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- June 10, 2015
Resolution Review #4: Trying Structured Procrastination
June 10, 2015Read more
This post is several days late, but ya know what? That’s OK! This past month I’ve been practicing elements of John Perry’s Structured Procrastination, and I’m feeling more relaxed about meeting personal deadlines such as this. Less anxiety means less stress, and less stress creates a free flowing mind! I think I’ve been more productive than I have in a while, albeit not in a rigorous sense. It’s all pretty groovy.
In this month’s Groundhog Day Resolution Update, I want to talk about a different model of being productive, which involves embracing my imperfect procrastinating butt and redefining what productivity means in this context. (more…)
- June 8, 2015
Deck Tomatoes Version 3 Kickoff!
June 8, 2015Read moreA few years ago I tried growing tomatoes on my deck, since I didn’t have my own dirt to plan a real garden. I’d never grown tomatoes before, but understood that they required a LOT of watering, especially in the summer months. This was going to be a problem because I had several work-related trips that summer, so I built a self-watering sub-irrigation planter out of some plastic totes. They’re similar to the Earthbox planters, but at the time I wanted to try to make one myself.
The water supply worked really well, allowing me to water only every few days even during the hot summer months due to the efficiency of the planter. In fact, it worked TOO well. The tomato plant sucked up as much water as it wanted, and as a result the fruit grew so fast that they split their skins. This is called “catfacing”, and it’s unsightly. I also got hit with some kind of fungus the second year, and had to buy a copper-based spray to treat it, but it was too late. I skipped last year having grown disheartened by the ordeal, but this year I’m ready to try it again with a new planter design.
Version Three Planter Details
To control the water supply, I’m going to try to restrict it using a different feed system. Rather than have a column of potting mix go directly into the water, I’m going to separate the chambers and provide water through capillary action. The rope, hopefully, will wick water up to around 9 inches from the water supply, which will go through holes in the bottom of the upper dirt-containing box. The diagram doesn’t show the construction that well, but I’ll followup with actual pictures.
I’m not too concerned about the limited water supply because of a technique I’ve read about called dry farming. You get less yield and smaller fruit, but the flavor is said to be more intense. I don’t eat that tomatoes anyway; the part I like about the deck planters is seeing something alive every day when I look outside. If I get some fruit out of it, that’s a bonus!
So that’s the plan. This quick blog post is here to remind me to get off my butt and get the planter put together; it’s already June!
- May 26, 2015
My Favorite Laptop Stand is Now 2.0!
May 26, 2015Read more
Today is the launch of James Olander’s [Version 2.0][roostlink] of [The Roost Stand][roostlink] on Kickstarter! I am very excited, both about the product and James’ manufacturing adventure! (more…)
- May 19, 2015
A Short Video about Finding Fulfilling Work
May 19, 2015Read more
Just when I needed a reminder of just how long it takes to figure out what I’m doing, I encounter this post on the six psychological pillars of a satisfying life, which happens to feature a pleasant animated summary narrated by contemporary philosopher Alain De Botton.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veriqDHLXsw?refresh
De Botton and his colleagues have a whole series of topical videos on YouTube, presented under the banner of their intriguing organization The School of Life. There is something about the entire enterprise that I find appealing for entirely silly reasons, like De Botton’s narration reminding me of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy radio show I listened to in the early 80s, and the similarity of the school’s name to the movie The School of Rock. I must find out more!
- May 18, 2015
Learn Graphic Design with B&A Magazine’s Master Collection!
May 18, 2015Read more
Before & After Magazine was the last great graphic design magazine that I loved. Although the desktop publishing tools have changed a lot since 1990, publisher/editor/designed John McWade’s remarkably clear and insight into how visual design works remains timeless.
I recently bought an upgrade to my Master Collection DVD that collects all the print editions in PDF format, along with all the stand-alone articles of more recent issue, and I spent an hour looking through random issues from 1990 to present in the digital presence of the master. It’s all still relevant! Here’s a random sampling of pages from the print issues, 1990 through 2014:
Even if you’re not training to be a graphic designer, this is the kind of material you really need to understand how ideas relate to visual communication.
If you are training to be a graphic designer, the Master Collection is an excellent complement to the rather dry explanations that Edward Tufte provides The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Combine that with back issues of Marty Neumeier’s Critiqe Magazine (good luck finding back issues now), and BAM…you’ve got a solid basis for learning to be a “design thinker”.
The DVD may seem expensive at a price of US$219, but I tell you it is TOTALLY WORTH IT. If you’re a student about to drop a lot of money on a graphic design education in college, you will be well served just by studying the material in this DVD. New students tend to be preoccupied with the latest tools and tricks, so buying a DVD full of material published largely in the 1990s and early 2000s might seem weird, but it you’re serious about not being a cookie-cutter designer this material is a good balance between the “here’s a graphic approach” and “here’s how to think about communicating using visual elements”.
