I’m really, really excited to announce that I am looking for a designer intern to work with me at Perch, the startup I’m working with in Vancouver, British Columbia. Applicants must be here in the city or able to relocate. For more details, fire an email to pat@perch.co and I’ll take you out for coffee.

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Thomas is heading down to Memphis in December to run a marathon for Josiah, for St. Jude’s, and for the many children who are fighting for their lives. If you have the means, I would strongly encourage you to step up and support this cause. I think you’ll be really glad you did.

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I can see a future where the readers of the web find the writers that they love to read and decide that it is worth supporting those writers so that they may continue their craft. It’s not utopia, it’s not impractical — it’s just hard to see through the dust cloud that has been formed by a stampede rush to the free content — a model that was created by the very companies that are now on the verge of bankruptcy because of it.

A couple people have asked me about how they can support this site now that I’ve left the Fusion Ad Network. I don’t really have a good answer for them. Unlike guys like Ben or Shawn, I have no intention of making this site my full-time gig. I write here because I enjoy it.

Besides, there are much more important causes that could use your support.

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“As of tomorrow, Fusion will be run by BuySellAds.”

My friends Michael and Chris started Fusion Ads as a way for lesser-known bloggers like myself to make just a little extra cash for the work we were doing on our respective sites. Before I was even invited to the network, Chris offered me the position of “resident designer,” which allowed me to produce nearly a hundred ads for awesome companies—some of whom hired me again for even bigger projects.

When I was finally invited to the network, I was honoured. Many others in the network were personal heroes. I read nearly every blog on the roster, and sites I had not yet read were quickly added to the rotation.

Over the past two years I have developed real, lasting relationships with some of the other guys on Fusion. While a few of the bigger guys still likely have no idea who I am, I really value the relationships I have found.

And so, it hurts to say that, effective today, I am leaving the Fusion Ad network. It hurts because, from the beginning through to the sale, I truly believed in the mission of the network: pairing great content with awesome products in a way that respected the readers’ time and attention. Unfortunately, I don’t see that same mission carrying beyond the sale.

I hold nothing against the guys running Fusion now. They’re in a tough business, and need to produce page views and sell those page views and then produce and sell some more. So, I get why they need to take money from companies or sign on publishers I don’t think represent the initial vision.

I just don’t like it.

So, to my friends still on the network, I wish you all the best. To those on the network I’ve yet to meet, I hope my leaving doesn’t mean we can’t one day be friends. And to everyone who worked on Fusion—Michael, Chris B, Shawn, Chris T, Cameron, Todd, and Matthew—thank you. It’s been a hell of a ride.

And now, how to pay for this damn hosting.

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A little company called Aol.

After several phone interviews, I was asked to fly down to the Golden State for further discussion about the teams that were looking for fresh design talent. One of those teams—the mobile division—was headed up by a fellow Canadian by the name of David Robinson. David and I hit it off right away, and by the end of the trip things were looking like I’d be joining his team as a mobile user interface designer.

If only I’d gone to school.

You see, the immigration office of the United States of America has tightened up the rules for those coming into their country to work. Even with a job offer in hand, I wouldn’t be able to get into the US without a post-secondary degree. As a bible college drop-out, I simply don’t qualify.

I was bummed, mostly because I was excited to work with David and his team on some pretty awesome projects, including what would become their rather impressive iPad app, Editions.

Back in Ontario, my freelance career continued to grow and develop. I was working with awesome clients on awesome projects. At the beginning of the year, I found myself in California for a few weeks working with Ongo. California was awesome. The West Coast was awesome. And I wanted to see more.

So, I made my way to Vancouver, BC.

The city was beautiful. The weather was much nicer than what we were experiencing in Ontario and the people seemed very friendly. I really enjoyed my time there, relaxing and taking in the scenery.

And then, I got a Twitter message from David Robinson.

Turns out, David’s brother Danny was based in Vancouver and was working on a new start up business and I should meet up with him because we’d really hit it off and there might be an opportunity to work with Danny and his team.

He was right.

Danny and I grabbed coffee and talked for an hour or two about design, apps, user experience, the city of Vancouver, and more. The projects he was working on all sounded really intriguing, and he felt strongly that there was a place for my input and expertise.

I started doing a bit of freelance work with the team. They were really happy with what I was doing, and wanted to have me work from their office in Vancouver.

So, that’s where I’m going.

In less than four days I will be flying across this great nation of ours to a city I never dreamed I’d move to. I’m excited, anxious, and a bit nervous about shipping all of my guitars.

It’s been nearly two years working by myself. It’s been awesome, but I’ve definitely missed working closely with a team. I will be working full time with Danny and his team, as well as maintaining my freelance work on the side.

I can’t wait to share what we’ll be working on on the left coast. But first, I’ve got a plane to catch.

Yes, Ben Gibbard has an incredible voice, but in a very different way than an Aretha Franklin or Freddie Mercury. Ben has his own range. It’s not very big, but he owns it.

Not long ago, I was trying so hard to sing like Ben Gibbard. Just as I had once tried so hard to sing like Dave Grohl, as I had tried so hard to sing like James Hetfield, as I had tried so hard to sing like Billie Joe Armstrong.

But they weren’t in my range.

But I pushed it. I wanted to belt the high notes in Iris. I wanted to scream the emotion in Monkey Wrench.

But they weren’t in my range.

Finally, now having seen a master of his craft stick to his range, I realize I’ve been wasting too much time out of my own.

Your most reliable work will always be within your range. Go just a bit outside of that to show your passion and stretch yourself. But go too far beyond that and you’ll be so strained that ultimately the work will suffer.

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Risking life and limb for the sake of a smile. That’s what I’m all about, people.

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Zooey Deschanel, Spanish Bingo, and my disagreement with a popular podcaster about Instacast on this week’s Bro Show.

I don’t do a lot of podcasting, but when I do, I try to make it fun.

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