Archive for December 2005

Full Stop    (2005.12.30)

The line between the right and wrong kinds of tacky is too easily crossed with everyone’s favourite novelty font, Cooper Black.

But if it’s a “novelty” font, why does it continue to be used decades later, sometimes well? I actually like this sign.

Night of the long ſ    (2005.12.27)

Using the German long s ſ to label dealcoholized wine is like using a yogh ȝ or a thorn þ to label an iPod.

Great to look at nonetheless. I wonder what font they use for the barcode?

Cuteageddon    (2005.12.23)

‘An adorable, orgasmic, apocalypticish moment of cuteness that leaves no “aww” unawwed’

De-voured    (2005.12.22)

Actual headline in the printed and downloadable-PDF versions of the commuter tabloid 24 [H]ours:

Proofread much?

My Orion II otaku    (2005.12.22)

The Orion II was a paratransit or shuttle bus custom-designed and -built in Mississauga. They seemed futuristic, with a monocoque body that could be levered off the entire chassis (I seem to recall the hinge was at the front, but that may be false-memory syndrome) and front-wheel drive. Short-wheelbase versions were used by Wheel-Trans here in Toronto, which still uses long-wheelbase versions on so-called Community Bus routes.

Their engine note and brake squeal remain distinctive to this day; you could hear one coming up behind you, stopping at the red light, and driving away on the green.

Orion IIs were expensive at well over $100,000 a pop, and I thought they were only really used here and in Scandinavia, but in fact they were sold all over North America.

They look fantastic in lobster red. And for all those Orion pimps out there: Did you know you could buy a limo version on eBay (PDF)?

The loneliest motorcycle    (2005.12.21)

Dirt bike or snow bike?

Georgia’s finest, apparently    (2005.12.20)

Don’t you just love those contour or shaded fonts?

Blog (short for ‘Web log’) of the year    (2005.12.18)

…is Hanzi Smatter