feat(posts): jojo vans, hori mini pad, arizona superstars, k680t

blog schedule

@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@
 013 lv neverfull gm monogram
 014 aj1 hi 85 reverse bred
 015 ysl college bag
+016 vans jjba bucciarati
+017 hori mini pad ps4 slime
+018 adidas superstar arizona
+019 ajazz k680t
 
-vans jjba bucciarati
-hori mini pad ps4 slime
-adidas superstar arizona
-ajazz k680t
 cd air jordan 1 air dior
 elecom huge trackball
 nb 574 unnding

blog/content/posts/004FujitsuPFUHHKBPro2.md

@@ -29,3 +29,37 @@ removable cover. Thanks to someone over at the GeekHack forums who goes by
 to set up a custom build of QMK relatively easily, after rewiring the 
 keyswitch PCB to a new MCU (the ATMega32u4 on a Teensy 2.0), and write my own 
 custom keyboard firmware.
+
+QMK, the project my custom firmware was derived from, offers some very useful 
+key mapping functions like "quantum keys" that perform different functions 
+depending on the context in which they're used. For example, the 
+quintessential quantum key for a Mac user without a function row on their 
+keyboard is the backtick/escape key: in most situations, it will function as 
+an "Escape" key, but if you're holding down "Shift" or "GUI" ("Windows" or 
+"Command"), it will function as the backtick character (or tilde in the case 
+of "Shift"). In Mac OS, Command+backtick is a hotkey for switching between 
+windows within an application, since Command+Tab only switches between 
+Applications.
+
+The layout I use is based on a Mac ANSI layout. In my opinion, what makes a 
+"Mac layout" distinct from a standard Windows layout is not simply the 
+swapping of positions between the Alt/Option and GUI/Windows/Command keys, 
+but additionally, the position of that modifier key underneath the X key: if 
+its right edge only comes up to the center, at a hypothetical line dividing 
+the X key vertically, it's a Windows layout. If it goes beyond the halfway 
+point however, it is more akin to traditional "Windows key-less" UNIX system 
+keyboards, which were designed with the understanding that the Alt key would 
+be accessed by the left thumb. Luckily, the Happy Hacking keyboard fulfills 
+the UNIX tradition by positioning a 1.5 unit-wide modifier key nearly 
+directly beneath the X key.
+
+I couldn't get used to the HHKB delete key above the enter/return key, I have 
+the two keys replacing the traditional 2 unit-wide backspace key both mapped 
+to "Backspace," and the usual backlash/pipe key between the backspace and 
+enter keys. I did however, get accustomed to using a modifier key in the caps 
+lock key's position. Not the "Control" key, but a "Function" key to access a 
+secondary layer of keys. Most notably in my "Function" layer are the arrow 
+keys (up/left/down/right) on WASD, and backspace on the spacebar, which 
+enables me to make minor typing corrections without having to move my hands 
+off of the home row.
+

blog/content/posts/016VansJJBABucciarati.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+title: "Vans x JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Bucciarati Slip-Ons"
+date: 2021-09-27T09:39:26-04:00
+categories: [shoes, vans]
+tags: [slip-ons, white]
+draft: true
+---
+
+Is that a JoJo reference?? Yes, Araki's beloved manga series "JoJo's Bizarre 
+Adventure" got an animated adaptation so successful that Netflix bought up the 
+production ahead of its 6th season to get exclusive distribution rights. These 
+shoes however, are actually a nod to the design of the character Bucciarati, one 
+of the protagonists of "Part 5: Golden Wind".
+
+The influences that penetrate JoJo's Bizarre Adventure range from classic vampire 
+fiction to tarot cards and divination to rock, metal, and hip-hop musicians, to 
+high fashion. This variety showcases the growth of not just the work, but the artist 
+himself, as a clear reflection of his developing tastes. 
+
+Unfortunately, out of fear of potential lawsuits, the translators elected to drop 
+the majority of these allusions: For example, Bucciarati's "superpower" (the 
+simplest way to explain this to someone who doesn't follow the series) is named 
+"Sticky Fingers," after the album by The Rolling Stones. In America, Sticky 
+Fingers is referred to as "Zipperman," a much more literal description of what his 
+"special abilities" are.
+
+Vans is an impressive company. They started up in the 70s and made an effort to 
+cater to the newly developing "skater" demographic that wanted cheap shoes (because 
+they're often torn up in the process of learning and performing tricks against a 
+skateboard's sandpaper-like grip tape) with thin soles to transmit a more tactile 
+feel of the board to the riders' feet. 
+
+While Reebok and Nike invested in high-tech materials to make new sneakers for 
+professional basketball players (and those who aspire to be more like them), Vans 
+instead focused on continuing to deliver their already popular products and 
+reinvesting their profits to sponsor skateboarding events, growing their audience. 
+
+Today, Vans continues to make variations of those "skateboarding shoes," but they 
+have also expanded their catalogue to include a much wider variety of aesthetic 
+variants, openly accepting those who want to buy "lifestyle shoes," electing to 
+wear something that denotes an awareness of a subculture rather than actively 
+participating in it.
+

blog/content/posts/017HoriMiniPadPS4Slime.md

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+---
+title: "Hori Mini Pad for PS4 (Slime edition)"
+date: 2021-09-21T11:53:19-04:00
+categories: [hardware, hori]
+tags: [mini pad, blue]
+draft: true
+---
+
+I've been a fan of Hori's aftermarket video game accessories for a long time. The 
+first time I personally purchased a Hori product was back in 2006 when they released 
+screen protectors for the Nintendo DS' plastic resistive touchscreen. Admittedly, 
+this was a pretty simple product that anyone who had access to the infrastructure 
+could produce, so it was kind of inconsequential, but this interaction gave me the 
+confidence to purchase my first mass-produced arcade stick, the Hori Real Arcade Pro 
+3 (which I immediately disassembled and reconstructed with other aftermarket parts, 
+but I digress).
+
+"Mini Pad" is a line of more generic controller designs that aim to be smaller and 
+cheaper but still (nearly) fully featured. The first of these was for the N64, and 
+it consolidated the iconic (albeit confusing) 3-prong design to a more tradtional 
+2 handle form factor. For the PS4, the Mini Pad omits wireless connectivity, the 
+"Light Bar" (an RGB LED indicator) and the onboard speaker that was largely reserved 
+for occasional gimmicks, and replaces the trackpad/touchpad with a button used in 
+combination with the analog sticks to simulate gesture inputs. 
+
+These are fantastic trade-offs for the competitive offline player who needs to carry 
+their controller around between PS4s to play matches. The sheer pocketability of this 
+controller makes it far more convenient than nearly anything else on the market. The 
+only problem I had with this controller was the hardwired connector, so I spliced 
+some cables and pulled out the soldering iron to make the USB cable that goes 
+between the controller and the game console. 
+
+I own two of these, one in generic dark blue, as well as this limited edition Dragon 
+Quest Slime themed one. The Slime controller actually came with buttons that match 
+the casing, but I elected to swap them out with the original PlayStation coloured 
+buttons. Not only did I give myself an aesthetic upgrade, I also gave myself a batch 
+of replacement parts if any of the components on the controller I actually use wear 
+out (like the conductive rubber pads that actuate the switches).
+

blog/content/posts/018AdidasSuperstarArizonaIcedTea.md

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+---
+title: "Adidas Superstar (Arizona Iced Tea)"
+date: 2021-09-27T11:12:26-04:00
+categories: [shoes, adidas]
+tags: [superstar, green]
+draft: true
+---
+
+Yung Lean's "Unknown Death 2002" (released in 2013) feels like a lifetime ago, but 
+the influence of internet artists still persists to this day. They made a name for 
+themselves showcasing their favourite things from their childhood and adolescence 
+under a layer of aesthetics lifted from a subculture halfway around the world. I 
+still frequently see people parrot a personally relevant version of the spread 
+spaced "s a d b o y s" branding/meme/tag. 
+
+Among the things they (and we, to be honest) loved was Arizona Iced Tea, in 
+particular, the green tea variant with the green can and the sakura blossoms. The 
+brand itself got to have a series of moments where their can design was printed on 
+a variety of merchandise like tote bags and hoodies. The success of this merchandise 
+has led Arizona to seek out collaborations with streetwear brands to develop even 
+more merch to sell.
+
+When Adidas first introduced the "Superstar" in the late 60s, it was the first 
+low-top sneaker made of leather. Soon after, it was adopted by over 75% of players 
+in the NBA. In the 80s, Run-DMC professed their love of their shoes with three 
+stripes by wearing them on stage, going against the pop tradition of elaborate 
+costuming for performances, instead embracing what they chose to wear on the street. 
+Like the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars before them, the Adidas Superstar has been 
+cemented as a lifestyle sneaker worn by many even beyond the realm of competitive 
+sports.
+

blog/content/posts/019AjazzK680T.md

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+---
+title: "Ajazz K680T"
+date: 2021-09-21T15:27:41-04:00
+categories: [hardware, ajazz]
+tags: [k680t, black]
+draft: true
+---
+
+When I buy Cherry MX-compatible mechanical keyboards now, all I look at is what the case looks like, and the physical layout of the keyswitch plate. This is for two reasons: the keyswitches I want in the keyboard aren't available in prebuilt keyboards and the MCUs in prebuilt keyboards aren't reprogrammable. So, in order to use my custom keyswitches and ensure the keyboard can be programmed to support the custom keyboard layouts I've grown accustomed to, I wire the switches into a matrix by hand, so that I can wire them to a reprogrammable MCU, such as an Arduino board.
+
+This layout is nearly perfect to me. In addition to the compact qualities of a traditional 60% keyboard are dedicated arrow keys and a 4-key navigation cluster, which I have mapped to "Print Screen", "Delete", "Page Up", and "Page Down". My only gripe as a Mac user are the Windows-style left modifier keys that aren't far enough to the right, making them slightly less ergonomic to use.
+
+I found this particular keyboard on Taobao listed for 50% off because the wireless functionality wasn't working, which was perfect for me, because I didn't need the existing MCU (or wireless functionality) anyways. I took it apart when I got it and loaded it up with my Huano D-shaped tactile bump switches and soldered together a matrix (along with resistors to prevent electronic interference across simultaneously pressed keys, enabling N-key rollover. I wired the matrix to a Teensy-LC board and set up a customized firmware in QMK with my desired layout features.
+

blog/content/posts/AdidasSuperstarArizonaIcedTea.md

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "x"
-date: 2021-09-21T11:53:19-04:00
-categories: [x]
-tags: [x]
-draft: true
----

blog/content/posts/AjazzK680T.md

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "x"
-date: 2021-09-21T11:53:19-04:00
-categories: [x]
-tags: [x]
-draft: true
----

blog/content/posts/HoriMiniPadPS4Slime.md

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "x"
-date: 2021-09-21T11:53:19-04:00
-categories: [x]
-tags: [x]
-draft: true
----

blog/content/posts/VansJJBABucciarati.md

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "x"
-date: 2021-09-21T11:53:19-04:00
-categories: [x]
-tags: [x]
-draft: true
----