I only have two resolutions in 2009:

Look more sporty

Be more thankful

“More” is a wonderful word to use in resolutions because it really means nothing, but when people hear it, they think you’re really something. And, “more” suggests that you’re already exceptional, and now you’re just going to be even more of an Adonis of the human form during the coming year.

So in '08, I was just plain ol' sporty, but now I’m even more sporty, like a Honda Civic with dual exhaust.

But, now to the point of this blog:

In my attempt to be MORE grateful, I’d like to shoot out some kudos in early 2009 to well-deserving folks:

To TPT (Twin Cities Public Television) and its new show Make: television (from Make Magazine). In a world where the younger generation can’t do any handiwork without getting a “professional” involved, how cool is it that there’s a DIY show dedicated to making burrito blasters or giant iPod players. There are even instructions on its website on how to make your own digital TV coat hanger antenna.

To Star Tribune sports columnist Pat Reusse, who read the writing on the wall and is weaning his way off the dying dog of print journalism for the new media of . . . radio? Well, at least Morning Crawl, his new morning show on am1500, is podcasting. And he’s already showing great leadership as a helmer--he had me on today talking LA shop. Eat your heart out, Tommy B.

To The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), which appears to have wised up (for the moment) and will not be sending the nation's actors to the picket lines. After a thirty-hour meeting yesterday, the probability of another Hollywood shutdown dropped dramatically. Amen. This town cannot afford another costly strike.

To Gran Torino. Written by Minnesota’s own Nick Shenk, the film offers an ideal canvas for Eastwood to strut his aged Dirty Harry, making for good fun and solid old-school filmmaking (shots linger, and cuts are clean and deliberate . . . none of the MTV stuff). And with the movie hitting its box office stride just before Academy Awards balloting, Eastwood's gonna come home with some hardware come Oscar night. You wait and see, David Carr . . .

To my friend Ben, who has helped me procure accommodations in Park City this weekend for the Sundance Film Festival, my first visit. On my list of films to see is Tyson, a new doc on America’s most notorious boxer, directed by James Toback (writer of Bugsy/director of Fingers). Look for posts next week about my adventures at Redford’s big dance . . .

To the website WindowtotheBeach.com, for keeping all my Minnesota friends mentally sound during this frigid time. Pull up the site, and you’ll instantly forget about the frostbite.