:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::: HAPPY HALLOWEEN! ::::: What better day to reveal the results of the Get Ready for Your Close-up survey. I’d like to thank the 27 participants, and give a special shout out to those of you who chose your own artist and offered an explanation as to why they were special to you. Working [...]

This is not a cowboy post or anything remotely confrontational, so mosey on, if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s another happiness post (making a happiness triad: Come on – get happy and Can France have its gâteau and mange it too?). Some languages just make you smile, says evolutionary biologist, Olivia Judson. Judson contemplates [...]

Last week, I was listening to Leonard Lopate interview Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point) about his latest book. Gladwell was talking about having had lunch with a ketchup expert (for a New Yorker article he had written titled The Ketchup Conundrum). Lopate immediately blurted “there’s a ketchup expert?” Which got me thinking: 1   What defines [...]

In their ever-unique language and viewpoint, trendwatching.com details the next wave of consumer trends. In brief, they see instant-gratification seeking consumers embracing the “now” with more passion than ever before. Note the use of the words “lust, lure, pleasure, abundance and luxury” as you read on. Strange words for an economic downturn, but perhaps since [...]

More headlines for Shepard Fairey, and finally an apology. As many of you know, I’ve been following the “fair use” debate between Shepard Fairey and the Associated Press (AP). It seems we have a stunning turn of events. Read Fairey’s mea culpa. Falsifying information is definitely a deal breaker when trying to uphold and expand [...]

By way of Letters of Note and a letter to Andy Warhol, I thought I’d provide a subtle reminder that the Get Ready for Your Close-up survey is open thru 31 october. Mosey on over and participate, or read more about it here. CREATING THE ROLLING STONES 1971 ALBUM COVER, STICKY FINGERS, WITH CONCEPT/PHOTOGRAPHY BY [...]

In case you are living under a rock somewhere and hadn’t heard, the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” The Nobel Committee continued, saying it had “attached special importance to Obama’s [...]

You get the opportunity to have yourself, your “essence,” captured by a famous artist (painter, photographer, illustrator, videographer, or other), living or dead (c’mon, it’s a fantasy quiz). Who would you choose? Head over to the curious g survey, Get Ready for Your Close-up. Choose from one of the artists listed in the survey or [...]

I’ve saved currency from every country that I’ve ever visited. It reveals a lot about each place and triggers great travel memories. But what I didn’t save from every country was a phone token. Now those are interesting – and widely collected – little items. Tokens are intriguing because of the grooves – a challenge [...]