A collection of 12 commissioned posters by leading UK artists celebrating the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were unveiled earlier this month. Dezeen has the details, including pretentious artist statements (but I repeat myself) with phrases like “transcribing physical scenarios into verbal descriptions” and “narrative environments through sculptural assemblage and collage.”
“The Walking Dead” is the best show on television right now. On this there can be no debate.
Where there is room for discussion, however, is concerning the overpowering stench of rotting zombie-flesh. Is it harmful? Should we be worried?
Thankfully, it appears we have an answer.
In my office I have a very special memento. It’s a framed original 1943 World War II propaganda poster signed by the artist himself: Bernard Perlin. I had the pleasure of meeting Bernard in 1995, just after we had designed a major exhibit—Behind the Red, White & Blue: Posters, Propaganda and Pride—at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (known then as Cheney Cowles Museum).
This particular poster is among the most famous ones created during WWII. It was reproduced to billboard size and hung from the ceiling of Union Station in Washington, DC. As travelers marched to their trains, they could gaze up and see Perlin’s soldiers marching to battle.
Today, we remember all of the those—past and present—who fought for our liberty.
Courtesy of McSweeney’s, “Seven Bar Jokes Involving Grammar and Punctuation”:
You’re welcome.
With the death—and subsequent beatification—of Steve Jobs, the launch of the iPhone 4S, and titillating rumors of what’s yet to come from Cupertino, it’s sometimes easy to forget about that other guy. Sure, Microsoft’s still very much a player, as CK reminds us below. But what about Bill Gates?
Turns out he’s been busy changing the world. Again.
On a recent trip to Seattle, I visited the University Village Apple store. And I noticed that Microsoft now has a retail store just across from it.
A side-by-side comparison shows that Microsoft’s storefront design and logo usage (sans company name) is intentionally similar. The interiors are familiar as well, with large tables displaying hardware. And Microsoft tries its very best to achieve a “less is more” brand appearance.
Visiting the two stores, one after the other, makes it easy to compare company brands (Jobs vs. Gates; Apple vs. PC; great design vs., well…okay design). It makes perfect sense to have a retail experience for both companies. But one can’t help but be reminded that Microsoft came to the retail party so much later that when it arrived, it seemed to be wearing the same outfit.
For a master class on documentary film-making—or just to see a phenomenal movie—don’t miss Senna, currently showing at the Magic Lantern.
Hard to believe that, for just $20, you and that special someone can enjoy drinks and a bottomless bowl of popcorn while spending a couple of hours in the company of the greatest Formula 1 racing driver ever.
But you don’t have to be a racing fan to appreciate the drama—the talent, courage, and sheer will on display; the behind-the-scenes political maneuvering and inter-team rivalries; and, ultimately, the tragedy that changed the sport forever.
Highly, highly recommended.
For those alarmed at the news that we’ve cut 12% of our workforce, fear not. That’s the other AMD. We’re far too busy to let 1,400 employees go.
Resourceful scientists have figured out how to use lasers to verify the quality of your Scotch—which is a good thing, considering that we likely can’t tell for ourselves.
Last Friday I mentioned Alaska Airlines’ Aircraft Safety Instruction Tri-Fold—which leads me to today’s subject.
I don’t know why, but I can’t help but chuckle at the step-by-step illustrations used to show passengers how to prepare for an aircraft emergency. Not that this is a funny subject, but this woman has got to be a former Russian gymnast. Her lift and form are outstanding. Clearly it represents a strong motivation to get the hell off the plane—and without her purse!
Well done. I’d score it a 10.0.
If you’ve traveled in the last few years, then you’ve probably completely ignored this illustration. It’s always included in the seat pocket right in front of you, in what’s called the Aircraft Safety Information Tri-Fold (maybe you ought to read it next time). This particular illustration is brought to you by Alaska Airlines. On a recent trip, I couldn’t help but notice a very subtle shoe embellishment (the guy third from the right in the bottom half of the image above). Clearly, one can’t say casual running shoe without a swoosh! Now that’s the power of a well-known brand.
Reading this little exchange makes me long for the days when gas was cheap, men walked on the moon, and our president was tanned, rested, and ready.
From the Nixon tapes:
Nixon: Incidentally, what is Rehnquist? I suppose he’s a damn Protestant?
Attorney General John Mitchell: I’m sure of that. He’s just as WASPish as WASPish can be.
Nixon: Yeah, well, that’s too damn bad. Tell him to change his religion.
Mitchell: All right, I’ll get him baptized this afternoon.
Nixon: Well, get him baptized and castrated, no, they don’t do that, I mean they circumcise — no, that’s the Jews. Well anyway, whatever he is, get him changed.
In a piece about the future of punctuation, Henry Hitchings mentions the unmentionable: that graphic designers might be at least partly responsible for our downward spiral.
I think he may be on to something. The graphic designers I’ve known don’t much care for hyphens, dashes, and semicolons—even apostrophes—all of which are employed by writers for clarity. You see, those ugly little symbols tend to muck up an otherwise pretty headline or logo.
When the designers win, the rest of us lose, as evidenced by the inability of most American adults to know how and when to use an apostrophe. Just think of all the possessive business names that lack one: Walgreens, Albertsons, Starbucks…the list goes on.
But then, without graphic design, nobody would read anything anyway. So I guess we’re going to just have to learn how to get along.
Occupy Wall Street? Meh. This is a movement we can all get behind. Geeks Are Sexy has more.
We don’t do a lot of movie reviews here at the last word. Unless, of course, they happen to be extraordinary. Such is the case with Never Let Me Go, a 2010 film based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro.
Great acting and direction, gorgeous cinematography, and an understated yet supremely effective score by Rachel Portman—it all comes together to tell a story that’s both horrifying and achingly tender.
And somehow, Never Let Me Go manages to refrain from descending into the smug self-righteousness that’s so characteristic of recent Hollywood dystopian tales.
Be sure to give it a look-see. You’ll be thinking about it long after the credits roll.
An oldie but goodie: the Shakespeare Insult Kit.
Apparently, the last sound you’ll hear as you’re torn apart by piranhas is…barking?
Scientists have discovered the most relaxing tune ever. Just don’t listen to it while operating heavy machinery.
Finally, the headline of the week: Man Allegedly Beat Woman with Frozen Armadillo.
