The Newsstand Sophisticate

If you’ve used Microsoft Word in the past ten years or so, you’ve probably been annoyed by “Clippy,” the little talking paper clip who recognizes that you’re writing a letter and then offers you some “help.” If you’ve ever wondered where Clippy (or the talking dog that also offered his unwanted assistance) came from and how Microsoft could have thought they were good ideas, wonder no more: The Secret Origins of Clippy have been revealed.

I haven’t posted anything in a while, in part because the last three months of 2008 were very busy for me: I had several freelance projects, found full-time gainful employment (twice!), endured an episode of the flu, and found out that my wife and I will be having another child. I would have written exhaustively about all of this, in modern Internet-confessional fashion, but it didn’t occur to me. I guess I just wasn’t made for these times.

The last three months (and last year) were eventful outside the walls of my apartment as well, of course, but I didn’t write about recent great events, either. I could vow to write more in 2009, but my favorite new year’s resolution is to resolve not to make any empty promises.

Best wishes to all for 2009!