The Office: Design 101

Anybody watch The Office? If you don't, you should really start. There's no other show that puts as much attention to detail, subtle character development, and overall hilarity into every frame of every episode.

Anyway, last week the episode ended with a great clip that those of us who are new to design and to working in design software can really relate to.

Go here and scroll to 19:22, which is the last little white dot on the timeline (it might make you watch a commercial first, sorry) to get to the final clip of the episode.

Poor Pam, I really felt for her, but maybe this means she'll head off to design school, and eventually get a much better job--just like we're all going to do one day! Wishful thinking...

Collect a Scent

Apparently, I collect perfume bottles. I didn't realize it until this show-and-tell assignment. Sometimes I buy perfume just because of how the bottles look and never use the perfume. And the ones I do use, I hold on to and line them up on my dresser. So, guess that makes me a collector.

I am having troubling finding Sicily perfume, so having that bottle is kind of sentimental to me. There's nothing left of the fragrance, so all I have left is the scent of the bottle. Maybe that makes me creepy, I don't know.

Getting the Gig

I've bitched a few times about clients on this blog. But how do you close the deal to get a client contract in the first place? For me, it's mostly about knowing people and "takin names." Sometimes, though, a prospective client is deciding between you and some other fine freelancers. How do you make yourself stand out from all the rest and get the gig?

I like this blogger's take on the subject, particularly the part about your "leave behind." This is again from The Copywriter Underground.

The pitch is finished. The prospect’s eyes are bright and shiny. They’re licking their lips over the program. They want it. Bad.

Yet they can’t make the final decision. But their boss can. Can you really rely on them to repeat your pitch from memory?

My preference is to leave behind a single sheet of paper summarizing your pitch.

Read the rest of this blog entry.

Scathing Blog

I haven't seen that many movies lately, but I'm sure I will catch a few this summer. Before I head to the theater I always check out Pajiba. They feature "scathing reviews for bitchy people." Love it. I also enjoy reading their reviews after I've seen a movie to find out how my opinion matches up with theirs or find out about something I might have missed while watching.

The reviewers are hilarious. They bash the crappy films quite nicely, but they also have a lot of knowledge about film making and give very insightful critiques and well-written reviews of good movies, like Brokeback Mountain, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Juno.

Plus now they have book reviews and daily news updates. I also like their Guide to What's Good for You, which describes their favorite group of films in a particular genre or completely made up category, like the movies that feel most like real life, the best third date flicks, or the 10 worst blockbusters of all time.

Day Bloggin

When I'm bored at work, I check out a few blogs. To feed my girly side, I read Outblush.

It features reviews and info on fashion and makeup, but it also has some of the most randomly awesome products, particularly related to food. Check it out:

Cakesicle pan
Lip balm
Doughnut maker

I'll post some other blogs during the week. By the way, it was once my dream to become a full-time blogger. Maybe it's time to revisit that dream. I also want to write a screenplay. My dreams really are varied, aren't they?

What Caught My Eye

I'm really interested in poster design and typography. Probably because I am still very clueless about both. When I see cool looking posters and type, it makes me want to be a designer. Maybe one day. For now, I'll just write some taglines and check the spelling.

Putting "You" in Your Writing

Sean often brings up that we should put some of ourselves in our writing--in the description piece, to put some of our take on the product, and in other pieces, to add little things like funny phrases and personal touches that help give our work a certain flair. Copyblogger.com addresses this subject. This is more for blog writing, but I think some of it can pertain to other types of work as well.

Your unique point of view. Your writing style. Your own individual, personal stories and the way they shape your message.

There’s just one problem with all of that. It’s terrifying.

It sounds great and idealistic to just be completely yourself online, to strip naked on your blog and hope people will love you. In practice, it’s not just scary, it’s a good way to give yourself a ferocious case of writer’s block. Not to mention making life easier for the occasional wacko or stalker.

Read the rest of this blog entry.

No Directions Necessary

I found these directions on a glue stick:

- Unscrew cap and sponge top
- Remove inner plug
- Replace sponge top
- Squeeze container and apply glue slowly.

Finally, the mysteries of operating my glue stick have been solved!

Also saw this little gem online:

If you are seated in an exit aisle and are unable to read this, please ask a stewardess to reseat you.
- Cayman Airlines safety booklet

The Story of Whiskers

Around 1900, the tranquility of Hardys Tintara vineyards were frequently interrupted by the crack of a shotgun and flocks of startled Starlings heading heavenwards. Behind the large gun lurked a roguish little bloke known as Whiskers Blake. Whiskers' job was scaring birds away from the grapes. One look at Whiskers with his battered hat and wild beard was probably enough, but the gun ensured his beloved grapes were safe. The cunning Whiskers found certain aspects of his job particularly rewarding. To be certain his hard work was ensuring a quality product, he regularly 'borrowed' a bottle or two of Hardys ports for testing purposes. If you choose to "test" this fine 8 year old tawny, you will experience smooth mellow classic rancio characters and a hint of the fruit old whiskers so valiantly protected.

Write; Don't Be a Writer

I found this blog entry interesting. This is from Active Voice, a blog/Web site by a writer--ahem, I mean someone who writes. In this entry, he discusses separating who you are from what you do to keep what you do fresh and in demand--both for yourself and for your clients. He says that you can't and shouldn't write your identity. It's a job, albeit one that you should do well. Take a look:


Regular readers know that I don't call myself a wordsmith; but it might surprise you to know that I prefer not to call myself a writer either.

No, I don’t eschew the term in favor of buzzwords like “communicator” or “content provider,” either. When people ask me what I do for a living, I don’t tell them that I’m a writer.

I tell them that I write.

A pedantic distinction? Maybe — but it’s a distinction that can clear up the crippling paralysis of writer’s block once and for all.

Read the rest of this blog entry.

Movie Change

So now I'm doing my movie about a doll who wants to be a real girl. Total 180 from what I was originally going to do. I hope everyone enjoys it next week. It's a bit scary that I won't be there to defend myself!

It's also too bad I won't see everyone's phase 3s, but I'll just appreciate the phase 4s that much more. I'll be laughing by myself at everything, I'm sure.

Getting Griddy Wit It

What a dumb title for this post. Sorry. I'm tired.

I've been asking around, trying to find new ways of approaching layout and grids. Amy has said it's clear I don't "get" grids. True story. I look at the books and I see the grids but I can't seem to apply them to my designs all that well. Is there something I'm missing? Perhaps I've never made a spiritual connection with grids? Do I need to take a grid out on a date or buy it dinner to get in its pants?

Sorry, got sleepy again for a sec. Anyway if anyone has any totally awesome online resources or just general advice on how to use grids and work with layouts, something other than "This just isn't working," hit me up on here or e-mail me: mandyjulie@gmail.com.

Thanks in advance.

Newman's Own Story

Sometimes you get what you want but it ain't what you expected.

Newman's Own was supposed to be a tiny boutique operation-parchment labels on elegant wine bottles of antique glass. We expected train wrecks along the way and got, instead, one astonishment followed by another astonishment followed by another. We flourished like weeds in the garden of Wishbone, like silver in the vaults of finance. A lot of the time we thought we were in first gear we were really in reverse, but it didn't seem to make any difference. We anticipated sales of $1,200 a year and a loss, despite our gambling winnings, of $6,000. But in these twenty years we have earned over $175 million, which we've given to countless charities.How to account for this massive success? Pure luck? Transcendental meditation? Machiavellian manipulation? Aerodynamics? High colonics? We haven't the slightest idea.

Newmovakya's Own

After hearing the crazy marinara sauce and cereal stories on Newman's Own products Saturday, I couldn't help but go to the Web site to find some more.


Here's the legend for Newman's Own Vodka Sauce. This isn't so insane and is kind of funny.

LEGEND:
Jack Newmovskya was standing on the tip of a Russian steppe imbibing from a bottle of vodka when he slipped on the ice and tumbled all the way down the steppes, landing on top of Velma Kafka who was passing by with a bag of noodles and tomatoes for her dinner, thereby creating a mish-mash of Jack, Velma, vodka and tomatoes.

When they got untangled, Jack and Velma went to her place and cooked the mish-mash into a delicious pasta with vodka sauce, which is now the rage in St. Petersburg, where it is known as Newmovokya's Own (c).

When Exposure Isn't Enough

Clients can sometimes shady and stingy. They sell you the idea of working for free as, "you'll be getting your work seen by lots of people on my Web site!" This blog entry from Copywriter Underground really shows why this theory is useless to freelancers.

Exposure is fine. Exposure is good. Still — despite recent scientific advances — you can’t actually eat exposure.

In the copywriting world, the promise of "exposure" is fast replacing "there’s more work in the future" as the empty negotiating promise of choice.

When a prospect promised me more work in the future, I learned to ask two simple questions: how much work, and what kind of contract were they willing to sign right now?

Read the rest of this blog entry.

iMovie Second Thoughts

I had my storyboard all planned out, but when I started working through it I realized how hard it would be. I think I want to turn back now before I get too far into it. Taking photos of myself is not so easy (I'm a control freak I guess?). Now I know why good directors sometimes make bad movies. At some point, there's just no turning back.

Another Movie Song

No less depressing than the others.


Mr. Brightside by the Killers

Sample lyrics:

I'm coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's taking a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his chest, now
He takes off her dress, now
Letting me go...

And I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your allibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up your eager eyes
Cause I'm Mr. Brightside

iMovie iDeas

One approach to coming up with a story for the iMovie is finding a song (or a few songs) first to base it off of. So what are some songs that tell good stories? Below are just a few that I may consider.

All of these are kinda depressing; maybe I'll think of some happy ones later. The dreary weather is obviously putting a dark cloud over my thoughts, pun intended.

Who Knew? by Pink

Sample lyrics:
You took my hand
You showed me how
You promised me you'd be around
Uh huh, that's right
I took your words
And I believed
In everything
You said to me
Uh huh, that's right

If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Cause they're all wrong
I know better
Cause you said forever
And ever
Who knew?

Just Can't Get It Right Today by Joe Purdy

Sample lyrics:
It's nearly been a year since he's been gone
And we still sing his goodbye songs
Goodness knows she should move on
But she just can't let him go
No, she just can't let him go

I'm sorry if I made you want to cry
I'm sorry if I made you want to cry
You should know, I never meant to hide
I just hate bringing you down
Oh, I just hate bringing you down

I just can't seem to get it right today
I just can't seem to get it right today
I just can't seem to get it right today
I guess I'm gonna give up
Oh, I guess I'm gonna give up

How to Save a Life by the Fray

Sample lyrics:

Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
You begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life


May add some happy selections later, when the sun comes out.

Isn't it funny how I'm happily engaged and yet my recent projects have included a campaign against Bridezillas and a classification of bad breakups? And now, a list of songs that are depressing with two about breaking up?

I guess this is why singers say they make songs about breaking up even if they are happy. They are just more interesting than happy songs.

I Wanna Work at Google

Introducing Google's newest feature for gmail:

How do I use it?
Just click "Set custom time" from the Compose view. Any email you send to the past appears in the proper chronological order in your recipient's inbox. You can opt for it to show up read or unread by selecting the appropriate option.
Is there a limit to how far back I can send email?
Yes. You'll only be able to send email back until April 1, 2004, the day we launched Gmail. If we were to let you send an email from Gmail before Gmail existed, well, that would be like hanging out with your parents before you were born -- crazy talk.
How does it work?
Gmail utilizes an e-flux capacitor to resolve issues of causality (see Grandfather Paradox).

Find out more:
http://mail.google.com/mail/help/customtime/index.html

Interesting Typography

This Semi-Pro article in Complex uses a classic 70s typeface.

I like the ads and flyers I've found for Imperial Junkie jeans. The logo shows contrast between a more classical, scripted font for "Imperial" and a torn up looking typeface for "Junkie." On this flyer, it uses fun colors and illustrations to create a very distinctive brand style.

Kool Type

Yes, it's true. There was a Kool-Aid Reebok contest through Complex, and someone won a pair. Each different colored pair smells like a Kool-Aid flavor. Cherry-flavored feet! Anyway, this ad mimics the funky Kool-Aid type very well.

More About Clients

So I've mentioned clients who get too involved in directing our work as writers and designers. Then, there are clients who are so far removed you begin to forget who you're working for. At first, the creative freedom feels good. But then, you realize they're testing you. They want you to come up with tons of ideas and then they can pick and choose as you work them all out, sometimes as you're approaching the finish line.

Yes, we are supposed to create the concepts, but ideally that phase should become before the labor begins, not after. It blows to almost finish a project only to find that they want you to explore another avenue--particularly when they weren't real interested in discussing ideas before the work began. Beware of clients! They get ya every time.

Words: Convos

Words I like saying in everyday conversation:

Definitely
Douchebag
Exhausted
Fabulous
Goddamnit
Hell
Intrigued
Lame
Lazy
Ouch
Redundant

Words: Food and Drink

Words that bring to mind great food and drink:

Barbecue
Creamy
Filet
Ganache
Glaze
Mojito
Puff
Roasted
Skillet
Tonic

Words: Emotions/Characteristics

Words about emotions or characteristics:

Adore
Aflutter
Callous
Furious
Integrity
Lunacy
Perturbed
Underwhelmed

Words: Meaning

Words I like the meaning of:

Brevity
Daunting
Graciously
Smiley
Tragic
Trust
Uplift

Photos

I never realized how difficult it would be to find photos for my layouts. I like istock and flickr the most, but for some of my topics, they just don't have the right pictures. Oh how I would love to set up my own photoshoots!

I really admire all of you who can illustrate. I would love to give it a try, but I'm not quite sure where to start. Someone gave me the idea to use stick figures for my classification about breakups, but I am scared to try it. My stick figures are just sad. I'd love to take a drawing class to learn a few tricks.

Fun with Classification

Here's something I found on advice.eharmony.com. The topic is similar to my subject, which is bad breakups. I love the idea of looking at different types of relationships and breakups. It's something anyone can relate to and I like to find the humor in something that's not always funny.

This celebrity relationships piece does a nice job of breaking down the four categories with real examples. I don't think anyone should really use these kinds of comparisons to celebrity couples to analyze their personal relationships, but it's fun to think about how you fit into these types and what couple you and your mate are most similar to. It'd be cool to see this as a designed print spread.


Celebrity Relationships

Admit it: you may be obsessed with the tawdry – and even the tame – details of celebrity couples. We live vicariously through the ups and downs of famous relationships. Under the looking glass of the public, the love lives of luminaries are on display. Yes, these popular partners are people, too, and their lives actually parallel our own, at least when it comes to love. What celeb couple does your relationship mirror the most?

Bridging the Age Gap
Several stars are romancing their elders and still going strong. Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones share a 25-year age difference, while Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher note a 15-year deviation. Much has been made of the age inequality in these couples, as each of the elders have children closer in age to their beloved. It’s true, generational gaps must appear at times in these age-blind cases, but it’s a good sign that these lovers can look past the superficial number of years on Earth. May–December couples must beware of the parent-child relationship, but can also delight in the complementary blend of age’s experience with the vigor of youth.

Low-Profile Partnerships
Healthy celebrity coupledom is sometimes attributed to a pair’s ability to keep low-key about the ins and outs of their durable interdependence. It’s evident when celebs put their relationship and family first, before their careers. Some couples who seem to exhibit the successful low-profile formula are Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, John Travolta and Kelly Preston, and Julia Roberts and Danny Moder. With children to hold it all down, these couples seem to focus on their family, their values, and their work together both on and off the stage.

Crazy Connection
Passionate pairs have always been the most fun to watch, but rather than proving true love, these types of poisoned lovers act more often as enablers than saviors. The truth is, while opposites may attract, they usually get converted. The relationship of songbird Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil exhibits a maniacal love affair that drips with drama. Kate Moss and Pete Doherty have their own share of public scandal ranging from drug use to jail time. Perhaps your mate isn’t partaking in illegal affairs, but your partner’s behavior may be just as toxic.

Happily Unmarried
Some superstar sweethearts cherish their unconventional deep-seated commitments. Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn have been together for nearly 25 years; they had been married and divorced from other people, and now seem to enjoy the boyfriend-girlfriend title. Goldie points out that she likes the notion of being his girlfriend and deems it sexier. She maintains that the union of their hearts doesn’t need a piece of paper to validate it. Rocker Gene Simmons and actress Shannon Tweed have been together for 23 years, and Simmons makes no apologies for his unwedded bliss. Convinced that it isn’t broken so why fix it, he boasts that his long-term partnership has continued to outlast those of other traditionally tied celebs.

Stealing the Spotlight
Being eclipsed by a loved one who enjoys widespread professional success can sometimes be hard to take without resentment and jealousy, but some squeezes are happy being the wind beneath their sweetheart’s wings. The queen of daytime television, Oprah Winfrey, and her long-standing love, Stedman Graham, have been able to prosper for nearly 20 years. Stedman has been building his own life brand as a successful businessman, public speaker, and author, proving he’s more than just Oprah’s guy. Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, married more than 11 years, started as a marriage of professional equals. While Kelly has catapulted to stardom, Mark is fulfilled with less-than-famous roles. Staying busy with occasional guest roles and Mr. Mom duties, he has gracefully encouraged his girl to stand out. Allowing your other half to shine in the spotlight while taking a backseat exhibits confidence, trust, and your sincere wishes for very best for your dearest.

Celebrity couples have triumphs and agonies, successes and failures with marriage and divorce. Although fame highlights the lives of the stars, most don’t pretend to be poster children for successful relationships. Perhaps from the examples of others we can learn to balance our own prosperous partnerships. While the lives of others may always intrigue us, it is clear that Hollywood love affairs simply mirror those of us who are not in the public eye.

Inspiration: Trailers

Like most people, I usually enjoy a movie trailer more than the movie. Who doesn't love the rush of action, adventure, comedy, and romance you get in just a three-minute clip? The only thing I don't love is when a movie is marketed in the trailer as something its not. I've seen a few trailers that make a movie seem like a happy comedy when actually it's a total downer.

The film "Lady in the Water" was shown in the trailer as more of a fantasy film or a legend. The movie itself is this ridiculous mystery in a hotel and about modern-day prophets or something, and it's unbelieveably stupid. Luckily I saw it on HBO and not in the theater.

I wonder how much control the producers and directors have on the trailer that's created and used. I'm sure it's all the studio and marketing peeps.

Random Thoughts on Pencils

It's been a while since I've used a pencil. Seriously. As an editor, I use a red pen quite often. Sketching the phase 2s for this class has been fun. I like being able to erase my fuck ups. But I don't so much enjoy dull pencil points. I miss the electric sharpeners we had back in high school. Now, I have to manually sharpen. Not as cool as hearing that grinding noise as your pencil gets it point back.

Clients Are a Pain Sometimes

Clients really can be rough little buggers. You never know what they'll love and what they'll hate. A lot of the designers I work with complain that clients art direct them when that's not their job. I agree with that on the writing side. Clients will practically rewrite an entire piece but want you to clean it up--which often means rewriting their rewrite. Assholes.

Dreams and Nightmares

I used to remember my dreams a lot more often when I was younger. Now, they are easily left behind in my bed. Every once in a while, though, a dream sticks in my mind. I'll wake up completely freaked out and so relieved that what I envisioned while sleeping isn't really happening. The ones I remember most have to do with a) breaking up with my fiance, b) being chased by bad guys, or c) screwing up at work. So it's pretty clear that I only remember the bad stuff.

I wish I'd have some inspiring or motivating dreams. Dreams about my actual life dreams would be ideal. But that doesn't seem to happen. Wouldn't it be cool to actually dream about yourself in your dream job? That's never happened to me. Or if it has, I simply have no memory of it. Stupid, unmotivating sleep.

Calls to Action and Cause-and-Effect Posters

These campaign posters use calls to action and/or cause-and-effect methods. Some are obviously better than others in both concept and design...yeah, okay, the meth one is really bad. But it does the cause-and-effect thing, that's for sure.

Social Campaigns

VERB Campaign

I found this poster for a campaign called VERB, aimed at getting kids involved in more activities. I think some other concept might be better for this campaign. An opposing image, like kids watching TV and eating snacks (AKA, being lazy), would help make the message more effective. Or it could go a more positive route and show kids playing soccer and having fun. But vans with lots of bumper stickers? They kind of annoy me, making me think the driver is one of those overachieving parents who makes their kids do everything under the sun. That isn't really what the campaigners want people to do here, is it? I mean, they probably want people to start small, with just one or two activities, instead of acting like they should dive into every possible after school activity imaginable...right?


RAINN Social Norms Campaign



These posters for the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) Social Norms campaign focuses on the role college men play in preventing sexual assaults. The posters use statistics to show that the majority of college-aged males respect women's wishes and would help a woman in danger of being assaulted, creating a "norm" that men should want to fit into. I think it's an innovative angle that veers from the normal "Respect women!" kind of imperative statements that just tell guys what to do. It creates a majority group that men should want to fall into in order to be like everyone else, something that college students are always trying to achieve.


ADPSR Boycott Prison Design Campaign

Winner:


Runner-up:

Runner-up:


These posters are submissions to a poster design contest for the architects/designers/planners for social responsibility (ADPSR). The topic was boycotting the design of and increased spending on prisons in favor of allocating those funds to building and renovating schools. I actually like the two runner-up designs better, as they are more striking with more thought put into type, contrast, color, and text placement. The winner incorporates lots of statistics, but they are hard to read within the image, and the big block of text on the left is kind of clunky and people might not feel like reading through it.

When Will Winter End?

Winter in Maryland is ridiculous. Not that I know how it is elsewhere; I've lived here all my life. But for real, can we get more than four months of nice weather? I know it's only February, but I'd be much more inspired to do great work on my projects if it was nice out. Actually, maybe that isn't true because I'd want to go outside all the time. How do Cali people get anything done?

Headline Brainstorming

At work, we are often tasked with brainstorming for headlines, even for projects we aren't writing ourselves. This can be frustrating because the client wants a bunch of headline ideas from us (the other writers on my team and me) without giving us a lot of background on the project. And of course, they want it YESTERDAY.

When I'm brainstorming, I try to think of a twist, as Sean would say. A pun on words usually helps. Words with multiple meanings are key. Still, oftentimes the headlines or slogans a client picks are the least clever ones. Whatcha gonna do? It's a crapshoot half the time, but it's worth trying to create clever headlines and hoping they pick yours once in a while.

Valentine's Rewind

Funny that I mentioned the marketing scheme that is Valentine's Day and then got engaged that night. I suppose my fiance really was suckered into this pointless day! Actually, he said he wanted to throw me off since we don't get that into V-Day. Smart move.

Descriptive Tap

Some of you bloggers who were in Visual and Verbal Rhetoric last semester might remember that I "performed" a little tap dance on the first day of class as part of my introduction. I grew up dancing, and tap was my favorite type of dance, because it involved so much intricate detail and rhythm. Getting a step right felt like solving a mathematical equation (something I've never been very good at). I liked solving the puzzle of the steps and making every piece fit so well together. Hearing the metal clicks tap on the floor or stage sounded better than any song ever could.

I found some descriptive text about tap dancing that I really love—you can almost hear the tapping...

Tap dancing is an amazing musical accident of the human body. It is a natural magic trick originally discovered by untrained people with relaxed feet and comfortable shoes.

Some of the many steps in tap dancing include flap, flap heel, cramp roll, buffalo, Maxie Ford, time steps, pullbacks, wings, cincinnati, the shim sham shimmy, Irish, Waltz Clog, shuffle hop step, running flaps, running shuffles, sugar, and the paddle and roll, slap, stomp, running slaps, brushes, and scuffs.

The goal in tap dancing is to produce clear, clean sounds, with various levels of tone. Body weight should be held slightly forward, allowing most of the dancing to be done on the balls of the feet. The knees and ankles should be relaxed at all times. Beginning tap dancers are sometimes told to dance as if they were dancing on a glass floor.

Since Lindy Hop is such a grounded swing dance with knees bend and the body tilted in a “ready-set-go” position. This athleticism is essential for Lindy Hop because it is such a fast-paced whirl-winded style of dance. With this grounded style, hoofing—a style of tap dance that uses the legs only, creating louder noises with the shoe itself (not necessarily a shoe with taps)—has become quite popular in Lindy Hop. The stomping between steps as a break from the basic Lindy swing out creates an energetic and typical Lindy persona to the dance itself.

Valentine's Day

Sponsored by the color red, chocolate-shaped hearts, and love, Valentine's Day is quite a machine. Really, it was created by marketing execs, but somehow many of us buy into it, don't we? I just don't feel right about ignoring the holiday, even though I know it's useless. I still go out and buy a card and some chocolate for my boyfriend and he gets me a card and takes me to dinner. Nothing extravagant, but we definitely buy into the marketing for this silly day. All that red probably just makes us hungry and crazy.

Folding@home

After a few days of researching and struggling to pick something new that I care enough about to write an article on, I found out about Folding@home. My boyfriend has a PlayStation 3, and he's mentioned this to me before. It's a distributed computing software application he downloaded for free, and it works together with all other worldwide users' software to make one big old supercomputer. This particular application, Folding@home, simulates the process of proteins folding over and over in an effort to understand and ultimately cure the world's worst diseases, like cancer and Alzheimer's. I'll save the rest of my description and writing for the article...just wanted to share that I'm happy to find a new technology that is really working to fix huge problems.

Grave Design

Okay, this is depressing, so sorry in advance. But for me to post to the blog today, I have to talk again about my dad. Today is my father's birthday, so of course I'm thinking a lot about him. I also tend to think of his grave on this day, even though I don't believe that is what should really represent him. Not to get too religious or controversial, but I don't think a person's soul lives on or anything happens after death, much less do I think the grave or cemetery houses their soul or spirit.

Still, it's where we go to remember someone we've lost, so it should in some way reflect that person. I think my dad's grave does do a nice job of portraying him as a person. We chose a spot with a tree and shade, because he never laid out in the sun, even at the beach. His gravestone is very sleek and modern, which reminds me of how he was always up on pop culture and into the latest gadgets and technology. The type used is very clean and sophisticated. Even if it doesn't matter much, where he was laid to rest does nicely symbolize and memorialize my father.

Thinking Like a Designer

For a writer, thinking about design takes a lot of effort. There are just some things I never consider when beginning a writing project or proofing someone else's design. I certainly look at another designer's consistency in type style and format when I edit their work, so in that way, I am examining the layout and design. But thinking of how I will put it all together is going to be a whole 'notha story. This profile will be a challenge.

Inspired by My Heritage

Church of Spilled Blood

The Fountains at St. Petersburg Palace

The Red Square in Moscow


For my father, art was everywhere. He sketched the things he saw, and he took in the beauty of the world wherever he could find it. I loved that a man of science--a computer engineer who helped send shuttles into space--had such a deep appreciation for museums and architecture.

As a young man in college, he could have focused solely on his studies, as he was expected to do. Instead, he chose to live in St. Petersburg, a beautiful city showcasing some of Europe's most amazing artistry and buildings. Much like a student who lives in Small Town U.S.A. dreams of moving to the Big Apple, my dad wanted to breathe in the big city life and the rich culture in St. Petersburg.

I am deeply inspired by my roots and by my father's life. After he passed away in 2005, I searched for new ways to connect with him. How do you feel close to someone who's gone? I thought of him in his purest form, before the cancer, before he had a family to provide for. His college days in St. Petersburg, those were the times I wanted to feel closer to. So my mom and I journeyed to Russia and went to the same masterfully designed churches, to the enormous Hermitage, to the golden fountains at St. Petersburg Palace, to the Red Square and Lenin's Tomb in Moscow, to the ballet, to the little cafés and shops, and to the circus.

The details that went into every massive building and palace were astonishing. Even the smallest city gardens were landscaped to look luxurious, like the backyard of a Queen. I could see the cities through my father's eyes, and picture how he became the man I knew him to be by exploring these places.