rareexample » Politics

Ontario’s new sexy $200 000 logo, 3 dudes in a hot tub

rareexample — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:53:04 +0000

If you’re a fellow ontario-an then you’ve probably heard some of the hooplah over our new province logo. As a web designer I can understand the want and need to update the brand but with branding updates there should be reasoning behind it. Either the current brand was not working, or the organization was striving forward with a new message to enforce this change of brand.

If you take a peek at the ontario website(How’s that for a friendly URL?) you’ll see no real change or clear brand equity. No clear message of what Ontario has to provide, stands for. No feeling of trust, inspiration or motivation. The colors are drab, pale, grey and the design is circa 1990 with cheezy flash transitions and images with the classic dotted shade backgrounds… I can go on and on with an in depth review of the website but that’s not my point here.

I’m all for change, change is good, but only when change is needed. There’s no real reasoning behind this change, it’s just blah.

The logo, despite looking like 3 dudes in a hot tub is ok, but is it really worth changing our heritage with no real reasoning with a nifty price tag of over $200 000? I mean shit, I could have re-designed Ontario’s website with some clear goals, usability and accessibility for our beloved Ontario province for less then half the cost.

The only two reasons I can see for this is *fiscal year end blowout, Liberal agenda. Seriously now, ain’t there better things to spent tax dollars on then a logo redesign ?

*Fiscal year end blowout is when government sectors have money left in their budget at the end of the fiscal year and need to blow it on shit so they can get the same amount or higher budget the following year. If they overspend, they have a chance to get a little more in their budget so they can have more to blow on other useless shit. That money is usually spent on crap like T.V. Commercials, Radio adds, misc add campaings, web and print stuff and private hot tub parties in cancun.

CRA online services

rareexample — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:38:00 +0000

What happens when you fill a room up with uptight bureaucrats that got their Canadian Government job through
a) A friend or family member
b) Being a visible minority ( Not being racist, I was actually told this in an interview )
c) Enduring a rigorous cavalcade of interviews being asked questions that has nothing to do with the job you are applying for. I swear these questions are to make sure you can do minimal work without divulging the well known secret that government employees do nothing all day. ( I worked for the government, I’ve witnessed this first hand )

?

Well you get this steaming pile of shit.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/eservices/tax/business/myaccount/menu-e.html

My lord, usability 1 on 1 fellas, read a book or something, shit. “Your browser is not supported” in the fuckin year 2007 ???? I’m using the latest, most secure browser there is and it’s not supported? Not only that, all my browsers on Windows and Mac are not supported… It’s an abomination trying to get your business setup with that shit online… man. Hire a decent company to do that shit, I can’t imagine the waterfall of support calls they get by dumbfounded individuals let alone somewhat computer savvy folks such as myself. Sad, I am sad right now because I (my wife) now have to file my shit through snail mail cause their system is a steaming pile of crap.

Gogo gadget govies.

End rant.

WWF mounted Photos ( 20″ x 28″ )

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Walls look bare, need some art? Want to help save the planet?

Fulfil both needs with these awesome WWF photos. All proceeds go to their conservation efforts.

In case you are not aware, the planet is dying, much faster than you think it is. I’m not trying to scare you, but if you like breathing oxygen or drinking clean water. Then you should be in tune with what’s going on with the planet. You know, we need to do something, anything. The WWF is a great place to start helping.

Besides, these photos are pretty awesome!

Ontario gas price fluctuation sucking you dry?

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

If enough people raise concerns, perhaps something can be done. The NDP is trying to do something, and you can help.

When I went on vacation 2 weeks ago, right around Canada day weekend I was shocked when I went to fill my car up for the drive down to the cottage. Wednesday the gas was .98 cents/liter, Thursday right before the long weekend the gas shot up to 1.05/liter, ouch. Pretty convenient for them to boost prices like that right before a long weekend, doesn't seem just does it?

Well the NDP are trying to stop gas price volatility, and it's odd how it's most eastern provinces have regulation, but not Ontario. Silly Dalton Mcguinty.

Anyhow, NDP has a little thing going to voice concerns called the pumpshock.

Only way to get things done is through media these days, newspaper, TV, whatever. So on this page you can download some pre formatted letters to send to your local paper, they even have links to the paper.

I know I'm sick of dodging a fill up, just waiting for the price to go back down on some random day.

Amnesty international’s “It’s not happening here but it’s happening now” add campaign

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

The campaign is intended to make people realize what's happening in the world. I love advertising that has a purpose other than just making money and these adds are straight to the point.

The concept of transparency is genius for it's purpose here, to show people it's not happening here, but it could be.

This is some great work done by http://www.walker.ag and photographed by http://www.federiconaef.ch

View all images from the campaign here

Colbert Roasts Bush

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Love the Colbert, PVR him nightly…
This is good!

Brass, brass. (Report fans will know)

Check it out on Youtube

part1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcIRXur61II

part2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN0INDOkFuo

part3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJvar7BKwvQ