Do Not Adjust Your Sets - Ford Field is Purple

Do you know who Charlie Coffin, Ken Davidson and Jason Meister are? Until this morning, neither did I. But as I'm watching highlights of the Giants-Vikings game, played last night at Detroit's Ford Field as a result of the Metrodome in Minneapolis collapsing under snow, I'm impressed with what those guys did. This was to be a home game for Minnessota, but Sunday it was determined that the game would have to be played in Detroit, and Detroit rolled out the purple carpet to make it seem like home for the Vikings.

I'm guessing the three gentlemen named in the opening paragraph are responsible for the quickest transformation of a football field ever. They make up the groundskeeping crew at Ford Field. Gone was the blue lion in profile at midfield, replaced by the Viking mascot. The end zones now displayed the Vikings script.

Now I know many college teams share a field with a pro team, but those logo packages and field graphics that are swapped out between a Saturday college game and a Sunday pro game are stored in the back somewhere, easy to roll out and replace. They've got the templates for spray-painting memorized. Charlie and his crew had to make Detroit look like Minneapolis in 24 hours, and they did an excellent job. I'm guessing they worked closely with Minnesota's groundskeeping crew. The technical crew was involved as well, with the Detroit scoreboard and sound system loaded with Minnesota graphics and songs.

The stadium transformation did not sit well with many Detroit fans, as they are age-old rivals with the purple ones. They need to shut up. A rival city lost it's stadium and Detroit opened theirs. This was a very kind gesture on the part of a city that has been beyond down on its luck, a city with a football team as poor as its recovery prospects. I'm sure there's a lesson or two in there somewhere.

Nice job, Detroit.

Is it Raygun Gothic or Streamline Moderne?

Does it matter? It's cool, that's all I know.


New readers may not remember the Design Within Reach Airstream I posted about long ago, but I've found a blog by a couple who own one. I think they are tired of their Airstream. I think they want to give me their Airstream. (Jedi mind trick.)

Meet Martin and Kate. He's a Mac computer consultant, website/blog designer and digital photographer. She's a writer, website/blog designer and SEO/marketing specialist. (Don't hold it against Mrs. Thomas that she dabbles in the SEO magic, but there is a recovery program for that I'd recommend.) Kate and Martin make their home in Minneapolis, "Where the Beer is Warm and the People are Warmer." OK, that's not really Minneapolis' slogan. Hold please while I look that up.....(hold music)...thank you for waiting...(hold music)...Well, the CVB wants you to "Meet Minneapolis" while the official city website greets visitors with "Minneapolis: A Premier Destination." I'd go with my suggestion, City Fathers (and Mothers).

As more and more of us get kicked out of our homes, this cool little trailer may be the way to go.

Incidentally, Mini is trying to get in on the Airstream act with this completely dysfunctional model that has been gutted by some furniture designer who wears black every day and always crosses his legs in that weird way while saying "ummmmhmmmmm" and never smiling, his hand on his chin. His Airstream for Mini is now just a giant living room, no bath, bed or galley. Stylish. And lame.


The happy couple from Minnesota with the awesome trailer took it for a long haul back in March. They need to post more often.