inspiration

Driving by Lake Michigan

0
877 days
by in inspiration, language

I could have easily taken the highway home—I usually do—but this morning, I couldn’t smell the fermenting human–waste algae and dead fish wafting over the art museum and into downtown. So I rolled along the coast doing the speed limit because—for once—the lake was delightful. That is, expect for all the assholes trying to pass me.

SPAM!

0
878 days
by in art, inspiration

I just found this drawing. I don’t know how old I was…probably 13.

This is definitely going to be my first album cover...

Workhorse Typefaces

0
1082 days
by in art, business, clients, inspiration, process, tools, typography

Paula Scher, Stefan Sagmeister, and David Carson shattered the way I think about typography in their applications of organic, freehand character-writing. For so long, even non–conventional applications of digital typefaces seemed so dry, formal, forced. Letters drawn by hand were a fresh breath—no, a gasp! out of astonishment, but also for oxygen anew to fuel my little typographic grey cells.

Such typography, one comes quickly to realize, doesn’t suit all applications. In fact, it doesn’t suit most applications. The majority of typesetting isn’t done to draw attention to the text, but rather to make its characters melt their meaning with as little distraction as possible. It pays to know this—especially when that pay is coming from a client expecting your understanding of conventional typography to benefit her business.

That stated, listed below are the typefaces I most commonly employ. I use them for their stylistic range, completeness of character set, and most importantly, as a framework from which I can branch out and build more creativity—perhaps by employing or creating an entirely new typeface. No more delays. Here they are:

  • ITC Garamond Std
  • ITC New Baskerville Std
  • Mrs. Eaves
  • Futura Std
  • Trade Gothic LT Std
  • Helvetica Neue LT Std

I’d say I use these for 80% of the work I do. Other typefaces I might consider are listed below. Some are either related or variations of the faces above. Others are slowly building up to workhorse status, or are used in extremely specific instances.

  • Adobe Garamond Pro
  • Adobe Jenson Pro
  • Avenir LT Std
  • Univers LT Std
  • Bodoni STD
  • Frutiger
  • Gill Sans
  • Helvetica LT Std
  • ITC Franklin Gothic Std
  • Poetica
  • Gotham HTF

What are your typographic workhorses?

Bacon in, Bacon Out

0
1109 days
by in inspiration, restaurants, writing

I went to Comet last night with some friends to celebrate my birthday. Nothing fancy—a nice, low key evening with a few people who are close to me. I fathomed not the berth of bacon that would befall mine bowels.

As my gullet quivered with greasy goodness, my propensity for things quite the opposite began to jingle-jangle: the awkward salvation army collector at the exit of my mind’s Downer Sendik’s. It screamed, in so many rings: ABORT MISSION. REPEAT: ABORT MISSION. DO NOT EAT. DROP THE BACON. DROP IT NOW. ABORT OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.

And like most people, I ignored the bells, continuing instead to stuff copious amounts of hog belly into my own hog belly. Despite following the pound or more of bacon that I ate with an amazing vegan meatloaf, several beers and other drinks, I can still only say:

Bacon in, bacon out. Happy birthday, idiot.

O Really? Unionization, Hope, and the Future of America

1
1255 days
by in community, inspiration, organization

The cicadas were whirring madly in the late Summer sun as my friend Brian handed over two lime green tickets. My heart skipped a beat and I think I soiled myself. Okay. I know I soiled myself. But why?

Obama Tickets

I was skeptical of the Obama campaign’s ability to translate spirit and hope into action and change. So why was I still get excited to see him? What weak-willed wretch had I become to be persuaded by this potential sycophant? I pondered more as we waited in line at Milwaukee’s lake-front amphitheater.

I realized my excitement comes from the fact that I have little faith in fortune tellers. And I don’t think Obama hovers over a crystal ball. His faithfuls often divine what future our nation will face under their leader’s incumbency—but that does not mean that Obama’s campaign is without a solid vision or plan.

My initial reaction to his campaign was one of awe. The design is refined, classic, masculine but elegant. Something Cary Grant would approve of. It smells strongly of web 2.0—dare I call it Campaign 2.0? As Kennedy’s win hinged on television viewers in the 60s, so too does Obama’s hinge on technology users today. The comparisons to Kennedy have been going on since he announced his intent to run for office—so I’ll leave it at that for now.

Some time passed and it occurred to me that this could all be a ruse. And if not a ruse, then it could perhaps fall flat. My skepticism of the campaign polish—the logo, the website, the SMS donations, video feeds and so on—has gotten me into many arguments. As a designer, I appreciate what goes into creating an identity—more importantly, I know that an identity can be used for good or ill. That’s what scared me. That power and potential.

But as the crowd filled the seats and their rally cries emanated through the covered venue, I realized that what brings change is people. I looked around at all the people. Their eyes watering and hearts pounding, these people filled with hope, inspired and empowered by a man who understands how the world is changing and what it takes to mobilize a nation. It was hard to not have faith in the 20,000 human beings surrounding me.

Obama shows intent and social consciousness beyond that of Kennedy, Carter, Clinton—the few presidents who give me even a whisper of patriotism. We are extremely lucky to have a leader who knows that citizens run nations—and isn’t afraid to empower them.

That is why I pooped my pants. Change indeed.

101 Things in 1001 Days

2
1261 days
by in goals, inspiration, project, time management

Awhile ago, a friend told me about a project called 101 Things in 1001 Days. Check it out. Here’s my list (Some of the stuff on here I’ve done before…but would like to do again):

  • Biking
    1. register with the USAC and USCF
    2. race regularly
    3. obtain at least cat 3 (preferably cat 2) status
    4. fix crank and bottom bracket of my orange road bike
    5. get a winter bike 19 OCTOBER 2008
    6. get bike rollers to train indoors during winter
    7. build a fixed gear/track bicycle (just to have, and to train) 19 OCTOBER 2008 (would still like to build one)
    8. join a cycling club/team
    9. bike over 25mph for at least 10 miles
    10. bike to a different state (of the United persuasion—the mind is a given)
    11. bike through the valley (With Ginnie and Phil)
  • Exercise/Outdoors
    1. run at least 4 miles per week for 4 weeks
    2. run 10k (AUTUMN 2010)
    3. start doing yoga again, at least 3 times per week if not more
    4. do daily calisthenics
    5. go camping
    6. go canoeing
    7. go kayaking
    8. camp for 3 days with only a knife
    9. canoe the Milwaukee River
  • Business
    1. register my business with the state and IRS as an LLC
    2. finish developing letterhead/business cards (SEPTEMBER 2009)/document system
  • School
    1. finish college! (Holy Shit! 11 January 2010)
  • Job/Work
    1. quit my current job (Double Holy Shit! 16 January 2010)
    2. get a real job (one that pays me what I’m worth) 30 September 2010
    3. put together a portfolio for getting a job! (In progress) (JUNE 2010)
    4. work 2 jobs simultaneously (2009)
  • Food
    1. take a cooking class
    2. learn how to make sushi (20 November 2009)
    3. grow an awesome garden(MAY-NOV2009)
    4. complete with vermiculture bin
    5. and composting heap(MAY 2009)
    6. harvest urban fruit (will do this soon! 2011 raspberries in summer & pears during autumn…)
    7. make falafel (15 JANUARY 2010)
    8. find or develop a consistent and easy French bread recipe 29 DECEMBER 2008 (taught 25+ at the CCC)
    9. maintain my own bread dough starter(Spring 2009)
    10. bake at least one batch of bread per week DECEMBER/JANUARY 2009 (Have been baking 3+ batches weekly)
    11. make limoncello
    12. brew beer (SUMMER 2010)
    13. make wine from grapes (SUMMER 2010)
    14. make dolmades with fresh grape leaves (SUMMER 2010)
    15. make cheese from scratch(JUNE 2009)
    16. make flour
    17. bowhunt for deer
    18. trap hare and cook them
    19. go fishing and cook my catch
    20. catch octopus and cook it
    21. slaughter a chicken (and cook it?) (June 2010)
    22. harvest honey
    23. teach 10 people how to cook a simple, fast, flexible meal 15 JANUARY 2009
    24. find five good ethnic food stores/markets in Milwaukee, not including El Rey or Pete’s (Viet Hoa, Pacific Produce, Asian Mart, Jasmine , Chu Hai)
  • Crafts/Projects
    1. teach at least 5 people how to knit (1. Gavin 11 DECEMBER 2008 2. Dana 29 December 2009)
    2. knit a sweater
    3. knit socks
    4. make shoes or slippers (more like moccasins) by hand
    5. sew some curtains
    6. build a bookshelf
    7. improve my sewing skills (learn to sew from a pattern)
    8. sew some aprons
    9. make a messenger bag from old plastic bags
    10. make grocery bags out of recycled t-shirts and other scraps
  • Housing/Household
    1. move to a new apartment [house] 15 FEB 2010
    2. care for a cat
    3. clean my closet 13 FEB 2010
    4. fix the light fixture in the back room
  • Time Management/Organization/Fixing
    1. develop a daily routine
    2. develop a weekly routine
    3. develop a monthly routine
    4. wake up before 8am regularly without an alarm clock (almost there…)
    5. organize my books
    6. buy/make a daily planner, and use it…daily 14 FEB 2010
    7. install subversion on my webhost Switch to GIT
  • Entertainment/Leisure/Volunteering
    1. watch at least the first ¼ of the original Dr. Who series in order
    2. read one fiction book per month for pleasure
    3. hold a David Lynch marathon viewing festival weekend
    4. volunteer at People’s Books at least 20 hours
    5. volunteer at the Bike Collective at least 20 hours (6 hours total: 10 JANUARY 2009)
  • Travel/Destinations
    1. West Coast (San Francisco, Spring 2011)
    2. New York City
    3. Greece (and possibly travel through Europe)
    4. a planetarium(AUTUMN 2010)
    5. the Domes
    6. the Milwaukee County Historical Society (do research for old Rustbelt businesses, typefaces, logos, etc)
  • Writing
    1. blog at least 4 times per week, consistently for 6 months
    2. finish The Ruthless King book and illustrations
    3. finish the Busku book and illustrations
    4. start writing another children’s book (Concept developed 21 JANUARY 2009)
    5. write a book for big people (In progress)
  • Design/Photography/Programming
    1. redesign my blog
    2. model something in 3D with Maya
    3. find 10 easily accessible rooftops in Milwaukee and take photographs from atop (3 found so far…)
    4. walk around the city collecting textures with photos and rubbings (then organize them) (MAY 2010 – in Wausau)
    5. design another cd package
  • To Buy/Pay for
    1. get a nice digital SLR
    2. library fines
    3. buy OR BUILD a really nice bike (race worthy) and accessories (shoes, helmet, etc) (helmet, gloves, socks 21 JANUARY 2009)(shoes – OCTOBER 2010)(dura ace 7800 full component group – MAY 2011)
    4. buy some nice Golas 28 SEPTEMBER 2008
  • Learn/Education/Exploration
    1. all the constellations in the zodiac
    2. take another French class
    3. find a good secret hiding spot in the city(19 JULY 2009)
    4. determine my haplotype distribution

I am certain I’ll add more things to this list, so here’s an area for additional tasks:

  1. make papermaking equipment, then paper
  2. keep bees (Still illegal in Milwaukee: I found this out on 20 JANUARY 2009)
  3. learn to drive stick (APRIL 2010)
  4. make kombucha
  5. make vinegar
  6. teach another cooking class
  7. go morrelling
  8. grow mushrooms (Started 16 FEB 2010)
  9. make screen printing equipment
  10. make PCB etching tank (March 2011)

Progress: 43/101 (111)

Finally, I found this awesome artist duo from São Paolo called mulheres barbadas (bearded ladies, in Portuguese) while looking through some websites. Here’s one of their collaborations:

Mulheres Barabadas - Black & White Book

Effective Longterm Weightloss Solutions

2
1262 days
by in Biking, goals, inspiration, weight loss

When finding out a friend of mine used to be overweight, I instantly fall into disbelief. “Really?!” “How’d you lose the weight?” “What did you do with all your clothes?”

The questions are endless. Maybe it’s because, I too used to be overweight – obese, technically. At my peak I tipped the scales at 270 pounds. Now I’m a pithy 185-190, condensed and ready to spring into action. I am always intrigued as to how people lose weight, not out of mere curiosity or sympathy but rather so that I can pick up any tricks they have to losing and keeping it off.

Bike

It’s a struggle sometimes. I know. But please know that quick weight loss is unhealthy. Be realistic and expect your efforts to be longterm and sustainable. Small changes are best, and will accumulate over the course of your efforts. Here are some ideas, both my own and from others, to help you along the way.

  • only drink water (no booze, juice, soda, energy drinks, sports drinks, water with sweeteners even if they are zero calories, etc.)
  • drink water more often
  • eat foods high in dietary fiber – you will feel full faster. Leafy greens and vegetables are perfect candidates
  • don’t omit fats and carbs – they are essential to health, and to feeling full.
  • walk
  • ride a bike
  • park your car farther away than necessary and walk
  • take the stairs
  • only eat vegetarian when you go out
  • cook your own meals – you’ll have better control over what you eat – and will probably save some money!
  • eat Greek/Middle Eastern style yogurt – or at least make sure the yogurt you buy isn’t packed with carbohydrates. If your yogurt has corn syrup, it’s not yogurt, it’s pudding.
  • avoid corn syrup in general. If a product has it, I’ll look for an alternative
  • limit meat consumption to chicken and fish
  • limit television time
  • do chores regularly! See above. Handwashing clothes saves water and detergent, and is quite a fulfilling workout!
  • limit dairy consumption. I stick to hard aged cheeses and yogurt. You’ll catch me chowing on ice cream though … but only as a reward!
  • keep a journal of your food consumption and energy exertion
  • find an exercise partner, preferably a friend who is more fit than you and who has the time and energy to slow down and help you make progress

Hopefully these ideas will get you started. Let me know of any tricks or tips you have to losing weight!

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