So 2008 is finally over and I, for one, am all too glad to see it go. The economy went into the toilet, too many people I know lost loved ones this year, and there were a smattering of considerably less but nonetheless shitty things that happened throughout the year. Of all the people I know, I seem to be one of the more unscathed and that brings with it a sense of gratitude to the Cosmos but also a sense of fear that it's going to be my turn next. Nevertheless, I look forward to 2009 with a sense of optimism. We're getting a new president, and a possibly good Alan Moore film adaptation so there's a lot to look forward to.
Every year, I write down some resolutions and then I immediately throw them out because I know I'll never stick to them. This year is different. This year, I will guarantee that I will stick to them by making them so unbelievably easy that I won't even have to think about it.
- I've got to do more writing both here and elsewhere. My wife and I have a goal to make a couple of short films this year. Between the ideas we have as well as some our friends do, to say nothing of all the free time I'll have soon, we'll have plenty to work with. As Winston Zeddemore said, "We got the tools, and we got the talent."
- I will liveblog the Oscars better this year.
- I'm not going to have insane expectations for Obama's first term in office. I have no doubt that the country is going in a better direction having voted him in. But between all the pre-term stuff that's been going on and how everyone is starting to realize that he can't be all things to all people (and are getting unreasonably pissed off about it), it seems like no one is on his side anymore. I think we're going to have to wait and see but we have to give the guy a chance. Because really, consider the alternative (more on that later).
- I will catch up on the films I have yet to see on the long list for the Sight and Sound 2002 Poll. Out of the 885 films voted for, I've seen 205 at last count. Got to up that a little bit. Netflix Instant Viewing will help a great deal. Herzog marathon at my house!
- I will not replace every DVD I have with a Blu-Ray copy.
- I'm not going to go on movie message boards anymore. There's a lot of nice people on them and I get a lot of great suggestions for films but I need to focus my energies on writing. If I'm going to focus on writing, I can't spend time posting messages about why I think WALL-E is a better film than E.T., no matter how much I enjoy answering such queries.
- And most importantly, I will ignore the existence of Sarah Palin. Completely. Eternal Sunshine-style, she's going to be erased from my mind. I will not click on any articles about her (unless of course there is some threat to national security detailed therein). I will not read any articles or watch any television packages about her fucking horrifically named grandchild. I will not track down a copy of Nailin' Palin and watch it. I will not even engage my father-in-law, brother-in-law or anyone else in conversation about her and how painfully clear it was that she is unfit to run the United States of America; that her candidacy for Vice President was a tactic that backfired spectacularly; that if she was a pro-choice Democrat and Obama's VP pick, McCain/Romney would have won the election by as many votes as Obama/Biden won; and that we Matrix-dodged a giant bullet that would have meant certain doom for the human race. For me, the 2008 election was Obama/Biden vs. McCain/[insert image of glaucoma blindspot next to McCain]. So if you mention something to me about her, and I reply with, "Who is this Sarah Palin person? Is she on Gossip Girl or one of those shows I don't watch?", you'll understand why.
Happy New Year!
