Washington, DC
George W. Bush today once again defended the costs of the war, in lives and money, declaring that his decision to order more troops to Iraq last year had averted potential defeat there and that withdrawing would be catastrophic to American interests. Speaking at the White House to a small audience that included Vice President Dick Cheney, the secretaries of State and Defense, and representatives of veterans’ organizations, he signaled that an American force nearly as large as at any other point in the last five years would remain in Iraq through his presidency. He left any significant changes in policy to the next president. “Fifteen months ago, Americans were worried about the prospect of failure in Iraq,” he said, sounding a triumphant note about his decision last year to send 30,000 additional troops. “Today, thanks to the surge, we’ve renewed and revived the prospect of success.”
Please, please, get a grip on reality Mr. Bush… the world—along with the hapless and the hopeful in your own nation—deserve so much better! Listen to what recently-returned veterans have to say (from Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan, Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupation), for example here.
Story Source: The New York Times
Winnipeg, Canada
Good friend, phenomenal photographer, (and longtime client) Michel Grandmaison has been awarded second prize (what? not first? :-) in the Northern Lights 2007 Awards Canada competition for ‘Excellence in Travel Journalism.’ His photography was showcased in the May 2007 Travel issue of Canadian Geographic Magazine. The award is sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission—‘Jasper by Starlight’ can be read online as a PDF (2.4 MB) here. (See more of Mike’s phenomenal photographs here).
Keep up the great work, Mike!
London, U.K.
No commentary needed—the man’s formidable talent just keeps on flowing… see more of his work online here.
Somewhere in the USA…
From the “strange but true” side of things… It seems that in 1961, The American Medical Association (AMA) hired the Gipper for a viral marketing campaign dubbed ‘Operation Coffeecup.’ “Doing his part to scuttle the arrival of Medicare, Reagan lays down an 11 minute rap explaining how ‘Socialized Medicine’ can only lead to an America where men are not free. This record was then mailed out to the “ladies auxiliary” (doctors’ wives) of the AMA in each county. Was it this little record that kept Medicare from being signed into law until July 1965?”
Could this possibly be why we our American neighbours still don’t have Universal Health Care? Give a listen: Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine here (mp3). Then, give your head a shake…
Wherever you’ve been…
I stumbled across this lovely little collection today, an “image stream and information resource devoted to the art of luggage labels and related travel ephemera. Luggage labels are fascinating bits of hotel history from the golden age of travel, roughly the 1900s to 1960s. During this time these labels were used by hotels as advertising and eagerly applied to steamer trunks, suitcases and all sorts of luggage by hotel staff, mainly bellhops.”
When I was a kid our family used to vacation in Lugano (and the nearby beach village of Agno in the Ticino)—takes me back… See the collection of luggage labels here.
Harare, Zimbabwe
This just in from friend Chaz Maviyane-Davies, an ex-pat Zimbabwean designer, filmmaker, and tireless activist now working and teaching in Boston (Chaz was forced into exile years ago, by dent of his outspoken criticism of Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF’s strong-arm regime). A full week after the latest elections, results have still not been released—it seems clear that rigging is once again in the works… but keep the faith, Chaz!
View more activist works by the “guerrilla of graphic design,” here, here, and here.
Winnipeg, Canada
Brains (and their function) have been much on my mind this week… particularly after seeing a remarkable TED Talk by Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroanatomist and brain researcher who herself suffered a massive brain hemorrhage, and through this harrowing experience comes to remarkable insights—‘My Stroke of Insight’ provides powerful revelations and valuable points to ponder. Watch it here (18:44).
On the lighter side of things, Ev’s brainy (and cute) daughter Jennifer Kornelsen (a Ph.D. in Neurophysiology, post-doctoral fMRI research in previously undetectable spinal cord and brainstem activity at Stanford, now back in Manitoba and teaching Psychology at the University of Winnipeg, view her CV here), has been using a great little mnemonic tool with her students: Pinky and the Brainstem. Enjoy…
Atlanta, Georgia
Forty years ago today, Martin Luther King, Jr. was gunned down in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 39. Baptist minister, world-renowned civil rights leader, and powerful advocate of non-violence, King’s influence fundamentally changed civil rights for African Americans in the United States. In 1964, he became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means.
“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
Winnipeg, Canada
Adrian Shum, a designer colleague at Circle, recently discovered a great online reference resource for illustrators—this from his blog at MUHSASHUM… “Andrew Loomis (1892-1959) was a highly talented American illustrator. His series of influential, instructional books are out of print and yet still highly sought after and nearly impossible to find. Luckily there is the Internet, with sites such as this where you can view scans of the books. I highly recommend you take a look at Mr. Loomis’ work… he’s likely influenced more of today’s artists than you know…”
Thanks, Adrian. Keep on drawing…
Winnipeg, Canada
Time certainly does fly when you’re having fun… today marks 32 years since the birth of Circle (we share that birthdate with this little company called Apple Computer :-)—and we continue with gusto…
1976 was an interesting and memorable year in many ways, locally and around the world—in South Africa, anti-apartheid riots began in Soweto; Israeli commandos pulled off the Entebbe Raid in Uganda; in China the Tangshan earthquake killed 242,769 people; in the UK punk enters the mainstream; in the U.S. Jimmy Carter was elected as president; and out in space, the Viking 1 orbiter lands on Mars. 1976 also saw the introduction of the first laser printer by IBM (the Model 3800); The Band’s farewell concert The Last Waltz; the deaths of blues-singer Howlin’ Wolf, artist Alexander Calder, and revolutionary Chairman Mao; and the births of chanteuse Martha Wainright and Brazilian footballer Ronaldo. Here in Canada, the Eaton’s catalogue and Time magazine’s Canadian edition were discontinued; the Summer Olympics were held in Montreal (highlighted by 14-year old Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci’s perfect scores and five gold medals); René Lévesque’s Parti Québécois wins a majority in the Quebec elections; and the CN tower went up in Toronto.
