Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Something/Someone Old
My Something Old today is Mel Blanc. An amazing talent. We've got some great voice actors in this country, but it's possible we will not see Blanc's like again.
If anybody doesn't know, Blanc voiced over 400 different voices, most famously Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Foghorn Leghorn, and Yosemite Sam. Most of us grew up with his voice.
One amazing story about Mel Blanc is that, when he was in a coma, addressing him by the names of his characters was what woke him up:
On January 24, 1961, Blanc was involved in a near-fatal car accident. He was driving alone when his sports car collided head-on with a car driven by 18-year-old college student Arthur Rolston on Sunset Boulevard.[18] Rolston suffered minor injuries, but Blanc was rushed to the UCLA Medical Center with a triple skull fracture that left him in a coma for two weeks, along with sustaining fractures to both legs and the pelvis.[19] About two weeks after the accident, one of Blanc's neurologists tried a different approach. Blanc was asked, "How are you feeling today, Bugs Bunny?" After a slight pause, Blanc answered, in a weak voice, "Eh... just fine, Doc. How are you?"[8] The doctor then asked Tweety if he was there, too. "I tot I taw a puddy tat," was the reply.[20][21]
Here's some old footage of Blanc. The quality isn't great, but it's worth it. This is from the David Letterman show, in 1981:
I'm so privileged to have been one of the three generations of children who grew up listening to him.
Jack Benny gave him his big break. So thanks to Jack Benny too.
One weird note--Blanc started off as an orchestra conductor!
In related news, Bob Givens, one of the lead animators who designed Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, died at 99 last week.
Something New
My Something New this week is a new pausable real-time strategy game called They Are Billions. I bought it on early access, which is about as quickly as you can get it if you are not someone testing the game before general release. This is the first time I've done that. I was convinced by the amazing Let's Play videos I've watched on YouTube.
The basic idea is that you are the last human population in a world full of "infected"--people who have contracted the disease that makes you a zombie. Your job is to build a settlement and defend it from ever-increasing hordes of undead. If your colony lasts 100 days (or 80 days on high difficulty), you win. It's harder than you think.
This Let's Play is by my favorite game streamer, Marbozir. (I suggest going to full screen for the best viewing):
This is what the final zombie wave attack looks like. I had to find another streamer to show it to you, because Marbozir uploads his games in 30-40 minute segments--he doesn't post the final battle by itself:
I am mighty excited to play this game, but it's slow going. I'm playing on a very low difficulty, more like "They Are Dozens," because I've never played anything with this kind of interface before.
I hate learning a new interface.
Something Borrowed
We borrowed the word "lollipop" from the Romani. Some of these things you just can't make up, though there will be an even crazier etymological connection in weeks to come!
"Lollipop"--from the Romani phrase "loli phabai," meaning "red apple."
Something Blue
This happened in 2013:
A painting by New York abstract artist Barnett Newman sold for a record $43.8 million at Sotheby's last night.
Onement Vi, a 8.5ft by 10ft dark blue canvas with Newman's distinctive 'zip' running through the centre, was painted in 1953.
It is the last of six pieces the artist created for his Onement series. Four of the oil on canvas paintings are now owned by museums.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324723/Newman-abstract-painting...
Here's the painting:
I try to be nice, really I do, especially since I'm the type of person who likes Maxfield Parrish, which is usually enough to make you a laughingstock among the artistic cognoscenti. I know that it's (obviously) not just about what you paint, it's about how you paint: your command of technique. Probably this sort of painting is a bit like Japanese high cuisine, to those in the know: a very unadorned subject can show forth a chef's (or a painter's) artistry because there are no distractions. I get that. But still--
I really don't want all art to be realistic, or even readily comprehensible. But still--
It's part of a series, and sometimes viewing one piece out of the context of its series makes you lose a lot. So I looked at some others in the series:
I can't seem to find Onement IV.
I'm not being a total shit here. I believe he was really expressing something.
I guess I'm just not smart enough to get it.
Comments
I'll be more brave with my ignorance.
Barnett Newman got paid for quite well for repetitive, boring, strange color-combination large canvases. The blue canvas is better than the muddy ones. That is all. Imagine doing that (poorly) to a front door!
I saw my PCP who I had not seen since three hospitalizations ago. Multiple medication adjustments to try out. I can try to stop Mg and K supplements unless I note side effects and blood work will be done in 6 weeks' time. Major addition (or renewal) is adding back my antidepressant. That plus more incremental daylight may improve my mood. And functionality. I feel like I am firing on three cylinders. In a 4-stroke.
Friday's Nor'easter looks grim and I am on the western edge. Happy hump day!
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
@riverlover That is brave of you,
That is brave of you, riverlover. I'm loathe to judge any artist based on what s/he chooses to paint, because we all know there's a slippery slope there.
But still.
A line down the middle of a square of color?
If there's something I'm supposed to get out of that, I don't know what it is.
With Picasso (or Dali, who's doing something different, but is still not readily comprehensible), my brain has something to work on. Grist for its mill.
This doesn't give me much, if anything, to work with.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
As somebody with absolutely no formal art education or
training, I cannot help but wonder if the central stripe joins the two rectangles or separates them. And raggedy, can it be significant, with the hard outer perimeter and hence other 3 edges of each rectangle, that the central stripe is raggedy, unlike Mondrian's sharp, crisp lines?
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
@enhydra lutris I did wonder about
I did wonder about the ragged edge. That was the one thing my brain latched onto.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Aha! We are mostly somewhat art-educated
and many may have been subjected to Art History, a jumble of images over time. Perhaps instructed by someone with a college degree in Art. My husband, an architect by training, used to love those desultory arguments of art vs craft. Macrame was a craft. Oil painting (however bad) was an art. Acrylic painting? We never discussed that.
I still look at the panels you presented thinking of some housewife or designer thinking that those colors would 'maaaatch'.
How does one present a winglet designed and built by a son? How about one moose antler? My front door is red and needs re-painting Gloss not flat). The dog door into a side yard is industrial yellow. Yes, that dates me.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
@enhydra lutris I wonder what it says
I wonder what it says about me that I just assumed the line was part of one entity with the square, and divided it not at all?
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Actually
one of my undergrad degrees was in art history. To be honest, I do not remember a whole lot from those studies.
That said, I like all types of art, and do like abstracted pieces, particularly the works of Matisse from all of his eras. But I do have some problems understanding or getting into totally abstract work, even though we do have one completely non-representational painting in our home.
My mother is an artist and her paintings were all representational. I have dabbled in painting too and my paintings are all non-abstract. I know a local artist in NC who does both. Her abstract work sells commercially for offices, banks, and hotels. Her more representational work is what she markets to the general public.
I think art is what you see in it. Non-representational work requires the viewer to put his own take into what it means. Representational art can still challenge the viewer to find a meaning, like Dali's work which is technically incredible, but the meanings behind it are open to interpretation.
I do not always seek technical perfection as I love folk art which often has an energy and passion not found in any other form. I guess what I am saying, to each his own. The Barnett Newman painting (at least in a photograph) does not challenge me or reach out to me. Perhaps in person, there is something in the brush strokes or gradations of color that would.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
@gulfgal98 I love Matisse. He
I love Matisse. He's one of my favorites.
It all depends what you mean by abstract.
I can even be OK with art less representational than Matisse.
I just have a hard time with something that is nothing but lines and blocks. I guess the point is that everything is made up of lines and blocks--it's just the action of our eyes that makes it seem otherwise, superimposes form. But I feel the Impressionists made that point just fine, in a way that was much more fun.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@gulfgal98 That's a really
That's a really good point about being in person.
It can be a very different experience standing in front of a painting rather than looking at a photograph/digital image. For one thing, I've found you lose the sense of overall size when you're looking at something online.
I particularly love being in person for Impressionists.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@riverlover Can you use fish oil
Can you use fish oil supplements (or just eat fish)? I find that vitamin D helps me, both taken internally and through the skin.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I am on B and D supplements.
Went for many years shooting up Vit D and was then told that was not my problem. I am eating varied foods, next time I get to the grocery I want to buy in-season plant material to pickle. Cabbage? Anyone done neat tricks with pickling? I am thinking okra, which is never-season here.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Make my own Kefir with 33% milk/cream. Also follow the recipes
for Kimchi/Bi bim bap(fermented cabbage and other vegetables) from Paul Jaminet and his wife in their book the Perfect Health Diet. One page summary
You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again you did not know. ~ William Wiberforce
If you can donate, please! POP Money is available for bank-to-bank transfers. Email JtC to make a monthly donation.
Hope you are all doing well in the cold...
provided it is cold where you live. Our power went out about dark. We have gas and solar heat so the house was fine, but the well house is heated with an electric heater. Fortunately, the power returned a little after midnight and no pipes were frozen. It was only 20 last night vs. 10 the night before.
So keeping to theme...it gets old quick when you're out of electricity. You'll turn blue in this weather if you lose juice for long. You'll have to borrow more blankets and coats, but you'll feel like a new person when the electricity returns.
As to the art...blue art must be a big thing. here's a couple of pieces from this site:
https://fineartamerica.com/art/blue
all the best!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
@Lookout I'm very glad you and
I'm very glad you and yours didn't turn into next week's Something Blue, Lookout!
That's lucky with the well house. Is it possible to get it on solar as well in the next year?
Burst pipes are...well, you know what they are. They are an unprintable word.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@Lookout How did you manage to
How did you manage to embed the images?
My ordinary method didn't work.
I really liked the photo "Rainy Day Blue," but I'm a sucker for photography. Would like to get into it myself.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I use the hypertext "image" just below the message box
From there opt for upload
then browse...to select your image
Then upload again
and at last insert
(but be careful where you have your cursor cause that's where it goes)
It is easier than it sounds. Good luck.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Ah.....
the second piece is obviously the Appalachians.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
The Blue Ridge maybe?
I see them as some of the world's most beautiful...but then I'm bias. Hope you're warm and well gg.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Inside the observer
Elusive images occur
inside the painter's head
involving his nervous system.
His eye's imagination
and his imagination's eye
bring in to focus
what would happen if ...
This curiosity invents the method
and the means to realize the image.
Inventions are extensions
of our nervous systems.
Communication occurs between
systems of similar structure
red is red
order is order.
The realized image
completes its function
achieves its meaning
inside the observer.
The creative act ideally
creates its own audience.
--Ben Cunningham
Yet another dead relation, one more branch that leads to voluntarily extinction of the species destroying the planet. We hope.
Remembering June Foray too, another voice ingrained early on.
PEACE
2016: South Korea’s Historic Candle Light Protests Bring Down President Park
2018: N. Korea reopens cross-border communications with S. Korea
keep going
Edited: better? without the blockquote.
@eyo Thanks for telling me
Thanks for telling me about June Foray! Female voice actors don't tend to get a lot of press.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Thanks, I love these essays
even though I sound mostly contrary, that's just because my buzz is constantly harshed. Anyway, today was sent down the rabbit hole to look up two words, callypigian and then tondo, which are the best words for "fat ass" and "circular painting". Now I can't get Bicycle Race outta my head, heh. "All I wanna do is ..." ~doink~~ "Who wants to live forever?" meh
Callipygia 116
Ben Cunningham 1962(?) not sure
(Callipygia 1 was white on white)
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Arundhati_Roy/Confronting_Empire.html
WISH
Good morning, everybody!
It's pouring rain and cold here in Gainesville, FL. It feels like what, say, Richmond, or possibly NOVA, should feel like at this time of year. I hear my old digs in Silver Spring, MD are at 7 degrees. So they're feeling like what New England should feel like.
Good (rainy, cold) morning to all.
I might be in and out as I have an HVAC guy coming this morning.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Good morning all, and thanks for the OT, CSTMS.
Temps here are projected as 45 - 60, with the former, actual low, feeling cool to spoiled persons such as myself. Rain is predicted, which will be great if it gets here, though it will interfere with planned activities. The daily ritual is beginning here, with many new leaves being turned, old processes elided nd new ones inserted, so there will be confusion, disruption and even repetition but possible greater organization and efficiency wrt routine and mundane affairs. Ritualization of the busywork might allow more time for being, or so it is hoped.
Everybody stay warm, safe, well and happy to the extent possible. Happy 3 of january, somehow but the 10th of the twelve days of xmas. So, what this day, grey, bleak and wintery, really seems to need is ...
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Please any of you near a beach on the East Coast:
If you can, in this nor'easter and subsequent polar vortex, walk the beaches (or just binoc them) to look for strandings. Turtles, birds, whales, even fish shocked by air temp. They are all vulnerable and do not have the NWS for aid.
I feel a need to look for strandings if I were near a water body but I am on a hillside. As A scientist I went to many meetings where this was discussed. Nearly romantic.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Red Square
Can't you see that as a great Capitalist heist?
But I get the groove. Suck up to the rich ones. Went through that in HS (private, girls) myself. I can still play the part. I get kudos for my education, etc. My father squandered his faculty salary on books. Lucky me, not responsible for executing the house clear-out after my mother died a year ago.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
what i see:
could use some bubbling light waves in this dark age
“footballs of entangled centuries would burn out in the sparks of bubbling light waves.”
Happy New Year, Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal!
Rec'd!! Hope everyone had a decent holiday. rl: are you all still on for your Meetup? It has got to be minus frigid up your way. Speaking of political/social gatherings, I am writing down thoughts about the FL one, CStMS.
What can I say about some airheaded moneybags paying $43+M for a painted blue square with a white stripe down the middle? Art is in the eye of its beholder, y'know. Someone's laughing all the way to the bank! Voice actors have always had my admiration. People who can naturally mimic others have to be born with it, IMHO. Orlando weather--43 and raining. Freeze warning has just been posted. Rain will end in the next hour or so. Snow flurries are forecast for No. FL and the Panhandle. Ocean is extremely rough, much erosion, and debris in the water. Anyone nuts enough to go swimming deserves what they get!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
@orlbucfan I haven't forgotten,
I haven't forgotten, orlbucsfan!
I'm going to be contacting the people I know in PM, and then you'll see a diary from me in a couple days. Possibly tomorrow, depending on how fast people respond to me.
I find it's better when doing an action diary to let people know about it individually first. Otherwise, you often get a diary with three comments and eight views. I'm going to contact the people I know are in FL (so you'll get one from me, too) and then there will be a diary, as shortly as possible.
If you'd like to PM me with your writing, please do so!
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal I will definitely be in
I will definitely be in touch. Stay safe and warm. Gainesville is definitely going to get a major hard freeze.
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Meetup is engangered ATM
-20 windchills and night driving do not sound fun or safe. Not yet determined.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
@riverlover You guys stay safe. It
You guys stay safe. It can always be rescheduled!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Snow flurries today
in Tallahassee, Florida.
Tallahassee is in NORTH Florida, and we do get some very cold temps at times during the winter, but rarely do we see snow in any shape or form. Today started off with sleet and then progressed to snow, none of which stuck.
However, the schools were closed due to road conditions and parts of Intersate 10 were shut down due to ice.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
We're talking hard freeze here gg98. It used to
be a norm back before major climate change. It would kill off the bugs like mosquitoes, and cockroaches. Plants, too, but they would always spring back. It's just weird now. Take care.
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
@orlbucfan I remember in the 80s
I remember in the 80s when Orlando lost most of its orange groves to a nasty freeze.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver