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…

Don’t you think they could have phrased this better?
“Police to probe Barton’s backside“

“You’ll never walk alone,” indeed! The first day I wore my new Liverpool T-shirt the guy in front of me at Publix was from Liverpool.

Since the English Premier League kicks off tomorrow, I’ll offer my predictions.

1. Liverpool
2. Chelsea
3. Manchester United
4. Tottenham
5. Arsenal
6. Newcastle
7. Blackburn
8. Wigan
9. West Ham
10. Bolton
11. Manchester City
12. Everton
13. Fulham
14. Reading
15. Charlton
16. Portsmouth
17. Aston Villa
18. Middlesbrough
19. Watford
20. Sheffield United

To be honest, I don’t expect Liverpool to win. No one does. Everyone thinks Chelsea’s going to become the first second club to win the EPL three times in a row. (Edit: I think Man U did this in the 90s.)

Also, my predictions for the 7-17 spots could be way off, I know the least about those teams.

My favorite use for YouTube is soccer clip videos. Here’s a good one. (If you’re viewing this in an email or RSS reader, click through for the YouTube video.)

FIFA published their first new world rankings table since the end of the World Cup. The USA is no longer in the top ten (we were ranked fifth going into the tournament). Brazil is still untoppled in the number one spot, despite not making to the last four teams in the Cup. Italy’s win catapulted them from thirteenth to second. Good to see Ghana getting some props–now ranked 25th. I think they deserve to be in the top twenty.

The World Cup champions reveal their top-secret Italian training techniques: