A long time ago, I had some web pages. I would write articles, laboriously coded in HTML, would update an index page by hand, and posted them on the web on my old Syndicomm domain, for a grand audience of a dozen or so people. I gave that up and, in frustration, began an informal mailing list of friends who I would send articles and interesting commentary to.

After tiring of this nonsense, one day my funk-soul brother Jerry Kindall sent me an email and said, "Dude, you need a blog." And I said, "what's a blog?" He didn't really answer.

Then one day I got an email from him. He'd bought me a new domain, set me up with an account on an ISP, and installed a copy of Movable Type. And then, he handed me the keys and said, "go." It was, by far, the nicest gift anyone has ever given me in my lifetime. I think he still has no idea how grateful I am.

My first article appeared on April 6, 2002. It's been full-steam ahead, damn the torpedos, ever since. I've never had so much fun (with a computer) in my entire life.

This particular message will be the 1,111th to appear. Funny, eh? But that doesn't count comments. God knows how many of those I've written, but I can tell you that, all told, we've had 6,291 comments left here (as of 3:20 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time). Unlike most other weblogs, I've tried to cultivate a serious discussion-oriented comments policy, which means that some of our comments contain our best content to date. If you don't believe that, just check out our Best Discussions archive some time. In particular, watch for comments left by Ara Rubyan, Paul Fallon, Casey Tompkins, Arnold Harris, Paul Burgess, Rosemary Esmay, and a few of our other regulars. We have some damned smart and thoughtful people hanging around here, and it often shows. If you read comments often enough, you'll spot those names, and a few others I've almost certainly (and shamefully) forgotten.

Now, at risk of sounding like an award acceptance speech, I just want to thank a few people in particular for their support, encouragement, and inspiration over the last year:

Ara Rubyan, who has been a constant source of irritation, aggravation, enlightenment, encouragement, thought-provocation, and friendship. We fight sometimes, but I love ya man. Even though you're always wrong. :-)

Bill Quick, one of the baddest mofos in the blogosphere, and one of the very first "big" bloggers to take notice of me, take me seriously, and encourage me to go on.

Bjørn Stærk, one of the best bloggers, period. One of the first to permalink me, and a guy who always, always, always has something interesting to say.

Chari Daignault, who probably disagrees with me even more often than Ara does, but is still a funny, warm, and terribly decent person. She also runs a fun blog, and charged me way too little money for the unique, elegant design we use here. You rock, Chari!

Christopher Johnson, who I steal so many great links from, and who also linked me early on, when no one else would.

Darmon Thornton, just for being the brave, thoughtful, and interesting guy that he is.

Andrea Harris who is, quite seriously, a constant source of inspiration, in ways she probably doesn't even know. I don't know what I'd do without her to steal so many links from. I regularly have to restrain myself from taking everything she's linked lately and re-posting it here. (I hate how she does that.)

Jerry Pournelle, for far too many reasons to mention. He is a true Rennaisance Man in a world full of wannabes and poseurs. He's also a cranky bastard, a true gentleman, and a genuine scholar. Semper fi, Dr. Pournelle.

Joanne Jacobs, who also inspires me in ways she's probably unaware of.

John Rosenberg and John Weidner, who both quite seriously deserve at least a hundred times the readership they have. They are the best-kept secrets of the blogosphere, and you should be reading them both regularly.

Last Page, for flattering my ego with that interview last year. And for running a such a fun and interesting blog.

Media Minded, from whom I often steal some of my best stuff.

Michele Catalano, who is as foul-mouthed, hormonal, bitchy, mean-spirited, smart, kind, generous, thoughtful, and funny as always. What's not to love? The answer is: nothing!

Susanna Cornett, who inspires me regularly, even when she's wrong.

Trinity, whose beautiful soul inspires me in completely different and yet equally important ways.

Joe Katzman and MT Politics, who did so much to help the Iraqi Democracy project get off the ground, and who both continue to run killer weblogs.

I also want to thank my dear friends Paul Fallon and Gary Utter for filling in for me in times when I've been away, and contributing now and then on their own.

Most of all, thanks to my lovely wife, who understands my need to write. I thank her for being my wife, for giving me my son Jake, and for being a contributor to this weblog.

Finally, I want to thank those of you who come by and read. I hope I've managed to entertain you, occasionally told you something you didn't know, and maybe sometimes made you think. For whatever reason, that's my idea of fun, and a source of endless gratification.

Someone stop me before I blog some more!