Lately I've been posting blog entries that consist largely of music groups that have brought me artistic
inspiration. There's far too many to continue the trend but I'd be missing a huge piece if I didn't post a
REM video.  I loved this band as a child.  It's something in their particular brand of art that's unaffected
to me.  Once it's deconstructed, there's something pure at the core.  They liked themselves.  They didn't
need a fine point.  They didn't want to make you sad and they were not trying to necessarily make you do
anything. Salvation comes from REM in the form of a simple goal.  To make music that filled a gap that's
oft left in...i was going to say american rock and roll but there's no other rock and roll.  It's a custom job.
Let's leave it at this:  You're lucky if you bought a used CD from a college second hand shop in the 90's
because you caught a rare glimps of the adults we all meant to turn into.
   Singer/songwriter Stipe's homosexuality was never an issue for me as a child.  I grew up in an
environment that rewarded hatered towards the gay community and still I knew bad from good.
The songs are sung to everyone.  That's how art should be.  Anything you make, you make for
men and women, gay and straight, alive, dead and yet to be alive, for the saints and the sinners.
Art isn't supposed to always pummel you.  It's supposed to talk to you and compliment your life.
I always loved this song and what it told me.  DON'T go back to Rockville but if you do...it's alright.
No one here will stand in your way.  Personally, I've had a lot of fun in Rockville but I'm not buying
property yet with such a big world and future in front of us all.

Here's mine...

In such an absurd internet world there's a strange authenticity to a slew of Sellecks, waterfalls, and
sandwiches that aren't trying to get your credit card number.  It reminds me of when the internet
wasn't yet taken VERY seriously by everyone in marketing and it wasn't a mall yet but a brilliant
medium in the art of absurdity.  Look, laugh, take a much needed break from the banner ads.

Check out the site: Selleck Waterfall Sandwich

This video is 2yrs old but I still dig it.  I'm always so impressed when anybody works as hard at their brand of art.

So, there's this really cheap beer here in Minnesota that tastes like river water and makes you stupid.
It's like what you drink while wearing snowpants, I'm not dissing it too bad because I've bailed them
out of the recession personally... anyways my friend called it Brain Melt the other day and I've been
laughing since.  This is a famous sign over a busy bridge downtown Minneapolis so I had to see it
through.  Happy New Year!  I don't think I can think of it any other way anymore.  In 2010 I'm
switching to Arizona Arnold Palmers and Labatt Blue to expand my cultural horizions.

Click to download Ameliaire .ttf  download

I made this font and I've been using it a lot so I decided to make it available as a download in ttf.
I'm going to go ahead and give the disclaimer right up front that it's pretty freestyle. The kerning isn't
perfect and the glyphs have random moments but there are lots of cool moments in their architecture.
All-in-all it's fun to design with, even if it takes a tweek here and there.

I like this photo editorial - NY Times

Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis Blue Valentine

You never know what holes you're patching but you know if you're trying.  Maybe not thinking about use can be a
useful thought.  So long as, that thing that you have no specific use for, is still genuinely useful.

Here's a look at the font I'm developing.  I'm working on the kerning.  That's the big challenge.