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It’s time to blow this thing up

Posted on 25th February, 2008 at 9:02pm by joel

As it turns out, I’m a horrible at this whole maintaining-a-website thing. Go figure.

This site has clearly run its course, for more than a few reasons. Here are a few…

I obviously can’t keep up the blogging thing. I put a “For Sale” notice up on my car and never bothered to show off my new one.
This site does a horrible job of featuring my paintings, even though I haven’t finished one in quite a while. Maybe if the site actually filled its role as a quality portfolio, I’d be more inclined to continue working on said portfolio.
This site also does a horrible job of showing off my web work. Unlike painting, I actually have been doing a good bit of work here. Some of it is online, but I haven’t been updating that site much lately, either.
…many, many more reasons I don’t feel like listing (read: laziness).

So, what am I going to do? I dunno. I’ll leave it as is, for now. I’ve got a pile of ideas for new, better, cooler sites that actually serve a purpose. Clearly, this isn’t going to work and no amount of expansion/rejiggering is going to solve it. I need to blow it up and start over. I’ve got a couple other domains at my disposal, and just might make use of them. We shall see.

2 comments • filed under: ramblings, meta

For Sale

Posted on 7th June, 2007 at 12:45am by joel

headline image for “For Sale” Canyon red is gorgeous, eh?

My Jetta is on the block. Do you want it?

I’m in the process of selling my 2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS. It’s been a wonderful car for me, but I’m ready to move up to a sweet new ride (there will be a post when that arrives). So, if you would like a fun little compact car that has been treated as nicely as can be for the past four years, head over to my CarSoup page and take a look. I also have put together a photo gallery if you want a closer look.

And just in case you do not feel like visiting the CarSoup page, here are the specs:

2000 VW Jetta GLS
Canyon Red (rare color discontinued after this model year)
Gray cloth
Sunroof
5-speed manual
2.0L 110hp engine
8-speaker Monsoon premium sound system with amplifier
CD player
A/C
Airbags
Power locks, windows, brakes, mirrors, steering
Anti-Lock Brakes
17″ alloy wheels with summer performance tires
15″ alloy wheels with Blizzak snow tires
~72000 miles

Again, check it out!

Comments Off • filed under: cars

Helvetica

Posted on 2nd June, 2007 at 10:13am by joel

headline image for “Helvetica”

I have always claimed to be a gigantic geek.

I saw Helvetica Thursday night at the Walker Art Center. More than just a movie about a font (really!), it is an insightful look into the world of typography and graphic design, yet it is also accessible to and interesting for those who have little to no design background whatsoever. The interviews were intelligent and funny and the director, Greg Hustwit, did a brilliant job of telling a very interesting story about a typeface that is as basic and straightforward as any.

This is my hearty recommendation that you visit the film’s website, learn more about it, find a screening in your city, and go see it. You will not be disappointed, especially if graphic design and the discussion thereof makes you feel a little funny inside.

Comments Off • filed under: graphic design

The Web Design Survey 2007

Posted on 24th April, 2007 at 7:47am by joel

Web designers everywhere need to take this. OK, they don’t need to, but it would be helpful.

Comments Off • filed under: webdev, graphic design

HB2Me

Posted on 4th April, 2006 at 4:24pm by joel

A quarter-century isn’t that old, is it?

No, I guess not. I’ll just take this one in stride like the last one. Hm, now that I reread that post, I can see that I was far more ambitious in regards to this web site a year ago. Whoops. I guess I’m just getting to old for this

Comments Off • filed under: ramblings

A Hero Departs

Posted on 6th March, 2006 at 11:09pm by joel

headline image for “A Hero Departs” Photos courtesy of the StarTribune

“Fellas, get on board, I’m going to carry the load.” – Kirby Puckett, in the clubhouse before Game 6 of the 1991 World Series.

As a young boy growing up in Twins Country, no one embodied baseball for me quite like Kirby Puckett. From the smile to the high leg kick to the superhuman performances in center field, everyone with a glove, bat, and ball wanted to be Kirby. We bounced off chain-link fences trying to rob homers like he did. We kicked our knees to our chests and took gigantic swings to attempt to capture the source of his power. We hustled, we smiled, we played and played and played baseball. I only got to see him a handful of times a year—and then barely once or twice a season in person—but Dad, Andy, and I listened every day to the game on the radio and watched him in our imaginations. Kirby was baseball.

In spring training of 1996, he woke up one day and couldn’t see out of his right eye. Suddenly his 12-year career was over. For Twins fans my age, the mere idea of a baseball season without Kirby was unheard of. We’d never seen anyone else play center field or bat third for the Twins. Every day I would check box scores and league leaders in the paper to see how close he was to the top of the batting average, RBI, hits lists—but he wasn’t there any more. Something was missing from our national pastime, and he wore a huge smile and number 34. I’ll say it again, Kirby Puckett was baseball.

And now, he’s gone. Ten years ago, his career was cut short. Five years ago, he entered the Hall of Fame on his first year of eligibility. And just a few short hours ago, Kirby entered heaven. If there’s any consolation, it’s that Bob Casey’s death last year means that as Puck passed through the Pearly Gates this afternoon, he did so to the sound of “In center field, number 34, Kirr-beeeeeeeeeyyyyyy Puckett!“

We’ll always love you, 34.

Kirby at the StarTribune

34 FOREVER