I made a book — Yearly Thing 2025

For a couple of years now I’ve been wondering if there was a book version of the Weekly Thing. I had in my mind the idea of an almanac. Something that captured some period of time and put information in a different format. This year this idea surfaced again and unlike the last couple of times I could not shake it. It seemed this thing needed to happen! And here it is, the Yearly Thing 2025: Agents, Attention, Artifacts.

The Yearly Thing 2025 places all 324 links that I commented on across 31 issues of the Weekly Thing in 2025 into one volume. It is organized into 10 topic focused chapters:

  1. The AI Revolution
  2. The Craft of Software
  3. Privacy, Security and Encryption
  4. Cryptocurrency and Web3
  5. The Apple Ecosystem
  6. The Open Web and Blogging
  7. Attention, Algorithms and Digital Life
  8. Leadership and Building Products
  9. Health, Connection and Society
  10. Tools, Productivity and Delights

There is also an Introduction, Weekly Thing Index, and an Afterword.

This repackaging of the Weekly Thing gives an opportunity to see topics in a different light. The eBook version maintains all the hyperlinks so you can go to articles and navigate as you like. The printed book references the issue each item was in, which you can then easily scan a QR code to go to via the Weekly Thing Index if you wish to.

I hope this is a way for people to go back to topics and reflect on them more. Make some notes in the margin on the print. All while supporting the Weekly Thing Supporting Membership program — with all proceeds from the sale of the Yearly Thing 2025 supporting great digital non-profits.

This may be the first of many Yearly Things that you can collect over time. 🤔

A futuristic-style book cover titled Yearly Thing 2025 features wind turbines against a cloudy sky.

Tyler and I made our way out to Chaska to check out The Forge. This was on our list of card shops to explore. Unfortunately the Pokemon inventory was nearly non-existent. They had a ton of other gaming stuff though. They only had a couple dozen cards but I did find two to add to my binder.

Exterior of The Forge game shop at address 230 in a brick strip mall with an Open neon sign and outdoor seating dusted with snow.

I just finished up this Weekly Thing adjacent project that I started over Christmas. Just a bit more to finalize distribution! I’m looking forward to sharing this. All the proceeds will be going to the Weekly Thing Supporting Membership program. 🙌

Book cover for Yearly Thing 2025 subtitled Agents Attention Artifacts by Jamie Thingelstad with wind turbines against a cloudy sky

We watched Knives Out tonight, again. Tyler hadn’t seen it and now that there are two sequels we’re going to watch those together. I didn’t remember that much after seven years so was still fun to watch again. 🍿

Movie poster for Knives Out showing a large ensemble cast standing behind an older man seated in a red leather armchair, inside a library.

Tammy and I saw Marty Supreme at the Edina 4 theatre this afternoon. Fantastic performance from Timothée Chalamet. The story is “loosely based” on the life of Marty Reisman.

Movie poster for Marty Supreme, an A24 film directed by Josh Safdie, starring Timothee Chalamet holding a ping pong paddle, releasing Christmas

World Snow Celebration

It was a very cold morning but we made it out to see the World Snow Celebration and the snow sculptures. Teams were working towards the deadline of completing their sculptures. They were amazing. We also did the Peoples Choice votes. I voted for Team Falcon of Mongolia and Tammy went for Team Warm Your Cold Brits.

Sculptor in a gray Striker jacket crouches at the base of a large snow sculpture covered in carved hands, tools and a shovel nearby.Two sculptors on ladders carve a large snow sculpture of an embracing figure near a gazebo and green steel structure.Two sculptors in gray jackets work on a large snow sculpture of a figure resting in a crescent moon, beside a river and lift bridge.Person in gray Striker jacket kneeling to carve a large snow sculpture of a cowboy riding a bucking bull outdoors.Large snow sculpture of a segmented robot figure emerging from a diamond shape, displayed on a frozen lake on an overcast winter day.Two sculptors work on a large snow sculpture of a sleeping figure cradled in a lotus flower, on a snowy riverbank.Two people in gray Striker cold-weather suits carve a large snow sculpture of a winged figure outdoors on a frozen shoreline.Large snow sculpture of an astronaut in a spacesuit with both arms raised, set on a snowy lakefront with scaffolding nearby.Sculptors in winter gear carve a large snow sculpture of leaping figures outdoors, with the Mongolian flag visible nearby.

Stillwater.

Stillwater Olive Oil Co storefront in winter with snow on the ground and a red flag on a lamppost

Delicious Gingerbread Latte and breakfast at Mon Petit Cheri in Stillwater.

Snowy sidewalk outside Mon Petit Cheri Bakery and Kitchen in Stillwater with holiday window art and a chalkboard menu sign.Gingerbread latte with tulip latte art in a white ceramic mug on a rustic wood counter at a coffee shop.

Tammy and I had a delicious evening at Rio 1854 — the Surf & Turf for two was amazing. Recommended!

Two people smiling at a restaurant table holding red cocktails in coupe glasses, with a menu and water glasses between them.Cast iron platter with lobster tail, grilled shrimp, salmon, steak, corn, and vegetables, served with guacamole, rice, and butter