Archive for Writing
How Google Got Its Colorful Logo
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In just a few short years, Google’s logo has become as recognizable as Nike’s swoosh and NBC’s peacock. Ruth Kedar, the graphic designer who developed the now-famous logo, shows the iterations that led to the instantly recognizable primary colors and Catull typeface that define the Google brand. Kedar met Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page through a mutual friend nine years ago at Stanford University, where she was an assistant professor. Page and Brin, who were having trouble coming up with a logo for their soon-to-launch search engine, asked Kedar to come up with some prototypes.”I had no idea at the time that Google would become as ubiquitous as it is today, or that their success would be of such magnitude,” Kedar says.
Google No. 1
Typeface: Adobe Garamond
Left: “It was very clear from the very beginning that they wanted to go with a logotype as opposed to just a logo,” Kedar says. With this first version, Kedar wanted to keep the majority of the text untouched so the legibility was still intact, while adding some playfulness by bringing primary colors and two-dimensionality to the Os. The pattern here was used to visually imply that something goes on ad infinitum. according to Kedar, “Brin and Page liked this because it looks a bit like a Chinese finger trap.”
Google logos (c) Google Inc. Used with permission.
How Google Got Its Colorful Logo
Meet Philadelphia's election czar
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Unbelievable. Watch this video of Philly’s election officials displaying their level of commitment to their constituents’ right to vote.
Fred Voigt, Philly Deputy Commissioner: “Forget a long line. a long line is not justification for anything except waiting.”
Marge Tartaglione, Chairwoman, Philadelphia Voting Commission: “Did you see, uh, people waiting for baseball tickets all night long outside? did you see the line that they wanted a new iPod, they all waited overnight, they waited in line? You go to the supermarket, you see people waiting in line? Oh, they complain, they grumble, some of them, some of them just talk. so what is the difference?”
I can field that one. The difference is that those people waited overnight because baseball tickets and first-run iPhones come in limited quantities. in other words, there aren’t nearly enough of them for everyone. Votes are not supposed to be exclusive, hard-to-get items. As to the people waiting at the supermarket (for cake, presumably), when is the last time you waited 5 hours for groceries?
The issue here is that the PA Secretary of the Commonwealth, who previously stated that emergency paper ballots should be given out only if every single one of the touchscreen machines at a polling place stops working, has been forced by court order to give out ballots if only one of them does (although he has interpreted the order to mean ballots must be given out when half of the machines break down).
These people are in charge of implementing that ruling.
In addition, it turns out 80% of precincts don’t have any paper ballots, and many don’t plan on following the ruling.
Perhaps McCain really does know something about his odds in PA that we don’t.
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I’ve noticed the star in their songs, and the revolutionary type of music because they wouldn’t just stick with one type of genre when playing. what do you think?
Filter Your Heart [PICS]
Posted by: | CommentsComments Hypergrafia [deleted] says:
Not another one… >_< Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )
aberdidi says:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~You’re invited to join 
P1F1
Rules are enforced, please read them beforejoining!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )
spinningwatermelon [deleted] says:
ZOMG, I love this image! Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )
scarlet_bbw_art says:
This is really nicely done, congratulations for making it to the DIGG upper deck. I amback spacing to go digg it now.
JNESS Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )
silvitafrizzera [deleted] says:
Awesome work; love it !!! Posted 25 months ago. ( permalink )
b y e flckr [deleted] says:
[[niii!!!ce.piiiiico]]{keep.it.up}(/__)(=’.'=)(”) _ (”)comment.me.plzz
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )
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The Day Converse's Brand Finally Died: D-Wade's Departure
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The Associated Press reports Dwyane Wade will leave Converse for Nike’s Jumpman brand, an imprint which already boasts Chris Paul, Kevin Martin and Carmelo Anthony. the move lacks the drama of something like Kobe Bryant’s adidas-to-Nike switch post-Eagle, because Converse is a Nike brand already.
But considering that Wade is basically the only star left in Converse’s stable, it could be the nail in the coffin for the iconic brand in terms of high-end basketball shoes.
The rumor is that Wade has hated the latest editions of the Wade shoe, and various sneakerheads pointed out that during the Heat’s playoff series against the Hawks Wade could be seen rocking the Wade 1s, which were new back when Miami won the championship in 2006.
Darren Rovell points out how bizarre the move would be for Nike, considering the Jordan brands (including Jumpman) are already huge while Converse is struggling. It’s hard to see it as anything other than as a fatal self-inflicted wound which will send Converse out of the high-end sneaker market for good. (Don’t worry. the next wave of Chucks-wearing hipsters has to be right around the corner.)
Sweet indulgence does the Vito good
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Even the healthiest athletes have guilty pleasures. after long hours of training, riding, and even tweeting, first time Olympian snowboarder, Louie Vito, admits there’s one thing at the end of the day that he craves-warm chocolate cake.
“I really like desert a lot and definitely chocolate. I don’t go too crazy but when the time is right, I really like warm chocolate cake. I’m not a big fan of cake at restaurants. I like it homemade just because you can eat so much of it. It’s like a warm cookie. You eat one and then you’re like, ‘ok fine, I’ll have one more,’” Louie admits.
But can this kind of chocolate indulgence actually be healthy for you? Nutritionist Pam Vagnieres, MS, MNT, CSCS says that in moderation, the right kind of chocolate can actually be good for the heart. “If he can be satisfied nibbling on dark chocolate bars (>70% cocoa), it will be low in sugar, and high in flavanoids and magnesium, which have been shown in studies to promote heart health,” Pam explains.
That’s not to say Olympians can go snacking on chocolate morsels and sugar-coated candy to their heart’s content. as always, the magical word is moderation. Thankfully, Louie is burning calories at such a quick rate throughout the day that a little chocolate indulgence won’t likely affect his performance (or waistline).
So, to all you chocolate lovers out there (and we know you’re out there), rest easy in the fact that a little of the sweet stuff actually does the body good.
By Tim WarsinskeyFebruary 16, 2010, 8:39PM
Associated Press, FileLouie Vito of Bellefontaine, Ohio, competes in the men’s snowboard superpipe final round at the Winter X Games at Buttermilk Mountain outside Aspen, Colo., on Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. TIM WARSINSKEY, Plain Dealer Reporter
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Louie Vito is an Olympian for every kid who thinks growing up in Ohio is a bad idea.
“I’m living in Salt Lake now, and lovin’ it, and it’s cool,” said Vito, a halfpipe snowboarder. “But I never will forget my roots and where I came from. so, it would be great for Ohio to have a snowboarding champion and show kids it doesn’t matter where you live, in whatever sport you want to do, as long as you stay focused and push yourself, you can really excel.”
Winter Olympics in Vancouver: See who’s winning the medals
More Olympics news: Cleveland.com/olympics
More sports news: Cleveland.com/sports
Official Olympics Web site: www.vancouver2010.com
NBC TV’s Olympics Web site: www.nbcolympics.com
Vito grew up in Bellefontaine, near Columbus, and is one of the “other” halfpipe riders competing today in the massive shadow of Shaun White at the Vancouver Olympics.
Despite being 5-5, Vito is the biggest thing from Bellefontaine since the Shawnee chief Blue Jacket.
“It’s pretty rare to hear about a snowboarder from Ohio,” Vito said. “It’s kinda cool, and it keeps you grounded.”
Bellefontaine, like the rest of Ohio, is a place good skiers leave to become great. Vito is among them. At 13, he spent a winter at the renowned Stratton Mountain School in Vermont, a boarding school famous for training world-class skiers. The next year, he enrolled full time, and he graduated in 2006.
“My parents caught a lot of heat for sending a 13-year-old off to a boarding school and doing a lot of traveling when I was young,” he said. “They waited until they thought I was mature enough and trusted me, and it worked out for the better, and I’m forever thankful for that.”
Vito made the most of the opportunity, excelling in national and international competitions. Sponsors who recognized White’s appeal also signed Vito to deals. By the time he graduated from Stratton Mountain, he had enough money to buy a house in Utah.
Even before the Olympics, he’s a star. He and partner Chelsie Hightower lasted five weeks on “Dancing With the Stars” last fall, and he’s writing a blog for People magazine. Today is his chance to move into White’s galaxy. Vito and White are the only Olympic competitors who have landed back-to-back variations of the dangerous double-cork maneuver, which is two diagonal flips and three twists.
The chance to beat White on this stage is heady stuff. Vito said one thing that helps him stay focused is remembering his roots. Vito was in Bellefontaine last month for his annual charity rail jam.
“It’s the people who knew you then and supported you when you didn’t have anything, and still support you,” he said. “You’re always thankful for your hometown. I hope to keep making them proud.”
Fat Tuesday gives doughnut shops boost to their business
Posted by: | CommentsBy PATTI MENGERS
pmengers@delcotimes.com
Diane Michael shows off a tray of doughnuts she prepared for my old place Bakery in Upper Darby for Fat Tuesday.
Delaware County Christians may be looking pious today as Lent begins, but they were true to the gluttonous spirit of Fat Tuesday 24 hours before the countdown to penitence was complete.
Restaurateurs emulated the hedonism of Mardi Gras by serving such new Orleans dishes as muffuletta and jambalaya.
Pancake houses percolated with customers consuming as much sugar, fat and eggs as possible before embarking on the six weeks of abstinence preceding Easter Sunday.
But doughnuts of all shapes and sizes were probably the most popular culinary delights on Shrove Tuesday, the day on which indulgence is encouraged.
“We sold out first thing this morning in Brookhaven and Boothwyn,” Christine Kyj Pluta said on Tuesday afternoon.
She is the owner of Kyj’s Bakery, which was founded 56 years ago in Chester by her parents, Wasyl and Lydia Kyj, and has since expanded to shops in Brookhaven and the Boothwyn section of Upper Chichester.
Within two hours of opening, the Brookhaven and Boothwyn shops had exhausted their doughnut supplies.
“We even sold out Danish (pastries),” said Pluta.
More doughnuts were quickly cranked-out Tuesday at the Chester site where baking for all three shops is done and where more doughnuts are regularly sold than at the other two stores combined. but doughnut demand at all three stores increased on the eve of Ash Wednesday.
“We’ve sold about 40 dozen among the three stores,” Pluta said early Tuesday afternoon.
Some customers requested German Fastnacht doughnuts or paczki, the Polish version of the Fat Tuesday pastries. Pluta, who is of Ukrainian descent, makes neither.
She does however offer Boston Cream, Sunshine and Creamy Deluxe doughnuts in addition to the usual glazed, coconut, jimmy and jelly doughnuts, cinnamon twists and old-fashioned crullers.
“People are usually happy to buy any kind of doughnuts for Fat Tuesday,” said Pluta.
Her staff did create about eight specially ordered King Cakes, sweet dough rings covered with white fondant icing and sprinkled with purple, green and yellow sugar. in keeping with the Mardi Gras tradition, the Chester baker hides within the cake, a tiny baby made of chocolate for Kyj’s by Kelly’s Candy in Collingdale.
“The person who gets the baby, it is my understanding, is the person who is supposed to have a party next year,” said Pluta.
The more than 45 inches of snow deposited on Delaware County by two recent storms plus the snow forecast for Tuesday made it hard to anticipate just how many pre-Lenten customers would patronize her bakery shops, said Pluta.
The severe winter weather definitely took a toll on Fat Tuesday business at my old place Bakery in the Lansdowne postal section of Upper Darby, said cake decorator Diane Michael.
“The weather the past couple of weeks has hurt us. a lot of people come on foot,” said Michael, who noted that the shop, founded in 2000, is not usually open on Tuesdays.
Owner David Lawler had begun baking at about 4 a.m. and added three types of Fastnachts to his usual menu of cream, glazed and chocolate doughnuts before opening his doors at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
“Normally, we’d be sold out as of this hour, but we’re not sold out yet,” said Michael early Tuesday afternoon.
While Fat Tuesday gave the Kyj’s bakery business a nice bump said Pluta, it couldn’t compare with another recent day of celebration.
“It certainly was not like Valentine’s Day,” she said.
Top 10 Dunks: Shannon Brown at Lakers.com BasketBlog
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Our friends over at NBA.com posted the above highlight video of Shannon Brown’s top 10 dunks, which doesn’t ever get boring to watch.
Furthermore, on Friday at the All-Star media availability session, we talked to Brown, Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant and fellow Slam Dunk participants Nate Robinson and DeMar DeRozan for more on Brown’s freakish abilities.
To watch, CLICK HERE.
Coverage of All-Star Saturday night in Dallas, featuring Brown’s participation in the Slam Dunk Contest, begins at 5:30 PM on TNT.
