My Top Fives For 2012

The end of the year has several traditions around it.  The most common is making resolutions.  I do not see any value in setting resolutions as the fulfillment of my goals and completion of my projects rarely coincide with the calendar year.

I do, however, think that the end of the year is a great time for some thoughtful reflection.  Below is some of what I have been reflecting on.  What were the most influential, memorable, and moving art, ideas, and experiences I encountered this year.  I gave myself the limit/minimum of five items for each category.

Some of the things mentioned on this list were not released this year, these are all things that I first encountered in 2012 or that continue to influence me by informing my understanding of the world.



ALBUMS

The Lumineers The Lumineers
Fun. Some Nights
Gotye Making Mirrors
Leonard Cohen Old Ideas
The Black Keys El Camino

-also of note
Lana Del Rey Born To Die
Coldplay Mylo Xyloto
Death Cab for Cutie Plans

PHOTOGRAPHS FROM MY FLICKR CONTACTS

"263/366" by Chris Collins (user name:  local paparazzi)

"Two Suns" by Jeff Rennicke (user name:  Jeff Rennicke)

"Matatena" by Christian Fabian (user name:  Martinexx)

"East Fork Reflection" by Peter Schultz (user name:  A. Wrench)

"357/366" by Chris Collins (user name:  local paparazzi)

TRIPS / EVENTS

July 25, 2012 - visit to Madison and the Chazen Museum of Art

August 16, 2012 - trip to Little Amerricka

October 9, 2012 - first meeting of the MHS Writer's Club

October 20, 2012 - tour of former Badger Army Ammunition Plant

November 10, 2012 - hosting the trivia night for Habitat for Humanity

PODCASTS

This Week In Tech--and many other twit.tv shows
No Agenda
Tech News Today
This American Life
Skeptoid

iOS APPS

Remote - control iTunes on your PC from your iOS device

Amazon Cloud Player

Paper - functional for note taking and sketching but also beautiful

Flickr - new and greatly improved

Inkpad - a vector based drawing program that works great on the iPad

BOOKS

Public Parts: How Sharing in the Digital Age Improves the Way We Work and Live
by Jeff Jarvis

11-22-63: A Novel
    by Stephen King

Kill Decision (really all of Suarez's books could be on this list)
    by Daniel Suarez

The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves
    by Matt Ridley

How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character
    by Paul Tough


TECHNOLOGY 

Canon T3i & 55-250mm lens
Samsung Galaxy SIII
Netflix
iPad (3rd gen.)
Google Voice

MY PHOTOS

TELEVISION & MOVIES
Torchwood
Family Guy
Louie
Death At A Funeral
Star Trek & Star Trek:  Next Generation

ANDROID APPS

Audible - this is how most of my
book reading gets done today

Firefox

TunesRemote+ - control your iTunes
on your PC from your Android device

Facebook - the recent updates
to the app have made it far more
useable on Android.

Calculator - the built in app is great.  Before I started carrying a smart phone I never had a calculator when I needed it.