Blessings and Curses from 2009

Columns that appear during the last week of December tend to have two common attributes. First, they run the risk of not being read by anyone.

After all, if you’re really smart this week, you’re in Mexico, Maui, or the Caribbean. Second, columns appearing in the last week of December tend to look reflectively and nostalgically at the year just passed.

I hope to disappoint you on both fronts, without saying anything about Tiger Woods, Avatar, or the balloon boy.