by Brian Gilham on December 31, 2006
I had originally planned to sit down and write out a post about Saddam’s execution today. I watched the video, the full one, with my brother last night and I wanted to write about the implications it might have on the current situation in Iraq. This is supposed to be a politics blog, after all. But, as the day wore on and my thoughts turned to the new year, I realized that any interest I may have had in the hanging had faded. I know this is a terrible thing for a person to say about such an event, but I just don’t care right now.
Yes, the trial was probably unfair. Yes, hanging is probably not the best way to go about killing a man. But the deed is done. It’s over. Call me crazy, but I just don’t want to spend New Year’s Eve debating the moralities of Saddam’s death. I already worry that the end of Saddam and the end of 2006 will be forever linked. Time will tell, I suppose.
I related some of these thoughts to my father today. I can’t shake the feeling that these events will one day be simply reduced to questions my children will ask me from a textbook, I said. Showing the wisdom I have come to so dearly love the man for, he turned his head and offered a short, but effective, response. “The important events in history that happened when we were kids don’t show up anywhere now,” he said, “that’s why the world is always in trouble.” I tried to think of a response, some way of showing him that maybe, just maybe, things weren’t as bad as all that. When I couldn’t think of anything, I just sighed and went back to my magazine.
Happy New Year.
by Brian Gilham on December 30, 2006
As Jack stepped out of the shower and onto the cold bathroom floor, he slipped and hit his head on the counter. This, he decided, was not the best start to his day. Though, his mission was now clear. Some sort of mat was in order.
by Brian Gilham on December 29, 2006
Picking bits of tinsel out of my clothes and scratching at two-day-old stubble, I am happy to present this week’s edition of Around the Nine. For the uninitiated, Around the Nine is a weekly feature on Ekonoline showcasing some of the great work produced by 9rules members in the last week. It’s a great way to keep up with what’s happening around the network and highlight some of the best authors on the web today.
Let’s get down to it, shall we?
- Lorelle on Wordpress: WordPress.com, Please Stop Using Snap Preview
Lorelle discovers a new “feature” on Wordpress.com blogs and uses the occasion to discuss accessibility and usability. “Do you really need this bell and whistle on your blog? It’s a nice gimmick, but if you have given people enough information about the link you are offering, isn’t that enough?”
- Maryland Media: The Greatest Design Tool is Customer Service
Martin explains “the design of business”. “People rarely remember individual promotions or commercials – but they never forget a bad waiter, rude call center or impolite flight attendant.”
- Binary Moon: In Game Ads Don’t Work?
Ben examines the response to in-game advertising and its effectiveness. He provides examples of a few different advertising models, including “Advergames” and “Cheapies”.
- Bleacher Report: Just Saying, Is All…Un-Predictions for 2007
Ryan, in a fit of genius, makes his sporting predictions for 2007. Definitely meant to be taken with a healthy dose of sarcasm. My favourite? “In 2007, no athletes will be busted for using performance-enhancing substances. The year ahead will be notable neither for the habitual repetition of the word “perjury” on SportsCenter nor the unprecedented volume of air time allocated to ESPN legal expert Roger Cossack.”
- Finkbuilt: Hacking Laser Tag
Steve shows off what may be the coolest laser tag gun ever created.
- Heat Eat Review: Best and Worst Frozen Meals of 2006
Abi counts down the best and worst frozen meals of the past year, including macaroni and cheese dinners, rice meals, and Asian frozen meals.
- Cognitive Daily: What are babies looking for when they look to their mothers?
Greta posts a guest post by one of her student writers from fall 2006, examining whether a baby looks to its mother simply for comfort, or if there is some sort of information exchange.
- Open Switch: Happy Day in the Gray Home
Ben adds another sheep to his flock. That’s right, he’s going to be a daddy again!
Many thanks to the 9rules members listed here, as well the members I missed this week, for all of the great work they do within the network. See you guys next week!
by Brian Gilham on December 25, 2006
From my family to yours, Happy Festivus, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Merry Christmas! I hope each and every one of you has a fun, safe, and relaxing holiday. Like many of you, this is the time of year when I consider what’s past and what’s to come, my successes and my failures. As we prepare for 2007, I hope your successes outnumber your failures and that all of you can look back on the past year with pride. Ekonoline will be on hiatus until the 27th. Until then, I hope your days are filled with plenty of friends, family, and good food.
See you in three days!
by Brian Gilham on December 24, 2006
To close my “Top 10 of Christmas” series, I’ve chosen my picks for the 10 best television shows of the past year. The only criteria for this list is excellence. It doesn’t matter if the show premiered in 2006 or not, as long as it was on the air at some point in the last 365 days. Enjoy.
- Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Great characters, great writing. Aaron Sorkin has done it again. Easily one of the best dramatic comedies to hit the airwaves in a long time.
- House Hugh Laurie brings humour and wit to a genre saturated with shows.
- The Office (American Version) I wish I had discovered this gem sooner. Steve Carell leads an all-star comedic cast. I own the second season on DVD and watch it on a regular basis.
- Criminal Minds Who knew psycho-babble could be so interesting? Who knew the guy from Dharma & Greg would ever do another show? I sure didn’t.
- Dallas SWAT Breaking down doors. Ripping bars off windows. Tear gas. Smoke grenades. Shooting. What could be better? A perfect testosterone-fest every Thursday night.
Thanks for following along while I showcase my favourite movies, albums, video games, and television shows of 2006!