January 2008 Archives

Why is type layout and design so poor in the US? If they are going to do it poorly - why not at least do something interesting for Christ's sake? I know there are shortages of workers in other professions, why not investigate that?

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I can almost hear the designers saying
"Holy FUCK - now what?" _____________________________________________________________________________

Beach House. You can buy this at iTunes. It is excellent - although definitely not for everyone. Amazing. "Master of None" is one of my favorite tracks ever. ____________________________________________________________________________

This is an image of a concept for the world's largest cargo airplane - called the "pelican" by Boeing. It uses the same "technology" as my aforementioned Florida Pelican - called ground effect - which helps give this massive plane lift. The proposed range is 10,000 miles and it has 76 tires to support the weight during landing. This is an impressive concept borne of the pelican - and I am sure if it ever flies it will be an impressive sight.

But really, the more I think about the state of our technology, the more I realize that it is still very primitive. The more we try to replicate nature, the more primitive it seems. My feeling is that there needs to be a quantum leap forward in terms of materials, propulsion and aerodynamics. Think about it, when you are in a commercial jet - you are basically sitting on top of two massive fucking bombs on the wings. Think of Slim Pickens in the movie "Dr. Strangelove." That's about right. Thankfully, the industry has learned how to control the beast of jet propulsion. ___________________________________________________________________________________

OK, I am in Naples, Florida, and I have seen many Ferraris, Jaguars, and Aston-Martins. Beautiful, expensive cars. They are gorgeous. But the most perfect thing I have seen is not an expensive car, or a lovely lass; it is the the Florida Pelican.

The pelican flies at about 20-30 miles per hour -  inches above the waters surface. It is incredible. They use their large (about 3 foot) wingspan to stabilize - coming even closer to the water - probably about 3 inches.

This fluidity and design perfection is simply unmatched by anything I have ever seen made (or designed) by man.

The bird is rather homely, if it were more beautiful it would be a god  - not a bird.

I will try to photograph this and post - it is perfect. But to be honest, you should fly to the Florida Gulf Coast and see it for yourself.

OK. Tomorrow I am out of here for a week or so. I may post from Florida - maybe not. In any case, as a creative - how do you detach? What I mean by this is how do you get outside of your own head and your own existence?

Travel definitively helps. But does Florida have the same effect the same as - say - Paris? I think it does. For different reasons. I mean Paris has a way of helping you realize that the French are cooler than we are - and that they have a fantastic way of life. But there is something about being in the Deep South that makes me realize exactly what life is about. I cannot explain it - but it will come to me this week.

Manual labor helps. I have not done any lately and I miss it. When you have reached the point of complete exhaustion, everything becomes very clear. And it is a good workout. Builds stamina.

Great ideas come from complete detachment. It allows one to see and get to the locus of the problem. I will write more about this later when I can detach.

A vacation. Florida. Sun, seafood, great cholesterol-laden breakfasts. Yum. I will continue diatribe in a week or so - and I promise I will be nice and not hurt your feelings and make you cry or say anything bad about other agencies. Happy bunnies all around.

This is an excellent brand statement. Please do not use it as we own it now! _________________________________________________________________________

I am over winter man.

"When I finally get myself together, gonna get down in that sunny Southern weather." from the song "Almost Cut My Hair" by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.