These tasks entail working a real job and devoting more time to Crinkled Cardboard, but I’ve also decided to voluntarily assign myself some summer reading to do this year.  If you’d told me a year ago that I would make a list of books for myself to read for personal growth and scholastic expansion, you would be washing the vomit off of your shirt for weeks.  But here we are, with a list of 7 books that I hope will prove to be worthwhile reads capable of expanding my literary horizons.  It didn’t take much for me to realize that becoming familiar with and appreciating modes of entertainment that don’t require a headset, some mom jokes, and an xbox would surely have its benefits.  Benefits that include, but are not limited to, making pithy literary references and impressing friends and family yourself with a glut of new knowledge.  Before looking over the list, I would like to thank The Simple Dollar for piquing my interest in a few of these titles with an article on books that changed my life.

The prequel to the epic Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons is another thrill ride, this time through Vatican City.  I’ve actually finished this one, the first on my list, and really enjoyed it.  It was a page turner full of twists that left me wishing for more, particularly in the department of character depth.  Dan Brown’s characters are about as authentic as a stand in on Days of Our Lives, boasting an infallible list of qualities that make the Pope look like a drag queen.  Robert Langdon, genius professor of religious symbology who is also extremely handsome, fit, fashionable, and charming is paired up with a gorgeous nuclear biophysicist on a mission to uncover the mysteries of a defunct secret brotherhood. While the Brotherhood of Illuminati would be more than enough for the average Harvard professor, our mancandy of a main character manages to have massive amounts of sexual tension throughout the whole novel, culminating with the two getting together at the end.  Basically, the plot excels in a blend historical accuracy fiction, but the characters fall far short of the depth required to leave me feeling all tingly.

Next up on the list is The Killer Angels.  Now although the title appears to be some adolescent sci-fi thriller, this winner of the Pulitzer Prize is one of the most critically claimed accounts of Civil War history to date.  One of the things that really drew me to pick up this book (I actually just started two days ago) was its presentation as an historically accurate novel, not to mention the fact that it falls into the category of “book I never read because I had to physically write down and answer questions about it.”  But, after giving it a shot,  it’s far from an anthology of antiquated letters and diary entries, but rather a compelling story written in a narrative fashion that is heavily informed by the more boring aspects of history. i.e. primary sources.

Moving on we come to Atlas Shrugged.  Knowing next to nothing about the book besides that it has a Bioshock feel to it, I’m really excited to delve into a crazy dystopian world where corporate greed shapes morality.  Not because I’m necessarily a terrible person, but because the philosophical themes discussed in the book eventually develop into Objectivism.  For Ayn Rand, according to Wikipedia, Objectivism holds that reality exists independent of consciousness; that individual persons are in contact with this reality through sensory perception; that human beings can gain objective knowledge from perception through the process of concept formation and inductive and deductive logic; that the proper moral purpose of one’s life is the pursuit of one’s own happiness or rational self-interest; that the only social system consistent with this morality is full respect for individual rights.  I’m definitely intrigued at how Rand paints this morally bankrupt picture for me.

The antithesis of the Atlas Shrugged on philosophical terms, Mere Christianity is C.S. Lewis’ attempt to explain the basic underpinnings of Christianity and why these basic principles turned him away from atheism.  I respect Lewis tremendously (although Chronicles of Narnia were meh…) and am excited to see how I compare and contrast the different moral paradigms presented in the two books.

If this is anywhere near as engrossing as Hosseini’s first novel, The Kite Runner, I’m sure I will pleased to have put this title on the list.  It apparently follows the story of two Afghan women over the 60′s and 70′s, and how their stormy lives cross each other.  This actually ostensibly sounds like bad daytime TV which ends up with the two fighting over a guy they both want to french, but if Hosseini can develop the characters with the amount of depth and skill that he used in the Kite Runner, I’m sure to be in a for good read.

The reasoning for my placement of this book on the list primarily stems from imdb.  After scanning it to see what was coming up on Martin Scorcese’s project list, I saw that a film adaptation starring none other than Leo was in the works.  This discovery coupled with The Simple Dollar‘s book review will hopefully leave me much more knowledgeable about Teddy’s past.  Not just the hunting part or some park thing.

Last but far from least (by page volume anyway) is The Count of Monte Cristo.  Taking inspiration from V for Vendetta, I’m adding this book to my list with a verve that vicariously vivisects the visage of villification you villains verbosely unveil.  Not only was that an amazing movie reference, this book will hopefully change the way I look at revenge, inspiring me to write at least 1000 pages before anyone really gets it.  More seriously, Dumas’ classic is included is almost every ‘most amazing awesomely cool book of all time’ list and I feel almost personally obligated to see for myself.

Expect to see some periodic updates/followup on how each book turned out for me.  If not through reading, I encourage everyone to at least devote the extra time that comes with the season to something worthwhile.  Any sort of project or task that you will actually remember in a year’s time can really yield intangible benefits, certainly not limited to the sense of self worth associated with a job well done.

To start things off (you are waiting with bated breath I know), your beloved Cardboard has undergone some cosmetic surgery.  Sporting a new theme with a snazzy tagline, as well as a truncated name, the new Crinkled Cardboard will aim to come out of its shell.  I’ve really enjoyed the ‘series approach’ to my first bit of blogging, but think it’s time to move away from the constraints certain categories hold and move on to some more creative titling.  If all goes according to plan, things will end up better for me than the poor trout.

I have also come to the realization that it would be a great opportunity and experience for me to create or at least contribute to content that focuses heavily on Mac and tech oriented topics.  Because I want to cultivate  and nurture skills that I hope will eventually develop into a unique voice when writing, I feel it is in my best interest to keep this blog up and running in full force, remaining focused on a wide range of topics.  With that being said, I hope to make it a summer project to collaborate with the author of Through the Sidewalk Cracks and create a tech centric blog of sorts that will feature regular podcasts and spotlight both Mac and PC applications and topics.  Aimed at being accessible to both casual and literate tech users, this new site will really allow me to delve into one of my personal niches while also letting me flesh out personal insights on a plethora of issues to all of you cardboard followers!

Stay tuned for the unveiling of my summer reading goals as well as some thoughts on my first Death Cab for Cutie concert, in junction with why I think they are a great stepping stone for quality contemporary music.

You can check out his accredidations and other snazzy info over at his site, but there are a few things I’ve personally taken away from his writing and other forms of publication that have really upgraded the way I look at the internet.  His podcast at SxSW with John Gruber on how to turbocharge your blog with credibility really blew some life into my blogging spirit, inspiring me to become a bit more committed to this little piece of cardboard I call e-home.

More than that, though, he has made me realize through his own work that the things I do online should be things I’m proud of.  Generally speaking that means what I write on this blog, on my twitter, and everywhere else should be an extension of myself and what I think makes for a good read.  This may sound like a bit of common sense, but there are so many people on this internet thing that have a completely different personality behind their e-handle (I’m calling you out xxDarkKillerKnight_101xx).  So, instead of falling into the all too easy trap of becoming a regurgitative lawl machine, I’ve recently become a firm believer of making things I do both online and offline more worthwhile.  This philosophy most recently manifested itself in the Birdhouse app for my iTouch, a tool that really allows me to get the most out of my tweets by creating drafts and reviewing them before publishing.

I figured it would be a nice touch to back up my shameless plug of Birdhouse with a sneak peak of amazing tweets yet to be tooted!

The whole idea of personal publishing was something I really had no knowledge of or found very important before my exposure to Merlin’s work; I mean saving a draft for a 140 character brain crap I take on the internet?!?! Come on!  Once I wiped off the arrogance, however, I realized the idea that one can improve their writing and creativity enough to garner the attention of people all around the world, simply through the power of an ethernet cord, is one that compels me to take the things I do a bit more seriously, even the fart jokes and quick emails.

Keep reading and enjoy the entertainment and knowledge Merlin has to offer us all!  “See you in cyberspace.” – MM

With the closing of this semester well on its way, I’ve taken to looking inward when it comes to my browsing patters online.  And after some deep, Mr. Miyagi contemplation, I’ve come up not with reasons to avoid social networking or other distractions, but rather embrace them!  The most amazing thing about the internet over the past 3 to 4 years is how human innovation, combined with javascript, have allowed things to develop into something much more than a list of the presidents.  All of the ‘distractions’ that you find yourself falling into when real work needs to be done are just useful tools that, like anything else, should be employed with moderation.  “Well of course, dumbass, talk about common sense!  Someone didn’t invent Twitter or Flash Games with the intention of being a time sucking dream smasher that crushes all of my hopes for the future.”  If that wasn’t your reaction, then woohoo! we’re on the same page.  If you did think something like that though, I encourage you to think about how you use the wealth of information and tools available to you online.

Do you find yourself taking action on a lot of the ideas and articles you come across, or do you merely sift through things for the sake of watching the minutes go by?  Twitter is a great example.  For many the service simply serves as a minute by minute ‘life-feed’ in which you update your location and which celebrity you’re hanging out with at all times.  I’m not denying that for a majority of Twitter users, often times including myself, that statement holds true.  But after listening to some talks by Merlin Mann, following @hotdogsladies, and generally reassessing what it means to me to have a Twitter, I’m on track to using the service as a personal publishing platform rather than a glorified away message.  This holds true in the blogosphere as well!  As I’ve stated numerous times, I’m a faily active Lifehacker reader.  As such, I see countless articles on different things that I could potentially use in some way or another to improve day to day functions.  Before I had my little epiphany, I would simply say to myself ‘oh how interesting,’ and move on.  Now I find myself trying out that piece of Mac software that I think looks genuinely useful or perhaps attempting a DIY project that would before have gone undone.

I’m not preaching that you should only read stuff you find actionable, but I have personally gained a lot of utility out of reassessing why I visit the sites I do, and try to take full advantage of what they have to offer.  This mindset will hopefully further develop me as a writer and an intellectual, both of which are pieces of my life I find invaluable and well worth cultivating.

No PICTURES!? Yup, that’s right world, this post was just a straight shot from the brain.  I’ll promise to deliver some more ocular pleasure in my next post.  Keep an eye out for posts detailing some personal musical preferences as well as an effigy to my new web hero, Merlin Mann.

Just to recap I’ve talked about Rubik’s Cubes, Wallets, and why both of those things make me infinitely more interesting while hopefully at the same time forcing you, the lucky few who bask in the soft glow of pixels that is this Crinkled Cardboard, to realize why you too might in fact be something worth reading about.

Moving forward with this idea, I guess it’s time to address the title of the post.  Although it’s nice to have big picture ideas that can serve as a springboard for self discovery, more often than not it’s just as good to have a cool folder or pen that you can put those ideas in if and when you have them.  From Moleskines to sticky notes, there are tons of different ways to house your epiphanies.  Now to some, content overshadows the need for a cozy penthouse suite that your ideas and all their friends would love to come hang out in.  A luxury spiral bound mansion with a jacuzzi and bowling alley and butler who talks like Michael Caine.

To those who tell you that it’s not important to have those things, they need to learn to interpret metaphors.  Yes, you may have a great idea, but it takes some semblance of organization and structure to accommodate everything that can be whizzing around in that prefrontal cortex of yours.  With that in mind, a luxury idea mansion with a slide, bounce house, and Michael Caine to me is a left-handed notebook.

Don’t be distracted by my dazzling Pocahontas onesie (or the fact that this specific notebook is actually a right-hander turned upside down) because there is plenty of  magic in the principle of the notebook itself.  Battling fearlessly against the corrupt corporate elites who have domineered the notebook industry since the invention of stone tablets and thinly sliced trees, Ampad is marketing a Left-Handers Subject Notebook with 80 sheets for a measly three bucks.

Being left-handed has given rise to many awkward situations for me, but now having an irritating red imprint on my hand while taking notes is no longer an issue.  Not only do these notepads facilitate ease of use for me, but I find myself better able to organize, flesh out and generate ideas for various assignments simply because of the additional comfort.  So spoil yourself, order the jacuzzi!  Who knows, all it might take is that hipster PDA or nice notebook to really get the ball rolling on the solution to that pesky Fermi Paradox.

Also, due to maximum time limits, only one of the screencasts is on the youtube channel, but hopefully there are more videos to come.  Hopefully this screencast will motivate those who aren’t taking full advantage of their music experience to grab their library by the horns and whip it into shape.

iTunes Organization and Last.fm!

All I see at first glance are different incarnations of the boys alongside some crazy, historically relevant cardboard cutouts; not to mention a beautiful flower arrangement.  This cover has an intense amount of character, which I think ultimately culminates in an attempt to distinguish Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band, the actual band The Beatle’s disguise themselves as, from how we previously perceived them as.  This particular album cover has become extremely iconic, and is often regarded as the best of all time.

I do love me some Beatles, but as I alluded in one of the previous entries in this series, my first two semesters in college combined with the powers of Last.fm (an overview is in the works!) have rendered me much more open to different musical genres.  My high school days had me tethered largely to classic rock, listening to my parent’s cd’s and cassetes.  Although I still love and enjoy some great artists from the genre, Billy Joel in particular, it’s fun to actually get caught up in the anticipation that precedes the release of new music.  Keeping true the purpose of this post, I’m going to focus more on the art generated on behalf of the bands I’ve been recently enjoying.  I have, however, decided to create a new series of posts!  Somewhat similar to Finding My Style, TURN IT DOWN will aim to examine the frequencies and wavelengths that emanate from my speakers on a regular basis.  Until then, take a gander at some of my favorite album art!  Don’t forget to read the little blurb explaining what I think is actually going on within each piece.  Bear in mind that just like lyrics, art is pretty open to interpretation.  So feel free to disagree!

Probably the most overhyped album in the past couple of years, Viva la Vida or Death and All his Friends is Coldplay’s latest release.  Hype aside, I thought this album really delivered, especially in terms of cover art!  It’s satisfying to me that some of the songs on the album stick true to the French Revolution inspired art that is seen on this release as well as Prospekt’s March.  As read on Wikipedia, the image is a cropped version of Eugène Delacroix’s 1830 painting Liberty Leading the People.  The grafiti-esque Viva la Vida title also harkens to change revolution brings.  Great art for a great album!

The album art for Transatlanticism, Death Cab for Cutie’s 2003 release, has always struck me as somewhat confusing.  I’ve listened to the album quite a few times and could never really draw parallels from the art to the music.  After a little digging and some help from Google I found and interview with Adde Russell, the artist of this crow and string piece.  The painting was apparently to serve as more of an icon rather than a visual representation of the music, which cleared up my hazy interpretation.  Very intriguing work nonetheless!

By far the trippiest of the albums featured, my interpretation of this art is a bit more grounded int he music on The Shins latest release.  A few of The Shins tracks on this album, particularly Sleeping Lessons, allude to insomnia.  This notion is confrimed by a Rolling Stone interview done shortly after the album’s release.  The cover art seems something of a psychedelic dream sequence, but does coincide with the sleepless overtones present throughout the album.

There a lot more albums I’d love to feature, but I think I’ll side with brevity for now and maybe revisit this post with some more favorites later on!  Hopefully the birth of TURN IT DOWN isn’t too far off but, until then, keep reading and look forward to another screencast that features Last.fm and my immaculate iTunes organization.

A wallet’s just a wallet, right?  It holds a few bills, too many credit cards, and a Starbuck’s giftcard that expired two years ago.  While most of those things are probably true, I’ve found that having a wallet with a little personality can go a long way in not only satisfying your cheeks, but also serve as an extension of your personality.  Now a tool is probably the last thing you’re reading this blog to become but, believe me, a wallet with a little flare can really rachet up your interesting levels a few notches.

Although my camera phone definitely provides less quality than a crinkled piece of cardboard, I’ve taken the liberty to show off why the back of my pants are always smiling.  Notice how the light tan is something you might not see everytime someone whips out their money, with the party stripes on the inside really giving the few bills currently renting out some space an inviting comfortable environment to live and thrive.

Don’t succumb to the throes of boredom and blandness: put fancy back into your pants(y)!  This particular wallet ran me around 3o bucks and, one year later, it’s one of my proudest purchases to date.  Keep an eye out for more Things that are Cool as well as the next entry in Finding My Style, expect to see some album artwork that really explodes my eyes out of their sockets.

Without further adieu…

Google Notifier and Quicksilver Screencast!

Click the logos for direction to downloads.  Enjoy and expect some more posts soon.  Next up: Finding My Style – Album Art

Although I have seen an expansion of my artistic palette in the past few months, that isn’t to say I have never been exposed to quality work.  As a resident of the Atlanta area I have visited the High Museum relatively frequently, usually visiting one or two exhibits a year.  My most recent venture landed me an extensive viewing of the Terracotta warriors, quite the eye opening experience.  The viewing that left the most lasting experience on me, however, was an impressionist exhibit.  The tour spotlighted monolithic figures like Monet, Renoir, and Mary Cassat.

Works like these really held my eye, with impressionism in general striking me as fascinating (keep in mind the general absence of my knowledge of the factual).  This style, they way the strokes seemed scribbled and somewhat blurry, like a camera going in and out of focus, inspired a new appreciation for the artistic talent these artists were endowed.

By now, after about 250 words of blathering, you are probably wondering when I’m going to start making a point.  Well, after exposure to some more modern work, I can draw key similarities in my mind as to why I enjoy the doodle-esque pieces highlighted in my previous Finding My Style post.  The quick brush strokes and focus on first impressions really stand as the extant connection between these two genres.  With my opinion given, I would quickly like to add once again that I’m a bit apprehensive to attempt art criticism when I have no experience in it. However, with THAT being said, one of the overarching goals of the blog is to flesh out and nourish some of my fledgling interests and ideas.

Enough with the semantics.  Here is a piece titled Strata by Kirk Hiatt, via Doodlers Anonymous, that I feel draw from both a doodlers and impressionist mindset.

Here’s another by Camiki

So that concludes today’s artistic development of my prefrontal cortex.  Serving as the center for most of my higher judgment, hopefully we can all agree it’s coming along to be something more than a crinkled piece of cardboard.

A few ideas about what to expect in my next posts include Mac User: Quicksilver and Google Notifier, as well as Finding My Style: Album Art and a witty title.  Stay tuned!