and and the ampersand

Hoefler & Frere-Jones type foundry have a nice write-up on the ampersand, possibly the most popular typographic kid on the block.

Two amazing things I did not know about the ampersand:

1. The ampersand was around for at least 600 years before the letter W.

2. Some credit the ampersand's invention to Cicero’s secretary. (I sure hope Cicero gave his secretary a raise for that.)

Also worth a read are H&FJ's takes on the pilcrow, aka the paragraph mark, and the eszett, which is usually referred to as that-wavy-B-shaped-thing.

i’ll side with you if you side with me

Dear Jeff Tweedy,

You have helped me through many a stressful day. Today was no exception.

Thanks again,
me.

it's spring time (and business time, too)

Springtime has officially hit Vancouver. This means cherry blossoms. Sunshine. Smiling people on out on the streets. Shiny cars playing bad music really, really loud.

Yesterday, one of these cars drove by playing a song with such ridiculous lyrics that I honestly thought it was a song by Flight of the Conchords.

Turns out is was this song.

Their voices really are quite similar.

And the lyrics - "Get ready for a nasty time / All the nasty things we can do" - automatically placed it in the realm of Business Time.

a little give and take

I made two neoprene purchases this week.

No, the irony is not lost on me.