Nov 20 2024 - Succumbing to Black Friday

 

This is the first year that I've noticed the Black Friday ads justify themselves so far in advance of the actual Black Friday.  It works as it gets my attention. Then I wonder the worst case scenario.  Will it ever end? Will it continue after American Thanksgiving has come and gone?  I wonder these things.  It has already been successful in turning all of November into Black Friday month for Canadian shoppers. Maybe it will drift into December, too. Black Friday in Canada is "a significant cultural and retail event that kickstarts the holiday shopping season, reshaping the way Canadians shop and interact with retailers"  Really? That appears to be an opinion-piece statement.  It has lots off advertisements, so I guess that's the real purpose.   All the articles seem to be this way - they all have lots of ads on the best gifts and best deals.    So I took a look through what the National Post wants you to click through to.  It is HERE.   It is very entertaining. The site is lifehacks.com  and these are crazy things like a smart ring, the vital flex core (military method to lose weight). VI shift revolutionary glasses, fluffy zen pillow, the Ramona fire blanket (You see in ads everywhere)...   Wait there's one for me:  the pocket hose copper bullet - step up your gardening game!  And another that got my attention - see below the picture of a dog and a little four-wheeled vehicle.  It is a robot dog walker.  Can you see Millie dragging it along as she chases leaves?   Maybe it delivers parcels and walks the dog.

Here's my Black Friday picture.  Graffiti on a wall.

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July 7 2023 - Itchy and Scratchy

 

I've just been in the garden and my arms have been in contact with plants.  I find it is my dogwood shrub that has made my arms quite itchy. I find out that Dogwood trees all have the ability to make one itchy. I've got a few of them, too.  Tulip bulbs have the same chemical and there is a common occupational dermatosis named "tulip fingers."  I expect one gets that in Holland. In general, the main causes of itchiness are diverse - from external sources to internal illnesses: Allergic reactions to food, insect bites, pollen, and medicines Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin Irritating chemicals, cosmetics, and other substances Parasites such as pinworms, scabies, head and body lice Pregnancy Liver, kidney, or thyroid diseases There are specific nerve endings that make humans and other mammals transmit itchy feelings to the brain.  Fish and frogs have the sensory nerve cells that would give them the ability to experience itching.  But mostly we are concerned with human itching and how to solve it. As you might guess, itching jokes are mostly for those "over 18".  Here's a few we can enjoy: Have there been any new advances in anti-itch skin creams? It just seems like we've only scratched the surface. The itch from poison ivy is so bad that I just spent hundreds of dollars buying every possible cream and ointment at the pharmacy. I need to quit making rash decision How do you get rid of itch? Start from scratch. What's another name for a vegetable that makes you turn and scratch Spin itch "Start from scratch" - This expression originated from the field of sports in the 1700s when scratch was used in races to refer to a starting line scratched on the ground. Participants with any form of handicap could run shorter distances but still had to start from scratch. And how is it that money been called "scratch?" Some believe it's a reference to the phrase “starting from scratch” to imply that everything starts with money.   Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

May 4th 2023 - Jedi - A Secular Celebration?

 

It is May the 4th be with you day and bars will be celebrating all over the world.  There's a Star Wars Roast at the Comedy Bar tonight.  "The Force is a mysterious energy field created by life that binds the galaxy together.  Harnessing the power of the Force gives the Jedi, the Sith, and others sensitive to this spiritual energy extraordinary abilities, such as levitating objects, tricking minds, and seeing things before they happen. While the Force can grant users powerful abilities, it also directs their actions. And it has a will of its own, which both scholars and mystics have spent millennia seeking to understand." The Force and the Jedi religion, Lucas stated, were thus based on all religions in the real-world, as he constructed Star Wars mainly from Methodism—or Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—and Buddhism. There is much discussion on which religion is it most based on.  Quora's headline says Taoism is the closest real world religion. All the news sites have their own headline on this.  CNN's is this:  "The spiritual message hidden in 'Star Wars'.  I can't imagine there's anything "hidden" - but then this is a headline to get your attention.  And the article is also fun - here's a quote: "At the turn of the millennium, “Star Wars” caught the McMindfulness craze. “The Phantom Menace” opens with two Jedi talking about the benefits of meditation. Riveting, it was not." Here's a joke or two: Where did Luke get his cybernetic hand? The second hand store. How does Darth Vader like his toast? On the dark side. What do you call a droid that takes the long way around? R2 Detour. Which program do Jedi use to open PDF files? Adobe Wan Kenobi. What did Obi-Wan tell Luke when his young apprentice was having a difficult time using chopsticks at the Chinese restaurant? “Use the forks, Luke.” I found a paint recycling facility in 2012 and they let me take pictures of the paint - which was everywhere.  Too bad about the lighting in there, but it was so much fun.  It was gone the next time I was there, so this was a one time experience.   I named this one the Painter's Song - they look like quarter notes to me. Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Red Sky Voting

We voted for red skies yesterday looking for a new sunrise and a final sunset. We have completed our election voting in Canada and have a new majority Liberal government.  Our first Trudeau government generated so much excitement it was named Trudeaumania in 1968. There is an energy line to his son for sure. We voted him to a majority government yesterday.  Did you know that there was a board game in the 1980's - a satire on Canadian politics?  It was named "True Dough Mania". The images today have a festive look - with the red skies of the Liberal party colours, and perhaps a nod towards Christmas with the green in with the red.

Decay vs Design Finding a headboard that looked like grunge was a curious experience in Florida.  I marvel at what the materials and techniques would be.  That's what the first and third images are - closeups of the crackle effect.  I get the impression Elmer's Glue or acrylic is involved in the process. And Martha Stewart youtube instructions are easily found. The second image is likely easier to identify.  It is the carpeting in the lobby, with a pretty water lily motif.

Urban Extractions…Toronto Finds

This is a new series of square format images.  They come from the streets of King West in Toronto last year.  Hidden away lanes, back corners, dumpsters hidden from view - these don't need to be pristine and neat.  Spray paint from graffiti, rust and scratches from wear and tear are in abundance.  It is fun to explore these alleys - there is discovery and wonder around each corner.

Splish Splash

Two years ago I was driving around St. Catharines, looking for dumpsters and peeling paint.  I found some and discovered it was a paint recycle factory.  It was full of paint splatters everywhere.   They let me put on a hard hat and take photos inside.  It was so dark, though, that the quality of the images was less than I wanted.

However, I fooled around with some photoshop brushes and the  paint pictures, and here is what I came up with…

After Christmas Snow Scene

This is an abstract of peeling paint that I thought might bring some quiet and calm after all the Christmas excitement.