My Best of 2008
Getting in just under the wire for my best of 2008 picks. It’s a very eclectic mix. However, there is one gaping hole, the Ski Boy and I just did not get to very many movies this year - five or less. Sheesh. I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions, but perhaps our resolution for 2009 should be, More Movies!!!!
Best of Tech
This was a great year on the tech front. 2008 was another revolutionary year both in terms of devices and applications - particularly “Web 2.0″ apps.
- Tie: Apple Macbook Air and Amazon’s Kindle.
I inherited the Air from Isaac. Initially, I wasn’t that intrigued - I didn’t think I could be seduced by a lightweight. I like my laptops with lots of power and tons of screen real estate. However, I wasn’t going to turn down my first shot at a Mac in over 15 years. I had a bit of an adjustment period to the Mac OS, but once I got over the hump, I fell head over heels. Peter also purchased an Apple 23″ Cinema Display - which is beyond fabulous. So my Macbook Air is totally pimped out and I LOVE it. And the size, OMG! I love my lightweight! I don’t think I want to go back to a full size laptop.The Kindle, Amazon’s ebook, is a true delight. It’s taken some ribbing because appearance-wise, it is a bit of an ugly duckling - particularly in comparison to Apple styling. But in terms of user experience, it is a dream. It is intuitive and totally optimized for the reading experience. The screen size is perfect - it’s a bit smaller than the average trade paperback page, but that’s o.k. I find I focus a bit more when I’m presented with smaller chunks to consume. The screen display is based on electric ink technology - it is very easy on the eyes and there is no distracting flash when moving from one page to the next. I started using the Kindle in August. It took me about a month to adjust and now I’m happier when reading a book on the Kindle than a physical book. And, it’s the only way to go for travel. One can download numerous books to the Kindle - no need to lug four or five books along on a trip. In terms of book selection, Amazon has a huge number of titles available on the Kindle at the average price of $8.99. Amazon’s digital content policy for music, video, and Kindle books, allows for unlimited download. They use the “Digital Locker” operating model. Basically, all of your content is in your locker at Amazon and is available at any time. A vastly superior model to iTunes.
- Evernote.
Evernote is a platform independent note taking application - it works on both the Mac and PC. It also has an internet cloud component so that even if you don’t have your laptop with you, you can access your notes via the Evernote site on the Internet. Evernote syncs between your computer and its Internet site. In addition to notebooks and notes within notebooks, you can also incorporate pictures and graphics. A very sweet application. I no longer keep a physical notebook. I do absolutely everything in Evernote. - Twitter
Twitter reached the tipping point this year - particularly with the election. I am absolutely in love with it. It is a fabulous way to keep in close, but not intrusive contact with friends. It’s also massively cutting edge in terms of breaking news, etc. My name is Stephanie and I’m addicted to Twitter.
Books
This was an absolutely amazing year for reading. One stunning book after another. I think I’ve become a bit spoiled.
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy. A perfect book. An absolutely arresting, horrifying, heartbreaking work that even in its beyond belief nightmare post apocolyptic setting has a deep deep sweet heart. And its stunning form - it is basically a prose poem. Which lends it even more of an epic quest quality. My best book of the last ten years. A masterwork. Cormac McCarthy, Annie Proulx, and Larry McMurtry are the three great living writers of the American West.
- Paradise Lost by John Milton - the Phillip Pullman edition. During the past year, it seemed as if Paradise Lost was referenced or alluded to in almost every book I read. So, this summer I decided to bite the bullet and read it. I did quite a bit of research as to which edition to get and the consensus seemed to be that the Pullman version was the one for one’s first reading of the poem. At the outset, I was a bit daunted - I’ve never been good with poetry. But, from the very beginning, I fell right into the rhythm of the book and was just swept away. Holy cow. The imagery, the language, it’s all just stunning. And totally approachable. And I have to admit that I feel very smug that I completed it just before Milton’s 400th birthday.
Television
I don’t have much extra time for television viewing - too busy reading, twittering, or playing with tech toys. However, this year I still managed to experience some amazing television moments.
- Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Address Nation as Governor Palin and Senator Clinton on SNL. Tina Fey is so superlative as Sarah Palin. Basically beyond words funny. But, after a few viewings, I really fell in love with Amy Poehler’s portrayal of Hillary. Brilliantly subtle and funny at the same time. Poehler so skillfully tapped into the human part of what Hillary experienced throughout the campaign. Underneath all the hilarity and “cankles” there was sublime human ethos.
- Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate at US Open. Drama and fun and good humor out the whazoo.
- The Eli Manning scramble, wing and a prayer pass, and the ball on the helmet catch made by David Tyree. Simply the greatest Super Bowl catch ever.
That basically wraps up the 2008 list. And I got it in, exactly 20 minutes before we roll over into 2009. Happy New Year!!!!!
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The Kindle is a really slick gadget. One of our producers had one and she let me play with it. It does everything as advertised, even better then I expected. Especially the part about getting news papers and magazines.
But there is just something about wanting to have the book in my hands that I can’t get around. Some of my signed books are among my most precious possessions. I can’t see me trading in my books for the Kindle.