Wednesday, December 28
2005 Wrap-Up
I broke my wrist a few weeks ago--hence my non-posting here. But I wanted to share some of my thoughts with you about 2005. It'll be short but slightly sweet (and sour. probably).
Music
Personally, 2005 was a mixed year. For the world, however, the year just plain sucked. Bush & Co. continued to make everything worse, from Iraq to global warming to Katrina to breaking the law in a myriad of ways. The silver lining is that at least people in the US are starting to notice and get as pissed off as the rest of the world. Here's hoping that anger continues and grows in 2006!
Happy Holidays, everyone!!!
- Personally, 2005 was the ultimate Dickens year for me. On the best of times side, I got a new job teaching English full time, my wife and I bought our first house, and, in December, I got yet another new job coordinating the distance education program at my college. All this was overshadowed, however, by the death of my father in February, which was devastating for my family. I'm heartened, however, by the fact that my dad would have been proud of my accomplishments this year. I just wish he'd been around to see my new house--he would have loved it.
- Another thing my dad would have loved would have been the Seattle Seahawks' season so far; they're the best team in the NFL right now, and my dad and I were big fans. In fact, when the Angels won the world series in 2002, the first thing my dad said to me was, "Now we just have to get one for the Seahawks." So, hopefully, this will be the year--too bad he couldn't be here to enjoy it.
- My dad was never as big a baseball fan as I am, but he still would have enjoyed the Angels beating up the Yankees this year in the first round of the playoffs. He hated the Yankees, as do I, though the Red Sox and their incredibly annoying fans are a VERY close second. I'm a huge Angels fan, so the loss to the white sox this year was depressing, but at least the team won its second straight AL West crown--something the Angels have never done before. Even better, the future for the team is as bright as it's ever been.
- Because of my dad's death and my new job and move, I scaled back my music reviewing here and at Stylus. I don't know how many reviews I'll be doing in the future, but I will continue to write review whenever I can, and when I can't, I'll at least post recommendations here for all to check out.
Music
- The White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan--best album of the year from the best rock band anywhere
- Sigur Rós, Takk...--Another great work by a great band. Once again, haunting, original, and utterly beautiful, just like Iceland.
- William Basinski, The Garden of Brokenness--see my review below
- Boards of Canada, The Campfire Headphase--fantastic work
- Seu Jorge, The Life Aquatic - Studio Sessions--Wonderful Bowie covers in Portugese by great Brazilian singer. The movie is really underappreciated, too.
- The Daily Show with Jon Stewart--If you're not a fan, then just leave this site right now. Best thing on TV.
- Arrested Development--Five years from now, people will be talking about this show as the Seinfeld of the 00s.
- Battlestar Galactica--Surprisingly intelligent scifi.
- Lost--Caught up with this show thanks to iTunes. Good stuff.
- South Park--As usual.
- Rome--"Who doesn't appreciate a large penis?"
- Full Metal Alchemist--How many other shows out there are about alchemy?
- Werner Herzog boxed sets--one of his films with Klaus Kinski, the other a collection of his other greats. Amazing stuff, especially Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Fata Morgana.
- All three original Star Trek seasons--what I did while recovering from my broken bones.
- All sorts of Ray Harryhausen DVDs, including a collection of his early work and Jason and The Argonauts, still the best special effects film I've ever seen. I got to see Harryhausen in person this year at Comicon.
- iPod video--got it a few weeks ago (my third ipod). Great tool--will change movies and tv the way the first ipod changed music.
- PSP--also changing video as well as gaming, but still waiting to see if better games will emerge on the system before pronouncing it a true success.
- TabletPC--my school gave me one this year; has the potential to transform computers, provided they become easier to use.
Personally, 2005 was a mixed year. For the world, however, the year just plain sucked. Bush & Co. continued to make everything worse, from Iraq to global warming to Katrina to breaking the law in a myriad of ways. The silver lining is that at least people in the US are starting to notice and get as pissed off as the rest of the world. Here's hoping that anger continues and grows in 2006!
Happy Holidays, everyone!!!
