Current Configuration

  • Star Wars & Legos in a Game = Best Idea Ever

    I just watched the trailer for Lego: Star Wars today. This is the greatest thing ever, I swear. On top of that, whoever came up with this idea needs to be promoted. The combination of these two nostalgic power centers into a game creates a white-hot poker of consumer lust that stabs directly into my soft, yielding pleasure center.

    I’ve been casually watching this game since I first heard of it a few months ago, but my deep-seated excitement is far from casual. I won’t bore you with my own exposition about what this game actually involves, just check out Gamespot’s hands-on or the official site if you have trouble with more than 1 oz. of information.

  • Typographica’s Favorite Fonts of 2004

    A while back, I was contacted by Stephen Coles, one of the editors of the online journal of typography Typographica, about putting some thoughts down about my favorite release or a notable release of 2004. Of course, I eagerly accepted and chose Avenir Next.

    Today, Typographica‘s Our Favorite Fonts of 2004 was posted. It’s a knowledgeable, succinct, and informative list of some of the most interesting and notable fonts of ’04. There are some very talented and significant type designers who’ve contributed, so if you want to put your finger on the pulse of type design and your eyes on its future course, look no further.

  • iLove New York

    While in New York this weekend (more on that soon), I noticed that about every third New Yorker had the distinctive little white ear buds and white cords of the iPod earphones trailing from their ears. In fact, it was so prevalent that I saw a couple actually walking and talking together while listening to their iPods.

    I mentioned to Alisa that I was pretty sure iPods were now required by the state of New York, then she pointed out that all I could see most of the time were the ear buds, not the iPod. She also claimed that the earphones are available separately (they are, but only with a remote, so I’m skeptical). So, in light of this new information, I submit that in order to live in New York for more than a year, you are now required to own iPod earphones.

    iPod optional.

  • Is This Thing On?

    I’m going to be messin’ with the design of Current Config for a little while, so hold on to your…eyeballs. Hopefully, we’ll all come out of this for the better.

  • Grimmelmann on Guantanamo Bay

    The detention centers at Guantanamo Bay have always bothered me, but perhaps the worst part will be the military comission reviewing the status of those held there. This is the point at which justice can be sought and reason, based on the foundations of our government and legal system, can interecede. The outlook is not good. James Grimmelmann compares trial transcripts from 1554 and Guantanamo Bay. You should check out this brief examination to see the direction our government is unabashedly headed.

    The most notable difference in procedure between the commission that tried Nicholas Throckmorton and the one that tried Mustafa Ait Idr is that Nicholas Throckmorton was tried before a jury. The second most notable difference is that Throckmorton was allowed to learn the names of his alleged co-conspirators. It does not speak well of the Guantanamo commissions that they come out on the losing side in a comparison with Bloody Mary’s treason trials.

    Thanks to Steve for bringing this to my attention.

  • The New Hotness

    Courtesy of my capable and generous host, Current Config is now on MT v 3.14.

  • Bumper Sticker Politics

    Normally I shrug off political bumper stickers, as they are reductionist and empty of anything other than a witty turning of a phrase or a bad pun. However, I saw one on Monday that made my stomach turn and I believe it strikes at a broader problem. The sticker reads:

    There are Americans… And there are Liberals.

    First off, let’s dispense with this phrase’s legitimacy before we examine the broader issues: A) America is built on the idea of a political system that incorporates a broad spectrum of views, B) Have you heard of voting? Do you understand its purpose and how it works? C) This bumper sticker is devoid of logic.

    Now that we’ve dispensed with the phrase, let’s examine the bigger problem here.

    (more…)

  • Kapow!

    Apologies to anyone whose comments on the last few posts got zapped. The site went a bit wiggy a few days ago and ate some content. Um, feel free to repost if you’re so inclined. I restored what I could, the rest is lost to the ether. And you know what they say about ether:

    “There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible than a man in the depths of an ether binge…”
    —Hunter S. Thompson

  • The Prime Suggestion

    I’ve watched probably somewhere between 30 and 40 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation since Christmas (we own seasons 1 and 2 on DVD, but I’ve seen far more than that since my childhood), and I’ve come to the conclusion that Picard and his people really don’t view the Prime Directive so much as the First and Most Important order or instruction, issued by a central authority, as much as an obstacle they all participate in slowly eroding.

    Picard: “It’s not so much a rule or law as it is a guidline to be interpreted as needed by captains such as myself.”

    Troi: “Captain, I’m sensing a great—”

    Riker: “Captain, I suggest we interfere as little as possible, as long as I can swashbuckle.”

    Picard: “Number One?”

    Riker: “My dad was too controlling, so I act out through my overachievement.”

    Picard: “Surely there’s some way we can right the injustices occurring on Jehosephat 12.”

    Riker: “We could try to influence the native population by incorporating—”

    Picard: “Oh merde, arm the photon torpedos. I can’t wait to kick some ass. Engage.”

  • Chris Ware, by Daniel Raeburn

    The cover of Raeburn's 'Chris Ware'

    A few years ago, one of my very thoughtful friends, Aris, asked me a question, which it took me quite some time to respond to. He asked: “What is the greatest work of art you have ever beheld?”

    I believe he asked me this, partially, because I’m visually creative (I’m a graphic designer and lapsed artist) and have a fairly decent art education. Of course, I couldn’t respond to him immediately. How does one recall all of the art they’ve seen? I suppose it should have been obvious to me, since the question implies that the work of art would have lodged itself in my mind, firmly implanted in the neurons reserved for the ‘Best ofs’. Well, there was nothing. I just don’t keep lists like that mentally on hand. The other trick is that those things I’d seen lately stuck more. So, I pondered. For over half a year, if I remember correctly.

    Then, it dawned on me. I do know what that work of art is. It’s an exquisite, human, genre-expanding and discipline-crossing work of intensely affecting beauty. It is Chris Ware’s Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid on Earth; a graphic novel. So, I wrapped it up and sent it to him, since just telling him was foolish, and it’s something that must be experienced directly to be understood.

    And then, this New Year’s, Aris gave me a gift. It was a gesture of thoughtful and poigniant reciprocation.

    (more…)

    ,