This and That
Tackling the language issues of gay/straight marriage
Love in the blogosphere - congrats Leonard and Sumana!
# Wed Apr 19 22:24:43 Best book cover, ever
Blinkenlights
# Wed Nov 23 20:32:59 If you are going to go overboard with the Christmas lights this year, do it right or don't bother.
Logo Wars
Logoworks.com seemed like a good way to get a cheap logo that at least looked better than nothing or ancient clipart. But some people are alleging that they are often hijacking other logos and passing them off as original creations. Here you can see some examples of the logos in question, including some that are exact copies of other people's work. Here is more of the story and many links.
In related news, it is not clear if Quark's logo design firm got lazy and stole something else or got lazy and just didn't try too hard, thus coming up with a logo that looks like many other logos already out there.
From what I can see, Logo Lounge looks like a fun and interesting site (but I can't afford to join). Via an article on their front page, check out the logos at Bradford Lawton.
# Thu Sep 22 13:59:38 I am working on a new logo for something, so I've had logos on the mind lately.
Edward Tufte in Space
# Fri Sep 09 10:09:01 Edward Tufte notes a missed opportunity on the Pioneer space plaque, and presents a slightly altered image:
"Since the principle of physics hold everywhere, magic is conceivably a cosmological entertainment, with the wonders induced by theatrical illusions appreciated by all, regardless of planetary system."
Moon Day, eBay
Coincidentally, I came across an old mini-book for kids from 1968-9, detailing the upcoming moon mission with cool illustrations. The condition was amazingly good, so I took some pics and posted them. The book itself is now on eBay if you collect that sort of thing.
# Tue Jul 19 15:35:14 Moon Day is coming up tomorrow! Believe it or not, people walked up there thirty-six years ago, and left the golf balls to prove it. The ever-plentiful Boing Boing has the scoop on some Moon Day parties and pics.
Pixelblocks: Shiny Plastic
We'll be testing out the "if you build it, they will come" theory with that site :)
# Sun Jul 10 15:46:53 I got some Pixelblocks (sort of a more sadistic version of Legos) a few months ago, and I thought it would be a fun, alternative way to illustrate a story. Still working on that, but in the meantime I've built a little community site for other Pixelblock users, since there wasn't one around yet. So check out blockflock.org if you like building things out of tiny pieces of plastic.
The Cute Train Manifesto
Already, the story ideas are percolating.
If anyone in Japan can send me brochures, advertisements, propaganda, whatever, with pictures of this thing, please let me know! The train is slated to hit the tracks in 2011, so I have plenty of time to plan my trip :)
# Sun Jun 26 16:03:39 
As long as you are building the fastest train in the world, be sure to make it as cute as hell, complete with "cat ear-shaped airbrakes".
Space Pictures
# Thu May 12 12:05:15 Dreams of Space: illustrations of space-related stuff from children's books published between 1883-1974
Grace Lin and Rosemary Wells in Portland, Maine
Rosemary Wells gave a short talk. Her work process is interesting - she sets up a storyboard of however many pages the book will be. Then she prints out the story and cuts and pastes the words where she think they will go on each page. Then she paints the pictures. Then she goes back and takes words away - since the pictures will now tell part of the story, some of the words are no longer needed. It makes sense, but I never thought about working that way.
Of course, with some of my pictures, I'd probably have to add more words in to explain the drawings ;)
# Mon May 09 23:55:59 This past Saturday there was a "children's literature festival" in Portland, Maine. It was a good place to go on such a cold, rainy "spring" day. Along with a roomful of local authors and illustrators, they also had two of my current favorite authors, Grace Lin and Rosemary Wells. They have different styles, but I enjoy both of their works. I got to speak briefly with Grace Lin while she signed a book, and some local kids put on a play based on "The Ugly Vegetable Garden".
Videogame Art
# Tue Apr 26 11:10:38 Pictures from the "I am 8-bit" art show, where videogames and art collide. If only I had saved all those "Adventure" drawings I used to tack to the fridge...ridge...ture" drawings I used to tack to the fridge...ridge...hosehose "Adventure" drawings I used to tack to the fridge...ridge...ture" drawings I used to tack to the fridge...ridge...hose "Adventure" drawings I used to tack to the fridge...ridge...ture" drawings I used to tack to the fridge...ridge...dge...he fridge...ridge...dge.....e fridge...ridge...dge.....ings I used to tack to the fridge...ridge...dge...he fridge...ridge...dge.....e fridge...ridge...dge..... fridge...ridge...dge...he fridge...ridge...dge.....e fridge...ridge...dge.....ge...ridge...dge......dge..........ge......dge............ge......dge............ge...ridge...dge......dge..........ge......dge............ge......dge...................ge......dge............ge.e...dge......dge..........ge......dge............ge......dge....ge......dge............ge...ridge...dge......dge..........ge......dge............ge......dge............dge..........ge......dge............ge......dge................dge.................dge..........dge................dge.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
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