We’re currently working on a new podcast called The Fuel Podcast, specifically focused on the CodeIgniter community, but covering a broad array of web development topics that CodeIgniter and non-CodeIgniter developers all will be interested in.

We recorded our first episode last week, and Jamie’s currently working fervently to get our site up and running, so we can open The Fuel Podcast up to the world.

I’ll update when we’ve got something to show for our labors. It’ll certainly be an entertaining experience for all who chose to listen. Our sarcastic, slightly competitive and general nerdy humor will keep you on your toes while you hear us comment on the latest and greatest on the Web.

1. Give Hashtag.it a serious upgrade. This includes a more refined design and new features.
2. Start building the Twitter management tool that I’ve been dreaming about. I can’t manage my 400+ followees, and I don’t want to cut anyone. I’m determined to make it work with some code-magic.
3. Read a bunch of books. I’ve got a stack a mile high of books I want to read, but I never feel like reading them.

Since there’s a lot to say here, I’m going to divide it up into several parts.

Let’s start with the new feature, a review of last year’s goals and some play-by-play about how I did.

Build up my own business

Well I haven’t quite got there yet, but it’s certainly been a work in progress. I’ve thought a lot more about what I really want to do with my own business, come up with a name, and nearly completed my first product.

As I’ve been re-delving into the new world of the web, I’ve learned quite a lot this year, and I hope to be able to share what I know with the rest of the world, that greatly needs to embrace the social Internet in order to communicate with the public.

Complete my facebook application

Uhh.. Oops.. Definitely dropped the ball here. Luckily, I believe my application is still unique and will be of great value when I have the time to complete it.

Complete some other software development projects

2008 has been a year of new ideas for me. Luckily, it’s seen the near-completion of my one big idea, foto:blip. So I guess this one is a sortof success.

Start a writing regimen, including blogging as well as poetry, fiction and nonfiction

Regimen.. hmm.. not quite. But I have been blogging and Tweeting a lot more than before and with a lot more MEANING. I’ve been working towards making this blog less of a personal rant page and more into a tool for promoting my professional experience.

Travel to new york city more often

Epic Fail.. It just didn’t happen this year. Still something I’d like to do more of, but finding the time is always the hardest part. I guess, in my defense, I’ve been embracing the wonders of my own city of Philadelphia a bit more this year, and having less longing for the big city to the North.

For some reason, I’ve been particularly bothered by the commerialism of the season and have, in response, completely tuned out from the Christmas season.

I can’t say I regret it.

There’s something just so sickening about the way Christmas is celebrated now. It’s no longer a religious celebration. Obviously this is nothing new, but to me taking a year off from the normal Christmas jazz has probably been a good thing.

I went to Target to do my shopping just a few days ago. Traffic was a nightmare. The frantic people were so annoying. What’s all the rush for? Really.. It’s just so dumb. And all this talk of recession and decreased revenues. Where, may I ask, are people cutting back?

I navigated the carts and shoppers to the nearly-barren seasonal section looking for some sort of Christmas cards. It took me ages to find something that didn’t embrace the stereotypical Christmas trees and stockings and candy canes and the like. Blah! Finally I found some lovely wintery holiday cards, which I must say made my day.

Battling traffic on the way out was again absurd. What a mess.

Oh how I long for something simple. Something meaningful. Something that isn’t surrounded by fake smiles and forced gift-giving and lying through your teeth that you love that sweater Aunt Trudy bought you.

Maybe next year? I guess since it’s not midnight yet, I can make that my Christmas wish.

i’m here this week for the internet ministry conference with several of my current and former colleagues and some other folks i’ve worked with in some capacity along the way. cool!

looking forward to spending some time this week reconnecting with my web 2.0 mojo. this being my 4th time, i always find the week to be an intense time of sleep deprivation, overcaffienation and inspiration to continue to strive for using the interwebz for more than just an online brochure.

anyway, that’s all i’ve got for now. i’m stuffed with a chicken quesadilla right now and looking forward to frivolity later this week involving my coworker Liz’s birthday and the giant water slide aimed at a tiny pool which sits just outside my window. should be a real bang.. or splash.. not sure how deep the pool is..

hot tub here i come..

Though I may not necessarily hold the same stance as this subset, it’s not the beliefs and values with which I take issue. Rather, it’s the reaction I’ve witnessed to circumstances which clearly deviate from those beliefs and values, a reaction which is indicative of a complete lack of preparation to cope with these scenarios.

One such person that I know holds the belief that tattoos and piercings are inappropriate. OK, fine, we hold a difference of opinion, and if that is what he believes, I can accept that.

The problem begins when this same person thinks it’s funny to talk about going to South Street in Philadelphia to get tattoos and piercings, and when bringing up the topic, expects the entire room to laugh with him, as if nobody in their right mind would do such an absurd thing. Mind you, the piercing in my left ear was done on that very street.

This really bothers me. I truly do not understand how a person can be so sheltered or deluded to think that their worldview is the majority worldview, even in a room full of other Christians.

As a society, I think we are all guilty of holding this sort of biased view, representative of our own worldview, but we also recognize that there are other worldviews out there that we may not know of.

It seems absurd that these Christians do not recognize the existence of other views, especially in areas that there is debate over specific beliefs.

Let’s end the rant here and start talking about solutions. What does the Church need to do to prevent this from happening? And what are the benefits of doing so?

How about a multi-faceted approach? I think back to a course I had in High School on world cultures. It was quite risque to discuss in a school, but the teacher explored the tenets of many of the world’s major religions, side-by-side.

Teach about other religions in a Christian church? That’s insanity! Blasphemy! People could choose to believe the wrong thing!

This idea may be a bit far-fetched, but is it really that crazy? I don’t think so. If those attending truly hold the church’s beliefs, then educating them about others’ beliefs certainly won’t sway them away. I feel the same could be true for other more political issues where the Church holds a clear stance. Avoiding the issues is not doing anyone any favors.

What am I trying to get at with all this rambling? I think the point is this. People need to identify with their beliefs, and without having a basic understanding of the competing mindset, it is impossible to do so.

Though there are areas of faith that may not be understood or even humanly understandable, Christians need to be prepared to come face to face with the very things they are taught not to do and the people who do them. In such a situation a person of strong faith would not sink to the levels of laughter or hatred, but could truly present, debate and defend their beliefs in a way that shows their understanding of the opposing side is clear in addition to their choice to oppose it.

it’s probably been five years since i’ve been on a  bicycle. combined with my lack of height and an overly large men’s bicycle we have a receipe for disaster. i traded that bad boy in for a slightly shorter but still uncomfortably tall women’s bicycle.

results: slightly less disastrous, but still entertaining for the common bystander.

we went for a nice ride along the road, occasionally dodging pedestrians, other cyclists and pesky cars, steering with the highest level of precision, and nearly veering off the road several times. such fun.

anyway. i’m glad to report i made it back to the hotel alive, and unharmed, though undoubtedly a bit shaken from the whole experience.

visiting the london store was pretty insane tho. well actually, oxford street in general was. it was very reminiscent of new york, except for the fact that all the cars drive on the wrong side of the road and don’t stop for pedestrians. i guess that keeps the population from growing too quickly.

on sunday, richard and i began our journey to holland. i must say that heathrow terminal 5 is just plain wonky. for some reason, there are three layers of gates that you must walk through to get to the arrivals, none of which have an opening large enough to allow luggage through. i guess you’re not supposed to bring luggage to the airport?

after we figured out where to meet, we got on the road. a reaching the border, we took the eurotunnel to france. first stop, shopping center to pick up some wine. we got a case of 6 bottles, in fact.

in Belgium we made a quick restroom stop, and i took over the wheel. ACK! i’d never driven a right-hand drive vehicle before, especially on the right side of the road.. not exactly the easiest combination to learn on, but at least it wasn’t the roads in england.

no more than half an hour later, downpour began. not just light rain, but serious torrential downpour. i saw my life flash before my eyes as i tried to focus on the diminishing visibility ahead of me.

finally it stopped. and eventually we made it to the conference center, having just missed dinner. drat.

ok.. so a lot of people go and check statuses on various people.. read the ones that pop up on facebook automagically.. look at the status/away messages on aim..

but do you ever reply to them? haha. i find myself sending messages replying to peoples rhetorical status questions.

current status: Jeremy is shoving his foot in his mouth and slapping his proverbial wrist.

i do this with some regularity on facebook, myspace and on aim as well. for some reason it gives great satisfaction to just ‘click’ and delete people from your virtual life.

sounds kinda sadistic, huh?

i’m really not that harsh, i just hate having all these random names on my list of people i don’t ever talk to. of course if they add me again after a purge session, i’ll approve..

does anyone else do this? c’mon.. no lies.