Here’s how much I made on my blog in 2011.

$2.08 from Amazon Affiliate sales

$21.00 from DreamHost sales

$34.65 from Standard Theme sales

That comes to a whopping grand total of $57.73.

During that time I wrote 18,000 words on my blog, enough for a short e-book. (In 2010 I wrote twice what I wrote in 2011, enough for a standard book.)

So I made $0.0032 per word I wrote…big baller status!

In 2012 I hope to write 40,000 words while increasing my income. Lets see how I do.

I told Flula we show his videos to the students and asked him to make one for us. Here it is! Homeboy is crazy!

Keyboard Cases

1. Kensington Keyboard Case - This was my favorite keyboard case. It had the best quality and most features like being able to turn the iPad vertically and horizontally. It also carried the highest price.

2. Koolertron Keyboard Leather Case - This case had a silicone keyboard which is spill-proof. Some may not like the silicone feel but I think it’s fine. This is the best value keyboard case I found. Good quality and best price.

3. MiniSuit Aluminum Keyboard Case - This case was my least favorite. It’s aluminum so it’s a strong case, but it only protects the screen on the iPad and not the back from scratches. Maybe that’s ok with you but I want full protection. This is the smallest keyboard case size wise you will find so that’s a big plus.

Non-Keyboard Cases

1. amCase(TM) Leather Case and Flip Stand - This was my favorite case. Just a basic hardback leather case and stand. It’s small so it doesn’t make the iPad too bulky and it protects it very well. It was also the cheapest.

2. Incase Travel Kit Plus - This case was great! This is just a case to carry or store your iPad. It has a spot for your iPad and separate spots for a charger, an included stand, and whatever other small things you wanna throw in it. It’s a great case to travel with but I don’t have a good use for it. I can just throw the Leather amCase in my laptop bag a lot easier. As a stand alone case for the iPad, I’d get this!

3. Incase Neoprene Slip Sleeve Plus - This is just a sleeve, just like the one I have for my laptop (Incase 13″ Neoprene Sleeve) so I can throw it in my bag. If you are just looking for a sleeve case, this is the way to go. I wanted something to protect my iPad when I am using it too so this case didn’t work for me for my purpose.

So I ended up keeping the amCase(TM) Leather Case and Flip Stand. It made the most sense for me. I don’t really need a keyboard. For heavy documenting I will just use my laptop. I don’t really want just a sleeve cause I want some protection while I am using my iPad. So the Leather amCase is perfect for me.

What about you? What’s your favorite iPad case?

Another interesting platform, vinyl, had an almost 40% gain in sales over the previous year. Collecting vinyl is becoming a big hobby. Take a look.

All of these are interesting numbers to me. iTunes came out in 2001 and I bought my first iPod in 2004. In just 10 years the new most popular platform has become digital and it will continue increasing. So long cassettes and CDs.

What does this mean for books and movies? Will the new Apple TV change movies? Amazon’s Kindle came out in 2007. By 2017 will more books be purchased digitally vs physically? I think so. I love having all my books and music together in one place. How about you? Are you digital or a holdout?

Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson

Real Marriage - Mark and Grace Driscoll

The Meaning of Marriage - Timothy and Kathy Keller

We Are All Weird - Seth Godin

Read This Before Our Next Meeting - Al Pittampalli

What are you looking forward to reading in 2012?

Christmas Card 2011 Peter & Kristy from Peter Hootman on Vimeo.

Last week I rode the train home from Fresno and today I’m riding it back to Fresno. I must admit that riding the train is a lot cooler than I thought it would be…here’s why:

Free Wi-Fi

Big comfy seats

Power outlets at every seat

Free Wi-Fi

A food car

Great views

Free Wi-Fi

The only problem is I have to take a bus from Santa Rosa to Martinez, but it’s not that bad. Have you taken the train before? Did you enjoy it?

PS The train in Europe is not the same as the train in the US so that doesn’t count.

I often read about the flu killing people and have always found it interesting since I generally get the flu about once a year. But the flu kills over 40,000 people in the United States every year. Most are babies and the elderly, but that’s still a lot of people.

My grandma was pretty healthy, but when she got the flu she just couldn’t get over it and her body began to shut down. She went peacefully with my dad by her side. Here’s some fun facts about my grandma.

She never drove a car! 97 years and never got her drivers license.

She ran a daycare out of her house for years and years.

She would try to feed me liver and onions when I was sick.

She was sure she was going to win the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes…but she didn’t want the money for herself…she wanted to give it all to her family.

My grandma was a giver.

Grandma, I am glad you aren’t in any pain and you lived as long as you did. Thanks for always taking care of me when I was sick and feeding my chicken noodle soup when I wouldn’t eat liver. I love you, Chris