Now

A page where I can post about my current passions and projects. Updated periodically, and not all sections will get updates.

Vibes

It is rainy and wet. 50 degrees in late may. I guess this is the spring we never got?

All social media is bad for you, I have fully retreated to the land of RSS with carefully curated news sources and apps. Might do a write-up later. I have a bluesky account, but I think I’m done with social media in general.

Currently Reading

Using a Kindle Paperwhite 2023 because I’ve been spoiled and will never go back to paper - at least for reading, anyway.

Storygraph Profile

Just Finished

• The Mimicking of Known Successes and The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malika Older
  • Series of Holmes-and-Watson style mystery books, set in the far future. Also queer.
  • Been meaning to read these, and my podcast queue ran dry so I burned through them as audiobooks
• Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
  • Another book club read, where the theme is “Philadelphia”
  • Story of an “alien” growing up in Northeast Philly and moving to NYC, recording and experiencing life along the way
  • This book is the first time I’ve ever been forced to confront the feelings and psyche immediately post-9/11
    • Feels similar to the unreality I (and others in my generation) experienced when COVID became real
    • I remember exactly where I was when I “got the email” telling me that everyone should leave campus ASAP and the air was definitely different in the days after.

Just Started

• The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen
  • Finally trying some nonfiction
  • I’ve always preferred handwritten notes to typed notes if the goal was to learn and understand, so this may be interesting
  • Recommended by a friend, so should be doubly-interesting. Hopefully it can hold my attention.

Learning/Productivity/Projects

CompTIA Network+

• Just completed a Net+ cert in the hopes it’ll help me get a job in this terrible tech market.
• I could have done A+ and not needed to study at all, but I consider that a waste of time and actually wanted to learn things.
• Self-studied using some online Udemy videos, did some practice tests, and passed with a 95% after about 6 weeks of studying.

Philly Radio Stuff

• I am getting more involved with local radio nerds, including getting a HAM license!
  • I’m taking the Tech exam in a few days so I’ve been studying every day
• A big part of this push is from messing around with meshtastic, which has progressed to the point where I’m on the “operations” committee.
  • I’m excited to finally be involved in a group trying to do some material and achievable goal, like work with the Philly government to allow nodes on city buildings

Job Hunting

• Not really a project, but that’s what I’m doing.
• Unemployment runs out at the end of the month so I need to find something.
  • Hopefully better than a L1 helpdesk tech, but if that’s what it takes, at least it’ll be some experience to go with my skills

Currently Inked/Stationery Corner

Yes I’m a fountain pen nerd. This should not come as a surprise.

Pens and Inks

• TWSBI Swipe Blue <EF>
  • Won in a Pen Addict raffle
  • Inked with Private Reserve Copper Burst using the spring-loaded converter
  • It came with a bunch of other converter options but for some reason the spring one is the only one I can find
• Nahvalur Schuykill Chromis Teal <M>
  • A gift from the same Stationery Discord server, this time from a generous individual.
  • Gifted it as a birthday present when I lamented that I wanted one but refused to go to the pen show since I was still unemployed
  • Inked with Diamine/Cult Pens Deep Dark Purple
• Pilot Vanishing Point Black Carbonesque <M>
  • Pen purchased by my brother as a birthday present when he was dragged to the Philly Pen show
  • Currently inked with Pelikan Rose Quartz, the ink from the 2023 Pelikan Hub

• Schon Design Ultem Pen with FPR Ultraflex Nib
  • Purchased at the Philadelphia Pen Show 2024, my first Pen Show
  • Ian Schon is a really cool dude, was willing to chat for a bit about other alternative/cursed materials for a pen
  • Using this pen to finish up all my ink samples, since I can just pour the ink right into the eyedropper barrel
  • Unfortunately the stock (Jowo) nib was bent during cleaning so I took the opportunity to put in my ultraflex nib instead

• Spoke Design Roady, in titanium and black delrin
  • No, it’s not a fountain pen, but it sure is nice. Especially with the magnets to give a satisfying click
  • Won it in a Pen Addict twitch stream raffle
  • Currently contains a blue Schmidt EasyFlow 9000M

Notebooks

• Traveller’s Notebook Passport
  • Passport size so it lives in my back pocket
  • Cotton Zip insert so it serves as my wallet
  • Using the default, blank TN insert
  • One day I’d like to create a TN insert outlining the SEPTA regional rail network
    • TN Passport is B7, so I could print it on semi B5, cut in half, and fold to make B7 notebook inserts
• Lihit Lab A5 and B5 refillable notebooks
  • Made with whatever paper I find and punch
  • Notebooks I don’t like using have started getting ripped apart so I can use the paper as fodder for the refillable ones

And the rest

• Pentel Graphgear 1000 (0.5mm) and a metal ruler
  • There’s something satisfying about “drafting”, whether it’s drawing the layout for my weekly spread or designing a font on the fly for cutting out block letters
• Blackwing 602, Firm
• Lihit Labs case to keep everything organized in my bag and on my desk