Author: Paul

Sharing the shiny bits of life since I can remember. I run http://greenergrassmedia.com/.
Posted on

Bad juxtapositions

university of denver

The architect meant well. He was seeking to combine classical elements with a modern twist. I would suggest that he failed. The gold-and-maroon dome does not sync well with the rest of the building. And where in classic architecture do you see a 360-degree clear glass balcony?

It is very possible to combine classic design with modern style – but that is a difficult task. All the more pity when millions of dollars have been spent in the exercise.

The beauty of graphic design is that the stakes are usually much lower. One exception would be when a corporation rolls out a new logo. If they failed, it’s hard to roll back in the red carpet.

FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail
Posted on

Hot Wiring Your Creative Process

ed-little-notes

Hot Wiring Your Creative Process is a book by Curt Cloniger. I skimmed it recently. (I read parts. Non-fiction is hard to read all the way through these days, unless the content is exceptional.)

One of the useful parts suggests making little cards with concepts on them to stimulate your thinking. The ideas can be actions or thoughts. The idea is to pull out a few when you are facing a creative block.

My friend Ed made some little notes – without even reading the book. (I’m guessing on that point.) Some of his ideas: “Sort out 3 things to go to a charity shop” and “Scan in a pattern”.

I hope to make some little notes for myself, along those lines. Maybe I’ll make them digitally rather than on paper. I have too much paper in my life right now.

By the way, that book is a bit expensive. I’d recommend checking it out from your library, rather than buying it. Help your tax money go to good use!

FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail
Posted on

Kindle Review

kindle

You already know about Kindle. It’s the most widely-used mobile book device out there. (Maybe I’m wrong on that, now that Amazon has released Kindle software for the iPhone.)

I’m not going to review the device here. Time magazine gave a good tech review. Josh Marshall (PhD) gave a great reflection on the future of paper books. So I don’t want to go over old ground. I just wanted to suggest a totally new approach to the whole area of mobile reading devices…

Do you remember Polaroid cameras? They were really cheap, but the film (print-film) was very expensive. That model worked fine until digital cameras sadly killed off Polaroids. (Yes, there is a new Polaroid printer, the PoGo that is really cool, but that’s another story.) And mobile phones? Cheap or free (except smart phones, of course) because money is made in connection fees or monthly rates.

I’d propose that Amazon sell the Kindle for $49 and increase the price of mobile content for it. They would sell far more content, the authors would get more royalties, and people like me could have a Kindle! ($359 is about $310 too much for me.) I am sure they would make more money in the long run.

Apologies to the image copyright holder – I couldn’t even find out who it was from the source.

Update: The Kindle DX is a bigger reader – but also bigger priced ($489).

FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail
Posted on

Small change

cup-insulator

Here’s a way you can help the environment in a small way… say no to a cup insulator sleeve the next time you get coffee-to-go.

You will:
– save that much addition to the landfill
– save the coffee shop the cost of the insulator
– save the transport costs for that insulator sleeve to the shop and to the landfill
– prevent trees from having to be chopped down

You say, “I don’t want to burn my hands!” Well, take a moment at the shop to let the coffee cool. You can’t drink it that hot, anyhow! Use the extra time to pray, to enjoy looking at the people in the line or to read the newspaper.

If everyone would do this, thing of the cumulative difference it would make!

Ironically, this sleeve says, “Do as little as possible.” I would add, “…to the environment.”

FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail
Posted on

Now 13

b-13

Yes, 13 is a big deal too.

Today Ben, our English child (born in Oxford), turned the big 1-3. So we have two teenagers.

Happy birthday, Ben!!

FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail
Posted on

Great transport idea

occasional-car

Sometimes you just have to get there in a car. But buying a car is hugely expensive. Even if you get an ancient beast, the repair costs can break your bank.

There’s a way around this. It’s the Occasional Car Club. You pay an hourly rate and 24c a mile, which includes gas and insurance. It’s a great thing if you just need a car for a few hours and aren’t going far. This spreads car ownership across more people than just you. If this caught on, fewer cars would have to be made.

This concept is already working in Europe. My buddy Rob, who lives in Stuttgart, Germany, is part of such a plan.

It’s not for everybody (and obviously you have to live where something like this is offered) – but it would be a great thing for some people!

By the way, the cool car shown in the above pic – and on their website – is not available for rental.

FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail
Posted on

Social media doing what it’s supposed to

soc-med-working-well

You can follow them here.

I also contacted them via their website and got this reply: “We appreciate your interest in the iQ and apologize this vehicle is not available in the U.S. Your comments and interest in this vehicle have been documented at our National Headquarters, where they remain available for review from the appropriate departments.” Sounds kind of form-letter-ish, but if it’s at all possible that some Toyota bureaucrat will actually read my message, I’m encouraged.

My message: “You should: a) Bring the iQ to the USA; b) Do a Fiestamovement thing; and c) Let me be a test driver. Thanks.”

FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail
Posted on

Now 8

r-7-81

Our daughter Rachel turned 8 years old today. Somehow 8 seems so much older than 7.

She’s our youngest, so the passing of time in her case seems even more moving than with our other two.

Our friends in southeast Asia have a daughter named Hannah. Her birthday is also April 2nd. (Great day!) They also have a daughter named Rachel. We just got a letter from them showing her in second grade. She is going off to college in the fall.

Time is precious, friends! Your time with your child or friend may not last forever… make the most of that time today.

FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail
Posted on

The mutant mint

mutant-mint

We went out to eat the other week and I grabbed a mint on the way out the door. Indeed, it was a mint-and-a-half.

That reminded me of my dad’s coin collection. He used to love collecting mutant coins that were mis-stamped in production. Sadly, in a sibling’s divorce, that collection was lost to the errant spouse.

Takeaway: what does this mean to us? Well, a few things:

1. How can we accept the “mutant” people around us?

2. How can we not just accept them – but appreciate the ways they approach life differently than we do?

3. This brings me to why I hate the word “tolerance”. That implies just putting up with someone. Isn’t it much better to love that someone? Even if it’s really hard to love them, the rewards can outweigh the pain.

FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail