Jarvis Cocker – “Further Complications”

Brilliant.

In the real world, what pictures are worth is beyond words. What words are worth is beyond words.

Everything that transcends value is beyond value. Hence, transcendence.

If you disagree and want to put a value on pictures, I recommend a site like shutterpoint. If you want to see awesome pictures RIGHT NOW, visit MarkVelasquez.com.

Ciao!

Case in point. Janelle Monáe: Cold War.

Expect a new round of Instant Impact webinars edited and uploaded within the week. :D

A few from last round are embedded below. Enjoy! (Note: You may not be the target audience for these, but hey, always worthwhile to learn something useful, in my opinion – who knows when you’ll get the opportunity to cross-pollinate orchids of knowledge).

Watch ‘em all on ImpactLearningTV or read up on the company blog.

My study of Japanese is flailing since college graduation. Anyone know anyone with Japanese language skills between Santa Barbara and San Luis that would be interested in regular Japanese-language-based games of soccer or poker?

Would have loved to see this show. Really good to see the enthusiasm back in the collective, and in the music, and with all members performing. Maaaad props to Key and Alex. Check out the visionaries on UpAbove.

I maintain it to note my thoughts and organize my web presence. And to have some permanent place where I can upload my data and music, so I’m not dependent on some other service provider to be my “social hub” or whatever. I like to own my data, you know. Thought it was good practice. And to practice my design and coding skillz, or to test things and myself. Helps to practice migrating a WordPress driven site from a database to another before doing it professionally, you know. Mitigates risk and improves confidence, you know.

* This data is from a diffrerent domain.

Eventually, after a few rounds of design and focusing my content, I decided to open up my posts to commentary and feedback. So, now caring about visitors to my digital home, I watch my site traffic ebb and flow, but never get to really know who’s passing through. Sort of like watching shadows walking around my home.

But I believe people are people.

So, long ramble short, who are you, friendly visitor?

Seemingly, the stunningly informational OkTrends blog from OkCupid is meant to generate buzz (and “community through controversy”). Their call to action is for their visitors to “share” (a.k.a. crowdsource their link-building).

The way this call to action is presented is elegant, becoming un-intrusively visible when the reader reaches the end of the post. Looking at how many folks promoted their content, the tactic and design seems to work extremely well for them, too (combined with the well-written, informational, and exceptionally controversial quality of their content).

Graphic design influences both. However, the mediums are entirely different. The audiences are entirely different. The objectives are entirely different.

People can’t click on a print ad. Graphic design in print is static. There are many other differences.

SEO best practices and web design best practices overlap, far more than print design and web design do.

Just sayin’.

Last night was a blast, as the symposium of friends and I got together for our regular blind tasting and food pairing. We had four bottles of Albariño covered in paper bags. Mark made some breathtaking stuffed mushrooms. Cam and Mar brought paired an awesome scallop ceviche with onion and cilantro with the Albariño. Steve served up some brilliant sweet potato fries. To end, thanks to Hollie’s mom, we feasted on cupcakes of varying flavors coated in cream cheese frosting.

The Albariño is one of the few whites acid-wary guys like me can enjoy. It pairs extremely well with seafood, and ranges in flavor to something like dry mineral water to something like Viognier. There were tones of smoke in some, tones of fruit in others. Nice range, all tolerable — and all paired especially well with the Peruvian style ceviche.

Gosh. I’m salivating all over again.

If I remember correctly, in our blind tasting, La Cana Albarino Rias Baixas 2008 came in second and Hollie’s pick, the 2008 Carballal Albariño “Sete Cepas” Rias Baixas came in first. I’ve decided ‘cos of my shoddy memory after such tastings of the fine details, that I really need to keep a pen around during our tastings.

Photos should be coming soon from the talented eyes and hands in and with Mark. Speaking of whom, be sure to check out the reality show he was just kicked off of (Work of Art: The Next Great Artist on Bravo), or, for a far truer reflection of the man, Mark’s blog.