Fonts Fonts Fonts

For most of us the default Windows or Mac fonts are sufficient to get our day-to-day work done, however for some we need MORE! For these there are some wonderful FREE resources available for expanding and managing a font library.

Our computers are optimized to work with and manage the fonts that come installed on them and while it is possible to add additional fonts to our systems doing so can be a confusing experience. Additionally, if you begin adding too many additional fonts to your computer it can begin to drastically effect your computers performance, especially when launching applications like Word, Photoshop, Publisher, PowerPoint, etc. This is due to the fact that your system is attempting to analyze and cache each font you have installed for use in the application you are launching. Luckily there is a better way to manage a larger font collection.

There are numerous commercial and shareware font management applications available for both Mac and PC, however there are few FREE ones. Among these many get the job done but their use can be confusing and complicated. In a perfect world there would be an option available that gets the job done simply and cheaply. Although the world is not perfect yet, it is a little closer to being so thanks to FontExplorer X. FontExplorer X is a FREE application and allows you to manage large font collections, instantly activate and deactivate fonts, automatically activate fonts needed by a specific document if it exists on your system, and much more. It is a beautiful application and it can flex as much muscle as you need for managing a couple hundred or a couple thousand fonts.

Once you have a font management plan you can begin searching the web for free fonts. I found a GREAT collection of 500 FREE fonts online this weekend. Most of these are pretty good and some are outstanding. I would suggest you start your new collection with these courtesy of fonts500.com.

Once you have the fonts expanded to your hard drive simply drag-and-drop or import them to FontExplorer X. They are now installed and ready for use. I would highly recommend taking the time or organize your fonts into a few descriptive categories.

Doing this will allow you to quickly browse a specific category for the perfect font you may be needing. I would suggest descriptive names such as calligraphy, decorative, dingbats, handwritten, modern, grungy, script, etc. The main point is determining some categories that work and communicate to you. It may take a little time (or a lot of time) depending on the size of your font collection however the benefits down the road are worth it!

Two final pieces of advice for working with fonts. 1) Always ZIP fonts, even if it is a single font, when transferring or emailing a font. Fonts are very prone to corruption and keeping them ZIPPED when transferring will help prevent this. 2) Always keep a backup of your fonts on CD in ZIP format. They day will come when you need a specific font that you used to have which now you can't find anywhere. CD backups will make you very happy if you have them.

Happy fonting!

Praying For The Pieropractor

This last weekend I took a little trip with Brian and Nathaniel on our motorcycles to Daranak and Batlag falls near Tanay Philippines. It was such a nice, hot summer day to be taking a morning ride along the beautiful winding roads around Lake Laguna and as the day heated up the destination of a beautiful falls with cool refreshing pools sounded better and better.

Daranak falls is a really popular place since it is within 2 hours of Manila and yet feels worlds away as it is nestled on the edge of the mountains and surrounded by lush forest. As we arrived in the parking lot it was quickly apparent that we were not the only ones with the great idea of taking a swim to cool off. As soon as we got off our bikes we were met by a guy offering to show us where to park and to keep an "eye" on our helmets. While he was at it he gave us a peak at the pies he was selling. They did look good but at that moment all I wanted was to get in the water.

We paid our P20 entrance fee and began picking our way across the bamboo bridges and through the masses of picnic parties. Daranak falls was packed with swimmers and there was barely a place to set our bags down so we went up stream to Batlag falls which is often a quieter place probably due to a second P20 entrance fee. Once we arrived we knew we made the right choice. We were quickly swimming and having a great time.

After a couple hours we were just getting ready to go when we see the pie vendor going from picnic group to picnic group selling his pies. He was a young, friendly guy and had some really delicious pies so it was not surprising when he told us he walked up with 25 pies and sold them all. He did reassure us that he had more in the parking lot for us.

We walked back down the mountain with him, chatting along the way, and found out his name is Timothy John and that he is a Chiropractor but selling pies is his sideline. He hopes to go to the States and have a practice some day. He offered to give us a free adjustment in the parking lot and he informed us there was no need to a stethoscope. I think that is what he was saying.

We declined the adjustment but I did get 2 pies from him to share with our church group that night. After this he said, "So are you guys Christian?" I told him we were and he asked what church we were with. He said he had grown up being Catholic but lately had been in a Mormon church and most recently a Baptist church. He said he is not Christian but is really searching ... these are HIS words! Sometimes it really is amazing how God will serve us up divine appointments on a silver platter. We had a brief talk about how simple faith and Christianity is — Jesus is the only thing that matters. No need for the performances or added complications, it's just about His grace and experiencing God's fullness of life in Salvation. After eagerly listening Timothy John (the pieropractor) suggested that we pray - of course ;-) We prayed with Timothy, God came and showered His grace on him and we parted knowing something really special had happened.

All-in-all it was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday. God is SO good and life with Him is the ONLY way to go. Again I am humbled and blessed to be a son of God and in His service.