Please let this be a joke…
I still have to live here.

peace

Early April Fool's?

Ok, I'm going to let you guys in on it, but keep it under your hat...
Last April 1st I was told that in order that in order to accomodate the proliferation of fools in California, it is OK for us to start early from now on. I'm pretty sure it was official, and it certainly made sense to me.
: )

Is this serious?! Awesome!
I'm picturing Patria, and the plate: "URFNTSKS".

--

Edit:
Oh. Me da fool. Daaang.

hhp

Only seven letters are allowed in CA. Even with eight most people wouldn't get that. Urfnet Skis? Must be a new brand.

Then according to your second post, you're from California? If not, then I certainly nominate you as an honorary resident. :)

peace

Oh yeah, I fit right in here.
: )

5/10 for effort
2/10 for timing
4/10 for believability

Cheers, Si

> Only seven letters are allowed in CA.

Plus a half-space. I know. It's just that "URFNTSX" is too... Gill.

hhp

Worked for me - you had me scared…

peace

> 4/10 for believability

Hardly a day goes by that we aren't called to complicitly accept things far more ludicrous here in CA. Like a Chinese man who barely speaks English, makes a movie about gay cowboys, and we are asked to believe it is an important work of art.

> Worked for me - you had me scared…

Probably because you live here.
: )

> It’s just that “URFNTSX” is too… Gill.

Hah. Hrant, That just made me smile.
( Maybe a frozen smile, but still a smile, nonetheless, I guess. )

Dav

> Like a Chinese man who barely speaks English, makes a movie about gay cowboys, and we are asked to believe it is an important work of art.

Hey, I still think it's up to everyone personally to decide whether or not they feel the movie is an important work of art or not.

Personally, I think this movie is a very important work of art in a larger socio-political context, another step forward in the acceptance of homosexuality by the audience at large in the otherwise frighteningly reactionary US of A. Don't you diss Ang Lee, dude. ;^)

Hrant, ix-nay on the word ascists-fay in the ensuing discussion, deal? ;^) :^D

> Like a Chinese man who barely speaks English

Someone's ability to speak a language is no indicator of their ability to create art, beauty, or knowledge. How's your Chinese?

Chinese rule. Soon, quite literally.

And I think it makes perfect sense that cowboys have a lot of gays among them.
DEPLOY ARMENIAN PROVERB: Yete pnagan eh, badvagan eh:
if it's natural, it's honorable.

hhp

> It’s just that “URFNTSX”...

Gill may be an easy target...

"URFNTSX"

"just $4.99 a minute"

> Someone’s ability to speak a language is no indicator of their ability to create art,

It might speak to his knowledge of cowboy culture. That's my take anyway. There's nothing sacred anymore. And you guys wonder why people pirate fonts. Just another part of the breakdown of society and its morals.

It might speak to his knowledge of cowboy culture. That’s my take anyway. There’s nothing sacred anymore. And you guys wonder why people pirate fonts. Just another part of the breakdown of society and its morals.

i think the problem in a lot of cases with piracy is ignorance and not a break-down of moral values. but that's just my own take on it. Being a native Arizonan who grew up on a ranch, I think i know what cowboy culture is and I thought that for good and evil, the movie in question portrayed it pretty close to the truth. did you even see this film?

>otherwise frighteningly reactionary US of A.

Wait till the fall elections!

So, Asian filmmakers making gay cowboy movies = people stealing fonts? I don't get it.

Look, if western life and its depiction in film is what you define as sacred, then nothing has been sacred anymore for a long time. You probably didn't like Spaghetti Westerns either ;-)

> did you even see this film?

No I resented that they didn't come out and say what it was. If they had been open about it, I would cut more slack, but they were trying to trick people into seeing it, so let'er rip.

There are certain things I have no interest in seeing. I'm sure someone could make a touching and artistic film about incest, or even **** (hey, it's natural; Sam the Beagle does it every time I come over)

Oh well, I'm probably digging a hole with someone. Probably should let this drop.
: )

Sacred is for cows.

hhp

Sacred is for cows

not cowboys? >^P

>4/10 for believability

>Hardly a day goes by that we aren’t called to complicitly accept things far more ludicrous here in CA.

My rating was based on my perception of the hoax and the general level of gullibility I perceive in the US population. It's a generalization but my guess is that CA is no more gullible than the rest of the country. Who did they vote for again?

This hoax in general may be more believable outside the US, where customization of license plates is common, and often the subject of crack-downs (recent news reports from India). Also outside the US people may believe that what their governments perceive as a problem may be seen as a money making opportunity by local governments in the US.

> My rating was based on my perception of the hoax and the general level
> of gullibility I perceive in the US population.

An here I was thinking this might be a tough crowd. I know I got one person to check the DMV site.
: )

I'd like to mention that I'm not 'homophobic'- I hang with gays almost every day. To generalize I find them to be good conversationalists, and there are some I would trust to have my back. I am not the kind of person that would point fingers and have you believe I'm not screwed up myself (Surprise!). Although getting far from the topic of fonts, I'll mention that my role model was always being accused of hanging out with people who did meet the standards of the finger pointers.

> So, Asian filmmakers making gay cowboy movies = people stealing fonts?
> I don’t get it.

I won't hold that against you.

> You probably didn’t like Spaghetti Westerns either ;-)

You just reminded me that an Ennio Morricone CD would fit nicely in my collection. I have to admit to curiousity about what Clint would think of Broke back, because I care what Clint thinks, I think. Then again, now that I think about the way Hollyweird is going, he will probably direct the sequel.

Who cares what Clint thinks.

hhp

> Who cares what Clint thinks.

Yeah, you're right.

> Sacred is for cows.

http://www.fontplay.com/images/actionman.jpg

I haven't seen the movie.
Do the cowboys have guns and shoot people?
"A History of Violence" -- now there's a REAL western.

Does the recent J T Leroy literary hoax (that lasted for 10 years) say anything about New Yorkers' gullibility? It does go far far beyond a momentary April Fools Day hoax.

This relates to my ongoing debate with the marketing department: Are people stupid?

I refuse to believe so, they believe I'm a fool.

If what you believe is true, then I think I'm on the right side of the fence.

peace

> There are certain things I have no interest in seeing. I’m sure someone could make a touching and artistic film about incest

No need to suppose, it's already been done!

>touching and artistic film about incest

so passé

>This relates to my ongoing debate with the marketing department: Are people stupid?

>I refuse to believe so, they believe I’m a fool.

Reminds me of what Bill Maher said at the end of his show last week...

"So, don't get me wrong. I love idiots. I just don't think they should be in charge. And I'll tell you why. Because the majority of Americans are not idiots. Assholes, yes. But, idiots, no."

http://www.hbo.com/billmaher/new_rules/20060317.html

To veer back to the original topic for a moment, something I don't think anyone has considered, if this program were to be accepted, it would give Comic Sans Bold the recognition and exposure that it deserves.

>Assholes, yes. But, idiots, no

I think he has it the wrong way around except possibly for that American BM--are his initials an accident? :)

Fine English speaking American Hollywood directors have been making westerns for ever. How many have been either works of art or factual depictions (check out how the american Indian has been portrayed) of cowboy life? Of course other fine English speaking American Hollywood directors have made films about Africa and Asia without being close to accurate or being works of art (see any of the old Tarzan or Jungle Jim films).
Regarding Ang Lee--the man made a film. He didn't force anyone to call it a work of art. See it or don't see it, it's up to you.
I hope that there is still enough freedom left in this troubled country to allow people to make a film of their choice without having to pass a language test.

ChrisL

I think it's pretty simple - if you think that people are idiots then you are…

peace

and if you think people are assholes... ;-)

I'm right with you sii…

peace

>No I resented that they didn’t come out and say what it was. If they had been open about >it, I would cut more slack, but they were trying to trick people into seeing it, so let’er rip.

Uhhhh, who tried to trick who into seeing Brokeback Mountain? I mean come on you'd have to live in a cave not to know what it was about. They didn't try to conceal the subject matter from the public the least bit.

Also fyi it's not Ang Lee's first western, he made Ride with the Devil years ago. He also made Sense & Sensibility, beautifully I might add. You on his case about that too cuz he didn't grow up in 19th century England? How about the american dude who made Memoirs of a Geisha, based on a book by another american dude. Starring, strangely, chinese actresses.

And I still don't see what any of this has to do with pirated fonts.

If we're going to talk about America's gullibility let's talk about something important like how the Bush admin took us to war in Iraq based on lies and false insinuations and much of America, including a lot of democrats, bought it hook line and sinker.

>I’d like to mention that I’m not ‘homophobic’- I hang with gays almost every day.

"some of my best friends are gay" I've heard that before. Not that there's anything wrong with it, right?

Don't blame the puppet, because They can always make new ones.

hhp

Not only can, but will…

peace

> “some of my best friends are gay”

I can't say this is true.

> Uhhhh, who tried to trick who into seeing Brokeback Mountain?

None of the commercials I saw gave a clue. And I saw a favorable review that didn't mention it. When I told a friend we could go see it, he asks "Do you know what it's about?" - Turns out I didn't.

As if deceptive marketing wasn't the law of the land.
You have so much more actually important things to
complain about, you have no idea.

hhp

Speaking of puppets - do you know about the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre on Glendale and Beverly?

(I guess my life is defined by Glendale Blvd. - I attempt to stay east of it at all times)

It's really fun - especially for children…

peace

> Bob Baker Marionette Theatre

Hey, that looks really nice!

East of it?! Wow, usually it's the other way around. King Taco some day?

hhp

I prefer to keep some space between me and the "strivers". Reverse social engineering is usually the way to go…

I've engaged in white flight from my own race for years.

Bob Baker has trained many locals from the Echo Park neighborhood to be puppeteers. He's been there since 1961 and it isn't going to last forever. I have friends who have childhood memories of birthday parties there. It makes me feel like I'm 6 - so wonderful to find some naivete and wonderment so close to home.

King Taco - no doubt. My girlfriend teaches at USC and Cal State LA so every once in a while it's time for some carne asada tacos. We are so lucky with the food here. It really is amazing…

peace

Paul,
I don't how many tangents we're allowed per thread, but it sounds like you might have live around these parts long enough to remember the Helm's Bakery Trucks? Someone mentioned designing something for a Bakery truck and I had some deep waves of nostalgia remembering the sound of the whistle and the smell when they pulled open those drawers. We didn't know how good we had it back then. Simple times. Sandy Koufax, Maurey Wills, Vin Sculley and the rest...

On another note:
> You have so much more actually important things to complain about, you have no idea.

Most of the "important" things you may be referring to, I have given up hope on. I have done the math. Man minus a base point for morality equals a big friggin' mess. As I see it our only hope is for an omniscient, all-powerful benevolent dictator to check in.

> He also made Sense & Sensibility, beautifully I might add.

I'll agree with that. He made that? Then consider me chastened.
There goes the Chinese angle.
: )

> I have given up hope on.

That might be understandable in the sphere of action.
But in the sphere of expression, it doesn't cost you
anything extra to be idealistic.

> only hope is for an omniscient, all-powerful benevolent dictator to check in.

Hey, you're talking to a monarchist actually!
But he/she doesn't have to be omni-anything.

hhp

> But he/she doesn’t have to be omni-anything.

How are you going to get all the fools, idiots, and human detritus to behave?
: )

Helms Bakery was defunct (at least in the decrepit Hollywood of 1977) when I moved here to play punk rock. But I do admire the signage. Things were better before, cried the chorus of old men…

I am not an anarchist (except on a personal level) but I think all external kingdoms are suspect…

That's why this -

- But in the sphere of expression, it doesn’t cost you anything extra to be idealistic.

Is perfect! Here you can build any kingdom…

Now how many tangents are allowed per post? Per bouma?

peace

> Things were better before, cried the chorus of old men…

How bad does it have to get before we can have a consensus?

I guess my version of idealistic would be for Adobe to add some more text handling abilities to Photoshop. Like an option for putting punctuation outside justification. That would be cool. (Suggestions that I buy and learn some other program like In-Design is not idealistic for me)

My creative expression, my ethics, my life - these are things I control. If there is a problem I don't have to wade through a bureaucracy…

peace

> My creative expression, my ethics, my life - these are things I control.
> If there is a problem I don’t have to wade through a bureaucracy…

Well said! I love this. Do you mind if I quote you in one of my fontplays? (You'd be immortilized, in a really infinitesimal way)
: )

Feel free… I'm just a little scared of being "immortilized" - it sounds like that might hurt :)

peace

To be honest, I must warn you, I don't really know what I am doing. But to my knowledge, nobody has died yet from one of these things.
: )

I don't really have any enemies, besides myself.

peace

Well done.

If you close your eyes to the wrongs in the world, sometimes, with an open heart you discover beauty and truth.

It is pertinent and ironic that Akira Kurosawa helped to spawn the Spaghetti Western period with a few of his classics. Notably, A Fistful of Dollars was Yojimbo (which was based on a Dashiell Hammett book, and related to previous "westerns") remade in Italy, and The Seven Samurai was remade as The Magnificent Seven.

Even the original Star Wars trilogy, considered such a western staple, is heavily based on Kurosawa's work. Point is, it's all very blurry.