How I Spent my Summer Work-cation

08.16.09 | 1 Comment »

My summer work-cation is winding down as we are planning on heading back across the country this next week. I wanted to get more done then I did, but with completing this site and several other projects popping up, I am satisfied at what I was able to accomplish. I am looking forward to getting back to Chicago and getting my current projects done.

I often tell my wife that I constantly do things to confirm my nerdiness. I have come to accept the fact that I am a nerd and am not ashamed. With the last few days being surprisingly robot filled, the below examples do a good job of securing my place as a nerd.

Last Saturday our extended family were taking family photos at a local park. While walking by a play-place I noticed a rotating cylinder play area that was almost the same size grid as the DTR logo favicon (nerdiness confirmed). Above is what I came up with.

Here is a zoomed-out shot with my daughter Kaelyn and niece Kaiah in the foreground.

Who needs professional cake decorating when you have a box of Transformer figurines and a bag of Twizzler Nibs? I made the above Transformers cake for my nephew Benjamin’s 8th birthday and it was a nice break from the girl themed cakes I make for my daughter’s birthdays.

Benjamin posing with the Transformer cake. I think he enjoyed it. It has been nice to have a nephew that is into robots…

I got Benjamin a “How to Draw Robots” book for his birthday. The next day I ended up drawing the above robots with my nephew Elijah. His (the middle one) turned out way cooler than mine.

My daughter Kaylen checking out a Tyrannosaurus Rex Robot at the Wild Animal Park. Not as cool as these dino-bots.

Featured Cause: SimpleSizeMe

My friend Ryan started a social experiment/cause this last year where he ate only rice for 5 months in order to raise money for organizations fighting hunger around the world. I loved the idea, execution, and dedication Ryan gave to this project and he inspired me to take a hard look at my own consumption. He has since ended his fast but is starting some new projects that include an Automotive giveaway. Learn more about the project here, and join his cause on facebook.

Posted In: Featured Cause, Robots

3, 2, 1, Launch!

08.06.09 | 1 Comment »

After several months of work on the new Don’t Talk to Robots site, the new site has finally launched. Some goals with this redesign was to keep the design simple and clean, as well as easy to organize and maintain on my end. The site is more robust as far as content and navigation from the previous site, and I think it does a good job of highlighting the portfolio.

I am starting to brainstorm some posts for this blog as well and want to post on a daily schedule for the next few weeks to build up some content. It seems like an ambitious goal for me, but I have a new site so I might as well use it, right?

Deep Thoughts: California

My wife, our 3 children, and I took off for a road trip in late June and have been spending the last several weeks with her family in Escondido, just north of San Diego. Here are some things I have been thinking about in California…

1. It hasn’t rained since we have been here. Even in Chicago when its super hot, there will be a thunder storm every few days.
2. I love baseball, but going to two Padres games in one weekend was a bit too much. I had a blast at both games, but definitely have my baseball quota filled.
3. My wife, Mara, and I went to Disneyland for our anniversary. I could live at Main Street in Disneyland. Something about it brings back good memories, and the details and aesthetic made me feel very relaxed. I was telling Mara I would like to go back, lay down a blanket and take a nap right in the middle of the square. Space Mountain is the best ride, although I feel like I am going to get hit in the head at some point.
4. Working on my computer at Starbucks is nicer then working alone at a house, but the A/C at Starbucks is so cold I only go once or twice a week.
5. Having family around is a blessing.

Featured Cause: Felicia Dehmlow

A friend of Mara’s, Felicia Dehmlow, just had brain surgery last week and is doing very well with her recovery. With some help from her friends, we set up this website to help raise funds for her recovery since she will not be able to work for up to a year. This Saturday there is a benefit for Felicia in Chicago with some awesome auction items (U2, White Sox and Bears Tickets, oh my!). Check out the site and if you are in the Chicago area stop by the benefit!

helpfebepainfree.com

Try this at Home: Mini-Fantasy Baseball

I have been playing this game the last few baseball games I have attended and it makes watching the game more enjoyable (especially when your team is losing). It is helpful if you start with a score card to keep tract, but a scrap piece of paper works as well.

1. Each person in your party “draft” one player until all of the players are picked (pick in draft order like this: 1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1, if you have 3 people). Pitcher spots in National League games get points for the pinch hitter(s) that replace them latter in a game.
2. Your players score points for you as follows: 1 Point for a Walk, Base Hit or Steal, 2 Points for a Double, 3 Points for a Triple, 4 Points for a Home Run, 1 Point for a Run, 1 Point for an RBI. Example: A Home Run with no one on base is 4 Points + 1 Point for the Run + 1 Point for the RBI = 6 Points.
3. Tally the points as the game goes along.
4. The person at the end of the game with the most points wins.

Pretty simple and much fun had by all. Next blog post will have something to do with graphic design, promise.

Posted In: Deep Thoughts, Featured Cause, Try this at Home

From the Desk of Don & Apos T Robots*

08.05.09 | No Comments »

I have had the best intentions to start a blog for several years and the redesign of donttalktorobots.com gives me a good excuse to start one up. I always think to myself, “I should blog about that…” going throughout my day, so I hope this will be an archive for those random thoughts. Most everything I have learned about design and web production has come from reading articles on the web. Hopefully I can give back by sharing some of the things I have learned.

Link of the Day

When a friend of mine sent me this link I knew it would be a perfect way to kick off the blog.

Here is a definitive reason why you Don’t Talk to Robots!

Featured Cause: Kauzbots

I enjoy promoting non-profits since I have worked with so many over the years. Another appropriate link for the first blog: Kauzbots! I need to get one of those! Karissa is my favorite.

Helpful Hint

I always seem to be cutting and pasting throughout my day, copying code and email text. Ever wanted to access more than just the last thing you copied? The little program, Jumpcut (Mac), is great for when you are doing some data entry or just need to save time by keeping track of what you are copying.

* About the Title: Every once and awhile I get junk mail for Don’t Talk to Robots and often the name gets messed up through some type of mail merge program. “Don & Apos T Robots” seemed like two brothers who might be behind the company. Robots is a pretty cool last name when you think about it…

Posted In: Featured Cause, Helpful Hint, Link of the Day, Robots

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Recent Articles

• New Swag for Mission Year
• How I Spent my Summer Work-cation
• Patches from Outer Space
• 3, 2, 1, Launch!
• From the Desk of Don & Apos T Robots*

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