Obscure Observations

A long term investment

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:30:00 +0000

Reflecting on the year between this post and my last post and realizing despite life being to busy to blog, my blog being too side note to matter, and documenting my thoughts being less relevant as I manage to have millions more a day than I did a year ago - I still enjoyed going back through my old posts and realized that this blog will probably remain to be a place to come home to every now and then. Even as my few readers learn to not come back, and my family gives up on checking in on it, I think overtime it may become what blogs once were in the early days - a kind of online journal. In this case, a thought journal.

Today I am thinking about what's important, as people close to me have health scares and hard times, and I reflect on things that have been making my thoughts less lovey as they usually are. And in the middle of this I came across this piece of art - and I'm glad I did - as it reminded me of the amazing man I married between this post and my last post. He reminds me of what is good in this world.

I think I might find time to repaint my own version of this, first as a reminder, and second because those colors are killin' me :)

Seventh Gen asks you to Line Dry

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:53:00 +0000

An interesting campaign recently launched by Seventh Generation challenged Americans to wash their clothes in cold water and line dry, for a month. I came across the campaign today in Elaine Wong's write up in BrandWeek.

It reminded me of how nice it was to live a bit simpler while I was abroad in Rome, Italy. There you have a small washer, but no dryer. As a rule, you try not to use a lot of electricity as a resident in Rome, and it was nice to be 'forced' to hang dry your clothes. The one thing that helped though, was that every tub had a pull out drying rack making it really easy to line dry your clothes in one of the bathrooms in the apartment. It also helped that the washers were small to begin with, and the dryer wasn't an option like I mentioned above. As a consumer in the US, I know that even if I took the Seventh Generation line dry challenge, I would eventually give in to at least a little fluff in the dryer of my stiff, line dried clothes.

With that said, it is a nice small step towards conservation that anyone can take. If not everyday, all month, but as a regular alternative - in mass that can make a great difference in energy consumption.

Funny meeting you here...

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:30:00 +0000

So, I'm back. We will see how often I post - but I kinda missed my blog. Started a joint blog with a friend with more commercial goals and quickly learned I was not committed to making that something that would take off. I just don't care that much about beauty or fashion. I did like having the opportunity to share personal stories and things I have learned - but maybe I can do that here, within reason. The more interesting things I learn are how to be a better adult, everyday. Which ironically includes how to remain a kid while your world grows around you.

I was on one of my favorite sites today - Creativity-online.com - and came across a video on the iPad and how designers are building new ways to interact with old mediums, like books. It inspired me to log back in, post the video, so I have it forever ;)

Before I embed it below - a quick note on those random Palm and Mercedes posts that keep popping up. My lovely fiance is starting a company and regularly uses my blog as a testing ground. I hope you find it as charming as I do.

Julia

Atomic Antelope for the Alice In Wonderland iPad app

Great Toyota Ad

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:50:00 +0000

Bet there were some funny outtakes...

If you were wondering...

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:34:00 +0000

You will notice I haven't been posting for a while. It's not because I don't come across beautiful things I want to blog about. It's because I have been cheating on my own blog, with another blog. A friend and I decided to start a blog for women, all about what it means to grow up, as two ladies in the city, working hard and changing from college graduates, to career women, to fiances, to wives, etc. etc. This seems to be top of mind for me nowadays - with work, life and love speeding ahead like a locomotive.

I will continue to use this blog as a place to document the beautiful things I come across or discover that I simply need to document - but probably not as often as I used to. I can't imagine many people are reading this blog though - are you?

If you are - let me know - because if it turns out I have actually inspired anyone along the way - you will inspire me right back - to keep on posting the things I see, learn and love. For now you can find me at lulubate.com, if you dare. It's certainly a little less grounded than this safe haven of a blog.

Look Mom, No Hands!

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:32:00 +0000

Learn something new everyday. Apparently synchronized bicycle riding is a sport. Certainly looks like it takes talent. I don't want to know what it looks like when someone is first entering into this sport. Think about it, ouch.

via Geekologie

The Stamp Making Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:15:00 +0000

It is official, I have a dream. I officially want to start, work with, design, merchandise or manage a stationary company. This stationary company will support my jewelry line, boutique, and blog. It will be a Julia Brand Franchise - and I will be happy. I say all this with a bit of sarcasm, but I am actually finding my way towards what I love and thinking through the details in my freetime - which admittedly is limited :)

It's interesting though, how sales, an understanding of social media in every essence of the word, and a love for design and creating things is leading me towards something I am very excited about - my own dream.

I will chip away at it, one piece at a time, and in the meantime enjoy making things again.

Last night I made another stamp design. As a friend pointed out - this is not the most economical way to write a letter - but there is so much to be said for something handmade. You get so much joy out of it. And, I am experimenting with the designs and colors and shapes that I love - and deciding to dream big.

I'm clearly not as serious about my photography efforts yet, with these low budge pics, but took a few iPhone shots while making some new designs last night.

Enjoy.

Cooliris - a visual thinker's dream

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:38:00 +0000

Just learned of CoolIris through Ad Age this morning and I must say I'm hooked. Not only did I find the advertisements on the browser cool - but I felt like I could find any video or picture on the web I may desire.

Then, I clicked 'My Computer' and saw every single picture on my computer displayed in this easy to navigate format. It was way faster and more navigable than iPhoto.

The one thing I found annoying was that I could not get embed code for some of the vids I discovered and wanted to share on this blog.

But I was able to get the below code in order to embed a wall directly into this post.

Pretty cool stuff. Go to coloriris.com to download and start browsing.

Enjoy!

OO: Pixies in the Cities

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:41:00 +0000

Zen Moment of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:48:00 +0000

Kuroshio Sea - 2nd largest aquarium tank in the world - (song is Please don't go by Barcelona) from Jon Rawlinson on Vimeo.

How amazing is this? It was particularly hypnotizing for me to watch as I just swam with whale sharks in the open ocean in Belize. This aquarium makes them look very small and very gentle in comparison.

Another reason to make it out to Japan one of these days

OO: Elderflower Martinis at the W Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:23:00 +0000

OO: Sushi & Tattoos

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:21:00 +0000

Ad I Like

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:36:00 +0000

United by Duck Studios

I get the chills anytime I watch any of these United ads. Loved discovering who the agency was behind these today.

Happy Bubble Pics from Happy Mundane

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:55:00 +0000

Check out these incredible shots of bubbles by Richard Heeks! Apparently bubbles don't really "pop"- they rip/tear/shread! - via happy mundane

Make someone smile today - send them this link

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:17:00 +0000

http://whoisthecutest.com/

Ad I Like

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:34:00 +0000

The Economist

Project Make Shit

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:21:00 +0000

I have been short on life inspiration lately. I am quite a workaholic, because I love the biz and solving problems. When you work in the digital world though - this results in a huge hole when it comes to the down to earth, use your hands, feed your soul type of stuff - especially for someone like me who loves creating things with my hands but can't seem to find the time. So begins project fill the hole/soul - or the less depressing want to kill myself alternative - project make shit. So I've made a commitment to make more with my hands. I am working on a list of all the I want to learn to do, make, create over the next 5 years. A bit of a 30 before I'm 30 list... Working on the final version of the list, but will post it in the side bar when complete.

For my first do, make, create commitment - block printing! Or the less sexy reality - rubber stamp making. Yipee.

So here are a few pics of my rubber stamp making process. The key has a long story which I will explain at some point in the future I'm sure - but it very likely will make itself onto my future wedding invitations, with my future husband who is (hopefully) my current boyfriend, currently.

Over and out.

(Let me apologize in advance for the crappy iPhone pics - but you'll get the idea of my fabulous post work craft experience)

A week to remember...

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:05:00 +0000

This week was an interesting one - with first the news of Farrah Fawsett dying, then Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson of course being a very big event for many fans around the world. Then oddly enough Billy Mays, the very well known infomercial spokesmen was found dead at his house, not to forget that Ed McMahon died just a few days before. It is all quite bizarre.

Being exposed to the world that I work in, where social media is something I live and breathe everyday. I find it very interesting to see how people use this new way of communicating to learn, connect and make tributes to people they cared about from afar.

I learned of all the breaking news through twitter - and went to my favorite blogs for news. I saw a few tributes later that made me love this industry even more. Technology, no matter how you feel about it, let's us do some really amazing things. It lets us communicate, educate, stretch our minds, abilities and access to information - and most importantly it allows us to be creative.

Thought I think twitter is a bit of a hype at times, and that there is certainly no long lasting value behind a mashup like this - I want to highlight something that shows how people can use technology to do something as simple as pay tribute to an epic pop icon.

A company called, 9astronauts created Billie Tweets shortly after MJ passed away. Billie Tweets is a Twitter tribute to the pop icon and his hit song "Billie Jean". While a music video for the song plays, the application pulls Tweets from Twitter that includes words that align with the lyrics playing in the song. As ideeli's blog put it "Pure visual Prozac- fun and oddly soothing to watch.

Game changer

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:37:00 +0000

This is pretty amazing. Microsoft has come out with a motion sensor control they are calling Project Natal. If it works the way it looks in the video below, which I believe it does based on other YouTube videos I've seen - this is pretty revolutionary. Check it out:

The new controller consists of a 'Wii-like horizontal sensor with a built-in RGB camera, depth sensor, and multi-array microphone' according to philosophistry.com and 'a camera that measures distance by illuminating a scene with short light pulses, then measures the time it takes for the light to reflect back.' All this together allows the controller to know where you are, who you are, and what movements you are making.

Pretty cool stuff Microsoft managed to pull off here. The biggest game changer I see is the full integration is seems to present to a family, with entertainment, social networking and game play all rolled into one.

Reconsidering my Wii purchase. Now if only Xbox played Blu-Ray ;)

Talk the Talk AND Walk the Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:24:00 +0000

A little website appreciation here. Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, an agency doing great work in the space, has one of those websites you take a moment to appreciate. There are several things I love about this site - but I'll tell you my two favorite from my personal point of view.

1. You can find all the information you need
2. They demonstrate just how bad ass they are by showing you, not telling you

Here is why. One, when I was going to the site, my goal was to learn more about an agency I already admire. Most agency websites are very veiled with the information they share with you. I think the motivation for this is one, to be vague enough that potential clients need to give you a call and speak to one of your new biz reps to get any answers, and two they don't want sales people calling on them all the time with a bunch of information in their pocket about what the company is working on. I have my arguments with the latter technique - but I'm sure it is biased and has to do with my profession ;)

Back to Goodby - instead of doing the expected, they showcase all their works, clients, assets, etc on their site. You can see upfront what they have done and who they work with and even search the content to get at exactly what you need.

Second, and the most unexpected by far, they let you know every single human being who works in their office, including their title - and even let you search by name - and that is kick-ass. Not only because they provide this information, which is so not the norm, but because they doing through a website that is so functional and helpful, that you right then experience the type of talent and creativity they are capable of as an agency.

Again - showing my appreciation - as it certainly impressed me.

So here are some images and links. When you go to their site and click on the people section you get presented with this:

From there you can enter someone's name and the image updates as you type:

Now if you're a dork like me you start experimenting with names to see if people with the same name tend to look alike. I think yes... But in all you walk away with a very satisfied experience - the exact feeling the agency is aiming for when presenting themselves.

Kudos.

Human Integrated

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:41:00 +0000

Small things go a long way, when the people before you didn't think to make the same steps. I find it so amazing and wonderful to come across Obama on LinkedIn.

The reason is, I spend a lot of time on LinkedIn getting to know my clients, colleagues, etc. Learning about where they went to school, who we might know in common, etc. It was fun to read Barack's profile like I read hundreds of other profiles all the time. And like everyone else, I learned something new - didn't know he transferred to Columbia from Occidental College...

Interestingly enough, I came across it because it was the #2 Google result when entering the keyword LinkedIn. Smart smart, oh so smart.

SF Goodness: Universal Cafe

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Oh how I love this place, the way they place the silverware on the table. Ate here recently and although not my first time there, loved it all the same.

The architecture of this joint is pristine, but not pretentious. The food is impeccable, with fresh fruits, fresh veggies, and the best french toast I've had in a while. And you can ask anyone who knows me, I always order the french toast, so I've got a good survey going...

Lines can be long on weekends, but you can luck out with a lull every now and then. And, totally worth it either way.

Hmm, no comment?

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Should I be jealous?

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Some chick is trying to sit on my boyfriend's head...

For The Love of (Re)Branding

noreply@blogger.com (Julia) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Casey at Design Muse Blog republished a great post by NY Times today - all about the re-branding of big logos to be more approachable. I think one of the reasons I love to observe the advertising industry is because of these strong trends that shift and touch all of us.

From Casey's blog:

I read this article in the New York Times last weekend and thought I would share it with you. The article talks about the rebranding of some major companies including Walmart, Kraft, Stop & Shop and more. All of the brands shown here have gone for a more approachable feeling. The heavy all uppercase type faces being replaced by sleeker lower case type. And the colors are much more punchy and cheerful. To read the full article visit New York Times.