Archive for February 2007

Urban class    (2007.02.17)

I got off my bike and stood in the middle of the sidestreet to line up this shot. “Hey, camera man! Hey, camera man!” I hear (and it’s obviously two words). “What?!” I mutter angrily, taking my shot. “Out of the way,” says the black streetcar driver turning onto the sidestreet. You can fucking well wait.

This superklassy development takes the place of a lonely Stephenson’s Rental building (more on them anon) on a lot with an enormous dropoff in elevation at the rear. You could build a fallout shelter here and a full suite of tæunhæumes. The resulting Ashbridge Commons™ (“in the West Beach”) will be dripping with the kind of refinement and distinction you’d be anticipate next door to a streetcar depot and a block away from a postal sorting plant.

And the red Palatino on green… nice touch. The rest of the type is even worse, with sort of a 1984 LaserWriter Helvetica in use.

LazyWeb request: Evert Bloemsma    (2007.02.15)

Looking for help in locating information on the life and work of Evert Bloemsma, type designer

Google becomes impossible to use    (2007.02.15)

Where did the Search button go?

Bentall    (2007.02.15)

Doing good things with concrete here. (I don’t think the lower portion is granite.)

Quest for Farber    (2007.02.15)

Trying to find Celia Farber’s book. Also, editor’s note: How do you spell ‘saliva’?

Woody Eagle    (2007.02.14)

Nerves of steel    (2007.02.12)

Here I am at the Broadway stop of Vancouver’s SkyTrain, photographing an aberrant sign that uses Meta instead of the unaccountable and perplexing Plantin (also seen at Heathrow Airport, the obvious inspiration).

Just as I lifted my camera, four cops walked by, one of whom stared right at me, as seen here. I took my shot and, with nerves of steel, double-checked it on the LCD. I pocketed my camera and waited for the train.

Try this in Toronto and you get to endure a talking-to by Grandpa Moscoe.

BoyDirections    (2007.02.11)

Sortie nocturne pour les gars, 2007.02.08:

Matt, Will, Pete (“Peter, Paul & Microsoft” [cf.])