Here’s a great video to teach you about CCD and it’s possible causes.

Clearly, pesticide use needs to stop, both in the commercial farm and in your own back yard.

Bees need our help. Let’s stop using pesticides and weed killer in our yards and gardens and demand that commercial farmers stop using them too. Shop your local farmers markets, write your state and local representatives to tell them to help save the honeybees, and replace your manicured yards with bee-friendly flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

Here’s the big question: Would you prefer to have pest-free fruits and vegetables and maybe get cancer from the pesticides and risk the loss of honeybees (which would result in the loss of all of your favorite fruits and vegetables), or would you rather live in harmony with bugs?

A few years ago, I wrote an aritcle for TechTrax about creating your own custom 401 and 404 Error Pages. What many new web designers don’t know is that both of the 401 and 404 error message pages can be fully customized to match the exact design and layout of any existing Web site.

Today, custom error pages are just one of the tiny things (like favicons, site maps, and useful meta tags) that help separate the professional designers from the rest of the crowd. Now, thanks to the kind folks at tutorialzine.com, you can take your 404s to the next level with  HTML5.

Here’s the tutorial: http://tutorialzine.com/2010/08/animated-404-not-found-page-css-jquery/

A genuine Scranton needlepoint pillow can be yours for $98 from the Jonathan Adler store. I love Jonathan’s stuff, er, items.

Something about the hot summer weather seems to always make me crave cold, spicy, homemade salsa—especially when it’s heaped on top of delicious shrimp & black bean tacos. Here’s my recipe.

Ingredients:

3 fresh jalapenos, diced
1 white or sweet onion, diced
1/4 cup canned corn, drained
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 Tbsp chopped garlic
1 cup chopped fresh tomato
1 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup lime juice
1/2 tsp sea salt

Directions: Chop up all the veggies and toss them with the vinegar, lime juice and salt. Cover and chill for 1+ hours. The longer it chills, the more flavorful it becomes. Serve with shrimp tacos, chips, guacamole, and your favorite ice cold beverage. For a fruity variation, add in 1/2 cup of diced pineapple chunks.

Let me know how yours turns out.

PS. This recipe was inspired by the FREE WONDERFOODS list

As a proud member of the Graphic Artists Guild, I am privy to important matters and public announcements that non-members might never learn about. Here’s a tip from them that I’d like to share because I strongly believe that I think every artist, designer, and creative person should know:

DID YOU KNOW…?

The US Copyright Office reports very long processing delays for mail-in registrations. To save both $$$ and processing time, register your work online at www.copyright.gov. Online registration provides an immediate record of your submission. Online registration is only $35. Be sure to always save a hard copy of your work with your registration documentation.

Download this list of amazing WONDERFOODS…

The foods on this list can teach you which foods you can eat to help improve your health and ward against common ailments such as cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, indigestion, thyroid irregularity, and more.

After printing a copy for yourself, please share this file with all of your family and friends. These wonderful treasures of the earth can help you live a longer, fuller, happier, and healthier life.

Note: Not sure of the origin of this file, but it was sent to me in good faith that I’d share it with as many people as possible.

Here’s a contest to design a poster for the 10th Annual Tiburon International Film Festival, which is held each year in Tiburon, California (that’s in Northern California, just outside of San Francisco). Enter today for your chance to win. Here are the deets…

Poster Contest for the
10th Annual
Tiburon International Film Festival April 7-15, 2011
Deadline: December 1, 2010
***
GUIDELINES:
The contest is open to all artists from around the world. All entries must be received by: December 1, 2010.

• There is no limit to the number of entries submitted.
• Entries must be 8 1/2″ w x 11″ h, if sent by mail; or 300 dpi or higher, if emailed.
• Using colors and design concepts that create a strong graphic presentation for our 10th anniversary and to represent the film festival.
• The design must be easily translated to a variety of print materials such as the cover of the program guide, posters, newsprint ads, t-shirts, etc.

In the artwork, please incorporate the following:

• 10th Annual Tiburon International Film Festival
• Festival dates: April 7-15, 2011
• Festival motto: Understanding the World through Film®
• Festival web address: www.TiburonFilmFestival.com

Include your information with each submission. Entries will be evaluated based on appeal, content and marketability.
The winner will receive a festival pass and his/her photo and biography will be posted on the festival website for one year for a worldwide exposure.

Email or send submissions to:  
Tiburon International Film Festival
Phone: (415) 381-4123
Fax: (415) 388- 4123
info@TiburonFilmFestival.com
www.TiburonFilmFestival.com
1680 Tiburon Boulevard,
Tiburon, CA 94920 USA

If you like, send me a copy of your finished art and I’ll post a copy of it here!

Ventura CA

We had a wonderful, relaxing, adventure-filled vacation. Thanks California!

This is the view from the edge of the pier in Ventura, CA, just a little way up the coast from Los Angeles. The water was incredibly blue and we saw plenty of dolphins and seagulls to round out the day. Other activities included the Long Beach Aquarium, the Santa Barbara Zoo, delicious authentic Mexican lunch in Oxnard, time with family and friends, 4 trips to the beach, 1 swim in a pool, lots of glorious sunshine (despite what the locals there call “June Gloom”), and delicious food.

I love it when I stumble upon a great artist’s work. Today I found David Hilliard’s photographs and felt a kind of synchronicity. He uses multiple images, usually, three, to create a wide angle triptych of a moment in his own or close friends’ and family’s lives. I love the division of space, the quiet moments he captures, and the shifting points of view. Check it out.