Answer here

In many ways, success is like beauty—perhaps foremost, it’s in the eyes of the beholder.

Success is a difficult thing to judge in others; as everyone values different things, and what equates to success for one might equate to failure for another—let’s call him "two." One might want a wife and kids, and to live in a suburban area with good schools… while two might want a fast, luxurious car and a penthouse condo in a high-rise, living single with supermodel girlfriends. 

People may value money, power, knowledge, love, fame, safety—but never all equally. 

I see success as something best measured in bits and pieces. To acquire success in one thing often requires sacrificing something else. It’s unlikely that anyone is successful in all vital areas all of the time.

I think that if people achieve the true goals they set for themselves and progress—looking/thinking forward, that’s success. Happiness is important, too. 

Often the more success you have, the harder it is to maintain. It’s easier to clean a puddle than it is to clean a swimming pool—and a swimming pool is far simpler than keeping a lake clean. Just look at Lake Merritt’s water and "coastline…" an example of some failure, that is. 

I value to-do lists, journalizing and project management tools because they help to focus energy and keep things accountable. Success is a battle against entropy, and it isn’t always pretty. Sometimes attrition is unavoidable; it might be necessary to bite, scratch, bleed—crawl to the finish line… because the race can be brutal, with vicious competitors also seeking the same success. 

In summary, success is about setting goals and reaching them while figuring out how to retain happiness and perpetuate the process.

[Another note: I'm glad I got to use Formspring.me—it'd be nice to do so more often. Hopefully more friends and pupils use it.]

What do you want to know?

No.

I’m going to try to finish Mass Effect and Red Dead Redemption, and if I can find extra time, I’d like to play some Fallout 3 and Borderlands. I’m excited about getting a new TV, but I think I’d like to get a new Kindle DX first. Perhaps I’ll order one next week.

I finally got on the waiting list for an iPhone 4 in Walnut Creek. I’m excited about that, too.

I think I’ll wait for more reviews. I do wish that I could talk to someone about the app.

About blog comments

For reasons unknown to me, I’ve been receiving more unwanted comments at my blogs. Some are clearly advertisement spam, some are random (seemingly pointless) spam, and others are obscure — and I’m unable to determine legitimacy. In any case, I want more control over my comments.

Enabling Akismet now requires a new API key — no longer free for businesses. I’m not sure how Squarespace’s commenting system works, but I’m unable to fully control and administrate it. Insofar as content, usability and order supersede commenting in importance, I’m thinking about other options; atop the list, is Disqus.

I don’t think that I’ll use Disqus at my TypePad blog, Bradtastic Defined, because Six Apart seems to have done a good job handling comments.

I’m tired of all the “moderated spam comment” messages appearing in my inbox from my WordPress sites — changes must be made before these emails aggravate me.

The content at Bradtastic Defined has been requested for years. I’m happy to (finally) oblige.

Hope you like the site and leave a comment! I’m probably going to give away some gifts later on!

If you haven’t tried Safari, now’s a great time.

I’m going in a slightly new direction with my writing… I’m in (and have been-in) the process of consolidating my handwriting… from the scratch paper and napkins, to maruman journals, day planners and agendas, Moleskines to Montblanc “mind notes and matters” and Louis Vuitton diaries.

And then comes the (almost certainly) harder part: consolidating web-writings, forum/group posts, old essays and articles, blog entries and of course, my digital inkwork, inkblogging and Tablet PC art.

I figured, since I’m going to embark on this new journey of action methodology, GTDing and bit literacy, I’ll dive in on the deep-end. I’ve never been fond of the “I’m frightened, gotta dip my toe in, first” excuses… especially because it’s not any easier.

Fear is a bottleneck, and mediocrity is its best byproduct.

I’ve been writing in Moleskine notebooks, but it’s time for change. I want higher-quality, leatherbound journals, ecru paper, Europe’s finest. Seen Canteo? How about Leuchtturn?

I’d also like some Japanese stationery. Japanese notebooks are all-around pleasure; the texture, smell, design… even the packaging is superb! It makes handwriting that much more exciting.

People often cringe at the mere thought of a $100-300 journal — certainly don’t indulge/splurge on the very-first one — but I think, what is memory worth? What is one’s history worth, one’s story, one’s life? Investing in a high-quality journal reminds me each day that my life is worth more than a 99-cent spiral-bound, that my thoughts are valuable-enough to save and savor, and beyond my own life, the art of writing is a valuable tradition not to be lost, cast aside or forgotten and treated like Latin.

Modernization gives us many advantages and simplifications, but it comes at a cost and we suffer losses. Whenever I look at our Declaration of Independence, I’m reminded of once-cherished traditions likely gone for good. It’d make me sad if I could only remember how to be that. Society and “modern American culture” makes me numb… likely to afford me the ability to continue faking “sanity.”

I’m sharing again… hoping someone out there shares my “pain.” (observations)

Another “sad” note: Monthlanc at Stoneridge Mall (Pleasanton, CA) is closing in April. I still so-clearly remember my first pen purchase there… ah, nostalgia. “Laissez les bon temps roule?!” Ah, wishful thinking…

Too bad the “Law of Attraction” can’t save the Montblanc store.