Hey, look what finally appeared online! My talk from Ignite Minneapolis #3, “Don’t Stop Believin’: Karaoke Tips for Anyone,” was recorded at The Heights Theatre in Minneapolis on April 21, 2011.
Damn, am I loud! And painfully off-key at the end. In my defense I was losing my voice at that point. Still, I’m happy with the result.
For those unfamiliar with Ignite events, they are an evening of short presentations. The talks can be on any topic but are limited to 5 minutes and 20 slides. The slides auto-advance every 15 seconds no matter what. Throw in a live audience and some free beer and you have a party. It’s a blast and and I’m proud to stay involved as a coordinator after helping to bring Ignite to Minneapolis back in 2009. We’re gearing up for Ignite Minnepolis #4 on April 24.
This was my second time on the Ignite stage. You can also watch “When Good People Choose Bad Fonts” from Ignite Minneapolis #1.
]]>Amazing Star Wars sing-along video
12 Things that look like Darth Vader
iPhone 4 Case – Han Solo in carbonite
Finally, if you’re still not in the holiday spirit, try my ultimate
Star Wars Day Spotify playlist.
By @ladddesign
]]>I finally had a chance to upload the screenshots I took last week on Internet Blackout/Strike Day (January 18, 2012), the massive online protest of the proposed SOPA/PIPA Legislation. It seems to have worked because Congress shelved the bills indefinitely two days later.
I was fascinating to see the range of creative solutions employed by sites participating in the protest. Many went with the standard black/shadow approach or played up the censorship angle. Some went minimal but others went wild like my personal favorite — The Oatmeal’s incredible animated GIF which was featured on CNN and a bunch of other places.
What approach struck you the most? Did you take any action that day?
]]>PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.
]]>No matter which camp you’re in I invite you to sit back, grab a cup of eggnog and enjoy. Happy holidays!
Christmas Presence 11
Warm & Cozy Holiday Tunes
Listen (via OpenTape) | Listen (via Spotify) | Download
1. Holly Jolly Christmas – Martin Sexton
2. All I Want For Christmas Is You – Michael Bublé
3. The Christmas Song – The Raveonettes
4. It’s Christmas – The Polyphonic Spree
5. Frosty The Snowman – Nat King Cole
6. Christmastime – The Smashing Pumpkins
7. Christmas Song – Catherine Feeny
8. The Christmas Walts She And Him
9. White Christmas (Live From A Very Gaga Thanksgiving) – Lady Gaga
10. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – Vanessa Carlton
11. Winter Wonderland – Jason Mraz *
12. Jingle Bells [Alternate Take] – Frank Sinatra
13. Keegan’s Christmas – Marcy Playground
14. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Ella Fitzgerald
15. Carol Of The Bells – Straight No Chaser
16. Christmas Without You – OneRepublic *
17. Merry Christmas Baby – James Brown
18. Little Drummer Boy – Nicole Atkins
19. Do They Know It’s Christmas – Glee Cast
Holidazed & Confused 11
The Other Side of Christmas
Listen (via OpenTape) | Listen (via Spotify) | Download
1. Shit Xmas – Royal Bangs
2. Maybe Next Year – (X-Mas Song) – Meiko
3. Yellin’ At The Xmas Tree – Billy Idol
4. I Wanna Rock U Hard This Xmas – The Dan Band
5. Santa Stole My Lady – Fitz and The Tantrums
6. It Doesn’t Feel Like Christmas – Toad the Wet Sprocket
7. Xmas Tree – DeerHoof
8. Jingle Bells – Julian Koster
9. Christmas In Jersey – Billy Franks *
10. Deck The Halls – Napoleon IIIrd *
11. Up On The Housetop – Tom’s Computer *
12. Santa’s Rap – Treacherous Three
13. I’m a Little Christmas Cracker – Diana Decker
14. Yule Shoot Your Eye Out – Skyway Traffic *
15. Another Christmas At Home – Eux Autres
16. You Never Come Home For Christmas – Caitlin Rose *
17. Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas) – The Decemberists
18. You Shook Me All Noel – dj BC *
* Not available on Spotify 
All copyrights to respective writers, publishers, etc. Used without permission.
You might also enjoy: 2010 mixes | 2009 mixes | 2008 mixes
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Twinkle Trail is a new site that allows anyone to submit their favorite holiday light displays, makes it easy to find great displays in your area and even creates customized directions to efficiently take in as many displays as you like.
Pete Barry (@pjbfcp), a friend and UX specialist, is the brains behind it all. I was pleased to be involved as well, contributing some site and logo design work to project.
Twinkle Trail launched earlier this month and the list of displays is growing daily. Check it out to add your favorites or just plot the best route to experience the lights in your neck of the woods this holiday season.
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As always, I’m joined in our most recent episode by my co-host Meg Knodl (@DotMeg). Our guests include:
- Pete Barry (@pjbfcp) talking about Twinkle Trail, a new site that allows anyone to submit their or locate favorite holiday light displays
- Lisa Grimm (@lulugrimm), Digital Brand Manager at Mall of America, who fills us in on the latest MOA social holiday promotions
We also share our geektastic holiday wish lists.
Listen and download past episodes at smbmsp.org.
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LOL: It’s Official
Oh Comic Sans, is there anything you can’t fail at? (via 22 Words)
DIY: Potato Type
After last week’s bacon type, it was only fitting to explore other food/font pairings. I submit these, I guess you’d call them potato-press letters, created by edcornish and friends to make potato print Mother’s Day cards. Check out the whole set on Flickr.
New Font: Kazootie
Fresh from Chank Fonts comes Kazootie, a light-hearted and fun display font with a big, strong voice and crisp confident stride by Anne Ulku. Kazootie was inspired by cut-paper shapes and named after the hand puppet character Rootie Kazootie in a 1950s children’s television show. It’s all caps, but you can type your letters in uppercase or lowercase to access two different variants of the style. Available now! BONUS: Use coupon code “OCTOBER!” to get 20% OFF all Chank Fonts at MyFonts.com now thru Oct 31.
Further Reading: Explorations in Typography – Mastering the Art of Fine Typesetting
Patrick Barber reviews Carolina de Bartolo’s new book. “‘Explorations in Typography’ is arranged as a series of twenty-four chapters — the ‘explorations’. Using a short excerpt from Erik Spiekermann’s classic text, ‘Stop Stealing Sheep and Find Out How Type Works’, as a mantra, the book guides the reader through a kind of typographical meditation. In 24 explorations spanning 188 pages, the Spiekermann text is repeatedly typeset, using a variety of techniques to indicate paragraphs and hierarchy. A new pair of typefaces is used for each example. A colophon and additional side notes about the typesetting and the history of the typefaces are included with each setting.”
Have you come across something amazing and typography-related online? Let me know!
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