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Beach UmbrellasFinally got to the beach over the weekend.  Traveling south then slightly east for about 1 hour and 40 minutes to Rocky Neck State Park, in Lyme, CT.

panorama of beach

What a lovely spot, looking out into the Long Island Sound.  The water was clear and the beach a nice sandy white.

Beach Map

I highly recommend this area for either a day on the beach or to go camping.  While we pretty much parked ourselves directly on the beach, hiking and camping were very nearby as well as an estuary and marsh lands.

Now, I just need to finish that book I was reading beach side, before summer is over…..

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Gig_Economy

Richard Greenwald says we are now, “living at the dawn of the freelance world, as more and more people find themselves working as consultants, contract workers or freelancers. This change in the way we work is as profound as the shift that occurred during the Industrial Revolution.”

Having been an on and off freelancer, since 1985….I of course, side with the freelancers and have to say….this is not just the dawn of the freelancers….it IS the Dawning of the Age of the Freelancers.

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Do check out this beautiful film called Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman.

Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, VISUAL ACOUSTICS celebrates the life and career of Julius Shulman, the world’s greatest architectural photographer, whose images brought modern architecture to the American mainstream.

You can get it at NetFlix.

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SavasanaI practice Bikram Yoga which is done in 104 degree temperatures and between 40 and 60% humidity. 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises.  Roughly the first 45 minutes are warm up to what Bikram calls ‘The real yoga!’

During the second half of class we do postures and in between we have savasana, which literally means: corpse pose.  I’m told we have 20 second savasanas in order for our blood to circulate once throughout our bodies.  Seems plausible.

It’s like a tiny nap…..and naps are the real reason for this post.  I LOVE naps.  Naps are highly under rated in the United States.  When I moved to China, in 1990 [and first visited in 1987] daily between 11 and 2 the entire country took a rest time.  European nations know this ritual as well and it is based on sound logic.  Our bodies do better with   some rest.

And after going full on, usually from 4:45 am….by mid-day I am ready for a savasana.  I usually can pump out more productive activity after just 20 minutes of rest.  On the weekends I attempt to push that time out to 45 or 60 minutes of nap time.

Try it yourself and let me know how it works for you.  I’m willing to bet you’ll be more productive, rested and happier….and you’ll be more inspired.

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antique lathe

Just like a carpenter, web designers need to know when to use the right tools. A big part of designing is problem solving.  No, I should re-phrase that, a big part of living is problem solving and we need more of these skills in life.

So, in a recent query I received, Brenton wanted to develop a blogging site comparable to this site.

WordPress will make your websites and you might want to look into making css code out of your PSD [PhotoShop Documents].  Check it out.

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GoPetDesignBlcakCrateI am the first to admit it: I am a sucker for great design!  And can you believe this?  It makes me want to get a little dog, just so I can have the crate.  Humm, I wonder if you could build a terrarium in there?  This is so fabulous.

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Software Development

For the last few weeks, on Mondays, I get myself over to the new Ford Building on the Smith College Campus. Now, I’m the first to admit, I am not a programmer.  However, as a designer I’m intrigued with development and thus am assisting Lou Franco with ‘testing’ some chapters of his soon-to-be-published book.

Lou has the patience of a saint. St. iPhone or St. Xcoder is how I like to refer to him.  He is a great teacher! In class, he sometimes tends to run through code pretty quickly when he is showing examples.

Some of the stuff we cover in our workshop goes over my head….Lou does move thru the information.  But I am happy-no, I am joyous to say, I get most of it! I mean, come on everyone has an idea for an iPhone app. A few that have just recently come to mind:

  • A Shit List App: something you could interface with that would assist you in being sure others met your criteria for being on your Shit List. And, of course, there would be some type of meter or rating system.  Maybe it could even connect with your Contact list? Humm…..the possibilities. [Note: this is obviously a bit of a joke here.  Then again, who knows….maybe there is something to this.  Humm.].
  • Then there is this behavioral app I’m working on….I can’t reveal the name just yet….let’s just say the market is for parents to use when their child isn’t behaving in the manner the parent prefers.  This one is still in development stages.
  • And then, an app to help you ‘know’ what types of organic foods are currently ‘ripe and ready-to-pick’. This needs to coordinate with locate organic farmers and dovetail with their crop growth charts….however, I firmly believe there is a need for this.  Especially, as we grow more conscious of the foods we eat, where we buy those foods and in getting the freshest possible foods-locally.

If  you have an idea for an iPhone app [or iPad app for that matter]. Leave me a comment….maybe we can get started on one.  After all, I have a classroom full of Techie-Developers all of whom I am sure would love to develop a iPhone app.

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IMDA Home Page

Another group I am happy & proud to be working with is  The Institute for Digital Media Arts [IDMA].   I am creating a Web Design Diploma for them.

  • The Web Design Diploma offers students the opportunity to explore the design of websites, interactive media, and other digital technologies. Following a project-based curriculum, students will immediately gain knowledge and learn skills about tools and technologies used in designing and creating digital products.
  • Student studies will focus on design, functionality, target audience, and user experience. The studies will remain grounded in the fundamentals of information architecture, basic front and back end web development, and interactive media design.
  • These courses are developed to be presented completely online.

Fun and exciting times, online.

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I’m nearly complete with a Graduate Certificate Program I’ve been enrolled in since Jan 2010.  I so enjoy learning and learning online…..well, I’ve been doing this since 1994. The current course is all about Project Management and we’ve been discussing Project Management [PM] Roles.

Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne

Speaking of PM Roles I am reminded of an old book, written in 1939, called ‘Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel Mary Anne.’ For those too young to remember, the story goes:

Mike and Mary Anne are a team and after many years of working successfully together, Mike and Mary Anne face competition from modern, diesel-powered shovels. Seeking an area of the country where his less modern steam shovel can still find work, Mike finds a small town that is about to build a new town hall. The authorities react with disbelief when Mike makes the claim that he and his steam shovel Mary Anne can dig the cellar in a single day; they protest that it would take a hundred men a week. Mike insists that Mary Anne can indeed finish the job in one day, though he has some private doubts.

At sun-up the next day, Mike and Mary Anne begin work and just manage to complete the task by sundown. However, they have neglected to dig themselves a ramp so they can drive out. A child who had been watching makes the suggestion that Mike take the job of janitor for the town hall, and that Mary Anne should become the boiler for the town hall’s heating system.  Wikipedia

It just goes to show how our roles change during a project and how powerful stories can be when helping to solidify learning.  Check out Mike and Mary Anne.