater, IndieSOS, and soon to join Beverly Hills Playhouse.

Best of luck to Vittorio and his journey!

I’d like to introduce a lovely Model I had the privilege of working with this week. Kamila from Model Mayhem and I stopped by Philippe Park in Safety Harbor Florida this Friday for a quick shoot.
Kamila possesses such raw beauty and even skin tone it’s hard not to get a great shot of her no matter what angle you’re coming from. In our first shoot we decided to explore various lighting options, starting with natural sunlight and no reflectors, just camera and Model and environment. As you can tell the lighting is harsh but Kamila’s natural skin tones work we’ll even in this high contrast morning sun with stark reflections coming from the water and dock.
Moving on and seeking shade I now balance the mid morning sunlight with flash. Imitating natural reflections in a more balance light. Again Kamila’s lovely skin tone makes a smooth transition and really set’s the mood in these shots.
From the water’s edge we moved on to the canopy of trees as you drive through the park. Shooting in total shade I decide on Full body shots with focused lighting. I can tell Kamila would do well modeling for clothing as her posture wears well, emitting an air of confidence when she stands. I highly recommend Kamila for clothing line shoots.  Please have a look at Kamila’s Profile on Model Mayhem here.

I can’t imagine the fear the Google Earth’s Street View Driver experienced when he was chased down by these two Norwegian Men in wetsuits.  Apparently the driver was going about his business as usual when these two men sitting in what I think to be the entrance to a parking lot.  I’m curious as to why they needed the umbrella.  I mean the wet suites make sense but an umbrella?

• 4 Tbs Butter
• 3 Pieces of Minced Garlic
• 1/2 Cup Chopped Onions
• Fresh Cracked Pepper
• 1/4 cup of Flour
• 1 Cup Wisconsin White Cheddar
• 8 Cups Broccoli Florets
• 1 Tsp Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base
• Salt to taste

Add a Tbs of Salt to 8 Cups of rapidly boiling water.  Add the Broccoli Florets and boil until the Broccoli is just easily peirceable.

In a sauce pan melt the butter.  Add Minced Garlic, Chopped Onions, and a couple twists of Fresh Cracked Pepper.  Fry for a few minutes until the Onions have become soft and limp.  Stir in the Flour to make a roux.  Add the Wisconsin White Cheddar on top of the roux.  Once melted stir.

Add Broccoli to Blender and fill half-way with the water you boiled the Broccoli in.  Pulsate until well blended where chunks are left but not predominate.  In another Pot combine the roux and pureed Broccoli and stir until smooth.  Add more seasoning to taste.  A dash of lemon helps this dish separate the many flavors.  Enjoy!

• 2 cup TVP Flakes (Textured Vegetable Protein)
• 2 Tsp Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base
• 3 pieces of Garlic minced
• 1/2 cup chopped onion Onion
• 2 diced On-the-Vine-Tomato’s
• 3 chopped leaves of Basil (you want fresh!!!)
• 1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour (King Arthur seems best)
• 1 Whole Egg and 1 Egg White

You’ll love these Tomato Veggie Burgers with their complex flavors something cross between a pizza and Italian sausage. The secrete on why their so good (or rather better than store bought) is not what’s in them but how the flavors are obtain from the ingredients.  Remember, cooking is a chemistry that requires skill, diligence, and creativity.

I have found that Fire Roasting (actually it’s just broiling but “fire roasting” sounds cool) the Tomato, Garlic, and Onion seriously bring out the flavor of this awesome trinity.  I use a cast iron skillet with only a simple spray of oil, a few cranks of the pepper mill, table spoon of smoke flavoring (hickory is my favorite) and nothing more.

Start by combining a cup of TVP with Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base while Roasting the Tomato, Garlic, and Onion.  Once the TVP mixture is set and the Roasted Trinity has a few black marks on top combine the two.  Add the Basil and place in the fridge for a few hours to meld the flavors and prepare for the addition of flour and egg.

Once chilled and melded, stir and add the flour and then the egg.  Patty out, place on cookie sheet sprayed with oil or use parchment paper and bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 5 to 10 minutes.  Again, cooking times very by geographical location so use common sense on when to flip.  Flipping is best done just before the tops turn solid as that is when they’re baked throughout the patty.

• 1 cup TVP Flakes (Textured Vegetable Protein)
• 1 Tsp Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base
• 1 can La Choy Fancy Mixed Vegetables
• 3 Tbs Less Sodium Soy Sauce (regular soy sauce will be too salty)

• 1 inch cut of fresh minced Ginger
• 3 pieces of Garlic minced
• 1 Stalk Green Onion
• 1/2 cup chopped Portobello Mushroom
• 1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour (King Arthur seems best)
• 1 Egg

To start, boil 1 cup of water with your Better than Bouillon Base.  Once the stock is rapidly boiling turn the heat off and combine the TVP Flakes.

Combine the TVP with your mixed vegetables (I really prefer La Choy because the flavors that are marinated together) and chopped Portobello Mushroom, mix well.

Add 3 Tbs Less Sodium Soy Sauce and mix

Now add the minced Ginger and Garlic and mix

Place this mixture in a sealed container and put in the fridge until completely chilled (about 2 hours).

Preheat your oven to 350 or you may choose to fry the patties in a skillet, I prefer to cook them in the oven for even appearance.

Pull the mixture out of the fridge and give it a stir.  Sprinkle the flour across the top and blend until the mixture becomes clumpy.  Add the Egg and mix until well blended (don’t over do it, just blend don’t atomically alter).

Pray your cookie sheet with oil (or use parchment paper)

Using a 1/3 of a cup to meassure each patty out and place on the cookie sheet.  Place the batch in the oven and because oven times can very due to geographical locations I expect you can figure out when you should flip the patties.  They will brown nicely on the bottoms but you’ll want to turn them over before the tops are completely cooked.

I hope you enjoy these veggie patties as much as my family and friends do.  Compared to the cost of vegetarian patties at the supermarket and the ease of making these yourself you can’t go wrong.  In my location a national brand of patties goes for $3.50 to $4.00 a box of four.  My total cost to make these patties is about $1.50 for four patties.  Imagine that…

I quickly pulled up to my house so I could run inside and grab my camera.  Cursing myself for not having a camera in my car I promptly ran back to the hydrant only to find the fog had changed and the lovely rays of light were no more.  My punishment for not being an apt photographer is a boring fire hydrant in the dark.

One of the most important lessons in photography isn’t just to have your camera ready, but to keep an open mind.  All wasn’t completely lost and thankfully as a half apt photographer I looked up and captured this beautiful site in the trees.

Person after person, man after man telling how they had to pull their own dead children out from whole walls that had fallen on a group of children attending school at the time of the earthquake.  Understandably these men did not wish to even look but they had no choice because the smell of rotting bodies was too great.  One good rain would poison the whole water supply.  Removing their children’s bodies was an act of survival.  A very painful act of survival that I wish no human should have to go through.

What’s worse is that there are still many survivors that are having to live with broken bones while there is no one to tend to their open wounds.  No officials have stopped by, no one but a small group of media personnel have noticed this group.  I hear all this from the comfort of my vehicle and know that if it weren’t for our marvelous technological evolution I would not even know Haiti was struck down and suffering.

Now that I know, what can I do? If I could drop everything I would but I cannot and I don’t have any resources to offer except money and cloths.  I will donate, but it’s not enough.

Anyone who knows me can attest I am a coffee snob.  Now, most people drink Robusta Coffee.  Comes in a can, red or blue, tastes like tire marks on a road and after a few cups you convince yourself it tastes good.  Then we smell Star Bucks and think “wow, that smells better than my morning brew”.  Everyone who’s had Star Bucks Coffee can’t possibly say it’s horrible, but, to those who swear by it…  You’ve got to get out more and stop judging things by their dollar amount.  An Apple Computer isn’t superior to PC because it costs more; no, cost vs. necessity dictates the true value between Apple Computers and PC’s.

My Poisonous Bean of Choice

My economical everyday coffee is actually Dunkin Donuts Whole Bean Original Blend.  There are just two reasons I love this coffee, price and flavor.  When brewed correctly such as with a french press the flavor can be quite complex and amazing.

Dunkin Donuts Whole Bean Original Blend has a nice nutty flavor with strong hints of coco and a dull after-taste of caramel.  I find that most Roasters burn their beans (for aesthetic reasons actually) killing off much of the flavor that exists in a medium roast.  Thankfully Dunkin Donuts does a real Medium Roast and yes, the beans will very in color from one to the next but it’s all about taste.

The Brew

My preferred method to brew Dunkin Donuts Coffee is with fresh ground beans in the French Press, although I make espresso with an espresso machine and it turns out very well; both methods pull quite a lot of oil out of the beans and that is the reason for such complex and rich flavors.  It’s like cooking with oil instead of water the flavor is always more complex because oil has flavor itself.

Arabica Vs. Robusta

Dunkin Donut’s coffee beans are a blend of Central and South American Arabica coffee beans.  Arabica coffee has a lower acidity level (most beans anyway) than that of Robusta Beans.  Don’t get me wrong there are good Robusta beans out there but I have never had a good Robusta coffee before but I can say that you’ll never find a good Robusta in your typical grocery store.  You’ll have to find a Roaster to obtain quality Robusta beans.  Arabica on the other hand grows in large quantities and is seen used by Star Bucks, Caribou Coffee, Dunkin Donuts and a few brand names that can be found in your local grocery store.

I highly recommend experimenting to find the bean you most prefer.  Not really a side note but I do often buy other South American Coffee Beans from Star Buck.  The issue can at times be price and availability.  Most of those excellent beans from Star Buck are seasonal so I can’t always get them.  It should also be noted that I only drink my Dunkin Donuts Coffee black and I never buy a brewed cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee from their stores.  I actually prefer the burned-bean flavor with lots of half and half from Star Bucks than Dunkin Donuts “coffee maker” flavor.  Given the choice I’d rather go home and make a cup of my own Dunkin Donuts in a French Press.  I also have a French Press in my office.

As the weather warmed up this little gal thought she’d have a go at our new bird feeder only to find out it’s the new and improved bird feeder that squirrels can’t eat out of.  Of course this made her mad so she started peeping through the windows barking what I assume profanities.

She did this not once but four times in one hour.  Each time she ran the birds off in a mad rage that they have ways to retrieve the food stores and she didn’t.  Thankfully no birds were hurt but I was sure the Red Robin and Blue Jay were plotting something of an attack later.

It’s true that squirrels are rodents but I can’t say your average rat would show this much intelligence being wild.  I should also point out that I (being from Michigan originally) have never heard a squirrel squawk until moving down here.  The squirrels in Michigan bark and actually sound more akin to a shrunken dog.

While I’ve enjoyed watching animals do crazy things (most I haven’t had a camera ready for) it just so happened that I had my camera out for these really cute squirrel shots.  I don’t usually take photo’s with my cell phone (the most awesome G1 Android phone I might add, yes I love the phone) but I should remind everyone that if you do have your camera out and ready you are most likely to catch the best pictures when they’re spontaneous.

Here’s another cute spontaneous picture of Mollie (my dog) just staring at a lamp.  No special reason why just looking into the pretty light I guess.  Truth be told some of the best and most precious pictures I own were a nano second away from being waste all because I was ready and there with a camera in hand to catch those perfect moments in life.

It’s funny How much 10 degrees can change how a person feels mentaly.  These past couple of weeks I haven’t even wanted to go to the gym and run on a treadmill.

Understandably we here in Florida really don’t have room to complain as our worst cold weather is a joke compared to that in NY, Chicago, and Detroit.

I’m from Detroit so I know how cold it can get.  I helped out in a warming center there because some nights the temperatures would reach (with wind chill) -17 Fahrenheit.  That’s painfully cold.

So, this weekend I’m going to enjoy as much of the warmth as possible.  I am truly grateful for every gust of warm air we receive.

Thankfully there’s an organization called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.  I didn’t know about the website until I went to visit my Brother and he showed me this DVD they gave his Family featured in the photo above along with Doug’s last diaper.  As you can probably tell Doug was very premature.

The DVD is a montage of what photographs had been taken while in the hospital.  A visual tool to aid in a families grieving process.  Reminding everyone that this person that died wasn’t a dream and their birth and death really did happen.  These are very important things to remember when grieving.  Sometimes the details can get lost amongst the pain.

On the website you’ll find a Forum and a few other helpful links the greatest resource being Helping The Bereaved.  It’s a list of what exactly people feel when they loose a baby.  We have to keep in mind that not everyone is the same and I can definitely say I was surprised at my Brother’s response.  It’s a true sign that you can never completely anticipate what someone will feel and this website helped me get a clue.  Albeit after-the-fact but I’m truly grateful to this organisation for what they’ve offered my Brother and Rachael.

Thank you to all those who partisipate in Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and God Bless.

What an incredible experience it was to watch this movie.  I went to see it in 3D and I will admit that I’ve never seen the new RealD 3D which is way cool not having those blue and red glasses to wear.  I never thought them comfortable at all.  I have a small head too so they’ve always been too large but the new (sunglasses-like) glasses fit well enough.

From beginning to end this movie never ceases to visually entertain you.  Viewing this masterpiece in 3D made it all the better as 3D submerges you in the totally unique environments they’ve create.  Everything from all the elements have been rendered to be as realistic as possible with current CGI.  I was never quite sure what was real in the movie and what wasn’t.

The cast could not have been better chosen

Sigourney Weaver was a perfect choice for her role as Dr. Grace Augustine.  Since her role in Ghost Busters as Dana Barrett who had been possessed which led to Weaver playing quite convincingly a sexually charged demon.  Weaver now plays two roles in Avatar as a chain-smoking scientist and of course her alter alien ego which is younger, active, and doesn’t smoke.

Sam Worthington (who was also in Terminator Salvation and I’m very excited that he’ll be in the remake Clash of the Titans) who plays Jake Sully a parapoligic marine what a great actor he’s been.  I never heard of Worthington until Terminator Salvation and WoW what a great job he did.  There really aren’t that many new talented male actors in Hollywood these days imo (and I do stress that’s simply my opinion).

Zoe Saldana who plays Neytiri, at time’s she was too real.  I wouldn’t want to give any script away especially if you haven’t seen the movie but my god she was good.  Her spirit really made this movie what it is for me… A masterpiece! Neytiri is our only real guide in the movie to help us feel what it is that the Na’vi (the alien race the movie is accentually about) feel, what their customs and religions are.  She does this so well that when she feels hopeless you feel hopeless when she feels love you feel love.  I just realized Zoe plays Uhura in the new Star Trek Movies! I also just learned there’s an “anounced” Untitled Star Trek Sequel for a possible 2012 date!

Michelle Rodriguez who plays Trudy Chacon did her usual awesome job.  This time she plays a though pilot who has a good heart and isn’t afraid to disobey orders when her leaders are unjust in their ways.  If only more people could be like Trudy Chacon there might be less senseless evil in this world.

My final thoughts when the credits rolled… Wow, she wasn’t transferred because she became a part of her greater consciousness.  What does that means? You’ll have to see the movie to find out!

A big thank you to James Cameron for writing a truly awesome movie and as always keep’m coming!

I’ll admit I’m a kid at heart and movies like The Goonies cartoons the likes of Scooby Doo, Transformers, and Thundercats will always bring that kid back out.  So, when I come across a cartoon like Avatar I can’t help but smile.  When ever a small group is putting their differences aside and working together I think it makes us all feel better about ourselves.  Perhaps there’s a deeper message in that last statement than I’d care to touch on in a blog but I can definitely share this cartoon as quality entertainment that doesn’t sacrifice morals to entertain.

Soon we shall see the Movie! I’ve been a big fan of M. Night Shyamalan and I’ll admit this doesn’t seem like his type of work but I’m eager to see what he’ll do with this story.  The actors have some pretty big shoes to fill so I hope they’ve chosen the cast wisely.

I’m especially eager to see who will play Uncle Iroh.  I think I relate more to Iroh as I’d rather have a cup of coffee and relax than play in the mud with Earthbenders.  To each his own though.

You’ll notice this poster says “written and directed by” which has me uber curious as to how this will turn out.  We shall this July…