doug nelson: DISENGAGE!

This blog has been languishing (again), because I’ve been too busy with everything else to really keep it up. So what have I been doing?

• Going to South By Southwest, having an awesome time, not running into any ex-friends and scurrying away awkwardly, not filling Twitter with profanity relating to the Buffalo Billiards bouncer
• Relaunching Viget.com with Rob Soule and Stephanie Hay. The response to the redesign and four blogs has been better than anyone could’ve hoped, especially for the design blog. Thank to some great writers at Viget, we’ve been getting huge numbers on individual posts and amazing write-ups on prominent design blogs.
• Playing Guitar Hero 3. This began at the office, but turned into an at-home obsession last weekend. Just like with DDR, the game really gives you a feeling of progress that helps convince you it’s a better use of time than, say, reading or sleeping or work.
• “Engaging the community.” Something about the success of the Viget stuff has bolstered my interest in getting out there and talking about web design with people (versus hiding at home and telling people I’m an intern at social events), so I’ve been very diligent in finding and commenting on design blogs and portfolios I like.
• Watching West Wing. I was a fan of Sports Night, and I tolerated Studio 60, but I’d shied away from West Wing for years….finally got into it and was hooked within two episodes.
• Listening to calm music. I’ve adopted an overall life strategy that’s more mindful, peaceful, and deliberate, and this seemed to drastically change my musical taste. I still like the occasional French dance-floor prog-rock stomper, but I’ve become more appreciative of Beach House and Fennesz and Keith Fullerton Whitman, stuff that doesn’t mind expanding into the space you give it, music that doesn’t need to arrest attention at all times..

So, what does the future hold for me/Disengage?

• ExpressionEngine. It’s finally time to do a DESIGN for this blog instead of a theme, and EE offers the kind of flexibility I need to really do something interesting.
• More socializin’. Expect to see me at more DC web events, and debating more bloggers in the community on the usefulness of various, uh, tags and stuff.
• Less freelance. Now that the debt from wedding/honeymoon/two cat surgeries/losses in the family has been dealt with, I no longer need to pick up any freelance project that comes along. This means less griping over Twitter, more blogging, more interaction with Vigeteers, and more positivity in general.
• More web stuff. I had some fun talking about music on this blog, but in the end, approximately 0 of my readers were really interested in what Elephant 6 band sounded like which new Asthmatic Kitty act, or what my favorite Justice song was. Music, film, and video games are going to move into a shameful little corner, while web/philosophy/work news will more to the forefront.

OK THAT’S ALL HAVE A NICE SUNDAY BYE