New Years Eve in Times Square, New York City

As hard as it may be to believe, another year has come and gone. If you live in the New York area, you may be reading this post from your iPhone, waiting for the ball to drop in Times Square. If you’ve been snowed in, then you may be hanging out at home with friends and loved ones, playing a few Wii games before counting down with Carson Daly on NBC.

Whatever you’re doing to celebrate the departure of 2008, it may be a good idea to check out this last What’s Up Wednesdays of the year. Have a glass of champagne (or ginger ale) on me.

Checking, Calling, and Counting Cards

Some people regard poker as gambling, just as they would with blackjack or roulette. This is not the case. Poker is about calculated risks, working out the odds, and playing the psychological game with your opponents. The Poker Jerk recognizes this critical differentiation, providing a comprehensive explanation of calculating your odds and your outs. By doing a little bit of math, you can substantially improve your poker success.

Follow Me, Follow You on Twitter

Twitter can be a great way to develop a community, get your news, and generate traffic for your blog. As the platform matures, Darren Barefoot is starting to learn that reciprocal following on Twitter is the new blogroll. It just seems like common courtesy to follow those who follow you, but does this result in information overload? Do you follow me on Twitter?

Freelancers Are Cheaper Than You Thought

Some prospective clients can be quite shocked when they hear what freelance writers charge for their work, but as Thursday Bram reminds us, freelancers are not actually more expensive. For regular employees, companies have to pay into a pension plan, medical plan, income taxes, and all sorts of other expenses, including the costs involved with maintaining office space and equipment, not to mention paying for downtime. By hiring a freelancer, the price you’re quoted is the bottom line price you pay.

Political Commentary Around the Globe

It is far too easy to put on those blinkers and become too ignorant of the world around you. Jeff Kee takes off those blinkers and provides a heated discussion regarding the conflicts in Israel and Palestine. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Is there a good guy and a bad guy in this conflict? What is the best resolution to this ongoing issue in the Middle East?

Late Night Comedy Dies with Departure of Dubya

Like many Canadians, I was rooting for Barack Obama to win the US Presidential election last month. That said, it is with a slight tear in my eye that we will soon be saying goodbye to George W. Bush. Ed Lau agrees, I suppose, since he posted up the top 10 Dubya moments from the Late Show with David Letterman. It’s easy to make fun of Dubya. Making fun of Barack may not be quite so easy… yet.