I don’t think I have ever written down a new years resolution, save when I was 6 or 7. I think that resolution was to be nicer, or not eat as much candy, either probably lasted less than a week. So in the spirit of the the new year, I am going to detail my resolutions for 2007.

• Take a picture of myself everyday.
• Paint, draw and be more outwardly creative
• Work out regularly (we did buy an elliptical machine after all)
• Implement a sustainable GTD system
• Learn to play the harmonica and guitar at the same time
• Work on video podcast with Esther
• Create podcast with or without Esther
• Blog daily

I think I’m going to do a 3 month check-in to see how I’m doing.

Yesterday, Esther and our friends Casey and Kristi went and saw The Good Shepard, and in the style of Reading Rainbow, it was great! “But…you don’t have to take my word for it.”

A very intriguing movie covering the change from the OSS to the CIA and finally ending with the disaster at the Bay of Pigs, The Good Shepard portrays the sticky and confusing world of international espionage against the Soviet Union. Matt Damon plays Edward Wilson, who is a loose adaptation of James Jesus Angleton (December 9, 1917–May 12, 1987) and the term loose is used with a great deal of generosity. After having read about Angleton’s life, Damon’s character seems to be a pale reflection of the more intriguing story.

On with the movie review… Damon plays an effective international spy master, his demeanor is very convincing and comes across as cold and heartless. His supporting cast, including John Turturro as his trusted aide, Alec Baldwin as his FBI counterpart, Oleg Stefan as the Soviet spy master Ulysses and Robert Di Nero as General Bill Sullivan (an adaptation of William Joesph Dononvan) all played their parts with elan. The only performance that was a real let down was Angeline Jolie. This part felt beyond her acting range and I had a very difficult time separating her celebrity from her role.

The movie was a good watch, but after wanting to learn more about the characters, it becomes apparent that the movie was a glossy veneer of an idealized man who single handedly brought created the CIA after honing his skills through the counter intelligence battlefields of World War II. The movie was well acted and beautifully shot, exhaustively using well done flashbacks to create a deeper story later, leading the viewer up to the present, days after the failed Bay of Pigs. Only after wanting to learn more are we reminded that it is “inspired by the true story” and while it was an enjoyable two hours and forty minutes, the lack of truth in a movie that felt and wanted to be the truth was somewhat of a disappointment. I hope that doesn’t turn any one off from seeing the movie which is definitely worth the price of a ticket.

• WiiKitty.com
  This is specifically for a co-worker
  (tags: games nintendo wii cat kitten humor)

So Esther and I spent the Christmas holiday with her extended family down in Alabama. It was a nice vacation and I enjoyed visiting with everyone, but it was really a long time and sometimes boring. Not bad borning, but I guess really, just slower paced than what I’m used to. I have learned that I like a certain pace to my life and when I am in a situation where I have to slow down, not of my choosing, I feel very … useless (?). I think it was because I was not in my element, I wasn’t able to work on the projects that I have been creating in my mind. The most important thing is that I think Esther’s mom got a lot from it.

It was a very long drive there and back. Esther really stepped up and drove a good share (half) of the entire mileage, which was great! I was really worried, especially after a goof up the night before, that I would be driving the entire thing, but thanks to Esther’s quick thinking, she was able to get on the rental car’s driver list.

An observation about Alabama: No Starbucks. At least in the portion of the state that we were in (as confirmed by the Starbuck’s Store Locator). This sucked because Esther and I were going to use a giftcard we got to get away for some “us” time.

At the end of year, everyone, and I do mean everyone, starts doing “year-in-review” and “year-in-preview” posts, I think I will add my own to that growing list.

Predictions

• Worldly events will increase at an alarming pace, splinter Christian factions will proclaim it end times.
  I think that events on the world stage are going to be hairy in the next year. Iraq, Iran and North Korea all make it very difficult for our country to just hang out. The international view of American’s abroad is not great, so I’m probably not going to be traveling.
• I’m going to still be in the same job.
  I have been putting feelers out, but after feeling not so great about the job scene in the area, I am starting to feel comfortable in my current job. Or at least I had better. Graphic Artist at a liberal arts university ain’t so bad.
• The work at said job will only increase
  I started in my new position at the university in February. In that time I have done well over 150 projects and taken on several ongoing projects, including podcasts for the university, teaching InDesign to students and professors, managing a university-wide calendar, creating a new minor (with the possibility of me teaching/managing said minor).
• Blogging will become a semi-successful side job for me.
  After the PRSA conference, I have been working with the current PRSA president (half way down the page*) and following Debbie Weil and have been serious looking at creating a little side job out of it.
• Esther will be more stressed than ever!
  Starting the second semester of her Ph.D. program, Esther is going to be crazy busy. Her workload and the internal politics of counseling and a Ph.D. program are only going to intensify. Don’t worry. I’ll be supporting her all the way.
• Family will be growing.
  Oh, wait, that sounds really bad. No, we are not pregnant. My sister is getting married this summer and Esther and I will be there. I also think that Esther’s sister (Sarah) will get married. The latter wedding will not be nearly as well received as the former. I think that Sarah will get kicked out of her mother’s house in 2007, and really, that can only be for the better.
• Benoit will become synonymous with Apple
  After i got my macbook, Esther and I have been almost complete Apple users. We both have ipods and apple laptops. I think 2007 will be the year of Apple for the larger Benoit family as well. I want to get my mother-in-law a mac (it will be lot easier for her to use), I want to switch my media center PC over to a mac mini, Esther wants to replace her 12-inch powerbook with a macbook, the powerbook will get donated to Esther’s brother. In other words a complete mac change over.

  ---

  Speaking of which, I hope that I can talk to Becky (PRSA President) about redesigning the site.

  
  
  

Wow, the year is already over? That’s just insane, I guess the adage is true: “Time flies when you are having fun.” Let me go over some of the major events through the year of 2006.

• January
• Started Weight Watchers
• February
• Ended Weight Watchers
• Started new job in University Relations
• Watched a whole bunch of Olympics
• March
• Attended CCA conference
• Launched underground web-based news site
• University Relations boss left
• April
• Got cellphone
• Wrote post #150
• Got Oscar the dog
• May
• Saw Ben Lee in concert
• Created first podcast
• June
• Watched the Tour de France
• Esther’s dad is diagnosed with cancer
• Got Macbook
• July
• Esther’s dad has biopsy, no definitive results
• Spent week at my parent’s lake house
• Finished reading the World is Flat
• Rode 360 miles, around Wisconsin
• Created Biking Across Wisconsin Podcast
• Esther’s dad admitted to the hospital for mystery pain
• August
• August 8: Esther’s dad passes away
• Very busy while supervisor was on vacation
• Macbook taken in for repairs
• September
• Started Personal podcast, stopped two episodes later
• Macbook returns
• Saw the Gin Blossoms in concert
• Esther gets a C on her first paper
• October
• Turned 24 (begin quarter life crisis)
• Switched from free blog to a hosted package
• Attended PRSA conference, became micro celebrity
• November
• First holiday with Esther’ dad
• Voted in midterm elections, faith is restored in the democratic system
• December
• Got an email from Merlin Mann!
• Got ready to go Alabama for Christmas
• Spent Christmas in Alabama

Let me tell you, this has been one of the most interesting years out of my 24. Esther’s dad’s death was very difficult on me and Esther, and has really changed everything that has happened since. That event weigh against all others made this year a bad one. Losing someone close to you is an experience that we all will eventually have, but it sucks when it happens to some one so great, so soon.



John, we miss you.

I need this service for my mom …

Last night, Esther and I were vegging out and a new NBC show came on, Identity. The premise of the show is to use a persons snap judgments to guess details about 12 people.

The game unfolds as the contestant picks an identity - ranging anywhere from a profession to a shoe size - and tries to match it with one of the 12 strangers. The amount of money the contestant accumulates increases with each correctly identified stranger. If all 12 are matched up correctly, the player is rewarded with the top prize of $500,000.

Unfortunately, the show should be called “Stereotype”. The show, while is winnable compared to “Deal or No Deal” or “1 vs. 100” as alluded to by TV Squad, all it does in re-enforce stereotypes. Of course the person who is large, Asian and dressed in the traditional loincloth is probably the sumo wrestler and that’s where the problem lies.

The show puts people who fit the stereotypical look of most of the identities and puts them in the line up. How can this be a positive thing. Imagine when the identity is “Been to Prison” and the person pick the African American. Yes, they get made an ass of on national TV, but what is the redeeming value? Seriously?

Sleepy in morning,
Oh, please let me sleep in.
I wait for coffee.

I think that I’m going to start a new project during the new year. I think I’m going to take a picture of me everyday, probably from my isight on the macbook. I also think I’m going to take pictures of every cup of coffee that I have. I think that sounds like it could be really interesting. Anyway, just thoughts on my upcoming projects.