Before planning everything you’ll change about your life in 2008, take some time to reflect on the splendor of 2007. Harry Potter getting naked, Larry "Wide Stance" Craig, YouTube debates, Stephen Colbert for president, Britney Spears’ downfall, comeback and downfall – oh, the glory.
The Daily Cougar staff members have compiled a list of what we feel are the best of the best – albums, films, books and more. We’ve covered everything that made this year better, or at least more interesting, than the last.
John Arterbury
Editor in chief
Movie: The Lives of Others
Album: None Shall Pass, Aesop Rock
Book: Against the Day (paperback), Thomas Pynchon
Citizens: The Burmese monks
Pop-culture moment: When The View co-host Sherri Shepherd realized the world is round.
Deanna Mendoza
Sports editor
Film: The Simpsons Movie
Album: The Con, Tegan and Sara,
Live performance: M.I.A., Verizon Wireless
Moment: Shasta and the Oregon duck
Arts and Crafts Project: Googly-eyed assorted nuts
Pumpkin carving: PumpKim
Newsroom impression: Sousan Hammad
Bumper Sticker: "My other car is a dragon"
Christian Ochoa
Managing editor
Film: The Darjeeling Limited
Album:†Neon Bible, The Arcade Fire
Live Performance: Girl Talk, the Engine Room
Political moment: Wide stances
Catch Phrase: "Don’t tase me, bro."
Guilty pleasure: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Kelsie Hahn
Next in line
Film: Of the three I saw, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Album: Dark Passion Play, Nightwish
Live performance: Video Games Live, Houston Symphony
TV Show: Flavor of Love: Girls’ Charm School
Pop-culture moment: Drew Carey ends his first episode of The Price is Right with the traditional appeal to spay and neuter your pets.
Kim Thai
News editor
Film: Ratatouille
Live performance: Rachael Yamagata, Verizon Wireless
TV show: 30 Rock
Moment: When my pumpKim got second place for best celebrity impersonation. Two people competed.
Column: Rumor Humor
Mayra Cruz
Assistant news editor
Film: Grindhouse
Live performance: Incubus, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Moment: Surprising Kim by entering a pumpkin carved with her face on it for Halloween – and photographing the entire thing.
Quote: "Happy birthday, you bastard."
Ruth Rodriguez
Features editor
Film: I don’t watch movies.
Album: Rise Above, Dirty Projectors
Live performance: Best of Bond, Houston Symphony
Citizen: Old Greg
Caitlin Cuppernull
Life ‘ Arts editor
Film: No Country For Old Men
Album: Live at Massey Hall, 1977, Neil Young
Live performance: Gillian Welch, Ryman Auditorium
Citizen: Deanna Mendoza
Bumper sticker: "My other car is a dragon"
Sousan Hammad
Opinion editor
Film: Children of Men
Album: La Radiolina, Manu Chao
Live performance: Marcel Khalife, Stafford Center
Citizen: Me
Political moment: Three-way handshake among Presidents George Bush and
Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
Mariah Davis
Production
Film: Hairspray
Album: The Sun and the Moon, The Bravery
Live performance: The Exies, Scout Bar
Citizen: Stephen Colbert
Pop-culture moment: Anna Nicole Smith’s death
Christian Palmer
Staff writer/ production
Film: The Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters
Album: Costello Music, The Fratellis
TV show: Mad Men
Citizen: Anderson Cooper
Pop-culture moment: The Iggy fiasco
Hurricane: Humberto (more like dumberto)
Austin Havican
Cartoonist
Film: Paris, Je T’aime
Album: Strawberry Jam, Animal Collective
Book: Best American Nonrequired Reading 2007
Live performance: VietNam, The Mink
DVD release: Days of Heaven
Music video: "Can’t Tell Me Nothing (Alternate Version)," Kanye West
Bar: La Carafe
Pop-culture moment: Miss South Carolina’s map speech
Scott Gonzales
Staff writer
Movie: Knocked Up
Album: Neon Bible, Arcade Fire
TV show: It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Live performance: Bloc Party, Warehouse Live
Song: "Some Surprise," The Cake Sale
Mike Damante
Staff writer
Film: Sicko
Album: I-Empire, Angels and Airwaves
Live performance: Alicia Keys, MTV Video Music Awards
Citizen: Dennis Kucinich
Pop-culture moment: South Park doing a parody of the show To Catch a Predator
Song: "New Dark Ages," Bad Religion
