FunkyEnough's Top 10 for 2005
Requesting your vote
Aloha Friends:
Please help me mark the year that has passed by voting for the FunkyEnough TOP 10 for 2005. I have compiled your nominations and now it is time to vote. The end of the year places us halfway through the first decade of the third millenium. How do you REPRESENT 2005?
Funkyenough is about telling it like it is. Let's be real folks. 2005 was a crazy year, it went by in a flash, almost a disbelief-- a blur-- as time seemed to speed up and our lives got busier. So, for good or bad, what were the defining moments? Who and what should we most pay attention to in the coming years? Where did you find solace and meaning?
What were the signs of the times?
Return your emails much and certainly before December 31, 2005. Feel free to pass this email on.
Be in the Mix in '06,
G
Vote via email: g@funkyenough.com
FunkyEnough 2005 Top 10 Ballot:
(I). Who most represented 2005?
- (a). Anderson Cooper He is controversial but my take on him is that he is genuine and honest. The crying on TV which might be viewed by skeptics as a ploy is not; it’s a sign of the times. Audiences want real people. This was honest reporting in the middle of a tragedy. My prediction is that more news people will be lowering their guard and possiblly dropping their bad hair in an attempt to be perceived as more honest. But only people like Anderson who are genuine will surface and survive. submitted by: [lc]
- (b). Bono and Bill & Melinda Gates A rockstar and billionaires of the highest order. He continues to rock crowds, capable of inspiring sheer joy and poignant tears. They are royalty of the evil corporate capitalist empire. He influences with his lyrics and his soul. They drop crazy dollars to affect change. He is smart and has his Zen on big-time. They have said candidly that they want to rid themselves of their burden of billions. He advocates with the power he's attained, but remains unpretentious. Their work through their foundation to irradiate and treat disease in the third world is truly mind-boggling: both in the measurable impact they are having in saving lives, but also in the long-term economic impact that healthier populations will have on countries struggling with poverty and war. [jnm][ja]
- (c). Harold Pinter, the British poet/playwright who won this year's Nobel Prize for Literature. In his acceptance speech, Pinter took the opportunity to blast Bush and Blair for their "war crimes" and for the "tapestry of lies" they've woven since the beginning. Pinter has always been outspoken, but to turn the Nobel speech into a political commentary--one that was more honest and incisive than any you'll hear over the usual channels--was as bold as it was necessary. After a talk in London right after he won the prize, he was asked if Blair had contacted him to offer congratulations, Pinter said, "No, but I understand there's some little fucker running around here with flowers from the Prime Minister. If you see him, tell him, 'no thanks.'" Writers rarely make an impact, which makes Pinter's timely criticism of the war mongers all the more worth celebrating.[gs]
- (d). John McCain... his willingness to stand up to his party and the wrongheaded White House regime regarding torture is absolutely the right thing to do. For a country that's so willing to push regime change for torture and quick to rebuke China regarding their treatment of human rights, it is absurd that we're even debating this issue. It's unbelievable how quickly the US has devolved from a paragon to a pariah. McCain is one of the few people that is slowing the slide somewhat. [jh]
- (e). Jon Stewart "The Daily Show" A terrific and original critique of the news media. he dissed the CNN guys, was that 2005? [cg][cc]
- (f). Kanye West for saying "George Bush doesn't care about Black people" on live TV [cg]
- (g). Oprah Possibly, the most influential social and political 'person' in the world. Who's bigger than Oprah? Really? She survived poverty, racial discriminations and sexual abuse and today she rules the airwaves (which really means ruling our thought waves). Oprah is what Tiger and Michael will never be, someone who uses her celebrity to move the world toward unity and beyond false dichotomies which convince us we are separate beings. The woman makes me proud to be a human. [js][ms][am]
- (h). Rosa Parks "We can all have a Rosa Parks' Moment." --Hillary Clinton [ts]
- (i). Soldiers Women and Men who don't necessarily support our current government but that went to war to support our country while risking their lives and dying. They are the greatest heroes of 2005. They are the ones doing something no one else is in America is doing. They are the ones to remember, to ask what 2005 meant... [js]
- (j). Stanley "Tookie" Williams His execution serves as the perfect metaphor for the direction this country is headed. I'm most moved by his choice to change, to move toward becoming a more conscious, open-hearted being (despite all of the evidence he had to justify his alienation) AND then the ways in which society as a whole reacted to such change with cynicism, mistrust, disbelief. If a man is not allowed to change, to evolve for the better OR if society functions to limit or discredit such change rather than support it, then where does that leave us? [ms]
- (k). Terrell Owens The professional athlete who showed the greatest selfishness. We're at war, and these cats are making millions, meanwhile, they decline common decency to represent a little gratitude. Could have included Latrell Sprewell and any of the NBA players who complained that they needed a stipend to pay for the new dress code.
- (l). Thomas Friedman for a strategic accounting on the effects of globalization "The World is Flat". An excellent account of where we are as a global community and where we are going over the next 10-20 years. Perhaps, the most important piece of social/economic/political commentary in quite some time. [cg]
- (m). Visions of the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina After seeing the imagery of Katrina, with people on roofs with signs asking for help, I was embarrassed as an American for the first time. For exposing our inability to deal with massive disaster with biblical proportions and racial dimensions, it's Hurricane Katrina that was the greatest event of 2005. [jh][gm]
(II). Signs of what's to come
- (a). 2012 The Mayan calendar ends; perhaps ours does, too. I'm still hoping that the aliens who spawned us finally reveal themselves, thus forever altering our ways of being for the better. [ms]
- (b). Kids Just two days ago, when I was talking to my son about the possibility of moving to East Lansing, MI, where I'm interviewing for a job, Gabriel expressed his deepest reservations. When I told him we could have a bigger house, he could have his own room, and he and Dominic could have a dog and more room to play, he said, "But my friends, dad, are more important than all that!" He's 6. Nuff said. [gs]
- (c). Global Warming Once again, is this an illusion? How serious is this? Um, is the planet like really melting?
- (d). Googlization satellite maps of your home, video of your family, single company stock market bubble, simple, fast, "do no evil" credo
- (e). IPOD - i know it wasn't invented this year, but i feel like the explosion of ipods has officially taken off. its like having a walkman back in the 80's. You've just gotta have one. and it has revolutionized the driving experience. all your music in one little device. no cd's skipping or tapes warping. You can make playlists, put it on shuffle, or just pick a musician and listen to everything they have done. i love my IPOD! [er]
- (f). the Medical device that is planted in the brain that can turn off ALL shaking for many people with Parkinson's disease is the Greatest Invention of '05. [js]
- (g). Michael Franti the dude exudes love. he travels to iraq and sings songs with kids in the street. he travels to israel and supports peace on all sides of the conflict. he speaks at rallies across europe and the U.S. and then he plays tunes at high sierra and we all dance. much in the way that martin luther king jr actually embodied the non-violent resistance with love for his oppressors, franti reminds us that we are our bigger selves when we look past our anger. Our rapidly expanding technology is serving the purpose of bringing us closer together. shrinking the world. eliminating the walls that were created in a different time out of different needs. the new countries, the new ideologies must work in the same direction, to bring us together, to show us our sameness and allow us to enjoy our differentness. franti is a spearhead for this new ideology. he doesn't just sing songs for the purpose of making a living. he performs for audiences because that is his purpose in this growing new world. and when he performs he embodies human love. i go to his shows to reinvigorate myself and get in touch once again with that strong sense of purpose. i thank the world that he has been created. [hm]
- (h). Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter Never understood why they didn't both get the Peace Prize. I'm reading his new book, "Our Endangered Values." [ts]
- (i). Wikipedia
(III). Power spots for 2005
- (a). Black Rock City, NVI went to Burning Man with the intention of not overworking myself. I spent the whole week talking to people. While in the dessert, Katrina was getting worse and worse, and the feeling of partying while a city was being destroyed was a bit difficult. But it was so powerful to be a part of a group working towards compassion and love and putting that out there into the world, while others were suffering. We couldn't cancel BM and all go to New Orleans, but we could send out the vibe, 25,000 people all exuding happiness and love, thats gotta help somewhere somehow. [er]
- (b). Cathedrals in Spain:built as mosques and then converted to cathedrals by the Christian conquerors they put this year's conflicts in some perspective. We sat to meditate for a few minutes in the cathedral in Cordoba, and it was a powerful experience indeed to ponder the pride of those who built and worshiped in such a beautiful structure, the rush of power for those who hoisted a cross on top of it, the depth of pain for those conquered and expelled, the senses of entitlement, vengeance . . . [jnm]
- (c). Lana'i, Hawaii. Hardly any explanation necessary, but of the oak trees and cliffsides and ocean vistas I've also seen this year, lying exposed on a grassy lawn under the stars of an island lost in the Pacific takes the cake. [js]
- (d). Little Beach, Maui. We went to a sunset drum circle. It was a beautiful day. the water was sweet and when we got close to it we could see whales in the distance jumping in and out, making huge splashes in the distance. Deep underwater I could hear them singing. People were gathering for the drum circle and fire dancing that was going to happen around the sunset. There were strange fools everywhere. The energy was a little overwhelming. Like a bunch of little superballs in a tiny box being shaken around fast as hell. I remember feeling grounded and grateful. One of our friends got all of her shit stolen that night. Her brand new camera was taken. Her stuff was right next to ours. Somehow the experience felt grounding to me, I knew our stuff was at risk but somehow stayed connected to it, to my family and friends. [hm]
- (e). Mendocino Coastline, north of town at the vortex of ocean bay, streamlined trees and wedding site. The ceaseless waves, seagulls, cold breeze and sun. [cc]
- (f). New York City [am]
- (g). On top of a granite dome in the Emigrant Wilderness, CA just enjoying the comfort of a naturally sculpted seat on the squeaky clean rock, watching a hawk, the sunset, the moonrise. [cc]
- (i). On top of a small mountain in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. fog, vivid green and yellow grass and gray rocks, cool air but warm enough sun to nap in [cc].
- (j). Paris Place de la Concord Then maybe Fiji's island beaches and breeze. [ts]
- (k). Top of Mt. Rinjani, Lombok, Indonesia (island near Bali) I went from one of the most hedonistic places on earth (Full Moon Party on Ko Pha Ngan) to a mountain that was completely tranquil. I got a sense what being spiritual really means by watching the porter and guide pray five times a day while respecting the 14,000 foot mountain in every way. Due to our relative inactivity, climbing a mountain (even with a porter and guide) to novice climbers was pretty brutal, given the altitude, unsteady terrain and other variables that you don't typically have to negotiate when on a couch or a basketball court. The goal was to make it to the top of the mountain before sunrise, necessitating the start of the day to an ungodly, dark hour. The last 1000 yards or so were pretty steep, with gravelly terrain that meant that for every foot you advanced, you slid back about a half a foot or more. I didn't feel quite like Sisyphus, but certainly in the same ballpark. The sun was hinting at it's arrival which put the pressure on. The fatigue and lack of oxygen made it even tougher, but I figured that I'm rarely on top of the world, and if I don't reach inside for the energy to make it up to the top by daybreak, I'd forever be pissed at myself. I mustered up the strength to get to the top by daybreak and it was unlike any other sensation I had to that point in my life. [jh]
(IV). and finally, the moving image (film/tv) of 2005
- (a). I Heart Huckabees "How am i not being myself? How am i not being myself? How am i not being myself?" funny play on how we are all connected. The universe, the trees, the people, the war, the birds, the politicians. We are all just matter floating around. I loved Dustin Hoffman as the existential detective - as well as hitting yourself in the face with a big red bouncy ball to stop your brain from thinking and to just BE. [er]
- (b). Lost I've not yet seen a television show devote so much time to "minority" characters. (To wit: several episodes follow the flashback lives of the shows Korean couple, who often speak with subtitles and exhibit a full range of emotions.) The writing is excellent and makes us all want to be TV screenwriters! It is a cross between The Twilight Zone and ER. Muy excelente! [ja]
- (c). March of the Penguins at my Dad's recommendation (he got all teary just telling me about it). Fabulous. [jnm]
- (d). Me You and everyone we know Funky film of the year. It showed life tilted in a trippy way rarely seen in film and often how I experience it. I appreciated seeing things through a unique lens, while at the same time staying authentic and real - not just trying to freak me out for freaking's sake. [hm]
- (e). What the Bleep do We Know?! While cheesy at times, this film of the year took a direct swing at everyday notions of time and space declaring that we have entered the age where we consciously choose our reality. Shamelessly bringing back the premillennial obsession with convergence.
- (f). Rent Homage to the 80's when AIDS was a death sentence.
Please be sure to return your opinion by email to
g@funkyenough.com by 12/31/05.
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