DocMorbius - A list of things that I consider to be the best

Movies

Casablanca

This is one of the movies that I cannot stop seeing, over and over again. If I change channels on the TV and discover it playing, I have to stop and see it. Perfect story, perfect acting, perfect direction, perfect music. Ok, I'll admit, I could just stare at a young Ingrid Bergman forever.

The African Queen

Another one of my "must view it" pictures. The best actors and the best director on the planet. I am very disgruntled that this is still not available on DVD. UPDATE. Hooray! It finally made it to DVD.

Forbidden Planet

As if you couldn't guess by the name and logo of this web site. The best science-fiction movie ever made. Note that I didn't say SCI-FI. Unfortunately, the scene on the right wasn't in the picture. Fortunately, Robby the Robot and Anne Francis were.

If you are a glutton for punishment, take a look at a list of my favorite movies.

Computers

The Apple Mac Pro

I used to build (or more accurately, assemble) my own linux boxes. I finally took the plunge and bought a 12 inch Powerbook G4, fell in love, and now we have 3 Macs, including a Mac Pro. It does everything I need it to do, quickly, easily, efficiently, and looks good too. UPDATE. We now have 5 macs, two iPhones and an iPad 2! Well, I am a computer nerd.

Cities

New York City

Photo by J. Kravitz

Ok, I'm biased, having been born in, grown up in, and still living in the suburbs of New York. It has everything: tens of thousands of restaurants, hundreds of museums, the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, and Katz's deli. What more could you want?

Cities that aren't New York

Paris

Photo by J. Kravitz

No more needs to be said. Ok, I'll just say one thing. Go to Paris, get up one morning, go to a cafe on the left bank, sit at one of the outdoor tables, order a Croissant and a Cafe au Lait, eat, drink, and watch the people go by. You'll thank me. You'll thank Paris.

Venice

Photo by J. Kravitz

Go to Venice. Do NOT just do the usual tourist bit. Don't just spend half an hour at the Piazza San Marco, another half hour at the Rialto bridge, eat lunch at one of the tourist-trap restaurants on the Grand Canal near the Rialto, and then head over to Morano to buy Chinese glass, before leaving. Spend at least a few days. Wander the back streets. Visit the real Mask stores. Eat at the places the locals go to. Venice is a jewel. Visit it before all the locals have left and it becomes VeniceLand.

Cameras

The Nikon F

In my opinion, the best camera ever made. Apologies to you Leica fans. Digital cameras are what I use now, but the Nikon F was built like a battleship. Mine still works after 40 years. Anybody think their digital whatever will be able to do that?

Museums

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Photo by J. Kravitz

Ok, you say, he lives in New York, what else would he pick? Well? Have you a better suggestion? Yes, the Louvre is pretty good, but I'll pick the Met. That place is amazing. I could spend days there. In fact, I have. If you visit New York, and you like Art, of any kind, spend some hours at the Met.

Classical Music

The Beethoven Violin Concerto

I adore this piece of music. I have an old LP of this being played by David Oistrakh in the 1960's. It's not the best sound anymore, but it still blows me away. I also think David may have been the best Violinist I have ever heard. Hilary Hahn and Maxim Vengarov are close.

The Best