The Girl Scouts Logo get a Haircut

The Girl Scouts logo recently was upgraded. It got a new brighter color and a haircut, she has bangs! I like the change...it looks fresh and updated. I'm glad they didn't alter it too much, the original message of unity and friendship still stands. Good job! Now...if they could only do something about those uniforms...

So that's how they got their names...

Ever wonder where companies get their names? Where did companies like Adobe, Pepsi and Google come up with those catchy names that we remember in an instant? Well, the answers might surprise you...

The name "Adobe" came from "Adobe Creek" which was located behind the house of one of the founders.

It is rumored that Steve Jobs named his company after a farm in Oregon or a record company. Either way, I couldn't picture any other logo on the back of my laptop. This fruit is now synonymous with technology.

Did you know that Google used to be called "BackRub"? Can you imagine getting into an argument with your friends about a meaningless piece of trivia (like Arnold Schwarzenegger's age, for example, yes...my friends had an argument about this) and then having someone say "I'll figure it out, I'll just BackRub it". Haha, that would be hilarious. :)

Intel is short for "Integrated Electronics". I always thought it was an abbreviated form of the word "Intelligent".

Pepsi was crated under the name "Brad's Drink", named after the pharmacist, Caleb Bradham, who invented it in 1893. Five years later, it was renamed Pepsi-Cola after two of the ingredients: "pepsin" and "kola" nuts. Pepsi is WAY better name than Brad's Drink, which would only be cool if you were named Brad.

Did you find these interesting?

Check out more back stories here.

Missing Missy

If you are a graphic designer (or just someone who apreciates design humor), you should read this email exchange written by David Thorne:

http://www.27bslash6.com/missy.html

It is hilarious!!! :D

Traveler

If you have noticed my lack of posts lately, it is probably because I have been busy moving and traveling around the country. I used to live in Fort Worth, and now my husband and I have moved to Palmdale, CA. I do miss Fort Worth...hanging out at The Saucer, going to dinner at all of the tasty restaurants, walking my dog on Trinity Trail, and my favorite frozen yogurt place, Yogolait (The espresso yogurt with oreo cookie pieces and choc chips is to die for!) nothing else even compares!

However, I think I am fully adjusted to my new home, but I did have my reservations at first...

Where are all of the trees?

What!?! It is going to be 107 degrees tomorrow???

It takes how long to get to LA? But it is just over the mountains!

I just saw a real tumble weed...I guess we do really live in the desert!

Just as I was getting used to my new home, this happens less than 2 miles from my house:

Thankfully the fires were out in a few days. After the stress and all of the smoke inhalation, I needed a vacation. It was perfect timing that we had already planned a trip to Canada with my family. We spent a week in the North Channel, which is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Just check out this pic of a secluded mountain lake, aptly named Lake Topaz after its brilliant blue color:

Lake Topaz, Ontario, Canada

I am now back in California. The fires are gone, the temperatures are down, and I am busy with freelance jobs. Look for future posts on my recent work!

Inception: It's a must see movie!

Last weekend my husband and I went to a matinee to escape the 100+ degree temperatures. Which movie did we choose? Inception - directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

This was one of the BEST movies I have seen in months (maybe even years). Everything came together perfectly, as a result, the audience was entertained throughout the whole movie. The cast did an exceptional job, the direction was awesome, and the creative storyline blew my mind. My husband and I discussed the plot on the car ride home, and then later with friends over dinner, and I'm still thinking about the ending. I would highly recommend seeing it!

On a different note, the publicity for the movie was equally as impressive. Just check out these cool New York City billboards:

Cool Music-Making Flash Websites

Check out these fun flash websites when you have some time to kill...don't worry, they are worth the loading time!

Make you own beat box group! (this one is really addicting, in English or French)

Check it out!!

I just LOVE this concept! You can use a live feed of people walking around Hamburg to create your own symphony orchestra! Just assign instruments to pieces of sidewalk, street or river, and when a person or vehicle touches them you instrument gets played. It was a little jumpy on my computer, but I didn't mind because it is such a cool idea.

Check it out!!

I just couldn't take my eyes off of this one. The animation is amazing...the butterfly and "square with frog legs" thing look like they are going to fly/jump right off of the computer screen. The drum beats are cool too.

Check it out!!

Google Pac Man!

I just went to Google to search for a shuttle to LAX (yes, I have moved to the west coast!!! More on that in a later post...) and I was pleasantly surprised, their logo has been transformed into a playable Pac Man game! I played it for a little while and completely lost all motivation for what I was trying to get accomplished this morning...haha. Google should definitely make more interactive logos! :D

Click here to learn more.