Since we all know by now that Top 10 lists basically mean nothing except to the person who assembles them, here are 19 random things from my 2004 in no particular order.

1. Time travel
And the 4th dimension and Transmitters and Galaxy Walkers and all of that. Time travel is not only possible, but probable. (below, images from my time machine design notebook, including logo designs for Noircom Futures(TM), the Afrofuturist time travel tourism outfit scheduled for initial test flights in 2005.)

2. Prince in June
Prince rocked the house in San Antonio on a rainy day in June. Clint kicked ass for driving all four of us down there over rising flood waters and then to the BBQ place and then back to the arena and then back home to Austin.

3. Peat Duggins
Wasn't that a great show at the Fresh Up Club? Aren't the sketchbooks great? That big homemade desk that takes up half a room and does everything? And how 'bout that curating job for Arthouse's comics show? (right, image from sketchbook)

4. Kojo Griffin
Speaking of the comics show, Kojo's candor and intelligence at the Arthouse artist's talk got me right here. Also, I learned the trick to getting to go to dinner with artists: just hang around after the talk and then start walking with everybody to the restaurant like someone invited you.

5. Digital camera
I'm no G. Schindler (a man so mysterious his first name doesn't even appear on his blog anymore, though I seem to remember it was Gary), but my camera lets me see things I never saw before and also lets me make things that never were, which is just like painting. (left, view down Riverside Drive on New Year's Day. Here comes the sun, baby!)

6. Arguing
My argument with Tom Moody over the meaning of the presidential election results and just my generally expressing unpopular opinions on it wherever I went, like when I got eviscerated on the Afrofuturism list. Speaking of unpopular opinions, I also took an unpopular position on the whole Emily Jacir/Wichita State issue. Calling this a first amendment infringement issue, as some have, is overblown histrionics and makes a mockery of people like Steve Kurtz whose plight really does rise to the level of First Amendment rights issues. Plus let's not forget my little pissing matches with guys like Roy Stanfield and Brad Tucker. Everything was live and unrehearsed...

7. 6th Circuit Court
Speaking of unpopular opinions, what was with that shortsighted and racist ruling by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals over sampling and rights clearance? A single ruling has now rendered an entire swath of art practice illegal. Lawrence Lessig, help!

8. Andy Goldsworthy
Sublime at AMOA. (right, Hole in leaves sinking…, 1987)

9. M
Here's to M for her ridiculous and cowardly behavior. And also for being stupendously boring and predictable. Have a great life with him, M.

10. Goodbye, old wallet
This is the wallet I've used since high school, finally retired this year. Well, more like finally exhausted this year. (left, click to enlarge)

11. Prentiss Riddle's blog
Is just great and I'm glad I found it. Maybe someday we'll both be in the same room at the same time and actually know it.

12. Message dollars
After receiving this dollar in November, I got this dollar as change at the grocery store 2 weeks ago. Coincidence? I think not. The universe is trying to tell me something. First project of 2005: write a prayerful message to "St. Lazareth" on 10 new bills.

13. Cauleen Smith
Well, just Cauleen Smith. :-)

14. Philadelphia
The highlight, other than the art tour and Jenny's persistent company, had to be meeting that dude O-Sub, who got me into that private Philadelphia Inquirer writers' club where he proceded to get drunk and threaten my life before inviting me to the Yinka Shonibare show at The Fabric Workshop.

15. Austin art scene's pretty, pretty people
Including, but not limited to: Laura Balch, Regine Basha, Tonya Engel, Samantha Webber, PJ Raval, Jonas Koffler, David Wilcox, Jennifer Balkan, Atsu Don't-Know-Her-Last-Name, Jen Arntson, and many, many more.

16. Craig's List RnR
Okay, the classifieds are great, but how 'bout them Rants and Raves? A veritable clearinghouse for people's endless obsession with fat chicks, tiny dicks, big tits, inconvenient shits, and jobs that are the pits.

17. Dreaming of stars
Ever since my therapist suggested I start writing down my dreams, I've started remembering a lot more of them. And you know what? It turns out I dream about a lot of famous people. Here is a partial list of dreamed-of celebrities from the past 3 months:

Charles Grodin
Diane Sawyer
Colin Powell
Ken Lum
Manning Marable
Jamie
Erykah Badu
Christie Turlington

(above, Christie Turlington and Manning Marable)

18. Feng shui
Thanks to Kazki and his feng shui-ness, I've completely turned this place around. Got rid of all the old, dark, heavy stuff and replaced it with... well, space mostly, but also a fluffy, shagadelic rug, a pygmy date palm and a pleasant after-the-rain smell.

19. Slip of paper
When I first moved to Austin in 1997, I bought a bunch of sports jackets from the Good Will. I liked this one pine-green jacket because it reminded me of a jacket worn by one of the literature tutors in my department in college, and I always thought he seemed very wordly and cosmopolitan. So I bought it, but I wore it maybe a total of three times. Then I put it on last week or so since I had left my default jacket at a Christmas party, and for the first time I put my hand in the breast pocket--I still don't know why. This slip of paper is what I found.

Happy New Year everybody.