Helvetica über Alles

One hundred best fonts, in a table.
Gotham at #41? Maybe it's too new.

Famous friend

While I was in DC I walked around the various Smithsonian buidlings and came across this portrait competition. Some really amazing paintings and photos. The winner was a 2 by 3 foot digital print of a photo taken by Dave Woody of Colorado:



It's a strong portrait and technically a great photograph, but what really gets me is that I'm pretty sure I've met this person. Is that possible? Or is there really something about the lighting, styling, the model, etc. that just fools me into thinking that? And does it work for everyone like that, or does it have something to do with my age, my socio-economic background, my fondness of V-necks, etc.

Windy islands

I recently went to the movie theaters and saw both 'Shutter Island' and 'Ghost Writer' (on different occasions), big budget movies from two of the most well-respected (and aging) directors of all-time.

I suppose it's just a coincidence that both films revolve around young hunky guys sort of stranded on unnamed small islands in New England, with periodic inclimate weather forcing said protagonists to seek shelter in run down cabin/shacks, leading to chance encounters with local islanders.

.
Off to the island, you sure you wanna go?

But what might be less of a coincidence is the fact that both movies seem so out of touch with contemporary story telling. I'm not sure what CST is but I can tell you it's not: a shot of Leo DiCaprio nervously making his way through the island prison, passing through a broken door with a sign that says 'This door to remain locked at all times'. Or: Ewan McGregor introducing himself to potentially menacing government agents as 'the ghost...I mean, the ghost writer.'


Local stranger with valuable information

In fact there are so many moments like this in the Ghost Writer that I almost feel like Polanski gets away with it, sort of a throw back to some other era when films had to be explicit in this melodramatic way (was it ever like that?).

In any case, the strange thing is that both of these movies got really good reviews. Don't get me wrong, I thought both films looked great and most of the time I was having fun watching them. But so often these moments happened that it becomes disconnecting, I have to look around the theater to deal with the awkwardness. I feel like it's lazy film making (didn't someone notice this in editing room?), and I have to think that it has something to do with the fact that these guys are so famous. Compare these movies to some of the more nuanced and subtle story telling from some younger directors like Ramin Bahrani (I just recently saw 'Goodbye Solo') and it really becomes apparent.

Ivy league

Overheard today on the Dartmouth campus:
`I've met some really friendly homeless people, actually.'

Last Days

My time in Berlin is running out and I still have some things I want to do:

Book reading at St. George's bookstore. DONE
Climb up the Teufelsberg.
Meet the President (of Germany). DONE
See the Pergamon. DONE
Swim in/lounge around the Badeschiff.
Swim across Schlachtensee. DONE
Swim in Wannsee.
See the Schloss Charlottenburg.
Get turned down at Berghain. DONE
Get into Berghain. DONE
Not get confused between 'noch' and 'schon'.
Learn how to decline adjectives.
Determine if a certain math professor wears pantyhose or not.
See the Soviet War Memorial in Treptow. DONE



Watch an episode of Tatort.

Others?

Sketchlist

We're heading back to the US soon and these days we're slowly packing up our things. Part of the process includes putting up the few items that are worth selling (printer, guitar, etc) on various Craigslist type websites and listserves. So far we've had a few responses, but somehow the combination of poor grammar, use of all capital letters, fondness for cashier's checks, and requests for overseas shipping seem to indicate that these are less than scrupulous characters. Here are some samples:

i m glad to hear from u,i m a student in UK and i will really appreciate if u can made the transaction with me....so kindly give me all necessary info like your full name to be on the check,your postal address your,postal code,your mobile phone number for easier communications to send the cheque i have with me .......it will cover your payment and shipping.........nice to hear from u again.

thanks
john


HELLO, AM JUST CHECKING ON THE ITEMS ON THE CRAIGSLIST AND FORTUNATELY
I CAME ACROSS YOUR ADVERT AND I AM SATISFIED BY THE DESCRIPTION OF THE
ITEM...
I WILL LIKE TO KNOW THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE ITEM WHETHER GOOD OR BAD..
PLEASE WHEN REPLYING MY MAIL ATTACH RECENT PICTURE OF THE ITEM SO I CAN SEE
IF AVAILABLE... ALSO LET ME KNOW YOUR BUSINESS TERMS AND CONDITION...
I WILL BE HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON


Hello,
I am very much excited to hear back from you.I lived in the UK.The guitar is meant for my daughter studying abroad.I will take it at your price.I want to know the method of payment you will like,but i prefer paying you with a certified check.The payment will include the shipping funds.Let me know if you accept the offer by sending me the necessary information to get the payment across to you.
My regards,
Emmanuel

(After responding to 'Emmanuel' with a polite message indicating our preference for face-to-face interactions, cash, etc. we got this back:)

why will you worry about the shipping.I should be saying that.!! I have a reputable shipping compnay that handles my consignment neatly without blemish.So let me worry about that.You just have to worry on how you get the payment on time by giving me the information i requested from you.Thank you for your concern.
Emmanuel

Swede shot

I don't really know what hockey is, but this is pretty funny. Also, here's a picture of an ice hockey team from 1921, taken from wikipedia: