Author: Aaron Hoffmann

I've a deep passion for solving problems, be they digital or physical, UX or UI, product or brand, or some impossible Tetris stack. Data-driven design philosophy; data-backed decisions are the most logical and defendable. I lead by example, choosing my roles based on team chemistry, ability to exercise my broad skillset, and opportunity to make a positive change in the world. I speak Geek and Japanese and would be delighted to explain the most unusual sushi I've ever eaten.

Categories
gaming poetry

wind waker and oceanic daydreams

the new zelda game for gamecube is absolutely amazing. i’ve been playing it for half a week now, and it has consumed so much time and lingers in my head long after the screen goes dark. if you have the opportunity to acquire this game, be sure to do so!

an interesting verse i found floating around in my satchel this morning. i believe it was written during my service as a juror last year for hennepin county; probably during any of the extremely frequent and extended breaks. enjoy:

the salty seam where
an ocean kisses shoreline,
master prince and mistress princess
gaze with foretelling eyes
at the castle unassembled
strewn in pieces in the beach tide.

Hail To The Thief

listening to:
Hail To The Thief (advance, available june 9)
Radiohead

Categories
poetry

impromptu verse

that the ticking beat of my wristwatch
will e’er echo in her presence
to complete the symphony she composes,
and i intently listen

Categories
art & photography

cubono

got one more image, a sketch that is definitely my style…guess who is the subject!?

[singlepic=424,300]

let me know what you think…

Categories
poetry

six flags baghdad!

be grateful for such a wonderful weekend

that was the refrain chanted repeatedly in my head as i soaked every last drop of it from the spongy spring air. the result of which were two works which i had the pleasure of penning earlier today. one of which is politically motivated, something which doesn’t normally surface in my work. be sure to email me if you have any questions or comments about it. the other is a realisation of things which come and go, and the evolution of our dreams; how they survive when parts of them die, by re-rooting and regrowing with sprouts of a different colour. read, respectively:

iraq amusement park
don’t turn away

that’s all for now! i’ll be back later…

listening to: some old bag on the oscars drag on about something; yadda yadda…

Categories
everyday minutae

“i wear this crown of shit…”

i…hurt myself today
to see if i still feel
that old, familiar sting
the only thing that’s real.

…an excerpt of the lyrics from “hurt”, originally by nine inch nails; but most recently recorded by johnny cash, in a spooky, but very effective acoustic version. how befitting of today, valentine’s; what i’ve labelled ‘the big nothing day’. aside from one occasion, this holiday has served as nothing more than a reminder of how meaningful other people can be in one’s life, even if it sometimes seems they’re insignificant. and this year it is doubly-so, that the evening at this point is destined to be quiet and solitary on a holiday of love and also a friday. apparently even my single friends are preoccupied with something other than sharing their attention with me; as if i’m somehow beneath or unworthy of it.

these preoccupations came as no help this morning while driving to work; and aside from being melodramatic about the details, by the time i arrived at the office, i was shaken, stirred and ready to sob myself dry. it wasn’t a pleasant trip whatsoever. at least the company i share at the office is such that i was replaced into my normal contented disposition. i think at any other job i would still be sour even by 3 in the afternoon. i guess that’s something to be thankful for, but hey, this isn’t thanksgiving.

i have a feeling i’ll be given plenty of free time tonight to continue these thoughts, so i’ll go ahead and tighten the spigot for now. enjoy the day if you can, if not, know that the boat you sail in isn’t alone in the ocean.

Categories
miscellaneous thought of the day

creative: genius or doofus?

i realised last night while watching the news that “genius” is a relative term.

it was a post-interview reaction to something about michael jackson which aired on abc. a viewer made remarks about how unfair it was for the world to be picking on someone just because they’re so talented or on top of their game; that he is a genius. i also took into account the musical fare renee’s dormmate displayed the other night during my visit, some type of folk music. i’m sure she finds that artist’s music brilliant, while although i can appreciate such music; i would never label him a genius, because it doesn’t directly appeal to me. it makes me both wonder and saddened considering how many musicians, artists, etc out there are completely underappreciated and underacknowledged for their work; when each is a genius in their own rite–or someone else’s anyway. it’s sad one performer can be forgotten when another is placed on the highest level of celebrity with all the fame, fortune and accolades; when really they both seek the same goal, or perform the same duties; it’s all a matter of perspective, marketing, and luck really; luck that your work coincides with the tastes of the very fickle (american) society and culture.

another thing that disturbs me, despite it’s intention to entertain (or lack thereof), is the ‘american idol’ tv show. i, as an artist, completely disagree with the notion that expression is a competition. music, visual art, literature is (or shouldn’t be) some game to try and outdo the next; it is more about sharing one’s ideas and advancing one another’s horizons. granted, in a capitalistic world where money is the bottom line, everyone has bills to pay; and the only way to pay them is by earning the cash. somehow the music and movie industries have come to focus more on increasing sales than the product they’re actually creating. the competition exists where each company is vying for the largest percentage of consumers’ paychecks. very disappointing a realisation…::frown::

well, that’s my commentary for the moment. i shall be back later with more, and hopefully get some of those damn pictures online which i’ve been meaning to for the past month (or more!!)

listening to: ken’s computer beeping (recurring error beep, as he’s away from his desk)

Categories
everyday minutae interesting links

My younger brother is beep three

hah…if you haven’t checked out googlism.com you should. this is why:

My younger brother is beep three

My ex-girlfriend is an evil robot from an apocalyptic future

heh…that site is one of those mini-addictions, sort of like ebay; but instead of eating up days, weeks, or months, you can fool around with it for a few hours until you run out of ideas. i’m not sure how long it took before i found the above two samples, but they were wholly worthwhile if you ask me.

i have not begun my christmas shopping at all yet; mostly due to the fact that i have nobody to go shopping with, really. part of the fun of the season is all the window-shopping, but it isn’t nearly as entertaining if done alone. i mean honestly, am i going to walk around the mall and make jokes about passersby or ridiculous findings aloud to myself? doubtful.

late yesterday, i decided to begin rewriting some of the poetry on this site; mostly newer things which didn’t feel right when i ‘finished’ them. i can truthfully say that with just a little effort, and the different mindset one gets after the passage of time, a few minor tweaks really make a difference. look for those to be posted this afternoon yet.

for anyone who typically visits this page looking for photos of me, i regret to announce that i don’t really have anything new for you. although if you scroll down (or visit) the november 25 entry; there is plenty of masturbation material to last until i get around to capturing something new. lol…just kidding

well i think i’m going to go laze around a bit more and have a spot of coffee. g’day!