November 20, 2009
Posted at 12:44 PM
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STATUS REPORT: We're busy as shit. Some percentages, for the statisticians who might be reading this: 01. Coal catalog: 82.6 percent done. - - - - MY EYE GOES TO TWO THINGS IN THIS ONE: That incredible leaf, and that wicked "C." I'm smelling some Canada on this one. Yep, Ontario. (Thank you, Jon Johnson.) - - - -
- - - - BEST THING I'VE SEEN ALL WEEK: Photos of people's Workspaces. The best ones are the machine shops and repair shops. All that grit, grime and grease. Tankers, piles of stuff and overinflated repair invoices. America, everyone. (Thank you, Keegan!) - - - - SALIVATING OVER THIS LITTLE SET: House Industries just unleashed a mountain of new stuff. Here's their "Shop Rag Kit." Take note, Santa. - - - - ON THE PLAYER, WHILE WE WRAP TWO CATALOGS UP: 01. Treepeople - Something Vicious for Tomorrow
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MY HEART JUST FILLS WITH PRIDE EACH TIME I SEE STUFF LIKE THIS: 
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November 19, 2009
Posted at 10:37 AM
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SOME SERIOUS HONOR: Look at that bear! This is what showed up in the mail this morning. From the good people of Always With Honor. And you know, before the day gets the best of me, and I forget, I just had to show you that bear. We dig, hard. So good! You need one of these: They are going fast, so get with it. Great, great stuff, AWH! - - - -
- - - - I'M IN THE GRAPHIC ARTS, AND MAKE THINGS: Compatriot snowboards, people. I did a couple graphics. I did the "shotgun" graphic and the "elk." Here they are. Some proof, people. - - - - ONE OF THE GREATEST MINNEAPOLIS BANDS, EVER: Craig Finn lets some slip about the upcoming Lifter Puller reissue stuff. Note the Jason Miller mention. Doing their book? Hell yes, man! - - - - ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE "DROP WHAT YOU ARE DOING" SORTS OF LINKS: Well, well, well. New York City's Billy Fowks knows how to blow a guy's mind. He did just that with this link: The incredible shit going down at the Buckingham Studio in Los Angeles. great stuff. Stuff like this and this. Get in there and get cut on something. Man. Another one of those links that gets you thinking shit along the lines of, "What if i was just to throw my machine out the window and quit all this shit, and just start making shit in my garage?" Dangerous bytes, people, so heed this warning. - - - - SOMETHING WE TWEETED: An incredible U.S. Forest rangers photo collection over at ACL. - - - - WHAT, NEXT WEEK?: The Road. - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Lifter Puller - Fiestas + Fiascos
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The DDC does Dallas! Man, I can't wait to go down there and meet all those rowdy Texans. Dale and I whipped through Dallas a couple months back, just long enough to "feel the heat" on the outskirts, see the Fort Worth skyline in the distance and do some momentary wondering about JFK assassination stuff. That and those Butthole Surfers. Or Flaming Lips parking lot experiments. The sorts of stuff that goes through my head. Anyhoo, we blasted through the city and headed over to the Canton Days Flea Market grounds. We did the whole mess, sweating like pigs, fighting the heat and one guy who was dressed like a old gold miner. "No pictures allowed, son!" Here's proof of our afternoon in Canton, dripping sweat. I'm excited to check out Dallas some. Hell yes. Watch yer back Dallas, this could get ugly. - - - - THIS ONE IS FOR DAD BACK HOME: Loud Pop Voyager! (Thank you, Jim "Jersey Shore" Golden.) - - - - JUST LIKE IT SAYS: "Field & Stream Cover Gallery: 43 Hunting Classics, From 1899 to 1928." It's hunting season, people. And where I'm from, the woods are filled with orange warriors, shooting at whatever moves. Including each other, maybe. So be sure to wear some orange if you are out there, people. (Thanks for the link, Chip!) - - - - SPEAKING OF ORANGE: Buy a poster, people! Get orange. Just like those hunters shooting at themselves. Always shipping. Local, domestic, international. Hell, buy one and drop on by and wrestle me for it. Added value. The time is always right to "orange up" that studio, home office, classroom or hunting cabin. Do it. - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Les Savy Fav - The Cat And The Cobra
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MARK THAT CALENDAR: I'm doing a deal with the Portland AIGA chapter called, "Designspeaks." December the 10th, people. Here's a Facebook-y link to the deal. Designspeaks, eh? I got a couple choice words for the city of Portland. You can bet on that. At the Ace Cleaners, downtown. Tell my story, show some work, talk some smack, and hock a mountain of merch. Gonna be fun as hell. Be there, or be added to my ever-growing "shit list." - - - - WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING, WELL, IT DOESN'T MATTER: Here's some words that will stick to yer ribs. "How I Paid My Rent For 6 Months By Thrifting" by Minneapolis' very own Justin Peddycoart. This link should make you think. It should rile you up. It got me pretty fired up along the lines of, "What am I really doing." I'm in here sun-up to the wee hours, making things to sell things. Sometimes I get lost. Now, I don't know if "thrifting for survival" is the answer, but, it's the balls to change things up for oneself that counts. That's what I'm getting at here. And that's why we are nominating Mr. Peddycoart as our "bad-ass of the month" for November. Hell yes. Thank you, man. Incredible link. I look forward to the next installment of this saga called "Just How In The Hell I Became Rich As Shit Doing Exactly What The Fuck I Want." I'm working on my own version of just that, each and every second of my life. - - - - SEE? CANADA, AGAIN: Canuck! (Sent in by Streger, out there in Colorado.) - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Tortoise & Bonnie "Prince" Billy The Brave And The Bold
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November 16, 2009
Posted at 08:18 PM
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I'VE SAID IT MANY, MANY TIMES: Canada kicks our butt! Baltimore's very own Neal Shaffer comes in hot with that Manitoba gem up above, and we thank him for it. Canada. Like Northwest Norm says, "A strange and wonderful place." - - - - THERE GOES THE MORNING: A kick ass Flickr set called, "Mystery / Thrillers." Books, people. Tons to check out. Great type, great color. - - - - THIS IS THE KIND OF TREATMENT I GET: Goo handed off this link earlier this afternoon, with some sass in voice. I'm sorry that I care, man. Goddamn hippies. Get a haircut. You oughta see Goo's files. Loosest data in the business. I got two words for you, Goo: "Align Palette." Alright, enough venom: "Mistakes in Typography Grate the Purists." - - - - HELL YES, WE CONCURR: American treasure Cormac McCarthy thinks Blood Meridian is "filmable." Whoever does it better have one large set of balls. - - - - RIGHT HERE IN PORTLAND: Brad Simon illustrates things. And the stuff is awesome. Plus, he's a Gocco black belt of the highest degree. Not to be messed with. He's got a new blog going. Here ya go: Brad Simon Art. - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Tom T. Hall - Tom T. Hall's Greatest Hits
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The weekend's highlight was a mission out to Salvador Molly's restaurant with the whole gang. Yeah, the Portland Place made kinda famous on "Man Versus Food." Jacobus and Mike wanted a piece of that Habanero Challenge. So they went for it. Here's a little Flickr set I whipped up for it: Jacobus & Mike take on Salvador Molly's famous "Habanero Challenge." Hot stuff!
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That's what it looks like when a real fatherfucker of a cloud rolls in over the city and opens the floodgates. I love the rain, and welcome it. Let's get wet.
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Union time. All day. Wrastling this catalog into submission. No holds barred. Don't call. Don't reach out. Don't. - - - - SOME PRESS FOR THE DDC: I got interviewed by ACL's Michael Williams on the Wolverine shoes "1000 Miles" blog. Here's the link, readers. I had a pair of Wolverine boots one summer trimming trees. They saved my ass many a time. Highlights of the summer include: 01. Staring down bald-faced hornets, and losing. - - - - MANDATORY VIEWING: Meet the guys from Billykirk. "Let's make these." Incredible. - - - - JUST IN TIME FOR LUNCH: Ever see a baby elephant born? Here's yer chance. Cycle of life, people. (Thank you, Leigh.) - - - - MY TREAT THIS WEEKEND: A home viewing of the the One Fast Move Or I'm Gone documentary, that is, if the pages get done. - - - - 28,000 REASONS TO WASTE TIME: A big goddamn Flickr pool of "Vintage Advertising." Good luck in there. That's a lot of reasons. Here's what I'm gunning for my next summer vacation. Fun for the whole gang. Man, where the fuck did we go wrong? If Hardee's looked like this today, I'd go enjoy a nutritious lunch with them. A little more on that, here. Anyhoo. (Thanks, Schille!) - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. The Sea And Cake - The Biz
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Man, shit's busy. Union's catalog is about at 75 percent. Coal's catalog is somewhere 20-30 percentile. We're going as fast as we can, burning the late night oil, chained to the desk. Sore butts from all this sitting. Sore fingers from all this clicking. Mom, Dad and sister Sarah flew home yesterday morning, and well, the pad feels rather empty after all that family commotion. I'll be home for Christmas, and on that couch. Hard facts. Dale's holding in there, with bleeding tendons in his wrist from all clipping pathery. Thanks, fucker. Leigh's a lifesaver, taking good care of me when I throw the towel in each night. Thank you, lady. Gary is Gary. More on the long one, soon. - - - - OUR VERY OWN CEMETERY: Out in front of the house, Halloween weekend. - - - - SURE, THIS LINK IS "SO LAST WEEK," AND LIKE WE CARE: "Autographik." Go there. Now! I mean, with shit like this, why even keep going? (Sent in by "Ryan from Iowa City." We like the sound of that.) - - - - A BUNCH ON GODDAMNED NAKED, FREE LOVIN' BIKE RIDING FREAKS: The fleshy, new video from those Flaming Lips, made right here in Oregon, people! Gary is buck naked as these words go to print. - - - - ALL THE WAY FROM NORTHERN OHIO: "Good things come in small packages" by Joseph Hughes. - - - - ALL KINDS OF COOL STUFF ON HERE: Antrepo. Great colors, great type, great. - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Molina & Johnson - Molina & Johnson
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Sandy Boulevard was closed down today for the Veterans parade. I'd happily go 20 blocks out of my way for any of 'em, any time. So many sacrifices made. Much respect and appreciation for their selflessness, valor and call to duty. As well, so thankful for the country I am so lucky to live in. - - - - GODDAMMIT, CAM: You sure can mess up a guy's day. Alright, here we go: Theme Park Brochures. Just like it says. Tons of 'em. Man. My stock just went down a couple points. Make sure you don't veer too far away from the group. Don't get lost. - - - - KING OF THE BREEDS, WITH LOTS OF COLOR: Gary kicks. (Offered up by on Kyle Caird. Thanks, man!) - - - - KING OF THE BREEDS, WELCOMING A VETERAN COMING HOME: Coming home, greeted by a couple summer sausages. Much respect to the men and women who wear the uniform, from all of us at the DDC. Thank you. (And thanks to Pat Satterfield for sending this heartwarmer in.) - - - - MILITARY LIFE, RIGHT HERE: The "Tour of Duty" pool on the Flickr photo feed thing. Powerful stuff. Such a different life. - - - - KIND OF WHAT WE WERE THINKING: For America. - - - - FOR MY LITTLE SISTER: "Mini Rotation Infant." (Thanks, Cruz!) - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Jawbreaker - Dear You
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I USED TO WORK ON THE RAILS: Up in Alaska. One of these years, I'll get my shit together and make a proper post or chapter on this site dedicated to my four grueling "summers on the rail" up there in the last frontier. Washing dishes and cooking. Ugh. It's easy to get romantic about those long hours, you know, due to the surrounding beauty of Alaska's interior and all. But man, I'm just gonna give it to you straight: That shit sucked. I'm a pretty tough cookie, or so I say. In all honesty, each and every morning getting on to that train were some of the lowest points of my life. Getting up at 5 A.M. and knowing only one thing: For the next 40 hours, I am theirs. Summers 1996, '97, '98 & '99: Horseshit rules. Politics. Fake smiles. Big hair. Nervous guys with mustaches and clipboards. And cook's whites. Yeah, cook clothes. Those over-starched death traps used to mess me up good. Mean servers. Mean cooks. Spirited maintenance crew. And ladies and gentleman, the cleanest, tightest and most-efficient dishpit ever to be run on those rails. Truth hurts, Fanning! Nevertheless, here's a beautiful set of train posters from back in the day, and you don't want to miss these. - - - - HOW LOGOS CHANGE, OVER A CENTURY: Illinois Central Railroad Logos. - - - - EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT SHEET FIRES ME UP: A CSX Microscale Decal sheet to check out. So good. And the Pennsylvania Railroad...all of it. - - - - I JUST LIKE SAYING IT: Railroadiana. Dig around in there. Tons of fun. Miles and miles of rail. For instance, check their "baggage tags" section. Man. - - - - SIMPLY TITLED: "A railroad logo - Lima, Ohio" - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Old 97s - Too Far To Care
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DAYWRECKER WARNING: 1960s & 1970s Scandinavian Design Logos. Be careful in there, people. That one could mess you up real good. Come on, America! Get it together. Restraint, people. (Of which I never exhibit, I know, I know.) But you know, look to Scandinavia for good design decisions when making that sign/logo/menu/napkin for whatever yer working on this morning. (Thank you, Bill Zindel, you serpentine hunk of sourdough!) - - - - LIKE THE ECONOLINE'S EVER GONNA SHIT OUT: But if it does, here's a van Cam recommended for me. - - - - BEEN FEELING THE NEED FOR MORE COLOR, AND REALLY ENJOYED THESE: Lichtzeichnungen II. No idea how to say that one. - - - - TO EVERYONE WHO BOUGHT SOME DDC MERCH: Here's a list I made for you guys: 01. Thank you. - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Early Day Miners - The Treatment
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The DDC is very closed today. Family time, people. Eight of us. (Plus a 7cm womb nougat.) If you see a white van around town loaded full of Draplins, an Ashley, a McKolay and a Martin, well, stay out of the way. We're getting shit done. You should have seen the spread at Chaba Thai tonight! Every kind of exotic thai food was on that table...colorful, savory and beautiful. I should've snapped a shot. Was too busy loading my mouth hole with drunkard's noodles, tasty rice, curry chicken, tempura things and what not. Man, so good! If you ever were wondering what it looked like when my Dad "got the bolts started" while putting another seat in the Econoline, well, this is what the scene looked like when I walked up on it.Good lord. Lots of grunting and bitching accompanies this shot, so make believe. It's nice to have the family unit assembled. - - - - ABOUT THE IMAGE ABOVE: It was sent in by Dan McNamara, from his travels over in Europe. Pretty awesome cow, man! Thanks.
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Mom, Dad and sister Sarah showed up this morning. That's Dad above, the moment he walked off the tarmac tube thing. I was there to greet him, but can't comment on that any further. My littlest sister Leah is brewing a little baby inside here, so everyone is out here to celebrate. That means: Lots of shopping for little hats, outfits to drool on, footsies and shit.
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LINK OF THE MONTH, AND WE'RE ONLY TO THE 6TH: DAYWRECKER WARNING! Here we go..."Antique Radio Tuning Dials." There just aren't words for how incredible that link is. Man. I'll stop. Go dig those radio dials, and hell, buy the guy a drink the next time you seem him in town. That must've took a lot of work. (Thanks so much, Tal!) - - - - PUNK BEFORE PUNK: From Detroit, right around the year I was born...Death! Heavy, heavy rotation on the DDC factory floor, people. - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Death - For All The World To See
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November 05, 2009
Posted at 12:48 PM
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: My littlest sister Leah and her beau Jacob are expecting! And today they had their ultra-sound, and saw the little nugget move for the first time. - Good, strong heartbeat. I'm gonna be an uncle. Wow. Cycle of life, people. I'm sitting here like a big pile of slop...just sobbing, snorting and happy as hell for these shits. My parents are flying in on Saturday morning, excited to see their glowing daughter and her impregnated womb region. - - - - JUST ABOUT THE BEST THING NAKAMOTO'S EVER SENT ME: Usually, that fucker send me "dancing cats" and "ghost ride the whip" videos and shit. Not today. Today, he sent me a link to an INCREDIBLE font inspired by travel tags. I think the numbers are the best part. Of course, I went to get a copy and hell if the line isn't busy. I need a copy! Help! - - - - NEW ACQUISITION TO THE DDC FACTORY FLOOR TRAVEL DIV.: A Filson Duffle Bag, Medium size. Popped for the thing, finally. Made right in Seattle. Built to last, forever. Or else. For that kind of scratch, it better go until 2109. I'll be watching closely. - - - - GREAT GRAIN ON THIS ONE: Beautiful, grainy Brionvega brochure covers over at Grain Edit. - - - - JUST LIKE IT SAYS: Fuck Yeah Michigan! Band of the hand. Great Lakes State. My home. Just saw this sign a couple months back. Gorgeous. - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Stereolab - Dots And Loops
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Draplin Design Co. of Portland, Oregon partners with the Minneapolis Narwhals broomball organization as their official creative firm. Ryan "Ryno" Simonson, or, "the guy who'll actually figure out how to print the goddamn jerseys" had this to say regarding the deal, "The DDC won the bid with flying colors. Sure, we don't have a cent and like they give a shit. They are simply doing it for our love of brooms and of balls. Big balls." He then added, "No one handles balls like the Narhwals! No one." The ink isn't even dry on the contract and the first round of the logo is off and in the hands of the higher ups of the administration staff. Stay tuned, ballers. - - - - BEST TYPE GOING, REALLY: From the hand of Wayne Coyne, Flaming Lips category. - - - - SOMETHING DALE SAID, COMPLETELY SERIOUS: "Back during the bulk food craze..." And we laughed when he said it. And then we went back to whatever sad pursuit we were going after on these screens. - - - - AND THEN OUR TALK TURNED TO THOSE '80s, AND THIS STUFF: Generic Beer. - - - - JUST BECAUSE: What you drinkin' man? "Whatever's wet!" - - - - THE KING OF THE BREEDS, HAMMERED ON ALE: The 3 Dachshund Beer Company. Beeeeeeellllllllccchhh! Aweosme stuff. Wisconsin! Check out their loooong line of t-shirts. (Sent in by Mike Kirkpatrick, all the way from Alaska!) Gary's got some of his own "hot broth" for you all you dicks, if you know what we're spraying! - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Dead Kennedys - Plastic Surgery Disasters
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NOTHING LIKE A CORD OF WOOD, MAN: ACL punches me right in the sentimental bone with this great post on firewood. But honestly, considering my Northern Michigan upbringing at the hands of my sadistic father, this is what comes to mind: 01. Sunday afternoons passing wood inside from outside, for the upcoming week. We heated our house in Central Lake with two wood stoves. It was my job to bring the wood in. And man, I'd bitch and moan. I hated that shit. I fought hard, but they always won. But of course, I miss that stuff. I remember the smell of the wood, and the burning of it. Plus, the actual "woodcutting" part of it was always the best. Deep in the woods with my dad, best friend Ronnie and his dad, Gary. Great adventures. Running around the woods, throwing shit at each other (literally), eating nutritious meals of candy bars and pop, etc. And dangerous as shit. Trees falling and stuff. Chainsaws. Cases of beer. Hell, Gary had this old truck that was our transportation into and out of the woods. This one time, due to our dad's scientific prowess or complete lack of judgment, they dropped a tree directly onto the back of the truck, denting the truck bed walls in. They had a quick laugh and just walked up and started cutting away, chainsaws raised into the air, hacking off pieces. "Less work." Crazy shit. - - - - THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT "WOOD" THE LAST COUPLE DAYS: Here's more talk. Cool resource. - - - - FINGERS CROSSED FOR A SHIFT IN THE WAY THINGS ARE: An incredible old promo yard stick thing from back in the day, right here. "Nowadays you have to beg them just to get a brochure." Sure, shit's grim out there. But hey, once those turkeys realize that bottomline economics just isn't the way to get someone to drop some loot on a big thing, well, all this will change. Things were different in the old days. back then, selling cars was a job you could raise a family on comfortably. (This link was sent in by Stefan Robinson of the great state of Minnesota. Thanks!) - - - - WE SELL YARD STICKS TOO, READERS: "DDC-003 "Factory Floor Issue Yardstick." You need one of these. Quit fucking around and place an order right now. Shipped to yer doorstep. Hell, think of how funny it'll be to have the mail person walking with this sticking out of their bag? Big laughs. Precise measurements. American wood. 36 inches long. Measure a dachshund with it. - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Silver Jews - Tanglewood Numbers
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Okay, it's Monday and the shit's hitting the fan. Dale's clipping away on hats. Goo's overseeing some photoshootery with Bob at Jimbo's studio. Nakamoto's splitting some hairs on some Giro stuff. Gary's wrapped up like a little cinnamon roll. I'm neck deep in Union, Coal and that goddamn magazine is coming up fast, too. Man. It's "GO" time, and we're moving on all kinds of stuff. Not to be messed with. In fact, I sent a little something off to Field Notes MIdwest this morning that is sure to get you riled up. I can't wait to see it hit the shelves. These are facts. - - - - FROM LONG, LONG AGO: Hamilton Wood Type Catalog #14. (Thank you, Alex Birch!) - - - - TAKE A TOUR OF SOME CHICAGO: Inside Wilco's loft. Awesome. The bunk beds are the best. There you go. - - - - ONE OF THE BEST LINKS ON THE WEB: One million awesome logos, give or take a few. Learn something here, people. This, quite frankly, is one of my favorite links. Serious stuff. - - - - MORE KICK-ASS SHIT OUT OF OHIO: Young Jerks! (Thanks, Clay!) - - - - HOW'S THAT FOR BUSINESS ACUMEN?: Here's how the DDC and Farmer's Brewing back there in Shawano, Wisc. handle the "logo making process." Want to see some progress? Yeah, right! - - - - JUST SO INCREDIBLY FASCINATED BY THESE GUYS: Wayne talks up Embryonic a bunch on Pitchfork, and, hell, if you like the idea of guys making a record in an empty house in Oklahoma, well, you should read this. ON THE PLAYER: 01. The Whip - Stuff Dale Gave Me...
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As Dale says, "That's my jam." You know, regarding spicy tunes like the Power Station's epic "Some Like It Hot." Well, apply that one to October for me. That's my jam. And fuck if I didn't work the whole month away. Kinda bummed to be typing these words. My last five Octobers were rife with adventure, new lands and wildness. But of course, I'm thankful for that. Another month, whipping on by. I'm always one to indulge in weird existential time-based daydreams...freaking out on one hand...and so excited to see what's next on the other. Are the months whipping by too fast? Did I make the most out of them? Should I even care? What's really going on? Just how long should a dachshund be? You know, the basics. It was nice to be in Portland this fall, though. Leaves rustling around the block. Love that stuff. It's a new month and I'm gonna fight hard to make it the best November ever. My pledge.
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OWNING THAT SHIT: If you are eight and read this halfwit blog, chanceS are you are doing it under the radar of yer parent's watchful eye. That said, if you eight, coming up on big Halloween years, you need to read this: Jeremy Firth lays it down regarding Halloween. Makes me want to be young again. In fact, thinking back on Halloween, I remember the first year I didn't go out. It was hard. I tried to play it cool answering the door and stuff. It wasn't cool. I missed those leave-filled sidewalks and that pillowcase. Man, we'd slay it too. Hey Firth, you forgot one rule! You know the house where the people aren't in town, and just leave a light on with a big bowl of candy? Maybe a sign saying something like, "Happy Halloween! Grab a piece and have a safe night!" Well, here's what you do: Depending on how many guys you are with, you simply grab the bowl and dump it evenly into each dude's bag. Done. Leave that bowl as empty as possible. Then maybe kick the sign over and scram. HALLOWE'EN RULE #12: Never leave the "take a piece bowl" empty! EVER! - - - - IN A UNIVERSE, CLOSE CLOSE BY, IN THE SAME YEAR: I was Chewbacca, too! Same costume. Wow. I remember how the edges of the mask's holes were sharp, and how they chewed up yer face. That and ripping the shit out of the plastic in the ass end of the costume. Little kid stuff, you know? - - - - THE BULLSEYE NEVER HAD IT SO GOOD: CSA did Halloween the best for Target. That shit was awesome. I can't help but be a little mad when I see their Halloween stuff each year after, and how it pales in comparison. I'm a little biased, of course.
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01. The Mark of the Beast. Anyhoo, figure it out. It's Devil's Night and there's a slim chance I am going to make Dale go to the ATM, take out a crisp 100 dollar bill, purchase as many eggs with it as possible and then later on, when darkness takes grip over the Willamette valley, I'll go on a rampage around Portland, fucking things up. Or not. Might just keep working on these fucking snowboard bindings. Satan's work, either way. - - - - SOME MEMORIES FROM BACK IN CENTRAL LAKE, AS A YOUNGLING: I went out for Devils Night one time. I was 11 or 12, I think. 1985? I remember having six or seven eggs between the three of us. Lots of sneaking around garages and shit. In the shadows. It was a big night. We were hassled by the cops. There was one firefight where we were ambushed by sophomores or something in the Mortensen barn. They wasted us. If I remember correctly, when the fuzz was grilling us, he kinda slapped me on the chest—right on my pocket—breaking my last egg hidden inside. Boy, we were smart ones. Or maybe I am remembering wrong. Like anyone really cares. - - - - NO ONE DOES 'DEVILS NIGHT' LIKE OL' DETROIT: And I guess the city is sorta fighting back. - - - - SHRIEKING BOLLYWOOD!: Leigh finds a creepy on that is sure to captivate you for a number of clicks: Bollywood Babylonia! Best goddamn thing we've seen all week. Good eye, lady! Like this one and this one! Pure awesome. - - - - I USUALLY WRITE MY OWN, BUT MIGHT USE THE THIS LITTLE DEAL: Blind Text Generator. (Sent in by Derek "Stacker of Wheat" Schille in Chicago, Ill.) - - - - THE STUFF I WAS LISTENING TO BACK IN THOSE MID '90s: Belllllllbottoms. - - - - VALHALLOWEEN: The ghouls of Valhalla give their site a little Halloweenatization. Awesome, man. - - - - MANDATORY VIEWING, PEOPLE: 20 years of the French Paper Co.!
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WILCO'S ALWAYS DONE AN AMAZING JOB WITH THEIR STUFF: They've always had beautiful record designs first and foremost, as well as posters and t-shirts. Hell, they have a book for fuck's sake. Two books, actually. Anyhoo. All of it, always thought out and well-executed, kinda like their tunes. They are one of those bands that I appreciate on about 13 levels. Tunes, sure, but, their consideration for each detail in every facet of their existence. That sounds a little heavy, but what the hell. Here's an Wilco incredible poster that came across my radar. That Mikey Burton guy! Hell yes. Incredible stuff. And then you've got Northern Ohio's Joseph Hughes, and he knows Mikey, and he just made a shirt for the Wilco organization, and here's the story about it. So good, man. Bravo. I appreciate this stuff so much. Great work, fellas. "Dream Client" kind of stuff, you know? There's some great stuff going on in Ohio, readers. This isn't the first time I told you this. - - - - MORE GUSHING FOR MIKEY: Check out this Richard Buckner poster he did. Damn. So good. That's it. I'm going on a vicious Buckner iTunes run. Starting...right...now. - - - - HOPEFULLY IT'S WATERPROOF, YOU CAN FOLD IT UP, AND/OR DEFLECT CANON BLASTS: The map from Time Bandits, for sale. One of my favorite movies of all time. A favorite as a youngster. Scary, too. The part where they are in those cages, hanging by ropes in the black infinity or whatever? So weird. That's the kind of movie where you feel a little sad when it's done, cuz you just kinda don't want it to end. My take on it. (Good eye, Derek Schille. You find all the cool shit, you little beast.) - - - - GREATNESS, TO THE NORTH, AND EAST: Saf-T-Lok. (Thanks, Gary!) - - - - WACKY TOBACC-Y: But beautiful as hell. Old Spanish rolling papers. (Thank you Reilly Brennan. Much appreciated.) - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Richard Buckner - Devotion and Doubt
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46 INCHES X VERY COOL: An old pair of Carhartts, ready for the big time. Felt-lined? Sweat lodge. Not for the faint of leg. - - - - SOMETHING I KEEP HEARING AND READING: "Things were different back then. You had to find things. You had to wait to find things. You could still discover things." I don't know if I should feel nostalgic, or ashamed, or proud, or dumb, or old, or young or just not give two shits about anything, and crawl off into the wilderness to expire with the leaves. A thought. - - - - DUMB, BUT ENTERTAINING ENOUGH: Observe and Report. Dark, just the way we like it. On a whim we rented it, and were pleasantly surprised. Good, dirty fun. The blond nugget in the movie is annoying as shit, and equally forgettable. But that made up for with the awesome Asian twin cops, pickled mom and cop-stanced cops. - - - - THIS LINK MAKES ME WANT TO SPIT: Old stuff from factories and places where the people who actually used this stuff would just laugh to think about the rest of us paying these sorts of prices. Or, maybe like this: Smarter people than you, putting big prices on stuff they'd never use anyway. Something like that. I have a good assortment of this stuff, and I found it for five and ten bucks and whatever, and didn't make some big city dongstick rich along the way. I'll stay dumb. - - - - CAPTIVATED BY SOME OF THESE: The Ian guy has always been a little too much for me to handle, but, fuck it, there's lots of good chatter here. Something to listen to. No one tells me shit. These are probably years old, and I'm just finding them, so, you might be snickering. Nevertheless. Here's a couple worthy ones: Mick Collins and Steve Albini. Interesting characters. Whole handful of them. - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Tight Bros From Way Back When - Runnin' Through My Bones
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WAY BUSY: We're working here. Electric. Lots of clicks and files being saved. That time of year. And with all this energy, one just has to fucking wonder: Why, really? Long hours right now. Back to it. - - - - MEDIA ALERT: If you are feeling wild, be sure to check out the December issue Issue of HOW magazine! You'll find a 6-page story on the DDC in there. Seriously! Here's proof, readers of design magazines. There's a story, and captions and photos of work and even some business tips from me in there. Yeah, "business tips." Ha! So fun. I really appreciate the opportunity, Cincinnati. We'd like to thank Michelle Taute for writing such a nice piece on the DDC, and we hope, with our whole hearts, that we didn't bring yer stock down tackling this kind of subject matter. - - - - MAILBAG HISTORY: Old, leather mailbags. The best. And of course, I saw this: J.Crew's version of those beautiful bags, at one fuck of a price. Makes me just want to make my own. Leather, thread, buckles, etc. I have a real mail bag. One of the blue ones. Federal offense to own it, or something. We won't get into the acquisition of that one. - - - - HARD TO ARGUE WITH A TITLE THIS GOOD: "It's Decorative Gourd Season, Motherfuckers." Really rolls off the tongue. Festive, too. We've got some pumpkins at the house, and their days are numbered. Seriously. (Thanks, Schille!) And just to set the record straight: You don't want to go up against the DDC in a pumpkin carving match. Here's some proof from some years ago... - - - - HOW MUCH FOR A FLIGHT DOWN TO OKC?: March of the 1000 Flaming Skeletons 2009!
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SOME TRUTH TO START OUT THE WEEK: Dale Allen Dixon, you rotgut harbinger of more-or-less useless knowledge: You are fucked. The clipping pathery starts this morning at 10 in the A.M. Bring your A-game and don't even think of messing with that fuckin' pixel tolerance. Don't. Be here. Be ready. Be focused. Get clipping. We're clipping hats. We're clipping bindings. We're clipping dachshunds. Whatever the hell it takes. Dale will have "clipper's claw" by Wednesday. That's a safe bet. - - - - THIS ONE IS FOR HOSS: Incredible Ham radio cards. Some gorgeous freehand mastery in there. I'll just say it this 3,427th time: No amount of schooling, apprenticeship, cultural analysis, heady discourse, academic honor or technical prowess can reproduce the brilliance here. So don't even mess with it. Just stand back in awe, like the rest of us. (Can't remember who tipped me off on this one. Someone awesome, I know that much. Thanks.) - - - - WE'RE DOWN WITH "MEDIUM" TOO: Futura Medium, nice and big, on yer chest. (Thanks, Jake!) - - - - SOMETHING TO THING ABOUT: The original design for Futura. (Thanks, Jules!) - - - - NICE AND LEAN: Pound for pound, a nice, meaty font. Value Pack by Robert Bolesta. (Sent in by Jeremy Beasely. Thanks!) - - - - THINK YOU'VE GOT LEGO CHOPS?: Well, think again. (Via GrainEdit.com's Twitter feed.) - - - - HAPPY DEREK DAY: Happy 35th, D! - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Glaciers - And The Sea Won The Battle
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Finally got to see Capitalism: A Love Story and find myself glowing for FDR. The "Second Bill of Rights" clip at the end blew my mind. Incredible movie, of course. Thank you, Michael Moore. Hometown hero. Patriot. All of America should go see that film. Really shakes you at the foundation. - - - - BASIC RIGHTS FOR ALL: FDR's Second Bill of Rights or Economic Bill of Rights Speech. He had it right so many years ago.
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In the shop today, working some and finally cleaning up the joint a little. Getting some order going with all my stuff. No big deal.
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No links today. Ears are still ringing. Last night's dancing show with the Jesus Lizard was just what I needed. Rock, people. The best live act. - A couple notes in and a flying Yow. Beautiful. You better see 'em while you can, if you know what's good for you. And don't be afraid to get up close and personal with that Yow. Best thing I've seen all year, fuckers. SOME IMAGES FROM THE OUTING, IN FULL COLOR: 01. "Opening barrage."
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That goddamned Jesus Lizard is playing tonight, right here in Portland. A singing group. It was fun hanging out with old man Yow this spring. He's a sweet little man when he's not under the influence. Get a couple jiggers of fire water in him and he gets mean and nasty, in his own charming, elfish way. And I want to see that tonight, and bring back some of those thumping memories of those mid '90s. Sims on the bass. McNeilly on the skins. Denison on the axe. Yow on fire. I got to see them a handful of times, and find myself thankful for that. We're going. Hell yes, Mr. Resch! Word from old man Yow is that he put us on a list. Awesome. See you down there, you mouthbreathers! - - - - MORE LIZARD REPORTING, FROM SAN DIEGO: Henry sums it all up pretty good over on Chunklet.com. - - - - EVERY COUPLE MONTHS, THIS LINK BLOWS ME AWAY: A million banks logos. It happened again, just this morning. Right here. There you go. (Brought to you by the good people of Rotor Design, Minneapolis, Minn..) - - - - SPEAKING OF ROTOR DESIGN... : Here's some recent work from them: Marine General Store, Marine on St. Croix, Minn. Nice work! - - - - HEAVY STUFF FROM HEAVY TIMES: "Emory Douglas: Black Panther" (Sent in by Florida's very own Janeen Smith. Power to the people!) - - - - ON THE PLAYER: 01. Jesus Lizard - Lash
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