Ned Towle

Ned Towle is Certified as a Wine Educator by the Society of Wine Educators and as a Wine Judge by the American Wine Society. He has worked in the Manhattan wine retail business, and he is founder and Director of the Westchester Wine School.

His first exposure to wine came at the age of 19 when he picked grapes in southern France for a wine grower whose only means of transporting grapes…and grape pickers…was a wooden cart drawn by a donkey. More recently, he worked in many aspects of wine growing and wine making at Chateau de Mayragues in southwestern France. For the past two years Ned has led wine tastings in Paris, where the presence of his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, and his love of wine and French, all come together. Ned is assisted by his wife, Linda, whose enthusiasm for people and wine creates just the right balance for presentations on the richness and harmony of wine.

In his former career, Ned held various positions at the New York City Transit Authority, including Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance and Planning, and Assistant General Manager of Bus Operations. A degree in divinity from Union Theological Seminary in 2003 nurtured his natural calling to the world of wine.

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{via Brand New}

© 2011. Ditto Design LLC. All rights reserved.

Current TV, the media company started by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and businessman Joel Hyatt, has launched a new logo designed by Wolff Olins and animation house GHAVA. Unlike traditional logos, the Current identity takes advantage of the technological capabilities of the broadcast medium. Dropped out of whatever background is behind it, the name undulates like a flag, leaving the borders and proportions loosely defined. As flat graphics, it’s pretty simple. What makes it special is that movement isn’t used as an afterthought, but as the essence of its uniqueness.

{via @issue}

Poster Design by Michael Ciancio

If you drink coffee—if you drink any hot beverage—you’re familiar with the phenomenon: It’s too hot at first and burns your tongue. Then, before you know it, it’s cooled to become a tepid, tasteless brew.

Well, behold the Joulie. Invented by engineers Dave Petrillo and Dave Jackson, these little things sit in the bottom of your cup or travel mug. Each Joulie has “a special non-toxic material sealed within the polished stainless steel shell.” That material melts at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. When it does, it absorbs thermal energy. And as the material solidifies again, it releases said energy. The upshot for you? Your coffee or tea cools to a drinkable temperature much more quickly and stays warm “twice as long.”

Such a brilliant and simple idea! Now, that’s design!

{via GOOD}

Rick Telberg
President and CEO
Bay Street Group

Rick Telberg is a veteran analyst, advisor, commentator, editor and publisher. He brings a unique background and perspective to research and advisory services for the professional services community.

Rick may well be the accounting profession’s most widely-known commentator through his long associations with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Accounting Today magazine.

As an expert in management, marketing, media and e-commerce, Rick has served as Senior Editorial Director of Pro2Net Corp., now www.smartpros.com, and as Director of Online Content at CPA2Biz, www.cpa2biz.com.

Previously, Rick served as the longtime Editor-in-Chief of Accounting Today, and as Vice President/Group Publisher at Thomson Financial (now SourceMedia), overseeing Practical Accountant, Accounting Technology, and what is now www.WebCPA.com.

Rick was presented with a special citation by the National Society of Accountants for service to the profession and has served on a variety of boards and steering committees, including BKR International and the IBM Small Business Advisory Council. He is a graduate of New York University.

At the intersection of design and funny is news of the release of a new stamp in New Zealand, celebrating the upcoming wedding. There the couple are, lovingly side by side, with a strange, glowing bouquet floating next to them at chest level. What got the New Zealand Post in trouble is that they decided to split the image into two stamps. Just need one stamp? You’ll have to tear the image in half, thereby breaking up this marriage made in royal, gilded heaven. Worse still, they’ve made William’s stamp worth more than Middleton’s.

This kind of thing has happened in the past. When Charles and Diana got married, the Australian Royal stamp had the couple facing away from each other, which caused much criticism.

In most countries Buckingham Palace will have to approve the design. Perhaps they were shown it without the perforation down the middle.

When something like this happens the critics love it and the post office responsible can’t stand it. It’s also unusual that the two stamps are worth different values.

(via UnBeige)