You have to watch this! It’s so inspiring and touching!

I can’t believe I coined a movie the best superhero movie ever twice in the same year, but here goes: The Dark Knight is the best superhero movie edging out Ironman! Ironman is extremely high quality entertainment, but it does not transcend the typical super-hero movie. Batman is much more than a super-hero movie – it’s a fantastic movie in its own right. It’s dark and gritty and you get high quality entertainment, brilliant performances and hefty topics (death, illegal wiretapping, anti-heroism).

I loved the original Batman, but the sequel is on a whole other level. Director Chris Nolan does a fantastic job at telling a complicated tale. It’s the fastest two and a half hour movie I ever saw. Not once did I feel the movie the plot was moving too slowly. Most of the performances are fantastic. It’s an all star cast and everyone seems to be doing that extra something special. I had read Heath Ledger’s performance in particular was fantastic, but I wondered how much of that praise came from sympathy over his terrible fate. My cynical doubts were put to rest: Heath Ledger’s performance is gripping. His speech on anarchy is terrifying!

The movie is not perfect. I did not buy Maggie Gyllenhaal as the love interest to Christian Bale and Aaron Eckhart – she’s a great actress, but she’s just not pretty enough! I also had a hard time buying Aaron Eckhart’s transformation.

These minor quibbles aside, this is the best movie of the year and you should all see it!

I have chosen to move from my current apartment and it’s interesting that the first question I get is “Why?” As though moving is only acceptable if you had a change in life circumstances. Apparently just because does not cut it anymore!

I have been at my current apartment on Columbus Circle for 6 years now. It’s the longest I have ever lived in one place and it’s definitely time for a change. I like my current apartment, but the neighborhood is too family oriented and old for my taste. Besides once you settle into a routine it breeds complacency. It’s time to shake things up a little. New apartment, new neighborhood, new adventures to live!

I can’t wait!

I am not sure what it is about entrepreneurs that makes us risk taking thrill seekers, but every entrepreneur I know is an adrenaline junkie. We kite board, heli ski, race cars, and keep finding new creative ways to challenge ourselves.

Ever since I saw the glider scene with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo in The Thomas Crown Affair, I have been dying to try it. I enlisted my good friend and fellow entrepreneur Beatrice Tarka, CEO of travel search company Mobissimo and we embarked on our adventure.

When we got to the club, they gave us three options: a scenic, romantic ride, an intro lesson or a thrill seeker acrobatic ride. I suppose, that meant there was only one option 🙂 We opted for the Monterey Bay Acro Ride. Ever the gentleman, I let Beatrice go first 🙂

The flight starts with the glider towed to 8,000 feet over the Monterey Bay Area – flying over the Gabilan Mountain Range and the San Andreas Fault line. Once we reach 8,000 feet the acrobatics begin until 3,700 feet. I had never done acrobatics before and the G forces experienced are quite unique and tons of fun! It’s like being on a roller coaster to the power of 10 and the videos below don’t do justice to the experience! The pilot expertly did loops, barrel rolls, tail spins, humpty dumpty and tons of other maneuvers whose name I did not quite catch.

In addition to being a fantastic sensation, the view from the canopy is majestic! When you are inverted you can see the ground to the horizon in all directions and it’s a view to die for!

On the flight back, you get to fly the glider. It’s very much like flying a Piper or Cessna except you need to use more rudder.

Try it, it’s a unique experience!

Warning: Do not eat before doing acrobatics!

I am not quite sure what the starting salaries are at management consulting firms these days but for argument’s sake let’s say it’s $50,000 for analysts and $100,000 for associates. Given that management consulting firms “rent” their services for at least 5 times the employment costs, the downside of being understaffed is much greater than the downside of being overstaffed. As a result, they will always be over-staffed at the beginning of a recession.

Imagine a more dramatic Marley and Me written from the dog’s perspective and you get The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.

A friend of mine picked it up at Starbucks and said I had to read it. He was right! As a dog lover and owner and a fan of Formula 1 racing, I connected with the book. I clearly recalled most of the Formula 1 races and events mentioned in the book. Moreover, the story is incredibly touching. In many ways it reminded me of Will Smith’s The Pursuit of Happyness given the uphill struggle Denny faces during the entire book. I don’t think I cried as much in years. I was balling reading it on the train from Port Washington to New York!

Read it, you won’t regret it!

I had the pleasure of attending the New York premiere on Monday night. I know the movie got bad reviews, but I enjoyed it very much. It was cheesy and over the top which was exactly what I expected. I actually liked seeing Will Smith play against type and Charlize Theron is drop dead gorgeous in the movie.