30 Years of Swiss Typographic Discourse in the Typografische Monatsblätter

When Hitler took over power in 1933, many innovators including Jan Tschichold left Germany. It was also the period that marked a significant change in the world of graphic design and typography. One of the graphic design journals that helped bring Swiss Typography to the international level was Typografische Monatsblätter. This book focuses on the historical influence of MT from 1930–1990. The concise overview combined with rich visual documentations make it a fascinating study.

Sáu Năm Bên Nhau

Mới đó đã sáu năm chính thức nên vợ nên chồng. Sáu năm trải qua bao sóng gió và thử thách trong đời sống. Cả hai luôn bận rộn trong công việc và nuôi nấng con cái. Trong tình cảm có lúc vui lúc buồn và lúc thương lúc giận. Cái quan trọng là nhường bước và cùng nhau giải quyết mọi khó khăn.

Để kỷ niệm sáu năm sát cánh bên nhau, tôi muốn tặng vợ một món quà nhỏ tôi tự làm lấy. Nhìn lại những lúc không vui hay nản lòng, tôi nhớ lại thuở ban đầu yêu nhau và hứa hẹn nhau. Lời khuyên mà chúng tôi ghi giấu sâu sắc là của cố nhạc sĩ Lê Uyên Phương: “Rồi mai đây đi trên đường đời / Đừng buông tay âm thầm tìm về cô đơn.” Người nhạc sĩ tài hoa muốn nhắc phải cố gắng và không buông xuôi.

Tôi thiết kế một poster tặng em. Cám ơn những tình yêu và cảm thông em đã giành cho tôi. Tôi xin được yêu em suốt đời.

Typeface: Classic Typography for Contemporary Design

Although the cover is a bit overwhelming, Tamye Riggs’s Typeface is filled with beautiful typographic visuals, unique character highlights, and a bit of history. It’s a perfect coffee table book to look at and to be inspired.

The Black Keys – Turn Blue

Even though Dan Auerbach’s voice is too thin and girly for my ears, I really enjoy the productions on The Black Keys’ latest release Turn Blue. Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton plays a key role in those sounds. The Bo Diddley beat, forceful riffs and feedback on “It’s Up to You Now” are so damn addictive. The “Fever” groove is also captivating. Even the slow-burning album starter, “Weight of Love,” is sensation. Listening to this album makes me wish Burton and Norah Jones reunite for another collaborative project.

Designing Design

The first part of Kenya Hara’s Designing Design devotes to redesign projects of daily products. For example, Shigeru Ban turned a round roll of toilet paper into a square roll. In term of functionality, a square roll creates more resistance than a round roll; therefore, it reduces usage. In addition, square rolls are easier to stack and fit easier than round rolls. The book features dozens of case studies that focuses on design thinking with fascinating visual examples. An eye-opening and beautiful read.

Shakira – Shakira

Shakira. Shakira. What else can I say? Whether it’s her exotic physicality, stunning choreography or musical eccentricity, everyone wants a piece of Shakira. In her tenth release, she gives back to everyone a little something.

For the club heads, “Dare (La La La)” is an instant party starter. I played the track this morning and my two-year-old Dan is already hooked on it. We put it on repeat all the way to daycare and Dao (my five-year-old) asked me, “Why does he say Lego?.” I explained, “I think he said leggo.” According to Urban Dictionary, leggo is “The most unintelligent way to say ‘Let’s Go.’”

For the country heads, she pulls off the hillbilly vibe in “Medicine” with the help from Blake Shelton. Their vocals blended strangely well together. She has something for the rockers (“Spotlight”), ska shakers (“Nunca Me Acuerdo de Olvidarte”) and ballad lovers (“That Way”) as well. The album is surely all over the place, but Shakira could weave them together with her uniqueness.

What is Shakira’s uniqueness that make her an international pop phenomenon with a musical career that is still going strong for 25 years? Again, everyone has something different for Shakira. Beside her visual, something about her singing that is bizarre yet irresistible. In “Empire” for example, the way she moans at the end of each bar seduces me. Who can resist the temptation with weird lyrics like, “Shake off all of your sins and give them to me”? Better yet, the chorus that goes, “And the stars make love to the universe / You’re my wildfire every single night,” before she screams from the pussy, “And you touch me… And I’m like… and I’m like… and I’m like… Ooh… ooh…” Now that’s some fucking orgastic pleasure.

Miles at the Fillmore – Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3

The box set of Miles at the Fillmore captured the four live sessions of Miles Davis and his all-star band played at the New York venue in June 1970 in thier entirety. Even though same tunes were played in different sets, listening to them back to back reveals how the band stretched out the pieces from night after night. Miles’s solos were powerful and focused. In contrast, Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea pushed their instruments beyond their limit to create organic, chaotic soundscapes. While Dave Holland anchored down the pulse, Jack DeJohnette and Airto Moreira went buck wild with the rhythms. Steve Grossman was also at the top of his game on the sax. From the opening, charging “Directions” to the impressionistic improvising “Bitches Brew” to the hypnotizing “It’s About That Time,” Miles and his men made history on the spot.

The Joy of Having a Big Brother

In the past two weeks, dropping off Dan has been easier. He must have realized that’s he doesn’t have a choice. As long as Ms. Ali was there to greet him, he would be fine. This morning she was not in yet; therefore, he refused to go into his class. Dao took Dan’s hand and said, “Let me show you where you can join your friends.” Dan didn’t cry as all when Dao led him to the table where his friends were sitting.

As we waved goodbye to Dan, I took Dao to his class. I gave him a hug and kiss and said to him, “Remember…” He replied, “Listen to my teachers.” I said, “And be nice to…” He responded, “My friends.” We weaved goodbye and he joined his friends. Not a bad morning at all.

Như Ý – Sẽ Có Những Lúc

Như Ý’s sixth release kicks off with an alluring rendition of “Mưa Trên Biển Vắng.” Sadly, the rest of the album featured catchy but forgettable pop songs. It’s a damn shame to hear such a seducing voice is being wasted. Then again, she only spent two months putting seven tracks together.

Steve Byrne – Champion

With his unique Korean-Irish background, Steve Byrne championed jokes on stereotype. From Black, White, Asian to gay, Byrne spares no races and genders in his latest stand-up special. Champion is available on NetFlix for some energetic, comical pleasure.

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