Sunday, February 17, 2013

Happy Birthday



Happy Birthday to Proper Course.

Yes, this blog is 8 years old today, born on February 17 2005.

The picture above is pretty much how the blog looked for the first year or two. It's actually a screenshot from the Internet Archive Wayback Machine from May 2006. They don't seem to have an earlier archived copy.



I wonder what else was going on in the world in February 2005? Let's see...

Ellen MacArthur broke the world record for the fastest sailing solo circumnavigation of the globe.

The Pope took ill and was taken to hospital. He died a few weeks later.

The President of the United States made a State of the Union speech in which he discussed his plan to reform Social Security. That died too.

In the US Congress, a brand new senator from Illinois became the only senate member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

And three former PayPal employees created a new video-sharing website on which users could upload, view and share videos. It was called YouTube.

Interesting. I wonder what that young black senator is doing now and what happened to that crazy idea for a video-sharing website?



As for me, in the intervening eight years, I have had four grandchildren, moved house to Rhode Island, won the occasional Laser race, not won many many more Laser races, finished in the top half of my fleet at the Laser Masters Worlds once, sailed my Laser 94 times one year, broken and bent various Laser parts, sprained and chopped and pulled (but not actually broken) various Tillerman parts, made a lot of new friends, travelled to sail in a lot of great places, and written 2535 blog posts.


Thanks to everyone who has read the blog over the years and especially to those of you who have made the extra effort to leave comments here and to participate in our assorted insane ramblings.

You don't have to be crazy to read this blog, but it helps.


14 comments:

Tinker at Sea said...

Happy Birthday!

Hope you get some cake and a party hat! Will there be party games?

JP said...

Congratulations Tillerman, the Proper Course is eight today!

May it continue to ramble in the best possible way for many years to come.

Baydog said...

My inspiration. The big three is coming shortly.

bonnie said...

And I stand by what I said lo those many years ago - "Sir, you are completely insane in the most wonderful way" -

And may you remain so for years to come!

Doug / Pam said...

Happy Birthday from Pam and me. Having just had our first birthday, we can appreciate all of your hard work. It's no wonder that traditional media is in trouble!

Tillerman said...

Thanks guys. And let's recognize the endurance of JP and bonnie too, fellow members of the blog starting class of 2005.

Anonymous said...

Awesome! Congrats on the blog birthday!

Tillerman said...

Thanks. I'm working on it.

O Docker said...

Some things that have become a familiar part of our lives just seem to have always been there. We often forget how they help us make it through the day. Maybe it's that cup of morning coffee made just right, a comfortable pair of old jeans, or a favorite walk to that special place.

Sorry to be blathering on like this - nothing I've just said has anything to do with your blog - but congratulations on having made it eight years, anyway.

my2fish said...

well done T-man. congrats on your blog birthday!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday !! A great blog

Joe said...

I have nothing profound or lyrical to say other than thank you for entertaining me over the years. Happy Birthday!

Tillerman said...

How could I forget? Joe's blog has been going strong since 2005 too, if not longer.

Noodle said...

Congrats and thanx for the entertainment and inspiration so far. Your scriblings usually put a smile on my face. I like that.

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