Monday, December 31, 2007

Hello 2008

I'm thinking about bringing this blog back. No promises though. I am a busy and easily distracted person.

But I'd like to bring it back for a couple reasons. First, 2008 is a presidential election year, so there should be some exciting Green Party news and gossip worth discussing. Secondly, I'm pretty discouraged about the state of the Green Party right now, and I need to decide if it is still a worthwhile endeavor (for anyone, let alone those of us who are busy and easily distracted). And I do some of my best thinking out loud.

The problems with the Green Party are, again, two-fold: First, is the Green Party a more effective vehicle for positive change than the either the Democratic Party or non-partisan issue advocacy organizations? But more fundamentally, does the Green Party still stand for the kinds of changes I believe our country needs? This question is hard to answer because I don't fully know what I believe.

As I continue to post to this blog, the primary concerns will be what the Green Party--in Los Angeles, California, and the U.S.--is doing, and what the party should be focusing on / advocating but isn't. I'll try not to hold back criticism or potentially unpopular views, something I have found myself doing in the past.

I'll also occasionally throw in some posts about other things that interest me, such as my list, below, of the best movies of 2007.

TOP TEN MOVIES OF 2007
1. The Lives of Others - a gripping drama about life in a police state (This German film already won an Oscar for best foreign language film, but actually had its real U.S. release in 2007.)
2. Once - a very romantic musical
3. Into the Wild - based on the book of the same name about a young man that decides to drop out of the system
4. Air Guitar Nation - click the link to read what I wrote earlier about this surprisingly inspiring documentary
5. Black Snake Moan - advertised as a blaxploitation flick, but that's not really what it was. What is was, though, is kind of hard to describe.
6. Into Great Silence - a beautiful documentary about life in a monastery where the monks are virtually silent, except for their religious chants
7. No Country For Old Men - Tommy Lee Jones' disillusioned sheriff adds a philosophical distance to this crime thriller
8. Juno - Both Juno and Knocked Up offered funny, sympathetic perspectives on problems with love and family planning in our contemporary society
9. Knocked Up
10. Lars and the Real Girl - once you accept the premise, this is a fun, heartwarming story

Runners-up:
Hot Fuzz, Rescue Dawn, The Savages, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, Year of the Dog

Also, see the list of best (and worst) movies of the year from my friend and colleague (and an actual, qualified, movie reviewer), Josh Tate.