Nicole Meyer got a great write-up in Fast Co. Design today about her amazing design project Branding 10,000 Lakes.

Every time I visit that site (pretty much daily at this point), I wish not only that I had her chops—especially with type and identity—but also that I had that kind of discipline, or even just such a simple, enduring, satisfying project with which to hone my craft. Even within Meyer’s few months’ work—on what could end up a 27 year project—you can already see changes in her skill and creativity and approach.

Certainly a project that’s had me thinking. And of I course I love its Minnesotanness.

Maria Bustillos gets to the bottom of some things I’ve been pondering a lot lately, regarding progressive elitism and this ridiculous assumption that theirs is the party of intellect.

“You’d think if Republicans were so dumb it would be child’s play for the brainy Democrats to bamboozle them into passing some useful legislation, but this turns out to be well-nigh impossible.”

It’s just one of a thousand excellent points in the article. I especially like that it leverages The Daily Show’s glibness against itself—and Bustillos really nails it when it comes to the caliber of Stewart’s recent commentary on Rick Perry (and the current slate of Republicans in general): It’s really, really weak.

Why pretend they’re stupid when they’re not? Low-hanging fruit aside, it just leads to exactly the kind of divisiveness Stewart (and his many supporters) have railed against in the past—and, I’d imagine, an overall distaste for progressive candidates by those independents who perceive Stewart’s point of view as elitist.

“There is a way to arrive at common ground, provided we can maintain just basic respect for the integrity of the other side. But we’re never going to get to that so long as opinion leaders like Stewart continue to take every cheap shot that comes their way. If progressives are the tolerant ones, by gum, then let them start toleratin’.”

It’s just a really great, thoughtful piece to consider—as both a Daily Show fan, and a Rick Perry detractor.