I had intended to write a post reflecting on the past year, but the conflict in Gaza put paid to that. Nonetheless, as 2008 segues into 2009, I want to record a debt of gratitude to the following: Eamonn McDonagh, who joined me as a writer on this blog back in July and brought his insight and wisdom along with him; our guest writers, in particular the esteemed Karl Pfeifer and my colleagues Ken Stern, Michelle Sieff and Kenneth Bandler, for their superb contributions; our friends in the blogosphere, especially Gene and David T at Harry’s Place, David and Mira at Engage, Terry Glavin, Contentious Centrist, Normblog and the many other must reads on our blog roll; our sponsor, the American Jewish Committee, for its generous and unstinting support; and you, our readers, for putting Z Word on the map in our first year of existence. Thank you all.