I'm Mikezo

I hate desktop backgrounds

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:36:00 -0700

I know, I know. So many of you out there love your tropical islands, pouncing kittens, and huge faces of loved ones. You carefully curate your desktop background to display just the right far off land or family function. I get it, I enjoy those things too. Just not on my desktop. I’m simple and love to keep things basic and more importantly, functional. I’m on my computer 8-14 hours a day and would like to keep as much retina function as possible, so I typically opt for an all black background.

Recently, I came across SimpleDesktops.com and their mantra is simple:

Simple Desktops: a collection of bling, drop shadow, and gradient free desktops to help keep you stay focused but also provide just enough eye candy to not be bored.

I was intrigued, so I set to work on crafting a simple but functional desktop background. After some tinkering I came up with what I thought was a very cleaver idea. A series of squares that depict the most popular internet browser sizes, allowing web designers to easily resize their browsers on top of the image to get a better understanding of what other users are seeing. Very proud and excited, I started the process to submit, uh ho, someone should have read the fine print… “No words, but abstract type is okay”. Without the browser dimensions defined, I just didn’t think people would get it. So what does any respecting content creator do when their preferred distribution channel has shut them down? Self-publish of course! So here you go enjoy…

I did take one other crack at it with this cut out concept but decided the white background was just to harsh for my eyes. Maybe someone that is a bit more adventurous than I will take the retina challenge.

MichaelAlonzo.com + Virb = Showtime

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:37:00 -0700

After many design concepts, multiple platforms changes, and hours of rummaging through old portfolio work, the day has come that MichaelAlonzo.com is now live. Granted there is still a lot of work left, but the foundation has finally been laid.

After much deliberation, my final decision for a website platform went to Virb.com. Still relatively new, Virb offers many of the standard features you would come to expect from a fully hosted CMS, such as unlimited pages, css customizable themes, custom domains and basic analytics with excellent integrations for easy social content consumption. For being such a small team, Virb’s customer support is outstanding. They have been quick to respond to every request I have submitted, even going as far as featuring the first site that I built using their platform (unsolicited).

The only real complaint that I have, beyond the usual “wouldn’t it be cool” list, is the native blogging functionality. They system itself is actually quite nice but lacks tagging, categories or read more breaks. Now I have been assured that those features are on the list, so for now I will stick with Tumblr.

All and all, Virb has worked exceptionally well for me and I intend to implement it for as many clients as it’s appropriate. Give em a look if you’re in the market for a hosted, light-weight, user-friendly CMS that just works. Or, if you’re interested in me getting you started, just give me a shout.

HeHe (Taken with instagram)

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:13:59 -0700

HeHe (Taken with instagram)

Seagrove Park (Taken with instagram)

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:12:31 -0700

Seagrove Park (Taken with instagram)

Peeing has never been so fun. (Taken with Instagram at Gallo...

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 16:00:51 -0700

Peeing has never been so fun. (Taken with Instagram at Gallo Blanco Cafe)

What about, you know, the other stuff? (Taken with instagram)

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:39:04 -0700

What about, you know, the other stuff? (Taken with instagram)

She will… (Taken with Instagram at Coffee Pot Restaurant)

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:43:05 -0700

She will… (Taken with Instagram at Coffee Pot Restaurant)

Friends Forever (Taken with instagram)

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:08:07 -0700

Friends Forever (Taken with instagram)

CEOhhhhhhhh (Taken with Instagram at Gangplank HQ)

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 10:10:48 -0700

CEOhhhhhhhh (Taken with Instagram at Gangplank HQ)

Storms a coming (Taken with instagram)

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 13:29:54 -0700

Storms a coming (Taken with instagram)

Gelato in the rain (Taken with Instagram at The Gelato Spot...

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:02:16 -0700

Gelato in the rain (Taken with Instagram at The Gelato Spot (with Pascucci Coffee))

AMC (Taken with instagram)

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:56:36 -0700

AMC (Taken with instagram)

Birthday Dinner (Taken with Instagram at Fogo De Chão)

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:54:46 -0700

Birthday Dinner (Taken with Instagram at Fogo De Chão)

Happy Birthday Me (Taken with instagram)

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:50:55 -0700

Happy Birthday Me (Taken with instagram)

Just like that. (Taken with instagram)

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:17:55 -0700

Just like that. (Taken with instagram)

Eat Fresh (Taken with instagram)

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:13:23 -0700

Eat Fresh (Taken with instagram)

Christmas Sunset (Taken with instagram)

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:34:28 -0700

Christmas Sunset (Taken with instagram)

by the slice (Taken with instagram)

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:09:21 -0700

by the slice (Taken with instagram)

Workspace (Taken with Instagram at Gangplank HQ)

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:05:57 -0700

Workspace (Taken with Instagram at Gangplank HQ)

JC the bug slayer (Taken with Instagram at Gangplank HQ)

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:58:47 -0700

JC the bug slayer (Taken with Instagram at Gangplank HQ)