5 Minutes of Reflection

I’m not into New Year’s Eve resolutions or sudden religious awakenings. They’re as affective as a shower after unprotected sex. But I do believe in reflection. At the twilight of 2008, I can’t help wondering what the last 12 months have meant.
I took a moment to summarize a few points about this year, splitting them into good and bad categories. It’s a five minute list, so there's bound to be plenty of important things left out. If you have anything to add, please do. Post a comment or send me an e-mail, and I’ll put them on the blog.
GOOD
· Plans for 2010. Everything is going to be ready in time. Germany can relax. We don’t need a fall back plan. It’s on.
· Obama gets elected as president of the USA. It’s not the end of the USA’s problems, but it’s a huge step in the right direction. Bush is walking away from a burning building, handing Obama a kiddy’s beach pale of water as they cross paths.
· Kelly Slater wins a ninth world title with three events to go. Not human, that’s my guess. I wonder where he’s hiding the spaceship.
· South African media. As long as people like Zapiro and Evita Bezuidenhout keep responding to the antics of our politicians and pop icons, we’ll be ok.
· ESKOM pulled their socks up. This time last year, tannies across the country were hissing fire about missing Egoli and Sevende Laan every night.
· SARS. Everyone who thinks that violent crime is the worst thing about our country is not looking at the big picture. SARS is run by bad asses with a job as tough as the SAPD’s.
· COPE. Competition is good for democracy.
· The new Vodacom “Tell Me More” advert. Holy snakes. Its genius.
· The South African Para-Olympics team.
· Local movies and music. Jerusalema and The Rudimentals, for example.
· Rob Van Vuuren wins Strictly Come Dancing. Twakkie brought the heat.
BAD
· Julius Malema. Runner up for the ‘Rail To Rail: Moron of 2008 Award’.
· Robert Mugabe… Winner of the prestigious Moron of 2008 Award. It would only take one man to break into Mugabe’s circle of trust, hide a small acme bomb inside a sponge cake and say, “Uh, sir, Mister President… me and the guys pitched in and got this for you…” I know—
Very Julius Malema of me.
· Manikins. They are getting ridiculously life like. It’s disconcerting. I almost tried to chat one up at Woollies last week. Could have sworn she was smiling and making eyes at me.
· The global recession. Credit cards are the devil.
· Drunk driving. I love how people moan about taxi drivers. Anyone been to Barney’s on a Friday night? The drunk driving is out of control. I’m not saying I’ve never done it; just that it’s a huge problem.
· Danny K. Merciful Heavens...
· Facebook status updates. It’s lame, childish and self indulgent. Nobody cares what you are doing every two minutes.
There we have it. The five minute good list wins 11-7 against the bad. Yeeha.
Please don’t forget about the Body Surfing Extravaganza tomorrow. Should be a hoot.