Slashdot Mirror


US Govt Makes Times New Roman 14 Official Font

pollux03 writes "According to ABC news, 'In an internal memorandum distributed on Wednesday, the department declared "Courier New 12" - the font and size decreed for US diplomatic documents for years - to be obsolete and unacceptable after February 1. "In response to many requests and with a view to making our written work easier to read, we are moving to a new standard font: 'Times New Roman 14'," said the memorandum. ' The report goes on to cite a few exceptions to the rule including official telegraphs."

23 of 811 comments (clear)

  1. Exceptions by Joe+U · · Score: 5, Funny

    There are only three exceptions to the draconian new typographical rules: telegrams, treaty materials prepared by the State Department's legal affairs office and documents drawn up for the president's signature, it said.

    As those will all be done in the MS Comic Font.

    1. Re:Exceptions by Drathus · · Score: 5, Funny

      Don't forget about the "Super Secret" communications.

      'Encrypted "Super Secret" communications will be done with Wingdings 16'

    2. Re:Exceptions by Anonymous+Custard · · Score: 5, Funny

      Don't forget about the "Super Secret" communications. 'Encrypted "Super Secret" communications will be done with Wingdings 16'

      This message is in violation of the DMCA for circumventing encryption techniques.

    3. Re:Exceptions by dasmegabyte · · Score: 4, Funny

      And all documents from the Department of Homeland Security should be formatted in 16 point "Spooky" font. Preferrably in red.

      --
      Hey freaks: now you're ju
    4. Re:Exceptions by Jim_Maryland · · Score: 5, Funny
      I think the color for DHS will be different depending on the document importance:

      Regular - Green

      Limited Distribution - Blue

      Post-It Notes - Yellow

      Secret - Orange

      Top Secret - Red

  2. Damn. by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 5, Funny

    I had my money on 20 point Dingbat.

    --

    Obliteracy: Words with explosions

    1. Re:Damn. by buckinm · · Score: 5, Funny

      Only if Dean gets elected.

      --
      This isn't any ordinary darkness. It's advanced darkness.
    2. Re:Damn. by Tassach · · Score: 5, Funny

      The 20 point dingbat, with any luck, will be voted out of office this November.

      --
      Why is it that the proponents of "one nation under God" are so eager to get rid of "liberty and justice for all"?
  3. Times New Roman? Yuck. by adamvjackson · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would think Verdana or Tahoma would be a much better solution. Times New Roman is SOOO Windows 3.1! :)

  4. How appropriate by jxs2151 · · Score: 5, Funny
    "...are moving to a new standard font: 'Times New Roman..."

    How appropriate since we are apparently the New Rome .

  5. The real reason by ArcticPuppy · · Score: 5, Funny

    The word "Oil" is often misintepreted as "Weapons of Mass Destruction" when written in Courier New 12.

    1. Re:The real reason by Zeinfeld · · Score: 5, Funny
      The word "Oil" is often misintepreted as "Weapons of Mass Destruction" when written in Courier New 12.

      Ever wondered why the Bushies did not use the name 'Operation Iraqi Liberation'?

      --
      Looking for an Information Security student project suggestion?
      Try http://dotcrimeManifesto.com/
  6. Re:Yeah, nice use of taxdollars. by Wateshay · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's a jobs program, to help out all of the unemployed fontographers, put out of work by the dot-com bust.

    --

    "If English was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for everyone else."

  7. Re:14 point? by SILIZIUMM · · Score: 4, Funny

    Old guys don't see very well anymore.

  8. Telegrams? by illuminatedwax · · Score: 5, Funny
    There are only three exceptions to the draconian new typographical rules: telegrams

    Telegrams?! They still use telegrams? If so, where can I still send one from? I'm sure a telegram to a Senator might get more attention than a letter and certainly more than an email. Plus sending telegrams sounds cool.

    --Stephen

    --
    Did you ever notice that *nix doesn't even cover Linux?
  9. This just in. by jghiloni · · Score: 5, Funny

    In related news, the US Government changes the official resolution of all desktops to 640x480, 256 colors.

  10. Re:14 point? by MarkGriz · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Re:14 point? why so big? isn't 10 the default standard for most written communication?"

    Most likely aggressive lobbying by the pulp and paper industry.

    --
    Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
  11. Re:Telegrams? by Chagatai · · Score: 4, Funny
    Telegrams would also have more of an impact because of the use of "STOP" to terminate lines of messages.

    Dear Senator. STOP.
    Please consider the following things that should be changed. STOP.
    -The RIAA. STOP.
    -Microsoft. STOP.
    -The war in Iraq. STOP.
    -The Patriot Act. STOP. No, stop. STOP. I mean seriously, stop it now. STOP.

    --
    --Chag
  12. And in Related News... by fuzzybunny · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...the department of homeland security recently adopted Zapf Dingbats as its official font.

    Should clear up their communiques a bit.

    --
    Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage
  13. Not Garamond? by MuParadigm · · Score: 5, Funny


    Times New Roman instead Garamond? What were those aesthetically clueless dingbats thinking?

    That's it. I've completely lost faith in our government, and political processes in general. If they can't ascertain Garamond's clear superiority to TNR, well, they'll just have to impeached, that's all.

    And sent for serious rehabilitation. And re-training, with those methods used for de-programming cult victims.

    I mean, seriously, TNR over Garamond? I ask you...

  14. One thing that they forgot to mention... by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that all US government reports now have to have to be accompanied by "the correct cover sheet". Oh, and all White House press conferences must have at least "fifteen pieces of flair".

    --

    "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
  15. Dubya by hellfire · · Score: 4, Funny

    The 20 point dingbat is actually running the country, so maybe you should collect on your bet.

    --

    "All great wisdom is contained in .signature files"

  16. Re:i was ahead of my time, when i worked for DoD!! by tverbeek · · Score: 4, Funny

    How did he respond to your suggestion that lowercase letters at the beginning of sentences and for the pronoun "I" should be acceptable?

    --
    http://alternatives.rzero.com/