Apr 12 2023 - Bad Actors

 

In the headlines, police warn of "bad actors" Who are they?  There seem to be so many of them and so many warnings about them.  There seem to be bad actors everywhere now. a person or organization responsible for actions that are harmful, illegal, or morally wrong. While the expression seems recent, Merriam-Webster's Unabridged Dictionary traces the first use of “bad actor” to 1901. An 1889 Sanskrit dictionary also includes a definition of the word with the synonyms “wicked” and “a bad actor.” And how does it originate?  From theatre.  It says it is an actor who is unconvincing in their role.   And further uses of it include: "it can be applied to someone who is representing you or your company and making a poor job of it." Expressions seem to coalesce, coming into prominence to grab our attention.  Is is an expression in greater usage now? Is it that there are so many "bad actors" now? It is a more attention-getting headline to call out a person or organization as a bad actor. If you want to find out where all the bad actors are, you are not in luck.  Cybersecurity attackers and political figures may abound, but there isn't a list of where and who they are.  Now when it comes to bad actors in Hollywood, there are dozens of lists.   I wondered further about   how long this expression has been in use.  I went to find its jokes.  There aren't any bad actor jokes. There is a 'bad actor' character improv party game, so that must count for something. This is Skipper, owned by my aquafit instructor, Barb.  She took this picture and I did some work on it in photoshop to improve the light on the face, reduce the background's presence and so on.  He's a cute, photogenic little guy.   Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Dec 25 2021 - The Next Countdown is here!

 

We are on the next countdown - the twelve days of Christmas - traditionally starting on Christmas Day and ending January 5th.  January 6th is sometimes considered the twelfth day with the start December 26th.  The twelve days is called Christmastide or Twelvetide. Today is St. Stephen's Day.  Another feast day, as in 'The feast of Stephen'. We know it by the Christmas song with King Wenceslas.  Originally in Antiquity these days were taken up with saints' days and the first three days of the year were for prayer and penance.  Lots of heads-down activities.   Fast forward to England in the Middle Ages and this period was one of continuous feasting and merrymaking.  Twelfth Night will be forever in our social consciousness because of William Shakespeare and his wonderful play.   And where do we land with Twelfth Night now?  In New Orleans.  This is Twelfth Night taken to a different level of festivity.  January 6th is the day when King Cake Parties happen.  It is the first night of Carnival, as in 'Farewell to the Flesh'.  It goes from Twelfth Night to Fat Tuesday (that's right, Mardi Gras is  Fat Tuesday in French, to reflect the practice of eating rich, fatty food before Lent when fasting begins).   "Originally, King Cakes were a simple ring of pastry dough (brioche to be exact) with a small amount of colored sugar as decoration. Inside the original King Cakes was a tiny porcelain or gold baby, representing Jesus. If a person received a piece of cake with the baby they were declared King for the day... The top of the cake is covered with sugar icing in traditional Mardi Gras colors: Green, purple and gold." And reflecting on Christ in swaddling clothes, I just saw an ad for Pampers Swaddlers for active babies.  Perfect for this time of year.  Swaddling is a technique of wrapping infants in blankets or similar cloth so that the movement of the limbs is tightly restricted.  Probably something parents appreciate Pampers creating for active babies the day after Christmas. Here's a perfect Millie moment.  I don't know what she saw on the feeder outside, but her second reaction looks like it is coming right at her.  She is on the doggie bed on top of the desk.

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