I have one major resolution for twenty-ten and that’s to become more of a producer. For years I have been an avid consumer, learning the ins and outs of multiple technologies or hobbies, but this year I want to work hard at producing things instead of consuming. I believe my main reason for this lack of production is fear. Fear that I’m not good enough. Fear that I might fail. Fear of putting myself out there. Weak sauce, trust me, I know.

Here are a few areas that I feel capable of producing quality results from.

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Let me give you a scenario that I've been seeing lately.

Some person, either a friend or coworker or family member, is bragging to you about some new computer they just purchased. They give you a run down on all the specs. Their face brightens as they talk about getting the best of the best. Quad-cores, the latest video cards, the greatest hard drive storage.

So you proceed to ask them what their plans are for this monster machine.

Their response, "Browsing and working on Word docs".

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As I've mentioned before, my brain is always coming up with new ideas. Often those ideas have some domain name attached to them that I think would fit the project perfectly. So I do the obvious thing and type in that URL just to see if it's taken or if someone else has had a similar idea. More often then not the domain is taken, but all that rests upon it is a crappy parked domain. What bothers me most about this isn't the fact that the domain is already taken, but that the idea isn't being put to use. Finish Reading »

In case you haven't heard, Microsoft recently started airing a commercial featuring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld. The two are supposed to do a series of these commercials. These commercials had a good deal of hype surrounding them because they are supposed to combat the very popular Mac vs. PC ads run by Apple. Finish Reading »

I need some help, but you have to be crazy to be able to help. You see, there are tens of thousands of people that are extremely devoted to some team, politician, band or idea. Now my questions to these people is simply, Why?

Why

• do you cancel life when your team is playing?
• do you start fistfights with the other team’s fans when they score a goal?
• do you burn the memorabilia you’ve collected for years when your favorite player switches teams?
• do you wait in line for months to see a movie?
• do you travel across the nation following after your favorite band?
• do you volunteer most of your time and money for your politician or cause?
• do you defend your politician when some crippling news of corruption is leaked?
• do you spend so much of your energy devoted to a group, person or idea that will most likely never know of your existence?

Now just to be clear, I am in no way trying to poke fun of these types of people. I am simply curious because I have never had the passion for something as these people have had. I would just like to know what motivates them to such a degree to give what seems like so much to something that probably isn’t influenced much by their efforts. Finish Reading »

As I am trying to become a designer, I've wonder when it is that I actually am a designer.

When am I allowed to call myself one?

After my first paying client?

Or after my first custom Wordpress theme?

Do I have to attend some formal classes before I can claim designership?

Perhaps after I quit my full-time job and pursue design full-time?

This thought applies to all occupations.

Are you a doctor after you graduate med school or after your first surgery?

A photographer after your first picture is developed or published?

An actor after landing a job as Man Standing #3 or one landing opposite of Brad Pitt?

When did you feel like you became what you were striving to become?

We all have a general idea of what our "dream life" is, but taking the time to write down exactly what your dream is can be a fun and inspiring challenge.

I was recently hit with the challenge from Crystal to complete the Dream Meme.

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To call the ball room owner stressed would be an understatement. His lavish grand ball room had recently developed an annoying squeak whenever someone would walk across it. The owner had called several carpenters to fix the problem, but to no avail. The squeak remained as a poignant reminder that his precious ball room was flawed. In a final attempt to alleviate the problem, the owner gave another carpenter a call. The gruff man he spoke to said that he would arrive early tomorrow to inspect the situation. An old carpenter arrived promptly at 8 o’clock the next morning and was directed to the problematic ball room. The owner watched as the carpenter systematically walked across the room, listening to the various creaks that occurred as different hardwood planks were stood upon. After a few minutes of wordless walking, the carpenter casually walked over to a specific spot in the room, pulled out a nail from his tool belt and hammered the nail through a board. The age-worn carpenter walked back to the owner without a hint of squeaking from the ball room. The owner was ecstatic, until he looked at the bill the carpenter handed him. “$500 for a single nail?!” proclaimed the owner. “No” said the carpenter in soft voice. “It’s only $1 for the nail and $499 for the 32 years it took to learn where to put it” I’ve heard this story referenced on a few places but I thought it would be good to post it as a reminder. Finish Reading »

I used to be a big time computer hardware geek. I built my first computer at 16. I would paint my computers, add lights, fans and even cut the symbol from my favorite Star Wars character (Boba Fett, reprezent) into the side of the computer case.

Like most people doing this sort of thing, I tried to get the best stuff available. If I could get a 2.4ghz processor for only $100 more than the 2.3ghz, I did. If 1gb of memory was only $200 more than 512mb, I got 2gb. I could always find a way to justify getting the best hardware.

Well yesterday that changed and it weirded me out.

Like all people in this blogging/designing world that don't have a Mac, I want one. Badly. A few days ago the iMacs got some hardware updates. Nothing crazy different, just a little better stuff than what was already in there. As I looked at the different hardware options, for the first time EVER I told myself that I would be completely content with the cheaper version of the 24 inch screen models even though the better version wasn't a drastic amount different in price.

Here's how I justified not wanting the latest and greatest, and why I believe that computer hardware for the average consumer is losing its importance.

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