 but to take the risks they would have preferred to avoid in order to protect their livelihoods. 

We can't expect ordinary people to make those sacrifices when our leaders aren't giving clear direction or offering the support people need. 

I'm very grateful were so isolated geographically because if we were a land locked country in Europe with this response it would have been devastating.Joclyn couldn't help but laugh, *Scars really are a northern thing*, she thought to herself, remembering all the times Bryalla would trace her scars, or comment how on how fond of them she was. "Those Direwolves left me with alot more than just the ones you can see now", Joclyn replied. The Stormlander rolled up the sleeve on her left arm, showing the Northman an arm heavily banded in claw and fang marks, deep puncture marks ans trenches carved into her flesh. "Both my legs are in a similar state", she stated. 

The scarred Stormlander laughed once more, "Your king offered me a place at his court, I don't really know why... Or what I'd be doing, but it was tempting", she admitted. "Though I don't think Nyra would like it too much, too cold for her, plus she has her claim to concern herself with...", she shrugged, unhappy with her situation and how she was treated, but fully dedicated to Nyra.Victor Melendez is an art director, graphic designer, and illustrator based in Seattle. He has created award-winning work for a wide variety of clients that include REI, T-Mobile, Starbucks, Crayola, SubPop, 21st Amendment Brewery, Hallmark, Sasquatch! Music Festival, and many more.
Victor Melendez and fellow Seattle designer, Shogo Ota in front of a mural made in collaboration with Urban Artworks and their youth program.
I think consideration of the end user is paramount. I find myself doing lots of research before each project— everything from culture and traditions to design aesthetics and current events that relate to the audience. I also keep a folder of inspirational images and create a moodboard with references for color, style, typography, and design inspiration in general. At the same time, I write down ideas—even just individual words—that will lead to sketches.
I first sketch loose compositions in small thumbnails (nothing detailed, just shapes and lines) to establish a sense of flow. After a few thumbnails, I move on to a more elaborate sketch that contains loose type studies. This is often when I see the concepts take shape. I see what’s working, pick two or three sketches, and pair them with pieces of the moodboard. Once a concept is chosen, I start development, again taking into consideration the research I did at the beginning of the process.
Starbucks Anniversary Blend preliminary compositional thumbnails.
I often doodle or experiment with new media—anything from trying out new inks or markers to building something out of wood or modeling clay. I have found that trying something you have no experience with gives you a sense of freedom and makes you feel less restricted in the creative process.
This can work in a couple of ways. For one, it can clear your mind and pull you away from the project you’re stuck in, allowing you to go back to it with a new perspective. And, second, this experimentation often leads to new techniques that you just might be able to adapt for a current or future project.
Spec work. It often happens when big companies or government entities organize design contests for a new logo or brand identity, which allows them to choose from contest submissions rather than hiring a designer or agency outright. Nobody wins. Designers do the work by providing examples without compensation, and the entity that launched the contest gets a mediocre logo. I believe everyone deserves to be paid for the work they do.
The new mayor of Mexico City recently launched a contest to design a new logo for the city and as expected, the results were quite awful—and some were plagiarized. I don’t think people or companies run these kinds of contests out of malice. I choose to believe that they do it out of ignorance. But it’s our duty to educate and to remind people that this practice benefits no one, and in fact, damages the design practice.
Framed artwork. Sometimes it’s mine, but often it’s someone else’s work. I try to buy art at local craft fairs or at a local market if I’m traveling. I see it as an opportunity to support local artists and to create a connection between the person I give the gift to, myself, the artist, and the community it came from.
I really recommend framing the work you’re going to give so that it’s ready to be displayed. The frame doesn’t have to be fancy, but the simple fact that it’s framed encourages the person to go ahead and put it up. I can’t tell you how many pieces of art I have just stored because I don’t have time to frame them or it’s just too expensive.
Starbucks Fall Promotion original drawings.
Next week Victor asks Nicole Licht + Melissa Deckert, founders of Party of One: As two different designers with different aesthetics, how do you translate your individual design sensibilities into a unified voice?[Q]: Tämä on välttämätöntä myös, jos haluamme säilyttää sosiaalisen mallimme, elämäntapamme, joka on Euroopan unionin keskeinen ominaispiirre, joka on meille kaikille rakas ja jota meidän on varjeltava.

Translate this to English?
[A]: It is also essential if we are to maintain the social model, our way of life, which is a key characteristic of Europe, dear to us all, and which we must preserve.

[Q]: Minulla on ilo ojentaa siitä hetken kuluttua yksi kappale komission jäsenelle McCreevylle.

Translate this to English?
[A]: I shall be pleased to let Commissioner McCreevy have a copy later on.

[Q]: Ministerit ovatkin nyt myöntäneet, että huumeidenkäyttäjä, mies tai nainen, on sairas, joka vaatii hoitoa ja apua, ei rankaisemista.

Translate this to English?
[A]:
The ministers agreed on the fact that a person with a drugs dependency problem was basically a sick person.Social Media can be a great place to make genuine connections with people, and it gives you the chance to talk direct to your clients, customers and supporters.
We can advise on, and deliver, all aspects of Social Media Strategy and Management. We can help you work out which are the best channels for your organisation, and then we can set them up, train your team to manage them - both posting and listening - or provide a full service and manage them ourselves.
We have well established systems and processes in place to allow a small amount of time (just a few hours a week) go a long way. We love finding great, relevant content to share. And we can provide analytics, too.The Fantastic Four handled Galactus with the Ultimate Nullifier. Here’s hoping Buck Showalter is no Reed Richards. Taking the series from Balitmore would be a sweet way to gear up for the World Chumps. And oh yeah, Tanaka’s in da Bronx on a night striped with tidings of Spring.
Haven’t gotten wind of a lineup yet, but I will try to post it when I do.
Cover Art by Jack Kirby, Fantastic Four #48, publishedby Marvel Comics
What, I'm first? I thought I was late.
Dang. Good smack, too.
[1] Was just at Aikido. Sensei was a no show, as was the guy who was supposed to teach, so it fell to me. And I haven't been on the mat much for the past year, but it went well.
Uh.
Michael Kay thinks that in the United States, the baseball games are played in three different time zones.
I wonder which zone he thinks has no baseball games.
Wowsers. yikes.
Aw crap. Thought that was foul
Sunuva...
Wowzers!
I REEEEEALLY don't like that the manager can stall until he gets a thumbs up
Oh, I thought HRs were automatically reviewed. No?
I guess I don't understand the rule.
[5] [8] Two wowzers! Wowzerses.
Nice one, Carlos!
Beltran bomb!
Bronx Bombers!
So it's gonna be one of those games.
Good thing he didn't Jeter out of the box. ; )
Kelly Johnson looks like a heavier Ted Mosby
Who is Ted Mosby?
On train listening to O's radio fees ( they're very good). Is my man Ma-Kun getting shelled? Who is this Schoop that took him deep?
Walks before homers. That's how it's done. Maybe Young Jarvis can show them how.
Turn him loose on 3-0 please!
Rats. Just missed it.
[18] The main character from the How I Met Your Mother
Bah.
[18] Not killed, but big mistake. Jonathan Schoop, big young 3B. Looks good.
(24) thanks RI. Tanaka is going to be t