Introduction

For well over a decade I have been acutely aware that I have a problem. There are too many hobbies I find interesting. I have more ideas for projects than I can complete in a lifetime. Other than GeekNights — which is produced by habit — I repeatedly fail to deliver on much of anything.

The causes are no mystery. I lack discipline. I put my effort into studying and dreaming instead of practicing and doing. There is always an excuse about why I can not begin now. I need to make further preparations, or wait for more perfect conditions that will never arise. Often I am stuck in a cycle of beginning a project only to lose interest and reprioritize. I look back and see a long trail of unfinished business. At least I have been better at resisting the urge to purchase more tools and materials that will not get used.

This legacy of incomplete work is still a sign of a life well lived. I would be perfectly satisfied if I did not have additional goals. I don’t dream of fame or fortune. I only seek to live according to my principles. Specifically, I believe if people wish to see art in the world, then they should put it there.

What art do I wish to see? I want to see works that are intrinsically motivated. I want art that is slow, contemplative, introspective, and thoughtful. I want to see more people who are open, honest, sincere and autobiographical. I read vast feeds of data every single day, and these are the things that are sorely missing.

After many trials I have arrived at something that both achieves these aims and is within my capability to deliver. What I needed was a project with a wider scope. New ideas which formerly led me astray can instead be incorporated into the big picture. I also needed something that was multidisciplinary without being too much of a challenge. I can still make meaningful progress even as the mood strikes to work in a different medium.

It still took over a year to get the ball rolling, but now it has begun in earnest.

Card Conscious

The project is Card Conscious, a combined video and blog series about cards. Of course collectible cards and gaming cards feature prominently, but I will also discuss greeting cards, ID cards, business cards, and every other kind of card imaginable.

Why cards? Because I love cards, and I have yet to find any media about cards that is to my liking. Every discussion of cards seems to focus on speculation and gambling. Cards are all just paper and ink. The meaning that people attach to cards is what matters, not what people are willing to pay for them. It falls on me to cast a light on the humanity behind the cards if nobody else will.

There are cards for everything. If there is a topic I want to touch on, I can easily find relevant cards. Cards are a perfect excuse to make a show about everything without ever going off topic. I own enough cards to fuel a very large number of episodes. I can probably tell my entire life story with those cards, and then some.

Cards are great on video. Photos can capture the artwork perfectly, but the texture, weight, sounds, and life of a card come across much better in motion. I only regret that there is no smell-o-vision because I have much say about the aromas of various cards. With most other themes video would be a wasteful choice, but with cards I feel it is necessary.

People do not seem to realize how much cards are used as both social glue and lubricant. Almost everyone uses cards on a regular basis. We all have memories of special events and relationships bound to cards. I hope I get the opportunity to interview people about the cards that hold meaning for them, and uncover untold stories.

Conclusion

Those who know me already know that I would never suggest that someone consume anything I publish, but in this case I want to encourage people to follow in my footsteps. If we are going to lament that everything is enshittified, and pine for the days of the “old web,” we can not wait for someone else to bring it about. Change will only come if we build it ourselves. The cards have shown me a path forward for myself, and I hope others find their way as well.