IC9design

Outdoor Store stepping up its Internet presence

2010-05-22T07:13:00.000-07:00

Diana Louise Carter • Staff writer • May 22, 2010

Mike Webster of Bloomfield shops for fishing gear at The Outdoor Store in East Bloomfield, the area’s largest retailer of Carhartt clothing. The store is working to increase its online presence with a new website in July. (CARLOS ORTIZ staff photographer)

EAST BLOOMFIELD — Gail A. Bell, owner of The Outdoor Store on Routes 5 and 20, isn't comfortable with computers.

When she places orders for merchandise, she does it with pen and paper instead of ordering online.

"It's definitely a throw-back way of doing business. They don't even use a fax machine, they mail it," said Ken Berardino, Bell's Carhartt sales representative.
But even if Bell doesn't get computers, she gets business big-time.

Berardino describes Bell's store as "one of the largest independent retailers for Carhartt sales per square foot, if not the largest, in the nation," pulling in annual sales of $400,000 for that brand of rugged work clothing alone. Bell wouldn't reveal her annual revenue, but said Carhartt represents about the 40 percent of it. And very few of those Carhartt sales come from the store's current website, which generated an unimpressive average of four sales a month over the last four years. So Bell is turning to another local business, IC9design, to create a new Web presence and Web marketing scheme for the store.

"Gail does what she does because that's what she does best," said best friend Rich Albaugh, who is a store manager and runs the archery shop and range out back. Jason Louster manages the front end of the store and handles customers on the phone because that's what he's best at, Albaugh said. "She's hired these guys because she knows they're good on the computer," Albaugh said, with a nod to IC9design owner Ian Caspersson and Nathan Adamus, the startup company's sales and media specialist.

But after spending $7,500 to create and update the old website, only to get miserable results, Bell wasn't eager to engage another marketing company. Caspersson won her confidence by showing up right away and getting to know her business. Plus, he's charging less than the first Web designer did for a fuller range of marketing products.

"The ambition in this side of the world — they have it," Bell said.

Caspersson has proposed a new website that captures more of the store's personality. The prototype home page includes images from the store's eclectic jumble of objects and merchandise on the front porch and interior. And it will have a soundtrack, echoing the country and blues played in the store. Visitors will be able to click on buttons to view and order selections of Carhartt and the other lines the store carries, such as Muck boots, Johnson's Woolen Mills, and locally produced maple syrup, honey and hot sauces.

The physical store is deceptively large — 6,000 square feet — as Bell has made many additions since starting the business in 1996. The store runs with a staff of seven, but expands to 11 during the pre-holiday shopping season. Merchandise runs the gamut from hunting knives and live bait to clothing for women, kids, babies and men to a line of gifts.

IC9design is going to tap into marketing networks, social networks and other venues to spread The Outdoor Store brand regionally and nationally, Caspersson said. He's planning to have the store's staff write e-mail newsletters, too, keeping regulars informed about sales and events, such as family archery festivals or visits from professional archers, such as Travis Turner.

"I didn't realize what a family sport that is," Bell said, revealing why she delegates the archery end of the business to Albaugh, a former professional archer who has been selling archery goods for nearly two decades. Bullzeye Archery, the year-old, rough-hewn shop out back where he sells equipment, makes repairs and operates a virtual shooting gallery, sits next to an outdoor archery wonderland, featuring the typical three-dimensional targets such as bear and deer, interspersed with exotics such as boar and T-rex.

The free archery range behind The Outdoor Store includes traditional 3D targets, along with a T-Rex. (CARLOS ORTIZ staff photographer)

Bell said it's not unusual to see families practicing on the free archery range even when the store is closed.

Berardino said The Outdoor Store's location in the middle of farm country helps explain some of its success, along with the unusual breadth of its Carhartt line. The brand is popular among suburban teens as well as rural hunters, who sometimes drive two hours to get there.

"They are a destination because of the uniqueness of their store. They're almost a tourist attraction to some degree," Berardino said. Bell said her customers include "everybody, from (billionaire entrepreneur Tom) Golisano to people on tractors."

And depending on how successful IC9design's new website is, Berardino said Bell's customers will multiply after the website is launched the first week in July. A Geneva store that carries Carhartt does 70 percent of its sales online, Berardino said.

The Outdoor Store may follow suit.

"That's just the nature of the way things are going. I think they would be able to do as much on the Web as they do in retail in 24 months," he said.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20100522/BUSINESS/5220321/Outdoor-Store-stepping-up-its-Internet-presence

DCARTER@DemocratandChronicle.com

Iron Man 2 – A worthy sequel

2010-05-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

Comic book adaptations are always carefully monitored by critics and fans alike. They are often held to a higher standard than typical novel adaptations primarily because comic book fans are arguably pretty passionate. Although I have my fair share of Iron Man comics stockpiled in my parent’s attic, I certainly don’t consider myself an Iron Man expert.

As is the case with the original movie, Iron Man 2 doesn’t require a great deal of background knowledge. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of easter eggs and comic book references to keep even the most dedicated fan boy amused, but you certainly don’t need to brush up on your Iron Man history to step into Tony Stark’s armor.

Although the general consensus has been mixed, Iron Man 2 is definitely a worthy successor. It doesn’t grab you emotionally like the first installment and it’s not quite as fun, but it’s still a damn good flick. I have to admit my expectations for this film were pretty high. Just the mere thought of Mickey Rourke as Whiplash and War Machine’s mini-gun were enough to make me decorate my desktop with Iron Man 2 wallpaper.

With that said, Iron Man 2 was a little disappointing to me on first viewing. The story isn’t nearly as gripping as I’d hoped for and doesn’t pluck the same emotional strings as the first installment. I also found the finale a bit rushed (you can blink and miss the final Whiplash battle), but the good news is it’s not nearly as convoluted as the last 45 minutes of Spiderman 3. The special effects aren’t very groundbreaking either, but they’re far from dismissible. The Iron Man Mark V briefcase armor scene alone is enough to make your eyes roll into the back of your head.

As we discover within the first 10 minutes, Ivan’s father helped co-design the original Arc Reactor with Howard Stark, Tony’s father. After attempting to profit from the technology, Ivan’s father is deported to the Soviet Union where he spends the rest of his life in poverty. Ivan pledges to make Tony pay for banishing his father into exile.

Unfortunately, the only solid intel we receive regarding Ivan’s background is provided primarily by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and seems rushed. I would have enjoyed a more cohesive story here, but it is what it is. It’s just a shame that a dramatic actor of Rourke’s caliber doesn’t get to utilize his unflattering upbringing to gain sympathy for his cause. His hatred for Stark doesn’t seem genuine and as a result, you don’t really empathize with is disdain for the Stark empire.

Our other villain, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), is primarily inspired by greed and jealousy. He doesn’t seem to hate Tony, but his jealousy compels him to topple Stark Enterprises with hopes that obtaining the Iron Man technology will resuscitate his crumbling arms contract with the U.S. government. This ultimately results in Hammer freeing Ivan from prison after the Monaco car race where he makes his first appearance.

Even though there’s really not much of a back story for our villains, Hammer and Ivan are outstanding together. Rockwell turns Hammer into an arrogant ego-maniac who challenges Ivan’s intelligence in every scene and belittles him with sarcastic barbs when things aren’t going according to plan. Ivan, who is obviously much smarter than Hammer, chooses a different approach to Hammer’s exuberant personality. Instead of responding to Hammer’s jabs, he plays the idiot role for all its worth, frequently ignoring Hammer’s rants with a subdued glance as he nibbles on a toothpick. The fact that Ivan dwarfs Hammer in size makes this even more interesting. You expect Ivan to grind Hammer into a beef patty, but Ivan rarely reaches boiling point minus his two battles with Iron Man. This makes Ivan seem less like a monster even after he shreds a few Indy cars with his electric whips.

Without diving too deep into the other sub plots, let’s just say the palladium core in Tony’s arc reactor is killing him and he can’t find a replacement. Potts gets a much deserved promotion, becoming CEO of Stark Industries. The government wants control of the Iron Man ‘weapon’ and takes action to procure the suit from Tony while James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) does his best to act as a liaison between the military and his best friend.

With that said, the central theme of Iron Man 2 is Tony Stark’s uncontrollable ego and his ailing health. Almost all of his ill-conceived decisions are a result of one or the other. This is in complete contrast to other superheroes such as such as Batman and Spiderman who are constantly torn between saving the world and being normal. Unlike those characters, Tony is drastically flawed, has no desire to remain anonymous, and doesn’t seem conflicted between by his duties as a citizen and Iron Man, even stating that “Iron Man and I are one.” He wants people to know he’s Iron Man and he relishes the benefits of the job.

Throughout Iron Man 2, Tony is spiraling out of control. His love for himself is on full display and does seem a bit over the top at points, particularly during the Senate hearings and his entrance at the Stark Expo. But with that said, Robert Downey’s charm is undeniable as Tony Stark. He’s clever, fun, and his pending alcoholism is front and center.

The acting in Iron Man 2 is top-notch. Downey, Mickey Rourke, and Sam Rockwell are virtually flawless. Don Cheadle on the other hand comes off a bit corny. His dialogue seems quite forced, particularly during the birthday party scene that serves as the ‘birth’ of War Machine. Scarlet Johannsen is rather limited in her performance as Natalie Rushman (Black Widow), but she does do a phenomenal job of looking beautiful. Jon Favreau has a much larger role in Iron Man 2 as Happy Hogan, Stark’s limo driver. He’s a breath of fresh air throughout the film, firing off clever responses to Starks sarcasm while also coming to the aid of Potts on several occasions. His obvious concern for her well being should see more light in Iron Man 3, especially when you consider his short-term romantic relationship with her in the comic books.

The actors do tend to talk over each other, which makes for an awkward first viewing, especially in a crowded theatre. However, I promise you it doesn’t seem as chaotic when you watch it a second time. In fact, it brings a sense of realism to an otherwise completely unrealistic super hero backdrop.

Favreau is a good director who manages to accurately balance character development with live action scenes and special effects. Too many comic book adaptations have concentrated too heavily on over-the-top action sequences (see Transformers 2), but Favreau does an amazing job moving the story forward without Michael Bay-esque explosions and demolition. The pace allows you to almost ignore some of the glaring plot holes such as the new element he synthesizes with help from his father’s original blueprint.

Iron Man 2 is certainly not an epic comic book adaptation. It’s no Spiderman 2 and it’s not nearly as ground-breaking as The Dark Knight, but it is a heck of a lot of fun. Watching Tony spiral out of control amidst his deteriorating health is an enjoyable ride and the dialogue between characters is entertaining. On the down side, you really don’t feel like Iron Man and War Machine are ever challenged. The only immediate threat to our heroes is a legion of Hammer drones that don’t put up much of a fight once Iron Man and War Machine join forces. And unlike the Iron Monger suit in part 1, we don’t really see much of Whiplash’s new suit until he lands in the kill box after Stark and Rodey obliterate Hammer’s drone army.

Despite its flaws, Iron Man 2 is still an above-average comic book adaptation. The clever banter between Potts and Starks, Hammer and Starks, and Hammer and Ivan make for an enjoyable summer ride. Toss in a S.H.I.E.L.D. subplot, a few Avengers references including an appearance by Captain America’s shield (possibly developed by Tony’s father) and Thor’s Hammer at the end of the credits, and there’s plenty of Marvelous summer action for fans to sink their teeth into.

by Nathan Adamus

The Outdoor Store Selects IC9design as their Internet Marketing Team

2010-05-12T07:03:00.000-07:00

The Outdoor Store announced today that they have chosen IC9design as their internet marketing provider. IC9design is a rapidly growing integrated marketing solutions provider located in Bloomfield, NY that specializes in internet marketing, website design and development, eCommerce, and search engine optimization.

IC9design will be handling a variety of marketing services for The Outdoor Store including web design and development, content development, newsletters, and email marketing. They will also be adding a powerful eCommerce store to the newly designed website. The site will be driven by a database so they can control all the content and make changes in real time.

The Outdoor Store, located on Routes 5 & 20 in Bloomfield, New York, is nationally known for its fun, family-oriented atmosphere and the largest selection of Carhartt© in the area, American-made products from Johnson Woolen Mills located in Vermont, footwear, local products, and live bait.

“We have the whole family covered from head to toe,” said Gail, Owner of The Outdoor Store. “Every day families from around the area come by to visit and tell us how much they love our store. Even when you’re having a bad day, you hear something like that and it brightens your spirits. We’re looking to recreate that atmosphere online so when people are shopping on the web, they feel that same vibe they get when they walk through the front door.”

Families just can’t get enough of The Outdoor Store, even coming from miles away to visit the grinning old truck Mater that Gail’s daughter envisioned after watching the movie “Cars.” Mater is just a small piece of what makes The Outdoor Store such a delight for adults and children. After gearing up with some new outerwear, kids can enjoy the playground while their parents practice at the free 3D range located next to the store’s newest addition, Bullzeye Archery. Just beware of the life-like Velocirapter that stalks the nearby deer targets.

Ian Caspersson, IC9design's Owner and Creative Director, was enthusiastic about adding The Outdoor Store as a new client. "I’ve know about, and shopped at, The Outdoor Store for a very long time. They are a great group of hard working people and I’m grateful they asked us to improve their online presence. The store has this unique atmosphere that is comforting and appealing to the senses as soon as you walk in the front door. We’re building a site that emanates this same feeling. Our goal is to bring the store online with the same look and feel. I can’t wait to see the results they get from the campaigns we are planning for them.”

About IC9design
IC9design provides creative website design, graphic design, and integrated marketing solutions to businesses interested in boosting their market presence online. Since their inception in 2008, IC9design has grown by 300% and services clients from New York to Florida. For more information about IC9design, please visit the IC9design website at www.ic9design.com or call 585-662-8889.

About The Outdoor Store
The Outdoor Store is located on Routes 5 & 20 in Bloomfield, NY. Called the “biggest lil’ store in the Finger Lakes,” The Outdoor Store has been selling Carhartt, outdoor gear, gifts, locally made products, and live bait since 1996. For more information, visit www.theoutdoorstorebloomfield.com or call 585-657-7412.

Paul Rodriguez ft. Ice Cube - Today was a good day [extended version]

2010-04-15T13:24:00.000-07:00

Found this awhile ago - brought back old memories of hitting the pavement on my board. Enjoy!

The Power Of Internet Marketing - Pepsi Turns Ad Focus Online

2009-12-18T07:28:00.000-08:00

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4751415

MILWAUKEE -- Pepsi's Super Bowl streak is over after a 23-year run.

Ads for the drinks won't appear in next year's Super Bowl on CBS. Instead, the company plans to shift ad dollars to a new marketing effort that's mostly online.

Pepsi was one of the biggest advertisers in this year's game and has advertised every year since 1987. Frito-Lay, a unit of parent company PepsiCo Inc., will still have Super Bowl commercials in the 2010 game.

The company, which is based in Purchase, N.Y., spent $33 million advertising products like Pepsi, Gatorade, and Cheetos during the 2009 Super Bowl, according to TNS Media Intelligence, $15 million of it on Pepsi alone. Ad time for the NFL championship game cost about $3 million for 30 seconds, on average.

Those prices may have dipped to as low as $2.5 million per 30 seconds for the 2010 game, according to Jon Swallen, senior vice president of research for TNS Media Intelligence. Final figures won't be known until after the game, which takes place Feb. 7 and airs on CBS. The network said last week it has sold about 90 percent of the game's commercial time.

Shipper FedEx also said Thursday it will not advertise again in the Super Bowl due to costs, the same reason the company gave for sitting it out last time around.

Pepsi had been a major advertiser during the Super Bowl. According to TNS, the company spent $142.8 million on the 10 Super Bowl ads from 1999 to 2008, second only to Anheuser-Busch, which spent $216 million. The brewer of Bud Light confirmed Thursday it will have 5 minutes worth of advertising in the 2010 Super Bowl.

Pepsi recognizes Super Bowl ads can be effective for marketing, spokeswoman Nicole Bradley said, but the game doesn't work with the company's goals next year.

"In 2010, each of our beverage brands has a strategy and marketing platform that will be less about a singular event and more about a movement," she said.

Notable Super Bowl ads from Pepsi over the years have included celebrities such as Cindy Crawford, Britney Spears and Will.i.am.

The nation's second-biggest soft drink maker is plowing marketing dollars into its "Pepsi Refresh Project" starting next month as its main vehicle for Pepsi. The project will pay at least $20 million for projects people create to "refresh" communities.

A Web site will go live Jan. 13 where people can list their projects, which could range from helping to feed people to teaching children to read. People can vote starting Feb. 1 to determine which projects receive money.

Pepsi estimates the effort will fund thousands of projects and says other businesses will pledge money, too.

The company does plan to hold events related to its new effort at the Super Bowl.

Pepsi's move leaves the Super Bowl soft-drink field open for rival Coca-Cola Co., which has been widely reported to be advertising this year, though Coca-Cola declined to comment. The world's biggest soft drink maker was the eighth-highest spender on Super Bowl ads from 1999 to 2008. It spent $30.5 million on two Super Bowls within that decade.

Most advertisers on the Super Bowl do not have as long a history as Pepsi, Swallen said, averaging three to four years in a row before dropping out. They will often cycle back in, though, because it is a rare chance to reach such a wide audience. The 2009 matchup between Arizona and Pittsburgh attracted 95.4 million people.

"It is arguably the one TV programming event of the year where people tune in as much for the commercials as they do for the game that's being played on the field," he said.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

Are we there yet?

2009-10-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

This all too familiar backseat cadence has plagued family vacations since the invention of the automobile. As kids, we loved dropping the “are we there yet?” on our parents. Unfortunately, it tends to lose its humor value once you become the parent. It’s just simply not that amusing when you’re attempting to navigate an SUV across three lanes of interstate traffic to the island sounds of Spongebob Squarepants. Yes Mom and Dad… now we know what it feels like.

But let’s be honest… kids aren’t stupid. They know damn well we aren’t there yet. The answer is never a “yes, we’re there.” This question is rarely, if ever, answered with a sound “yes” or “no.” Instead, they tend take a different shape: “Does it look like we’re there yet?” “Ask again and we won’t be going anywhere.” And even the borderline inappropriate “Shut up before I throw your PSP out the window and fasten your mouth closed with the seatbelt.”

But the truth of the matter is that no one will ever get a firm “yes.” Everyone in the vehicle knows you’re not there or you’d be there. The car is still moving, the kids are still yelling, and your spouse is still arguing with the GPS. “No damnit! We are not there yet!” So how do you know when you’re there? Well, now that’s a good question.

As we grow older, “are we there yet” begins to take new meaning. “Is this where I’m supposed to be? Is this is good as life is gonna get? Have I reached my peak? Have I progressed and achieved success in relationships and in my career? Am I happy? Where am I going?” Ironically, we spend our childhood joking about why it’s taking so long to get to a destination, never understanding the true complexity of the question when applied to our ambitions.

I guess if you find yourself asking “am I there yet,” you probably aren’t there. As kids, we knew that at some point, we would be there. It may take a couple naps and a few slugfests with your siblings, but eventually you’d have a chance to massage out the numbness in your left cheek. Once real life kicks in, you may spend years grinding it out on your leather ass without ever putting the car in park.

Just like those family trips in the station wagon, life’s journey requires quite a bit of planning. You can’t expect to reach your destination without mapping out a solid course. And perhaps that’s the one thing many of us overlook. Instead of putting together a 1-year, 2-year, or 5-year plan, we simply assume that if we keep driving we’ll eventually get there. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. In order to truly achieve the success we desire, it may be helpful to install a primary navigation system.

If you’re still struggling to keep the car on the road, writing out a plan of action can help. Parking your goals next to the rusty ideas in your head will only make it that much easier to dump them into the incinerator when things aren’t working out as expected. Yes, it would be nice if we could simply enter our 5-year coordinates into a GPS device and let a soothing voice direct us to the pot of gold. But for now, we’ll have to find our own path. So get out that notebook and start planning, because on the road of life, you’re likely to run into construction, roadblocks, and hordes of idiot drivers. But that's nothing you can't handle with a little preparation and a set of new tires. Giddy-up.

by Nathan Adamus

Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3 review

2009-09-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
RocNation, 2009

Just in case you missed the first two installments, the Michael Jordan of rap has returned yet again to map out another blueprint for the industry. The Blueprint 3 tries to stack up against its predecessors, but falls a bit flat of rewriting history. Don’t get me wrong, Jay-Z is arguably the best to ever do it and there’s definitely a good chunk of solid music here to sink your teeth into. Unfortunately, the overall experience feels more like a Chinese buffet than a square meal—initially satisfying but leaving you hungry for more almost immediately after consumption.

When I first listened to The Blueprint 3, it was hard to ignore the initial assessments, printed reviews, and forum banter. The overall consensus is that The Blueprint 3 is an exceptional album, but perhaps this is actually just an indication of how stagnant the game is in 2009. Although this isn’t Jay’s best work, it still manages to stay afloat in today’s watered down market. Don’t get it twisted; Jay is a beast, combining his airtight cadence with clever wordplay and veteran charisma, but something is missing here. Although Jay tries to shift create an album suitable for old school heads, the underlying themes here don’t feel mature or inspired.

That being said, The Blueprint 3 is still an enjoyable experience, even if it does fail to harness the replay value of efforts like Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, The Black Album, and even American Gangster (which is a far more enjoyable experience in terms of content). The Blueprint 3 opens with the ambient Kanye West/No I.D. production “What We Talkin’ About.” Here Kanye swaps his traditional time-shifted vocal samples for atmospheric chords and plodding drums, creating a subtle backdrop for Jay to address critics, the game, politics, and the current economic situation.

The rest of the album flirts with this type of mellow production: beats are stripped of typical head nodding drums and orchestrated samples are often swapped for heavy synthesizers. This vibe carries over into “Thank You,” another Kanye and No I.D. beat collaboration that bounces along over a subdued big band loop and reverb-heavy snare. Although the production is far from lackluster, I can’t help but feel like Jay has recorded this song about six times already. You won’t find much replay value here minus some cagey lyrics like “Heaven knows that I've made my mistakes/ Thank God what a guy as I say my grace /Who woulda thought by making birds migrate/For the winter I be fly all summer might I say.”

In the grand scheme of things, the neck-snapping No I.D. produced single “D.O.A.” seems a bit out of place, especially when The Blueprint 3 isn’t exactly deprived of auto-tuned vocals. However, this is easily one of the better tracks on the album as Jay massacres the current T-Pain trend with scalding ferocity… uh! Here the album begins to gain some momentum with the second single, “Run This Town” featuring Rihanna and Kanye West and the NY anthem “Empire State Of Mind” featuring Alicia Keys.

“Empire State Of Mind” is arguably the best track on the album. Jay paints a vivid portrait of the Big Apple’s conflicting themes with commentary like “Hail Mary to the city you’re a Virgin/And Jesus can’t save you, life starts when the church ends/ Came here for school, graduated to the high life/Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight/MDMA got you feeling like a champion/The city never sleeps better slip you an Ambien.” I also have to tip my hat to Jay for reaching out to the gorgeous and talented Alicia Keys. She sounds absolutely stunning on the song’s hook, channeling Broadway’s infectious blacktop energy with soulful passion.

“Real As It Gets” featuring Young Jeezy tries to keep the momentum going but fails to really make an imprint. This isn’t a terrible cut, but I was expecting something epic from Jay and Jeezy. Instead, we’re greeted with familiar ‘top of the world’ subject matter and production that sounds more like a movie soundtrack than a platform for two giants to scale.

The Swizz Beatz crafted “On To The Next One” is quite possibly one of the most irritating songs I’ve ever heard on an album of this caliber. Swizz often gets criticized for his lazy production, but you can’t completely discredit the guy. He’s definitely made his mark and created some memorable beats for the industry’s best... this is definitely not one of them. I can imagine Guantanamo Bay guards using this track to torture prisoners into revealing the location of terrorist cells on US soil.

Timbaland makes a few appearances on the album with the songs “Off That” featuring Drake, “Venus vs. Mars,” and “Reminder.” Even though Jay has received some criticism for the Timbaland tracks he selected for The Blueprint 3, I think all three are pretty fresh. On “Venus vs. Mars,” Jay flips a back and forth flow over filtered string samples, eerie synths, and hollow kicks. Here Jay uses a relationship with a female companion to construct some of the most jaw dropping lyrical content on the album. Instead of simply rehashing the typical “Me And My Girlfriend” format, Jay does his best yin and yang impression:

Hov’s a Blackberry Bold, Shawty’s a Sidekick
She used to have a man, I used to have a side chick
Shawty got wind, I had to blow the chick off
Got rid of him, they both took the sh!t hard
Shawty play the piano, me I play the white keys
Shawty from the south, oh I think she like me
Shawty like Pac, me Big Poppa
Screaming hit em up, I’m screaming who shot ya.

The rest of The Blueprint 3 is pretty hit and miss. On “A Star Is Born” featuring ‘rated rookie’ J Cole, Jay creates a timeline of his career, paying homage to the artists he battled and befriended along the way. “Already Home” featuring Kid Cudi and the Neptune’s produced “So Ambitious” show signs of life but are easy skips if you’re looking for something more uptempo. “Hate” sees a return to traditional Kanye territory as an auto-tuned vocal loop allows Jay and Kanye to vent their frustration for—yes, you guessed it—haters.

Borrowing a sample from Alphaville’s familiar “Forever Young,” the album closes with “Young Forever,” a nod to living a remarkable and inspirational life. Ironically, this could be the reason The Blueprint 3 doesn’t really fulfill my expectations. Instead of giving us a focused album, Jay tries to balance familiar ‘living large’ themes with the vision of a successful adult. Unfortunately, it fails to capture the true essence of NY hip hop or the maturity and hindsight of a grown man who’s seen the game from every angle. We know the architect is capable of crafting a monumental product, but attempting to build a revolutionary home from this blueprint will ultimately result in an unstable foundation.

As a rap album, 4 out of 5
As a Jay-Z album – 3.5 out of 5

by Nathan Adamus

Classifed - Self Explanatory album review

2009-07-21T22:22:00.000-07:00

Classified
Self Explanatory
Sony Music Canada
2009

As Classified’s career has developed from Emcee to Producer Who Raps, his skills have rapidly increased in potency. Classified once said in an interview that he tries to make every album better than his last. And once again, he has succeeded. There is no simple explanation for Self Explanatory. With previous albums, Halifax’s underground king channeled his energy battling the industry, haters, other emcees, and the perception of the Canadian rapper. Although he occasionally drifted from these topics, the majority of his albums were a testament to his frustration as a Canadian artist who obviously deserved more attention.

On Self Explanatory, he finally finds the perfect balance between lyrical master, song writer, and production genius. By straying a bit from those all-too familiar topics, he creates a spine-rattling collage of mainstream club bangers, less than typical slow jams, inspirational messages, underground lyrical fests, obligatory posse cuts, stories, and Canadian tributes. Class has always been a great producer, but 2005’s Boy-Cott-In The Industry saw a shift from simple Triton-inspired keyboard grooves to live guitars and chopped samples. Since that album, Luke Boyd has gone from bedroom beats to studio symphonies. Self Explanatory contains Luke’s best production to date, blending live instruments, cleverly chopped samples, vocal hooks, synthesizers, and singing into melodic grooves and neck-snapping head bangers.

Read the rest of this review for Classified - Self Explanatory

Nathan Adamus

The Pharmaceutical Plague - The Deadliest Drug Dealer in Town Works in an Office Building

2009-06-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

At this point, most of the media is speculating that Michael Jackson’s second autopsy will reveal a whole slew of painkillers that Jackson was taking. Star has even reported that Michael died with only pills in his stomach, a mere skeleton of a man whose painkiller addiction had spiraled out of control. Of course, this is Star we’re talking about… the holy grail of bullshit media. Regardless, there is probably some merit to this story, especially since friends, family, and doctors have hinted at Michael’s chronic narcotic addiction.

Since 1999, prescription medication deaths have climbed nearly 90%. Unfortunately, it takes the death of big name celebrities like Heath Ledger, Anna Nicole, and the ‘King of Pop’ for anyone to take notice. Even in the wake of Ledger’s death, friends and the media came to his aid, stating that he was having sleeping problems and he needed the medication for pain. Ledger’s autopsy revealed he died from a deadly combination of Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Diazepam, Temazepam, Alprazolam, and Doxylamine. For those of you unaware of these medications, Oxycodone (also known as Oxycoton) and Hydrocodone (also known as Vicodin) are painkillers. Diazepam (aka Valium) is a sedative used to treat anxiety symptoms, sleeping disorders, and opiate withdrawal.

There’s no real need for me to continue through Heath’s laundry list, but just in case some of you believe the tripe the media feeds you, I can tell you with certainty that he was taking all those medications for no other reason than to get HIGH. The disturbing scenario here is that all the medication he was taking is completely legal with a prescription. These narcotics are more addictive than most streets drugs, yet doctors can seemingly hand out prescriptions for these medications with ease and without consequence.

Two years ago, I injured my back. I couldn’t move… it hurt like hell… and I was concerned that I had caused a serious amount of damage. I’m not much of a doctor guy, but after some persuasion, I called my primary care physician and scheduled an appointment. After waiting 45 minutes in the lobby and another 30 minutes on that uncomfortable paper crusted chair, he strolled into the room and spent only five minutes with me before handing me a three refill prescription of Hydrocodone. Not once did he discuss how to treat the pain naturally or even consider alternative options.

A year later, I was still popping pills… one or two a day because I enjoyed the buzz. At this point, my prescription was long gone. Instead of returning to the same doctor, I started buying pills on the street… thinking that the extra cost would encourage me to quit. I knew I had a problem, but every time I went a day without a pill, I would get sick. In fact, I was completely unable to function. Over the course of a year, I lost nearly 25 pounds and I found my normal energy level was nearly nonexistent.

Finally, I sought help. Thanks to the support of some very good friends, I spoke to a rehab specialist. Well, let’s just say that meeting didn’t go so well. I was basically told that my addiction was minor and that an in-treatment rehab program would not be covered by my healthcare program. I just wanted to detox, but instead, I could only participate in an out-treatment program that I really wasn’t that enthusiastic about. One of the outpatient treatment programs required me to take an opiate withdrawal pill. The last thing I wanted to do was trade one addiction for another, so I took matters in to my own hands. I locked myself in my apartment for a week where I spent each day pissed off, vomiting, and unable to eat or sleep. Thank God for Blockbuster or I would have been a complete wreck.

During this process, I changed my primary care physician and visited another doctor. At one point, he even wrote me a prescription for Hydrocodone and told me to split the pills in half to wean myself off. What a brilliant idea. I can tell you with certainty that this only prolonged my addiction. Once I completed my own detox, I returned to my doctor for a follow-up. I told him that I was now pill free but I was having trouble sleeping. He said he could prescribe medication to help me sleep and also told me that I showed signs of anxiety. He gave me two prescriptions that day: one sleep medication and one anxiety medication. I specifically told him that I didn’t want any medication, but he assured me that these meds were non-addictive and wouldn’t cause me any problems.

Now maybe there is such a thing as an anxiety disorder, but I have to believe that all of us have experienced some form of anxiety. If it was up to the doctors in the world, we’d probably all be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and pumped full of medication. I took the anxiety medication he gave me for two days and almost immediately started experiencing stomach discomfort. I never did take the sleeping medication for a variety of reasons, but primarily because I had done a good deal of research and discovered that sleep medication is highly addictive. Two doctors with more education than I care to investigate and both of them treated me with medication. They didn’t even attempt to treat me naturally. Hell, what’s the point of paying a co pay if your medical advice consists of basically sending me into the city to get heroine.

And that is the primary reason I decided to write this entry. Granted laws are a bit different in other countries, but here in the U.S., a street dealer can go to jail for selling a quarter ounce of pot, but a licensed physician can hand out prescriptions for Methadone, Vicodine, Valium, Oxycoton, and a host of other opiates without consequence. Marijuana, cocaine, and heroine are frowned upon and treated harshly, yet controlled substances are easily obtained and doctors are encouraged to push them on patients even though last year more people died taking legal prescriptions than illegal street drugs. Basically, we have a situation where street dealers are sent to jail and licensed drug dealers are rewarded for selling products that are just as hazardous if not more so. WTF is that about?

The biggest issue with this problem is that since these drugs are prescribed and legal, the public assumes that these medications aren’t harmful and that they’re perfectly ok to ingest. Absolutely not!!! No one has ever died from smoking too much marijuana. On the other hand, we have recently watched two huge entertainers die from a deadly combination of prescription medications, and by the time this autopsy is done on Michael, I’m willing to bet it will be three. There’s a reason Michael Jackson was 112 pounds when he died. I can tell you first hand that you have absolutely no desire to eat when you’re pumped full of painkillers. Even if he didn’t die of a drug overdose, I think it’s safe to say that all the medication he was on put a huge strain on his heart and many other vital organs.

What’s truly pathetic is that Michael’s friends and family were obviously well aware of his addiction. I was watching Larry King Live the other night when Liza Minnelli discussed Michael’s death. This woman is absolutely fried. I could tell immediately that she was saturated with sedatives. In fact, as soon as discussions led to a family doctor stating that Michael most likely died from an overdose or drug related complications, she became very defensive. Who knows, maybe she has the same doctor that Michael has.

But this is the problem… celebrities run in the same circles and trading meds or finding the right doctor to sign a prescription is a painless process. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll, right? It just comes with the territory, right? Well, there are plenty of celebrities who have never chased the white pony down the rabbit hole. Unfortunately, those individuals who have steered clear of illegal narcotics may feel it’s ok to pop a few Valium or a few Ambien because those drugs aren’t plagued with the same stigma as ‘hard drugs.’

I really do pray that we all wise up to this situation. Writing this was not easy for me since I have primarily kept my addiction secret, but in the wake of these recent deaths and a horde of celebrities like Lindsay Lohan, Eminem, and Britney Spears seeking rehab for pharmaceutical addictions, I felt this was a valid time to face my demons in hope that someone will read this and think twice before accepting a prescription for a controlled substance. There are plenty of ways to deal with pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders that don’t require medication. I just hope that our medical governing bodies take a good look at this problem and start encouraging doctors to advocate natural, alternative methods instead.

God bless…

Nathan Adamus

Hip Hop's Live Performance - Shame on you Eminem!

2009-05-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

In the age of iTunes, Limewire, and rampant downloading, the live show has become the proverbial bread winner for bands. The bad news for the hip hop community is that the same can be said for almost any rapper. Sure, the mainstream behemoths like Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, and Jay Z can primarily slide by on album and clothing sales, but the majority of mic wielding professionals have been forced to hit the road in an attempt to keep their dream afloat.

This wouldn’t necessarily be a problem, but most hip hop shows have been stereotyped: 13 guys on stage shouting ad libs over a winded lyricist, muffled sound, and the occasional gun shot. For individuals who don’t understand the allure of hip hop, paying good money to see two guys ‘talking’ over an instrumental is incomprehensible. ‘Where’s the band, where’s the music, where’s the guitar solo?’ Hype may work for billboard emcees who can pack a stadium with screaming teenagers, but it’s not going to fill the local battle grounds.

But, is it too late to fix this trend? If Eminem’s recent stage performance on the Jimmy Kimmel show was any indication of rap’s evolution, the genre may be in serious need of a defibrillator. First off, shame on you Slim. This is your comeback album, your so-called return to viral Marshall Mather’s form, and with your first televised performance you choose to rhyme over your album cut Beautiful complete with original vocals. To be honest, there’s a good chance your mic wasn’t even on, and even if it was, it was too low to detect.

I don’t mean to pick on you Marshall, but as one of hip hop’s few remaining shining stars, this behavior is simply unacceptable. You’d never see the prodigious Jay Z nonchalantly perform over an album cut? In fact, Jay may be the most powerful live performer hip hop has ever seen. With no hype man and a live band behind him, he can command an audience like a rock star, firing molten lava at front row groupies with ease.

Hip hop needs more emcees willing to let loose, more drum kits on stage, and more dancers. Unfortunately, word of a piss poor stage performance travels quicker than Barry Allen on an empty freeway. Now ticket buyers have to wonder if the real artist will even show up. Purchasing an MF Doom ticket may be a bigger gamble than spinning the ‘Money Wheel’ at the local casino… you never know what overweight villain will show up to don the silver mask. I imagine that most fans would rather sit in the living room with the iPod on shuffle than pay good money to see a lip synching imposter.

For hungry underground artists and lesser-known commercial rappers, no-shows, weak sound systems, and half-@ss performances are detrimental to their survival. Hip hop isn’t dead yet, but it’s facing some seriously tough times. With big record stores like Virgin being swallowed by the current economic situation and file sharing programs, hip hop’s endurance will depend on the artist’s ability to adapt. Live shows need to become intense visual and musical displays. After all, no one wants to pay good money for a DJ and two emcees spewing incomprehensible nonsense. Perhaps rap concerts need to become a fulfilling entertainment experience, not just an excuse for a small group of fans to burn a few blunts… because at this point, we can’t afford to mess up the rotation.

by Nathan Adamus

Captivity

2009-05-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

When do we finally break free of our captivity? Whether we’re stuck on the streets, tied down to a dead end job, or spending countless years in the company of an individual we can’t even bare to look at, what is it that finally makes us flip the switch? For some of us, this time will never come. We’ll spend the rest of our lives wondering what could have been, what we should have done, what went wrong. And as our skeleton decays, our muscles disintegrate, and our minds go numb, we just pray that we did the best we could with the time we were given.

But what about those individuals who were stripped of the opportunity to make these critical decisions? What goes through the mind of the child who catches a stray bullet on his Big Wheel or the homecoming queen that got in the wrong car with the wrong jock? Do they question what they did with their brief time on Earth or do they wonder why they were never given the chance to watch their life get flushed down the proverbial toilet? Many of us probably know someone who died a tragic death, but how many of us actually choose to live a more fulfilling life knowing that our friend was stripped of this very opportunity.

In a similar twist, I spent 10 years of my life rotting my lungs, watching the clock tick so I could rush home from the gym and fire up a cigarette. I know plenty of people who have died from lung cancer, yet I still chose to siphon valuable sand out of the hourglass. I was a slave to my own addiction, a whore to the skinny white pimp. You’d think I would have learned from all those anti-smoking campaigns and falter as the prices of nicotine began to skyrocket, but no. Instead, I chose to tighten the cuffs a bit more each day.

Captivity is a mind state. Whether it's drugs, alcohol, nicotine or the internet… we are trapped inside a bottle trying to break free. Some of us may choose to pop the shackles, but most of us will just complain about our current state and do nothing to fix the situation. We’ll watch as our friends and family die. We’ll cry, we’ll yell, we’ll get drunk, we’ll hide, and we’ll pray… sometimes. But when it’s all over, we’ll yank the anchor and set sail, drifting through choppy seas on a collision course with the typhoon of death.

Perhaps the notion of an afterlife keeps many of us from seeking an alternative to our state of captivity. But what if this was it? What if we only get one strike… one opportunity to seek fulfillment? In many ways, faith yields complacency. Certainly the state of emergency is diminished once we choose to acknowledge the concept of the afterlife. If we screw up this chance, we can just try again next time. On the flip side, if we believe that this life affects our hypothetical ‘second chance,’ we may feel the obligation to make things happen this go around. That bit of faith in each of us gives us hope that the next day will bring something special. There’s a reason we’re here now, and if we don’t step our game up we’re going to seriously regret wasting time for 40 years with lungs full of blacktop.

After all, I don’t think any of us really want to die without achieving our goals. We could argue that individuals who commit various forms of suicide want to die. I’d rather assume that thoughts of suicide rear their ugly head once a specific breaking point has been breached. You’ve seen the world and you don’t see your place, or perhaps you’re frustrated with the way you’re treated and don’t feel like you have an opportunity to change your situation. We’ve all been there, but the majority of us have figured out ways to cope with the madness.

Afterlife or no afterlife, we still have a chance to end our captivity today. We don’t have to watch as wrinkles wriggle their way up our faces and love handles drape over our faded leather belts. If you’re not happy, you can mentally prepare yourself to do whatever it takes to cut loose. No one else can change your life for you. Even if you’re not immediately willing to put down that cigarette or tell the nag to pack his bags just yet, you can at least acknowledge your situation and put plans in place to change it. The key is finding a way to control the stage. After all, we never know when the curtain will close on our greatest performance.

by Nathan Adamus

It Was Just A Shoe

2008-12-18T10:18:00.000-08:00

I just have to laugh about this incident. What's more is I didn't even want to know any more about it because I know it would be so overblown that it would become just out of control. So some guy threw a shoe at the president. And then if I heard correctly, he threw his other shoe too. Now, to me that's just funny. It reminds me of when an audience would throw bad vegetables at a poor performer. A rotten tomato or a stinky head of cabbage. Really, that's just humorous. It doesn't matter if you're for or against the president - laugh already.

So it was the president and that makes it some headline story. Come on, there's so much worse, and better, out there so let's not go overboard with analyzing something like this. It's like that "Dogs and cats living together" line of dialog from Ghostbusters. Ghostbusters, now that was a fun movie. Maybe I'll go add that to my Netflix...

Where is the Compassion?

2008-12-18T09:39:00.000-08:00

What is it that makes so many fend for themselves? Why does a tough economy push people to make bad decisions and forget about those who helped them get to where they are. In business, the "corporate" atmosphere often gets a bad rap due to the often gloomy mood that sweeps through a cube pasture like a tidal wave. I recall observing one persons issues spread like wildfire throughout a floor of employees. Is it personal or business - what drives an employee to open up negatively to others in public within a business setting. Maybe it's stress, maybe it's just a sounding board, or maybe they just don't know any better.

To back up to the bad decision part. We all make decisions, god or bad, we all just plain have to make them. We weigh our options and choose what we believe is best one - usually. Now, we're all brought up differently and some of us use that as our excuse for when something goes wrong. The fact is we all fail at times. It's those who pick themselves up and move on that make a real difference. Spiritually, emotionally, and as a reflection on others. But if we have compassion or care about who it is we are affecting and if it isn't someting we are doing within ourselves, if we fail we still are trying.

You can't fail at being compassionate. Some of us are quietly compassionate about others and look to help in our own ways, others may need to feel praise for being compassionate. And still others are looking for kick-back for their compassion. But what is it that hides compassion? Where does it go and should it be something you expect.

Ok, here is where I tie this together in the business world. I've worked for a number of businesses before I started IC9design. In my experience, I've seen nose dives, negative nancy's, and mohagny rowers, divide and try to conquer in totally asinine ways. Is it their fault - probably not. They just didn't have the experience for the postion they were in. That happens when promoting from within without a good continuous learning or outside coach. And this is when compassion falls to the wayside. Unexperienced employees, directors to designers, are not at fault for being uncompassionate about the work they do in some business, but why not let some of their personal compassion allow you to help others and enjoy the moment? Too often a decision is made that doesn't take into account the real effects. Forget the money, the benefits, or the gym reimbursement - think about the person, the employee.

Since I started IC9design I've worked on my compassion. For my employees, my clients, and my vendors. My employees know me, they know my family and my beliefs about art and design. They know what I expect and that I'm here to educate and help them become what they want to be. I'm not a roadblock, I'm a guide. There are times when I need to be hands off and let them do their thing. And I trust them, because they trust me.

Our clients know us. They could be looking for a website redesign or a printed brochure, in either case, they know we will work WITH them until it's exactly what they want. I can't help but show compassion when it comes to the work we do - it's my livelyhood and it's what really gets me going. There's so much that is left to chance when working with a creative agency and I'm changing that with IC9design. I see our clients as lifetime clients, not just for a project or two. The more we work with them the better we get at creating exactly what they need quickly. What's great about this way of thinking is we get them answers quicker and in a relationship like this you aren't afraid to show some compassion about the work or the clients ideas.

So think about the things that bug you and the issues you may be having. Now roll those off your back. Think about what you're passionate about and start doing it, this is sometimes called a "hobby". In either case, as you are figuring this out, think about how to be more compassionate about it. How will this help someone? Do you want to handstitch teddy bears for a local childrens hospital? When my wife and kids were in a car accident, I remember the hospital giving my kids teddy bears. Talk about compassion - the people who made these bears have a bigger heart than we can imagine. Compassion enriches lives other than your own. And it's one of those things you see and feel as you experience life more and, unfortunately, grow older.

Compassion. Let's get back to it.

Logo Diving

2008-11-10T17:13:00.000-08:00

At IC9design we continuously have to be creative and think up completely new ideas for each and every project we work on. Not just one idea per project, try 3 or 4 distinct ideas for one project. For instance, take creating a logo. You must dive in head first with these things. There is no one right angle to take. There are so many routes you can take in approaching a logo and many options. Color, perspective, shape, form, integration, use, font, lighting, weight, impact, emotion, attitude, balance, negative space, and a hundred more.

Think of the FedEx logo. Take a close look at the negative space in their logo between the "E" and "x" and you'll see a right pointing arrow. Now, that wasn't a coincidence. It was designed, redesigned, and then redesigned over and over again until it was right. And I highly doubt it was the first approach they took.

So the next time you think about why a logo looks the way it does, don't critique too quickly. Take a second glance and see if you can find those hidden (subliminal) messages burried within the surface. And the next time you design a logo, take this lesson into consideration.

By the way, shameless plug time - IC9design creates logos for less than a hundred bucks.

Ways To Clear Your Head

2008-11-10T16:45:00.000-08:00

My older brother got married a few weeks ago and when it was time to give my speech my emotions really took over. I couldn't get the words out, they just stuck in my throat and got all jumbled in my head. It was a build up of so many emotions and experiences over the past year. I finally collected myself and finished my speech, but the impact in my head was still swimming - even on the trip home from Annapolis. Not only was the build up seeing my brother get married, but it was a number of great memories of family and friends.

So for the past couple of weeks I've been taking time to look back and clear up old thoughts and store them as memories. I looked back to when I started IC9design and the whirlwind of complexities it has taken to build a successful business that put the client first, but lets us be creative and do the things that keep us motivated. I looked back and relived my wife and my children's birthdays. I thought about my best friend losing his father to cancer. The days I was able to play with my kids outside and watch them grow and play together. The smile on my daughters face when she was able to get 4 rungs across the monkey bars. And the giggle from my son as he shuffled across the driveway in a car that my younger brother got for us. Going out to my parents to have dinner every other weekend. And the times we get to see friend - that are way to far apart.

Hundreds of scenes that pass through, all mixed up, that linger (in a good way). But it feels like they are things I have to remember at times. So I sit and I think about times that are outside of just the business hours. I find so often now that my business makes its way into my family life - and I've been told that is a natural occurance and can't be helped. But again, those scenes mix in with business and take me for a rollercoaster of quiet emotions. And no, I'm not going crazy.

So I sit and think, sometimes while I work, sometimes just before I fall asleep, sometimes when I sit out on the front porch just after or before dinner. During these times I'm thinking more about the past then the future. The world moves so quickly as we get older and busier that the chance to let our brains rest is almost nonexistant. I have though about meditation and have read alittle bit about it. I think I've found my own style of meditation that let's me reflect and remember.

My older brother gave my younger brother and I music for a groomsman gift (he knows us too well). One of the tracks is called "Soldier" by Francis Dunnery. I listen to it often, and with my head clear, I move on.

"Buckypaper" - lighter and stronger than steel

2008-10-21T18:14:00.000-07:00

These are the types of scientific breakthroughs I love to read. During the last six or so years I've taken more interest in science and engineering. Interesting you think? For someone who took Math and Science all through public education and then dropped right into art at college (Alfred U). Well, somewhere in my cranium there was a spark that wasn't fed well enough during my higher education days. And now it wants out. So, I checked out this Buckypaper and yep, it is named after Buckminster Fuller - the famous architect, inventor, and engineer. And it all goes full circle back to the art career and around to the math, science, and engineering interest. I've come to terms that it's all related in that blank matter that floats inbetween everything.

Enjoy this article on Buckypaper.

Sometimes there just aren't words...

2008-10-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

I came across this on a site for one of our local radio stations in Rochester, NY (WBEE). It was posted by Terry Clifford. Inspiration and Hope aren't strong enough words to describe how I felt after watching and learning about this person. I was left with compassion, drive, and the want to reach out more.

Earlier this year I blogged about a gentleman I met at Strong Memorial hospital. His name is Mike Bliss and had been a patient at Strong recovering from a brutal random act of violence. Mike was left paralyzed from the waist down with little use if his hands and arms as well. When I met him I was struck with his attitude, he excuded hope and optimism, he was an inspiration. He looked me square in the eye and told me he WOULD walk again and I believed him and guess what……

B.A.S.K.O. - Emerging Hip-Hop Artist

2008-10-18T08:23:00.001-07:00

We're working on a website for a truly talented artist from the Rochester, NY area. Basko's music is heartfelt, inspirational, and rooted deep with his real life upbringing. We have great respect for those who can pick themselves up, dust of the dirt, and continue to pursue their dreams.

It's a great project and we'll have the official site up soon. For now, take a look at his My Story video (directed by Rob MacGowan) and his MySpace page to listen to some tracks from is upcoming album "Charlie Bucket."

He's had tracks in the blockbuster Transformers, The Love Guru with Mike Meyers, and I Think I Love My Wife. His music has also been in a number of TV shows including Numbers and The OC.

Keep an ear out for this cat. He's gonna be BIG!

Find Creative Inspiration in the Change of Seasons

2008-10-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

It may sound kind of corny, but I often find inspiration through form and color in nature. The best time being during the change of seasons. Rochester, NY has so many creative venues to offer - its best venue being that we get to experience all 4 seasons. Winter may seem like it will never end, but think back and try to remember how many "really" big snow storms we've had in the past 10 years. Maybe 3 or 4 and they only lasted for a few days (and yes, it's tough when we have no electricity). But we get through it.

So back to inspiration. I've been watching an Autumn Blaze Maple tree we planted last spring. It's leaves started changing in late summer due to all the rain we've had. The leaves are now a brilliant red - it looks amazing. I walked out to it the other day and checked out its color. Upon closer inspection the leaves have thousands of tints of red, orange, yellow, and some green (with a little brown here and there). I also noticed black within the brown.

The gradation from one color to another was always random - no 2 leaves looked the same. This display of natural color is rarely found in commercial design. Maybe the reason is that it is too hard to mimic (and it is). Or that we critique so much that the natural layout has been locked away in our minds. Our visual senses being masked by the "norm". Just remember to look at the objects around you - and I mean really look. Don't just think "oh that's a pretty color." Take a minute and pull over and walk over to it. Look closely and try to embed a few distinct visuals. If you ever get stuck for creative inspiration, turn to nature.

The imperfection of linear color changing in nature is perfect.

Thank You to Haarstick Sailmakers

2008-10-16T19:13:00.000-07:00

We've completed a website redesign for Haarstick Sailmakers located on Hudson Ave in Rochester, NY. What more is we were able to keep their SEO ranking with the redesign. They also opted for our custom content management system (we refer to it as our Site Admin Center). So they are able to change all their site content on the fly. No waiting - just make a change in a form, press the submit button, and they are completely up-to-date.

The design process and critiques were a success. Getting everyone together to hash out ideas and make changes to prototypes worked out great. It's nice when you get everyone on the same page, but it is so much better when everyone has a say in the design and development phases.

It was great working with the crew over at Haarstick. Eric and Doug are good natured, down-to-earth, and focused on the well-being and success of the company.

Thanks guys for putting your trust in us and it was alot of fun working with you.
Ian

IC9design is hitting the pavement

2008-10-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

Yep. We're making our move and looking for new clients in the greater rochester area. We're based just south of Rochester, NY and will be making some rounds to garner up and spread the word. My plan is to send out two of our creative minds to mingle and introduce IC9design to the community. So more about that later.

We provide creative and innovative business solutions in print and on the web. We offer many design services, including our fully customizable self-administration solution for you to control your own website content.

From web to print, audio & video, to online courses and eUniversities.

Go to ic9design.com to find out more!