2010: The Year of Poutrage

Poutrage: False outrage, usually put on for personal,
financial or political gain.

(source)

It is around this time of year that I realize that I did not read enough books, see enough films, listen to enough music, or keep up with the latest trends. And, it is around this time of year that I vow next year will be different.

I love end-of-the-year lists. Here are my 2008 list, 2009 list, and end of decade list. I called this The Year of Poutrage because of all the faux outrage perpetuated by the midterm election, the candidates, the psuedo-celebrity-pundits, the Tea Party movement, and Fox News.  Plus, I think that is a great word and I plan to use it often.

It would be extremely easy to choose the crazy people of the year and back it up with quotes and video clips. However, after attending the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in Washington, DC, with Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and guests, I decided to highlight what I considered more sane. The crazies get enough attention. Let's focus on the sane for a change.

Highlights of My Personal 2010:
September in New York City
October in Washington, D.C.
Moving back to Birmingham

Favorite Music:
1) Arcade Fire - Suburbs
2) The Black Keys - Brothers
3) Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - I Learned The Hard Way
4) Ray LaMontagne's God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise but I won't admit it (it's personal).

Favorite Books:
Freedom - Jonathan Franzen

Favorite Films:
Almost no films drew me to the theater this year (released in my zip code). There are several I think I would like to see eventually:
Winter's Bone
Blue Valentine
The Fighter
Rabbit Hole

Favorite Television:
1) Mad Men
Episode - The Suitcase
Scene - Peggy and Joan talking about Don's Engagement in Tomorrowland
2) Breaking Bad
3) In Treatment

Favorite Viral Videos:
1) Standing Cat
2) Betty White's Dusty Muffin

Favorite Commercials:
MSNBC's Lean Forward campaign

Moments of Sanity:
1) Closing speech by Jon Stewart at the Rally to Restore Sanity (full text)

2) Ted Olson, David Boies, and Judge Vaughn R. Walker 
Court Rejects Same-Sex Marriage Ban    
Junk science and ideology do not hold up under cross-examination in a court of law.

3) Responses by First-Base Umpire Jim Joyce and Pitcher Armando Galarraga

“I just cost that kid a perfect game,” Joyce told reporters in Detroit. “I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay. It was the biggest call of my career.”

Galarraga told reporters that Joyce apologized to him after the game, adding that he had no instinct to argue the call. “He probably felt more bad than me," Galarraga said. smiling, he added, “Nobody’s perfect.”  (source)

4) New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg defends NY Mosque in speech (full text)

People I'll Miss:
1) Jill Clayburgh
2) Elizabeth Edwards