A Penny For Your Thoughts...

This isn't ground breaking art by any means, but it certainly makes my list as unique - simply because of its presentation - art on a penny. Also, the work is quite well executed - in fact, I love the whole concept. May favorite may be the work/cent second from the top in the example below. It's titled "Kisses and Ghosts, 1951".

More can be found about the work and the artist - Jacqueline Lou Skaggs - at the following link.

Artist Jacqueline Lou Skaggs

The Most Expensive ‘Brown Paper Bag’ In The World? - DesignTAXI.com

And now the Emperor can finally have a lunch bag to match his new clothes...

Introducing the Jil Sander Brown Paper Bag - still a bargain at just under $300! Follow the link below to cast your eyes upon the marvel.

The Most Expensive ‘Brown Paper Bag’ In The World? - DesignTAXI.com

Butterfly Bingo

I’ve always been a fan of the butterfly and have always been perplexed by those who are not. Somewhere along the railroad journey of my mind, I recall reading that ancient peoples thought of them as fairies.

Or maybe it was the dragonfly. Or, perhaps they had just eaten one too many magical mushrooms from the forest.



In any case, much as I enjoy seeing them fluttter about, I’ve never really known much about them in general outside of that which is learned in school.

Caterpillar = Cocoon = Butterfly.

That’s why I was quite happy to digitally stumble across the “Butterflies and Moths of North America” website this morning. While the entire site seems quite wonderfully comprehensive (their sub-header reads “collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera”), I was particularly pleased with the “Regional Specific Checklist”.

The list/database allows you to select the region of North America in which you live (down to the county of the state even if you live in the United States) in order to discover a list of every butterfly and moth that can be found within that area. The list is complete with photographs of each species and very detailed information.

It seems to be a butterfly lovers fantasy dream. As the type of child who could become lost easily following a butterfly, had I had access to this database then, I’m certain that I would have been a binocular carrying butterfly geek in a very short amount of time.

So, the next time a particularly enchanting butterfly graces by your scope of vision, rather then just wonder what its backstory is, now you can have the answers at your fingertips – or wingtips.

Frankly, it’s quite fascinating. You can access the list here: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/checklists 

Batman knows…

See, Batman knows that it really is possible to be smart and pretty. Or - for those who crave something a bit more macho – Batman knows that libraries rock and being well-read kicks ass.

Of course Robin agrees – though it’s not as if he had much of a choice. That’s because, frankly, Batman always knows what’s best for the Boy Wonder.

Happy Labor Day

I came across this graphic on line today and I thought it does a wonderful job of getting across an important message about Labor Day.

Not only is the graphic quite well designed and crafted, it succinctly references many important issues as seen on the signs being held by the figures. Those issues, some of which are taken for granted today, would not be in place had it not been for the past actions of the brave men and women of the American Labor Force.

The worker’s historic willingness to stand up for rights  should not be forgotten.

Sadly, today, some of the issues written on the signs in the graphic are still not in place or  - possibly worse - are currently being undermined by a new wave of corporate leaders inspired by greed and self-serving interests.

As this is an election year, it is vitally important that you not only vote but that you think well about the potential consequences of your vote.

On August 29th, Rolling Stone published a very well written article titled

Greed and Debt: The True Story of Mitt Romney and Bain Capital: How the GOP presidential candidate and his private equity firm staged an epic wealth grab, destroyed jobs – and stuck others with the bill.

You can read the article by clicking the link above. The article makes it crystal clear that the GOP, Romney and Ryan are most definitively not a friend of the working class of this great country. In fact, they happily fill their pockets with cash at the workers expense and Romney – in particular – has a long history of that anti-worker, pro-corporate greed behind him. 

I’m guessing that the GOP and Romney/Ryan decided that the best way to win the election is to bet that the working class would either be too blissfully unaware of the truth – which is wildly easy to find – or simply too disillusioned to care.

If you’re a member of the working class – whether it be white collar or blue – don’t prove the GOP right.

Be smart. Be strong. Vote Democratic.