Archives

Nov
30

Starbucks and the Art of the French Press

Ordering a French Press from Starbucks always elicits one of two reactions from the barista.

  • “Huh?” from the newer baristas.  I’m not sure if French presses aren’t very well covered in training or if they just hit it so infrequently and/or it’s in such an awkward place on the cash register that it’s difficult to find.
  • “Good choice!” Again, I’m assuming that it’s a lesser made beverage and a change of pace is nice.

The allure of a French Press to me is that for about three and a half bucks you can enjoy a cup of coffee whose oils haven’t been filtered out.  It’s fresh, it’s hot, and it’s whatever blend you want it to be (not just whatever blend they happened to brew today).

It’s a time out in the day where you can simultaneously relax and focus.

You can chat with a friend, strategize with a co-worker, or sip while you read a good book.

For all the talk about “$5 coffee” and Starbucks’ drinks just being milkshakes, I still find that my favorite beverages are either around $2 (iced coffee or espresso con panna) or about $3.50.  In this economy, it’s nice to find something that will increase your quality of life at that price.

Nov
19

Designing the Signature Team Business Cards

Today I designed the backs of the business cards of one of our newer brands, the Signature Team.

This team is a group of retired GSA personnel who has spent significant time as GSA employees and are known as the most experienced in their field.  Each team member has 25+ years of experience as a GSA employee.  These highly experienced contractors work part time on difficult or highly specialized projects from GSA.

The front will look like our usual company business card, but the back will be more representative of the message we are trying to convey with the Signature Team.

When designing the card, I considered that we are selling the services of our government “premium brand“.  Each of the members of the Signature Team has a significant and very personal set of experiences that they’re able to pull from.  Each member has also spent significant time serving GSA and the government.

With that in mind, the back of the cards were created to:

  • Conjure the idea of a premium label.
  • Keep the company logo as the most prominent part in the hierarchy of the card.
  • The Signature Team “Edwardian Script ITC” font is used as the next most significant piece of the card to solidify branding with our Signature Team branding effort.
  • Each card is personalized to emphasize the idea that the experience of each member is unique; no other person has their collection of experiences and it’s what makes them most suitable for certain tasks.
  • Each card contains the real signature of the card holder adding value to the card by highlighting that each team member has abilities as unique as their signature.
  • Next to their name is the number of years they were public servants gaining experience and leading up to their ability to be the leading expert in their respective field.
Nov
12

Big Fat Northern Roadtrip ’08

Nov
11

Why I Couldn’t Make The Retreat This Weekend

I was recently told that there was some surprise that I wasn’t at the Fusion retreat at WISP this past weekend.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend as my $140 was earmarked to go elsewhere.

After much consideration, I decided that my $140 should really be spent on the less fortunate, so instead of attending the retreat I sent it to assist in the bailout of AIG.

Additionally, I will be holding a charity auction this weekend to benefit AIG.  The auction will be done through the Mutli-Billion Dollar Corporation Relief Fund, a 501(c)3 I set up to help the corporations.

If you have anything that you’d like to donate to be auctioned off or if you’d like to attend the auction, please let me know.

Nov
05

An Open Letter to My Supporters

My friends, I want to thank you for taking the time to vote yesterday.

Yesterday is the first time in the 10 years I’ve been of legal voting age that not one person I voted for won their election.

This includes myself.

My friends, although I did not win any of the public offices that you voted for me to be a part of, I am still proud today; proud of a campaign run without mudslinging and a grass roots support system that never said quit.

My campaign consisted entirely of two things.

  • My campaign slogan: “My humility is only surpassed by my ability.”
  • A promise of pizza and soda machines at all PTA meetings.

Enough people believed in these two things that I was trusted with literally ones of votes for Board of Education in Howard County.  My friends, I thank each of you.  Mom, time heals all wounds and I will eventually forgive that you forgot to write me in.

In two different districts I was voted for circuit court judge.  My friends, this was the very definition of the audacity of hope.  To vote for a man with no law degree or formal legal training and believe that he could make a difference by being a judge instead of legislator while serving on the bench shows that you have a true “Yes, we can!” attitude.

As we move forward from this election, I’d like to say that I am a proud American who will fully embrace our new circuit judges and Board of Education.

Janet Siddiqui, remember the pizza and soda machines.  Parents get hungry, too.

Tim McCrone, remember that in its simplest form, justice is really “just ice”.  Keep that in mind, and I know you’ll make Howard County proud.

New circuit court judge in District 8, I couldn’t bother to look up your name.  But good luck with that.

God bless you, my friends.  God bless Howard County.  God bless Maryland, and God bless America.

UPDATE: I also just found out I was a write-in for Senator of South Dakota, but narrowly lost to Tim Johnson by 237,813 votes.  Thank you, jenimc!