  2012 was an interesting year for me in many ways. I started this blog at the end of last March, and so far have managed 48 posts on the main page, and a half dozen or so others on additional pages. The main page has had over 7,000 visitors since I started tracking things in early May (a lot of traffic was due to my handful of James Bond posts...thank you, 50th Anniversary!). Not too shabby of a start...though a mere drop in the pond compared to some of the other excellent (and very prolific) blogs I follow. I'll try my best to double the number of posts in 2013...though as a new father, I'd better make no guarantees. Yes, this past year was also the year when I became a first-time dad, at the tender age of 45. My son Kenji was born on September 28th, and has been a source of real joy for my wife and I (as well as multiplying my stress levels exponentially). I'm a lot busier now than I was in those comparatively carefree days when I first began this blog, but I hope that, over time, as I adjust and find a way to balance the demands of parenthood with my sundry hobbies, I'll be able to stick to a more controlled and regular posting schedule here - time and personal sanity permitting. It's been a fun experience, putting this little corner of the blogoverse together, and I want to thank all those who have bothered to read my scribblings, and especially those who've been kind enough to leave comments and give feedback - it's always very much appreciated. A special thank you goes out to my best bro Clayton Walter of Claytonology, who put in many hours masterminding the banner and background design and overall layout of this site. One blogger whose work I've read and admired for a long time is Colin over at Riding the High Country. He covers many kinds of movies but specializes in highly articulate, in-depth analysis of film noir and westerns, and his site is strongly recommended. When I first jumped into this blogging game, Colin was one of the first to reach out a hand and give me feedback and encouragement, and has continued to do so over the past year, for which I shall always be grateful. On top of all that, he recently passed some awards on to me: the Versatile Blogger Award and the Blog of the Year 2012 Award. Thanks again, Colin - you're a mensch! Versatile Blogger - The rules for accepting are as follows:
Blog of the Year 2012 - The ‘rules’ for this award are simple:
It'll take me a while to figure out how best to handle the rules and stipulations of the Versatile Blogger Award, but I'll tackle the Blogger of the Year Award right away. Following are a Baker's Dozen of wonderful blogs that I regularly read and enjoy, and feel are each highly deserving of the title Blog of the Year 2012: Tipping My Fedora Sweet Freedom Silver Screenings Chess, Comics, Crosswords, Books, Music, Cinema Flix Chatter Thrilling Days of Yesteryear Classic TV and Film Cafe Laura's Miscellaneous Musings In So Many Words... Tales of the Easily Distracted From the Archive: A British Television Blog My Love of Old Hollywood Pretty Sinister Books As for "7 interesting facts" about me (see the Versatile Blogger Award rules above), I can't vouch for their actual interest, but I can offer up these personal tidbits: 1. I've lived in four countries in my life: the U.S., The U.K., South Korea and Japan (where I currently reside), and traveled to an additional 13. 2. Whilst living in England, I saw Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke perform the two-man play The Secret of Sherlock Holmes, live in a Manchester theatre. (I still have the theatre programme around somewhere...) 3. In my quest to be just a wee bit like Jonny Quest, Doc Savage and James Bond, in my travels I've managed to ride in or on: a camel, an elephant, a horse, a rickshaw, a tuk-tuk, a jeepney, a cyclo, a hot air balloon, and a mosquito boat. 4. I taught Tae Kwon Do for 5 years, and have a 2nd degree black belt. (I'm awfully rusty now, though I do wallop the punching bag at the gym on a fairly regular basis.) 5. My uncle (mom's younger brother) married my adoptive dad's older sister. They were happily married for over 20 years, until my uncle sadly passed away in 2011. 6. Strangely enough, I also happen to have 3 fathers: one biological, then my first dad (who married my mom when I was a baby), and from age 9 on, my second dad Bruce, who adopted me and became one of the best things ever in my life. 7. Besides watching movies and TV, reading mystery novels and miscellaneous film books and faffing about on the Internet, I like to scuba dive, hike, lift weights and cook (I make a mean meatloaf). I don't like sipping pina coladas, however. Well, that's enough guff about me for now. Thanks to my small but loyal band of regular readers for your support over the past year, and best wishes to everyone for a fun and fantastic 2013. May your movie watching be full of newly discovered gems, old favorites and as few stinkers as possible. Jeff, I liked your site right from the get go, and not just because you featured the kind of movies that generally appeal to me too. You're one of those guys that likes to look at what works and doesn't work in a film, gives it its due if you like. Now I feel that's important; it's far too easy to take the lazy option of trashing a piece of work and being snide. I like the way you weigh up the good and the bad and give your own honest opinion. Keep at it my friend. Wow! I'm in such good company and frankly some of those blogs are WAY better than my obsessively minded mystery reading corner of cyberspace. But I thank you very much, Jeff, for the award and more importantly for being a regular visitor to Pretty Sinister Books. Congrats on becoming a Dad! The biggest adventure in your life awaits you now. It'll pale in comparison to riding a camel, an elephant and a tuk-tuk. A what? Off I go to Google and teach myself a new form of transport. I bet you make one mean meatloaf, too.
Jeff
1/4/2013 04:05:18 pm
You're too modest, John...your blog definitely belongs in such company. I really appreciate how you cover some of the lesser known corners of the mystery genre. Very educational and entertaining stuff always! Looking forward to digging in to more of your archives in the coming months.
Jeff
1/4/2013 04:01:00 pm
Sincere thanks for that, Colin. Right back at you, and ta very much again for the awards and especially for regularly perusing and commenting on the site. I look forward to lots of good discussion in the coming months!
Jeff,
Jeff
1/4/2013 04:07:20 pm
You're very welcome, Page! You've really carved out your own unique and engaging niche in the film blogging world - no mean feat. I really like what you're doing on your site. Keep up the good work!
First, congrats on being a new dad. Ain't it great?
Jeff
1/4/2013 04:11:15 pm
Thanks kindly, Toby! That's quite cool, that you can share your love of westerns with your daughter - and that she sits still for them!, which is an achievement in itself for kids nowadays with something "old." You're right, I'm very much looking forward to doing the same with Kenji. He may not like all that I plan to show him, but at least he'll be exposed to lots of good stuff, just as I was growing up. Hey Jeff, thanks for the nomination and for the support you've always given my blog. I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts in 2013, and I agree with commenter Colin's remarks about your blog. It's one of my faves - I may not always want to watch the movie you're reviewing, but I always love the writing.
Jeff
1/4/2013 04:16:39 pm
Ha! Thanks for the nice comments, Ruth! I know a lot of what I cover here may seem pretty odd to some...but at least you get a kick out the reviews, anyway. And hey, if I can steer you into checking out even one offbeat film or weird genre effort that you usually avoid, and you end up liking it, then I'll be satisfied.
WOW, what an honor, thanks so much Jeff! Very cool to read your facts trivia. I had no idea you live in Japan now, I wish I could say I have been there. Very cool that you know Tae Kwon Do, too!
Jeff
1/4/2013 04:21:54 pm
You're most welcome, Ruth! I always enjoy your passionate coverage of newer releases, and appreciate that you also have a good deal of love for the oldies as well (especially if they star handsome actors like Greg Peck! ;)
Hey, Jeff, this is Dorian and Vinnie Bartilucci from Tales of the Easily Distracted, a.k.a.Team Bartilucci! Congratulations on your VERSATILE BLOGGER Award - it couldn't happen to a more enjoyable and deserving movie blogger!
Jeff
1/4/2013 04:29:31 pm
Thanks kindly, Dorian and Vinnie TB! Your blog is always such fun and "distracting" reading, and the friendly and playful atmosphere communicated in your posts has translated into the community of regular correspondents you've built up there. I know I for one really enjoyed participating in your "Hitchcockian" Blogathon this past summer.
Very kind of you, Jeff - beaucoup thanks! You know, it occurs to me that I was lucky enough to be given the 7x7 Blogger Award early in 2012, and the folks cited there were many of the same folks being honored here. I would shower kudos on any of these wonderful folks, plus a great gal I've become friendly with last year, Jo Gabriel of The Last Drive-In: http://thelastdrivein.com 1/4/2013 04:47:40 am
Congrats on the great blog Jeff - and on your sheer dad-ness! The photos of Kenji really brighten up Facebook my man! Thanks also for including me in such fine blogging company - all the best mate
Jeff
1/4/2013 04:32:12 pm
Thanks as always, Sergio! I hope to bring some of that "Super Uncle" skill that you enjoy with your nieces to my "Daditude" training. You're very welcome, too. Your site is terrific, and the sheer amount of your output and its quality is inspiring.
Hi Jeff,
Jeff
1/4/2013 04:36:01 pm
Hi Laura! Thanks, and the same to you! Your astoundingly prolific and entertaining blog is another of my regular haunts. I don't know how you keep up such a constant flow of high quality posts, let alone watch so many films, but I'm glad you're sharing the results with us.
Thanks again so much, Jeff! I have really enjoyed being able to spend time watching and writing about movies in recent years -- I didn't have the time when my kids were younger so I can certainly relate that you are going through adjustments with the birth of your son (congratulations!!). When my kids were little I watched just 60 new-to-me films in an entire *decade*, LOL, so I'm making up for lost time! 1/4/2013 01:52:46 pm
Jeff, many congratulations on becoming a dad — it's a wonderful feeling and a terrific experience. My best wishes to you and your family. Thanks very much for the blog award. I feel honoured to have made the "highly deserving" grade and being on the same platform as some of the finest blogs I have been visiting including, indeed, "The Stalking Moon" which has been whetting my appetite for fine films and their reviews.
Jeff
1/4/2013 04:43:45 pm
Much appreciated, Prashant, and you're most welcome! You blog was a recent and very pleasant discovery for me (like John's) and I've really been enjoying what you do there, and catching up with your older posts. The "book review" side of the blogging world (though of course you cover much more than that at your site) is a relatively new one and fascinating one to me. I look forward to more of the same high caliber stuff from you in 2013! 1/6/2013 02:51:59 am
Jeff:
Jeff
1/6/2013 12:43:44 pm
You crack me up, Ivan, as always! Thanks, your welcome, and good news re: the kidneys...not necessarily in that order...
Jeff
1/8/2013 03:26:41 pm
You're very welcome, Yvette! You run a fine - and very nicely designed - blog over there, and I always enjoy reading your posts. Glad to hear that you have another grandchild on the way to liven up your 2013. Best wishes to you and your family, and glad to hear you've kicked that sinus bug to the curb. Comments are closed.
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Videophilia!
Opinionated ramblings about new and old movies (mostly old, as that's the way I like 'em!) 
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Stuart Galbraith IV's World Cinema Paradise
Movie Morlocks (TCM's Classic Movie Blog) 50 Westerns from the 50s Riding the High Country Sweet Freedom Tipping My Fedora Thrilling Days of Yesteryear Silver Screenings Laura's Miscellaneous Musings Classic TV and Film Cafe Just a Cineast She Blogged By Night Chess, Comics, Crosswords, Books, Music, Cinema Out of the Past - A Classic Film Blog Pretty Sinister Books They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To In So Many Words... Greenbriar Picture Shows Flix Chatter My Love of Old Hollywood Tales of the Easily Distracted Another Old Movie Blog Lasso the Movies Kevin's Movie Corner Films From Beyond the Time Barrier Carole & Co. Rupert Pupkin Speaks Caftan Woman Vienna's Classic Hollywood The Lady Eve's Reel Life ClassicBecky's Brain Food 
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