Slog
News & ArtsThursday, September 15, 2011
At Large Save Me, Texas!
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Sep 15, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Walking through DFW the other day this backlit advertisement caught my eye. Um. Is it just me or does this sploogy thing...
...look like it spells out "Jesus"? I swear to God that I thought it said "Jesus" as I walked on by. I stopped, took in the whole backlit thing for a second and thought, "What on earth does that cowboy have to do with Jesus?" A split second later I realized that what it said was "Texas." Am I an idiot? Was I having a mini-stroke? Or did they do it on purpose?
6
You see what you want to see, Dan.
Deep down, you know it is time to embrace Jesus Christ as your personal savior. Repent! REPENT!
Deep down, you know it is time to embrace Jesus Christ as your personal savior. Repent! REPENT!
7
Actually, that's pretty clever, as much as I don't like being reminded that christians exist at all, the way they did that was creative. Once in a while the religious nuts do show a hint of creativity.
9
That's actually a font called "Texas Hero," based on the handwriting of Thomas J. Rusk, a prominent political and military figure in the days of the Republic of Texas.
It's a pretty font, but damn near useless for its lack of legibility. And for some reason it's microscopic at a point size that any other font would be legible in.
I still keep it around though, because I know that someday I'm going to find the perfect use for it and it's going to look awesome. Free download at texashero dot com.
It's a pretty font, but damn near useless for its lack of legibility. And for some reason it's microscopic at a point size that any other font would be legible in.
I still keep it around though, because I know that someday I'm going to find the perfect use for it and it's going to look awesome. Free download at texashero dot com.
12
Of course they did it on purpose--the purpose being to give Dan Savage a mini-stroke! It's a conspiracy!
16
I don't see it at all. Eye of the beholder, I guess. Like the old joke about the granny who called the police to complain about kids walking past her window whistling dirty songs.
17
Jesus v. Texas fits a pattern wherein either two-syllable word may replace the other and render a lyric still sensible:
"The yellow rose of Jesus..."
"The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Jesus..."
"Texas loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so..."
Executioneer Rick Perry's campaign theme song could
be: "What a fiend we have in Texas..."
"The yellow rose of Jesus..."
"The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Jesus..."
"Texas loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so..."
Executioneer Rick Perry's campaign theme song could
be: "What a fiend we have in Texas..."
20
This is exactly why I have a love/hate relationship with fonts. There are so many cool looking fonts out there that are borderline illegible. They look fun or interesting or really fit a theme... but you can't read it well. Or there are at least a few letters that are confusing. Ug! It drives me crazy.
I'm sure this font was designed to look like rustic handwriting, but yeah, that T looks like a J to me too, and the x is downright terrible and could be anything.
I'm sure this font was designed to look like rustic handwriting, but yeah, that T looks like a J to me too, and the x is downright terrible and could be anything.
21
Heh. Somma you folks ought to take a drive through our country roads and see the signs for the Cowboy Churches. Yep. Right out in the open like that, cowboy church, with a huge billboard of a guy riding a bronc and waving his hat. What this has to do with jayzus, I have no idea, but I'm certain people go to them and toss enough in the collection plate for them big ugly signs.
24
@20 Well, that's actually the "correct" stroke direction for cursive, hand written script font, they use to teach that stuff in school, how to dress up handwriting instead of padding resumes and such. It's concept is not to lift the pen, so all crossings are replaced with sweeps and bounces. It's still fun to use sometimes, trips people out, they think it's a whole different language.
26
Reminds me of a jar of Orange Curd I saw once a long, long time ago. They used a frilly font like that, and the C looked an awful lot like a T. It's one of my favorite things I've ever seen.
27
humm actually i first read "Jecas", and no, it wasn´t on purpose, it´s just a miserably poor usage of typography, wich is all more common with the epidemic of ill prepared graphic designers this days. On a side note "jecas" in my mothertongue, brazilian portuguese makes an hysterically funny relation with texas: it would be the plural for the word meaning something like a redneck....
28
I didn't see Jesus, but then I wasn't looking for him either. Perhaps, Dan, you're being summoned by God for a higher purpose. You know, like John Denver in that 70's movie "Oh God". I don't think God looks like George Burns anymore though, probably more like Ashton Kucher, since God's trying to grab your attention. I hope, for your sake, he's hung like George Burns, I hear he was packing some serious luggage.
29
I saw Jesus, but someone pointed out that it's based on a historical figures handwriting, so probably a coincidence.
30
I saw Texas. No you aren't an idiot. I'm inclined to think that we can become sensitive to things that have been used against us in any way. You're someone who has had a negative experience with some Christians so part of you is on guard, especially being in the "Bible Belt." Just like I recoil when people playfully swat at me, because I've been clocked too many times to count. We aren't consciously trying to be sensitive, but we are at a level for defense purposes. Or sometimes we are sensitive because a topic has been on our mind. Just a thought.
33
@28 --- My search for George Burns' penis turned-up nothing (on Google, that is). I believe you're thinking of Milton Berle.
34
@30 It is sad that everyone "like" someone else inherits all the negativity others have "like" them have displayed. I was raised by a Mormon mother ... most of what I saw was hypocrisy and lies, but there are a few good ones out there. I myself use to be guilty of painting all things christian as evil, so we are all capable of changing for the better, it may be just a dream but someday the haters of every group will see, they're not all bad or even the same. PS: I'm not Mormon or even christian anymore myself. ;)
37
Kids these days have a hell of a time reading cursive (not being taught anymore in school).
I saw Jesus, and said WTH.
And I think @22's comment wins ;-)
I saw Jesus, and said WTH.
And I think @22's comment wins ;-)
39
@37 It's odd, we have gotten so use to the standard computer fonts that I didn't even notice that fewer people know what cursive even is. I think there are some schools that still teach it, just not sure it's sticking anymore.
40
Yeah, things move on. Previous generations can read cursive, current and future ones, 733t. But I remember reading about a kid (by which I mean about 17-20 ish) who wanted to read her grandmother's diary, but couldn't understand the script.
41
I didn't see either. I saw "Jecas". If my typography instructor saw that he would Hulk-out and throw a bar stool thorough that thing...
42
I have to go home and jack off seeing if I can spell Jesus or Texas with my load.
YIPPEE!!! Plans tonight!!!
YIPPEE!!! Plans tonight!!!
44
30
interesting.
so Dan was scarred by his Catholic upbringing
and turned into a bigoted arrogant asshole?
do you think digging up his mother's body
and burning it
would help excise the demons?
interesting.
so Dan was scarred by his Catholic upbringing
and turned into a bigoted arrogant asshole?
do you think digging up his mother's body
and burning it
would help excise the demons?
45
I saw Jesus first, then I thought it was Arabic, then I saw Texas.
Also I assumed DFW meant David Foster Wallace at first, and walking through him didn't make any sense.
Also I assumed DFW meant David Foster Wallace at first, and walking through him didn't make any sense.
46
43
stfu.
you are not an idiot, Dan.
and you did not have a mini-stroke....
it's the syphilis.
once it gets to the brain hallucinations are common.
quit skipping your meds....
stfu.
you are not an idiot, Dan.
and you did not have a mini-stroke....
it's the syphilis.
once it gets to the brain hallucinations are common.
quit skipping your meds....
47
I saw "Tecas"; I still see "Tecas". I can see how you might think "Jesus", but the "x" is a fucking stretch. Definitely on purpose, bad purpose.
@22: I'm quite literally LOL in response while I type this; thx. :-)
@41: Awesome; I think our design people here would either *facepalm* or orgasm, depending on their theory perspectives.
@22: I'm quite literally LOL in response while I type this; thx. :-)
@41: Awesome; I think our design people here would either *facepalm* or orgasm, depending on their theory perspectives.
49
I definitely saw "Texas" but I basically never look for Jesus, so there's that.
But yeah, as a Texan, and as someone who knows Dallas pretty well... I'm not gonna say they necessarily set out to do that, but they probably noticed the similarity, accentuated it, and ran with it.
Gross. What presumptuous assholes.
But yeah, as a Texan, and as someone who knows Dallas pretty well... I'm not gonna say they necessarily set out to do that, but they probably noticed the similarity, accentuated it, and ran with it.
Gross. What presumptuous assholes.
53
Seconding @51, you've done some brilliant research there, tehjakers. I did not know there was a font based on the handwriting of a Republic of Texas brigadier general/secretary of war/supreme court chief justice/university founder/cancer victim/suicide. But I guess a Texas tourist ad would be the place to see it first. Huh.
54
51
53
if you morons read @9 you would have found your own enlightenment and not looked like boobs
53
if you morons read @9 you would have found your own enlightenment and not looked like boobs
56
For everyone trying to see Jesus, the trick is to unexpectedly jerk your head around to where you were not looking. You might catch a glimpse before His captors can hide Him.
57
My first thought was, "Why is Dan posting a picture of sign saying Jesus?" Reading the post further, when I realized it wasn't supposed to say Jesus, I stopped and looked at it again and couldn't make out any other word. Upon learning it was supposed to say Texas, I was surprised. I think it's intentional.
59
@54, 55 So skipping unregistered comments is the mark of a moron, a real boob move? Might it perhaps be an indicator of, say, having a life, instead? Or preferring to skip the trolls? No, I'm sure you're right: it indicates much more about intelligence than anything else.
The irony of Kitten calling someone else a moron might be amusing if it weren't so on-the-nose obvious.
The irony of Kitten calling someone else a moron might be amusing if it weren't so on-the-nose obvious.
60
I can definitely see that the word might easily be mistaken for Jesus.
I suspect, though, that they're taken the word Texas from an old document (19th-century, maybe) and turned it into a graphic. The handwriting looks very much like handwriting from that period.
I suspect, though, that they're taken the word Texas from an old document (19th-century, maybe) and turned it into a graphic. The handwriting looks very much like handwriting from that period.
61
Saw Jesus initially. Took some time to figure out that it was actually Texas. You're not crazy at all.
63
You can't complain that Texans are in-your-face about Jesus and then accuse them of using some kind of subliminal advertising.
It's one or the other. Pick one.
It's one or the other. Pick one.
66
More importantly, why were you in DFW? (I had to double-check the facebook events list to make sure I hadn't missed something.) Or, by "DFW," did you mean that you just came through our airport?
I'm sure these questions will go forever unanswered, but I had to wonder out loud.
I'm sure these questions will go forever unanswered, but I had to wonder out loud.
67
I am suitably chastised and shall hereafter devote myself full-time to reading comment blather on Slog. Especially the usually creepy and/or racist unregistered stuff.
68
@67 I wouldn't have worded so impolitely as they did, but yeah, sometimes it helps to browse through the unregistered ones.
69
@59: I can unequivocally state that skipping the unregistered comments is being retarded. There are tons of registered trolls, and most of the unregistered comments are real ones. When significant discussion is going on in the unregistered comments, and you don't read them and just jump in the thread ignorant of part of the conversation, yes, it is the act of an idiot.
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