In May, Freespace moved over here from Blogger, and I must say the improvement isn’t vast. But since then….
Total number of hits: 63575
Average per day: 269.39
Today: 573
This week: 1659
These numbers, which come from Typepad, do not seem at a glance to add up.
As for the rest, I’ll snag this questionnaire from Sarah Hempel:
1.What did you do in 2004 that you’d never done before?
Filed a complaint in federal court.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t think I made any last year. But this year, I’ll probably make some. I won’t divulge them, though, and that way in 2006 I can claim to have kept them.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Andrew’s wife.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Only my father’s cat.
5. What countries did you visit?
The United States. Oh, and Florida.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
More time for my independent writing projects.
7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September 17, 2004. I took Erin to Newport Beach, where I received a Reagan Medal from the Claremont Institute, and spent the weekend at a luxury resort on the beach.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
The overruling of Poletown. Obviously this wasn’t entirely my achievement, but I like to think that the brief that PLF and the ACLU jointly filed helped persuade the court.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Powers v. Harris, where the Tenth Circuit held that economic protectionism for its own sake is constitutional, and singled out my amicus work for criticism.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No more than usual.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A 75 cent guitar on eBay.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Erin’s. She is the kindest, most thoughtful, intelligent, and beautiful woman in the world.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. And others whom it would be impolitic to mention publicly.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Credit cards
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Taking Erin to Newport Beach.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
Probably one of the ones I’ve learned to play on the guitar. Robert Johnson’s “Malted Milk” as performed by Eric Clapton.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? A little bit sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter. I’ve been slacking.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer. I just sent a $2000 check to the credit card company.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Reading
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Monday morning staff meetings
20. How will you be spending New Year’s?
Probably reading The Chinese In America by Iris Chang (thanks, Erik!)
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Every day, I fall in love with Erin once again.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Simpsons, of course. What else is there?
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word. There are people who lost a great deal of my respect. See supra, answer to question 13.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Metaphysical Club by Louis Menand
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Corey Osborn
28. What did you want and get?
The Simpsons season 5 on DVD.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Dangerous Beauty
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28. My secretary made me a peanut butter cup pie. My folks came up to visit and we went to Tahoe.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If people really believed the principles they espouse.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
“Well, this looks clean enough.”
34. What kept you sane?
The blues.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Richard Epstein.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The war
37. Who[m] did you miss?
Fortunately I get to see most of my friends and family pretty regularly. But when I’m out of town even briefly, I miss Erin.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
You must cherish your life and your loves while you have them. “[A] formula for the highest affirmation, born of fullness, of overfullness, a Yes-saying without reservation, even to suffering, even to guilt, even to everything that is questionable and strange in existence.”—Nietzsche.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
“If it takes my whole life
I won’t break, I won’t bend
It will all be worth it
Worth it in the end
Cause I can only tell you what I know
That I need you in my life
When the stars have all gone out
You’ll still be burning so bright”
—Sarah McLachlan, Answer
