When we launched iLoveNgocLan.com seven years ago, WordPress didn’t exist. Instead of putting together an informational web site dedicated to Ngoc Lan, I wanted to create a place where fans could share their love for one of the most beloved Vietnamese pop singers. I used B2 for the interaction and managed everything else in HTML.

iLoveNgocLan.com site started off well and I never intended to use a blog software as a CMS. Fans allowed to create an account and write whatever they want as long as the contents are related to Ngoc Lan. Then B2 became WordPress so I upgraded the system with the help from PHP Princess.

In seven years, WordPress works great for the site. As of this writing, we have 2,589 members, 1,478 posts and over 8,252 comments. In my recent redesign of iLoveNgocLan.com, I imported all the pages into WordPress and cleaned up the codes. My partner who is the administrator of the site no longer needs to FTP in to make edits.

WordPress is so flexible that I could create a customized theme without messing up the system. I simplified the template and use only one page (no separate header or footer) to control the entire site. Simplicity is the reason I love WordPress. I could completely edit the template with just a bit of PHP knowledge.

I didn’t give any instructions on how to use the admin interface, yet all of the members have figured out themselves how to register and post to the homepage. WordPress rocks and mad props go out the the development team behind her.

An intriguing piece in the New York Times magazine on Human-flesh search engines in China:

Human-flesh search engines — renrou sousuo yinqing — have become a Chinese phenomenon: they are a form of online vigilante justice in which Internet users hunt down and punish people who have attracted their wrath. The goal is to get the targets of a search fired from their jobs, shamed in front of their neighbors, run out of town. It’s crowd-sourced detective work, pursued online — with offline results.

A mother ordered her young girl who is in her early teens a vanilla ice cream cone at a Dairy Queen takeout while I was waiting for my banana split. When my order came up the girl looked at it and told her mother, “I never have banana split before in my life.” The mother was shocked. I looked at her and smiled. She joked, “I must be a really bad parent.”

What I like about freelancing is the wide range of projects and the ability to work one on one with my clients. As a result, freelancing is always challenging yet rewarding at the same time. I get the freedom to design web sites that truly represent the client’s purpose.

My approach to design is very focused. Instead of giving my client two or three choices to choose from, I narrow down to just one even though I might have come up with severals. I also design the mockup as closed to the finish site as possible to help the clients see what the real site would like look like; therefore, contents are extremely important right up front.

Designing a web site is not too hard, but taking away unnecessary elements is quite a challenge. Take the homepage of Thirsty for an example. The author wants to give the site a dark feel but with a light touch of hope. The background is a powerful image of the steel mill. To convey hope and to stay true to the book, I started off with a few dozens of butterflies all over the page. Then I realized that the butterflies were taking over the dramatic feel. I reduced the number down to three, then two, then just one. Hope is very slim, but it is there.

Another instance is the site for Julie Tran Law. Initially on each page, I had a button to allow users to switch language. So if you’re reading the about page in English, there would be a button that would say “Doc Tieng Viet.” In contrast, if you’re on a Vietnamese page, you would see a button that would say “Read in English.” After clicking through the pages, the button began to bug me. It’s not only distracting contents, but also insulting the readers’ intelligent and that was not my intention at all. Users can still get to where they want to read using the English/Vietnamese navigation so I chucked the button.

Like I said, the beauty of freelancing is that I never know what kind of sites I will be designing. I have never done a book site before nor have I done a law site before. I wanted to work on a restaurant site for a while and Le Mekong was a perfect opportunity. Obviously my love for food and design play a huge part in my inspiration.

Beside designing web pages from the ground up, I also get to freelance on parts of the sites. For Brand3, I put my little PHP knowledge to good use. The good thing is that I have been using WordPress for a while and feel very comfortable with skinning it to fit my client’s needs.

I am also collaborating with a geeky-ass programmer who is also a visitor to Visualgui.com on a very simple but complex project. He handles all the back end and I am in charge of the design as well as front-end development. I pulled an all-nightner last Friday on the project, but the good thing was I was not alone. He was miles away, and at the same time he was right there in my phone.

Mad props to Dana and my mother-in-law for looking after Duke while I crank out these projects. I couldn’t do it without their help and support.

As a designer, I love to surf the web for inspirations and somehow I have been drawn to commercial web sites lately. Crate&Barrel for instance, the site makes great use of Helvetica. Although the logo is set in one of the most used typefaces, it has such a distinctive brand. The homepage is clean, organized and well-balance between texts and images. What I don’t like though are the drop-down menus. I know that many big sites need to have drop-down menus to cover all of its products, but I am still convinced that you can do without it. What annoys the hell out of me about Crate&Barrel web site is the anchored bottom. Even if I close it, the darn thing wouldn’t go any.

Target is another one of my favorite site designs. I love the homepage layout even though it is loaded with information. The drop-down menus once again turn me off.
Somehow the secondary pages are disconnected with the homepage. The main body content is strangely narrower than the header and footer.

There is one gorgeous web site that conquers all the issues above. If I were in an interview for a job and being asked what is my favorite web site. The first site would come to mind is Apple. The team behind this site has done an exceptional job of present this site in an elegant yet simple layout.

I love Apple’s informational architecture and it’s a perfect model for University’s sites that would like to unify its online presence. No matter where you go, the global navigation, which is simple and carefully designed, is always there. Although Apple has tons of products, it doesn’t need drop-down menus to get there. I am very curious to see how Apple would incorporate iPad into its global navigation.

What keeps me coming back to Apple again and again is the homepage. I love the way apple shows off its product. The latest showcase for the iPad is so big, bold and beautiful. I am sure Apple had made a conscious decision to use the homepage as an ad space as well. If you walk into an Apple store, you would see how the homepage is being served as a banner on its computer displays. That is just freaking awesome.

Thanks to the snowstorm, I am enjoying a wonderful time at home with my family. I get to play with Duke and get some work done as well. I really don’t need anywhere else to go and I don’t mind shoveling the snow at all even though it was twenty-something-inch high. With my iPod and my shovel, I can spend three or four hours digging and plowing.

In the past couple of days, Duke learned how to clap his hands and to give high five. He calls me “ba” all day long, except bed time. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get him to stop crying, but he would stop immediately as soon as his mom walks into the room. Night time is mommy’s time.

To celebrate the year of Tiger, Dana and grandma made about a dozen of sticky rice cakes (banh chung) to give to family and friends. We made seafood hotpot for dinner last night and played some Vietnamese New Year tunes. My sister-in-law and her husband jointed us for a hot, savory meal. We had some gin and tonic to complement the food.

Beside blogging and web design, my other passion is mix drink. Thanks to the iPod Touch apps, I can pull up any recipe anytime. I made a Lynchburg Tea the other day and loving it since, but gin is still my favorite spirit. She has such a fine, distinctive taste and she goes well with anything from Ginger Ale to 7 Up to tonic to cranberry juice to orange juice.

I made a shaker full of martini, which was three or four glasses, the other day to go with duck congee. I got wasted afterward due to lack of sleep. Next morning, I went out to plow the snow with a migraine. Almost fainted half way through the sidewalk. Went inside cooked up a really hot kimchi instant noodle. Blood shot off my nose, but the headache was gone. I knew I need to get some sleep and rest.

I am cutting back on my mix drink experimentation and trying to sleep more. Nas once rhymed, “I don’t sleep cuz sleep is the cousin of death.” I don’t know what death feel like, but lack of sleep sure feel like hell. The good thing about snow is I get to stay in bed a bit longer, but not too long before the little guy gets up.

The best part about finishing a project is to see my client’s testimony. Thank Ms. Tran for this:

My Declaration:

I hold these truths to be self-evident, that all web designers are not created equal, that they are not endowed by their Creator with certain equal skills, that among these are: Creativity, Expertise, and the pursuit of Professionalism.

Creativity, indeed, is clearly indicated by Donny’s design of my new law firm website. He came up with the solution to solve the mess of having two separate sets of navigation, instead he combined the two together and let the fonts set them apart. He desires to create a unique website for you that reflects what you want.

Donny knows enough to know that less is more. Often a reader will read what is on the website if it’s simple and catchy enough.

I truly appreciate Donny’s professionalism, his quick responses to all my emails and questions. He can get things done quickly and way ahead of the schedule even if it means that he has to pull an all-nightner to complete it.

I must, therefore declare that Donny was created with exceptional skills!

Some readers have noticed that the tone of my blog posts is lighter. Even when I use flowery language, my intention is to praise rather than to degrade. It’s true and being a father has something to do with it. I am more patience and I don’t sweat small stuff anymore, especially when dealing with children.

This blog has always been for grownups and I do not want my kids to be on here. In fact, I would ban them from reading this site, but we all know how kids are. They will do things parents don’t want them to do. Occasionally, we have some kid showing up here and acting up just to get my attention.

I know who you are and I know that you need love too. Your dad is not close by to ground you or to educate you. Trust me, I know how you feel. My dad is never around either, so I have to be my own man. I have learned to take care of myself and my family. I am grown now and I am confidence that I can be a great father figure. So please, give me a chance and I’ll make it up to you, just like daddy. I will take good care of you, but I will not hesitate to spank that ass if you get naughty.

I don’t watch the Factor, but I make an exception when Jon Stewart shows up for an interview. Jon is the man that could stand up to Bill’s bully and he did it brilliantly with a bit of his comic style. Love the scenario part where old Bill says he’s running for president, Jon quickly responded, “I think that’s a really bad idea.” Actually, that’s a really scary idea. Watch part 1,2 and 3.

My high school friends, Mai and Phong, welcomed their first newborn into the world. Sylvia Xuan Le born January 30, 2010. She weighs 1lb 13oz and is 13.25 inches long. Sylvia would have been a spring baby like Cu Dao, but she decided to come out three months early. Cu Dao has to meet Sylvia one of these days. Congrats to Mai and Phong. Sylvia is adorable.