I have been waiting a very long time to be able to say these words. For the past couple of months I have had a bottle of champagne sitting around, waiting, for me to finish the site enough to launch it to the public as a beta. I am glad, honored and relieved that the day is finally here that I can crack open that bottle and drink it (actually, finishing up the last bit of it now). My close group of friends have been pounding away at the site already reporting bugs that I promise I will get on top of as soon as I can.
Type Aloud has been a dream of mine for at least four years now. I envisioned a writing and reading community where people will not only be able to share their stories (and poems) but also get collaborative feedback for both editing, and hopefully, print publishing. Some of the most intriguing writing I have read came from people that were not published professionally. I look forward to being able to read (and write!) much more than I have in the past with this service. My primary goal is not to be profitable: Type Aloud is a service that I want to use myself. I am a lucky man if I am able to break even.
If you have a couple of minutes, or even better some writings that you want published, please take the time and head on over to the open beta page and sign up for a free account. Remember that all work posted to Type Aloud you retain ownership to. In the coming days I will have a proper copyright agreement up on there which will basically amount to you giving us the permission to publish it on the website.
There is much, much, more to be done, but I feel as if the first hurdle has already been past.
Last year I wrote a little blog post about my New Year’s resolutions. After the beginning of the year getting off to a rocky start I was going to forgo the whole official post thing, but I feel that tonight may be the night that I needed to write a little bit. I only achieved some of the items off of last year’s list. Instead of recapping my failures for the year I think I am just going to dive right into the good stuff.
- I will travel outside of the United States.
Last year I made a note to take a proper vacation. This is something that I do not believe that I achieved, but there are reasons for that. So my first resolution is that I will travel outside of the United States this year. I do not have an official plan on when (or where) but some of the ideas that are floating around include either Mexico or, better, Europe.
- I will finish what I start.
Last year saw many beginnings for me. I started a new career with a great bunch of individuals, I got nearly done with my writing community and there are many other things that I could go into. This year I want to finish some of the short-term projects that I have started. My plan for the first month of the year is to get an initial beta up of my my writing community, Type Aloud, which has been in the making for several years now.
- I will find someone that understands and accepts me.
I enjoy writing software. I talk about technology, watch movies, read and write, and cook food. Any person that comes into my life needs to completely understand and accept me, for me. No substitutes.
- I will take the GRE and apply to graduate school.
I have not decided yet what my major will be, but while doing that I need to prepare by taking the proper tests. Once I decide where and what I want to study I need to (obviously) apply and get accepted. The short list includes NYU and Columbia University in New York City.
- I will continue to eat healthier and live a more active life.
Last year I did not achieve my weight loss goal, but I did get half-way there. I stopped eating junk food, started eating more fruit and vegetables, and began cooking meals at home more often than I had before. I also started packing my own lunch a few days a week to save myself some money.
- Write more words, play more video games and enjoy life.
My passions include many things. Last year I said that I wanted to begin writing a book. For me, the first step in that is getting Type Aloud out of the door. I have several ideas for books (and short stories) that I want to start penning as soon as I have a website to write them on! Some of my other modes of relaxation include playing video games. I can probably count the games that I played with friends on one hand. This has to change.
- Drink more beer and open source more software.
For some reason last year I drank less beer (alcohol in general) and wrote less software, especially open source. These two things I want to change, and I feel that they’ll both contribute to an overall, better, me. All of you should hold me to it.
- I will find someone who will stay here, and not move away.
I don’t need to explain this. Anyone special in my life needs to be here, in my life.
I think that’s the list. Right now I am going to head to bed and hope that there isn’t too much snow here in the morning so I can get to work and end the week on a high note. Peace and happy New Year everyone.