Tag Archives: Junior High School

Tube Socks+

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If someone hasn’t told you to stop wearing tall tube socks, do so now. A couple years ago a friend and co-worker, who we’ll call Mary Anne Parker (to protect her identity), told me it was time to ditch what she referred to as “the Ph.D.” socks. She often speaks without filters.

Ankle-high or lower socks are preferred these days. I didn’t realize that I looked like Kareem Abdul Jabbar (legs not to scale) in my socks, and that I had fallen behind in what was acceptable coverings for your feet while still providing support and protection of my shins and calves. It was time for a change. This change was going to be slow considering the lifetime supply of tube socks already existing in my dresser drawers. The transformation is now complete but for some reason (occasional interaction with cowboy boots or alternative footwear that is not conducive ankle socks that will be determined at a later date, I’m sure) I kept a couple pairs of my hip waders around.

In a world of change today it is tough to keep up with what is acceptable, current, or the next big thing. So how do you know when to make that jump? Just this week Google+ was released, and I can’t see myself taking it on right now (on top of multiple email accounts, Facebook, making fun of Paul, Twitter, talking to my wife, texting, a blog, making sure my children are breathing, Words With Friends, and a correspondence course on recognizing prison tats) without it being proven to last or the opportunity that it will improve my live or communication amongst my overloaded outlets.

Since we care about you and don’t want you to be the tube socks of social media, here are a few things that I hear about Google+ that may interest you. The hard part for now is that you have to be invited to become a member. This is a rough start for people like Paul, where this brings up memories of junior high school dances and being picked last at softball a few nights ago. It does sound like it has great potential and takes the best (along with all of the weaknesses) of other social media outlets and rolls it into one application. Here are those details promised above.

Google Circles: First can Google do anything without calling it Google _____? Okay, it’s out of my system. Do you have friends on Facebook who you aren’t sure who they are? The answer is yes. Circles, as I call it, allows you to organize your friends in groups like family, friends, high school, collage, band camp (Paul), and co-workers.

Sparks: Allows you to feature articles on your landing page based on your interests. Ever since my brother burned me with a sparkler in 1984, I stay away from sparks.

Hangouts: Allows you to video chat with friends—a feature that will not be popular with lurkers.

Huddles: Allows you to chat in groups. Imagine a place where all of the readers of this blog could meet in one place and discuss use of their, theirs, there, and there’s. I know this was an underlying purpose in the design phase. I’ll see you there Paul and Jeff.

I also hear that there is great interaction between + and Picasa (an excellent free image editing program offered by Google that will soon be called Google Photos, big surprise huh?). More details, a tour, and images can be seen on Google. From there you can see if + is going to become a part of your life.

This may not surprise you, but I haven’t been invited yet. Perhaps that has something to do with my Yahoo email address.

The CCC in Parachute Pants?

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When I began junior high school my modus operandi was to stay off of the radar and try not to be noticed. Being somewhat scared by the idea of conflict between me (nerd) and upperclassmen (complete with mustaches and other tosterone induced signs of coolness). I wanted to disappear into the crowd. That all changed when my Grandmother bought me a red pair of parachute pants (at that date and time parachute pants were really cool, I promise). I was excited about my stylish new pants but quickly found out that it is hard to go unnoticed when the friction of your (uh, my) husky legs rubbing together in copious amounts of red nylon creates such a “whooshing” sound that is reminiscent of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince scratching some old school vinyl. I was officially on the radar from that point on. Now erase the image you may have of me in parachute pants or anyone in parachute pants for that matter and I will continue.

Sometimes it is a good thing to go unnoticed in the products we create. That’s right, some things go best unsaid or mostly unnoticed. We have had several posts on IBD that were written to help improve the chances that your product will be read or used by visitors. You may now be wondering why go to the trouble to create it, if it is not designed to be conspicuous?

What sparked this post for me was a recent trip to Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas and the discovery of a well designed sign at the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Overlook of the Petit Jean Valley. In most cases the architecture of the CCC (a public relief program that was active from 1933-1942 employing young men across the country to primarily focus on natural resource conservation projects) compliments the landscape, is aesthetically pleasing and was designed to enhance the visitor’s experience.

Petit Jean CCC Structure 001

Upon arriving at the overlook, I was immediately I was drawn to the view and the dramatic landscape. Secondarily, I recognized that I walked right through a CCC picnic pavilion as a gateway to the view’s most dramatic point, without even noticing the pavilion. The historic structure encased the view and made it possible for our group to enjoy it safely from it’s most dramatic point. After soaking in the landscape we began to notice the “parkitecture.” Freeman Tilden states in Interpreting Our Heritage that interpreters “do well to…create the best possible vantage points from which beauty may be seen and comprehended; and…do all that discreetly may be done to establish a mood, or sympathetic atmosphere.” The CCC was successful at reaching this same goal at Petit Jean State Park, setting the stage for an interpretive experience.

While looking more closely at the construction and elements of the structure I noticed a stone carved sign that did an excellent job of blending in. Pretty much the polar opposite of red parachute pants, again lose the image.

Petit Jean CCC Structure 002

I’m not sure if the sign is original to the structure (more than likely not) and then was altered in 1981 by the YACC or added in 1981, but either way it speaks volumes to the understated design of the CCC. The material for the sign is consistent with the other construction materials and the landscape. There is no reason for it to stand out; the message is understated, matter of fact, and perfectly appropriate. As simple as it is, it has plenty of character. From the inconsistent kerning (letter spacing) to the regal, hand carved, serif, letter forms that are consistent with the era work well to speak volumes.

Next time you are creating a sign or product take into consideration the impact of the product on the landscape.  Sometimes the location may call for red parachute pants and other times it may simply call for classic blue jeans. You make that call.