The fact that some movies are given the green light often leaves me dumbfounded. My wife and I started watching a movie called "Aloha" last night, starring Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray, John Krasinki, and Alec Baldwin. The trailer showed it to be the quintessential chick flick/rom com, and, while it isn't my favorite genre, I've come to love several romantic comedies throughout the years. I also figured my wife might like it, so we decided to give it a go. Long story short, we're about three quarters into the movie, and I don't understand what the hell is going on. The movie has virtually no plot, and there is no romantic chemistry whatsoever between Cooper and his love interest in the movie. One of the telltale signs of a bad flick is when you can't get yourself to become invested in the characters. It speaks to poor direction and character development, both of which mar this stinker tremendously. This movie also demonstrate...

Studies have repeatedly shown that it's experiences -- not material goods -- that enrich our lives the most. So far, I've traveled very little in my life, which is something I'm aiming to change in the next couple of years. My wife and I are contemplating taking a trip to Walt Disney World in the winter and to Boston next spring. It's no surprise that experiences have been found to bring us the most happiness. After all, only they create lifelong memories. We can always relive a trip to Hawaii or a cruise to the Bahamas via pictures, videos, and keepsakes we bring home with us. But what is there to treasure about material possessions? Unless it's, say, a family heirloom you inherited from your grandfather, material possessions just wear and are eventually replaced. I would much rather spend my money on an experience I've never had before -- dinner at a popular restaurant on the other side of town or a trip to a breathtaking destination on the other side ...