It's 9:30 AM here on the east coast, and by now you've probably seen a dozen ads some of which used the font Helvetica. Well, believe it or not, Helvetica turns 50 years old this year!

What? You've never had a font that you've really liked? Helvetica isn't my favorite, but those who do defend its honor do so with good reason.

The sans serif type with the clean geometric lines has become pseudonymous with business efficiency -- it's the font you use if you don't want anyone to notice the font. It may not be the most stylish font, but it's possibly the most unobtrusive -- and as far as longevity goes, not being the new rage type counts for a lot. (News flash: your days are numbered, Kate Moss font!)