Roger Ebert's Best Movies of Each Year

A couple of days ago I came across a list of all the films Roger Ebert picked as the best for each year he worked as film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. Ebert was with the Chicago newspaper for nearly 47 years. Of the 46 films listed, I've seen about 10 of them. If there is anything I've learned from Mr. Ebert, it's that I need to start watching more five-star movies.

Here's the list I copied from the article titled, Roger Ebert's Favorite Movies:

1967 Bonnie and Clyde
1968 The Battle of Algiers
1969 Z
1970 Five Easy Pieces
1971 The Last Picture Show
1972 The Godfather
1973 Cries and Whispers
1974 Scenes From a Marriage
1975 Nashville
1976 Small Change
1977 3 Women
1978 An Unmarried Woman
1979 Apocalypse Now
1980 The Black Stallion
1981 My Dinner with Andre
1982 Sophie's Choice
1983 The Right Stuff
1984 Amadeus
1985 The Color Purple
1986 Platoon
1987 House of Games
1988 Mississippi Burning
1989 Do the Right Thing
1990 Goodfellas
1991 JFK
1992 Malcolm X
1993 Schindler's List
1994 Hoop Dreams
1995 Leaving Las Vegas
1996 Fargo
1997 Eve's Bayou
1998 Dark City
1999 Being John Malkovich
2000 Almost Famous
2001 Monster's Ball
2002 Minority Report
2003 Monster
2004 Million Dollar Baby
2005 Crash
2006 Pan's Labyrinth
2007 Juno
2008 Synechdoche, New York
2009 The Hurt Locker
2010 The Social Network
2011 A Separation
2012 Argo

Designing 007 exhibit in Toronto worth investigating (ends Jan. 20)

My favourite moment of 2012

Me with Rebeka, Lydia and Rachelle Wyse
(Esther not pictured)

Before 2012 draws to a close, I want to share my favourite moment of the year with you. It happened in Washington last July, during the American conference for people with my physical disability, osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones).

While I was enjoying a Saturday night party at the hotel, I came upon these young pretty girls with OI enjoying cake with a middle-aged couple. When I asked the couple how they all knew each other, they said they were with four of their children adopted from China.

Originally from Illinois, Keith and Cheryl Wyse have lived more than 10 years of their lives in China. They became passionate about establishing a home for orphaned children with OI after adopting twins Rebekah and Rachelle in 2002. I met the twins, and also two of their other adopted daughters, Lydia and Esther. The Wyses have eight children, and of the six adoptees, four of them have OI.

When I met with them again during breakfast the next morning, they talked about a centre they co-founded in China called the Agape Family Life House. The Agape Family Life House is also a Christian ministry that reflects the deep faith shared by the Wyse family. The Wyses want to shine a light to the world by showing that people with OI can be brought up to live long and healthy lives.

The OI Foundation honoured Keith that evening with an award recognizing his efforts to help improve the quality of life for children and youth with OI. After the conference ended, I read more about Agape and the work it has done and continues to do. Though I live in Canada, I want to help the ministry grow any way possible.

The Wyses’ story moved me so much that I seized every opportunity I could to spend time with them and get to know them. Meeting Keith and Cheryl and their four children, and learning about the Agape Family Life House, ranks as my favourite moment of 2012.

RIP Fontella Bass

RIP Gerry Anderson

Celebrating Renee

A couple of years ago I watched this TV documentary called Suck it Up Princess. It's about a young woman with muscular dystrophy named Renee Rodrigues. She was a tough, feisty and determined gal who managed to keep persevering when the odds were often stacked against her. She died last Friday (Dec. 21) at the age of 24. I never got to meet her, but I admired her and her ability to 'suck it up', as revealed in her documentary. Here's a clip from that special. RIP Princess.

RIP Charles Durning

This is the #1 song of 2012, according to Billboard

Season's Greetings from me and Wishy

RIP Dave Brubeck

RIP Bill Tarmey

I remember meeting 'Jack Duckworth' of the long-running British soap Coronation Street when he came to sing at the 1994 Variety Club Telethon in Toronto. Tarmey's Duckworth character was one of the show's most popular characters. He was part of the show from 1979 to 2010. You are remembered and missed, Bill.

Movember 2012

This year I'm doing the Movember challenge. This involves growing a mustache and raising money for cancer research at the same time throughout November. I also want to promote men's health. I formally joined the Movember campaign nearly a week after it officially began. So far I've managed to raise $5!

You can check out my Mo Space at http://ca.movember.com/mospace/5769565. I will be updating it frequently.

Here's a video I appeared in on accessing employment

http://www.accessforward.ca/trainingResources/employment-video

Happy 40th to Canada AM, my favourite TV morning show!

St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Canada's (and America's) newest saint

My thoughts on the term 'disability'

Last Thursday (Oct. 4) my friend Daniele Rossi interviewed me for his Stuttering is Cool podcast. The topic for this episode is "The term 'disability' - Friend or Foe?" I felt honoured to have been part of it. My interview starts around the 11-minute mark.

You can listen to this episode or download it at http://stutteringiscool.com/podcast/the-term-disability-friend-or-foe/.

Steve Jobs remembered, one year later

50 years of Bond... James Bond

RIP Barbara Ann Scott

RIP Raylene Rankin