Screw resolutions

This was one of the best email subject lines I received this week:

SCREW Resolutions … Our New Year REVOLUTION is Back!

It was from Todd Cambio, a Rhode Island-based obstacle course racing coach and personal trainer.

My wife and I have been asked countless times in the last week what resolutions we are making for the new year.

None. 

We never do.

We're both in pretty decent shape, we eat well and healthy and we have recently succeeded in getting more sleep. Our family is happy and business is growing.

We do, however, set goals and strategies — targets we want to shoot for in the coming years (yes, long term!).

So as you enter 2014, don't focus on the short-term changes that will likely go bye-bye in short order. Instead, focus on making the adjustments that will have lasting, systemic changes and that target a goal somewhere over the horizon.

It's now the Year of the Horse — ride well!

2013 by the numbers (courtesy of @NPRNews)

It's the last day of list season. 

NPR has a good one, compiled from sound bites from stories in 2013. A clever — and engaging way — to summarize the year.

Enjoy NPR's creative 2-minute video.

Merry Christmas & Happy 2014!

Wishing everyone a most joyous Christmas and New Year. 

Regular posts will resume January 2, 2014.

Town Farm Bay on Lake Champlain in North Ferrisburgh, Vt., after a 24-hour ice storm, shot on December 22, 2013.

Yule log, the making of, from @Netflix

You need a last-minute Yule log. Netflix has a last-minute answer.

Just stream its popular 2010 title "Fireplace for Your Home" — it's 1 hour, 2 minutes of single-camera, single-shot fireplace action.

But since this past year was, among other things, the "Year of the Maker," Netflix has issued a behind-the-scenes video of how this iconic film was made. They have a trailer, too.

It's part hipster, part pretentious, part holiday fun.

Enjoy.

The Director of this modern classic represents the creme de la creme of fireplace filmmakers. Stream "Fireplace For Your Home" on Netflix this holiday season. http://nflx.it/ITufEA Available in original Crackling Fireplace and new Crackling Yule Log Fireplace.

3 gifts your friends won't return (@fieldnotesbrand, @kravejerky, @aperturefnd)

Here are three quick ideas — all available online — for the holiday shopping procrastinator.

For someone who needs to get organized:

Field Notes: I always have tech in my pocket or at my fingertips — my iPhone, iPad and my Mac. But I always have a little Field Notes notebook handy as well. In fact, they are stashed around the house, in the car and in all my jackets. The annual subscription is $97 and gets you quarterly shipments of the coveted "COLORS" series — a total of 30 memo books over the year. As Field Notes slogan says, "I'm not writing it down to remember it later, I'm writing it down to remember it now."

For someone who's an active foodie (as in active AND likes food):

Krave Jerky: My wife and I often quip that we went to Napa and Sonoma for the wine and came home with a year's supply of jerky. It's Krave jerky — and well deserving of the name. It's fresh, natural and ridiculously flavorful — and a great source of lean protein. We can't decide whether our favorite is the Sweet Chipotle beef jerky, the Grilled Sweet Teriyaki pork jerky or the Lemon Garlic turkey jerky. Wait, maybe it's the Garlic Chili Pepper beef jerky or the Black Cherry Barbecue pork jerky or the Chili Lime beef jerky. Oh, forget it, we get them all. That's why the monthly shipment works for us. Krave has gift options starting at $42 and the subscription gives you a sweet 15 percent discount and free shipping. And the peace of mind that you never have to worry about running out!

And finally for someone who's a bit photo crazy:

Aperture: This quarterly magazine, relaunched this year, bills itself as a "sophisticated guide to the world of contemporary photography." It's all that — and a great source of inspiration if you want to up your photo game. Each issue has some drool-worthy images — and some mighty fine writing as well. A year costs $75 and it comes with a free digital edition you can view on your iPad (but you'll want to hold the paper magazine in your hands!).

Happy shopping!