ORIGINS OF COMMON UI SYMBOLS:

... I stumbled across this article a few weeks back - I think it was on Gizmodo ( http://gizmodo.com/ ) - And it compared the literal definition of a logo versus a symbol...The premise was that most people (...yes, myself included) are using these terms incorrectly - They have different meanings; it is true that both are graphic representations of companies, sports teams, user interface functions for electronics, etc...

BUT...They are not interchangeable.

Here is the distinction: A logo contains BOTH graphics and text...A symbol? - Well, a Symbol has no text.

Interesting, right?

... So, what that means is when people refer to things like Apple's iconic - Well, Apple, with the bite taken out of it - Or Jordan Brand's "Jumpman" as a logo they really are mistaken. Those graphics are in fact actually symbols - Because just like the Bat Symbol they do not contain any text.

In the same vein - Here is a link to Ready Mag's website and a quick piece they did on the origins of certain well known user interface symbols - It is a quick read and in my opinion pretty interesting to see the background on some of the symbols we use and interact with every day while on our computers, tablets, televisions and smart phones...

https://readymag.com/shuffle/ui-symbols/

Just thought I would share - Cheers,
Hot Mama

ELIHU ROOT MATRAY:

... Well, what to say? - I have never admitted to being prompt have I?

Four weeks ago this past Friday the Matrays lost another dog; at the time that made two dogs in three weeks...Both dogs were aging, sure - And we have been sort of expecting these departures for a while now...But still - Two dogs in three weeks? - Seriously?

That is just crazy talk.

You can read Daniel Webster Matray's story here:

http://lostarchitectsunite.blogspot.com/2014/07/daniel-webster-matray.html

... But this blog post and associated story has to do with my Father's English Springer Spaniel, Elihu Root Matray.

My Dad had to put Elihu down on July 18th after finding him downstairs in the middle of the night unable to stand up let alone walk - He was taken to the Vet where a large internal growth was found - The growth was putting pressure on his spine, internal organs and his heart...Ironic that his heart was impacted considering he had lost his brother and pack-leader two weeks prior.

Elihu - Incorrectly, yet lovingly pronounced "L-I-Hue" (...thanks to his groomer) or more simply "Huey" was also a foundling - I actually found Elihu through an online rescue - English Springer Rescue America Incorporated (ESRA) - http://www.springerrescue.org/ - I was still in Arizona practicing Architecture but had recently moved from Tucson to the Scottsdale Horizon Neighborhood and accepted a position with a new firm...My apartment was literally a few miles away from Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West.

... My Sister was still at UNM and my parents had just completed construction on their new home - I had taken a weekend trip out to Chico to help them move out of the house my Wife, Son and I now live in. At that point my Parents had been living with Webster for just about two years and my Dad felt it was time to expand the "Furry" side of the family...I should clarify, when I say my Father felt it was time to expand the "Furry" side of the family I need to stress he needed some real convincing - He does not do too well with change.

It really is sort of a funny story, I still remember pulling-up Elihu's profile online that weekend and forcing my Father to call the Foster Home in Prescott, Arizona...My Father both begrudgingly and reluctantly explaining to the woman on the other end of the line that Huey looked "like a very special animal..." - So, the wheels were set in motion - I returned home to Scottsdale and my Dad's plan was to fly out to Albuquerque in order to drive my Sister home for the summer - They would stop in Prescott on the way, pick up Elihu then drive south and spend a night with my in my small one bedroom apartment in Scottsdale before heading home to Chico.

... Here is a humorous aside - Elihu came to us named "Magnum" - And although he never really struck us as a Magnum a certain portion of his anatomy certainly fit the bill...Probably not appropriate for the PG nature of this Blog - But hey, *Wink, wink* - Still funny right?

So, back to the story - Elihu's first night as a Matray was spent curled up at the foot of my couch - I still remember gently petting his back until he adjusted enough to his new surroundings and fell asleep.

... My Dad likes to tell the story of when he and my Sister picked Elihu up from the Foster Home - They drove up to the house and the front door opened - At least four Spaniels came barreling out, running towards them with ears flopping in a sea of liver and white...Elihu immediately stopped at my Father's feet, laid down on the ground and rolled over in a submissive pose - You see, Huey came from an abusive environment - It was clear he had been severely beaten prior to his rescue...His ribs on his right side bulged out from an obvious kicking incident and initially you could not even look at him without him cowering and raising his leg in a submissive stance.

Sad.

He was also, very, very - Er...How do I put this mildly - FAT - Oh yeah, and when he was rescued his hair was so badly matted that the Foster Home had to shave him - Here is what Elihu looked like on that first night in my apartment; chubby, shaved and unsure - But clearly thankful for his new surroundings - For those of you who do not know, the last picture in this set is of my Father:

So yes, his new life had begun and my Father and Sister drove the next day from Scottsdale back home to Chico where Elihu met his new brother and started his life as a Matray - My Dad loved this dog. I mean, he really loved this dog - Like Webster and most other foundlings, Elihu was not without his challenges...Have you ever heard that quote "We like people for their qualities but love them for their defects" - THAT was Elihu in spades.

Truth is, Elihu was crazy - As most Spaniels are...Here are a few highlights:

1.) My Dad came home one day to the house completely torn up and their two finches missing...The bird cage opened up like a party favor - In true bird-dog form yes, Elihu had broken the cage open, chased the finches around the house until he caught them and then proceeded to eat them.

2.) He would snatch box turtles out of my Mom's garden and take them out into the middle of the yard - The whole time tossing them up into the air and re-catching them in his mouth.

3.) He would hunt for field mice in my parent's garage and when he would catch them - Yup...You guessed it - He would eat them...Whole.

4.) He ate dog poop...His own, the other dog's - Did. Not. Matter...And he ate a lot of it - Nothing quite like seeing an animal defecate then turn around and indulge in a snack of his own feces.

5.) He was constantly breathing heavy - I mean, it was incessant...So much so that my Sister's Boyfriend nicknamed him "Eli-Vader" - Funny right? - Like a combination of Elihu and Darth Vader...The Force was strong with this dog.

... And in spite of all of this, he will be deeply missed - I still remember holding you down shortly after we bought you home and pulling out two of your rotted front teeth. When I was done you simply licked my hand in a gentle, unspoken "Thank You" - But...Perhaps it is us that should thank you, Elihu. I am so glad I found you and I am so glad you became a member of our family - However, the thing I am most glad of is the joy and happiness you brought to my Father.

He loved you very much...We all did.

And just like with Webster; we now have to say goodbye.

Here are a few more pictures of Elihu:

... Goodbye old friend - You too, will be missed.

Gone but also never forgotten,
B.

STORY OF MY LIFE:

... No, I do not work at J.C.Penney - OR - Raley's - OR - Target - OR - Anywhere else you people here in California have asked me if I work at just because I am wearing a damn necktie - UGH:

... Oh The Oatmeal, how I love thee - http://theoatmeal.com/

Hot Mama

STICKY MCSTICKERSON:

... So in honor of Chris Sale's second MLB All Star Game selection in a row I would like to share this time-lapse photo of his wind-up and pitch...

Seriously, this dude cannot weigh more than 190 lbs soaking wet....I mean like, he really cannot - Right?

From a Physics perspective he should not be able to do what he does...But hey, he does...So, I guess he must just be a freak???

Physics BE DAMNED!!!

Here is the time-lapse pic - Enjoy:

#TargetSale
#GoGoWhitesox
#GoodGuysWearBlack

Peace,
B.

DANIEL WEBSTER MATRAY:

... Sorry this has taken two weeks.

Not a great Blogger. Busy Daddy. Busy Architect.

Well two weeks ago today The Matrays lost a dear member of our family - My Mother's Collie, Daniel Webster - Or, really just Webster or Webbie as he grew to be known had to be put to sleep due to range of motion issues and old age...

Webster was around fourteen or fifteen years old - If you sense uncertainty with that statement it is because there is some...Webster was a foundling - He was rescued from New Mexico Collie Rescue ( http://www.nmcollierescue.com/ ) when he was around two or three...We are really not sure.

What I am sure of is that Webster was an amazing animal, a great dog and an even better friend...My Mother found Webster at a rescue - BUT - Honestly, I could just as easily say Webster found us when my family was at its lowest point...

It was the Summer of 2002 and I had just graduated from The University of Arizona (B.Arch, 2002 - #BEARDOWNARIZONA) - It was also the summer I accepted a full time position with the Architectural Firm I had interned with for the prior two years while finishing up my academic education.

My Sister had just moved to Albuquerque to start her first year at The University of New Mexico.

My Father had just relocated here to Northern California to accept the Department Chair Position in the Department of History at California State University, Chico...And my Mother...

... Well, my Mother was all alone back home in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

My Mom was all alone in an expansive 3,818 sf, two-story Pueblo-style home with four bedrooms and four bathrooms...All alone. We had just lost the two family dogs a year or so prior which meant there was not even a furry companion to keep my Mother company and watch over things while we were all spread across the Southwestern United States.

Needless to say, it was a trying time for all of us - You remember that Tim McGraw song "Everywhere?" - That was pretty much our theme song for a while...Yes, I know it is about a long-lost love but what sort of lost love hurts even more than the romantic kind? - The familial kind...

... So into this disjointed Matray-world walked Webster - Or, Sonny rather, because that was his name when my Mom adopted him - And just like with many adopted hearts Webster's transition was not an easy one:

1.) He chewed-up the wooden Banister.

2.) He refused to climb the stairs - In retrospect; this is pretty ironic as he left us with the same phobia he joined us with...

3.) My Mom took him to obedience school - AND - He failed slide...Quite the stubborn boy.

4.) My Mom had to come home everyday during her lunch break to walk Webbie and get his energy out...Put simply, he was, a furry ball of nerves.

5.) The list went on...

But then...Something else happened - I started coming home more on the weekends...So did my Sister and before you knew it; our "Transition Year" concluded and my Parents' move to Northern California was finalized. Webster of course came along to Chico and I still remember him in the starter house my parents lived in until they found the home they have been in now for more than a decade.

... It is funny though - That starter house is now where my Wife, Son and I call home - And there is not a day that goes by without me thinking of Webster because his paw prints are gently defined in a concrete walkway on the side of our house my parents put in when they were still living here...Not by design however; the concrete was probably just a little too wet when we went for his walk around the side of the house to check things out - So now, whenever I take the trash out our chase my Son around the side of the house Webbie is there with us in spirit.

Eventually my parents got more dogs - An English Springer Spaniel for my Dad...An inherited Sheltie from my Grandparents when my Grandfather's health declined - For me, I found a Staffordshire Bull Terrier-mix  at a local shelter (...you can see him below in the fifth picture)...And when my Wife and I met, she brought with her a Maltese - All foundlings in their own right...

... Then came my Sister's two adopted dogs and the rest as they say is history.

Webbie was the Alpha-male; the leader of his pack of foundlings - He saw us through some tough times and into a brighter future. He was always there to obnoxiously breath heavily in your face or steal your spot on the couch when you got up to use the bathroom...

... And he will be missed.

Just as with most pets we have to accept the fact that he passed on well before our last days on Earth are done - Our pets are here for us when we need them most and ask little to nothing in return for their eternal loyalty than love, exercise and an occasional spot on the couch.

That is the beauty and tragedy of being a pet owner...Knowing you will eventually have to say good bye.

... In memoriam I would like to share some pictures of Webster with you - Thank you for reading my post about this amazing animal - AND - Thank you Webster...Thank you for being the glue that held or family together when we needed it most - Thank you for getting us through the tough times and helping us grow together as a family; we love you.

Please enjoy these photos:

... Now fade to black and role the memories - You will be missed old friend; you will be missed.

Gone but never forgotten,
B.

HERE ARE SOME COOL CITY ARTERIAL MAPS:

... Check out these cool City Arterial Maps I stumbled across on Tumblr:

Pretty sweet, huh?
Out,
B.

#ARCHTECTPROBLEMS AND #SHIT PART 1:

... I am going to start a new mini-theme within this Blog - "Architect Problems/Shit Architects Say" - Should be fun, right?

Think of it like as Architectural-themed one-liners from Architects, Clients and Consultants...So, here goes - First try:

"You know, I talked to my Cousin and he took a year of drafting in High School and he thinks you should move the [insert object here] to the [insert proposed new location here] because it's more feng shui."

Ummm...No.

#ArchitectProblems
#ShitArchitectsSay

Peace,
B.