Starting in the late 90s, I sent Christmas cards to my clients and friends that I painstakingly created onscreen and printed out on an inkjet printer. When I started, few people had begun to explore the world of graphics and photos on computers, so it was interesting to get something created at home with a personal touch. The novelty helped people overlook that I’m not particularly creative and I’m partially colorblind.
It wasn’t long before I was getting Christmas cards that you had designed on your computers with a flair that I could only envy. I gave up the Christmas cards.
During the next few years, some of you got unwanted CDs full of music that had struck me during the previous year. I’ve been enjoying rock music ever since that fateful Rolling Stones concert in 1972, and fancied that I might be listening to new music that other aging baby boomers might enjoy but might not discover for themselves. As the music industry splintered into smaller and smaller fragments, I found myself listening to such an odd little niche in the music world that last year’s disc devoted to progressive rock was probably incomprehensible to everyone who received it.
I can’t pretend that anyone else is interested in the music I listen to now. Besides, burning a CD is not exactly cutting edge technology any more – more retro, in fact.
I gave up the Christmas CDs.
This year I have nothing to offer except my best wishes for happy holidays and a healthy and prosperous new year! Let’s count our blessings and take a deep breath before we enter into 2009. I’m pessimistic because the economy is falling apart and optimistic because we have an administration that will bring common sense and creativity to the nation’s problems, like sunlight and fresh air after a long darkness. I’m pessimistic because our technology is more difficult and trouble-prone all the time, and I’m optimistic because cloud computing and hosted services and virtualization will change and improve your businesses and your lives.
It will be an interesting year. I’m looking forward to working with you on technology problems – and technology solutions.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
