So I kind of want to keep this blog going.


And so with that....

I'm in New Hampshire right now. Doing practically nothing all day and taking a little break. But it's amazing how inspired I become when I travel. This trip, I decided not to bring my sketchbook, laptop or my favorite pen (it's an artist thing). I feel naked without all those things. So I'm borrowing a laptop, old notebook (with lines, ugh) and a crappy old pen. But I'm very inspired by the new england style of houses and country stores. I love the city, but man do I love the country.

My latest project involves taking some of my doodles and trying to figure out how I can make them into little pieces of art work to sell as affordable and quaint pieces. I'm also working on a project involving pixels (see previous post) which right now has given me so much inspiration I can't narrow things down. But that's why I'm here to figure out what I can create that will inspire others as well.

-Emelie

Favicon Graphics

I figured out how to work with these favicons in an interesting, graphic way. Thanks to everyone in class who gave their input. First up is the icon I made of all the other icons.


Also, I created a giant poster (about 3feetx2feet) of the pixelated icons. I love working with these pixels and seeing the patterns and shapes that come out of blowing them up. There is a lot I can do with them and I think this will be something I continue with. The colors are so beautiful and playing with the opacity gives a softer look that I like as well.

So now I have a giant poster of these cool pixels super blown up. It's really stimulating and neat.

Response: The Long Tail

The internet has made it possible for the spread of movies and music and people can go beyond what's on the shelves. Often you can sample a song before you buy it as well. The online shopping system for music and movies is the best thing for the industry. Reviews, prices and speed all help the consumer get their product faster, for less money and knowing that some other people liked it too (generally a good sign).

Specifically for the music industry I think this is great. People can find obscure stuff and find new genres that they like. It's great for the musicians and it's great for the industry (especially the little people).

I personally am more likely to download music and then buy merch or just plain donate to a band so they make more money and I still get their music. Bands should just have tip jars, haha.

Final Project

Final Project:

I want to do something with blogs. But what?

Itinerary

Friday----> Troy Night Out

• 5:30 pm - Ethan Bach at 51 3rd Street | Screening Times 5:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm, 8:30pm | Reception 6pm
• Kismet Gallery
• The Official Unofficial Troy Night Out Afterparty
  (presented by Goodship)
  
  Friday, March 28, 2008
  9 pm to 3 am
  Revolution Hall
  425 River street, Troy, New York, 12180
  only $2 / got to be 18 to get in (ID required)

Be there. Duh.

GOOGLE

Google: More than just a search engine

The average person knows about Google as a search engine but do they know about the rest of the corporation?

Introduction

Google Co-Founder Larry Page once said: "The perfect search engine would understand exactly what you mean and give back exactly what you want. Google launched in 1998 and quickly became the largest search engine on the internet. It is used internationally and has become a part of daily life for most internet users. Google has changed the way we interact with the internet’s resources and has set the industry standard. However Google is more than a search engine now, it has expanded into advertising, mapping, instant messaging, videos, blogging and more. There is a future for Google that not many people know about but it’s kind of a big deal.

History

Originally a research project, Google started in 1996 as a concept between Larry Page and Sergey Brin, both from Stanford University. Their goal was to create a search engine that could analyze the relationships between websites and create better search results based on those relationships. The Google website was popular because of its clean and simple design layout. Once the google.com website got off the ground in 2007 they needed to find a way to make money. They began selling advertisements that related to the search keywords. Google charged for each click made from their website. Google became the most popular search engine which caused “YAHOO!” to become a thing of the past.

Growth

Once Google had their search engine in the bag, they were able to expand by acquiring other companies. The first of those companies was Pyra Labs, the creators of Blogger, in 2001. In 2006, Google purchased Writely, an online word processor. This program featured technology that Google used towards creating Google Docs & Spreadsheets. One of the most popular acquisitions by Google was that of YouTube.com in 2006. Google paid $1.56 billion in stock and YouTube is still growing. In the last two years Google has also purchased JotSpot, DoubleClick and Postini.

In addition to acquiring companies, Google has also partnered with companies to create a symbiotic relationship and gain from one another. Currently Google is working with NASA on developing research projects involving nanotechnology and other space related areas. Sun Microsystems, who originally helped Google get off the ground, have partnered in order to help each other share and distribute one another’s technologies. In order to improve one another’s video search, Google and Time Warner AOL have also established ties. Most recently News Corp. paid Google $900 million to provide search and advertising on their site, Myspace.com.

Google has also been able to create new services that have helped their company grow. While they currently have about 15+ applications for the desktop alone, they have also gone into mobile phones, publishing and radio. Some of their most popular applications are Gmail or “Google Mail”, Google Maps, Google Earth, Google Talk, Picasa and Google Video. Each application follows the same rules that were established in the beginning. These rules are the:

Ten things Google has found to be true

1. Focus on the user and all else will follow.

2. It's best to do one thing really, really well.

3. Fast is better than slow.

4. Democracy on the web works.

5. You don't need to be at your desk to need an answer.

6. You can make money without doing evil.

7. There's always more information out there.

8. The need for information crosses all borders.

9. You can be serious without a suit.

10. Great just isn't good enough.

Behind the Scenes

Sleek design and a smart, clever personality make Google who they are and why they are so cool. They stand apart from every other search engine on the internet and they make their user want to like them. In addition to having their users be their number one fan, they have created a work environment that is also appealing. Googleplex, in Mountain View, California is the home base of Google. The workplace of a Google employee is unlike any other. The campus not only has a gym and swimming pools, but it has a dozen cafés with free lunch and dinner, volleyball court, free laundry facilities, child care, electric cars, on site oil changes, car washes, dry cleaning, massages, hair stylists, doctors and bike repairs. There is a work shuttle powered by biodiesel with free wifi. The list goes on but one of the coolest parts about working there is the 20% rule. Workers are asked to spend 20% of their day working on an outside project. Google even lists their top 10 reasons to work there on their website:

Top 10 Reasons to Work at Google

1. Lend a helping hand.

2. Life is beautiful.

3. Appreciation is the best motivation.

4. Work and play are not mutually exclusive.

5. We love our employees, and we want them to know it.

6. Innovation is our bloodline.

7. Good company everywhere you look.

8. Uniting the world, one user at a time.

9. Boldly go where no one has gone before.

10. There is such a thing as a free lunch after all.

There is a witty sense of humor to Google that really draws attention from their users. From their corporate information page to their holiday Google banners that offer up a slight twist to the Google image. They have even used April Fool’s Day to their advantage and played pranks on their website.

Philanthropy

It would be expected of Google to be involved in philanthropy somehow but of course Google goes above and beyond. In 2004, Google.org was created. This non-profit was given a start up fund of $1 billion and is continuing to grow. Their mission statement says “Google.org aspires to use the power of information and technology to address the global challenges of our age: climate change, poverty and emerging disease. In collaboration with experienced partners working in each of these fields, we will invest our resources and tap the strengths of Google’s employees and global operations to advance five major initiatives.” Many of the workers at Google work on projects within this area because of the technological ties in energy research through fuel and vehicles.

Nothing’s Perfect

Google has been criticized by many. Such a large company can expect that any day but Google is pushing limits and going places that haven’t been traveled before. One of those places is creating an online and searchable database of digitalized books. Copyright has become an issue but isn’t stopping Google. I imagine books will be digital in the next 5 years and I think there will still be room for the physical demand for books in print. Many companies have stirred controversy with Google, mostly claiming small slip ups and demanding money. But all of this is expected and it won’t harm Google in the long run.

Opinion

I am a big fan of Google personally. As a graphic designer, I have a huge amount of respect for their design department and their attention to detail. I use their programs and find them to be the most well laid out visually and have the best user interfaces. I believe it takes genius companies like Google to raise the bar and push the industries to go beyond what is already available and still have a good head on their shoulders. I will forever respect Google for changing my outlook and need for the internet even if they were to never do another project again. I look forward to the future of Google because of what they are working on as far as energy and resources.

Conclusion

So what happens when you google, Google? You are given many options of what Google has to offer. From Google Talk to Maps to Earth to Gmail, Google is a company to watch out for. Not only have they accomplished so much to date, they are still just getting started. Their company puts forward a young, clean, and smart aesthetic that has kept them in the lead and will continue to help them grow in the future.

Troy Record Article from Today's Paper

It's a pretty scary thought

By James V. Franco

If it were the first time, Mayor Harry Tutunjian's explanation for closing down the Sanctuary for Independent Media on the day a controversial exhibit opened to the public could be considered plausible. But it's not the first time strong arm code enforcement tactics have been used under questionable circumstances. About two years ago, I watched as they tore down the marquee on the Cine Art. The city said it was unsafe and could fall on someone. That struck me as odd since two guys whacked away at it with sledge hammers for a few hours and then had to use a torch to cut the steel beams, cantilevered into the building, that were, until the acetylene hit them, doing a pretty good job of holding it up. This happened about a month after authorities raided the place and found sordid activities taking place there. The business was closed down, rightly so, but the owner has since done a ton of work on the building's inside but can't get the necessary permits to open the building up, not as a theater, but as a novelty store. Like it or not, it's a legal way to make a living, but he can't get the permits. Then, resident Jim deSeve requested the resignation of three employees for allegedly engaging in shady politicking using city resources on city time, the city cited him for having graffiti on his building. There were questions whether he was in violation of anything, how long the graffiti had been on his building and why they decided to go after him shortly after he called for the resignations. And then, Bud DeBonis set up his law practice in Lansingburgh and everything was going fine until the Democratic majority on the City Council, who don't getting along too well with Tutunjian and his administration, hired him as their attorney. Shortly thereafter, code enforcement shut him down for not having an adequate number of parking spots. And now, a day after a number of city and county employees picket the Sanctuary and the day it plans to open to the public an exhibit that entails a video game featuring a suicide bomber blowing up President Bush, code enforcement says no crowds can assemble there. Assembling crowds is what the Sanctuary for Independent Media is all about so without any crowds, the place is pretty much shut down. Think back to Jack Cox, and the raids conducted by code enforcement on his President Street junk yard. Cox always claimed they were harassing him in order to get his riverfront property. While Cox brought most of his problems on himself, he did, after years of fighting, ultimately agree to sell his land to the city for $400,000. Tutunjian and his administration made a big issue about aggressive code enforcement and concentrating on quality of life issues when they rolled into office and created the Action Team. I've seen them work. They are aggressive, and that is not a bad thing. But it does make me question how they let the Sanctuary slide by for 14 months, allowing them to assemble crowds when there is such a clear and present "life safety issue," as they say. The mayor claims "the ball was dropped" and promises an investigation into why and/or who dropped the ball on not closing the place down because the doors are two inches too small. According to Sanctuary Director Steve Pierce, it might be because the media center folks already made a ton of repairs and were working with code enforcement to get their building, an old church on Sixth Avenue, up to snuff. That was until they Sanctuary decided to host the video game art exhibit. I don't necessarily agree that it is art and I honestly think the artist is using shock value to bring attention to himself. But that doesn't mean the city has the right to close down the building or use city resources against things or people they don't necessary like or agree with. Actually, that is a pretty scary thought. And, if as I suspect, the artist was just trying to draw attention to himself, shutting down the building helped him towards that end. James V. Franco is The Record's city editor. His column runs Thursdays.