Simple post. The gamer in me wants this HJC helmet solely for it's paint job. The helmet probably ain't bad either, but the dragon is cool!

My part-time design job at a local PR firms is now so minimal, it's really a joke to call it a job. Fortunately, FreeFrog Designs is doing well and consulting business keeps picking up. Suffice to say, barring an amazing job opportunity arising, I'll probably just keep working for myself, since it's actually more stable and there's a future in it. Companies seem about as loyal as water on a hot roof.

To compliment my new freelance push I'm planning on moving back into design areas I love -- gaming, icons, logos, interfaces and merchandising -- and forgoing all this governmenty sh%t Sacramento firms keep offering me, since that's about what they pay and expect from creative types. Another year of such drivel and I'll go crazy. I don't care if it's print or web -- they're both great mediums to design for -- but I just need to be allowed to flex my creativity again, instead of consistently asked to dumb down my designs, whereby I can't even proudly display pieces in my portfolio. :-(

Also, the rumors are true...an all new FreeFrog.com website in the works. The ALL NEW website is almost ready – along with matching branded print materials.

The next post will probably be about the new site going live, so stay tuned my little tadpoles, stay tuned. Good things are in the works. :-D

I’m am very proud of my mumz. After years of considering it, she’s finally taking her travel photography hobby to a professional level. Beside upgrading all her camera equipment this year, she’s now a bonafide business as Marlo McClurg Photography. She initially has a presence on her Tumblr blog and will be posting photo galleries as time permits, but more importantly, she’s now showing and selling her photos at local art shows, such as today’s Midtown Bazaar. Congrats mom…I know this is a long time dream of yours!!!

Holy crap...two creative legends have passed away today!



The unstoppable Lena Horne has died at 92. Her amazing acting persona and magnetic singing shall continue to wow generations to come I'm sure. What can I say...she's a legend.



Likewise, the epic man that is Frank Frazzeta has died at 82. His indelible mark has been made in the world of fantasy and science-fiction art -- including TV, movies, books, album covers, posters, comics and the list goes on. What can I say...he's a legend.

You'll both be missed, but never forgotten. R.I.P.

I'm putting Tumblr through it's paces as a means of mini site building, as well as embedding into client sites. Hell, I may even replace my own embedded Blogger blog with Tumblr, since it's so flexible and easy to use. It's far more enjoyable than Twitter, and purposeful than Facebook, and adaptable that Blogger. The jury still isn't out yet, but here's my own Tumblr, apply named FreeFrog's Pond.

I wish I'd known about this contest earlier, as I might have submitted an entry. It's great to see creative industrial/functional design applied to vital causes. Hats off to Core77 and the contestants!

Exciting news...according to CreativeBits the Opera Mini web browser might finally see the light of day in Apple's App Store for iPhone. It's been a long wait. Safari for iPhone is slow as a dog, so any option that speeds things up is welcome, plus Opera makes great mobile and desktop browsers. Schweeeeet!

Sometimes it's the little things that make you smile. In my perusal of one of my many web design resources I discovered our favorite bad boy of dreams needs a job.

Well crap, I hate to say it, but the browser wars may begin anew soon. I lived through the Netscape vs. IE wars and let me tell you it wasn't fun for users or developers.

Enter Google Chrome, Google's new web browser. I'd tried the first Windows and Mac betas of Google Chrome and I was underwhelmed. That said, I tried the new beta 2 of the Mac version and it's really pretty slick – in particular it's extensions system. I don't think in the short term it'll threaten Internet Explorer or Safari, since both of those are really bundled browser with their respective OS' (i.e., they're default browsers for most non-technical people), but FireFox and Opera have reason to worry. Opera seems to be creatively developing it's amazing Unite feature, so it's hardly stagnant, but it needs to grow its install base and Google's a monster.

I cringe and smile, because as a web user it's always a thrill to see news browsers enter the fray, however, as a web designer it makes my job that much harder. I'll wait until the first non-beta is released to see how it really impacts the browser market.

::FreeFrog out::

In a good sign that end of days is NOT upon us (see my previous coming of 999 posts), I took the Apple Snow Leopard plung on Friday night, after a busy day of projects and a complete system backup of my previous Mac OS (10.5.8) -- just in case it all went south.

I'd been waiting to hear both reviews and issues in general (Macintouch is always one of the best sites for this), but most importantly that my key design apps, Adobe CS3 and FontAgent Pro, were compatible with it. Despite Adobe's reluctance to verify or validate their older design suite, plenty of review and forum sites were showing possitive results with no major issue -- indeed fewer with the older CS3 than with their current CS4. Irony. The only thing really required -- not just for Adobe apps, but some older, PowerPC legacy code -- was to make sure to install Snow Leopard's optional "Rosetta".

Indeed, this version of the Mac OS spells the demise of the once great, but now very obsolete PowerPC chip and the software that's dependent on it. The great news is that aside from updating my assorted non-Apple apps with SL patches, all my apps are running just fine.

So far so good, and the OS seems much faster. Meow!

The California International Marathon has posted a little spot regarding my logo design. Very nice.

Well the craziness of design is nonstop. I finalized the Running of the Bullipedes logo back on May 13, but the client wanted just a bit more "Western" added after the fact. A FreeFrog's work is never done. So, with a few more silly elements added – cowboy hat and boots to be precise – it's mighty cute (see below). Given the fun nature of the venue, it's perfect. ;-)

Well it looks like I'm on a roll with logo contests locally. The Sacramento Running Association – the parent organization of the California International Marathon (CIM) – has chosen one of my logo submissions (as in the logo above) for their upcoming Running of the Bullipedes event.

Details are still sketchy, but according to CIM's Facebook page it's a short "fun run" to kick off the 2009 Folsom Rodeo happening July 2, 2009 in Folsom, CA. It sounds like a hoot!

As I mentioned in my March 4 post, the California International Marathon chose my design submission as their official logo for the 27th Annual California International Marathon. Wow!

Well after a lengthy review of various color options the CIM board finally decided my original color combination was actually the best! He he, that's why I submitted it in those colors, but I'm glad they came around to my way of thinking (wink). Whatcha see below is the approved logo released into the wild. You'll notice running imagery loud and clear in the design. If not, you need to get your eyes checked. ;-)



Anyhow, I can't say enough good things about CIM and the staff. Thanks again to CIM for cho-choosing me!

:::BREAKING NEWS:::

It was said by observers to be like an invasion of lights!

This morning, during the pre-dawn race at the World Free-For-All Motorcycle Races, participants and fans claim to have seen strange lights following the racers during the event. Details are still sketchy, but some describe them as faint glowing orbs not bigger than a golfball that seem to spin & flitter around the motorcycles during the race. At one point, racer Gordon Carlz fell off his motorcycle after something appeared right in front of him. He claims it said something to him is a strange buzzing voice, but medics on the scene say it was likely just a cause of him hitting his head. Fortunately, he suffered no real injuries from the crash. Fellow racer, Zoe Cho said she swore one of the lights stopped and blinked an eye, however, her press agent said she misspoke, having consumed too many energy drinks before the race and probably saw LOTS of things during an extreme sugar buzz.

The lights are said to have disappeared immediately after the race was over, leading many to conclude it was some mass hallucination caused perhaps by the extreme decibels given off by the motorcycles, or a play of pre-dawn lights off the various metals and plastics on the bikes. Regardless, more far out speculation varies from ghosts and spirits, to sprites and fairies, to of course alien visitors or invaders. This reporter simply says, stay tuned for more information as it become available.

The World FFA Motorcycle Races are held each year to allow any type of rider to ride any type of motorcycle in a grueling multi-terrain track over 3 days. For each stage of the race, riders are allowed to switch motorcycles. Riders come from all over the world to participate, riding an amazing variety of motorcycles.

Joe Cranston of the Backroad Alley Sun, reporting.

I'm truly elated and honored to have found out yesterday that my logo design submission was the one chosen for the 27th Annual California International Marathon (CIM) happening in December 2009. WOW!

CIM is considered one of the best small marathons in the country. With something this big and public I can't wait to see all the swag and other promo materials with my logo front and center around town and at the event. Given that there are some very talented artists who submit designs every year, this is very cool and very rewarding indeed.
I'm still refining the colors, but when the final, official version's ready, I'll do another post so you can check it out. He, he. :-)

Are you prepared for the Go'Mo invasion? The FreeFrog has been busy creating Go'Mo critters for mass consumption. They'll be spinning around this world in March 2009.

Stayed tuned you hue-mans!