Sachin Tendulkar: 50 test centuries. And a spotless career. Not a year goes by when Sachin doesn't do something that amazes the world. But the fact that he does all of this while retaining his humility and honest approach to life is a true guiding light.
Christopher Nolan: After Inception, I realized he is my new favorite director! Memento and Following were incredible movies, but after M Night's disappointing string of releases, one learns to be cautious with these things. Nolan has delivered memorable movies every time (The Prestige, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight) - I come out thinking about the movie and it stays in the ambient several days after. Can't wait for "The Dark Knight Rises"!
Fran Healy: How do you resurrect a fading band? Travis should be bigger then Coldplay, but they aren't. The last 2 albums have not touched "The Man Who", or "The Invisible Band" or even "12 Memories". Fran Healy goes solo and releases "Wreckorder", which for me is MY album of 2010 - may not be the best one out there, but a great friend nonetheless. Wonderful, sincere work. And I hope Travis comes back bigger than ever in the coming years.
Anthony Bourdain: He's been around a long time, but I only delved into his work this year. Halfway through season 5 and after reading "Kitchen Confidential", there is no doubt he is special, and a rare mix of superficial irreverence and an underlying respect for what is good in the world. Bourdain is entertaining, thought provoking and frankly, I just envy the man.
Jon Stewart: NPR and Jon Stewart are my biggest sources of information on what is going on in the world today. What makes Stewart a great watch is how almost everything he says finds a sympathetic resonance in me, like no other media figure I have followed or watched. While Colbert is funnier, Stewart strikes the chord. Bless the two best anchors on TV and those 40 minutes of daily DVR'd joy.
Barack Obama: Like Stewart, there is little Obama says that I disagree with. Of course, words come easy, and he is the best at delivering them. Actions have proven hard to follow-up with, and I struggle with that in my little world too. Yet, I believe that in time, sound fundamentals will win out. Obama was an inspiration to many in 2008/09, but for some he continues to remain one, and the fact that things are a whole lot tougher only means he now has a greater opportunity to inspire, and I believe he will.
Dobby: I never read a single Harry Potter book to completion, but just finished a 2 week marathon of catching up on all the movies. I emerged at the end of the Deathly Hallows Part I with one character in my mind: Dobby. His death in the movie is moving as hell and his character as a slavish, poor house-elf only magnifies his contribution to saving Harry and Co. A very memorable character, and will remain my favorite of the series.
The Big Bang Theory: Who could've predicted the success of a show like this? From "Knock-Knock-Knock, Penny", to a newfound interest in finding my favorite spot in the living room with the right airflow, this show has provided several snippets of fun that I use for deriving my own laughs.
Olivia Dunham/Fringe: To a fan of the X-files, Fringe reflects several of the same concepts: an underlying "mythology" amid more generic shows about strange beings and stranger doings. The strong female lead, played by Anna Torv, is what makes Fringe special for me. The physics seems even more impossible than the X-files, but the intensity is at a higher level, and the agenda more personal for the lead stars, something X-files only delved into late in their run. Here's to a long run for Liv and the Bishops!
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