Bradezone

The moment has arrived. Bradezone has been redesigned. I hope you like it.

Much like the previous iteration, this one was coded and styled in a flurry within only a couple of days. But the ideas have been stewing for a while. I knew I wanted bold contrast, larger type, a liquid layout, and a design that plays to my strengths. I’m pleased with how things came together, although WordPress’s methods of dealing with site domains and image URLs assured the redux wouldn’t happen without a fight. But I do like WordPress, particularly its seemingly new feature of finding the correct URL if you enter one that is slightly different.

The big thing for me was organization and placement of content and links. Prioritizing based on text size and color is at the heart of the redesign, and I spent much time thinking over it. Hopefully the many things I’ve learned since working at BigBlueHat are evident in the logic behind the site’s new layout. Eventually I just needed a primary color, and what better choice than my lifelong favorite: red? I’ve also added my “greatest hits” atop the left sidebar and placed links to my social networks at the top right of the site. Moving forward, I plan once again to incorporate randomized photos in the upper left, and I need to check the links from past entries for current validity. I’m also considering some widgetized content above the footer, such as my Amazon wish list or Picasa web albums. I have even debated whether to join Twitter at long last so I can have some up-to-date content in the currently empty upper right, but we’ll see.

So that’s the whole mundane tale. The timing of this redesign was quite unexpected, but after a truly bizarre last couple of weeks, I felt a sudden urge to pool my creative energies into something fun and, at least to me, worthwhile. I’d be glad to hear your thoughts, especially if you find something weird.

“Please go home, Brad.”

That’s how the message began, thus ending my latest pathetic attempt to give my life any sort of meaning. The irony of it is that “home” has long been a word I’ve used privately to describe the state of mind I always find myself dragged back into when the illusion of hope disappears. Disappointment, loneliness, sleepless nights and unanswered questions—all are on the docket now that I’m back “home.”

How did I end up back here again? I don’t know, but it has to do with tension, completion, closure, and my inability to close any loops of significance. This was going to be a much longer post, but I’m tired. Tired of everything.

I want to thank the friends who supported me while I pursued this hapless endeavor. You have all proven yourselves. I especially look with amazement at the married couples. Surely you will understand how the concept of two people actually loving each other seems totally astonishing to me. I don’t pretend to have any clue how that happens. Something is horribly wrong with me and the way I see the world.

For everyone who is reading this, I ask you not to put stock in anything you read on this ill-begotten website. I am merely your patron saint of futility, and I have no idea what I’m doing.

UPDATE: I will rise to fight again another day. The situation may not be quite this dire, but things are pretty rough.

I have never been the biggest fan of John McCain’s, though I still planned on voting for him this November. While I was briefly swept up by the admittedly masterful orations of Barack Obama, particularly his Iowa victory speech, I knew that I couldn’t eventually allow myself to vote in the general election for someone this exceedingly liberal. Since then I’ve learned a little more about the candidates, and now I have no problem declaring my full-fledged support for John McCain as our next President.

First, take a look at Obama’s opposition to the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Bill. You will likely be hearing about this more and more during the campaign, and for good reason. While a member of the Illinois State Senate, Obama voted against a bill that would protect the life of a baby born during a botched abortion. No matter how you slice this, he explicitly supported infanticide. So Barack believes that a newborn baby, out of the womb, can justifiably be left to die simply because an abortion was not performed correctly? That is nowhere close to the type of “change” I could ever “believe in” for our country.

Meanwhile Senator McCain has just been featured in an incredible Washington Times article about his role in turning the tide in Iraq. I plead with every one of you to read this article. McCain has worked tirelessly to incorporate the proper strategy in Iraq to secure our victory there. The successful military surge that you’ve heard about during the past year was largely due to his efforts with support from fellow senators Joe Lieberman and South Carolina’s own Lindsey Graham.

I think these articles confirm what most of us suspect. While John McCain is not a great public speaker, probably not much better than the hapless George W. Bush, none of us should vote for the highest office in the land based solely on speaking ability. Nor should we place undue importance on fringe issues such as technology in deciding our vote. This election should be about the confidence we have in our next leader. John McCain has been through the fire. We all know the story of his experience in Vietnam as a POW, repeatedly tortured yet refusing to submit to his captors. I believe that prepared him well for his role in public service, where any opposition or difficulties he has faced must pale in comparison. Now that I realize the amazing effort he put forth in ensuring Iraq did not turn into another Vietnam, and knowing he is not afraid of dissenting with his own party when he trusts his own convictions, John McCain merits my vote in a big way. I hope he will merit yours.