I’ve been putting off writing this story for some time—too many things to tell you about and too little space. Yes, San Diego has a brilliant blue ocean and blue skies most of the time, mild temperatures year-round, a strong Spanish/Mexican heritage that permeates most of its architecture and culture, a huge U.S. Navy presence, amazing beaches and golf courses, a wealth of public and private universities and a world-famous zoo. You knew all this already, didn’t you?

Ryan Robertson arguably posted the best career stats of any high school player in our town's history. Now that he's returned home, Robertson is coaching his children's basketball teams.

It’s that time of year when A-list actors wait patiently by the phone and  pretend that awards mean nothing (and that approval from colleagues and fans is recognition enough), but hoping against hope that their agent calls to tell them they got an Oscar nomination. The nominations were announced last week, and I must say there were a few surprises…and not the good kind.

The Baldwin Report

The lists are fairly uncontroversial this year. I said fairly. Also, in the spirit of full disclosure, there are three films on the list that I have not yet seen. I just feel that confident. So, without further ado...

I always wanted to be some sort of 'buff'—turns out I am a movie buff. I also happen to love all things Hitchcock; well, most things Hitchcock, and frankly, I thought I knew quite a bit about the man. Turns out that wasn’t the case, and I have this film to thank for enlightening me. Hitchcock is quite simply an intelligent and brilliantly acted film about a genius and his many obsessions.

The date was May 1983. The location was Jefferson City. The event was the Missouri State Track Meet. It may be the single best athletic achievement day for one high school athlete in our town’s history. Kirkwood senior, Alvin Miller, won the meet. That is, he won the state championship for Kirkwood by himself. Miller won four events: the 110 high hurdles, 300 intermediate hurdles, the 100 meters and the 200 meters.

No golfer in our town has a better resume than 51-year-old Ellen Port. No one. Port has won 12 Metropolitans, seven Missouri Amateurs and five national tourneys, including four U.S. Mid Amateurs. Not bad for a woman who played exactly one year of high school golf and no golf at all in college.

The following homes, condos and property went on the market last week or substantially reduced their list price:

Financial forecasters say that the Great Recession is winding down, with encouraging signs of an improving economy outweighing lingering negative effects such as high unemployment.

I have given M. Night Shyamalan the benefit of the doubt for years because The Sixth Sense has to be one of the greatest thrillers of all time. With his follow- up, Unbreakable, I thought we were dealing with the next Alfred Hitchcock. Signs worried me, but I stayed onboard. Then came The Village, and my faith was tested. Lady in the Water and The Happening had me wondering if Shyamalan had suffered a stroke. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, he offers for our enjoyment The Last Airbender. If The Happening was a headache, this movie is a cinematic migraine. (Granted, I am not the target demographic.) It is the story of a child who can manipulate the four basic elements, earth, air, fire and water, and must use his skill to protect his world from the warring Fire Nation. I would tell you more if I knew it. The script is illogical, unengaging and, based on the performances, the actors think so too. It’s hard to believe a movie so action-packed could be boring. To make matters worse, if it fares well at the box office, the studio is hoping to make three sequels. So, I guess all we can do is hope he is the last airbender.

Play: The 39 Steps

So, I go to the movies a lot, and for years I have complained about the lack of new ideas in Hollywood. Every year the industry gets bigger, grander and more derivative. Well just when you thought they couldn’t get any shallower, the studios let a little more water out of the tub. Currently the top eight films at the box office are:

Play:    Dial M for Murder