Stuff About Brad

Random morning of

I've got a lot of driving ahead of me; presently, I'm not looking forward to it. I'll probably be in a great mood in a few days, but there's a lot of things going on that I don't like.

Setting that aside — my condition is better... and worse. I've been taking several short walks daily and I've been stretching more frequently, but the RLS (restless leg syndrome) hasn't subsided. The medicine that I'm taking, ropinirole, is supposed to help, but its efficacy seems negligible.

Overall, I think that I have slightly less pain. I switched tobacco for vapor after receiving my v2 kit, and it's been wonderful. I'll need to write a review for v2; their rechargeable e-cigs and disposables are both fantastic, and the company's customer service is top-notch.

My birthday has come and gone, but the real celebrating hasn't begun. I'm very grateful for my parents, for so many things.

I'm going to try "priceline negotiating" Will Shatner-style; my mom really likes the service. Hopefully I can find a good last-minute deal for a four-star hotel.

That reminded me: a buddy of mine is once again listed as the number one entertainment option in San Francisco, beating out Alcatraz, Union Square, Pier 39 and the like. Amazing! But also, deserved. If you're around the Bay Area, check out The Marrakech Magic Theater, and if you talk to magician/proprietor Peter Morrison, tell him Brad sent you.

I still have some organizing and packing to take care of. I really don't know where the time went.

Homefront: America in Chaos

With Independence Day one day away, days ago, Canada Day, and the Wimbledon men's final in the UK today, I hope and pray that we're doing okay. (Like that?) I am all right, but what about America her/itself?

Watching the news recently has been more depressing than usual. Things are falling apart. Even our sports industry is messed up — NFL & NBA lockouts — thankfully, I'm a Tennis fan. Tennis; another thing Americans aren't excelling at. (Though Mardy Fish has had a commendable run. The Williams sisters were knocked out of the grass Grand Slam early, Andy Roddick's game was eaten alive, and where'd James Blake go?)

I hope Minnesota pulls through. And the rest of America. The stock market is going okay, and the economy has turned around somewhat, but no one seems to realize that. Small business owners are still getting shafted; bad, big banking won't extend much needed credit, even to people with perfect credit histories. I don't have enough time or patience at the moment to get into Obamacare... certainly not enough to write about Obama himself.

God bless our soldiers, though.

Here on the home front, crime is increasing while police officers are being laid-off and retired early. I suppose, like a silly, idealistic optimist, I could look southward and say, "at least it isn't as bad here as it is in Mexico..." yet.

How does this effect the disabled? Well, first, it's upsetting being physically unable to help. It's always hard missing out on simple pleasures — a long walk, a game of tennis, a morning jog with a loyal dog — but it's even harder missing out on necessities. Disability checks are minuscule; the cost of living isn't.

I've been considering these things, pondering the state of the Union and the world, in part because 6Wunderkinder GmbH, creator of Wunderlist, is running a writing contest of sorts. It's actually more of a storytelling contest — they want to know how people use Wunderlist, and the "most creative" wins an iPad 2 plus smart cover signed by the 6Wunderkinder team.

I don't know that my usage is the "most creative," but Wunderlist has certainly been amazingly helpful, in part because it's free and available on every platform I utilize.

<strong>Maybe if our governments could learn from past mistakes</strong> (I was taught in school that that was part of the point of "history") and learn something from the <em>Twitter Age,</em> they'd realize that fixing problems and solving the budget deficits can be done. America wastes billions of dollars per year (and that dollar is becoming pretty darned weak)... Wunderlist is free.

Apple iOS developers have proven that 1000+ employee companies aren't required to make great, innovative tools (and super fun games!). A small, dedicated team could change the world. Again.

Twitter started out small. So did Wikipedia. What's next?

Whatever it is, I hope it comes quick.

<h2>Hello world, you need saving!</h2>

As the world does what it does

The people of this planet continue to do screwy things. Keeping up with crime reports — even casually — is a full-day's effort... and then there's tomorrow. I won't start into politics, but there's one thing that I'd like to note. Law enforcement needs an upgrade; with modern technology and an infusion of insight from consultants — *ahem* — and criminologists, we could increase crime prevention efforts, secure faster, more efficient, proper convictions, clean up the DOC (Department of Corrections), and lower recidivism.