unlikelymoose.com

what's at the center of the Apple campus?

Today Apple announced revised plans for its 2.8 million square foot headquarters building. If you haven't seen it, it's shaped like a giant spaceship doughnut, one that will hold 12,000 employees.

What will be at the very exact center of this circular campus?

From the renderings it looks to be just an open field of grass. I hope some Apple employee sneaks some small marker where the exact center is. Maybe a little toothpick flag or something more symbolic.

How the advertising will really appear in Wrigley Field's outfield and Jumbotron

Today, the Chicago Cubs shared more images of their proposed changes to Wrigley Field. One image is particularly misleading.

A somewhat detailed look can be found at the Chicago Tribune along with a caption (to the second image above) explaining where actual advertisements will be placed (Full caption pasted in comments below). To the Cubs' credit, they probably don't yet know which advertisers will appear on these new surfaces. So they placed in simple graphics that blend with their surroundings. When has advertising actually blended with its surroundings?

The first image gives a more realistic idea of how those advertised surfaces may look. Feel free to download and share.

I'm a Cubs fan who wants the public to be properly informed about the Cubs' plans.

Cubs opening day

Today's Opening Day win for the Chicago Cubs might turn out to be a microcosm for the 2013 Chicago Cubs. Rizzo homers. Castro scraps together a couple hits, but looks dazed as he wanders the basepaths aimlessly. Everyone else has no clue when they're batting, especially any third basemen. Jeff Samardzija turns out to be an ace. (I have a hard time saying that.) Soriano is a complete non-factor in every facet of the game. Marmol is wildly unpredictable and eventually will be released (not traded, but outright released). Jeff Russell becomes one of game's best set-up men. Fujikawa is a legit closer.

With that said Anthony Rizzo continues to impress. Every clip of the dugout from the TV broadcast showed Rizzo engaging with various teammates. You could also tell he was nervous in the post-game interview and such humility is always nice to see in a ballplayer. It's clear this guy is the leader of this team for years to come.

Also of note, this is the 2,000th blog post on unlikelymoose.com. 2,000!

I am here to read.

Today I visited Buswell Library at Wheaton College. Visitors are required to sign in at the circulation desk. The attendant asked if I was a visitor as I was signing the guest book which seemed a redundant question. I politely answered, "Yes." He then asked if I was a prospective student to which I smiled and replied, "No, I am here to read." He looked perplexed and I quickly continued on my way to, y'know, read.

new art in etsy shop

The new pieces all involve the letter "A".

"AXMA" $0.99
"A Cliff No. 1" $1.49
"Not A Cliff" $0.99 (image not shown above)
"Align No. 1" $1.49
"Align No. 2" $1.49

new art in etsy shop

Draw, Erase, Draw, Erase, Draw, No. 1 $3
Draw, Erase, Draw, Erase, Draw, No. 2 $1.49
365 Days $1.49

Captain Trailblazer

As I was waiting to turn, an SUV came flying down the road. I said to myself, "Look out, Captain Trailblazer!"

Proper moniker formula for addressing fellow vehicle drivers: Captain Name-of-car.
My wife would be Captain Odyssey. I am Captain 3. Quite mysterious one there.

nice painting at MCA

This painting on flickr blows my mind.

my comment left on flickr:
Incredible painting. The "x" on the person really fills the void of the painting. Pairing this "x" with the red border is quite dynamic especially since the person was painted on top of the red border. It has an eerie sense of dimension. I'd like to know how the artist got the legs to extend below the edge of the painting. This begins to have a sculptural quality. Though the flat "x" on his chest reels him back in the surface. This back-and-forth play on dimensions intrigues.

best ever signature on U.S. dollar bills

image courtesy of New York Magazine via Yahoo

Word on the street is that Jack Lew is going to be appointed the Sec. of Treasury. What's that matter for a blog about art, design, technology and other chicago hot dog randomness? Lew's signature. It is simply pure awesomeness.

stamp confusion

I love patriotism on stamps. I'd like to see a stronger return to patriotic elements on our stamps. The whole cultural recognition on stamps (Simpsons stamps, movie actor stamps, etc.) has become pretty silly and worn out. You can't wear out the idea of showing a U.S. President or a flag on a stamp. But the general awkwardness and clumsiness of the current 3 cent stamp's design does not appropriately represent American patriotism.

The main star is mostly red, but it's legs are blue. I understand representing red, white, and blue, but making the bottom part of a star in this manner is rather clumsy. It almost seems random.

There's a white star in front of the blue/red star attempting to stir some negative space dynamics. Instead it's creating an awkward space in the red/blue star's armpits.

There's also a strange void between the blue section of the red/blue star.

It's kinda neat to imagine the white star isn't there. The blue parts start to look like chop sticks or scissors. They also look like legs. How this represents patriotism I don't know.

The angle is weird. Why angle this graphic? It becomes cartoonic.

This stamp has been around since 2002?!?! It's time to retire this stamp. I don't get it. It looks like a really bad logo for a bank, insurance company or one of those bad reverse mortgage retirement commercials.

From the USPS website: "This 3-cent "make up rate" stamp was first issued in June 2002 and features a star highlighted in red, white and blue."
It's interesting that they recognize only one star in this design.