Tallying the Score

Well, back in January, I outlined my Wish List for 2008. The year being almost over, I figured I should take stock of what, if anything, actually came true. Turns out, I didn't do too badly. Let's review:

1. For Barack Obama to win the Democratic nomination, and the presidency
Obviously, this is not only a win, but the most important win. Everything else on this list pales in comparison to us electing an intelligent, reasonable and progressive man to the presidency.

2. For Kanye West to finally win album of the year
So, Kanye lost out again. He did win Best Rap Album -- again -- but lost out to Herbie Hancock. Perhaps his latest, "808s and Heartbreak" will score in 2009.

3. For a fair resolution to the writer's strike so that I can get back to watching "Grey's Anatomy," "Ugly Betty" and "Friday Night Lights."
The writer's strike did finally end, but now a SAG strike is apparently looming.

4. On a similar note, for "Friday Night Lights" to get renewed for another season.

This one is a partial victory. The show's third season is being broadcast first on DirecTV, and will be aired on NBC in 2009. I'm hoping it's worth the wait.

5. For my building, and every other apartment building in Los Angeles, to start fucking recycling.

Obviously, not every building in L.A. is doing its part, but thankfully (thanks to aggressive Sara campaigning, thank you very much), Archstone Los Feliz is a little greener. I do have to haul the recycling down several stories and into the scary trash room, but the ends certainly justify the means.

6. For the Trojans to go 12-0, while playing in the Coliseum.
The Trojans did hold on to the Coliseum as their home stadium, and were undefeated there this year. They came close to going 12-0, and a one-loss season is definitely nothing to complain about, even if that one loss did come in Corvallis.

7. For the signmakers of the world to learn how to correctly use an apostrophe.
The grammar fairies were not kind to me, or consumers, in 2008, sadly.

8. For the op-ed pages of the country's major newspapers to get over themselves and start hiring young people, beginning with me.
Ha, I think we can all guess how that one turned out. Newspapers aren't really doing any hiring at all.

9. For plane tickets to suddenly become affordable.
I think this one will soon come true, although I did recently drop $500 for a two-hour plane ride home to Oregon -- easily the most I've ever paid to go home.

10. For Don Imus, Tom Tancredo, Bill O'Reilly, and all the other racist assholes with a platform they don't deserve to shut the fuck up.

No luck yet, although that Tancredo guy has been mostly quiet. O'Reilly did recently announce that he's ending his syndicated radio show, but he will continue to spout hatred and ridiculousness from Fox News.