TO ALL WHO READ THIS: My dad’s a little under the weather back in Michigan and if you could just think about him just a bit today, well, I sure would appreciate it.

Here’s a little inspiration to get you going.

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SOME RIFFIN’ ON THE SIGN ABOVE: I’m not too much a of a “BBQ Man.” Something about the meat being so close to the bone and all that. Weird. Anyhoo, this sign hit me in the face like a coldcocked suckerpunch. EVERY SINGLE PART of the thing is GOOD. Look at that “and” with it’s underline! Look at that ampersand! Don’t even get me going on the “icing” of the “Cold Beer To Go,” let alone the elegant fleurish-ish serifs on the “Jimmy” and “D’s”….

This is the kind of stuff that we savor. So today, I have to make a bunch of ads for a snowboarding binding company. Frankly, it’ll have nothing to do with this old sign, but, we’re crossing our fingers that the care, craft and general greatness of that old example guides us in our daily typographic battles. Our hope.

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THERE GOES THE DAY, PEOPLE: My dad’s name is “Jim.” And a couple days back I was lucky enough become digital pals with the folks behind the INCREDIBLE “Sky Vu” Flickr empire. (Be careful clicking that link. It could fuck you up so bad. Serious. Derailer warning!)

Here’s a collection of “Jim Joints” for my dad. Get better, and soon, man. That Goddamned Yardsale is coming up, and we need you there hungry, mean and awesome.

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ANOTHER ONE FOR MY DAD: The ever-amazing Mark Simonson has a Flickr set called, “The Golden Age of Chrome” and we’re here to tell you that you shouldn’t pass it up.

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FROM VIN: A dachshund lamp, and yeah, it comes in orange. This stuff is getting out of hand. The Dachshund: “The King of the Breeds.” Goddamnit, Gary.

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THE KIND OF STUFF THAT KEEPS US GOING: The World’s Fast Banjo Player over at Raise Hell, Drink Beer. Just what I needed.