poetry in commotion...

Inevitable Year Roundup

Featuring your host, Yours Truly

So as we head into the last days of 2006 and look forward to the promise of a better (or worse, depending on your pessimism) year, we take a look back at this year and reflect on the things we did right, and the things we did not-so-right. Here are some of the events that shaped me as a person, or in my opinion, events of note, in the Year of Our Lord 2006:

1) We all got jobs: 2006 marked the year where most of the group made the transition from study to work.  Well, study isn't the right word, but you know what I mean.  This transition to gainful emploment marked the beginning of a new era.  We graduated, we found jobs, we (as a group)entered that scary period known as adulthood. Just barely of course, hanging near the door so to speak, but we're there at any rate.  Dom and I graduated and found work, Jonno finished his Masters, Pete finished his apprenticeship and became a full fledged mechanic. Dan is doing very well in his job as a silver tongued salesman (never buy a used car from this man), Brendan got a job as a youth worker to troubled youths (though so far he resists my suggestions to sell drugs to these kids).  That said though, some of  my friends choose to buck these trends by going back to uni - Shaun and Cor.  Am I jealous?  Hell yes.

2) Working at Baker's Delight: Yes I'm proverbially beating the dead horse, but this is the last time I'll mention it, promise :P.  Most people tend to get some kind of crappy job at the start and use it to springboard to a better job.  My stint in BD was no exception.  While my troubles with BD have been well documented, ultimately I think the whole experience was good for me.  I was out bored out of  my mind and ready to take anything by the time I started looking for work, but through BD I learnt the importance knowing when to bail when you know it's not going to work out in the long run.  I liken it to the first girlfriend/boyfriend.  You always end up letting it go for longer than it should.  I also learnt that sometimes just because poeple have been doing something for longer doesn't mean they're completely right.  Things at Synergy have almost been the complete opposite of everything in Baker's Delight - My boss and I get along great, I learn new things everyday which keeps me interested, I enjoy what I do, and lastly, I get paid a lot more.  Great success.

3) Johnenemma and Sarah/Geoff got engaged, while Scott and .........uh..his wife, got married. Nice to know that amid so much relationship bitterness and drama that still characterises the relationships of this age period, people our age can find true love.  Will it last? I'd like to say so, but only time will tell.  But I really really want it to work for all of them.  They're all such lovely people.

4) I lead a guild in WoW.  Formulating guild policy, leading 39 other people in massive raids (not to mention more when formulating guild policy), engaging in political machinations as well as incorporating game theory and monetary policy into the dkp system, never has a game been such serious business.  And so damn fun.  It gave me lessons in leadership, dealing with people, driving and achieving goals as well as, in the end, achieving a sense of perspective on life and what is important.  While I've quit from all that, I still maintain that it was an amazing experience, even if I sound like a total dork.  In the end, running the guild was more fun than the game itself, though that too lost its appeal when I lost the interest in dealing with all the politics and lost the time after starting at Synergy.

5) Kevin Rudd Takes Over Labor Party: Finally a real alternative to the ever so shrewd Little Johnny? Bringing the two back into two party system.

6) Ratzinger shoots off his mouth, Muslims over-react.  One of the greatest threats this world faces at the moment is the rise of religious radicalism and totalitarianism.  And while neither parties are representative of the religions as a whole, it is a sad indication that the world still has a way to go before we reach a reasonable state of religious tolerance.  I stopped going to church a while ago, and my mom thinks I stopped believing in God.  Not true, I still believe in him more than ever.  However, my increasing brushes with less and less religiously tolerant worshippers left a bad taste in my mouth.  My disillusionment with the Church was complete when this happened.  Perhaps one day I'll go back.  But not in the near future.

2006 Awards: Pretentious Awards of Stuff According to Me

Best game: World of Warcraft.  I played a lot of games this year, but as stated before, WoW was the game I spent the most time on.  There's a reason why I blogged about it, have the link in my link bar and when pressed, can nerd it up with the best of them.  Despite being released 2 years ago, the new content introduced every month and the ever increasing number of subscribers (from all parts of society).  With The Burning Crusade coming out, don't be surprised if I nerd it up some more.

Best Movie: While I thoroughly enjoyed Brick, I'll have to say Pirates of the Carribean 2 was my favourite movie of the year.  Yes I enjoyed Brick and Borat a lot, but Borat is pretty boring in subsequent viewings, and Brick, well, just to me, Pirates is much more entertaining in the end.  While some may express anger at Pirates ending, I prefer to view it as half a movie.  Hopefully the third movie will vindicate all my beliefs

Honourable Mention: Brick.  'Nuff said

Best Album: I loved Avalanche and Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens.  But technically, none of the songs were new: One a collection of b-sides and remixes, the other covers of classic and contemporary Christmas songs.  Hence I'll have to give my award to Califone's Roots and Crowns. 

 Damien Rice's 9 forayed into soft rock in what will no doubt be an inspired move into commercial success, but I (and many others) still prefer O.

Best Book: I didn't get to read much this year, though I blame it on the lack of interesting offerings more than anything else.  That's my main regret this year.  I'm normally such an avid reader, but I really didn't get to read all that much this year.  Mainly unfinished books.  Still, I'll have to give it to The Knight by Gene Wolfe.  Anything I can say about this book is better said here.

Best purchase: My DS Lite.  Everyone who knows me knows that the GBA SP was a constant companion, and when the DS was announced I was excited.  However the finished product was chunky, terrible looking and lacking in great games.  However, this year the DS Lite came out - a thinner, leaner and meaner DS, infused with Apple-like sexiness and a great library of games.  What other system has a musical DDR style game where you play a three male cheerleaders solving problems around a city using the power of dance? None, that's what.

Honorable Mention: My Rayban Aviators.  Classically cool and shielding me from the sun? My only problem was actually wearing it, since everyone was always stealing mine off me.

Best Webcomic: XKCD. A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math and language.  A must read.

Yes I didn't mentioned my much talked of Wii, and Zelda, but that because it came so late in the year that I'd like to see how it goes before I pass judgement.  However, things are looking good for the little game console that could.  With over 3 million Wii consoles sold out in the world and 30 million DS lites sold worldwide, it looks like a rosy year for Nintendo next year.

 Next Week: Things to look forward to in 2007

P.S - Blood Elf Mounts.  Someone say chocobo

posted by jaseypoo! @ 2:56 PM