“When you do something you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.” —Shunryu Suzuki

The sad fact of these random attacks is that they are becoming more and more random and senseless. “This is jihadism as impulse, as excuse. It hardly matters, because the result is always the same: a pile of bodies, a world of pain and grief.” [via The New Yorker]

You are the star of your life story. Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, and even Snapchat among others provide a place for you to share that story with the world. Let’s face it, not everyone is a bestselling author. You can read this site for proof; however, the bar for interesting material has fallen quite low thanks to these social media platforms. While the inanity of everyday life may provide the occasional chortle, the inflated tragedies of first world problems are decidedly boring at best. There is no dearth of material on these networks, but there is certainly a lack of interesting content. ...

After much casting about and grumbling over speed and security and various other issues, it looks like WordPress is still holding strong as the CMS of choice. Whether it is due to familiarity with customization or the ease of sticking with it despite some of my recent irritations with it, I don’t know. I do know that I usually don’t like meta talk on the site, but here it is anyhow. On the topic of tools for productivity, I have read several posts about an exodus from Evernote, my note-taking, everything box of choice, and in my opinion, the alternatives are inferior. ...

It’s well known that I am a proponent of Apple products. However, I am typing this post on a Kindle Fire tablet. The non-HD, 7" model, no less. Why, you ask? One reason is to test the WordPress and Ghost editors on a small screen tablet, but another reason is that it is growing on me and has been quite a pleasure to use, screen pixel density aside. Even though I prefer Apple products, I am heavily invested in the Kindle ecosystem with Amazon. Because of that, this Fire tablet has been amazing for reading. I still have my e-Ink Kindle Paperwhite, but I have been tearing through books on this device. I’ve tried reading on the iPad, but it seems a bit too large and even at the lowest brightness, far too bright for a dark room. ...

I have been moving sites around and changing back-end services for hosting and testing out new CMS systems along with flat file servicing of web sites, so for the next little while, this site may be in flux and may look odd at times. Enjoy the variety and thank you for your understanding.

Crisp air and the scent of decaying leaves mark the season colloquially known as fall. I revel in the thought of piling leaves high and jumping into them with my son. The season harkens the upcoming winter, but despite wishes for snow and sled riding, I am in no rush for this to pass. Time moves swiftly enough. When autumn leaves, so ends another harvest of delicious fruits, fun experiences, and fond memories in a year of laughter, love, and growth. ...

We, as American citizens, have an opportunity to put an end to mass surveillance. It requires some action on your part, however. Pick up the phone and call your congressional representatives now. More information can be found at Fight 215.

Steve Jobs said, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma–which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” Write down this quote and place it on your mirror, in your wallet, and at your desk. Every day until you die, follow the advice. ...

Jonathan Gourlay wrote an article on Bygone Bureau, Being and Nothingness and “Minecraft”, wherein he captures the essence of the Minecraft experience: No video game before Minecraft has presented the player with a world as simple, beautiful, and engaging as a box of random Legos or wooden blocks or loose change or sticks or shells… toys whose only purpose is to soak up human consciousness and light into being upon a human whim. ...