So it's been a little over ten years since I started blogging on this silly blog. I've linked to hundreds of good articles, made thousands of bad arguments, lost track of my cobloggers (when's the last time Walder posted something anyway?), and in general had a pretty good time talking to no one in particular. I've also split off my technological interests into a sister blog, and will soon do the same with my new strength training interests.

This is also my 5000th post, inclusive of cobloggers. Sweet. I used to post more than once a day, so I guess post frequency is way down, and realistically I won't do much about that. I'm not so angry anymore. Most days I'm even happy for at least a quarter of the time. Amazing stuff. Let me leave you with this YouTube video about living a full life, as found on FYHL.  Also, probably the first video I've embedded on the blog.  Somehow appropriate for this post of milestones.

Labels: a full life, metablogging, personal

The Real Deal has reported that the "retail condo" occupied by Papaya Dog, the sex shop Fantasy Parties, and Fantasy Tattoo has been sold. The developer who bought it "expects to replace the tenants with more mainstream retailers."

As seen on Vanishing NY. I didn't spent a lot of time in Fantasy Parties, but that block was a very big part of my youth, and I spent a year living around the corner. Its demise, or transition to 7-11s, is oddly painful. Perhaps a reaction helped by the fact that the place where I first had falafel a block away also got turned into something far less interesting to me.

Labels: New York, personal

One day you will regret being rude, and not having time, for them.

I don’t remember if I wrote George back, thanking him for the plate. I don’t think I did. I should have. As I get older, for whatever reasons, I find myself thinking more often about all the times over the years in which I have treated other people thoughtlessly or rudely, or, more often, didn’t do anything at all to thank someone for a kind turn. This was one of those occasions.

And when I say "you", I mean "I".

Labels: personal

I used to think insurance companies were evil, it turns out they're just greedy. Their sin is clearly a venal one, not a mortal one (a distinction my catholic readers will appreciate!).

Mr. Kaplan, you are a most excellent programmer and whatnot, but as a spiritual advisor, eh.

I only bring this up at all because I've learned that a lot of people, whom I thought I was close to, think a lot of really weird things about me, or don't know much about me at all. Odd right? So I'm more curious than ever about how people on the outside see Catholicism (and me), and I'm also trying to explain myself better to people.

Labels: catholic, personal, technology

I have been working on trying to be grateful lately. It seems that there are many wonderful things that will happen if I can accomplish my goal of not being a Debbie downer.

Those who count their blessings have less likelihood for depression, anxiety, or envy, while possessing stronger social connections, greater relationship satisfaction, and a real leg up in the workplace.

It also has the advantage of being the opposite of envy, which is kinda sorta on the list of deadly sins.

Labels: personal, Virtue

Yesterday while out for a jog, a deer almost ran into me. I should have sued him.

Today at Mass, a dude gets up during the Prayer of the Faithful and starts cursing out the priest for, apparently, ad-libbing some of it, and then accuses him of various forms of sexual depravity. Apparently he had some intention that he was listening for and didn't hear it. Security didn't do too much, which is weird with all of the guys they have standing around with walkie-talkies.

Labels: catholic, New York, personal

My grandmother, once championship swimmer, political party crasher, and overall woman extraordinaire, has passed on at the age of 100. Rest in peace beloved Anna.

Labels: personal