Barack Obama delivered an inspiring speech on race. He had cleverly balanced out his criticisms on both black and white, and then challenged America to solve our problems together and to work toward “A More Perfect Union.” He believed, “This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected.” Obama also untangled himself out of the controversial statement made by Reverend Jeremiah Wright in his skillful remark:

The profound mistake of Reverend Wright’s sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society. It’s that he spoke as if our society was static; as if no progress has been made; as if this country—a country that has made it possible for one of his own members to run for the highest office in the land and build a coalition of white and black; Latino and Asian, rich and poor, young and old—is still irrevocably bound to a tragic past.  But what we know—what we have seen—is that America can change. That is true genius of this nation.  What we have already achieved gives us hope—the audacity to hope—for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

If Obama could indeed hold truth to his powerful words, there’s no reason for me not to root for him.

Matthew Carter’s works could be found in newsstand (Miller News), phonebook (Bell Centennial) and all over the web (Verdana, Georgia). He bridged the gap between traditional and digital typography. As Johanna Drucker pointed out in an essay from Typographically Speaking: The Art of Matthew Carter: “Take Carter’s letters out of our universe of words and that world would appear as gap-toothed as a field of corn in the aftermath of the eager attention of a flock of crows.” Carter’s types have been widely used for their functional, economical beauty. Typographically Speaking, which is published in conjunction with an exhibition with the same title, featured essays including Carter’s reinterpretation of the classic types and how he had integrated type with technologies. The book, which also showcases compelling graphic design pieces using Carter’s typefaces, is a wonderful gem for designers.

Inspired by our email exchange this morning. Yes, baby, I do like some meat on you, so please fill yourself up.

Such a cutie.

In her forty-five minute speech, Senator Hillary Clinton claimed to take the troops home as quickly and responsibly as possible. Her plan included withdrawing our troops by 2009, letting the Iraqi government takes responsible for its own citizen, and making sure that oil money and tax money go into restructuring Iraq. Hillary also criticized Bush and McCain—“Don’t learn from your mistakes, repeat them”—for willing to keep troops in Iraq for 100 years. As for Obama, she praised him for his words but not his action: “Not how a speech is delivered, but how to delivery the speech [into solution].”

Word made of words

The past two evenings had been spent with married couples. The topics range from kids, food to diet. I felt like I am fitting into the club already. They told me that once you get married you don’t hang out with single friends anymore due to conflict of interests. When you’re single, you talk about girls. Once you married, you talk about kids.

I also learned an invaluable lesson from hanging out with married couples. No matter how long you’ve been married, don’t ever bring up your “Ex’-es. Once you tied the knot, you might as well buried your past relationships. Marriage and “ex”-es don’t go well together. You’ll be better off not knowing your partner’s “ex.” You can change nothing anyway. So just let the past go and be happy with your present.

A simple web site for an independent publishing company designed by Pentagram.

With his fourteenth release, Co Mot Vai Dieu Anh Muon Noi Voi Em, Phu Quang proves once again to be a lyrical songwriter, capable of penning heartfelt ballads and applying Vietnamese words to European classical tunes in such an effortless grace. “Romance No. 2” would sound like a Vietnamese song if the listeners aren’t familiar with Beethoven’s tunes. He knows how to make the words flow with the classical melody and he knows how to add some pop flavor into the old song by featuring Hang Nga whose vocals is both sweet and sentimental. Quang Ly and My Hanh are among the contributors on the album. My Hanh’s rendition of “Giot Mua Buon” has a reminiscent of Thanh Lam minus the screaming dramas. What make Phu Quang’s music irresistible are the simple, emotional messages that bring you not just closer to him but to yourself.

The Game’s new joint, old name-dropping: “If I was the old me, I would murder them. / Matter fact, if I was the old me, I would Curtis them.”