Thanking the Shit Out of Stuff, 2007

The following list is my third annual edition of Thanking The Shit Out Of Stuff on the Huffington Post... so stuff -- prepare to have three times the shit thanked out of you. (2005 here, 2006 here.)

Ken Burns
This year, Ken Burns reminded us what America can be, for better or worse, in an era before consumerism and preemptive Bush Doctrines. He reminded us that America is only supposed to go to war when everyone is prepared to make the sacrifices necessary to succeed. Thank you, Ken Burns, for The War and especially for preserving the memories of the Americans who experienced it. You and your production team, sir, are an invaluable asset to your nation and to history.

Mad Men & The Riches
The two best new shows on television. And they aren't on HBO. Mad Men is quite possibly the most honest, brutal and accurate portrayal of 1960's Americana ever committed to film. And The Riches is the most perfect and inventive hour since Deadwood, and the best ensemble cast since The West Wing. I thought commercial dramas were receding in favor of reality shows and CSI spinoffs, but Mad Men and The Riches proved me so very wrong. And an honorable mention to Dexter on Showtime.

The Pervez Musharraf Haircut

What do Senator Jim Webb, Little People Big World's Matt Roloff, Dirk Diggler from Boogie Nights, and Han Solo have in common? Why, the Pervez haircut, of course. Also known as the Thick N' Swirly, the Forehead Nards, and the Wooly Alfalfa, the Pervez is rapidly gaining popularity worldwide -- thankfully overtaking Ahmadinejad's revival of The Alan Alda. And, thanks to the Pervez Haircut, I don't feel so embarrassed by my 1985 ninth grade yearbook photo anymore.

This

Step aside, Plan 9 From Outer Space, a new definition of "hilariously awful" has arrived.

Rush's Snakes & Arrows
The music industry is on life support. But Rush continues to record original, thought-provoking music without the help of radio, Rolling Stone magazine or the mainstream music press (say nothing of the exclusionary R&R Hall of Fame). Their new album, "Snakes & Arrows," guided by Foo Fighters producer Nick Raskulinecz, is energetic, heavy, poignant and inspired. I've listened to the lead track, "Far Cry," maybe a thousand times this year and I'm still not sick of it.

Traveling Wilburys Finally Available on iTunes
At long damn last. Thank you iTunes and thank you Wilburys.

The Flaming Lips' "U.F.O.s At The Zoo" Concert Film
Thank you, Flaming Lips, for preserving on DVD the greatest rock show I've ever seen. And to Steven Drozd: "you're welcome!"

Tour de France Cyclist Fabian Cancellara

While the 2007 Tour de France was plagued by doping scandals, Cancellara's Stage 3 victory while wearing the yellow jersey was absolutely one of the high points of the event and brought honor and genuine excitement to an otherwise fractured Tour.

Eggs
Year in and year out, I love eggs. Thanks, eggs. 2007! Bam!

David Chase
With The Sopranos finale as precedent, whenever I or any of my writer colleagues are stuck for an ending, we're now empowered to just stop the thing in mid-sentence somewhere near the end and just walk away. If someone calls us on it, we can point to David Chase's "artistic" example. No need for conclusions or endings anymore, suckers. Screw endings. Thanks, Mr. Chase, for saving us a shitload of work.

Huffington Post Founding Editor Roy Sekoff
Roy is the tireless editor and unsung hero of the Huffington Post and he's the reason why I have a voice on this historically important website. I am honored and grateful for his encouragement and support, even though I don't always deserve it. Thank you, Roy.

You
Thank you for reading my blog this year. You're awesome. Strength and honor!

My Family And Friends
Thank you and I love you. A special word to my brother, Jim: I've never really thanked you for being such a great friend. I'm so proud of you and even though I'm your older brother, I still look up to you. Cheers!

---
Bob Cesca's Goddamn Awesome Blog! Go!

Comments

[darker]

Thank you for being you!

[daybreak]

I appreciate the native people that have spoken out on these comments. They tell the truth about Thanksgiving.

Shall we continue to pretend they don't exist and that many live in shacks struggling to keep their culture and survive?

BTW, the brown "illegal immigrants" Lou Dobbs and fellow white supremacists are always ranting about and tormenting are native people. Their people have been here for thousands of years. They never asked Columbus for a green card. How are they "illegal" and "immigrants"? The lynch mobs are on the internet blaming brown, disenfranchised peoples for the economy since it is a little less popular to blame black people which they still rant about, torment etc. Their cross burning (which is still done) (e.g. the Jena 6) is less acceptable by the MSM.

I am thankful that some people are brave enough to speak up. I hope you print this.

[bascombe]

YEAH? well thank the shit outta you, too, Bob. You have done more to keep me sane than anyone else in punditdom.

[MSB]

Bob,

You have been a high-point in an otherwise crappy year.

I'll have to give your shows a viewing, but what about 30 Rock, LOST, and the My Name is Earl/The Office hour for good network TV?

The "Pervez" totally rocks.

[CatfishJohn]

....What , No love for "The Brotherhood"- utterly, outstandingly gritty and grim-admittedly less comical than Sopranos, given the inherently hilarious nature of hyper-macho Itlaian American Joisey guys- but swirling with as many beleivable sociopathic snakes as any Republcian political quorom..."The Riches" started out unique and compelling, but becomes less viable with all the plot unlikelihoods, especially around the law office and with the cartoonishly overplayed psychopathy of stalking Dale...

[vbond]

Excellent, as usual.

[T.Roll]

The haircut I sported in the 70s is now known as a Wooly Alfalfa? Eheheh.

[Ravenlea]

Thank you for writing with telling humor about things that aren't funny and in doing so making them a bit more bearable. Happy Thanksgiving.

[LoRiseAntlers]

Thanksgiving-the day when white folks get to remind themselves how friggin' wonderful they are.

My people live in shacks on shit pieces of ground your ancestors stuck them on when they finally got tired of robbing raping and murdering them.

On Thanksgiving,the only sentiment I can muster is the fervent hope you all choke to death on your turkey dinner.

[pvernier]

Bob,

Thanks for your contribution. And keep it coming.

[epotruchyeahright]

Rush's new album rocks! My five year old son Max is a huge fan of "Far Cry" too. He experienced his first grown up rock concert this year on his birthday at the Hollywood Bowl. What a treat, for both of us.

Oh, and thanks to you, Bob, for telling the truth about this wonderful but flawed country.

[Boxcar]

Sometimes all the news piles up and I sigh and think gun, mouth, now. Then I see that Bob has a new post, and I read it, and I feel better. So I'm thankful for Bob too. I love Bob.

[meileen]

No, thank you Bob, for all of your wonderful posts. HuffPo and the world is lucky to have you.

[Shake-A-Spear]

Nice going Cesca! When you are pissed off and at your best you make your case with eloquence and wit. Think of it: a prose stylist educated in Kutztown. To me it was always just a road marker along the way from NY to Harriburg somewhere in the vicinity of an Amish bologna factory, but you're helping put it on the map.
Don't ever lose your edge. Happy Holidays!

[Janco54]

And thanks to YOU Bob!
For sharing your insights.
For your humor in the midst of all this insanity.
For helping me find more things to be thankful for.
Have a great Thanksgiving.

[NotGuilty]

Next Thanksgiving will truly be a party!

Yeah. Just picture Bush, pardoning next year"s bird. The bird speaks (in GWB" s addled mind): "hey buddy, don"t worry about me, who"s gonna pardon you?"

[Bongborg]

My list of things I'm grateful for this year is pitifully small, but one of them is your blog entries, Bob. Thanks for making me laugh about some of the most unfunny stuff it has ever been my misfortune to have brains enough to worry about.

[CrankyCurmudgeon]

I too receive email notification each time you post and, cranky as I may be, I'm thankful for not only the emails and your posts, but especially for your clarity, candor, and wry humor.

Happy Givethanksing.

[gnorrfa]

i, too, receive email notes on your blogs and am always happy to receive them. you're one of the best, keep on bloggin' and thanks.

[UrbanAddictiondotcom]

I recieve email notifications for your posts Bob, so I would like to thank you for sharing your talent and wisdom.

[crunchyknee]

Thank you, Mr. Cesca, for a year of great writing!

[siri2k]

We love you Bob. You are on my top 5 favorite Web writers and bloggers. NO ONE nails an issue like you do, and your style and humor are par none! Thanks for all you do here at Huffpo and at the Most Goddamned Awesome Blog. These dark days in America would be far more difficult to handle, were it not for YOU!
Have and give GREAT TURKLE!
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