Here's my Archer site so far:

 Archer Site

I'm pretty pleased with it, though I'm wondering if there is a more efficient way I could have coded the css files.  Right now I have a separate css file for each page.  Guess that will come with experience.  Coding CSS, while MUCH easier than tables (ie. the old way), is still new for me.  Gotta get my head around that mindset. : )

I saw this article today:

Iran Objects "Racist" London 2012 Olympics Logo

And being a designer, of course I am always intrigued how design can be perceived differently by different people. 

Basically the gist of the article is that the government of Iran has their knickers in a twist because some nutjob squinted their eyes at the logo for the 2012 London games and thinks that it says "Zion".  Apparently that is a biblical term for Jerusalem. And Iran doesn't like Jerusalem. And in the true spirit of good sportsmanship (sarcasm), Iran has refused to compete with Israeli athletes. They even sent out a letter urging other Muslim states to oppose this "racist" logo. Even if it did say "zion", I'm not sure how that is racist. And wouldn't racist be refusing to compete against athletes just because they come from Israel? Who's the racist now, Iran?  Irony!

I don't know about you, but besides just being a generally hideous logo, I just don't see it:

If anything, I see "ZOR".  The International Olympic Committee maintains that the logo represents "2012" and nothing else.  Seems logical, since the games in question are being held in 2012 and all.

What is even more interesting is that the logo design has been approved and distributed since 2007.  Way to be relevant, Iran. 

It's funny - whenever I am asked what I'm studying in school and I say Graphic Design, I usually get one of two reactions:

1.  What the hell is that?
2.  Oh, you're an art major (translation "Oh, you're taking a fluff major")

But articles like these remind not just us how important design is on the world.  In this case, it has the ability to affect political agendas.  Something as seemingly innocuous as a logo for the Olympic games has now taken on a hostile political and racially charged slant.  Not such a fluff-major thing now, heh?

Who is this website for?
Potential customers of the self-proclaimed "Web King," Alan W. Hinden.  Mr. Hinden is based out of Las Vegas NV and provides affordable website design solutions for businesses.

Who will be using this website?
Owners of businesses.

Title:
Web King Internet Services, LLC

Description:
This site will provide customers with a list of services provided, pricing, samples of client work, and testimonials from satisfied customers.

Target Audience:
Presumably, Mr. Hinden's services are aimed at small businesses and organizations who need a simple, affordable web presence.

Feature List:
Services page, Testimonials page, Portfolio links page, Contact Us page

Site Map:

Index

• Services/Pricing
• Testimonials
• Portfolio - links
• Contact Us

After my first foray into facepainting two weeks ago (which I LOVED-so fun and so cute) at my adorable 4 year old niece Olivia's birthday party,  I found this so very kewl:

Animal Lipstick Art by Artist Vidiris-Somnio (aka Paige Thompson)

I think my fav is either the fox, the crab or the chameleon.

 

I want to go home and try this.  I wonder what kind of paint they used....I think my stuff at home specifically sez not to use it on the lips.  Hmmm....

Imagine the fun youtube videos you could make (OM NOM NOM).

So, I've been contemplating changing up my hair color.  My stylist and awesome friend Donna advises me to look around and get ideas of what I'd like.  Naturally, where do I turn for inspiration?  The internet!  In my searches, I came across this site:

Color-Crazed-Hair-Crazies

And GAAAWWWWWWD, I wish I had the cajones to do something like this.  Well, ok, the cajones, and the coolness factor to carry it off, both of which I have NONE.  I especially love "fl ylw blue purple."  All of my favorite colors on one head.

I emailed it to my friend Donna with the subject "color ideas".  Can't wait to see her reaction.  But it raises a good point - we're artists, and for me color=life.  J'adore color!  But should I show up at a job interview with hair like this, especially at my age, I'd probably get carted off for professional help, or promptly drug tested on the spot.  Guess I'll have to keep self-expressing through my art. ; )

Another reason why I love the internet - something for everyone to be found, as long as you keep searching enough!

Well, was sick last week.  ALLLLLLL last week.  Not just one day but the whole dang week.  Starting out this one the same way too, but it is not nearly as bad.  The oppressive fever has finally broke, I think, and as of this morning, I actually can put more than two sentences together without needing a nap.  Still feel like I am dragging around a legless rhinocerous tethered to my ass (fat jokes aside, please), but hey, at least the brain is functioning again.  Somewhat.  Enjoy my virus-y ramblings : )

Ks.

Two things I wanna talk about - Jezebel.com and the Royal Wedding invite.

1. Jezebel

Aesthetically, this website just about sucks harder than any other one out there. I get that they are trying to be "mobile" friendly, but it is horrendous.  If you google jezebel, the link does not take you to their "classic" view, but to this m.jezebel.com mobile version.  Even as a mobile version goes, it is butt oooogly.  Awful baby blue background.  1994-esque hierarchy.  Little to no text formatting.  Awwwwful.  Which is an absolute crime, because a poor user experience and aesthetics this abysmal are bound to turn people away.  They almost turned me away.  But then, I would have missed out on all the great content the site has to offer.

Jezebel is known for being anti-photoshop in the magazine industry.  They are known for defending the rights of "normal" people in the fashion industry.  They comment brilliantly on pop culture.  They contemplate the human experience and don't shy from clever sarcasm.  But I think the true gem of this site is the group of commenters.  I love reading the comments. Hilariously witty (most of them), these comments keep me coming back.  For a snarky girl like me, it is like slipping into nice warm bathwater.  Ahhhh.....: )  And the amazing thing is, so far I have not seen any of that mean and vicious "Poster#1: That's a stupid comment  Poster#2: Oh yeah, well...that's what Hitler would have said" flame wars that every other comment section seems to dissolve into.  But, maybe I'm just not reading the right topics.

The comments make smile.  Especially the one by "ZoetheBitch" @ 7:47AM in response to the link below.

2.  The Royal Wedding Invitation

Saw this post this morning:
   
See the royal wedding invitation that isn't waiting in your mailbox

I am already sick to death of hearing about the royal wedding.  And yes, I am that oooold that I remember being a little girl and getting up with my mom at like way-the-heck-too-early and sitting around our little TV with the antennae and <*gasp*> remoteless channel dial (in those days, I was the remote control) to watch Prince Charles marry Lady Diana Spencer live on TV.  I decided then and there that when I got married, I too wanted a train as long as a city block and a mob of little girls I barely knew to carry it behind me.  Alas, when that day came, I had no mob of little girls, and even though the train didn't end up being that long, it was kickass, if I say so myself.

But I digress.  Now that I am a (*ahem*) wisened adult now, I can see past all of the pretty dresses and dreamy princes (well, at least William is sort-of dreamy) and think - why?  Why is this even relevant anymore?  Why all of this pomp and circumstance for a family that essentially is a figure head?  And it makes even less sense for us in America to be all swoony over it.  Isn't this monarchy stuff the exact reason my ancestors left England in the first place?

But again, I digress.  Damn virus.

But as a designer, I was very interested to see the royal wedding invitation.  I thought, these are Royals.  Palaces.  Crown jewels.  Polo ponies.  This design was going to make me swoony, right?  Umm...sadly, no.  Aside from the gold monogram at the top, it looks like Prince Chuckles kicked back with a cup tea and a copy of Microsoft Powerpoint, downloaded a photo of the kids from TMZ.com (I mean, who in the free world hasn't seen that engagement photo by now??), slapped together an invite and sent it off to Kinkos.  BORING!

I think I was expecting something more elaborate and elegant.  Hand calligraphered, maybe, sealed with an elegant wax stamp.  Or a scroll, carried to the recipient by carrier pidgeon. Or whatever.  Anything!  I mean, how incredible would it be to attend this wedding?!  Well...if you're into that sort of thing.  Shouldn't the invitation be some kind of reflection of that?  A sneak peek into the amazingly elegant and wonderous affair that will occur?  Instead, looking at that invite makes me just wanna go back to bed.

Damn virus.