Through Lines 196

Apple has knocked their colllection of sci-fi series out of the park and Constellation looks like it will continue that trend. What I really want though are second seasons of Shrinking and Severance. At least I know one of those is coming.

• “…this cultural phenomenon of speed and growth at all costs is displayed in every startup, they all look the same, it’s like fast food: it looks good, its taste it’s consistent but then you feel horrible afterwards.” I don’t agree with everything Jesper Kouthoofd of Teenage Engineering says, but there’s a few points like this where we’re aligned.
• For reasons not entirely clear to me, Alvvays in studio at KEXP and at the Tiny Desk turned me from a casual fan to a big one. This is the crunchy pop music I’m here for.
• “…there is no AI substitute for a human belting out some lyrics and baring their soul to the world in front of an audience of people.” 1000% agree with Brad about this.
• Maybe I need to spend more time with Monotype’s new Font Pairing AI but so far my general reaction has been a big fat “meh.” This is a thing AI should be really good at.
• The present of the future is the present or something. Look, this is really complicated and trying to make sense of time and space may break your brain (and also fun). If you really want to dig into this, go read Carlo Rovelli and Hawking (among others).
• Speaking of time… “Productivity is a trap. Becoming more efficient just makes you more rushed, and trying to clear the decks simply makes them fill up again faster.”
• Hackers using AI to improve cyberattacks? No one could have possibly seen anything even remotely like this happening. Open AI’s Sora is assuredly going to introduce an entirely different realm of problems. The harsh reality is no tool cannot be abused.
• Similarly, we’re going to need to reckon with the problem of data centers and the extreme energy needs that underly AI and a lot of other technology.
• File under gigs I would very much liked to have been at: In Athens With Michael Shannon, the Night He (Sort of) Reunited R.E.M. Of course there’s video evidence.
• The new Crowded House single Oh Hi and accompanying video (a) made me snort out loud, and (b) reminded me of the old man from Up. Strange, silly business.
• Brooklyn Film Camera’s new Instant Optics collection looks incredible. I’m definitely going to need a few of these to play with.
• The Countdown to D-Day, and no, not that one you’re thinking of.
• $5 million probably barely scratches the surface.
• Ooooh, new stamps featuring images from the JWST. Yes please.
• Let me just fetch my chequebook…

Notable Type Releases

• The abrupt verticals and arched curves in Geogrotesque Mono feel a bit less harsh than a pure mechanical monospace while achieving something that can work across a range of uses — from packaging to branding. The underscore styles are a cool idea.
• I dig the expressive but gentle flared shapes and sharp interior cuts in Evert Latin from Foundry5. The handling of accents and diacritics also deserve a chef’s kiss.
• LTR Limited Grotesque received a more conventional Roman companion which adds some nice versatility to this quirky and striking sans from Erik van Blockland.
• NaN Serf might be the next great editorial serif family with styles covering micro through display sizes, it’s crisp, contemporary and versatile in every regard.
• Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Affix. I got nothing else to add here.
• Notable mention for Arastradero from Steve Matteson, Umiak from East of Rome, Marti Sans from Suptipos, and Rosalie Wagner’s lovely lineal sans family, Seabirds.