Kacey Musgraves: Deeper Well

I didn’t know who Kacey Musgraves was. Her latest album popped up under Spotify’s new releases so I just gave it a spin. The opening track, “Cardinal,” pulled me in with the groovy country-rock beat. Her soothing voice invited me in, but her lyrics made me stay.

With the guitar-picking country vibe on the title track, “Deeper Well,” she shared, “Took a long time, but I learned / There’s two kinds of people, one is a giver / And one’s always tryin’ to take / All they can take.” I knew exactly what she was talking about. I couldn’t stand the fucking takers either.

Over a hypnotic pop-country flavor, she gave the “Lonely Millionaire” some advice: “You can wear the gold watch on your wrist / But it won’t give you back the moments you miss.” Back to the minimal picking guitar, she sang about where “Heaven Is”: “Nobody knows where we go when we die / Maybe we’ll ride white horses in thе sky.”

This album is a beautiful work of understatement. I enjoyed the lyrical journey from start to finish.

Scout Camping Checklist

Spring is here and camping season has begun. Here’s my camping checklist:

Sleep gears

  • Tent
  • Tarps (top & bottom)
  • Sleeping bags
  • Sleeping pads
  • Pillows

Equipments

  • Broom
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Fan (air dry)
  • Power strips
  • Extension cords
  • Hammer
  • Flashlights

Clothing

  • Uniforms (A & B)
  • Clothes
  • Jackets
  • Rain jackets
  • Hats
  • Shoes

Personal Hygiene

  • Towels
  • Shampoo & soap
  • Flip flop for shower
  • Toothbrushes
  • Floss
  • Toothpaste

Essentials

  • Mesh kits
  • Reusable water bottles
  • Utensils
  • Medication

Miscellaneous

  • Chairs
  • Bug spray
  • Sunglasses

Pro Web Type

I was just making some edits to my web book and ended up changing the title from Professional Web Typography to Pro Web Type. The main reason was that Professional Web Typography was so hard to set on the homepage. The way the three words broke, which had a huge gap in the middle, bugged me. I couldn’t set the cover as big as I could. Pro Web Type is shorter and matched the web address of the book; therefore, I just went for it. Obviously I had to make some visual changes as well to make it look good.

Nguyễn Ngọc Tiến: Hà Nội còn một chút này

Quyển sách gồm 56 bài viết về Hà Nội của nhà văn Nguyễn Ngọc Tiến. Bài đầu viết về “Tiếng Hà ‘Lội’” đầy thú vị với một chút lịch sử chữ Việt. Bài thứ hai viết về ma tình Vũ Thị Tý. Còn phần nhiều là viết về những địa điểm đặc sắc của Hà Nội. Tiếc rằng tôi không biết gì về những nơi mà nhà văn diễn tả nên cũng không mấy có cảm giác khi đọc. Những ai ở Hà Nội chắc chắn sẽ thích thú và cảm thấy gần gũi hơn.

Dan Brown: Practical Design Discovery

Discovery plays an important role in making design decision. It helps designers learn about the problem they need to address. In his book, Practical Design Discovery, Dan Brown examines discovery as a mindset, not a process. It is about the right attitude, not a set of instructions. It’s an intriguing read.

Letter to My Sons #37

Dear Xuân,

Of course your mom and I would like to hear about your day. Tennis is a fun sport. I am glad you are learning it in PE so you can teach me how to play. I would love to see your patterns for Alebrijes. I can’t wait to read your realistic fiction story. It sounded like you had a fun, productive week.

Over the weekend, I had a wonderful time accommodating you on your Cub Scout’s camping trip. Even though you had a busy schedule, I enjoyed the time you and I spent together. I had a great pleasure observing you playing, learning, and interacting with your Cub Scout buddies. It also gave me an opportunity to connect with your buddies’ parents.

My goal for you to join scouting is for you to explore new territories, learn leadership skills, and connect with others. You are on the right path. I hope that you will continue to be open-minded, stay curious, and become independent.

Thanks for keeping me company at the skatepark. Thanks for reading with me on a regular basis. Thank you for your willingness to get tutored to improve your reading and writing. I can’t wait to read your letter next week.

Love,
Dad

New Typographic Sample: Lời nhắn (Messages)

In her book titled Mỗi ngày gửi cậu một cái ôm (Each Day I Send You a Hug), Là Trang shares 108 positive, thoughtful messages to the youths to help them navigate through life. Even as an adult, I find her words compelling; therefore, I quoted a few lines and added my own English translation. I created this sample page to share her positive thoughts. For typesetting, I selected Montagu Slab, designed by Florian Karsten.

Gum.mp3: Black Life, Red Planet

Gum.mp3’s spacious, electronic style reminds me of The Chemical Brothers. “Spacey” is atmospheric, upbeat, yet calm. My personal favorite track on the album has to be “Deimos,” which showcases Gum.mp3’s skillful blend of Spanish guitar with hypnotic rhythms. Listening to the album brings me to the early days of Flash intros, which combined motion graphics with electronic beats. I also find the music soothing for walking or driving.

Văn Anh: 109 truyện ngụ ngôn Việt Nam hiện đại

Hồi nhỏ lúc còn ở Việt Nam, tôi thường nghe những câu chuyện về thú vật đối xử với nhau rất hung tàn như con này ăn thịt con nọ hoặc bọn nó đấu trí với nhau. Mỗi truyện cho chúng ta một bài học về luân lý, triết lý, hoặc chân lý. Đọc quyển sách này do Vân Anh tuyển chọn tôi mới biết là truyện ngụ ngôn. Đọc cũng thấy vui và để nhớ lại tuổi thơ.

Grace Kelly with Strings: At the Movies

I know R. Kelly, but who the fuck is G. Kelly? From a quick research, Grace Kelly is a saxophonist, composer, songwriter, band leader, and a singer. I came across her latest album, in which she covers tunes from movies and an orchestra backing her up. The album kicks off with the “James Bond Medley” with Kelly’s soaring saxophone. Halfway through, she started to sing. She has a decent voice, but she should have kept the medley strictly instrumental. She introduces “The Way You Look Tonight” with the Charlie Parker flow. It’s a mesmerizing swing cover with the strings behind her. Her collaboration with Sean Jones on “Soul Bossa Nova” reminds me of Bird and Diz. Damn, Mr. Jones got the bebop chops and Ms. Kelly got the swag. Love the call-and-response interactive. Not a perfect album, but very close. Love her, and she’s Korean-American.