Christmas Colors and December News

Yesterday and the day before, I modified the color scheme here at Says Brad. Some simple updates, but sticking pretty closely to the same RWB Americana theme. (RWB just made me think of RWBY, a cool show by Rooster Teeth) Earlier today, while I was planning and writing my upcoming notes apps’ reviews, I thought about the theme change and decided to give it Christmas colors.

Why not? Squarespace makes it really simple.

At least if you’re using a desktop browser. Modifying the theme in SS5 is basically impossible on iOS.

Because of both of these two elements — simple, but difficult away from desktop browsers), I wanted to keep it really simple and be able to switch back after New Year’s. With a click, you can duplicate your current style and create a new name for it, make the appropriate changes, and save it alongside the old theme. Since the two sit side by side, I can simply enable the original when the Christmas theme is no longer relevant. (I suppose that at any other time of the year, it just looks Italian.)

I need to figure out how to do this at WordPress or Squarespace 6… or wherever I start my disability blog at. I know I said that I was going to get right back to writing about apps and stuff, but the recent ruling regarding NSA data-mining and the White House press release, I think it’s appropriate to discuss privacy, 4th Amendment protections (the word “privacy” is absent from it) and a bit about how that is applied (or not) to internet communications and virtually everything else in the surveillance cities and states of the world (London comes to mind). Is all of this information harvesting making us any safer, and if it is, is the price too high? Although political, I think that it’s a tech-related issue.

I also saw this Reason-Rupe poll today that says 58% of Americans think that police militarization has gone too far.

That includes a full 60 percent of both Democrats and Tea Partiers. Opposition is under 50 percent among non-Tea Party Republicans.

I think that this is particularly important as well, because although the primary tools are still primarily various firearms, high-tech weaponry is becoming increasingly affordable and available, and I don’t want to be hit by a microwave weapon gone awry.

So that’s what’s going on.

I just got a copy of Ulysses III from the wonderful, awesome people at The Soulmen, and as it interacts with Daedalus Touch, I’m going to review the two together. I can already recommend Daedalus Touch, especially if you like to work on multiple projects simultaneously or need to organize and reorganize text dynamically. It’s the smoothest, easiest to use document management tool on the iPad and iPhone.

I’m also trying my best to pack and move, but doing that with a disability is very difficult. It’s inspired me to write a bit about the major changes that occurred slowly over the past five or six years that I only notice when I think about it (like a distinct change form extroverted to introverted). In my mind — much of the time — I’m the same… but the reality is often completely different.

Black Friday Thoughts

Note: began this entry last week. Been exhausted. :-(

Thanksgiving was the day after dinner with my parents, so I was pretty tired. We started to say what we were all thankful for but the conversation sidetracked, and never refocused. With the FLOTUS' suggestion in mind, we spoke about ObamaCare and politics... but I won't get into that here and now. I'm truly thankful for two wonderfully supportive parents and the relationship I have with my family now. Also, although we give each other a hard time, Stephanie does a good job taking care of me and reminding me to eat. I forget about that sometimes when I get involved in a project or, well, sleep.

It hasn't always been easy or fun, but I don't think I could get by without them and their support. Disability really sucks like that. Thank you. And a shoutout and thanks to all of the wonderful internet people — hopefully you know who you are. Your generosity, kindness and encouragement, thoughts and prayers are cherished and appreciated. I hope you have a great, merry Christmas! (...and a happy New Year!)

Now to Mainstream Sheeple Consumer (yes, very bleak—err, black) Friday thoughts.

I really miss Steve Jobs.

Mostly in an abstract way; it's not like I knew him personally, but insofar as a man (or woman) can be known by their great works and contributions, it pains me greatly that his direction and insight is no longer a constant.

Although Apple might honor and carry his legacy through their refinements and further developments of his breakthrough products, they've lost their prodigal navigator and are thusly adrift. It's impossible for me to know whether or not Steve would've allowed the iPad mini to exist, but I cannot fathom his acceptance of iOS7 on it.

Some people claim to run iOS7 just fine on first-gen minis. Many others, myself clearly included, believe that the tablet is just too slow for it. It's clunky. Glitchy. It crashes and lags.

It's ruined the mini experience for me. The mini was my favorite tablet, one of my favorite things, even with the iPad2-like specs and unimpressive screen. It gave me the iPad experience that I love on a device that I could use all day — the iPad 3 is just too heavy to hold up for hours. With iOS6, the mini was quick and stable.

It allowed me to create.

iOS7 was deliberately designed to be sleek and minimal — two qualities I don't have an issue with — however, it feels like style over substance. Over-engineered, unavoidable. Apple won't let dissatisfied users go back to 6, and even pushed the update install to devices. It seems like a marketing tactic to throw out at keynote speeches. Almost all of our users are on the latest version of iOS, while Android devices are split between...

Compounding my tablet frustrations are blogging woes.

Squarespace 5 has started getting hit with referral-link spam. At first it was maybe a few a week, then a few a day, now maybe a dozen per day. This nuisance isn't easy to take care of on an iPad, and has obscured legitimate comments, emails, questions... I've got to do something about it.

Sorry for the trouble here but I'll be happy to assist you. We will continue to maintain Squarespace 5 for customers. However, updates and apps that are released in the future will be geared toward the Squarespace 6 platform. – Squarespace Customer Care response

So it looks like I'm blogging on an obsolete platform. Simply move to their Squarespace 6? And perhaps in a few years, they'll grow tired of that, release version 7, and cut support/updates for 6.

I get that things progress and change is necessary for business, but because the systems are incompatible and there's no automatic 5 to 6 conversion tool, it's extra stress that I don't want.

So I've been looking into alternatives. I found two articles particularly informative.

• The 15 best blogging and publishing platforms on the Internet today. – The Next Web
• 6 New Blogging Platforms that Debuted in 2013 – AGBeat

I'd like to focus more on long form content and less on blog design; unfortunately, so many "blogging platforms" (CMS) are setup for full-site management and treat the blog as a secondary item and focus.

Perhaps more importantly (at minimum, of equal importance) is sustainability — Internet immortality. Permanent links. Link rot sucks. Importing and exporting content sucks — there's always loss and errors. That makes something like Posthaven — at least at face-value — very attractive. Their promise, for $5/month is a service that will last forever. I blogged at Vox, played with Pownce, tweeted at Jaiku, shared with Posterous — all gone.

I think my only real reservation with Posthaven at the moment is that I don't like the look, and it seems like there's no choice with that. No templates or themes, or CSS or whatever. Just pure, simple blog — take it or leave it. I don't think it's attractive or very usable. On their site, they indicate that custom design is something that they're working on implementing, so I'll have to keep an eye on it. If you use Posthaven, I'd love to know what you think of it, and how it compares to similar blog only services (like Medium, Ghost, Postagon, Roon, etc).

And then there's this: Web Design is 95% Typography – Information Architects — thoughts from the genius Oliver Reichenstein. I've read his thoughts on typography (I love typography and handwriting), and agree with most of it. It's particularly true for this blog, since I tend to post fewer, write longer (instead of many/short). This theme just looks bad with big type. If only I could work on it from my iPad.

I'm not good with code. I know a bit — enough to understand it when I see it, but I can't use code like I use a pencil (or stylus). I can't wield CSS as a design weapon, and that limits what I can customize on my own. If only I had more time, more years of life.

Squarespace (like many other visually fancy UIs) is difficult to modify on a tablet. There are a lot of JavaScript effects and overlays, menus and some drag-and-drop. Stuff mobile Safari doesn't do well (at least as Squarespace has coded it — I've seen some neat interactive HTML5 stuff on iPad, like FiftyThree's site). I really think that they could do away with all that or offer an in-app option, but alas, the limitations of small company. And they're based out of New York — not my first pick for a business.

My goal, of I can ever manage it, is to write about the tech, games and design that I love, disability and pain management, and politics (local, national, international). I believe that it's important to our first amendment and culture to express controversial and perhaps unpopular opinions, always remaining truthful and forthright. I don't like political correctness and white lies, and I don't want to live in a world where government tells me what I can buy, where I can go, whether or not I can own a gun, airplane or anything else. I don't want to live in a world where creativity and ingenuity is stifled and suffocated under the burdens of taxes, regulations, penalties, local, state and federal ordinances requiring prior authorization and approval, etc...

...but I really, really don't like all the public insults, flame wars, death threats, obscenities and personal attacks hurled at strangers online and elsewhere in our society today. There's an awful tension and hostility and a lot of hate — so I plan on contributing to debates without attacking others or responding to personal insults. I won't instigate persecution and I will report threats (and hate speech, where applicable), because it isn't right or productive. We do not have the right to never be offended, but we do have protection against battery, libel and slander. I encourage debates where people vigorously defend their positions and say "you're wrong," but I condemn the "you're an idiot and you should die" that seems to occur online with alarming frequency. Liberal or conservative, it doesn't matter who's saying it — this type of attack is wrong, and if I see or hear it in the mainstream media or popular blogs, I'll flag it — because I think character is important and people need to be aware of it.

In my experience, the racism, discrimination and flaming comes from:

• people with an intellectually, factually indefensible position — perhaps thusly, they believe that their only option is to end discussion entirely or redirect it from information and ideology to personal attacks,

people so arrogant and/or narrow-minded that they believe that there's no possible way that they can be wrong; thus they are unwilling to even hear or entertain the opposing argument or view — and often in anger, shut down civilized discourse with disdain, using statements ranging from cynicism and snide remarks to outright vile hostility and threats of violence.

Sometimes it's difficult to contain anger, I understand that. But even if someone is wrong — stubbornly so — it would be far better to simply withdraw from dialogue than resort to conversational (or actual) thuggery.

So in the spirit of American Christmas, those are my stresses, wishes and cold-weather! winter worries. And now that I've shared them,

I can get back to blogging about fun stuff like iPad styluses and the joys of iPhone 5S. PLUS: why I won't ever switch from iOS to Android, and why I simultaneously want Android to always be awesome!

Happy December!

Bradtastic supports Blogsy

The Connection Between Cats and Politics

Mimi & Kiki, my mom's cats. Images from @bradtastic on Instagram.

I have a bit of a feline allergy, but whenever I visit my parents, I can't help but play with these two, too cute furballs. Maybe I have toxoplasmosis. Pictures of cats always make me smile. Everything cute, really... baby-anythings — especially puppies and kittens. Tiny humans are adorable also, but a little less so.

My mom's cats really like hanging out in small boxes. It's a cat thing, like catnip — although the gray one, Mimi, likes eating it, while Kiki likes rolling around in it.

My Instagram is basically a collection of cat pictures and snapshots of my view of Oakland's skyline, with miscellaneous shots in between. It's a relaxing pastime.

Life gets a little chaotic and painful, and recent events have caused a fair amount of stress and anger.

I think that reading and writing about American politics is important — occasionally it's invigorating, learning about, discussing and debating serious, life-changing issues. It feels right... but it never really feels fun. Maybe it's not supposed to — that thought troubles me.

Video games are fun, writing about games is fun (at least for me)... politics is practically the opposite.

Both can be very time-consuming, but dealing with serious social issues takes a lot of energy and patience that I often don't have.

Perhaps the largest hinderance is hate; discussing politics draws a lot of strong emotions, spiteful remarks, blatant racism and prejudice. Opinions aren't always welcome, and free speech is often pricy. Friends lost — or rather, acquaintances — personal attacks, slander and ridicule... it's such a shame.

Often, it seems that people are incapable of even hearing a different or dissenting thought, irregardless of facts or evidence. People spend most of their time surrounded by like-minded men and women, constantly reinforcing their world view.

Political beliefs are often so deeply ingrained that challenging people infuriates and blinds them, creating a nearly insurmountable obstacle to honest, polite debate.

With few exceptions, each side hates the other, and the lack of civil dialogue creates more misconceptions and increased intolerance. So sometimes, I like to look at cute things, like cats.

Posted with Blogsy

Orwellian America State of Decay

George Zimmerman verdict; society doesn't like it. They protest in Oakland, it's happening in my backyard and makes me think of a different time, place... George. These rallies take precedence in the media and by the public... what of new, horrible crimes? And child molesters? Many child molesters still on the loose, but the media focuses on Trayvon Martin and public enemy number one.

Some replies like this one from NBA legend Charles Barkley, unheard or ignored, will soon be lost and forgotten.

Dissent is dismissed; opinions against the mainstream — against the Party, against the President — are considered ignorant vitriolic slander, and are tossed like garbage after anger and hate is spewed at the originator.

Enraged and enflamed, mobs demand a street justice solution — the same kind of vigilantism they decry and claim ended Trayvon Martin and began this sad saga in America. New crimes, given token consideration, are quickly forgiven by the media and masses as if these events are expected, a logical consequence of perceived injustice. Excuses made for ridiculous, pathetic violence against bystanders by protestors. Juror threatened after speaking about the Zimmerman trial verdict.

This isn't science fiction. This isn't a new screenplay.

This is hate. This is ignorance. This is tragic.

This is America.

This is our future.

Posted with Blogsy

Changes to Says Brad

Hey everyone!

In the coming days and weeks, my posts are likely to take a more serious tone. I still have some reviews planned, but there are very troubling things happening in our nation that I cannot ignore. From SOPA to Benghazi to the IRS scandal, Internet tax and NSA surveillance, I don't want to sit idly by while our future is shaped by a hideous distortion of our beliefs and values. Freedom is threatened.

I've been researching and writing about the unwarranted invasion of Americans' privacy by the NSA.

It's a very serious matter and each day, more evidence comes to light. Recent events have given us reasons to be fearful and paranoid; gun control and gun violence, rioting, international affairs and unrest, and the IRS' systematic targeting of conservative groups. And now we learn more about the intrusive nature of a shadowy government agency — and it feels like what's been revealed is only the tip of the iceberg.

Although more serious in tone than my normal content, I believe it's important to create an ongoing dialogue about our government's practices. As a friend recently mentioned, many people probably do care (about the IRS, NSA) but don't know what to do about it.

Stay informed, share the information and your opinions on it. For many people, politicking and partisan memes begin and end with the election. I think we need to hold our elected officials accountable to the high standards they claim to adhere to.

Posted with Blogsy

Memorial Day on my Facebook, State of our Union

Browsing through the endless feed, something insane looking grabs my attention:

Chris Hayes: I'm 'Uncomfortable' Calling Fallen Military 'Heroes'

By Mark Finkelstein Effete: affected, overrefined, and ineffectual; see "Chris Hayes." OK, I appended the name of the MSNBC host to the dictionary definition. But if ever you wanted to see the human embodiment of the adjective in action, have a look at the video from his MSNBC show this morning of the too-refined-by-half Hayes explaining why he is "uncomfortable" in calling America's fallen military members "heroes."

Here's a link to the Newsbusters post. (There's a lot of interesting, quick articles at newsbusters.org — if you're interested in something other than TV's typical liberal rhetoric.)

Crazy, I tell you. Immediately after reading/watching the post, I noticed a friend recently "liked" a Clibe sketch (image). It seemed particularly poignant, as if I was somehow telling myself to forget about changing the liberal mindset.

I typically don't do artsy catch-phrases, quotes and truisms; not because they seem like an artistic cop-out (they kind of are), not because they're usually bad and boring (this is the case, as these memes are usually started by talentless trolls), but because to do them well takes much more time than it's worth. Unfortunately, Clibe isn't good for much else.

Not every liberal is insane — unrealistic idealists, maybe — and there are certainly crazy conservatives… getting sidetracked.

Memorial Day: honoring the fallen, our heroes, is NOT a message or statement about war. It's about respect for those brave enough to defend us all, and remembrance for those whom made the ultimate sacrifice. Our way of life is constantly being threatened; our armed forces oppose enemies abroad, and far too often, Americans treat them like dirt — like a nuisance.

Our way of life is being threatened from within

High taxes, new regulations, inflation, overspending, Obama, ObamaCare, $5 TRILLION dollars increase in debt, rising unemployment (and numerous people employed, but still not making enough money to escape poverty), the loss of the American dream and American industry, self-created necessity on foreign oil and rising gas prices, Occupy (instead of occupation, often by choice and what Hannity calls the entitlement mentality)…

…big government, American socialists and Marxists, Washington corruption (once Presidential hopeful John Edwards, anyone?), products made in China, complacency, arrogance, racism, widening poverty gap, class warfare (constantly ignited by liberal media and Obama: the rich are screwing the poor, paying 'less' in taxes — yeah, sure, Romney's 15% is somehow less money than the average person's 35%)…

…millions more on food stamps due to this Presidential administration, the Obama machine and supporters taking the fallback position, "blame Bush," instead of actually fixing the problem (remember, Obama promised "hope" and "change" — his words — along with cutting the deficit and unemployment in half), dismal public education, ridiculously overpriced colleges, student loans that can't be paid off…

…failing criminal justice system (prosecuting and jailing simple drug offenses is a waste of time and money, and it isn't stopping people from getting high if they want to), prejudicial courts (judges, attorneys, prosecutors, laws), prison overpopulation, increased gang activity, failed "war on crime" and "war on drugs," wasted money on "prevention" programs, cultural glorification of vigilantism…

…drug addiction, alcoholism, extreme obesity, underage drinking and drug use, early puberty, meat glue and pink slime, fast food diets, high divorce rates, mixed messages (on violence, sex, drugs, beauty), meth.

How can we trust?

People have lost faith; but because humans need faith, it's misplaced frequently — in bad science, technology, government, large corporations... an interesting point: so many people complain about large chain stores that pay minimum wage, import products from Asia, kill off small brick and mortar businesses — and yet, people still shop at Walmart… because of low prices.

Politicians can't seem to just tell the truth without embellishment, make realistic promises and curb spending. Even if taxes were increased dramatically and raised more money, our government would just find some new initiative to pour it into and increase debt.

Crazy

Obama won't release his college transcripts, admitted to drinking and using cocaine in high school, worked at a law firm but did who knows what there (he didn't try cases, that's for sure), lied about a relationship in his book, and promised numerous things in 2008 and didn't deliver—

We're supposed to trust him? People are actually going to vote for him?!

Barack Obama is the first sitting President in over 30 years to lose more than 40% of the vote in three primaries. Maybe that's the "change" I can put "hope" into.

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.

Happy Easter, and other superfluousness

Christians, have a blessed day.

Everyone else, enjoy chocolate bunnies or whatever. A day off of work, maybe, or the end of a long-ish weekend, if you got to take off all (or part) of Good Friday.

Today is also my friend Peter Morrison’s birthday; so I wish him a good one, and a grand show tonight at The Marrakech Magic Theater.

If you’re around the bay area, you should check out Peter Morrison’s magic show. It is far from a typical magic show, and far better than you might expect (and I do know my magic). A blend of clean-comedy and classical magic, The Marrakech Magic Theater is open four nights per week — two shows on Saturday — and I promise, Peter will amaze you as performer and host. Bottom line: it’s Bradtastic Approved — you, your family, date, or whomever, will have an incredible night. Tickets and showtimes available at the magic theater website.

However, if you leave a comment (with a way to get in touch), I’ll fill you in on a super way to save some money and get some discounted tickets. Make sure to tell him how you heard about the show, too! (It’ll raise your coolness factor by at least nine, and help me look good, too.)

The edges of the canvas.

I’m using this time today to reflect on things, get some writing done, and organize my digital files and software. There’s a lot going on in the world; I watched Meet the Press this morning as usual, and it’s no doubt that others out there feel the pressure of impending change in our nation — and the worldwide repercussions.

I’d also like to say, that while I’m not exactly a Donald Trump fan, I’m intrigued by what he’s doing. It looks fun. As a megalomaniac, he sure looks happy! Most of them seem sorta pissed off all of the time; and while he’s arguably upset a lot, too, he clearly marvels at his own greatness — we should all do that sometimes… by “we” I mean, y’know, people with some modicum of success or talent. “Count your blessings,” or something like that.

As I’ve stated, I’ve decided that I’ll no longer hold back my every idea and witty remark; things like “hope” and optimism are in shorter supply, along with quality cynicism and satire — I blame YouTube… and fast food. While the quality of American public education is questionable piss-poor in many areas, the availability of information to the masses here is unprecedented. Those with determination — drive, the will to succeed — should have the resources to achieve.

For every few poorly written, meaningless blogs out there, someone must stand up, rise to the challenge — the call of duty — showing the rest of America and the world what we’re truly capable of…

Because… it’s probably not going to be me. Not with a blog called superfluous — NOT superfluous, I mean. (Hey, don’t hate the messenger or the game.)

I’m painting with a bigger brush.

In all seriousness, I will share more art, thought pieces, general cool information, essays, opinions, and whimsy.

It’s important to me. As important to me as piña colada flavored Yoplait yogurt, and if you know me, you know I take that stuff really seriously.

(And if you don’t know me) I’m not really sure why you’re here… but I’m glad that you are, and hope you visit again soon. Lots to discuss!

Please share your thoughts!

If you don’t want to comment, please feel free to email, or send me a link to your blog, forum, rants, whatever. I’m not exactly lacking for community, but quality dialogue is an inspiring thing. Because of us, someone may do something magical and change the world* (for the better). We need as much of that as we can get.

HAPPY EASTER!

*I’m personally not responsible for the crazy-honey-crusted-nut-bars out there. At least, I don’t think I am. I’m not sure how to know for sure.