Some new art

A little bit about how my mind works. Yes, I suppose I'm slightly odd. I hbe some eccentricities and strange habits.

I remember telling a friend of mine several years ago before she came over about a few of my interests; I needed her to be aware of what I'd been studying a lot of at that time, because my Comcast DVR was filled with crime specials, Dateline on ID, Investigation Discovery forensics shows, and interviews with sexual sadist serial killers (such as Dennis Rader). Had she decided to turn on the TV and peruse the recordings without any warning; well, I'd probably have to chase her to the elevator after she bolted — and I highly doubt that that would've gone well.

I've heard countless times: "don't talk about religion or politics."

I don't buy that nor bother with it. So, according to that advice, I'm only supposed to talk about inconsequential things... unimportant things?

"Yes, let us not discuss matters of a serious nature. What would be the point of your college education, if you were to actually use and benefit from it? Just plain silliness. Let us now discuss the finer points of Jersey Shore."

If you believe that, maybe you shouldn't read my blog. Especially if you get emotional about politics in particular. It won't get easier for you when I accuse your "side" of using mustard gas — and then blaming "us" when the wind changes and it blows back on your own people.

What in life should we take seriously, and how many young people are there meandering, directionless?

I was discussing "happiness" with a friend earlier, because it bothered me how we treat emotions in America. People aren't allowed to be sad anymore. Because there's a pill for that. Or a drug for it.

Get high, get drunk, forget about your worries. Isolation stimulates creativity; but I suppose young people need none of that, as they have YouTube and Hulu.

I'm going to post a new piece of art soon. I've been working on something... revealing. You may like it — I'm still looking at writing about "Locked Up Abroad" again, and the messed up laws, double-standards, hypocrisy and corruption in the Philippines.

Squarespace and Tech, in general

Over the past few days, I'd spent some time trying to make some improvements to this journal, some of them, subtle — like trying to get “smart quotes” (slanted quotes) to work properly when posting from the Squarespace iPad app. The iPad is still my primary computing platform, and many entries here are composed on my iPad. Unfortunately, the smartypants code that changes "straight quotes" and apostrophes into “proper quotes” and angled apostrophes doesn't work when entries are posted from outside the web interface. Fortunately (though it pains me to admit), not many people care about this typographer's pet peeve.

Recently, technology, in general, has been frustrating for me. Undoubtedly, some of it makes life much easier — some technologies seem impossible to live without. Therein lies the crux, however; as we introduce more tech into our daily lives, we become more dependent upon those things.

The above paragraphs originally acted as an introduction to the meat and potatoes, my rant about cell phones. However, it's become such an important thing to me, that I've decided to separate it.

Before I end this 'quickie,' another entry that has been composed on my iPad (that'll post without slanted quotes, GRRR!), I'd like to add that Squarepsace customer support has been fairly responsive in an attempt to help me troubleshoot this issue. There was some confusion, and overall, the support ticket I'd opened (after being prompted by @Squaresupport) had a simple answer: what I wanted couldn't be done, yet. Throughout the process, each person I'd communicated with was courteous, succinct, and prompt.

So in closing, I'd just like to say that the overall Squarespace experience is great, and if you're looking for a DIY website solution with minimal programming knowledge required, look no further, and please let them know that I referred you, because (I think) that gives me some kind of credit, and makes you extra cool.

Replacing Japanese Paper with Aluminum and Glass

Over the past year, I've used many different notebook apps for the iPad, and though I tried to love them, none really felt right. Penultimate, a great, highly rated app, has many things going for it, but it lacks the precision that a detail-oriented designer needs. Some apps such as Note Taker HD and Notes Plus also come close to paper, but they're both missing things.

However, iPad owners: I've found the answer — my favorite "notebook" app is "MUJI NOTEBOOK." if you haven't seen it, check out more information. Granted, the style might not suit other so well; the Japanese influence is clear, down to the paper types and formatting.

For true "pen and paper" feel, get a capacitive touch stylus. WACOM recently released a Bamboo stylus, but I haven't used it yet — the demand seems high, and there's a several month wait (I do have one on my Amazon Wish List, however, and my birthday is in three months!). I own styli by Ten One and Boxwave; either is good, but the Boxwave is easily my favorite.

It's not perfect—paper isn't perfect, either

MUJI Notebook has text, writing and drawing support with multiple methods of input. Some are slightly cumbersome; for instance, English handwriting to text is difficult to use effectively because the system doesn't detect letter shape, it assesses stroke order. That said, it's still easily my favorite, and I now take notes in ways I didn't — and couldn't — before, because my iPad 2 is near me so often.

For typed notes, I recommend Nebulous Notes... but my favorite iPad writing app is iA Writer.

Share?

I'd love to hear about your favorite iOS apps, productivity tips and tools, or whatever else you use to get things done on mobile devices. Coming soon: the team behind Day One (Journal) for iPhone and Mac desktop PC released a universal version of their iOS app. Ive played around with it, and believe that there's room for improvement, so I'm going to hold off on a formal review. One of the main new features is the inclusion of "reminders," a feature from the desktop app, designed to help the user remember to write throughout the day at set intervals. Hopefully, I can review OmmWriter for iPad soon as well.

I'll share some more photos and artwork soon, too. If you're curious, you can check out Antipresto, my Tumblr, for photos, videos, links, and other cool things.

New fonts at Squarespace

Looks like I'll need to modify this site again—Squarespace released some new fonts. It's got something to do with Google Web Fonts, but the easier it is, the better for me. Looks like I can start putting together my design site!

Oops!

I messed up. It appears like I just posted something entitled, “Negativity,” but that was in fact written over one week ago. I meant to post it last Tuesday, as a sort of ‘status update.’ I guess I really was delirious — I couldn’t even manage to change ‘draft’ to ‘published.’ Well, it’s up now… just a week late. Sort of like Playstation Network! [Though, it’s not completely restored, and I’m still hoping that DLC codes still work. Which reminds me, I haven’t received a code for my Doom Pack for BRINK — not that that matters, however, because Brink isn’t good at all.]

DAY ONE Journal has been a huge help during this time. Some of you might know a little bit about the perfect storm of pain and problems that have hit me over the past few weeks; long story short, it was very hard to keep my thoughts straight and remember to do simple things (like post blog entries, not that that struck me as particularly important, given my condition, one week ago). 

Beyond that, the iPad 2 has been amazingly helpful as well. The iPad really is a super device; despite its flaws, including the iPad 2’s lack of back-surface protection, non-retina display screen, lack of 4G, and, um… I guess that’s it, really… the thing is just one of the best things ever. Everything I like about the iPhone is amplified and made simpler on the iPad, and it really can do just about everything I need. I can browse the net — including (proper) videos — email, chat, game, create art, take notes, write, compose, and take funny photos with it. I don’t know what I’d do without the iPad — and it’s amazing that I got anything done prior to it. 

Today would’ve been my grandmother’s birthday — she would’ve been 94. I still think about her often. My grandmother, Elsie, was absolutely amazing. I’ll end with that, for now.

squarespace iPad app

I wrote this nice, long, eloquent post about recent events, and in between saving and posting, the bulk of it has been lost. So much for this as a reliable tool.

Updating my presence.

The past few months have been an incredible journey — I’ve met interesting people, created some great design, and have been reinvigorated… I’m excited to see where this new path takes me. I’m in the process of creating new cards, new materials, new websites — new branding — and I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to share it first with my family and friends, and then everyone.

I hope you like it.

Meanwhile, I will continue to update Bradtastic Defined with thought-provoking entries as time permits; I’m able to set-aside very little for recreation, as whatever time I’m not working, I need for rest. Creativity is greatly hindered by sleep-deprivation — in order to remain Bradtastic, I must be rested!

Check back soon, or follow me at Twitter!

What a race!

Over the past few weeks, my life has been project after project,

With no time to relax. I'm not complaining — not really — because it's been good. I've been in a position to help some friends get things done while simultaneously making some money. Altogether, not bad.

I haven't had much downtime, however — no time to relax. With a disability, that's a bad thing. Yesterday I was really run down.

A perfect storm.

I was struck with medication side-effects, heartburn — extremely intense, despite taking acid reducers, and I had a horrible stomach ache plus a head-splitting migraine. It was my intention to meet with a friend for dinner and a chat — but I wasn't in a reasonable condition.

Fortunately, with some rest, I started to feel better... a few hours ago. I'm still being cautious about what I do and specifically, what I eat. I've been watching Star Trek and I played some Red Dead Redemption (awesome game). I managed to get some work done as well.

It's during these gaming sessions, while relaxing, when I come up with many of my ideas. I've been thinking a lot about blogging/writing and my websites, and i'm thinking about using Disqus for comments here. Squarespace's default system just isn't working for me. I don't get email notification when new comments are posted, and I don't understand the spam filter.

Video games are fun with friends!

I'm excited about co-op gaming: Red Dead Redemption will have multiplayer missions soon, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (Sony PSP) was entirely designed with co-op play in-mind and at-heart. If you have a PS3 and/or PSP, please let me know.

Yes, this post is random. It's early in the morning and I'm in a lot of pain still. Later I'll post about my project for San Francisco magician Peter Morrison and his show at The Marrakech Magic Theater (located near Union Square)...

and the upcoming Starcraft II launch event here in the bay area!

Starcraft II

I'm delighted to be officially involved in an awesome celebration of a truly epic event — the launch of Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty.

More information about this will be available in the coming weeks. The past few months have been incredible, and despite pain and disability, I haven't felt better in a long time.

Last, feel free to post questions at formspring.me/bradtastic — I'll answer actual questions, and if your question is particularly interesting, you'll win a prize (assuming you don't ask anonymously)! [I've gotten a lot of lame posts; people seem to treat the page as a wall, like Facebook, instead of a Q&A.]

Year 2010 Redux, Hiatus

2010… is life any different for you? Better, I hope.

Hello everyone. To those of you who don’t follow my Twitter or Facebook (you really should… starting, say, now :-) ?), my departure from online contact probably seemed abrupt — I haven’t posted anything since Christmas. Things have just been busy. Website redesign is tricky with the technology — and disability — that I have.

I’m currently working on several website designs and redesigns — and those are some of the smaller projects. I’m still writing everyday, reading and learning… psychology and sociology, physics and mathematics have been of interest. I’m conceptual-designing; it’s fun, frustrating, and complicated.

My Superfluous Personal Blog (this blog) is going to be revamped, likely with an added column and new art. I just can’t make the time at the moment with more… pressing things to attend to. I need to take a desk apart, and I need to look at moving.

A Tablet PC and iRex Digital Reader 1000S would surely help speed things along. WACOM Active Digitizer screens… and fortunately, many of them are on sale, including Fujitsu Tablets and the older Motion computing LE1700 slate tablets. I’m also looking at digital paper e-book readers: such as the Kindle DX, QUE and B&N nook.

If you’re looking to help and get some credit, support and advertising (along with other services), send me a message. You could end up with lifetime advertising here and at other Bradtastic sites. Contact me for details. I’m also interested in the Alphasmart NEO — they recently lowered the price to $169! It’s a great supplemental tool for any writer.

Incoming

There’s a lot of new stuff headed this way. I should have a notebook from Levenger to review sometime soon, and I suppose that’ll be a decent time to take another look at the Canteo Classeur. Also new to the Bradtastic Approved, some iPhone apps!

About Bradtastic Premier

I’ve been working on modifications and additions to the AIS website and product/services line-up. That, along with illness and pain has prevented me from getting the new Bradtastic.com up and running. Enough of it is done — insofar as I could release it as is — but I’d like to get it just right… especially with 2010 just weeks away.

And then some…

I’ve recently revamped my Gamertag image and “branding,” where I’m known (well, not really “known”) as Rainfault, inasmuch as I’ve created a new Twitter, @rainfault and TypePad Microblog (more info) — rainfault.typepad.com/blog/ 

Also, some Borderlands images can be found at Bradtastic Antipresto. 

Plus…

Christmas approaches… a time for family and friends. Last year I made a post about the importance of relationships and the significance of happiness. This year, I suppose I’ll do something similar — with significant amounts of added-insight. I’m much the more brilliant-er. “srsly.” 

All jokes aside, I owe much of my happiness and survival throughout this year to my family and friends. Thank you all, again and again. You’re the very best.

Topical leads to seriousness

I’ve been chatting with Daniel — a “student” of mine — while playing some Borderlands (2K Games’ masterwork RPS — role-playing shooter); he’s figured-out, over this year, that his serious interests involve writing. His love of videogames is a natural outlet, and hopefully, writing about games (or for them?) can become a career for him.

As some readers of mine might remember, I’ve wanted to write about games for some time. I dabble in it, from time-to-time, usually at Gamespot. I tried making a dedicated gaming blog, but never could make enough free-time to pick up the necessary momentum to carry the project along.

I might have another chance now… and an opportunity to do things differently.

In discussing videogame reviews, one facet stood apart — particularly interesting to me — the nature of trust. People generally read reviews to accumulate more information, to make a better decision. However, if the reader doesn’t trust the reviewer, the review won’t mean much — that’s if it’s even read!

Why should anyone trust a review? How can we assess whether or not the author shares similar views, has similar tastes?

At the time, I didn’t think of this thought-trajectory as being particularly-profound, but it lead me to new findings, new ideas and concepts. Free-association, mixed with a bit of luck, I suppose. 

I’ve decided on a few fixes; I thought about what makes me trust a review — and the reviewer, what I think when we don’t share the same tastes, and what makes me come back for more. I also thought about Bradloves and Bradtastic.com, and the future. Indeed, 2010 looks like a turn-around year.

Before I get back to work, I thought I’d mention quickly: I’ve been told that I’m hard to shop for, get gifts for. That’s not at all true. At my Links page, I have two wish lists (so far) — each with gifts ranging the gamut. If you don’t have lists of your own, you should think about making one (or five)!

Personal Discovery

I’d thought of this evening as a good time to take inventory and share some of my perspectives on this year—and these times—with my audience. It seemed particularly fitting, as tonight is the night of a “New Moon.”

However, after reaching the fifth-or-so page of my introspective, I realized that that level of detail might only be truly interesting to a select few. 

Those interested in my views on technology probably wouldn’t enjoy an essay-length entry about my life—and my thoughts about my life! Anyone interested in my “art of influence” and game-theory perspective might see such a post as an anecdotal, fringe-offering—but I doubt that my unique and idiosyncratic thoughts on my own existence could be viewed as substantive.

Therefore, I offer the following.

I have carefully articulated and realized many abstract thoughts that have been swirling about my semi-conscious, and have arranged a personal inventory of sorts. Although I have since rationalized this work as too-lengthy for a single blog post, the process itself was fulfilling, and my findings worthwhile…

I’m sure that at least some of it would be interesting to my general audience.

So—instead of erupting its entirety onto my blog, I’ll let bits trickle in. Although I’ve cynically chosen “superfluous” as my personal blog’s name, I don’t want that word to become its primary description or attribute.

Ooh!

That reminds me… I’ve been meaning to create a new “about” page for this site… please check back soon, and leave a comment if you want a present.

Squarespace... enhanced?

I'm using the Squarespace iPhone app for the first time. It's already crashed on me several times; although that might be expected with new App Store software, their application feels somewhat "beta." After the long wait (since their "app coming soon" iPhone giveaway), I suppose I was expecting more. Perhaps future updates will address the issues.

I don't intend to make this an app review — I actually just wanted to let everyone know that I've been ill, the flu, perhaps... and that migraines have prevented me from posting more.

AIS has some brand-new stuff, and the CARA MoneyCard is well-received. That's something I'd expect — the CARA VISA check card fits a genuine need.

Hopefully I'll have website updates across the board in these next few days. As always, I'll post "what's happening" at my Twitter. (@bradtastic)

New Designs, Fast, Furious!

Once again, I’m working on new designs. Right now, I can’t show them off… so instead, enjoy this photo I took in Forza Motorsport 3 — a 2003 Infiniti G35 with a few mods, and painted Athens Blue. I’ve designed some custom decals, too; I’m still working on nicer stuff, and I haven’t quite figured out the decal editor. I’ve yet to create anything truly stunning.

The US release of the game was October 27, so it’s not like I’ve had a lot of time.

Hopefully the flu (or whatever it was) has passed… I’ve got stuff to do, writing to finish, blog posts to share. I’m keeping this entry short and sweet, but before I go —

A Thank You to Daniel “Sullivenom”

Recently, Daniel sent me gifts (yay!) — a Moleskine Info book and a Behance Action Pad mini. If you’re into steampunk, check out his blog “Steam Effort.” Perhaps there are still undiscovered goodies awaiting me in my mailroom… exciting!

Last, but not least…

Do you need design?

I have some availability during mid-November for comprehensive design and marketing work. 2010 is only a few months away, and now is a great time to think about gloriously re-emerging next year with new, striking graphics and advertisements. If you’re just looking for a new, punchy logo design or brochure, don’t hesitate. Contact me. I can squeeze that in… especially if you’re likeable.

Timeless

I have a lot of work to do this week — and likely next week, as well. I’m enjoying the slow, rhythmic, methodical process of writing-longhand in my Canteo Classeur notebook… I’m also enjoying skag-sniping in Borderlands with Mordecai “The Hunter.” (Got XBOX 360? Message me, let’s play sometime! Rainfault) 

Next week, Forza 3 and DJ Hero. Next month: Modern Warfare 2.

This holiday season is going to be great for gamers. What else does this mean? I’ll have a lot of sub-$100 items on my wishlist.

I’m working on my next topics — and Bradtastic Premier — but because I don’t have a full site-sponsor yet, Superfluous is on the back-burner. These side-projects take second-seat to my other stuff. Soon I should have another design commission, however… that should be fun!

Meanwhile, if you have questions about getting your online-assets in order, task management, or design, please email me! 37signals’ products are wonderful, but they aren’t automatic breakthroughs. That I can help with.

Also, if you’ve checked out Jumpchart and are considering using it, let me know.

Hope to hear from you!

"Superfluous" Site Design

A tangential post... with worthwhile information.

I really wish “smart quotes” (slanted instead of "straight") were the norm. I see a lot of amateurish design and typography with straight quotes... sigh.

Inkblogging has been going well—I'll post something new tomorrow morning. Hint for the curious: it's handwritten. Also, I'm looking for a sponsor; someone on the bleeding-edge, way-past-unique. More details on that soon, but basically—I'm taking my stuff to the next level, and would like to take an advertiser along for the ride. My new business site will have more information on the other services and benefits I can offer.

I'm thinking that I need another sidebar... that might entail a new layout altogether.

The flipside of my existence, AIS, is always groundbreaking and blazing new trails (with services such as "down to one). For (another) example, check out our CARA MoneyCard, a VISA checking card with unbeatable benefits and the lowest fees.

I'm putting together several new things with clients, but I'm never closed to new possibilities. My "business" site may not be up yet, but work never stops. If you're intrigued by the possibility of creating something awesome together—or anything else I've mentioned, please contact me. You can leave a comment, or you can use Retaggr (on the sidebar) if you prefer. I will email you back promptly.

And... If you haven't already: you can follow me at Twitter! @bradtastic

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]