Spike Likes Web Design :: Newsworthy

Virginia Pines

Team Spike Likes — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 02:27:57 +0000

Inspiration can be found in the most unlikely places. Today, while sifting through a heap of digital photos, I was struck by the variety of colors in this picture taken of Virginia pine trees.

You’re probably thinking, “It’s green. Where’s the variety?” Look closely. Really stop and look.

The Wood-Pile

Team Spike Likes — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:07:28 +0000

Out walking in the frozen swamp one gray day
I paused and said, ‘I will turn back from here.
No, I will go on farther- and we shall see’.
The hard snow held me, save where now and then
One foot went through. The view was all in lines
Straight up and down of tail slim trees
Too much alike to mark or name a place by
So as to say for certain I was here
Or somewhere else: I was just far from home.
A small bird flew before me. He was careful
To put a tree between us when he lighted,
And say no word to tell me who he was
Who was so foolish as to think what he thought.
He thought that I was after him for a feather-
The white one in his tail; like one who takes
Everything said as personal to himself.
One flight out sideways would have undeceived him.
And then there was a pile of wood for which
I forgot him and let his little fear
Carry him off the way I might have gone,
Without so much as wishing him good-night.
He went behind it to make his last stand.
It was a cord of maple, cut and split
And piled- and measured, four by four by eight.
And not another like it could I see.
No runner tracks in this year’s snow looped near it.
And it was older sure than this year’s cutting,
Or even last year’s or the year’s before.
The wood was gray and the bark warping off it
And the pile somewhat sunken. Clematis
Had wound strings round and round it like a bundle.
What held it though on one side was a tree
Still growing, and on one a stake and prop,
These latter about to fall. I thought that only
Someone who lived in turning to fresh tasks
Could so forget his handiwork on which
He spent himself the labor of his axe,
And leave it there far from a useful fireplace
To warm the frozen swamp as best it could
With the slow smokeless burning of decay.

by Robert Frost

(Wednesday’s inspiration)

Le Dork du Jour

Sara Richardson-McCreery — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:38:13 +0000

It’s not every day I get to meet the CEO of a highly-influential technology company, but the other day I did. Philippe Roche from Alioscopy USA came to town and even though I have been working with his team for many months it was not until last Monday that we met in person.

Mr. Roche is an intelligent and interesting person who also happens to be a savvy Frenchman. I was warned by friends before the meeting that there is a stereotype about Americans being arrogant and gauche. Arrogant I can deal with, but gauche?! Pleeeeez. I decided to prove my friends wrong and determinedly tried not to be gauche whatsoever and in so doing…was more gauche than ever. Yes, I just used gauche 4 times in a sentence.

Un, Deaux, Trois…

Here’s a few helpful tips you may want to consider the next time you are going to meet the CEO of a company:

	Whatever you do, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT experiment with new hair products before your meeting particularly products that say ’shine’ or ‘gloss’ on the bottle.
	Remember to try your pants on in advance to make sure they fit especially if your meeting happens to be a few weeks after the holiday season as a few pounds or say, ten pounds, may have snuck up on you.
	Make an effort to minimize the usage of the words “cool” and “like” to just once every 30 minutes instead of every 5 minutes.
	Do the pre-meeting crumb and stain check. This is very important especially if you have small children because you never know if you will have a blueberry hand print on your back.
	Avoid eating onions, scallions, chives or anything in the allium family before your meeting unless of course you are being introduced to the CEO of TheOnion.com (har har).
	Refrain from shouting. The exception to this tip would be if you are telling a story about “Blue in Spanish” and absolutely must shout “BLUE! IN! SPANISH!” for effect.
	Try really really hard not to burp, but if you must…turn AWAY from the CEO, lift the coinciding arm up (but not too far up or it will look like you are sniffing for something) and *mock cough* burp** into your sleeve.
	When saying good bye and thanking the CEO for his (or her) time, look where you are going. The possibility that you may kick trash, walk into a light post or fall over a chair is quite high.

About the author Sara Richardson-McCreery is a 12-year veteran Web designer with proven expertise in custom Web site design, development and usability for clients ranging from big brands to start-up organizations. She is the creative director for Spike Likes LLC, an award-winning Web design company.

12 Random Red Things

Sara Richardson-McCreery — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:44:24 +0000

I keep my creative mind fresh by taking walks wherever I am even if it’s for 15 minutes after a client meeting or a quick dash out of the office, but especially when I am visiting someplace new. It helps me think, clear my thoughts and often assists with sorting through whatever design issue I may have on my mind. Today, I thought I would do something different and I encourage everyone to give it a try.

I decided to let my eye pick out all the red along the way…kind of like honoring the color today. Maybe next week it will be green, violet or silver, but today I selected red and randomly photographed red objects. You would be amazed how your mind and eyes begin to hone in on the color, pulling it out of the scenery.

Below are 12 of the random red things: