FIRE YOUR DESIGNER!- Issue 1: 2009 Sacagawea Dollar

As many of you know I used to be a Graphic Design Student, and though I have since left that behind what I learned and that "designer" set of eyes has kept with me like the most tenacious case of herpes. That said, issue 1 of the new blog series "FIRE YOUR DESIGNER!"

In 1999/2000 the US Mint released dollar coins with the face of the American Indian guide Sacagawea. It was a return to dollar coins and the first female (since Susan B.) on the face of a US coin, it was supposed to be huge. What ended up happening was just another way for mass transit to easily make change at ticket machines and the use of these coins, in a couple years fell to, well, use with just mass transit. Since then the US Mint has started releasing dollar coins once again, his time as a series of presidential coins, finally presidents like James K Polk and Taft get their day in the spotlight! In turn they've also revamped and re released the failed Sacagawea dollars with a shinier finish and new back.

There you have it, ain't them purdy? That's the front of them anyway, the problem I have right now is with the back of the new one.
>I first saw these this past week while riding NJT to New Brunswick and something didn't sit right, here's a close up of the back of the new one.
Then it hit me, the font they used in the lettering on the back. It's a cheesy MSword decorative font like that kind used on cheap mexican food places. Take some change out of your pocket and check out the fonts used on most US Currency. Very official looking Serifs and San Serifs right? Then the US mint throws this shit ball font at us and it cheapens the look. My mom said it best when I showed her the coin "is that even real?" I understand what they were thinking when they made this coin, lets be honorable to native cultures in this country and portray a design that coincides with their culture. They could have easily done that by just keeping the very beautiful embossing work on the back (the woman even has tits!) and keeping the standard font used on the rest of US Currency. Instead they took the Disney approach and used that cheese ball font and in turn cheapened an entire culture, and that is why they need to FIRE THEIR DESIGNER!

-Jonny Gonzo

So Starts the Year of the Bastard: A Look at My Depression and Its End

I've been out of it for a while, all year come to think of it. I've been waiting I suppose, getting steam back, getting on track once again. These past couple months, (okay, august to october) have been pretty fucking tough for me, and the rare occasion this year is November thus far has been my best month. That's normally not strange but for years November for me has been this ominous thing because it's the last full punch in the face from the year. Seriously, most things happen to me in November, I can't explain it. Seasonal depression, confusion, friends getting mugged, losing friends, fights, you name it, chances are it happens to me between the dates of November First and Thirtieth; this year though things have changed in a big way. There's going to be a lot of changes for the better, finally some bloody progress for once. Keep on checking back dear readers, all two of you, it's going to be worth it folks. These next 365 days are going to be The Year of the Bastard.

A Rare Moment of Optimism

Often I, like many others my age, look at past generations and eras, the events that happened world wide, and feel my generation fell, well, short. We have no great wars, depressions, labor or civil movements, or even music that will alter the world for centuries to come. When I've soaked this in I look at science and technology from the future and believe I'm not going to be there for interstellar travel, non fossil fueled cars let alone flying ones, and cures for cancer and aids. I feel like my generation is stuck in a limbo between two great ages. It's frustrating really, I'm too late for hobos but too early for lightsabers. All the innovations now are stepping stones to bigger things. It is this very idea that gets me thinking, maybe I didn't miss out after all.
I was born in 1987, since then the Berlin Wall fell, hip hop became mainstream, and several small businesses have risen to immense power and choked the life out of Main St., USA. In the past twenty years there have been two unpopular wars in the same region, World Trade collapsed (figuratively and physically), the Internet has taken over and brought forth the rise of independent journalism, and the first black president has been signed into office.
After I contemplate this I then think about what I will see. In the next ten years I am going to first hand experience the death of the newspaper and tiny solar panels that can stay underground and collect energy via a fiber optic wire that are up to six times more efficient than conventional solid panels. We are going to see a rise in fuel efficient cars, Terabytes of data stored on a hair, processors that work almost as quickly as the human mind, and even LED Light Tattoos that glow and shift with the body.
As far as movements there is a very important civil rights movement really taking hold. The Gay and Lesbian Rights Movement grows every day in this country; the demonstrations this autumn alone shows us this and the fervor just keeps on thriving. Race relations, though still not where they should be, are improving every day as well. On top of all this one of the largest revolutions ever in world history, the Information Revolution is in full swing. With internet and mobile technology, ideas, facts, and beliefs are spreading faster than ever. This leads to people all over the world really seeing the truth out there and they're getting pissed.
It's always been easy for me to be cynical, optimism though, especially for society and the human race in its whole entirety has been seemingly lost for quite some time. I now see though what all those folk singers from the 60s I love so much saw, and in turn what the Folk and Blues singers saw in the 20s and 30s. The world is a constantly changing place, and though times can be tough and bleak, dig a bit deeper for that vein of excitement and wonder, and you will see that progress really is coming, and it's just a matter of when the movements of today turn from glaciers to avalanches.

-Jonny Gonzo

It is better to try and to fail than not try at all

That last post was on a low night. Since then some things have come up that have changed my perspective on my little journey. Sure, I made mistakes, and sure I'm paying for them, but why give up? I try not to look up to sports stars and teams, but a perfect example of this has been the Philadelphia Phillies in this arduous World Series. Down 1-3 games against the Evil Empire that is the NY Yankees, the other night they went on the field, and despite problems, won the game 8 to 6. They are now down by only one game and stand a chance at winning the world series despite great odds against them. They may be losing still but they're doing it with style and are still striving.
Little stories like this are the things that I should take into thought and consideration. I'm going through a stressful period right now, but I've been there before, we all have. I just need to stop getting so down on myself and try to look at things differently. So, followers of the Gonzo, I am apologizing for my recent shit headedness, I assure you things are just going to keep on getting better from here on out.

- Jonny Gonzo