Top 10 for 2010 - Everything else!
2011 has begun, but that doesn't mean my look back at 2010 is quite over. Today I've got my favorite list of them all - everything else that I loved about the year that doesn't fit into the categories I usually review on the Totally Rad Show. These are ten items or activities that enriched my year, that I'd like to recommend.
1. Travel
I love to travel, but don't remember a year in which I've had more opportunities to go more places, or it has meant more to my life. I was fortunate to be able to take a trip to Hawaii with my family, a wonderful rendezvous in Paris with my girlfriend, a hiking adventure in Bryce Canyon, Utah with @amtrekker and friends, several trips to Canada for work and pleasure, our annual trek to San Diego for Comic Con, and a few jaunts up to the San Francisco Bay Area, all in 2010. It can be expensive and stressful at times, but I am a firm believer that nothing is more interesting, educational, or fun than venturing away from home. Near or far, travel added more to my year than anything else.
2. WTF Podcast with Marc Maron
I make my living creating content for the web, and have hosted or participated in many of the top podcasts on the Internet. I can safely say that WTF with Marc Maron is the best use of the medium I have ever experienced. I LOVE THIS SHOW. As my friends can attest, I reference it constantly. I have learned so much about art and artists, the creative process, comedy, life... I could go on and on. On the surface, it is a standard interview show focusing on stand-up comedy (with a who's-who list of guests), but the secret is Maron's relentless honesty. He is so unflinchingly truthful about his own insecurities, opinions, and flaws, his guests can't help but join in. The result is a conversation so revealing and honest it never fails to be the most thought-provoking, inspiring way to spend my time. Plus, it is damn funny, and has opened me up to a ton of comedians I never knew I loved. Proof that truth is always the most engaging thing in art.
3. Volunteering at Comfort Zone Camp
Thanks to Totally Rad Show editor extraordinaire Mike Gaines for introducing me to this life-changing experience. I'll let our episode of TRS about it do most of the talking, but just add that volunteering and having a positive impact is incredibly rewarding. I know as well as anyone that finding the time and motivation to sign up to do something in your community can be daunting, but it really does feel great - even better than watching a great movie or downing an epic boss in WoW.
4. iPad
A few of my early-adopter friends have soured a bit on the iPad, but not I. I continue to use it every day, all day long, and it remains my favorite tech purchase of 2010. It is my preferred web surfing experience, even without flash, and I consider it the best airplane device ever invented - everything I could want on a flight is right there: books, videos, and games. Take my laptop, take my phone, but please don't take my iPad.
5. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Though it was released long before 2010 began, The Name of the Wind is the best book I read this year. I am a huge fantasy novel fan (The Song of Ice and Fire books ranked highly on my list last year), but few are as entertaining or well-written as Ruthfuss' first. Plus, it is about an actor and lover of words who becomes a badass. How could I not love it?
6. The Dice Tower podcast (Honorable Mention: Little Metal Dog Show)
My top 5 of everything else last year featured my newfound discovery of designer boardgames. Settlers of Catan, Puerto Rico, Cutthroat Caverns and more helped build a love for the hobby in 2009. That love grew in 2010 (and got intense and expensive, as a forthcoming blog post will surely attest), fueled by the excellent boardgaming podcast, The Dice Tower. Tom Vasel and Eric Summerer make for affable hosts who know their stuff, and the wealth of informed, interesting contributors create a wonderful variety show. As an honorable mention, I'll throw in The Little Metal Dog Show - another fantastic board game podcast, looking at the hobby from the British perspective. As a one-two punch, those two shows have given me many hours of entertainment away from my gaming table this year.
7. Taking the physical challenge
2010 was a banner year for me in terms of having a go at things I'd always wanted to try. On TRS, we got a chance to do two big physical activities I'd always dreamed about. Our segment on professional wrestling training taught me that that particular form of entertainment is MUCH more difficult (and painful) than I ever imagined, while our attempt at Cirque du Soleil circus training made that seem much more doable. In all, I learned that there is somewhere nearby where I can try just about anything, and there is no excuse not to live out your dreams, even for just a day.
8. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
Another product that was already out when 2010 began, but new to me this year, Sigh No More quickly became my most listened-to album of the year. What a phenomenal record. Each and every track is evocative, melodic, and so soulful. I dig the blend of Irish folk instruments and poetic, modern lyrics. Great rock and roll with powerful themes.
9. Irredeemable
I don't know why I didn't start reading Mark Waid's new comic for BOOM! Studios until this year, but I'm sure glad got around to it. It is dark, post-modern superhero fiction at its best. The premise is delicious. What if Superman turned evil? Could the combined powers of the Justice League stop him? Here Superman is a guy named Plutonian and the other characters are analogues as well, but the ruthlessness and commitment to which Waid maintains the premise is awesome. Irredeemable is the definition of page-turner, and the best comic series I read in 2010.
10. Avatar: Extended Collector's Edition blu-ray
Since I started reviewing blu-rays for Reviews on the Run this year (and watched well over 200 movies and their special features in the process), I thought I should mention my favorite blu-ray of 2010. There were numerous excellent packages released this year, including the One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest re-release, the A Man With no Name trilogy box set, and the Anchorman: Rich Mahogany Edition, but the pinnacle was undoubtedly the Collector's Edition release of Avatar. This might seem like a no-brainer, since Avatar was my favorite film of 2009, but let me tell you the movie is the least of the awesome crammed into this 3 disc package. Copious amounts of behind the scenes footage and making-of featurettes, wonderful interviews, rehearsal video, alternate scenes - everything in high-quality HD - simply the deepest, most rewarding blu-ray release I've ever seen.
So that sums up 2010. Thanks for counting down my favs over the past few posts. I plan to take this blog to new and better places in 2011, so be sure to check back often. :) Happy new year.
Sunday, January 2, 2011 at 03:41PM
Reader Comments (24)
You are a true wordsmith. Each sentence is perfectly articulated without useless embellishment. Like everyone else, I anticipate continued brilliant writing in the new year's posts. Happy 2011, hope it's a banner year!
You are a true master of words. Very well said, hope 2011 is an incredible year for you full of new and exciting opportunities. iPad is also my top tech purchase of 2010! Don't go anywhere without it.
You always make me proud!
I now feel very compelled to try all of these things. Downloading WTF podcast right now!
Name of the wind is my all time favorite book. And when I first got a hold of mumford and sons I listened to it for weeks straight.
Have you ever read the comic Girl Genius? That is easily my ultimate 2010 find. Its free to read online. If you are a super nerd you might already know the creators other involvements.
-G
WOW! WTF Podcast with Marc Maron is amazing! I'm always looking for something new to listen to or watch. I find it hard to stick around with podcasts over the last 2-3 years or so. You guys, and iFanboy are really the only ones I've stuck with since the very start! Thanks for the recommendation!
Cheers for the mention of my little corner of the internet, Jeff - and let's get something organised soon to have you guest on The Little Metal Dog Show!
Happy New Year!
Nice list! I saw The Dice Tower was on there. You are getting deeper and deeper into the hobby of boardgaming... You must try the following in 2011:
Pandemic or Forbidden Island
7 Wonders
Agricola
Jeff big fan of TRS, finally took a look at your blog and saw this article. Seeing your #5 and #8 on that list made me so happy. I completely agree that The Name of the Wind is by far not only the best book I read this year but the best fantasy book I read this year. I hear that the new book may come out finally this year 2011. I actually bought the book in Harrod's in London when returning from a trip to Scotland of all places.
Also seeing you put Mumford & Sons on your list was great for me! I'm also a huge music fan and like the book above this was by far my favorite album of the year. I can listen to the album from front to back and it never gets old. They haven't come anywhere near where I live yet but if they came within a few hours I would definitely drive to see them.
For me, "The Lies of Locke Lamora", by Scott Lynch is a lot better than 'The Name of the Wind', if only because there's not too much bad-assery (is this a word) in the latter, this being before he became 'epic'. If you don't know TLoLL' and the adventures of the Gentlemen Bastards, you should really check it out. That and perhaps 'Ex Heroes' by Peter Clines... Zombies vs Superheroes.
Cheers from Brazil
I am in love with Mumford & Sons. I caught, literally, the last 15 seconds of their appearance on Craig Ferguson, and got the album off itunes the next minute, and it's been on repeat since. I loved having them in my back pocket and sharing them with friends, and now they are really making it big. Thrilled for them and can't wait until they make it back to the states and I can hopefully see them!
Happy 2011!! I think I'm going to add travel to my list of things to do. As well as more concerts!
(you might enjoy their work with Laura Marling and Indian folk music - The Dharohar Project...fantastic stuff!!)
Meg makes a good point about Laura Marling, if you like her and Mumford you may want to also check out Johnny Flynn. Him and Laura do some songs together here's a link for their video of his song The Water (great song).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4QQ7HYYdWw
I'm so glad this wasn't just a whole bunch of links to cracked.com Quality stuff Mr. Cannata.
Hi Jeff. Just came by to say, Beetle Juice, really??? OMG!!.. ~ iBurger
Of all the many things that you've mentioned on this post, I want to comment on travel. I know it can cost us a lot, yet, it is cool that you see the opportunity to travel as educational. It truly is, for some point I agree. To me, though, I don't have the luxury of time and funds to travel a lot. All I can do is envy those who can, like you, and wish one day I can travel to places that often.
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Excellent attitude, life is all about challenges, and trying to be a better person each day.
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