\\ Agonizing Beauty //

This was probably the most stressful, the most annoying, and overall the most painful part of my semester. Perhaps it was the same way for others as well. I put a lot of work into my spread and tweaked and stared at it for hours. We went through hell, yelling, poking, and nagging one another to get things done. I am sure we are pretty sick of everything that has to do with ZEROMILE. We all lost sleep, especially Peter, staying up late working on this project. I stayed up till 3 am (sometimes freaking 4 am) most of my weekend nights (week-nights too!), ignoring my friends when they came over just so I can finish my spread in time. I fucking gave up some of my other projects and assignments in my other classes just so I can get this stuff done (Okay... well not all of them. I just slacked on a lot of things I know I could of put so much effort into them).

I cannot say how much agony it took to get people to give me photos for my portion of the magazine either. Some people definitely got left out (and since I am a nice person, that kind of made me upset to have to leave them out because I thought they were awesome), but ya’ know, this is the life of a magazine and there are deadlines to follow. If you are serious about getting yourself out there and spreading your image (especially in regards to Cosplay where getting people to recognize you is key and very important in the hobby) then you will be serious about getting yourself in the magazine and communicate with the person who wants to feature you! Life happens and you just have to take to the consequences for things.

Everyone knows what it feels like having a looming deadline. Oddly enough, I work better when I have a day or two before its due, and I haven't done shit on it. Horrible, I know, but I work really well under pressure. Some of my best work comes flying out of my ass. Before I know it, I have something I can be pretty proud of (most of the time...My illustrations take longer and I am really picky about them too). I had images come almost close to the last minute, so I had to work a lot of my article around the photos and the writing portion of my feature. I felt like ripping my hair out that it took so much teeth pulling to bloody well get a person to hand over content. It didn’t help that I had deadlines to make and none of them were good enough until I actually got the content. I swear I had the same spread for weeks on end until I was finally granted passage and received content from a bunch of awesome people. I guess threatening them that I wouldn’t be able to get them in worked. In reality it was the truth.

There were major times that I found people seeing the entire project to be "just some school project". It was a school project; a real life situation presented to us like any other class we have taken at Metro. I didn't see this as an assignment for Typography III, (Okay sometimes I wanted to just say fuck it and put out super poo, but I reminded myself what it would really mean in the end). I saw it as an opportunity; a serious job that was bestowed upon 'US', The Brain Trust. We are the future leaders of design. We are defining the world with what we know and making a difference with our capable knowledge and skill in Communication Design. We are making the world see our design aesthetic and creativity go to the people and to definitely make a difference. By completing this project we would have something to be proud of, something to brag about, and something that we could show to our future employers and be able to say, “Hi, I am Blah Blah Blah, and I helped make this magazine that was published here in Colorado.”

The final product of this entire insane, hell hole of a process gives us a portfolio and major bragging rights. This project meant the world to me and it gave me and so many other people an opportunity to use this for the future. It hurts to know that some people were willing to slap together their parts of this project and expects to get on by without having to put anymore effort into it (as long its passing a grade it doesn’t matter about the rest of it, right?). It’s not just about you and your grade. It’s not about mine or anyone else’s grade. It’s about coming together (EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US) and creating something that WE ALL can use in our resume and as a portfolio piece. By not pulling your weight, you let a lot us dangle by threads trying to compensate with more effort to make this work. In other words (don’t mind that I sound bitchy here, but it’s true) a lot of us worked really hard so that we all can be proud of the final project. Don’t get mad ya’ll. It’s damn true. I didn’t see anyone who didn’t pull their weight in this project, but others may know who did, and it may be true to some of us in the group. There is always someone that gets by on the minimalist amount in a project such as this. It is inevitable.

I imagine people got angry and ticked off about many things. Things that just sent us complaining and gossiping to other students about the pains and tribulations we all encountered. Hell, I probably have done it shit tons of times without realizing. I am not afraid of getting a rant out in the open (hell this kind of seems like a rant doesn’t it? Oh just wait, it really has a point...). In the end I suck it up, complain some more, and do what I need to do to get done.

There was one thing that just sent me into "ANGER" mode. Out of the entire semester (not this class) I think I was even more pissed off at trying to tell someone to change something because it didn't look right and looked like some fucked up piece of a chopped up graphic (in the nicest of ways you could possibly say that of course) and getting flack for telling them (by their own misfortune of not being finished with their work). Nothing reads immature and annoyed by snapping at someone who is trying to help make something look better and told that they agree and will fix it later on when they finish their already late work. What sent me flying over the edge though was noticing that they never fixed it. Even though it was a small change and they took the time to change some things around before they left early. I find it fucking hilarious really. Oh well… My opinion doesn’t matter to some people and that is life. There will be times that people will not give a flying bupkis what you have to say and stubbornly will refuse any critique or comments you have to give them. Though it is healthy to take in what you think it good and bad…Undeniably every time I do try to suggest something to someone, no one ever takes me for someone who knows what they are doing. Yes…I am quite bitter about that though, sorry to say. I get dubbed stupid and not knowing what I am doing a lot of the time. I am entitled to rant a little ya’ know? That is kind of what this thing is for…the painful and irritating process of magazine making (and semester bitch sessions that affect the magazine process).

God knows everyone I know tries to get me to change what they don't like by their standards and what they think good design is. I pretty much give up trying to appeal to myself in regards to design in the academic field because it seems like everyone else knows better and I don't (unless I definitely have my opinion set on something). I actually have a very opinionated idea of what design is, but I also am aware that design and art is subjective (as it should be). Nothing ticks me off than some “know it all” that thinks they know what good design or art is and tries to bestow his/her great ego on others to shape and instigate their beliefs on to them in hopes to change the world for the better. Hate to break it to ya’ ego pinchers, there is no right or wrong answer to design (except for the major rules to follow of course, everything else though is up to interpretation).

We shouldn't judge design by its aesthetics and style choices. It seems that is what people end up critiquing anyways. Not everyone is going to like everything, I know, but being a good designer (in my opinion) is letting go and accepting things for what they are and being rather neutral and critiquing what really matters like kerning, letter spacing, and possibly pushing the boundaries even of a design to make it stand out more. Be lucky that we get critiques though even though they are the most hideously boring things to traipse around the bend. In real life I presume we won’t be getting to many critiques. The times that we will be getting them, will be either from a firm, other designers, or even the client himself.

One example where a critique from a coworker would have done wonders for a print job was a local newspaper, The Highlands Ranch Herald. There was bad kerning and the full justified crap that newspapers make in every single article in that paper. This stuff is an ‘easy fix’, and quite possibly very easy to avoid printing out the eye sores of design sin around to everyone in the community. People do notice it; never think they will never notice something is off with their paper. Before I even knew what design, graphics, or communication in art meant or was (and I am talking about when I was 13), I noticed the flaws and gaps in the paper. God it was awful seeing the huge gaps and spacing between words, the hyphenations (which weren't that bad; minus the two letter stragglers at the end of a paragraph like ‘es’ from the hyphenation of the word kisses), and the obvious one syllable word that gets left alone at the end of a paragraph. Those rules are "must haves" in regards to designing a good print or web piece of work. Make the effort to notice those things, and learn early.

Now you all must be thinking, what the fucking hell has crawled up her ass, died, turned to diamonds, and come out in the sparkling ranty spam that is the blog entry,

WE ALL HAVE FELT THIS WAY THIS SEMESTER, quite possibly other semesters too. We go through this all the time. We all are opinionated and intelligent people! I ranted and pooed out my philosophy on life because hey, it’s easy to do and I don’t care if people agree with me or not. This is me take it as it is. You are all free to let it go and release your feelings too. Never hold it in because it makes things worse! I cannot be the only one that feels this way about stuff that happened this semester. We all have our opinions, ideas, and most definitely our rants of what we went through. The most interesting things of a process of a magazine are the gritty and bad side of production.

I implore you ALL to write how you felt about this semester and what was good and bad about this magazine. Do not target people though, it gets mean and caddy, but do feel free to be abstract and release your frustrations; be raw and edgy. It’s the fact that we had our ups and our downs with this semester, especially with this magazine looming in to its final preparations.

Now for a close (but most definitely not the end of me posting in this place even after we are long and gone from this class and school)…


We have all worked really hard on this magazine everyone. I am proud of the outcome (even though its not completely over yet). We are all amazing designers and I totally think we are going to rock the world of design. Metro is an amazing school full of awesome people who have been in the field. The memories we have all had with class, the inside jokes that we can brag about (“Ah SNAP!” and various other jargon that has infected our verbal vocabulary).

You have no idea how glad I am that I got rid of my full scholarship to the Art Institute and came here for my degree instead. I saved money for the best damn design education (according to Marie when she was still here) in the entire United States. (How do you like that RMCAD? >:3 ) How many of us are so lucky to be taught by published and well renowned individuals that came to THIS SCHOOL and THIS PROGRAM to teach us the best damn knowledge that we all know now? Scott for gods-sake has done so many acknowledgeable branding designs that it blows my mind. Patrick has been published and continues to make awesome communicative illustration. Peter is so well versed in publication design and knows the print field so well, that I know I am going to be ready for the world when I graduate. The knowledge and experience he has taught to us (especially the underground stuff) is unfathomable and so precious to me that I know I am ready for the real world of design. Kelly (though she was stolen into the digital art program, lucky bastards) has given me a great foundation of the web and interactive media side of design that I think about websites and its structure as much as I can.

I am proud that I came to this school and I actually have school/department spirit for the first time in my life (all the schools I went to sucked and never made a major impact on me or my life). I have met awesome and amazing people that I don’t just call my student body, but that I also call my friends. Even the professors to me are friends and people that I feel I shouldn’t stop communicating with even when I leave (though you will see me eventually again after I work the field, I plan on teaching here at this same school because it rocks so hardcore). These are people I hope to stay in touch with for a very long time (I hate to think people think I am annoying or weird, I really am not annoying…Weird yes, but not as much as you think). Metro, this department, and most of all, this magazine project, has changed my life and I wouldn’t change it for the world. This experience means so much to me and thank you for all the hard work you put into this blog as well as your portion of the magazine. This project is definitely something we can call our own, and we worked to hard on it! I hate to see it go to another unsuspecting design class, but I am curious to see how it goes.

Despite the blog never taking that extra step to complete pretty CSS (cascading Style Sheet) land, I can say that I am really proud of it. Coding is still not my forte, but I am self taught in regards of the coding language. I didn’t use Dreamweaver to make this blog. I took a template and altered it heavily to fit our needs (especially under the time constrictions to make it look… decent >_> ). There were templates I wanted to instill onto this blog, but I am afraid there was no time for me to get it up and I think I would have broken the brains of the next class since we all haven’t been formally taught code. I can just see it now… the next web editor taking one look at the code and going wtbuck is XML. I don’t even know what XML is, but man I would have been able to get that code into the blog. I know how to do it; its just way too time consuming. Perhaps I am assuming the next web editor will NOT be competent…Perhaps they will be smart and know how to function a blog (hey you snarky smart asses, there is a lot of complicated crap that goes on with the html in the code portion of a blog; let me see you try it!). I hope for the best in the end though. Whoever takes my place… I certainly hope you work this blog like a model strutting down a runway. You need to love writing, ranting, posting bullshit, and most of all, have knowledge of code and some interactivity to get this thing going. Hell it would be cool to see this blog get deeper into code! Make your first web editor proud! Those are my rules for the next web editor, Peter; make a note of that. OH and don’t forget to badger your web director if he’s a little lazy. They need a good poke to get going. Its okay! Don’t be frightened. Just do it! :3

Thank you everyone for a great semester, and a lot of hard work to make a cool piece of print production. We did some awesome shit! :D WE ROCK!

Sincerely,
Jamiesama AKA Sama Williams, Web Editor, and awesome with rants extraordinaire!

Show me the...

Money... doesn't grow on trees. Ever wonder where it really comes from? The Mint, DUH! Yeah but not really.

In school, you might have been lucky enough to take a class trip to the mint, and smeared the d-jon mustard from your lunchable on that kid in your class that always smelled like cat urine when your teacher wasn't looking. But watching money get printed on paper doesn't exactly explain how the monetary system truly works. Unless you've read "Modern Money Mechanics", a document created by the United States Federal Reserve to describe the basic process of money creation using various banking terminology, then you probably (for reasons beyond your control, until now...) have no idea how it works.

In essence, it goes something like this:

The US Government decides it needs some money, so it calls up the Federal Reserve, and asks for, say, 10 billion dollars. The fed replies, saying "sure… we'll buy 10 billion in government bonds from you."

So, the government then takes some piece of paper, paints some official looking designs on them, and calls them "Treasury Bonds". Then, it puts a value on these Bonds to the sum of 10 billion dollars, and sends them over to the Fed. In turn, the people at the Fed draw up a bunch of impressive pieces of paper themselves, only this time calling them "Federal Reserve Notes"…also designating a value of 10 billion dollars to them.
The Fed then takes these notes and trades them for the Bonds. Once this exchange is complete, the government then takes the 10 billion in Federal Reserve Notes and deposits it into a bank account and upon this deposit, the paper notes officially become "legal tender" money, adding 10 billion to the US money supply. And Pow! 10 billion in new money has been created. Of course, this is a generalization, in reality, this transaction would occur electronically, with no paper used at all. In fact only 3% of the US money supply exists in physical currency. The other 97% essentially exists as a number on a computer screen.

Wondering how this all started?
Pissed off about the current state of the economy?
Like cartoons?

Me too! Watch this, it's educationally delicious:



or... you can just roll your eyes and continue on with your day .

Pillow Fight Denver 2008

Awesomeness

And not Photoshop'd, oddly enough. Check out how they made it here.

A message from Tom...

"Hey guys... you remember me? It's Tom from myspace. I was your only friend in the world, before anybody else! Remember that? Of course you don't, you're too busy with your facebook. I'm going to go take pictures of myself in the bathroom."

What else can I say?

Since Mr. Fairey is a known appropiator, I can't imagine he'll mind my own little alteration of his image.

Today's the Day

If you haven't already - go vote! If you don't know your polling place, go to GoVote and enter your zip code - it'll tell you where to go. Remember, you have to be in line by 7:00 p.m. to vote, and a photo of you in line at the polls and an "I Voted" sticker will get you an excused absence from Peter for tonight's class.

And don't think that your vote doesn't matter or doesn't count! Colorado may be crucial to victory for whichever candidate you support. Your vote counts! Your vote matters! I want to see a whole mess of "I Voted" stickers in class tonight! GO VOTE OR I WILL WRESTLE YOU!

WEBSITE and Yah... I gots it

Yo home skillet in the hizouse... J/K ya'll... here is the link to the website... Since I NOW just heard about it. Thanks for leaving me out of the loop. *glares*

We need to get cracking ya'll on this magazine! For serious!

http://www.zeromilemagazine.com

Something REALLEH cool! :D Hey its type oriented! XD

http://www.wordle.net/

In any case... I gave in and GOT TWITTER! O_O like omg yah! So you can get me at jamieduomaxwell@yahoo.com on there if you guys have it and see where I am! Cause like its so not stalking land! Cause ya know... Peter says its like the NEW thang. >_> I spose sooo.. We shall see.. Nerds are us! Peace out!

Sama <3

Happy Halloween!

In honor of Halloween, here's the scariest thing I can think of:


Also, for all you Shepard "Shep" Fairey fans out there - and I know I'm one - take a look at the Village Voice's slideshow of just a few of the parodies of Fairey's now-ubiquitous "HOPE" Obama campaign poster.

We need article like this...

The Hobo Dictionary: A Guide to Transient Identification

here's your second chance...

Dear people,
So I spoke to Michelle of "Ooh La La Presents" today and she told me that they are having another big show on December 13th that will be "The Best of Burlesque and Boylesque". It's right around our party time...so that could perhaps be part of the Zer0mile release party shenanigans :) I know I'm not gonna miss it. She also said she could probably have a few people from her troupe come perform at the party on the 11th if we would like (I told her I wasn't sure about compensation yet but would find out and get back to her). So what do you guys think? And I was also wondering what type of music everyone likes so I could ask some bands about performing. I'm willing to bet that The Pawn Ticket Trio would be happy to do it (they play with Ooh La La every Monday). They are Jazz. There are lots of other options though. Rock? Emo? Hip Hop? Alternative? Feedback please.
Cheers,
Lons

Friendly Reminder to Zer0Milers

Hey, y'all! I hope each and every one of you is a registered voter. If not, it's too late. But if you are...

Get out there and vote! Early voting is going on NOW in Denver and all over Colorado. Have you voted yet? I have! It's easy! Did you sign up for a mail-in ballot? Fill it out and send it in or drop it off!

Avoid the lines and crowds and hassles of Election Day, and remember that when you vote early, that's one less voter the Republicans have a chance to disenfranchise on Nov. 4.

Ooh La La....

Just a reminder to all you hard working zer0milers that this Saturday you can check out Ooh La La Presents... at 3 Kings Tavern. $10 bucks for a fun filled night of Halloween themed burlesque and delicious beverages. Did I mention free popcorn? For those of you on the fence...here are some spoilers.

Cheers.

Lons

TRUE LOVE

Zero Mile - Mission Statement

ZeroMile

ZeroMile is dedicated to reflecting the “new” changes in the Denver cultural scene. The mission of our magazine is to cover all aspects of Denver culture including, but not limited to music, design, social issues, or anything that we, the magazine staff, feel is important or interesting to convey to Denver readers. The subjects for stories are open to any interest as long as the stories deal with the city of Denver. We hope to “enlighten,” as well as engage our readers in the cultural evolution that is taking place in this great city.

Our magazine will feature original photos, essays, illustrations, and design by students from the Metropolitan State College of Denver. The layout of the magazine will consist of several feature articles as well as a photo essay and 19 individual 2- page spreads.

ZeroMile is owned and operated by Metro State design students who not only work in all capacities for the success of the magazine but are also the chief contributors. Our magazine is a unique concept that brings together the raw, creative talent that can only be found in the burgeoning minds of students.

Cards that mean business

We have our titles on our business cards to impress our friend's and families with now (just leave out the part that it's a pretend job). Wait but it's not pretend! There's going to be some heavy transactions happening in the next few weeks (more on that in a sec).

So this is round 2 of our business cards. I have a few more for all of you but you can print your own if you need more. This is where you find them: APPSK DRIVE> PUBLIC> ART SERVER SPACE> PETER MILES REGENOLD BERGMAN> ... hold on my hand just cramped up... TYPE III> ZEROMILE> ZEROMILE DOCS> COLLATERAL> ZEROMILE BC's

PRINT INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Inside folder "zeromile bc's" is a folder called "print files". Inside that folder are two files Peter made for us; BC.pdf and ZEROMILEBC.pdf.

2. Also inside the zeromile bc's folder, there is a pdf with everybody's name on it.

THIS IS HOW IT WORKS-
3. To print more copies of your business-cards: create a new folder on your desktop (BECAUSE you don't want to be that person who overwrites the original files in the shared folder. That was so 1999.) Anyway... after you create the new folder (name it after your favorite cereal... trust me) copy the two files in the "print files" folder- BC.pdf and ZEROMILEBC.pdf into your "fruity pebbles" folder.

4. Ok, now open the pdf with your name on it. Save it as "BC.pdf" into your cereal folder NOT in the print files folder on the server.

--The file ZEROMILE.pdf is linked to 8-up (it even makes the 1-up sounds from *super Mario brothers 8 times) the BC.pdf folder. Open the 8-up file, ZEROMILEBC.pdf in illustrator and print them. Peter supplied us with the first round of pretty cool card stock, which I have more sheets for those who need it in the next few weeks (Shane, Brooke, Rebecca, Alyssa, anybody else?).

If it doesn't work right the first time just 'chillax' we'll get through this together. The link may just need to be manually updated or there could be a naming issue- if you need help.... just ask our production manager Matthew Starr for help. His number is on the contacts list in the zeromile>documents folder. Call him any time day or night.

Changes to cards:
Inside the ZEROMILE BC's folder is a folder titled "SOURCE FILES" -- there's a psd in there with everybody's name as a layer... knock yourself out. Also, some people really wanted their nickname and might pee their pants if they don't get it so those of you who can handle it, let me know and we'll use our nickname generator. It's very sophisticated. There are rumors that Hollywood might trade nicknames... I call heresy. We need you Hollywood...

speaking of which, here's the scoop with what's going on at the moment:

-Shane, Brooke & Alyssa are working on what sounds to be really nice press kits to present, And they will be teaming with Rebecca to do this. Shane and Rebecca are going to start pitching add space on Tuesday, so please them any relevant files, materials, info, etc and please try to follow up with Shane a.s.a.p. with the things he needs. Time is money... in this case, it's our money. Also Shane is compiling a series of postcards from a bunch of us to use as promotional collateral. The idea is to have several designs with artistic variety, so please send your zeromile promotional designs to Shane ASAP.

-Lori & Eric got a sweet deal with our website and are working on it, starting with first things first, the e-mail addresses on our cards.

-Jenny & Lori are creating collateral to display in the art building to promote the magazine as well as the cover of the 1st issue.

-Alyssa, she's going to find a cool place to throw our party... here's the criteria:

1. Bar
2. Bar

Ok, I’m out. It's really sad what happened to Mario...

good & bad news

I'll start with the bad: I lost my jump drive, this is what it looks like- if you find it I'll totally s your d's (sign your documents). Okay... more bad news: our deal with the fanny pack's fell trough. I'm sorry to say we can't wear them at the Brief tomorrow, I know Peter was really excited that we wear them as a team. But... the good news is, I got a hold of my cousin in the middle-east and by thanksgiving zeromile be rollin deep...

CHANGE we can’t believe in!

Matching game : Find the Gotham typeface!

Vin Compaterro on the general fabric of society rotting before our eyes.

This is a hilarious observation sent in by Vin Comparetto who is being featured by Jenny and Lori in zer0mile.

I was in a skate shop today  perusing the video section and I overheard this conversation "So they asked me to watch the park cause they weren't done building it yet and I said sure I'll watch it (chuckle) and I watched it while cruising around it, it was awesome had the whole thing to myself,  i messed my uniform up pretty good but it was awesome, Yeah just set up that natural concepts deck oh sick you have there video I'll get that too." I look up from the counter and I see a fully uniformed cop gettting a new natural concepts board and video. I couldn't help but be surprised. I mean this guy was a cop, like a full on slightly chubby marine crew cut cop with a gun, fully supporting a clearly marijuana inspired company. Did he know? does he care? The more I thought about it the more grave it seemed. This was beyond a  dogs and cats living together scenario, it seemed that the general fabric of society was rotting before my eyes. Newtonian western society is clearly in its confused role bending final throws. Maybe I should have been shopping for a glock instead. My attempts at conversation in a gun store would sound just as suspect. "Yeah man this new glock is a sweet sidearm, can't wait to put some bullets in the clip and unload on some minorities, nice, pow pow yippe kay yay!"

Sama Update on Magazine Goodness

Was thinking about adding in a portion on dolls. Yah I know. Sue me okay? But I was thinking something would be really cool if I taught people how to do face ups in the magazine. I know its avant garde, but yah, it's something interesting I can explore and share my information out to the world. The other ideas I was thinking about was sewing and fashion design. Let me know what you guys think.

oh and this thought occurred to me. How bout having our party at the Mattie Silks House of Mirrors that is right next door to the Lodo's Bar and Grill here in Denver. What do you guys think? It used to be Colorado's most notorious Brothel House and has a lot of history! I think it would be a really awesome venue to have the party. Again let me know what is on your minds.

zero mile fanny packs

we should be getting these by Thursday.

pick a card

hi hi I Messed around with the business card concepts. Vote and let me know which one you like if any.

OMG! MYSPACE! LOLZ

www.myspace.com/zeromilemagazine

w0rd up.

Gonna CHOKE a BETCH

Is anyone else really overwhelmed with everything? I feel like being really emo right now, but OMG. I want to go Godzilla on something and raise a rampage! I want to scream till I cannot speak anymore! I want to cry! There is just WAY too much stuff to get done, not to mention my posts for the progress on this blog are being succumb by time and abyss because I have been fighting back disorganization from two classes I have and rather annoying pile of 'TO DO' list yelling at me! TO MUCH STUFF = EPIC DO NOT WANT! Why must due dates be up in the air? Why must there be a bunch of busy work in the way of the major important stuff? WHY WHY WHY!?

BEHOLD(!)

Magazine + School + Flod + Homework + Life + Classes + Foot + Computer + 15 Dolls + Strange obsession with the movie "The Duchess" + Lonliness + Economics / Voting + a very sad Serger and Sewing Machine + Lack of Happy Margarita Time with Cheesecake = Sama Wants ta' Choke a Betch.

Anyone else feel the same way? *cackles*

TNR Must go

So I have decided that I am completely fed up with Times New Roman. It has enjoyed its place in typographic history for far too long. It has been preferred by teachers, students, and everyone else too lazy to change the font when working in Word. I must admit I too have succumbed to its classic grace. I have found myself too lazy to change the font. But today I say no more! no longer shall I resort to it, instead I will take the time to choose something more enjoyable. I will persuade others to think outside the box, and teach them to admire the finer typefaces found all around. I will move all whom I encounter to explore alternatives that better represent their content.

All who agree, Join me in protest!

Hollywood

sigh.

Check our Laura Gilbert's latest pop culture creation: "The Zero Dollar Bill"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/07/AR2008100703150.html

Website?!?

Hey everyone,
So I hear we got a website? this is great news, I'm really excited to see this whole thing come to life. What is the web address?? can't wait to see what comes of it. Keep up the good work everyone!
Shane

What are the rules for stories?

Is our focus on Denver born and bred? or is it open to anything that passes through? I guess what I am asking is in the case of Modern Dog, are they fair game, because they are passing through Denver, or are they off limits because they are not from Denver? Thanks.

Hollywood

Our Psychic Twin

http://zer0mile.blogspot.com/

Should we interview this lady?

Its Your Time! Only You Can Do It!

This is Zer0Mile Managing Publisher Mr. Peter Miles Regenold Bergman checking in with my first foray into blog contributing & motivational typing.

The staff (at right) of this moving-target bi-annual have inspired the initiation of this entrepreneurial initiative with their capacity to DO MORE! We’re tasked as a “design studio” (AKA Advanced Type class at Metropolitan State College of Denver) with 19 distinct campaigns of collateral, mailers, brochures, and packaging for clients (both real and imagined). BUT we’re designers & artists & artist/designers who aren’t satisfied with merely making good client work. As creative people we want to invent information beholden only to our own intellectual curiosity and desire to create. 

So, we decided to REALLY & TOTALLY stress ourselves out by publishing a magazine!

Zer0Mile Senior Designer Joseph Marsh 

sitting behind my desk – talking on my phone.

The current staff will graduate on to better things in a mere two months. The incoming spring studio staff is undoubtedly a talented and smart group; but, the designers surrounding me now have knocked my socks off, folded them, and set them next to my shoes. So, in contemplating the Herculean task of concepting, naming, writing, photographing, designing, blogging, marketing, producing, and procuring the hosting and printing of a www and magazine in a mere 10 weeks, I looked at the faces around me – already slacking from the grind of client work– and decided to rally the posse to saddle – up to head out from Zer0Mile.

As we contemplate the short but steep climb ahead, I’d like to take this opportunity to pass along the my admiration for you all and the sage advice of our colleague Mr. Scott Surine. 

“Its your time! Only you can do it!”

Topics for the Magazine!

List your topics here for the magazine! If you are not an author just leave a comment here on this post and I will list you up here!

Sama - Cosplay and Denver!

Rebecca - ModernDog

Brenna - Introspective piece based on on carrion on the light rail tracks

Jennifer - covering/interviewing Vincent Camparetto in a collaborative spread

Lori - covering/interviewing Vincent Camparetto in a collaborative spread

Chad - "Ghosts on the Bricks"

Loni - I am looking into doing a spread on 238s Gallery which is said to be a "pioneer" of south of sixth art on Santa Fe. They have had really unique exhibitions displaying artwork on items such as helmets ("Helmet Show"), bowling pins, roller-skates and skateboards. The gallery focuses on Denver art and supports local Denver music (having bands like Judge Roughneck play at openings). Alternatively (or perhaps in conjunction with) I am considering focusing specifically on Jesse's art show coming up this November (he is part of 238s Gallery). I have already talked to him about an interview and he is willing and very excited to be a part of our magazine.

Shane - Still figuring things out?

Hello!

Just wanted to drop a quick line on the blog and let everyone know I'm starting my research for my "Ghost Brick" story. If you recall, this is the one regarding the old ad paintings on the sides of buildings in and around downtown Denver.  If anyone can think of where more of these are located ( I know of about 3 around 17th and stout and 1 on Broadway) feel free to drop me a line at c.menard@comcast.net. Thanks!

DAY TWO - The Big Topic!

THE BIG TOPIC – THE EL HEFE’S COME UP WITH THE TOPIC

Our editors have been working really hard in trying to organize everything and get stuff all set up to really start working hard on the magazine. They decided that they want to have Denver thirty percent, a filter, and the future of Denver thirty percent in regards to the content of the magazine.

They asked questions like:

• How people want to be perceived?
• What does culture mean in Denver?
• What is the national scene?
• What is happening in Denver?

People don't want this be about New York, but a being within itself. I beg to differ with that concept, but I think it should become its own entity similar to the lifestyle of New York. Denver should be Denver. The magazine itself is going to be something to push Denver to the edge instead of pushing it over the edge. We don't want Denver to be a cow-town anymore...We want it to change and become it's own entity. They want the magazine to be something that is generational, showing the changes in Denver with each issue the future classes that take on this project go with. The editors made it clear that they want the age group to target 18-35; a younger age group reflection. They also pointed out that they want to have a magazine that pushes the point that it is no longer an old cow-town, but a new urban expansion; something that reflects the present ideals of this city.

They did mention the idea of trying to reflect the Westword, but to definitely not have it a magazine that would be tossed to the side or read only on the bus. They want it sophisticated and something that people would want to continue to deter to it for inspiration or to read over and over again. This magazine...IS DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE 5280. Move over 5280, our magazine is going to rock this world.

What’s in between past and future? This magazine should always be moving into the future. Interesting thing bout this mag. is that the class can compare and contrast the past ten years ago; stuff like that. This should show how Denver has continued to move and go forward in time.

Culture - What is the focu? Maybe it should be the focus of the particular magazines that show people that we are producing stuff on an international level. We need to show Denver its own talent. Whats going on? The focus of the Denver art scene and how its more broader now… a cultural sense and worth mentioning to the public. We want culture as much as we can get. Culture is a broad term too, however. The younger and different demographic should be able to get excited about this magazine. The magazine is also about showing the unknown, the underground so to speak that doesn't get the credence it usually does! It's about Denver and everything cultural.

Is it a conflict of interest talking about the past? The contrast is important? We want to keep it open; keep the past, but can change it later. We want to show this interesting contrast. Thirty percent is an average, it's not set in stone. This is a framework…and not all over the place, but with somewhere to go with it.

What is the criteria? Anything that relates to Denver and its culture. Basic premise…can we market this? I certainly think we can! I already have tons of people that are excited to see it, or even be involved and inserted into the magazine/website. PLEASE EVERYONE; DO NOT OVERLOOK THE WEBSITE! This is going to be an amazing project.

Through the chaos , I made an effort to go and sit in on the head editors meeting to figure out a name for the magazine.

• O Magazine…
• I seriously hope this is a JOKE... >_>

• Deviate
• Um...
  

• Detour
  
• already a magazine

• Depart
• boring...not to mention loaded.

• Revolve
  
• already a mag. , and SAD DAY! I like this one! D:

• Transition
• Already magazine, and kind of expected.

• Switch
  
• Adam didn't like it, I think it's pretty cool

The consensus with everyone was that the name should follow the concept, but kind of hard to manage that.

Oh god kill me NAO(!) So STRESSFUL(!)

CREATIVE DIRECTORS AND DESIGNERS - THE LOOK OF THE MAG

They want: bright colors, saturation, illustrative, hand written type. If the name was Switch they were suggestion a two side issue. Going with the boundaries of the two sided. THANK GOD FOR THE DESIGNERS! :D They are coming up with some really cool stuff!

Something different. Horizontal versus the vertical layout. ? Hmmm… It sounds interesting enough for me!

They want two fronts… NO back; Past and Future? YAY for the illustration also being integrated into this project as well! Expressive about culture and us and who (WE) are…the illustration beings in the personal human element…hand rendering goodness. EPIC FOR THE WIN <3 :3

The magazines that with every year things change:
The general focus changes the identity, but everything else changes and that is a different take. GO WITH SWITCH DARLINGS GOO GOOOO GOOOOOOO!

AESTHEITIC’

• Bright saturated color
  
• Photo + Illustration
• Personally interesting. Not another art magazine.

ARTICLE DEADLINE? Schedule… coming up with stuff

RANDOMNESS GOBBLETEY GOOK

• Marketing wants a site REALLY fast...WE ARE WORKING ON IT SHANE! WE PROMISE! <3
• Articles set the tone
• There can be collaborative spreads...DING!@ Anyone doing that?
  
• We are figuring what we are doing. FINALS WEEK FOR PRESS(!)

That's about it on all the details and information so far!

Sincerely,
T3h Jami3Sama, Aka Sama Williams

DAY ONE – What's Up People?

The first day of brainstorming and getting to know everyone in their positions was an interesting endeavor. I tried to make it around to everyone, since it is my job to know who’s doing what, and what’s going on, but I did feel overwhelmed with everything. So with that being said I was able to get around to mostly everyone and started to establish relationships in regards to how the magazine was going and the directions.

The designers, typographer, and the layout team worked really hard to figure out an identity. Jeff joked saying that the mag. would be in comic sans. If you’re not a designer it won’t be funny to you, but really it made me laugh hardcore.

After a while I meandered my way towards where the editors were and snuck in on what the magazine was going to be called and reflect. The consensus was that the magazine was going to deal with art in Denver and it’s culture. Names like “De Rail” or “Depart” came up for titles; both of which, in my opinion are slightly cheesy, but we will see what happens!

Everyone seemed to be talking with everyone chatting and getting to know one another and what not. Shane and I helped with titles. Shane suggested “Dart” which I freaking love to death, but our “El Hefe” didn’t say much about it. I still think we should go with it, but its very very unlikely. Personally I think any title we pick is going to be loaded in one way or the other. Including “Denver” in some way or form in the name is a little obvious and expected. My mind is abstract so it comes up with stuff all the time and how things can be loaded. So we shall see what comes of this awesomely LARGE project.

Sincerely,
Sama Williams, AKA Jamiesama