{bp} formerly known as WebBP :: Blog

Discover products from a different era

It is often said that today is the biggest shopping day of the year in the US. If the crowds at your local shopping mall are a bit much, perhaps you'd like to stroll the aisles of the American Package Museum instead. Clearly a labor of love for its creator, the site archives samples of consumer products packaging from early in the twentieth century. Check out Crayola, Jell-O and the Slinky.

Smart Cats

A blogger catches his cat trying to make the big play in last Saturyday's MLS Western championship game.

Starting a Business: Advice from the Trenches

Over at A List Apart, Kevin Potts offers some solid advice to anyone considering starting a business.

While I was there, I also came across this PHP image randomizer script which I hope to implement on another site soon.

Wander with care

You never know what you might come across if you're not careful.

It all started earlier this afternoon when I received a regular eNewsletter from OSU. I followed a link and then found myself on the Alumni Association website. Clicking around for a minute, I found a list of web pages maintained by alumni. Curious just who would be linked here, I scanned the list. I was struck by how many alumni from the 1970s had personal web pages. I was also somewhat surprised that, even among the more recent graduates, I didn't recognize a single name. Not a single name, that was, until I came across this: Peter and Jenny (Wing) Hoelter. Immediately, it brought back memories I hadn't thought about in years. Intrigued, I clicked through. Jenny was a smart, cute girl that a lot of people liked. I never knew her very well, but I knew people who did. Peter was an RA for a residence hall I believe -- I don't recall how I met him now, but he was both a bit older and seemingly well connected with all of the RHA folks. I vaguely remember being introduced to him by another RA from Hawaii whose name I've long since forgotten but who was totally into multimedia back then. People seemed to worship Peter. And Jenny? Well if I'm not totally mistaken, I recall more than one person being interested in her at some point. I recall having some awareness that Jenny and Peter started dating and I heard later they got married. But I've never thought about either of them since OSU.

So it was quite a surprise to stumble across photos of their first child, Owen, born earlier this year. Those so interested can relive the wedding as well, with wedding day photo coverage, a pre-wedding blog of sorts kept by Jenny when she was in Montana, and even sign the guestbook. In fifteen minutes, I now know more about Jenny and Peter and their respective families than I ever did while I was at OSU. I am not going to do anything with this knowledge, but it is scary how easily it was gotten.

Online, the tension between a desire for community and a need for personal privacy continues. I've spent the better part of the last nine years wrestling with this very issue. And, on the eve of considering the launch of a new personal blog, I'm still conflicted.