Randall Paul Jenkins, Esq. » Marketing

Randall Paul Jenkins, Esq. » Marketing http://randallpauljenkins.com Esquire?!? Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:23:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Here’s To The Crazy Ones. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/05/14/heres-to-the-crazy-ones/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/05/14/heres-to-the-crazy-ones/#comments Thu, 14 May 2009 14:06:35 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=743 You all know it, I think? Maybe you weren’t there for the “Think Different” campaign, maybe you came onboard with the iPod and because Mac’s are cool. Well whatever the case you should either have already read this or you should read it now, or you should read it now because you have already read this.

Apple. Think Different Campaign. (Apple/TBWA Chiat Day)

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

I know I need to stop and remember these words more often, and keep pursuing my life as a person “uncomfortable with the status quo”*. To all those people in my life who fit into everything described above, thank you.

*This statement is one of those things like, 3 people will get. Sorry, but they will probably laugh pretty hard, and I can’t rob them of that just so that this would make more sense to you.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/05/14/heres-to-the-crazy-ones/feed/ 0 My Blog And I Broke Up, We’re Trying To Get Back Together. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/05/06/my-blog-and-i-broke-up-were-trying-to-get-back-together/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/05/06/my-blog-and-i-broke-up-were-trying-to-get-back-together/#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 20:00:18 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=734 My blog got all mad at me a few weeks ago, because I hadn’t taken it out in a few weeks, and because I hadn’t called in days, and the only thing it saw from me was a bunch of Twitter updates. So we broke up, we will see if we can be friends, and from there who knows. Maybe a few posts about modern design to charm it, maybe a couple tweets to remind people how great my blog is, maybe a few nights curled up in bed writing a long post about a funny experience in the City of Angels, and moments, lots of moments. (Wow, before I wrote that I thought it would be funny, now it just parallels my relationships a little too much).

So I’ve been busy, again. I got my tax extension turned in on time, so I’m doing better than some people, but it’s just an extension, so I’m doing worse than most. If you don’t appreciate the greatness of Twitter, and/or realise I don’t really say anything about what’s going on there anyway, and want to know what’s going on, this is your Huckleberry (I’mmm yuh Huhklebehhy).

I wrapped up a few MySpace re-designs for some great bands: My Favorite Highway (record was released yesterday, and you should own it), Green River Ordinance (FFO: The Fray, etc), The Urgency, and Young Love. I got up the website for a ska band from Boston called Westbound Train up, I’m not really into ska, and if you aren’t either realise these guys have much more of an old R&B sound to them. I also finally finished up the layout for a band I used to do a lot of work with called Parker Theory. I’ll get the cover up somewhere, sometime soon. I was also working a lot of sleepless nights on a secret logo project that I can’t really discuss yet, and don’t really know the outcome of, so you may never hear about it, but hey at least me writing this makes me appear “mysterious” right?

Other non-design things I have been up to include: Building an HD antenna with Kyle so we are one step closer to canceling cable, Finally fixing my Mail so that my Junk Mail will stay on the server (tip: don’t put periods in your account name), Got out to see the Ducks knock off the Sharks and fully reinvigorate my love for NHL playoff hockey, Bought more vinyl (still no turntable), and successfully got an external HD once deemed dead, back in the world of the living.

I’m off to get back into the work, nice seeing you again.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/05/06/my-blog-and-i-broke-up-were-trying-to-get-back-together/feed/ 1 Isn’t It Funny How Artists Ignore Artistic Progress. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/04/21/isnt-it-funny-how-artists-ignore-artistic-progress/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/04/21/isnt-it-funny-how-artists-ignore-artistic-progress/#comments Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:48:10 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=729 So today I was reading a few weeks old blog by a band I very much respect and am a huge fan of. I won’t name them, because it has nothing to do with the band, maybe a little to do with what they were saying (also I’ve heard a ton of bands saying lately), but it’s more about the thoughts that occurred in my head. The gist of the post was concerns over bands that create their music on computers, aren’t playing instruments, and are playing weird/random hybrids of genres.

It’s all very ironic to me when I see a band bringing these concerns. I understand why, I understand that even the supposed rebels making rock music feel threatened that people create successful songs and even sell out a room doing something “easier” than they do. Artists are supposed to be the ones pushing envelopes, artists are supposed to welcome change and innovation; so why are so many upset that people are finding new ways to make music that people like? In the end it’s all relative, sure you may not like a band like 3oh3! (not the band listed in the blog, but I see a lot of this type of response geared towards them from artists and fans), but people think they created (that’s the key word) a pretty catchy and fun couple of tunes. It doesn’t matter how, or the tools used, none of that crap actually makes any artist “cooler” than another (but some sure think it does).

It’s about creation, creating something, being far more unique than the boring old ways of a guitar and amp. Let me announce something, not everyone can program a hit song in a computer, just as not everyone can play the guitar like Hendrix. Sure, a lot of people try both, but a lot of people fail. The ones trying and failing doing it using a guitar are no more (or less) important than the ones trying and failing at programming a song in a computer. They are expressing themselves, they are creating, they are pushing boundaries. Maybe they are creating for commercial success you say? So what, so are plenty of bands.

What I really wonder, I wonder if these were the same things happening: when photography was invented, when they took classical instruments and created jazz, bluegrass, etc, when moving pictures were invented, when a broken amplifier accidentally invented the now standard distortion. You get it right? It’s innovation, and sometimes Rock N’ Roll seems a little old and dated with their mentality about the auditory realm.

Not all music is for everyone, but criticizing ANYONE trying, especially if the critic is a fellow creator, is a bit hypocritical (and can come off as jealousy). Just say it’s not for you and let the masses decide their final place in the scheme of things.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/04/21/isnt-it-funny-how-artists-ignore-artistic-progress/feed/ 0 Lefsetz. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/03/26/lefsetz/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/03/26/lefsetz/#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:45:06 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=717 So I posted some hate on Lefsetz, and really I’m not a fan of the guy. However, in fairness let me tell you guys why I do read what he says every now and then; He gets passion, he gets what music should be about. He doesn’t really get the realities of the industry (i.e. claimed recently he wasn’t even PureVolume savy), but he gets the ideas of what should inspire artists amazingly, and what affects people equally as well, problem is he tries to tell you how music should affect you. It may not work in the end how he thinks, because music should have a percent of it that is commercial and planned and targets a market, but the guy can definitely talk about interactions between people and I will listen.

Here is a lovely little example of the jewels this man is capable of cranking out, the entire post can be read here:

Bob Lefsetz

Love is a risk. If you’re not willing to get your heart broken, you’d better not play.

Then there are the heartbreakers, possessing some advantage the rest of us don’t, beauty or bucks, who flit from boy to boy or girl to girl, like a celebrity.

Then there are the self-conscious, who have to gin up their gumption to even speak with a member of the opposite sex.

If you want insight into the truth of this world, you’d be better off studying the imperfect, whose lives don’t follow a constant upward trajectory, their seemingly insignificant victories may seem minor to you, but they’re the tent poles of their lives.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/03/26/lefsetz/feed/ 0 Gene Simmons Pwns Lefsetz. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/03/22/gene-simmons-pwns-lefsetz/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/03/22/gene-simmons-pwns-lefsetz/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:44:56 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=715 Gene Simmons, you know of Kiss, was up in Canada talking about his record label. Call me crazy but I have always liked Gene. He is insane, and egotistical, but he believes in himself, and whatever he does and he realises failure will only be at his blame. It’s maybe not the way to go through life, but it works for Gene. He’s kind of the villain, in his own teddy bear way.

So Gene spoke, and it was like a commercial, and this guy Lefsetz didn’t like it. Bob Lefsetz is this guy who writes this letter (it’s a blog, let’s be honest) on the music industry. Somehow the entire industry thinks the guy is genius, but I don’t get it. He constantly thinks he has the solutions to save the music industry, criticizes others who actually act and try to do something different, and as far as I can find has never actually done anything to help save the industry. All that said, his RSS feed (which sucks by the way; who makes RSS feeds that you can only read 2 lines of? People who won’t be saving any industry, that’s who) is subscribed to and once in a while (when I find those 2 lines interesting enough) I read a full post.

You can go find the post on Gene if you want, but what you should do is give Gene your visit and see it and his answers over at Simmons Records website. They are amazing and great, and entertaining… everything we should be getting, and Gene wants to give us. My favourite exchange, because it’s absolutely more valid than 90% of the things Lefsetz says is as follows:

Bob Lefsetz

Just because you’re a big musical act, that doesn’t mean you’re a decent executive, that you can run a record company.

Gene Simmons

SAYS WHO. YOU? AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MAKE THESE ASSESSMENTS. WHAT’S YOUR QUALIFICATION, IN FACT, FOR SAYING ANYTHING…

I’d like to remind people who run the music industry of a few things that Gene seems to also feel; Just because you have been around the old music industry, doesn’t mean you can be succesful in the new music industry. Just because you ran a label or run a label or had success with an artist, doesn’t mean you will ever be successful again. Just because something worked once, doesn’t mean it is the pattern.

Artists should have people who believe in them as much as Gene believes in himself (and surely any band/artist he gets behind), and should also have people who are as brutally honest as Gene is and don’t give people ridiculous manipulative sells every time they have a conversation.

Gene Simmons is kind of refreshing.

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]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/03/22/gene-simmons-pwns-lefsetz/feed/ 0 AP Versus Shepard Fairey. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/02/09/ap-versus-shepard-fairey/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/02/09/ap-versus-shepard-fairey/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:20:38 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=700 Let me preface this by saying I used to love Shepard Fairey, and then I got to the point where I couldn’t stand him (because he started opening his mouth, as opposed to communicating through the medium that made him noteworthy). So at this stage in life, I can’t stand Shep, but I respect the impact the Obama “Hope” poster has had on pop culture, and I am thankful for his part in all that (he truly hasn’t received a cent off this).

Currently the Associated Press is upset that an image that they hold the rights to was the basis for Shep’s illustration. They want license fees, and profit, and credit, and probably one of his children. The issue is actually pretty interesting in terms of copyright law. However frankly this case has no legs, and I’m surprised the AP is this hard up for cash (though no one in the newspaper world is exactly thriving).

The AP owns the image, they don’t own the moment in time the image was taken.

Fairey started with their image, and then he applied his now famous illustrative style. He didn’t simply threshold the thing in Photoshop, he didn’t auto-trace something in Illustrator. His work is no different than someone painting the image in a cubsim styling. Copyright simply doesn’t protect deviations in such things. Someone at AP has to know such things. If anyone should be able to claim rights to deviations based on photographs, it should be the person in the imagery. Kind of funny how they get no share of the AP’s licensing fees.

Anyway, that is my take on this whole thing, and I really hope Shep doesn’t back down or make a settlement. He deserves to stand alone as the source of such iconic imagery, and he is just the right person to stick it to the old media.

Also if I may rant…
I find it hilarious how the old media has talked about him as this “L.A. street artist”, like he is some ruffian who slums through streets stealing bread and spreading wheat paste wherever he goes. Do they not understand the guy went to THE premiere design school in America (RISD), do they not understand the guy owns his own clothing line, do they not understand the guy’s first studio he formed is responsible for such things as the Mt. Dew logo and the Mozilla logo, do they not understand his current studio is responsible for the “Walk The Line” poster and the cover art for The Smashing Pumpkins comeback album? This is no “street artist”, this is one of our generations most heralded graphic designers, this guy will be included along names like Bass, Lubalin, Rand, Glaser, Carson and Sagmeister.

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]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/02/09/ap-versus-shepard-fairey/feed/ 0 Music You Should Like. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/02/02/music-you-should-like/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/02/02/music-you-should-like/#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:07:12 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=690 So Friday & Sunday (not, Saturday, because Saturday I drove to AZ and back, well I passenger’d mostly) I was helping my good friend Rohan out on his battle with MySpace and code. MySpace, albeit a great company to work with (yes, I’ve cashed a couple of their checks), can be kind of a mess when you are trying to code out a custom profile. Anyway, I did my part, and Rohan was nice enough to throw me some love on the credit. Why I am telling you this, is because you should all go check out Hey Monday’s MySpace right now. They are a band I’ve been a fan of for a while, and if you like pop music, and especially pop music fronted by a cute girl, you need to be listening to this stuff, ASAP.

Or go catch them on tour with some band nobody has ever heard of… Fall Out Boy.

Speaking of bands you should listen to, MySpace, me name dropping friends of mine in NYC, and what I’m listening to right now: Another wonderful friend Frank got me hooked on this band More Amor. Their track “Young Hollywood” will be stuck in my head for 3 weeks, at the least. I recommend buying the album off iTunes, because I did, and it would do you some good to be more like me.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/02/02/music-you-should-like/feed/ 0 A Good Client? http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/26/a-good-client/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/26/a-good-client/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:00:21 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=683 I kid.

Most of my clients are actually some of the greatest people ever, so I’m pretty fortunate in this one. However, I have in the past encountered these people, and I suppose someone had to take over their design work when I moved on, so this is for you, whomever you are.

And those clients.

In general I think this is something most people should be familiar with, designers are used more and more, and I think it’s still one of the largest growing professions. Chances are you may hire a designer, and chances are, you may not be familiar with the status quo. People really don’t understand what it’s like to be making a living designing, they think it’s some novelty, like you must do something real for a living and thus they can treat the whole relationship as a hobby. Some of the ways I have seen clients treat designers is just mind boggling and wouldn’t fly in any other industry. In reality all these things are just good business, why some people choose bad business, that one is still a mystery to me.

P.S. I read somewhere recently how overused of a literary device the one line paragraph was, so of course I made it my goal to use it more. Hence, you will be seeing it a lot. Will this be the end of my run on sentences, could be, but probably not, I mean why would I want to do that when I could just combine the two for even more amazing played out incorrectness?

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/26/a-good-client/feed/ 0 Awesomenents, The Cure For All. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/19/awesomenents-the-cure-for-all/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/19/awesomenents-the-cure-for-all/#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:28:52 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=664 So this weekend I was in and out of an ongoing funk that I would like to attribute to the still ongoing pounding in my head. All weekend I woke up feeling unrested, and chose to blame it on falling asleep weirdly to whatever I fell asleep to. At some point yesterday after complaining about it being hot in California, I looked at the thermostat.

60-something degrees.

My head felt like it was 80-something. Now I’m no scientist, but I think this could be something. So I deduced I had a fever. I refused to medicate myself, and choose to push through. I’m starting to realise this has been going on the past week, and has been what has cut into my productivity lately. I should have realised mid day exhaustion wasn’t normal, but I kind of enjoyed the naps.

So anyway, like a good friend of mine said:

Barney Stinson

“You see, whenever I start feeling sick, I just stop being sick and be AWESOME instead. True story.”

So this little nugget of Awesome comes in handy on days like today.

And yes, I realise Barney is a character, but if you met my friends you would know some fiction is clearly taking a cue from my reality.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/19/awesomenents-the-cure-for-all/feed/ 1 The It Girl. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/16/the-it-girl/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/16/the-it-girl/#comments Sat, 17 Jan 2009 04:00:48 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=654 So anyone who knows me, probably doesn’t know I love “Gossip Girl”, I don’t admit it to many. However, in my defense, it’s a great show with some of the best writing on television. Anything Kristen Bell is involved with pretty much has my vote, anyway. That being said, anyone who knows me, knows my favourite on Gossip Girl is “S”, but “Little J” takes a close second. See what I did there? You are confused, confused because you don’t know what an “S” is. So maybe you should watch the show, shouldn’t you?

Anyway Taylor Momsen who plays Jenny (who regularly steals scenes and is pretty much a lock for her own spin off, duh), was recently caught running from the Paparazzi. I know it’s a viral ad for NIke, but that doesn’t make it any less awesome.

Okay, I’m gonna go back to work and try to pretend I just didn’t gush on my Blog about Gossip Girl.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/16/the-it-girl/feed/ 0 Yahoo! Media Player. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/13/yahoo-media-player/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/13/yahoo-media-player/#comments Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:54:32 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=647 The other day I came across Yahoo! Media Player. It’s a very simple way to build in a player to any website. It picks up any link to an mp3 on your page and throws it in the player, as well as sticks a play button next to the link. Most of the web development I do involving players is more focussed on a few tracks always being available in the player, so I’m not sure I have an implementation for this yet, but my mind is working on it. I know quite a few people who read my blog however should implement this ASAP (Kanye West, I’m talking to you).

Nice to see Yahoo! pushing it’s reach and offering up an amazingly useful webapp for free. Well done Y!.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/13/yahoo-media-player/feed/ 1 Things That Suck About The People’s Choice Awards. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/08/things-that-suck-about-the-peoples-choice-awards/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/08/things-that-suck-about-the-peoples-choice-awards/#comments Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:25:28 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=644 I didn’t want to do this, but it’s pretty much necessary.

1. Queen Latifah.
2. The whole, “high five the people as you go to the mic” thing.
3. Kid Rock over Coldplay.
4. The constant “Obama won the election” references. Like the actors did anything.
5. Ellen over Letterman.
6. Robin Williams.
7. Two And A Half Men.
8. Everything else, except The Dark Knight.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2009/01/08/things-that-suck-about-the-peoples-choice-awards/feed/ 0 Comm Arts Webpicks. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/12/12/comm-arts-webpicks/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/12/12/comm-arts-webpicks/#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:54:06 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=602 One of my good friends is the uber talented brad.com, that’s not his real name, but I call him by it when not introducing him to girls with the classic “Have you met Brad?”. Anyway, Brad designs websites and every other designable thing and we have collaborated quite a few times (but not as many times as I’ve made him solve some coding nightmare I’ve been in).

Today one of Brad’s site is featured as Communication Arts Webpicks. It’s the site he worked on for Wind-Up Records, I’ve gushed about this site ever since it went live, and I think it’s the first time in ages that a website has really struck me as perfectly executed and innovative. It’s what the web should be.

Anyway, everyone should go check it out if you haven’t yet.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/12/12/comm-arts-webpicks/feed/ 0 Saving Detroit. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/12/09/saving-detroit/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/12/09/saving-detroit/#comments Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:59:40 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=598 I’ve been meaning to post this for a few days.

The other day Kyle and I were sitting around talking about our distaste for NASCAR and distaste for the Detroit bailout. Let’s face it, the only people to blame for the Big Three failing are the people in charge, the people who put them in charge, and the people who allowed them to be in charge with huge salaries while losing money.

A brilliant idea then hit. What if NASCAR (which is called “stock car racing”) actually started using stock cars. We have all these cars sitting around not being sold, and yet these companies are spending millions to run “stock” cars around ovals. Throw a few out there fresh from the factory, show us how safe they really are, show us the true performance, show us what you want to sell.

NASCAR would gain 2 more fans, and Detroit could write off the 3-4 cars they crash (per team) every week at the track.

“Dude, we just saved Detroit”

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/12/09/saving-detroit/feed/ 0 Dear Nameless Medical Company. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/12/08/dear-nameless-medical-company/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/12/08/dear-nameless-medical-company/#comments Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:55:30 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=596 Today I was looking through the design posts on Craig’s List, like I do, to see what freelance design listings are out there, and shoot off a quick email to any that sound interesting. It’s a quick little thing I do bi-weekly that could bring me my next client, and at the least gets the brand out there. Well, I came across a post that included the following:

PLEASE NOTE: We are not looking for a college student or hobbyist or a social networker who stays up all night and surfs the Internet with their friends and designs graphics out of their bedroom for t-shirts. ONLY PROFESSIONALS SHOULD APPLY.

Now I’m not simply being defensive because I’m writing this from the same room as my bed (though this side of the room is clearly business only), but that whole combination of words is just so out of touch with reality. I know some of the most talented designers around, and almost every one of them designs graphics for t-shirts out of their bedroom, surfs the internet with friends and stays up all night. Artists tend to not exactly live the 9-5 office lifestyle, and you would think anyone wanting a truly talented designer would realise that.

Good luck with your production artist, nameless medical company.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/12/08/dear-nameless-medical-company/feed/ 1 And Here I Am. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/12/06/and-here-i-am/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/12/06/and-here-i-am/#comments Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:52:19 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=593 So life has been crazy, I haven’t blogged in weeks (yet somehow people still come here), and I am finally feeling back on top of things.

Here is the wrap-up:
I was sick for a good solid 2 weeks, most of it came from breathing pure ash from some of the lovely fires in Southern California, I finally recovered the week of Thanksgiving, but was way behind on work (thank you to everyone whose project was delayed, your grace is wonderful).

I got back on the ball and wrapped a ton of stuff up the past 2 weeks, including a 3 day trek to San Diego to see family/friends whom I love, and a 2 day trek to AZ to ride along with Tell as he played ASU. It was all great, and we officially decided AZ may be the best food state ever. Think about it, they get the west coast (In-N-Out, Del Taco, etc) and the Middle America (Waffle House, Chick-Fil-A, Sonic) along with other random things from states far off. Put a White Castle out there and my vote is in.

I just wrapped up William Tell’s MySpace the other day, if you haven’t been by lately he has quite a few new songs up that you should listen to. This little project was a fun nightmare. Lots of work overwriting MySpace and figuring out stupid little one line code issues, but it’s only the first time that this will kill me.

Also not too long back I finally got up a semblance of a website for Department Three. I have been promising this for years, and now finally some of my recent work is up to view at the studios site.

I’m working on a ton of other things, filing away files, getting caught up on emails, do if you are wondering why I haven’t replied to something, be patient. In the works are a few websites, some branding work, and a few more MySpace re-designs.

In other news, my friends at Hozell are having a warehouse sale this weekend. It’s today and tomorrow, and it also includes WeSC another great brand I’m a huge fan of. Info is on the MySpace linked there (because they didn’t want to put it on their MySpace?), and i’ll be there in a few minutes. If you are in LA/OC you should head down and hang.

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]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/12/06/and-here-i-am/feed/ 0 Less Politics, More Free Music. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/11/06/less-politics-more-free-music/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/11/06/less-politics-more-free-music/#comments Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:42:56 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=583 So we elected an African American, and California has more uneducated and religious voters than I thought (I’m not insulting anyone, the exit polls showed those voting Yes on 8 were in fact both those things). Let’s all relish in the opportunity of being a country that can once again innovate and lead this world.

Because of such celebratory events I am bringing you free music. From two different places.

Firstly, a lot of my time has been spent working on a few projects for William Tell, and part of that pile is up on the internet today. Right here, if you sign up you get a free song, and lot’s more to come. It’s a new marketing device that we have dubbed, “bribery”. The song is called “Gone Gone Gone” and it has some great Paul Simon moments in it.

Secondly, a lot of the rest of my time is spent talking to the one and only Chad Pearson. He has a record label, and they give you free music. He is currently living in a red state, but let’s look past that for a moment. FREE MUSIC! Okay, so yeah, his label sampler is now up for free on Amazon MP3. It features some great artists whom I truly love, and is just the right kind of mood for Fall days (Not that I know what Fall is like). A little more mature sound blasting from your windows, a little more proof you are cooler than people think.

So enjoy the music, and the new President, and if I could give away this for free I would.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/11/06/less-politics-more-free-music/feed/ 1 I’m A PC, But I Was Made On A Mac. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/09/20/im-a-pc-but-i-was-made-on-a-mac/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/09/20/im-a-pc-but-i-was-made-on-a-mac/#comments Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:35:09 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=548 This one is just pure unadulterated bliss. Computerworld reports:

Computerworld

Several digital images that Microsoft Corp. has posted on its Web site to trumpet its new “I’m a PC” advertising campaign were actually created on Macs, according to the files’ originating-software stamp.

Four of the images that Microsoft made available on its PressPass site today display the designation “Adobe Photoshop C3 Macintosh” when their file properties are examined. The images appear to be frames from the television ads that Microsoft will launch later today.

This one just makes me giggle over and over and over.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/09/20/im-a-pc-but-i-was-made-on-a-mac/feed/ 1 NBC & Heroes Sponsor Student Films. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/08/24/nbc-heroes-sponsor-student-films/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/08/24/nbc-heroes-sponsor-student-films/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:01:48 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=509 Apparently the title of this post is true, because I said so, but not like college student films, we are talking high school, and we aren’t talking that rich private high school with the really great arts program.

I love Heroes, it’s probably my favourite show on television (though HIMYM is pretty even), but this whole thing really is ridiculous. I guess it’s what happens when you can’t use union actors and union directors and union writers and union key grips and union catering.

Go ahead, watch the webisodes of Heroes.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/08/24/nbc-heroes-sponsor-student-films/feed/ 0 The News Most Of You Know. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/08/22/the-news-most-of-you-know/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/08/22/the-news-most-of-you-know/#comments Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:48:52 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=504 So this has been a few days forthcoming, but things are starting to look pretty stable, so I may as well put it on my website. I’m officially typing this from my new office, which is located in my house. Yes I will be operating Department Three from Long Beach now.

It’s an exciting and challenging time, and I will surely be hitting up each and every one of my friends about anyone you might know who could be my next client. It’s tough out here in the design game, but so refreshing to be scrambling over something and having to sling my trade everywhere I go.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/08/22/the-news-most-of-you-know/feed/ 1 Font Usage And Re-Usage. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/07/30/font-usage-and-re-usage/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/07/30/font-usage-and-re-usage/#comments Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:28:50 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=479 Lately around my place we have been getting pretty into the new HBO mini-series “Generation Kill”, it’s based off a book by the same name, written by a reporter who was embedded with a Marine Batallion (First Recon, out of Camp Pendleton, CA). The book was fairly controversial for how it was received as well as the effects it had on many of the men in First Recon (several retired early or were passed up for promotion), and this adaptation is no less the exposé. The mini-series will probably be missed by most of the U.S. (as most visionary shows are), but I urge you catch it either on HBO OnDemand or the replays that are happening all the time. It is brought to you by Ed Burns of “The Wire” fame, and is a must see if only for it’s visual aesthetics.

When I was watching the first episode and saw the typography they used I was pretty taken. It does a brilliant job of capturing what the mood of the show is. It’s rough around the edges, but has a certain order to it’s madness. I thought it was great how they created something with a very solid familiarity without going the route of some played out font we have seen too many times.

Then today I was listening to K-Rock NY on my iPhone (through AOL Radio) and I noticed something interesting…

No longer did we have an original and unique font. Now did someone rip off the other someone in this case? Probably not. It’s probably the case of 2 entities finding a font that actually fits their “brand” quite well, it’s just a shame they both come to light in a similar moment. Now you might be thinking, “Aren’t you being a little too harsh on people for using the same font? Don’t people do that all the time?” And you are right, it happens, but it usually is avoided by most designers when it is such a kitschy type font. If I had seen these both without seeing the other, I probably would think both were wonderful choices and original type creations, but I can’t change the facts, and I think the designers working on those projects should have spent a little more time on the font choice/execution.

Anyone else remember a case of a very memorable, kitschy, stock font was used for two brands around the same time? The last one I can think of was the Spiderman/Playstation 3 font, which at least both were Sony properties.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/07/30/font-usage-and-re-usage/feed/ 0 Pandamonium. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/07/18/pandamonium/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/07/18/pandamonium/#comments Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:41:03 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=433 Exactly a week from today P is for Panda will be having a little get together in the ATL to officially launch the label side of the Panda (I think this also will be one of the first places you can see the new line of Panda shirts, which I am still slacking on contributing to, sometime soon, it’s in the works). These people think highly of me, and I think even highly-er of them, and they stuck my name on the flyer for the art show that is happening at the event. This meant I had to actually commit to something in my life, and you will, at the very least, see 4-5 photos that I spent weeks trying to decide between. All the art at the show will be for sale (I believe, don’t hold me to it), and proceeds benefit the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation. It’s a possibility that you will see a couple pieces I am working on, if they manage to get wrapped up in time and I am able to overnight such heavy things to Atlanta in time.

All the prints of my photographs will be 30×20, and I will post the day of the event the pieces that are there, maybe. I’m really excited for everything Chad is doing with Panda, I’m absolutely in love with the musicians he is working with, I’m thrilled to be a part of an art show where my work will be completely showed up by some of the most amazing artists out there today who I am also honoured to call my friends (therefore, such as.

If you are in the Atlanta area, you should make it out to this. I was trying to work out an appearance myself, but I think I will wait until the fall to fully experience the ATL.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/07/18/pandamonium/feed/ 0 Supersize The Homeless. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/26/supersize-the-homeless/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/26/supersize-the-homeless/#comments Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:13:08 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=399 So the other day I stumbled across this promotion McDonalds (or McDonwalds, for those of you that need it) was running for it’s Angus 1/3 Pound Burger. If I may digress in this post, the film “Angus” is one of the better films you have never seen. It has a stellar soundtrack and the movie cracks me up. Okay, so back to the point, I guess these Angus burgers aren’t selling well because McD’s will give you one, if you buy one. All you need is this coupon. The great part about this is you can print off 300 if you want, and they don’t expire until July 31.

Now you might be wondering what this has to do with the homeless. Well, last night I decided to go try this Angus burger and get one for free. You might think I got the wonderful idea to give my free one to a homeless person. Well you are half right, I decided to eat half of each of my 2 burgers, and throw the other half away. I know, I am a horrible, wasteful, American. However, afterward I came up with the brilliant idea to feed the homeless on McDonald’s dime.

Basically I am encouraging you, if you are the type to eat burgers (that are nowhere near as good as the ones we cook over at 333) from fast food places, to print out the coupons, eat the McD’s and find someone hungry to toss a burger to. Think of the effect if every person did this once a week until July 31, literally we would have some very gracious and full homeless people (and on there way to clogged arteries, but different story there).

The best part of this whole concept is that it doesn’t end at July 31, or McDonald’s. We get coupons every day from fast food. If you are gonna eat the death that is fast food, look over the coupons, find the buy one get one free, stop worrying about saving yourself money, buy whatever they are offering 2 for 1, and give the free one to someone who is in a less fortunate position. It’s no pay it forward, but it could make a difference, and it costs you nothing.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/26/supersize-the-homeless/feed/ 0 Extreme Urban Soccer. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/21/extreme-urban-soccer/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/21/extreme-urban-soccer/#comments Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:16:05 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=392 This is so much cooler than the last 57 soccer games I have watched (which inevitably are the only 57 soccer games I have watched, though it was cool when that one dude told the other dude his sister was “a little too experienced” in the World Cup), however it’s not nearly as cool as what I used to do on the pitch at Cherry Park in Long Beach every Sunday against Chivas Long Beach.

This is Remi Gaillard:

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/21/extreme-urban-soccer/feed/ 0 Dropbox. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/20/dropbox/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/20/dropbox/#comments Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:38:58 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=387 I was graciously included on the Dropbox Beta team. Dropbox is a pretty great idea that helps you keep all your files in sync across multiple computers. It has a similiar use to the iDisk function that .Mac users would be familiar with, only it is more focused with keeping the files locally and then mirroring those folders to a server and then push those files to any other computers (as opposed to .Mac where most people have it set up to just connect to the server to get files, though you can select to keep a copy locally).

I have been playing around a bit the last few weeks to see my thoughts on it, and I really have to say it’s absolutely great. If I didn’t already love .Mac (soon to be Me.com/MobileMe), I would definitely be using this service daily. It’s only downfall is the 2GB space, which I am sure once this thing grows (or someone acquires them) will be opened up to 10gb or so. I’m honestly shocked Google hasn’t created something like this years ago, here’s hoping they acquire them, it would be a lovely addition to the Google Apps suite.

Anyway, if you want in on the beta, I have some invites, let me know.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/20/dropbox/feed/ 0 Mayer, May Not. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/18/mayer-may-not/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/18/mayer-may-not/#comments Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:45:58 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=491 Dan Crittenden’s recent twitter post reminded me that I never posted the brilliance that is the following:

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/18/mayer-may-not/feed/ 0 Firefox 3. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/17/firefox-3/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/17/firefox-3/#comments Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:33:08 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=386 Does anyone understand why the version of Firefox 3 is “2.0.0.14″? Mozilla, if you are calling it Firefox 3, make the version 3.X.X., thank you.

EDIT: Answer, because Mozilla decided to direct me to the Firefox 2 download. Because their servers were probably on fire or something? That was awesome. Step your game up!

So since I am ranting about Firefox 3, you probably either already knew, or just realised, that it officially launched today. So go download it, if you are into helping set stupid download records, or just won’t admit how great Safari is.

I will admit, Mozilla has made some great strides, and I can actually stand to look at Firefox now and not think I was suddenly moved to a PC. It’s now my official, backup, testing browser. I lessthanthree Safari.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/17/firefox-3/feed/ 1 Brand Tags. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/19/brand-tags/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/19/brand-tags/#comments Mon, 19 May 2008 23:33:14 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=338 From the world of “Weird things on the internet you aren’t sure what to do with”, comes Brand Tags. It’s an interesting sort of social interaction experiment I guess? Isn’t that what all of these sort of things are supposed to be?

Anyway, it’s pretty fun for killing a few minutes. My personal favourite word association that I personally entered was “45″. I had just been shown the Michael Jordan “Jumpman” logo. If you get that one at all, you are full of tact and wit.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/19/brand-tags/feed/ 0 Hate Junk Mail? http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/26/hate-junk-mail/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/26/hate-junk-mail/#comments Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:15:58 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=292 I have long heard stories of people who try to payback junk mail senders by returning the postage paid envelope full of their own propaganda and other random presort mail. I have never seen an idea as utterly amazing as this. Mailing bricks back to credit card companies? It’s amazing, sure it could get expensive if you don’t have a lot of brick, but use what you have, anything will work.

The absolute jewel of this concept is the letter to the bulk mailer for you to insert in your package.

Insert Letter

Dear Bulk Mailer,

Please find attached to your no-postage-necessary envelope, this brick. I figured with all these great junk mails you send me every month, you’d like something in return! I know it costs twenty cents for every ounce I mail to you, so I hope it doesn’t weigh too much more than an ounce.

-Resident or Homeowner

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/26/hate-junk-mail/feed/ 0 Oh, The Irony. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/11/oh-the-irony/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/11/oh-the-irony/#comments Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:40:51 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=266 I found this brilliant advertisement on some website for the “Idiot Test”. It’s amazing when people are trying to get across a message on the topic of intelligence and then disobey the established rules of the English language. Is it an idiot test based on the fact no one intelligent would click on it?

I personally believe that U.S. Americans are clicking on the idiot test do so because, uhmmm, some people out there in our nation don’t know it’s “an” and uh, I believe that our, I, grammar like such as uh, South Africa, and uh, the Iraq, everywhere like, such as, and I believe that they should, uhhh, our idiot test over here in the US should help the US, uh, should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/11/oh-the-irony/feed/ 2 Apple Is Awesome. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/03/apple-is-awesome/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/03/apple-is-awesome/#comments Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:51:28 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=253 Recently Microsoft and Universal joint venture MSNBC.com ran an article it probably had to make a few calls about whether or not it should be published. The article basically said that Apple is one of the strongest, hippest brands and that Microsoft is boring and out-dated. Tell you something you didn’t know? I know, it’s kind of obvious, but I really like the journalistic tact (sarcasm) MSNBC showed in deciding to run with something that calls out the hand that writes cheques. Still craving that something you didn’t know? Apparently these same voters feel that the next most” in need of a makeover” brand is…

MSNBC

The nearly 2,000 professionals and students who voted named Apple overwhelming winner. The creator of the iPod and Mac computer triumphed in six categories including most inspiring brand and the one readers cannot live without.

Microsoft, the world’s largest software maker, was also a winner, but it received the dubious honor of the brand most readers wanted to argue with, and the one they most wanted to revamp. Voted into second place in the category was brand USA.

“brand” USA? Yep, the country you live in. Maybe we can put The Steve in charge of that brand too? Did I just say Steve Jobs for President? Yes, and Apple board of director Al Gore can be his VP I suppose… though I’d rather Jonny Ive (however, he is not eligible seeing as he is a Commander of the British Empire).

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/03/apple-is-awesome/feed/ 0 Sweded Tron. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/02/sweded-tron/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/02/sweded-tron/#comments Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:20:42 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=256 First I should probably explain what “Swedeing” a movie is for those out there who aren’t familiar with the term. It all comes from Michel Gondry’s film “Be Kind Rewind” which is about a couple guys in a rental store who find themselves with a store full of erased tapes (that they caused). They decide to re-create the films on their own, and rent them out to people like nothing has changed.

Wikipedia

The tapes are described as having come from Sweden as an excuse for higher rental fees and longer wait times.

In light of the theme of swedeing, director Michel Gondry swedes a version of the trailer of the film, starring Gondry himself. On the official website, users can engage in swedeing, which puts their faces on the VHS cover of a movie. The Be Kind Rewind YouTube minisite also encourages filmmakers to swede their own versions of popular movies.

With that out of the way you are all ready to see the most amazing thing ever. Sweded Tron, Sweded-freaking-lightcycle-scene-from-Tron. I should probably admit right now that I love Tron, it’s the best film Jeff Bridges was in that isn’t called “The Big Lebowski”, and I cannot wait for the anniversary release.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/02/sweded-tron/feed/ 1 Remembering, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/21/remembering-forgetting-sarah-marshall/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/21/remembering-forgetting-sarah-marshall/#comments Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:07:45 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/21/remembering-forgetting-sarah-marshall/ So FSM comes out next month. I’m rather excited, and you may remember my earlier post about FSM, if not head over there to get filled in on what will either be my favourite film of 08, or the end of my crush on Kristen Bell.

Recently in the village of Los Angeles the FSM marketing has started up. It’s absolutely brilliant, and I have heard quite a few people talking about how they had no idea what it was until they saw one of the ads and checked it out. That’s what marketing is supposed to do right, expand the potential target market? Anyway, the transit marketing consists of signs that say things like, “My Mom always hated you Sarah Marshall”, “I’m so over you Sarah Marshall”, and my personal favourite “You do look fat in those jeans Sarah Marshall” (Ed. Note: Kristen Bell is perfect, so this one is a little hard bit unrealistic).

Thursday as I was driving over to work from the home of one “Young Beverly Hills Adjacent”, after another amazing evening night at the Stone Rose where the game of “Beezerays” was invented, I snapped a pic of another one of the transit ads. Remind me to tell you about “Beezerays”, it’s a fun game, and strangely fun for Men AND Women, which is weird once you find out the game. I have been told that this game may only work in the greater metropolitan ares, so you may have to adapt it for your own use, and remember be polite.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/21/remembering-forgetting-sarah-marshall/feed/ 0 Photoshopolicious. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/21/photoshopolicious/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/21/photoshopolicious/#comments Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:56:27 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/21/photoshopolicious/ I came across this lovely blog the other day, which makes fun of all the very apparent photoshop jobs done in marketing. This is the kind of stuff I thought only my friends and I geeked out over, well this stuff and fonts, and Rachel Bilson, who coincidentally is featured in a post at the blog I just tried to send you to.

For the record I don’t care what anyone says, R Bils is perfect, on that cover, in real life, and especially in the Last Kiss, which is a film starring Zach Braff, which will make you depressed, which is probably good for a change; I have noticed you are way too happy these days.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/21/photoshopolicious/feed/ 0 SEO v LOL. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/06/seo-v-lol/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/06/seo-v-lol/#comments Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:42:14 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/06/seo-v-lol/ SEO, means Search Engine Optimization. Every competent web person is usually savvy with this term, and will tell you what you can do to increase the likelihood that someone finds you on the internet (or better yet, how you can pay them to optimize your page). Then there is the famous “Google Algorithm” and how it’s pretty much smarter than most people graduating from the Art Institute of CA (I can say these things, it’s my alma mater). Over the years countless people have made claims they can “get you the top result on Google” and other ridiculous things that are pretty much impossible to pull off.

However, I had never seen someone claim to be able to move you away from the top results, let along move only certain results related to you down the line. That all changed today with Complaint Remover, which claims to “stop defamation by positioning links on the Search Engines and by appeals to law to remove negative information”.

If that isn’t the most hilarious thing in and of itself, The Consumerist decided to have some fun with Complaint Remover and defend the freedom of the internets, and cat breeders.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/06/seo-v-lol/feed/ 0 The Making Of (A) Champion. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/05/the-making-of-a-champion/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/05/the-making-of-a-champion/#comments Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:18:30 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/05/the-making-of-a-champion/ I am a pretty big nerd when it comes to typography, or for the non Graphic Designers of you, the world of fonts. I abide by the somewhat common belief that any designer can get by on about 6 fonts in their life, 6 fonts is pretty much just about what I’ve used to complete 90% of everything I have ever designed. However, my Suitcase has about 5000 fonts in it, so I have an excess, of sorts.

In college I got in this really David Carson mode once where I would only use Courier, and then manipulate each letter by hand to get some derivation that suited my mood. This worked for about 3 months, until I was banned from using Courier by one of my teachers (which was probably for the best, so thank you Pein). So it’s not shocking that I have always liked to put my own touch on a font I am using for a certain project, I just feel it is the correct process out of respect for the design. Or, maybe I just don’t think very many fonts are perfect.

Lately, my mind has grown attached to scripts and swashes and italics, and at some point this relationship will end, but for now I enjoy it. I have a huge crush on Champion Script Pro at the moment, and it’s mostly due to it being one of the most complete fonts out there and comes with thousands of optional letterforms and such. Parachute did an amazing thing and wrote up the how’s and why’s behind Champion, and it’s quite a good read for anyone from those curious to how a font is created, to the seasoned typographer.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/05/the-making-of-a-champion/feed/ 3 Apple Users v. The World. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/18/apple-users-v-the-world/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/18/apple-users-v-the-world/#comments Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:32:48 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/18/apple-users-v-the-world/ I’ve been an Apple user for 20+ years, dating back to a Christmas morning in the 80′s where we woke up to a green glow in the living room. It’s been a bumpy road for those years filled with family members becoming Windows users, Apple allowing clone Macs, the ongoing battle trying to convince everyone why Apple was better. I gave up on that last one a few years ago; it may have an act of futility, it may have been a realisation that everyone (including people I never wanted using Apple) were coming over at breakneck speed and the elite Apple user circle was becoming bloated.

What really did it for me was one day after many conversations with many Windows users comprising of this automatic intense defense of their OS. It suddenly clicked with me, I was just that same way (only on the offensive), and it’s annoying. Anyone discussing anything who has to sell something that hard and make ravenous remarks has some serious insecurities. So I gave up, I would still always subtly slide in any pro Apple remark where I could, but it had to be applicable and rational, it would be only to educate and inform. I think this same “maturing” of the “Apple fan boy” has taken place on a wider scale with most others as well, and now you see a more confident Apple supporter, who doesn’t sink to kicking Windows users while they are down.

So can the same be said for Windows users? Did they give up on their hyper defensive stance? Have we all matured together to realise some people are okay with driving a minivan (is it at least a turbo charged minivan, with a cool number 18 decal on the side? No?), and the rest of us want something more sporty with a better design aesthetic and a functionality that is so simple, yet so forward? The answer lies on the internets friends, and it’s looking like the answer is “No”.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/18/apple-users-v-the-world/feed/ 0 Tech Logos Evolved. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/17/tech-logos-evolved/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/17/tech-logos-evolved/#comments Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:54:16 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/17/tech-logos-evolved/ Pretty interesting look at the evolution of some of the more popular Tech companies.

I still am not much of a fan of the Google logo, but I absolutely love the old logos of what was to become IBM.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/17/tech-logos-evolved/feed/ 0 Starry Nights & Salty Seas Tour. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/06/starry-nights-salty-seas-tour/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/06/starry-nights-salty-seas-tour/#comments Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:22:36 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/06/starry-nights-salty-seas-tour/ I recently did some work for my friends in Sherwood for their first headlining tour, dubbed Starry Nights & Salty Seas. The tour goes around the United Stated in vectors and along with Sherwood you can see The Matches or Houston Calls, The Higher and We Shot The Moon. The tour marketing art was based off the artwork of their LP, so it was just a lot of tweaking and refining and echoing the original style of the art, but it came together nicely. I also did a backdrop for the band, which I thought I would give you a look at here, where flashing lights and Rock N’ Roll won’t get in the way. I kept it fairly large, so anyone craving a new desktop wallpaper could give in to the craving.

I attended the Hollywood, CA stop of the tour, and it was quite the show. My personal highlight was when Sherwood covered The Get Up Kids “Holiday” (One of my all time favourite songs) and some guy in the crowd responded by flipping off the stage for the entire song. Guess you aren’t allowed to play TGUK’s without checking with him. Also, The Matches put on quite a performance, I never seem to get into their records, but everytime I see them live it makes me wonder why I don’t.

You can check out the tour dates here.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/06/starry-nights-salty-seas-tour/feed/ 0 Super Bowl Logos. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/01/super-bowl-logos/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/01/super-bowl-logos/#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:40:23 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/01/super-bowl-logos/ I found this great history of the Super Bowl’s logos out there on the internets. It’s interesting to see how far it has evolved (or devolved). Some of my most favourite logos are the classic ones from years ago, especially SBIX. The SBXXV logo is an absolute jewel and so perfect for the milestone it was, I can only hope in 2015 they come up with something that enhances on these same elements and theme for the 50th.

I have had a general distaste for most of the newer logos, but must admit a few of them have grown on me (including this years).

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/02/01/super-bowl-logos/feed/ 0 Take It Vertical. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/27/take-it-vertical/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/27/take-it-vertical/#comments Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:43:30 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/27/take-it-vertical/ So a few days back I came across one of the most revolutionary websites out there. Most people make there site with some clever feature that is cool, but really serves no purpose and gets annoying at some point. It’s a challenge with doing something cutting edge on a website, not sacrificing usability. This was different, this presented an entirely different way of getting around a site; scrolling down. While you scroll through sections you get an entire story along the journey, and then when the time comes you don’t really want to scroll all the way back up/down you can click a link that takes you to pre-determined targets in the site. Not too mention as a person who is selling his creative services, it shows off his creativity exceptionally well. It blows me away every time I visit it.

May I introduce you to the portfolio of Bryan Katzel.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/27/take-it-vertical/feed/ 0 I Found The Cloverfield Monster. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/23/i-found-the-cloverfield-monster/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/23/i-found-the-cloverfield-monster/#comments Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:05:02 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/23/i-found-the-cloverfield-monster/ This morning on my way into work, I saw something that looked familiar, in a devastating way. The fear it invoked in me as I realised I had solved the mystery of Cloverfield was as equal as the excitement. There… staring back at me… in the sky… right there… on a Boys Town billboard of all places!

Okay, okay, so Boys Town just has a horrible logo. I even blew it up a bit and blurred it to make it look a little more mysterious for your viewing pleasure. I saw this thing this morning and was so confused, but then I found out Boys Town is a Jester training academy, so it makes total sense now.

The other night I apparently lured Brandon into all the Cloverfield side stories, and realised quite a few people might be missing out on some of the Cloverfield “Universe”. For those of you who didn’t geek out for months over Cloverfield, this should catch you up on a fair amount, but if you haven’t seen it, there are spoilers over there.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/23/i-found-the-cloverfield-monster/feed/ 1 Cloverfield’ing. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/22/cloverfielding/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/22/cloverfielding/#comments Wed, 23 Jan 2008 01:46:24 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/22/cloverfielding/ So I saw Cloverfield last Friday. It was pretty much exactly what I was hoping for. The writing was spectacular, the character development was far deeper than what you normally find in Monster/Horror films, the cinematography was a work of art. I know a lot of people in the theatre I was in wanted it to be all about the monster, and were disappointed when it wasn’t and when it didn’t wrap up neatly; however these are the exact reasons why this film is already eating away at me to see it again.

I think the best description of what to expect of this film was by Abrams himself:

JJ Abrams on Cloverfield

“A Cameron Crowe movie meets ‘Godzilla’ meets ‘Blair Witch Project’…”

I absolutely love a movie filled with characters whom you see parts of yourself in, even their darker moments, and this movie does that to me in a way I haven’t experienced since “The Rules Of Attraction”. It’s innovative in a myriad of ways (amazingly so), but it’s backed up by the solid foundational elements most big budget films miss. This is the sort of genre shifting film that shows Hollywood; there are more talented actors out there than the regular big name stars they shove down our throats, there are more talented thinkers, writers and producers out there who still want the art of cinema to evolve, CGI and effects don’t have to be the main focus of a shot and can seamlessly fit with the live footage.

If you haven’t yet seen it, you need to; if you have already seen it, geek out over Slusho, jamieandteddy.com, and Tagruato and call me up for Round 2.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/22/cloverfielding/feed/ 0 AirMail. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/17/taking-literally-literally/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/17/taking-literally-literally/#comments Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:13:20 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/17/taking-literally-literally/ Talk about taking literally, literally. This may be the best case ever of function and form taking there cues from something that was only supposed to be taken figuratively. However it is also the most amazing thing ever, and this alone tempts me to pre-order a MacBook Air.

I believe Kyle will be picking up an MBA, and if he doesn’t get one of these as well I will be sorely disappointed. I’m sure that will really be a huge part of his decision making process.

AirMail

The AirMail laptop sleeve is handmade out of durable upholstery-grade vinyl, and lined with fuzzy, soft fleece. All AirMail sleeves have the same dimensions as standard interoffice manila envelopes, which will serve to remind you — and everyone around you — that your new MacBook Air really is the thinnest laptop in the world!

You can order your very own handmade AirMail here.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/17/taking-literally-literally/feed/ 0 LAist Interviews Matt Reeves. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/16/laist-interviews-matt-reeves/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/16/laist-interviews-matt-reeves/#comments Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:47:11 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/15/laist-interviews-matt-reeves/ The LAist recently did an interview with Cloverfield director Matt Reeves. As many of you forget, Matt and JJ Abrams got their start together on Felicity (actually they got their start together on some small public access station, but pointing out they were involved in Felicity is much more fun).

I found the interview to be an enlightening look into how the viral-ness of Cloverfield snowballed so much that even the people closest to it were caught off guard. It’s amazing to see marketing change so much in front of our eyes that it becomes something that can literally grow past the scope of it’s intentions. Cloverfield’s marketing has done just that, something that could have been simply used to create an interesting backstory, has now created an entire universe that will surely be explored again.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/16/laist-interviews-matt-reeves/feed/ 0 Forgetting Sarah Marshall. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/14/forgetting-sarah-marshall/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/14/forgetting-sarah-marshall/#comments Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:06:14 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/14/forgetting-sarah-marshall/ Judd Apatow likes to make movies we can all relate to.

I remember not long ago when I was dating the last famous girl I dated (coincidentally also named Kristen Bell), and things just started to feel different. I knew it had to end, and I knew it had to end in a flurry of comedy and consoling (maybe from Mila Kunis, someone like that).

Of course, I broke up with her, so I guess I can’t really relate much to Judd Apatow’s next movie after all. Oh well, maybe you can…

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/14/forgetting-sarah-marshall/feed/ 1 This Could Tear Me Away From CB&TL. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/13/this-could-tear-me-away-from-cbtl/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/13/this-could-tear-me-away-from-cbtl/#comments Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:02:25 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/13/this-could-tear-me-away-from-cbtl/ Apple filed some patent work a bit ago on to-go ordering in conjunction with the iPhone. It’s an amazing concept and fits right in with their work utilising network usability in brick and mortar stores. Apple’s first roll out of that concept of business to user interaction is the iTMS operability in Starbucks. It’s a pretty ingenious system I must admit, and can’t wait to see where Apple takes us with the new patent work.

Phil Lu some time ago worked up some mock ups that show us perhaps where this technology could be used. His concept has Apple teaming with Starbucks once again, and it should be noted Phil did these before the patent information from Apple became public knowledge.

You can see the rest of the concept right here. This is the sort of example of how the iPhone is beyond revolutionary, it has the potential to create new functions we never knew we needed, and makes life that much more fun.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/13/this-could-tear-me-away-from-cbtl/feed/ 0 Things You Can Learn From The Music Business. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/10/things-you-can-learn-from-the-music-business/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/10/things-you-can-learn-from-the-music-business/#comments Fri, 11 Jan 2008 01:29:23 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/10/things-you-can-learn-from-the-music-business/ Seth Godin (who never worked in the music industry, until he started a label to prove a point), has decided to share with everyone the few things you can take away from the sinking ship, before it sinks. I wish more people in the music industry realised these things instead of denying the truth.

His first two points are such utter genius I must reproduce them here:

Things you can learn from the music business (as it falls apart)

The first rule is so important, it’s rule 0:

0. The new thing is never as good as the old thing, at least right now.
Soon, the new thing will be better than the old thing will be. But if you wait until then, it’s going to be too late. Feel free to wax nostalgic about the old thing, but don’t fool yourself into believing it’s going to be here forever. It won’t.

1. Past performance is no guarantee of future success.
Every single industry changes and, eventually, fades. Just because you made money doing something a certain way yesterday, there’s no reason to believe you’ll succeed at it tomorrow.

Do yourself a favour and read the rest of the article, especially those of you in the music industry.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/10/things-you-can-learn-from-the-music-business/feed/ 0 David Lynch Believes He Can Make Rational Points. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/10/david-lynch-believes-he-can-make-rational-points/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/10/david-lynch-believes-he-can-make-rational-points/#comments Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:46:18 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/10/david-lynch-believes-he-can-make-rational-points/ Everyone in the iPhone blogosphere is all a buzz about David Lynch hating on the device and the the idea that you might watch a movie on your phone. I will merely add a few points to the pile of information before I show the absolutely hilarious video of Lynch; in which he does say a few words that one could describe as cursing, I however believe he is using them in an excellent use of emphasis.

Contrary to the internet this wasn’t something he did to rant about the iPhone, it is off the “Inland Empire” DVD bonus features. So in reality, it’s another person taking something and spinning it to hate on Apple. The man has his point, but true celluloidians feel just as passionate about the difference from projected film to digital home theatre viewing.

Watching a David Lynch movie on a phone is just as equal an experience to me as watching it in a theatre; no matter what you do, you still won’t understand it.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/10/david-lynch-believes-he-can-make-rational-points/feed/ 0 Cloverfield. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/09/cloverfield/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/09/cloverfield/#comments Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:08:37 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/09/cloverfield/ So I have been pretty much telling everyone on earth about this 5 minute clip of Cloverfield, JJ Abrams/Matt Reeves feature film about something-we-aren’t-allowed-to-know-what-it-is attacking New York City, and then I realised that I have a blog and should just put it up for viewing pleasure. Cloverfield comes out 1.18.08, and you can bet pretty much anything that I will be there that weekend to catch this one.

Most of you probably didn’t know I was a JJ Abrams fan, most of you also probably didn’t know that it’s not because of Lost, but because of 6º. 6º had something so appealing about it; real, genuine, honest, those kind of words. I only hope Abrams doesn’t disappoint with Cloverfield (or with ending Lost with my desired ending of no one living and never finding out what is really happening all the weird events on some island I don’t care about).

For those of you not in the know, Cloverfield has had a spectacular marketing campaign to accompany it (only slightly trailing The Dark Knight’s viral campaign). To catch up on all the clues and latest backstory of Cloverfield check out Cloverfield Clues.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/09/cloverfield/feed/ 0 Creepy Name, Brilliant Idea. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/06/creepy-name-brilliant-idea/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/06/creepy-name-brilliant-idea/#comments Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:23:51 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/06/creepy-name-brilliant-idea/ So the lovely Lindsay Strannigan sent me this the other evening. It’s pretty much the best thing ever if you are into really non-manly things like cuddling and sleeping. I however, would never.

Ladies & Gentlemen the Love Mattress.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/06/creepy-name-brilliant-idea/feed/ 0 Revisionist Theories. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/05/revisionist-theories/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/05/revisionist-theories/#comments Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:02:26 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/05/revisionist-theories/ So as some of you noticed a few weeks back, I had some issues with comments after I updated WordPress to version 2.3.1.3.4.5.4.3.2 due to my horribly coded blog. This led me to the dark moment of using random templates, which I tried to at least keep fresh by rotating through the templates every few days, in order to have the more important function over form.

Well here I am, a few days late, letting you all know my dream of a lovely minimalist blog is now pretty much reality. I stole a ton of code from random people who probably hate me, I got my dreams of minimalism after realising how perfect of a website McSweeney’s is for them, I even added Google AdSense (get excited). I figured a new year is always a good time for a fresh look, though this one will probably stick around for a while.

Enjoy yourselves, whoever it is that actually reads this thing, I thank you for thinking I am worth directing your browser of choice to my little piece of the Internet.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/05/revisionist-theories/feed/ 0 Freemosphere. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/04/freemosphere/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/04/freemosphere/#comments Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:01:58 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/04/freemosphere/ Everyone’s favourite Emo Rap sensation Atmosphere have made available an album of thirteen songs to chase away the winter doldrums. They claim that one, I sort of like winter doldrums so no chasing them away for me. It’s called “Strictly Leakage” and pretty much exactly what you would expect from Sean Loves Ugly Girls and Ant. Download it here.

They also claim:

It’s great for first dates, crappy houseparties, or to play in the backround while you google yourself again.

Im currently googling myself, and can tell you that it really does set quite the mood.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/01/04/freemosphere/feed/ 0 This Was Supposed To Be My Political Platform. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/12/19/this-was-supposed-to-be-my-political-platform/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/12/19/this-was-supposed-to-be-my-political-platform/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:36:59 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/12/19/this-was-supposed-to-be-my-political-platform/ I have often been told in my life that I would make a good lawyer (because I argue), and so at some point I decided this meant I would make a good politician. I thought about running for the water board, mainly because I thought it would be the easiest route. When you are running for office you have to have a platform, and of course to generate any sort of buzz you should pick at least one issue that is feasibly impossible to change at this time in our life (See Ron Paul, I know your game).

For me, my platform was unsolicited physical junk mail. It kind of hilarious how everyone wants to go “green” and everyone is concerned with “Inconenient Truths”, well how about this truth; I get exactly 1.3 square miles of paper growing forest worth of junk mail in my mailbox every month (Note: That stat is completely made up). So you see, the real issue of our isn’t energy, taxes, or urban sprawl, it’s the USPS backed selling of our mailbox space.

Let me give you a little factual information here; you cannot opt out of Direct Mail Marketing/Pre-Sorted Mail, you cannot ask your mail carrier to not put it in your mailbox (even if it means your mailbox is full after one day)(Note: I do understand you can do this in Canada), you have to dig between coupons for things you don’t want and offers for even more credit cards to find your real mail.

Well today I discovered the first pillars of support for what will one day be my platform for office:
The Consumer Credit Reporting Companies opt-out website. This website lets you opt out of receiving Credit or Insurance offers which is at least a start. I am not yet sure how well it works, and to go permanent you have to print out, sign and mail in a form (lame, lame and lame), but at least you have a say in some of the mail you receive.

There are also some more options the Direct Marketers Association has made available via their website, however some require you paying, most don’t guarantee anything (just like the no not call list, really doesn’t help much with no way to enforce it) and there is some funny business with who pays for this “Association” to exist (word is the Direct Marketers themselves pay for this service so they can hit you with advertising you deem acceptable). For some, it may prove helpful.

Another great ally against the fight is the Center for Democracy & Technology (I am a huge fan of technology, this democracy thing I am not so sure about though). They dedicate a portion of their website to “Opting-Out”.

I firmly stand by that people should be pushing for a democracy where we don’t have to spend our own time and money trying to make companies respect their potential customers. If you have a good product, I probably know about it and I probably will be purchasing it soon. I do not need a mailbox full of things I won’t even look at. It’s a new world of marketing and there are much more effective and less destructive ways of gaining brand awareness.

Additionally I encourage everyone who is sick of these things to use the postage paid reply envelopes that these companies include to send them either; their own junk, other companies junk or slices of rotting fruit.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/12/19/this-was-supposed-to-be-my-political-platform/feed/ 0 So Desparately Obvious, So Obviously Desperate. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/11/27/so-desparately-obvious-so-obviously-desperate/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/11/27/so-desparately-obvious-so-obviously-desperate/#comments Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:58:43 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/11/27/so-obvious-yet-so-disheartening/ The music industry is full of people who are not innovative, not in touch with their target demographic, and don’t understand marketing basics, it’s true, I had a nice little stint in this dying industry. Wired Magazine, recently interviewed one of the Major Label CEO’s, Doug Morris of Universal, and the results are pretty startling, even I was shocked at what this guy admits to.

Doug Morris, Universal CEO

“There’s no one in the record industry that’s a technologist,” Morris explains. “That’s a misconception writers make all the time, that the record industry missed this. They didn’t. They just didn’t know what to do. It’s like if you were suddenly asked to operate on your dog to remove his kidney. What would you do?”

“We didn’t know who to hire,” he says, becoming more agitated. “I wouldn’t be able to recognize a good technology person — anyone with a good bullshit story would have gotten past me.”

The sad part about this is of course the affect it takes on our beloved music and artists, and how people like this are appointed CEO’s of huge corporations is beyond me. I stand by my patented “R. P. Jenkins Corporate CEO Fix-all”, where you replace all major executives with the top 5 graduates from Harvard Business School, and many other fine educational systems who look forward, and pay them millions a year less to make you millions a year more (while still paying them more than they would make at any other job).

Note: Ford Motors should also adopt said strategy.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/11/27/so-desparately-obvious-so-obviously-desperate/feed/ 1 The Way People, Meet People. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/11/21/the-way-people-meet-people/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/11/21/the-way-people-meet-people/#comments Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:10:17 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/11/21/the-way-people-meet-people/ I was reading a fairly interesting write up on “Internet Crush Du Jour” Kristen Sloan (The Winger, Apple’s iPhone Ad), and my mind started spinning a bit on some things.

Firstly, what made this girl so captivating? If you are a guy, and a guy who is into Apple, you totally were into her simple look, her being a ballerina, her using Apple. It was a great decision on Apple’s part because she is exactly the kind of girl you hope will randomly appear in your life to help with your addiction to Apple. Her website got a huge rush of traffic to it, which is weird because: why would people go to a “behind the tu-tu” ballet website? My excuse was that I have dated a ballerina or two, so I am allowed to revisit these things as some kind of healing process. Right, right? Anyway, the surprising thing is her website is pretty spectacular; Well designed, unique idea, loyal niche following (Sidenote: I am really into colons/semi-colons today, even if it means using them incorrectly). I feel like a lot of people visiting her site might have been drawn into it because of similar-to-my-own second hand ballet experiences; crushes on ballerinas, dreams of being a ballerina, crushes on the girl in the iPhone commercial who happens to be a ballerina. It’s a very interesting concept in a marketing sense. Could the NYCB could have paid for more exposure? Probably not, and kudos for realising her abilities and rewarding her with her new position.

The secondary cloud spinning in my head is about the story of her and her boyfriend. I’m sure this story crushed a few people hoping to somehow sweep Miss Sloan off her feet, but it in and of itself says so much about how our world has changed. I had no idea what dodgeball.com was, until this story. It looks interesting, but I am yet to cave into the world of telling everyone where I am at the time I am actually there (I much rather prefer hearing people tell me I was someplace I never was at). The truly interesting thing is the ease that this seemingly “everywoman” has of discussing meeting her boyfriend on, in simpler terms, the invisible world. I know people who have dated people they met online, I know some truly amazing people that I met through the Internet (in varying degrees).

It really makes you think of how you “meet” people, and people’s hang ups on meeting people in “non-traditional” ways. People still get caught up in admitting their significant other was once just a MySpace message, random IM, or fellow website visitor. I decided to mentally list out how I met the people in my life who make regular appearances (meaning I talk to them on a regular basis, stemming over years) to see where I fit in. The summary is that of 10-12 people who are regularly in my life I; met the one’s I am the closest to in a way not involving technology (unless going to college for graphic design counts), stay more in touch with the ones I can email/IM than those I have to call, only one of them was I ever “buying dinner” (those who know me well, know this is what I call the purgatory between full on dating and being friends) on a regular occasion, I have met people because of music websites and online video games who are now very good friends (such a dork).

What does all this tell us? That I am apparently not hip to the times. I utilise technology to meet new people and stay in contact with people I already know constantly, and don’t have many reservations about it. However, I still tend to be pretty “traditional” for as much of a tech-dork as I am. In reality, I think this world is changing, while staying the same. For people to have a lasting effect on us we need to see, hear, feel, smell and touch them, not just read them. I know for many the “invisible world” presents interaction in a more convenient way, and perhaps we find it just as convenient to walk away from people we meet that way.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/11/21/the-way-people-meet-people/feed/ 0 Tips for Lip Biters. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/06/13/tips-for-lip-biters/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/06/13/tips-for-lip-biters/#comments Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:26:39 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/06/13/tips-for-lip-biters/ So you might all remember a few posts back I tipped my hand about one of my (read: every male on this planet) weaknesses, the lip bite. Well tonight as I was looking at the random and strange ways people get to this little piece of the internets I call my own, I stumbled across some gems. I bring them to you tonight because we can all stand a little more education.

The original search that directs people to me can be found here.

1) You all know my infatuation with Britons, and apparantley the UK translation of Cosmo (In Queens English, I assume) has some amazing message board topics. Don’t believe me? Here are my favourite pull quotes:

Svetlana

“Bite your lower lip slowly as if your trying to eat up some of the lip gloss off your lip. It drive them nuts!- Just don’t make it so obvious.”

Of course we start with a lip bite discussion, that is why we are here after all. I will add to all the hopeful rosebuds out there that “Svetlana” is benefitting highly from being named “Svetlana” and also from her accent (or maybe I created that in my head when I read “It drive them nuts!), how Russian.
Don’t worry we have more accents for you…

TrAr

“A bit of cheekiness is always good. A big smile with a tongue in cheek “so are you going to buy me a drink then?” always works a treat.”

I just love the Brits, they talk such a treat, but watch out guys girls with accents are…

Weeyin87

“Keep your shoulders straight and look confident, these wee subtle tips make u look more attractive. I fancied a guy for 4 years who was too old for me. I tried these things and he was mine!!! Dumped him the next week right enough but it was cool to finally get him.”

Heartbreakers.

2) Visualisation has always been one of those things that works better in those 80′s/90′s “teen-angst” films, you know where the guy/girl is at home before the moment they are gonna have their shot at the girl/guy who didn’t know they existed until 15 seconds ago? Be The Hot Chick is your key to visualisation, but be careful, your kid brother could walk in with the video camera right when you are practicing making out in the mirror. Oh, the naive:

Be The Hot Chick

“The really embarrassing scenario is when a girl acts too into him with “ooh, baby” eye contact or over-the-top hair-flipping and giggle “signals.” Other times, a girl will swing the other way because she’s secretly shy. So she’ll go for the hard-to-get aloof routine, basically behaving as if she hates the guy. These are amateur maneuvers, not snag-him strategies.”

Let me tell you how embarrassing it is when a girl actually shows interest and gives you signals, it’s an absolute breath of fresh air. Imagine actually letting a guy know you are into him as opposed to the “your friends, telling his friends at the ice skating rink, to tell him the next day, which is by coincidence a day after the last time you ever see him,” but maybe I’m still a little scarred by my experiences. Do not listen to these silly words about acting too into him, unless we’re not that into you, but you should have caught on by then. Am I the only one that read “swing the other way” and thought the mystery of “why girls think making out with other girls to get attention is a good idea” was finally going to be explained? Girls, remember you want to optimise your “snag-him strategy” so you can break up with him in a week.

Be The Hot Chick

“By boy-world definitions, when you’re nervous, no guy can really tell. Guys don’t know what shy looks like. They just remember whether or not you were nice or sweet or whatever. So, just fake it ’til you get past those first few edgy minutes, because you will get a grip. Try this: Gently bite the corner of your lower lip. It smarts enough to help you remember to breathe (which helps you to think, which helps you to relax), but is still quite cute and flirty.”

First of all guys can tell, and we like it when a girl is nervous, blushing is hot. Guys most often remember “whether or not you were whatever” is pretty much the most accurate statement about male and female interaction ever written. I just learned that biting the lip not only makes girls cute and flirty, it also makes them smarter, or whatever.

Be The Hot Chick

“But a better option is to up your confidence. How? Resolve not to think about your body but to think instead about what’s in front of you–a store, a pool, the sun, your BFF, skater boy.”

Confidence is a huge plus, just make sure yr BFF and skater boy are separately right in front of you. Nothing kills the confidence like your BFF getting the skater boy, and that would not be “Being The Hot Chick”, now would it?

Be The Hot Chick

“Then, the obvious trick is to find the boy you think is skilled (read: hot), and ask him if he will help you improve your swing, catch the perfect wave or do a mean header. He’ll be into showing you what he’s about. Betcha.”

That’s the jewel of advise Lisa Mulcahy has for our youth? The same Lisa Mulcahy that started this very article off with…

Be The Hot Chick

“If you want to get noticed without looking like an extra on the The O.C., you’re on the right page. Summer means your playing field is large, and there are more available guys. Your choices increase, so your chances of getting it right increase. And getting a sweet, smart, into-you boy to notice you does not translate to dressing skimpy or faking like you’re into stuff just to impress.”

Yeah, that or, act like your into something he’s into and you need his help at because he’s “hot”. Now I challenge you to , “Be The Hot Chick”.

I hope you all had as much fun as I did with that all, it’s an honour to be found in the same “AOL Search, powered by Google” as those hits.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/06/13/tips-for-lip-biters/feed/ 0 P is for A Better World. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/06/07/p-is-for-a-better-world/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/06/07/p-is-for-a-better-world/#comments Fri, 08 Jun 2007 01:03:08 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/06/07/p-is-for-a-better-world/ So I just got the mail delivered here at work and while none of the books I ordered last week came, one package full of amazing content was delivered. My good friend Chad Pearson recently started a company called “P is for Panda,” and decided to send me a little package of visual splendor. Button Pack, Stickers and even a Mix Tape, who sends a Mix Tape? P is for Panda is who! Anyway, I’m putting stickers all over the place in Downtown LA, and demanding all of you to go head over and support the Panda. Now you might be like… “A clothing company? I don’t even like clothes.” Which I understand, that’s totally normal, however this company works a little different.

P is for Panda cares about artists (and hey look at me I’m an artist!), which is actually a rare these days. Perhaps more rare, P is for Panda cares about our world, and backs it up with real monies. One of my other good friends (oh, look at me and all my talented friends) has designed all of the items currently available, so not only are you supporting one of my friends, you are supporting two! I’m gonna just go ahead and pull this off their Virb site, so I get you all the facts.

What is P is For Panda?

After leaving The Militia Group – a company that I founded over 9 years ago – I still don’t really know how to respond to that question. However, I do know this: P Is For Panda is and will always be a company that supports the artist and the community.

For now, we are a clothing company. It may not necessarily seem revolutionary, but we believe that it takes small steps to incite change. Our clothing will be completely based on artist submissions. If we choose to use an artist’s design, the artist is then allowed to choose the item price, the size of the clothing run, and a charity to donate a portion of the proceeds to. World Wildlife Fund is the charity we will suggest to them, but again – it is the artist’s choice.

From there, the profit will be split three ways.
1. The Artist. We thought it was unfair that when an artist designed a shirt they simply got paid a flat fee. If the shirt goes on to sell thousands, the company makes all the money and the artist is left trying to pay rent. With this model, if the shirt sells well – the artist actually sees some of the cash!
2. A Charity. We want to give back. And what better way to give back than to give 1/3rd of our profits to a charity that is trying to better the world we live in? It’s a hell of a lot better than just making some cool shirts.
3. Us. We need cash to keep this thing rolling!

Many people in the “business world” have said that this model cannot and will not work. My question is: “Why?” Because we are thinking about someone other than ourselves? Because we are not concerned with a bottom line? Because we would rather help save a life rather than pad our pockets? People in the normal business world simply do not understand how a business can succeed while “giving away” 2/3rds of its profit. My simple answer is “Why not?”

If we fail – at least we failed while trying to do something meaningful. We would rather die trying than sit around on our butts complaining about the war, the worsening situation in Africa, the lack of aid in New Orleans, or the staggering number of people that are dying right now because they need a new kidney while most of us have one we don’t even need.

If you want to support Panda – thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We believe this can work and we want to show the “business world” that together, we really can change things.

Lets change the way business works.

Chad Pearson and P is for Panda

Who can argue with proving narrow minded suits wrong? Not me, and not Billy Walsh either.

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/06/07/p-is-for-a-better-world/feed/ 0 Q: Who are you guys shooting for? http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/05/29/q-who-are-you-guys-shooting-for/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/05/29/q-who-are-you-guys-shooting-for/#comments Wed, 30 May 2007 06:48:01 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/05/29/q-who-are-you-guys-shooting-for/ A: The Times. All of them.

Ice Cube’s new film “First Sunday” is shooting on my street. Incidentally, according to IMDB, I moved to Baltimore, MD. Baltimore is a gorgeous city on the shore of the Pacific… oh wait, that’s Long Beach. Anyway, Ice Cube rolled into town and is making some comedy about a crime inside a Church. Unfortunately, this isn’t gonna come close to the greatest “crimedy” (get it, a crime and comedy?) inside a Church ever, Sister Act. Honestly, what could? Fortunately this crimedy takes place on a corner that has a Church and a Liquor Store, which should bring a whole new dimension to the Church crimedy genre we all have come to love.

Kyle and I jumped a few barricades to bring you all some images of the set:

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/05/29/q-who-are-you-guys-shooting-for/feed/ 0 The Evolution Of The Internets. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/05/17/the-evolution-of-the-internets/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/05/17/the-evolution-of-the-internets/#comments Thu, 17 May 2007 20:50:45 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/2007/05/17/the-evolution-of-the-internets/ So many of my friends and enemies who follow my weblog may, like me, appreciate good design. I like the world well designed, I like architecture, I like form and function, I like thought before action. It is with that in mind that I’m giving you a little taste of why I have that link on the bottom of the page to Virb. Virb is legit, just ask Michael Bay.

Virb is what Myspace would be if they cared about design and layout. Virb is fresh and small as we speak. I expect it to be popular but niche online community. We’ll see. – MichaelBay.com

If you are my real friend you have already added me on Virb… if you haven’t I’m pissed at you. It’s where all the real social networking happens, you do want to be cool right? Myspace is like wearing Seven Jeans and Ugg Boots.

This is the part where I just offended a lot of girls, I’m sorry… really, but lead instead of following for once.

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