God Damn, I love You Tube, I have stumbled across a couple more videos that you may enjoy.
Now here are two of my favorite things. Electronic techno dubbed over of an Apache video. I found the video by accident. I saw it in the little side bar and one of the chicks looked topless from the thumbnail so naturally, I clicked it. No nudity, but I couldn’t have been more satisfied for clicking it. It was so funny I watched it 3 times and after that, the song started getting catchy. Needless to say I’m a little embarrassed of my music collection.
You know… theirs a little part of me that hopes this is what heaven will be like. I can dress up with a killer wig, and get a sweet porno star ’stash and have 3 hippie chicks dance around me for eternity while listening to Australian electronic techno. What could be better. Ladies, take note.
Apache Vs Sneaky Sound System: Pictures (Tonite Only Remix)
As any of you might know I am an avid watcher of Countdown with Keith Obermann on MSNBC. I DVR his show daily. If you don’t watch his show, you should. Its funny, insightful, and entertaining. He also HATES Bill O’Riely, and calls him out on every dumbass remark he makes. So many people hate the guy, because of his so bass awkward views of politics people often make videos about him and they are picked up by MSNBC.
From time to time Keith Obermann does the leg work for me and finds some kick ass youtube videos. Here is another one. Enjoy.
I feel as though I have hit a new turning point in my life. I have realized the importance of setting goals. Lately I feel as though I have been floating through life. Slowly running out of money, with the economy in the toilet, i feel as though I am not progressing like I want to. Not really accomplishing anything significant and am getting bored with the monotony of everyday life. This turning point was inspired by the television show Man vs. Wild, with Bear Grylls. He said in one of his episodes that it can be hard to move on without keeping track of your progress.
He was referring to a man who had to walk through a desert, with no land marks. He said that he filled one of his pockets with stones and every 1000 steps he took he moved 1 stone to his other pocket. He said this was an a great way of tracking progress and accomplishments. I too believe in tracking accomplishments on your way to reaching a goal.
Accomplishments are the main drive to achieving a goal you have set. Setting goals can really add meaning and satisfaction from life. So to keep optimism and hope in life I have set these new goals and rules for myself.
Health & Physical Fitness.
I plan to bike 30-60 miles every weekend, and plan to lift weights 3 times per week, and go disc golfing at least once a week. I couldn’t believe how much more energy I began to have and how much more alert I was after taking up biking again. I felt happier and felt more rejuvenated doing this. I am sleeping better and feel more rested when I wake in the morning. I plan to eat healthier and incorporate more fruits and vegetables into my diet as I can eat a whole pizza and feel full or I can eat just one apple and still feel just as full. I want to avoid sleeping in on weekends as this screws up my sleep schedule, and want to get an early start on the day. To track my accomplishments I have purchased a computer for my bike that records mileage which I then record in a notebook. I also want to quit smoking, as this will help me have more energy and improve my health and hopefully encourage more exercise.
Character.
I am striving to be more punctual, to events. Showing up to work early, and getting things done on time. Over promise and under deliver is a new motto I wish to adopt. I want to use my money smarter. Not wasting it going out to eat, or buying things I don’t need. Focusing more on what I already have and finding more “free” activities to take part in. I want to stop watching so much TV and devote at least and hour per week reading a book. I want to take more pride in myself and my surroundings. I want to keep my apartment and car cleaner, and care for my dieing plants, (encouraging me to open my blinds). I am hoping that keeping my car and home cleaner will keep me more organized and more focused on things I need to remember to do. Like paying bills. I plan to drop the highest tier cable package for something a little less saving me money, and cutting down on my television hours for entertainment. I am pushing myself to learn new things through books and the internet.
I chose to publish these even though they mean nothing to you and have no impact in your life, as a way to keep me focused. I feel that it is important to record these (for the accomplishment factor) and to remind me to keep with it. I have already received a feeling of progress just with biking alone, and I look forward to the outcomes and possibilities of the future, with these new goals.
I have long toiled with turning Opera into my default browser. I have had it installed since Opera 5.0, I generally used Firefox for the speed and for the screen real estate, but my graphic artist side always liked the independent and very flashy Opera. Today I went and downloaded the new Opera 9.5. I was really quite amazed. It appears Opera has learned from Firefox in terms of giving you what you want and need and nothing else. The new Opera has really slimmed down. No excessive features, sleek GUI, a Windows Vista adapted window, contrasting colors, and most recently it is starting to display pages better and more closely to Firefox, which I like.
I believe this is the best version of opera since v7.0. If you haven’t tried Opera before, or have downloaded it but haven’t given it a chance, maybe now is the time to do so.
www.opera.com
Yesterday Firefox 3 beta was released. It is pretty amazing, some GUI changes, RSS seems to connect with outlook simply (one click). Take a look I have had it about 10mins now and I love it. Download it here.
Recently an independent film entitled “Helvetica” has been gaining attention from news sources such as The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Metropolis, and Frieze. It has been in at least 7 film festivals.
Being a graphic artist myself and always having an interest in typography, when I first discovered the film a month ago on Veer.com I was rather intrigued. Most people would find a film on fonts a complete waste of time.
But last night I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a copy of the film. The film is very interesting as it points out the abundance and overall success of this font which is still just as popular today as it was when it was released just over 50 years ago.
It’s incredible but denounced to most people Helvetica surrounds us. It’s everywhere. In road signs, advertisements, our tax forms, busses, packaging, corporate logos and so much more. A font that’s so abundant in today’s society often slips by without notice by nearly everyone. And there in lies its beauty.
It’s because of its neutrality the font Helvetica is not immediately recognized as a font. Instead it’s immediately viewed as words and therefore you can use Helvetica to communicate with the viewer in a way that just speaks to them and doesn’t detract or distract the reader from the message you are trying to communicate to them. Helvetica is a no frills typeface. It is simple and extremely easy to read. It doesn’t have a meaning within itself but instead conveys its meaning within the content of the text and its why it lends it self so perfectly to almost anything.
There’s something about the typeface that leaves it open to interpretation. So in essence the font can represent what the company does or sells even if it is used by 2 separate companies in completely opposite trades. A car company like Toyota uses it and it represents strength and dependability, and a clothing store such as American Apparel can use it and the typeface takes on a representation of modern style and elegance.
Because Helvetica is so neutral and open to interpretation is becomes perfect for governments and corporations because not only does the typeface take on the representation of what the company stands for sells or does but the qualities they want to represent as a corporation
Being 50 years old already it remains a modern looking font just as popular as ever but retains history, tradition and stability. Helvetica is timeless, and doesn’t fade in and out with trends which again lends itself so perfectly to corporate identities. A company doesn’t want to spend tens of thousands of dollars developing an identity that will look trendy, and cool for 3 years, and then look out dated. And risk redesigning it and losing their customer base in the process of changing again.
”Governments and corporations love Helvetica because eon one hand it makes them seem neutral and efficient but also the smoothness of the letters makes them seem almost human. That is a quality they all want to convey, of course they have an image they are always fighting but they are authoritarian they are bureaucratic, you lose yourself in them, they are oppressive… so instead by using Helvetica they can come off seeming more accessible, transparent and accountable. Which are all the buzz words for what corporations and governments are suppose to be today. Now they don’t have to be accessible, transparent and accountable, but they can look that way.”
This all goes to show you how much can be communicated to you subliminally just though a font. It is what makes Helvetica so powerful.
Many corporations use Helvetica because of its power. Companies such as, Met Life, Greyhound, Sears, Jeep, BMW, SAAB, Kawasaki, Target, Staples, Aprilia, Toyota, TupperWare, Nestle, Verizon, conEdison, Energizer, Oral-B, The North Face, JCPenny, CVS, Urban Outfitters, Panasonic, American Airlines, American Apparel, Samsung, LG, Nabisco, Walmart, Crate&Barrel and thousands more.
Television networks use it in commercials for example, FX, TNT, and Court TV. Its used in titles for TV shows, “the Office” and “jackass”. Used in CD covers of band names like “the Beatles” and “U2” or movies titles like, “Seven”, and “Little Miss Sunshine”.
Whether on a computer, a television, a billboard advertisement, or logo it remains arguably the most perfect way to convey a message.
In one of my favorite lines from the film is spoken by a man named Massimo Vignelli, he attempts to break down the view of a graphic designer to someone who doesn’t understand the passion one has for typography and graphic design.
”the life of a designer is a life of fight, fight against the ugliness. Just as a doctor fights against disease, for us visual disease is what we have around and what we try to do is cure it somehow, with design.”
Helvetica is quite possibly the most used font worldwide. Yet its popularity and beauty are extremely difficult to describe. A good analogy brought up in the film is that it’s like trying to explain the beauty of off white to someone.
Overall the film chronicles the birth and history of the typeface Helvetica, those that are for and those that completely reject it. Very few things remain at their peak of popularity for 50 years. Helvetica is an amazing film, and I recommend that you watch it. I think its an interesting way of learning and discovering the power typefaces have to impact you and the decisions you make in everyday life.
God I suck at blogs, i can never think of anything remotely cool to say. This site is great. Its called FLVTO. It converts any .flv file (AKA, you tube, meta cafe, break.com) and a million others and converts the sound to an mp3! Completely free. Whats this mean for you? You know that one song you have been trying to find on Limewire or Sharazaa forever but could never find? Well just find a video of it on you tube or one of the countless other video sites then copy and paste the link into the text box on THIS SITE, and click upload.
For me the progress bar didn’t work just sat at 1%, but sure enough then it opened a new window where i could download my mp3. I got like all of my favorite movies quotes now in mp3 which i can sprinkle in with my music CD-Rs. Everything from “the Big Lebowksi” and “Chappelle Show” Classics to Benny and the Jets as performed by Biz Markie, and don’t forget your dose of stand up comics! Greatest online tool ever!
If your into underground artists you should check out Odd Nosdam, and CloudDead on Anticon Record label. All of their artists produce original sounds and styles.
Here is a video from Odd Nosdam, his music is very different from what you have ever heard. It seems like each song he does is entirely different the style and composure, than the one before it. You should sample some of his stuff. In the meantime check out his latest music video.
Also be sure to download Atmosphere’s latest album for free right here, entitled Atmosphere - Strictly Leakage.
Odd Nosdam - Kill Tone from anticon. on Vimeo.
Sorry still trying to figure out this new blog, someday your comments will show up. Thanks for commenting. Kirk if you read this place a comment with a link to your flickr! account!
