• Tupper’s Self-Referential Formula
  This formula, when graphed, displays itself.
• Quine
  “A quine is a program that produces its complete source code as its only output.”

• 2007 Oscar Nominations
• 2007 Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Awards

• Clooney and SciFi making “Diamond Age” miniseries
  Neal Stephenson FTW.

• iTunes to Sell Short Films From Sundance
  “Nearly half of the short films being screened at this month’s Sundance Film Festival will be available for purchase at Apple’s iTunes store…”

• Apple - iPhone
  This is the first consumer electronics device I have ever seen that actually made me think “I am living in the future.” Hopefully, (unlikely) it will be affordable.

I have three New Year’s resolutions this year. The first is that old standby, get in better shape. That’s pretty vague, right? If there’s one thing I remember from my behavior modification class it’s that you have a much better chance of succeeding at a more specific goal. So how about this formulation? Be it resolved that I shall reduce my calorie intake to approximately 2000 calories per day and find time to exercise a significant amount (at least a three mile run) at least once per week. That sounds do-able.

Two: Become a better writer. I feel like writing is a skill that has never come easily to me. Like any skill, it can only be improved with practice. Be it resolved that I shall write one significant piece (a story, essay, or other piece of writing) each week. These do not have to be in any way publishable, they should be rough drafts. The idea here is to get better at the part of the process that involves translating the ideas from mere thoughts to written words.

Three: Take time away from work. Over the last semester I learned what it was to really immerse yourself in your work and make it the top priority in your life. Indeed, there were lengthy stretches of the semester where I did little but work. It feels good to do that, but only for so long. Be it resolved that I shall take at least one day per week and set it aside. On that day I will not do anything to directly advance whatever I am working on for the other six days of the week (which will usually be schoolwork). Additionally, on that day I will actively try to slow down my life, by taking time for contemplation. Look, I invented the Sabbath.

• 13 Photographs That Changed the World

• HTML Special Entity Codes
  Accented letters and other special characters in HTML
• When Writers Escaped the 42-Minute Box
  About the trend toward serial dramas on network TV and the problems it’s creating for scheduling.

I decided at the beginning of the year to keep track of all the books I read in 2006. The results can be found here: http://nforget.com/blog/books/

According to my record keeping I read thirty-four books, but that’s not entirely correct. There are a couple books on the list which could be accurately described as reference materials and which I did not read cover-to-cover:

• The C++ Programming Language (Special 3rd Edition)
• The C Programming Language (2nd Edition) (Actually, I did read this one cover-to-cover. It’s that good.)
• Macromedia Flash MX Game Design Demystified

Additionally, there are several books on the list which I have not yet finished:

• A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• A Clockwork Orange

There are a couple of recurring authors. I read three Tom Robbins books:

• Villa Incognito
• Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas
• Jitterbug Perfume

And three Joel Spolsky books:

• Joel on Software: And on Diverse and Occasionally Related Matters That Will Prove of Interest to Software Developers…
• User Interface Design for Programmers
• The Best Software Writing I: Selected and Introduced by Joel Spolsky

Most thought-provoking: The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason

Most entertaining: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell : A Novel

Most surprisingly good: Villa Incognito

Most disappointing: To Kill a Mockingbird

Recommended, but not mentioned elsewhere in this post:
If you like history and soccer: How Soccer Explains the World : An Unlikely Theory of Globalization
If you like games: Theory of Fun for Game Design
If you like stories or movies: The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers

One year ago I wrote, “When I’m fifty or sixty or seventy I’ll be looking back and I’ll probably think of 2005 as one of the most influential years of my life.” If 2005 was a pivotal year in my life, 2006 was even more pivotal. A year ago I was getting a raise at my job as a web developer and spending most of time sitting in a cubicle daydreaming about being a game developer. Doing the web development thing for a while taught me many things, but the most important was that I don’t want to be a web developer.

Around the end of February I finally finished my application for FIEA. While I nervously awaited word of my acceptance things were getting strange at my job. The company was splitting in two, which created all kinds of intra-office politics.

In April I got word of my acceptance to FIEA. I began making preparations to quit my job and move to Florida.

The summer was dominated by the World Cup, which totally engrossed me for the duration. It was an excellent tournament, during which the best of the sport was on display.

I visited Orlando with Gillian to look at apartments in the early part of the summer. The trip was somewhat discouraging, because most of the apartments sucked and were too expensive. Fortunately, FIEA was able to place me in a rental house with a couple other students.

Around the end of July I put in my notice and quit my job. Shortly thereafter I hopped in a Uhaul and drove to Florida. Just before the beginning of the semester I was lucky enough to be invited to go for an amazing vacation in Key West. When I got back, the semester began. To be continued…