After doing a lot of research for a client who needed a way to email over 400 people at once, I found a really cool online bulk email service. It’s called MailChimp and if you can just get past the somewhat goofy name they really have some great features. First and foremost is if your list is under 500 people and you won’t be sending more than 3000 total email addresses per month then it’s totally free. Their email creation portion is by far the easiest to use even if you have zero HTML skills. This is great if you need to turn over the use of the website to non technical users. Mailchimp also has more editing capabilities of the email designs than any other service I tried. So now that I’ve gotten to know the service really well, I find myself seeing how it can be a great solution for lots of people I know. I guess I’m officially a desciple.

I just flipped on the virtual “open” sign on my virtual door to officially say that I’m open for business. And what could be better than opening day of your new company? The knock on your real door from the UPS guy whose come to deliver your brand new business cards.

So why have I started a design company specializing in websites? Because the Internet is the future. My past has been filled with memorable work I’ve done for many Fortune 500 companies. But all of it was for print or TV. The million dollar budgets that used to be spent to create those advertisements just aren’t there anymore and I believe that they aren’t coming back even after the economy gets back on it’s feet. Those reduced budgets are going to be moving to the world wide web and crispelements will be there ready to help bring our clients message to the people.

I’m currently putting a lot of energy into learning how WordPress works and here’s why. WordPress is blogging software that was designed with the intent for it to be as easy as humanly possible for non technologically savvy people to create and run a blog site. And they succeeded so much so that’s it’s the number one most popular open source blogging software in use today. This success is because they created an interface that even my mother could use. Make it easy for someone to use and they’ll use it. You can go to www.wordpress.com and in 5 minutes set up and begin blogging on your new blog site. But of course doing it that way means you’re limited to the look of a “theme” that they provide and you’re limited to 3GB of data on the database in their server. That’s fine for most people but I believe that it’s potential goes way beyond that.

What if you could use that same functionality but integrate it into an existing website. And do it in a way that the viewer doesn’t know (or better doesn’t care) that they’re looking at a page that’s generated by a whole different technology. A technology that allows the website owner to add fresh content as often as they want and do it themselves. That’s the power of WordPress. I can design a site that gives my clients the ability to manage some of the content themselves in an easy to use way and do it for far less money than if they had to have me update the website.

Today I’m excited because I set up a testing server on my local machine. Now I can design and work on custom WordPress themes without having to set up hosting somewhere first and then have all my half built designs available for the world to so before I’m ready. With the local server set up I can do all that faster and only I can see all my mistakes.

I was doing an advertising assignment for my client J.D. Edwards and I came up with the idea of using a robot as a metaphor for a process the client uses to examine their clients business model. So in my search for the perfect robot I came across the Mighty Zeroids. Zintar, Zemo, Zerak, Zobor and Zogg. In my mind they are the perfect representation of a 1950’s robot. Before Star Wars in 1977 changed everything. Want to know more about Zeroids? Then read on:

“Moving across the landscape, overrunning all obstacles as inexorably as the Future itself, these amazing, efficient and powerful automatons have but one purpose -- to serve their masters at work and play!” This was the sales pitch for Zeroids, released in 1967.

The initial release featured four different robots: Zerak, Zobor, and Zintar could be bought separately or packaged with either a Solar Cycle or in an Action Set. These three Zeroids came packaged in plastic containers which became a vehicle or mini-playset for use by the robot.

The fourth Zeroid, Zogg (the Commander-in-Chief) could initially be bought in an Action Set only (he could later be found carded or boxed. In 1970, Ideal added the Alien Zeroid with Exploding Chest. At this time Ideal changed packaging to a header card format (the new packaging featured updated “hip” graphics and colors, and many more could be shipped in a smaller case), and offered the accessories as separate boxed items: the Sensor Station and the Zeroid Missile Defense Pad. The Zem XXI Zeroid Explorer Module was also added as an accompanying vehicle to the Zeroid line. Shortly after this (probably when sales began to flag), Ideal marketed the separate Zeroids simply as “Robots” in small, white window boxes or as “Zerak Robots” (these were found in Kreske’s department stores).

At some point, Zogg was offered in the same boxed format as the original three robots (with the addition of the Lazer). Towards the end to the line, Ideal kit-bashed the three robots to produce the Zemo robot, now found in Red or Turquoise (the rarest of the Zeroids and not part of their initial development).

“Each Zeroid has a unique pair of special purpose hands, interchangeable magnetic and throwing hands, and a battery-powered motor with forward and reverse drive. In operation, Zeroids are capable of grabbing, pinching, carrying, clawing, attracting, throwing, pushing, pulling or hauling functions.”

From “turret to track” each Zeroid simulates a marvelous mechanic-electronic complex, molded in awesome detail, and the sparkling Zeroid packages double as functional play units!”

Zogg with Lazer Beam
At some point, Ideal released Zogg in his own tall-case packaging. This figure is perhaps the rarest of the Zeroid packaging variations (Zemo is usually found in the “Zeroid with w/Solar Cycle” packaging or in one of the plain “Robots” or “Zerak” boxes).

Zerak -- The Blue Destroyer
“Turn him on” while he’s still in his control station package and lookout! His brute strength unhinges the transparent plastic cover which drops to provide an exit ramp for Zerak. Employs unique hooks for hands plus magnetic and throwing hands.

Zobor -- The Bronze Transporter
A kindly carrier with special duty gripper claws. Like magic, his empty plastic package becomes a roomy Cosmobile for hauling loads. Also has magnetic and throwing hands.