It’s that time of year. The time when everybody makes a whole big thing out of one number changing on the calendar. By my count, the number 8 has been replaced by the number 9 thirty-six times this year. But we’re all supposed to act like the thirty-seventh time is some big deal. Once you’ve seen the new millennium, its hard to get excited about 2019.
Nevertheless, I am given to understand that year-end-best-of posts are like catnip to you people so I would be falling down on my job as a Semi-Professional Bloggerâ˘if didn’t crank one out for the driveling masses. Here goes…
*note: I will not be limiting myself to things released in 2018. For me, it is enough if I have consumed the thing in 2018.
Books
This year, I set a goal to read 26 books. Then I hit that goal. So I increased it to 35. Then I hit it again. After repeating the aforementioned cycle a few more times, I landed at my current goal of 52 books (see all the books I have read this year). Here are some of the highlights:
- Suicide of the West by Jonah Goldberg
- Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark
- Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
- Witness by Whittaker Chambers
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
- Israel: a Concise History of a Nation Reborn by Daniel Gordis
Movies
There have been a lot more disappointments in the film industry than hits this year, at least for me. A Star is Born was 2/3 of a good movie. Avengers: Infinity War was solid, but not exceptional. Black Panther was great, but everyone already knows that. So here are the best movies I saw this year that didn’t get enough buzz:
- The Death of Stalin (for the love of God, see this movie)
- Operation Finale
- Tag
- 12 Strong
TV Shows
Something, something Golden-Age-of-TelevisonÂŽ:
Apps
There are a lot of apps out there. It’s kind of a big deal. I regularly make app recommendations to people, here are some of my favorite apps I started using in the last year:
- Castro Podcasts
- Shortcuts
- Robokiller: Spam Call Blocker (you are welcome)
- Movies Anywhere
- Tailor – Screenshot Stitching
- Opener
- Pocket Run Pool
- REI Co-op National Parks Guide
- Alto’s Odyssey
- Just Watch
- CARROT Weather
Stuff
This is America, dammit. And in America we love
- AirPods
- Bose TV Solo 5 (this is the best sounding, least fiddly sound bar I have ever owned)
- Away Suitcases (best luggage around, and a lifetime warranty)
- TCL 55″ 4K UHD TV w/ Roku
- iOttie One Touch QI Car Mount
- Tecovas Cartwright
- Logitech Harmony 650
- Funko Pop Ron Swanson
- Logitech K380 (Keyboard)
- Anker Wireless Charging Pads
- Key-Bak Sidekick
- Screwpop Cigar Punch
There you have it. Go buy some stuff. It will make you happy for at least a few minutes.