Hey folks, it's Dave. I'm writing this in the sidebar so as to not put anything above Timbo's excellent piece onJoel Przybillaon the main page this morning.

I have not forgotten about the Essay Contest. The original plan was to present the finalists to you this past weekend and let you vote. That plan was torpedoed by me falling ill over said weekend. I wasn't in much condition to sit up, let alone type. This also messed with a trip I was supposed to take, which now I must take this week. The upshot is that the contest finalists will be presented this coming weekend. So don't panic if you submitted an essay. We haven't forgotten you.

--Dave