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.