Entries for May 2011

May 23, 2011

An interview in which all my secrets are revealed

Luke Burrage is an international juggler. He has a pretty good video montage of himself juggling in spectacular places around the globe to prove it (embedded below). He also writes, and has a podcast of science fiction book reviews. He’s creative in multiple disciplines.

Luke contacted me about a year ago asking if he could interview me for a new project he was planning: a podcast about other people who are creative in multiple disciplines. About eight months ago, he was in New York, and we did the interview. Now that Luke has about ten of these completed, he’s launched Season One of Luke’s Creative Podcast.

He’s just posted our interview as the second episode. Luke is a fan of my various projects, and he asks about things I didn’t realize people even remembered. It’s a pretty in-depth interview, and I tell all my secrets about how I work. It’s a bit long, at just over an hour, so it might be for superfans only. But I think it turned out pretty good.

We talk about inventors, creativity, photography, ideas, patents, creative theft, why I write a blog, how I work on Ironic Sans, etc.

You can hear the episode on Luke’s website or subscribe in iTunes.

Here is Luke’s international juggling video:

May 16, 2011

Idea: Useless QR Codes

You’ve probably noticed QR codes in ads, real estate listings, and band fliers around your town. They look like broken checkerboards or crossword puzzles, with black squares and white squares placed seemingly at random. The idea is that you’ll use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code, and reveal a URL, phone number, or message about the advertiser.

At SXSW this year, I noticed that they were everywhere. Surfaces were covered with fliers and stickers that all featured QR codes. People wore t-shirts promoting their company on the front, with a big QR code on the back. Did people actually bother to scan the QR codes with their phones? I have no idea. But I wished I had the forethought to bring my own fliers or stickers with totally useless QR codes to post hidden among the noise.

So I’ve come up with some useless QR codes just right for stickers and fliers. Maybe you’ll have an opportunity to use them before I do.

You can scan these with your phone (try an app like RedLaser for iPhone or Android) to reveal the messages the way other people will see them. Or, hover your mouse over the code for a second to reveal the encoded message.

Order this sticker here.

Order this sticker here

Order this sticker here

Also available on apparel.

Of course, you don’t have to use my useless QR codes. Make your own useless QR codes and bring them to your next convention, expo, or other gathering.

May 11, 2011

Best Construction Company Slogan Ever

Eddie Torres runs E. T. General Construction Inc. in Brooklyn. He has the best construction company slogan ever:

Phone E. T. for your home.

I would totally hire a construction guy with a nerdy sense of humor.

(You know, if he was also good at construction.)