I have a confession to make... I am addicted to Pinterest.

So a few weeks ago I noticed that my girlfriend was obsessively perusing some website that I'd never seen before. My first thought was "Ooooh... Pretty colors..." Yeah, I have ADHD. Anyway, I ask what she is looking at and she tells me about this awesome site she's been checking out called Pinterest.

Of course, I had heard the word but I didn't really have any idea what the site was all about.

Kind of like Google+. All my friends were using it but I had resisted the demons and never checked it out. Once I did, I was extremely disappointed. Google+ sucks. Period. No debate.

But Pinterest... Oh, Pinterest... You crafty vixen. You... You had me the first time I saw a DIY pin about re-purposing wine bottles. Or it may have been the homemade Kimchi recipe...

Either way, I'm hooked. I'm an addict. I admit it and I am not ashamed (much) of it!

Graphic Design-Related Humor

Being a graphic designer can be an awesome job. It can also be incredibly stressful, thankless, mind-numbing, migraine-inducing... Well, you get the picture.

Sometimes we just have to do things to amuse ourselves.

Motorola V551 - The most awesome phone I've ever owned.

So I was checking out Jim's latest post over at his blog, Jim's Fear, about his new phone. He recently upgraded to an iPhone 4 but was singing the praises of his longtime companion, the Samsung Blackjack. This made me reminisce a bit about some of the phones I have owned over the years. I've never been one to use the same phone for an extended period of time but I always have at least one or two backups that stay with me for a while.

The one phone that has been a constant in my life for quite a few years now is the Motorola V551.

Yes, it is a flip phone. Don't judge me! I loved this thing from the day I bought it and I still love it. While I couldn't use it as a daily gadget these days, I still bring it out from time to time if I know there is a chance I might be taking an unintentional fall or swim. Fishing and camping trips are when it sees the most use these days. To me though, it is still the perfect cell phone. Obviously, I don't even put most of the newer devices into the "cell phone" category. My iPhone is not a cell phone, its a damn computer.

But the Motorola V551 is just a phone. And it does its job well. The best sound quality of any phone I've ever owned. It had insane battery life and was just tough. It has been dropped and kicked and thrown and otherwise just generally abused and it has never once had a single operational issue. Sure, it isn't the most beautiful thing in the world, but I still love it.

Letterhead Fonts... Epicness in Typography.

As a designer I am always searching for that perfect font. I recently came across a company that was putting out high-quality fonts on a level that hasn't been seen in the industry for quite some time. The guys over at Letterhead Fonts are making font packages available that can really step your game up when it comes to signage and logo design. Especially if you're looking for that retro look.

I find myself constantly going back to these as my standard go-to fonts for a lot of my design projects. They're definitely worth a look.

And speaking of caffeine...

DO WANT.

Coffee Coffee Coffee COFFEE!

So what kind of geek would I be without a severe addiction to caffeine? I've spent a lot of time experimenting with different methods of brewing coffee to find that elusive, mythical being known as "the perfect cup". While I have yet to discover it, I have found something that is damn close. I'm sure many of you have heard of a new-ish product called the Aeropress. I'm pretty sure there is a cheesy infomercial floating around out there somewhere. All gimmicks aside though, the thing works.

Here is how this little beauty works: You insert the circular filter into the base and screw the water cylinder on. Then you place it over your favorite mug and dump in two scoops of coffee. Pour in the desired amount of boiling or very hot water, give it a stir, then push the plunger down. The theory is that the air pressure used to push the water through the coffee gives you a bit of an espresso experience. While the result is nothing very close to an espresso, you do get a very flavorful coffee "concentrate". Lots of people will then add more hot water for your standard "Americano" or just drink it straight for a really nice "kick".

I go back and forth with it, depending on my mood. The point is, the thing is versatile. I even use it to filter my cold brew coffee instead of waiting for it to drip through a filter. Just pop in a filter, pour your cold brew in and push it through. Really cuts down on the filtering time.

For anyone that is a serious coffee addict, I highly recommend this product.

Guess who's back. Back again. Geek's Paradise is back. Tell a friend.

I know, I know. I'm horrible at keeping this blog updated. But, you know, life gets in the way sometimes. Things are going well though. About to get back into school. Work is going well. Blah Blah Blah. Long story short, I'm back and ready to slap you upside the head with more geekiness.

Stay tuned, kiddos.

Randomness.

So I mentioned the new job in my last post. I started back in January and so far things have been going well. I am the Art Department Supervisor and Lead Graphic Designer for a graphics/sign company. So, basically, I get paid to draw rectangles all day. I definitely can't complain about that.

One thing I can complain about is Lebron James. I'm not even a Heat fan and the dude is pissing me off. If you're shooting like shit maybe you should step back, pass the ball a little bit, and get back into your groove slowly. I know you have to work it out but the Finals isn't the time. Find a more productive way to contribute to your team. Work on your shitty shooting in the off-season. We know you're usually awesome, we will allow you to be mediocre for a few games. Just don't take the rest of the team down with you.

And speaking of the finals, big ups to Dirk. Dude is KILLING it.

That is all for tonight. Hope you are all well.

I'm baaaaaaaack.

So it has been a minute, huh? I apologize to all for my extended absence. Life does tend to get in the way sometimes. So, what have I been up to, you might ask? Well... A divorce, a new job, and just general happiness.

Things are going well, my friends. Now that things have calmed down a bit I will have time to dedicate to my blog again. I hope you are all well.

For now, I leave you with this:

 

CyanogenMod. My new obsession. Currently running it on a Samsung Captivate. About to get hooked up with a Nook Color and throw it on there as well. You Droid geeks should definitely check it out. One of my favorite mods. 

A quick update

I have been slacking on the blogging because I have been crazy busy working on websites and various other real life situations that I need to deal with. I just wanted to stop in for a quick hello.

And while I'm here I have to give a quick shout out to the local McDonald's for keeping me awake these past few weeks with their surprisingly good coffee. Yes, I am a bit of a coffee snob but I have to admit that I enjoy their coffee. And when I say coffee snob, I mean it. I have a grinder, about 5 different kinds of coffee makers, an espresso machine, etc. I don't think twice about spending $15 for a pound of coffee beans.

But, man...

 

It is really pretty damn good.