Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Soviet WWII-era Paintings

Boingboing.net posted a link to these Soviet WWII era paintings. I found them to be soulful and absorbing.

The Boingboing description-

These are amazing paintings. I can't think of anything in the west in the same time period that is as moving, as emotionally evocative, except Norman Rockwell. It surprises me that more people don't like them.

There's a book called The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters by Frances Stonor Saunders. Part of it deals with the CIA's efforts to destroy social realism, to make acceptable only art devoid of political or emotional content. I thought they had just succeeded in keeping it out of corporate media, out of the museums, but that they couldn't change how people reacted to it. But it may be that they won and that most of us can't react to such art anymore.

These pictures, to me, represent where art should have gone after the impressionists and the post-impressionists, that they are the heirs to Gauguin and Cezanne and of Van Gogh's "Potato Eaters", to Goya's "The Third of May, 1808, or The Executions on Principe Pio Hill." Instead, what do we have today? Sometimes art is pretty. Sometimes it is clever, but it is usually without any deeper significance, without any emotional or political content.

I find that very sad.

What an interesting tidbit, no? I just looked up The Cultural Cold War and I'm definitely intrigued. Looks like I'll be adding that to my Shelfari...

Friday, October 23, 2009

Gleeful


Well, color me "normal", but I (along with probably you, your mom and everyone else) am just tickled pink about Glee. Yes, it's campy. Yes, it's over the top. YES, they break out into perfect song at a moment's notice...precisely why I'm so smitten. I mean, I think this is just what we need these days (y'know with the recession, mass genocides, the implosion of capitalism and the impending ice age...)- something that POPS off the screen, grabs us by the hand and dances us around our living rooms for an hour a week.

It's been awhile since I've been this committed to a show on network television; I rarely find something I actually want to commit to. I just can't be tied down, y'know? My TV viewing usually involves re-runs on cable, like Real Housewives on Bravo because, well, they're ALWAYS on and I just...can't...turn...away. So, yeah, it's been awhile since a television show sent my heart a flutter, wondering what's around the next brightly colored, harmonious corner.

Wednesday's episode was so delightful, I had to watch it twice. With a line like, "I'm going to go to the animal shelter, get you a kitty cat, and then when you've fallen in love with that kitty cat, I'm going to steal into your house in the middle of the night, and punch you in the face." pointedly delivered by Jane Lynch's Sue Sylvester, how could I not? Oh and this Puckerman character is getting hotter by the second.

The joy that Glee fills me with is not unlike the excitement in the beginning of a new romance- right now it is sweet, fresh, and exhilarating. I can't wait to see it again. I have yet to know what's around the corner for us- will Glee jump the shark soon? Will the storyline grow tired? Will the Rachel/Finn & Emma/Will anticipation drag on for far too long (i.e. Ross & Rachel)? Who's to know?

I will say this, Glee has my Wednesday night attention for the foreseeable future. I don't want to say the "L" word just yet, but I guess you could say we're kind of going steady.






Wednesday, October 21, 2009


I came across this informative little summation of the events that have taken place and are taking place in Honduras (courtesy of alternet.org). It's in comic-strip form, so it's a quick and easy way to get the gist of what's going on- and it's also nice for those of you who like to read dem picture books. It helps see what a major rule the US plays in all this.

I also found a link to the blog, Honduras Coup 2009, which gives regular updates on what's going on...y'know because most major media coverage of the coup is biased b/c the coup leaders have suspended alternative media and blown up the towers for the alternative media sources in Honduras.

Monday, October 12, 2009




This is the kind of weather that makes me want to put on my brown puffy vest, a cozy sweater, and head off into the foliage filled wilderness in a Wagoneer.

Is wood paneling going to make a comeback anytime soon? How about an electric powered reissued Wagoneer? Sounds good to me :)


((Shannon and I happened across one in Manhattan back in August. Only one of my very best friends would be a nostalgic DORK about wood paneling like me.))



Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Ohhh, That Ain't Riiiight...

A few blurbs from "Watch What You Tweet" posted on Oregonlive.com by Democracy Now's Amy Goodman:

A social worker from New York City was arrested last week while in Pittsburgh for the G-20 protests, then subjected to an FBI raid this week at home -- all for using Twitter. Elliot Madison faces charges of hindering apprehension or prosecution, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of instruments of crime. He was posting to a Twitter feed (or tweeting, as it is called) publicly available information about police activities around the G-20 protests, including information about where police had issued orders to disperse...

Shelfari


Hey, I just joined Shelfari ("Shelfari introduces readers to our global community of book lovers and encourages them to share their literary inclinations and passions with peers, friends, and total strangers (for now).") and if you're a bookworm like me, you should fo sho check it out AND add me as a friend.

I tend to easily forget what I want to read next, so it's a great place for me to get ideas and make lists.

Ch-ch-ch-check it ouuuut.

Taxi to the Dark Side

I'm a fool for documentaries lately, so bear with me.

Check it out...


I love that "very vague" quote from our former prez. What a silly monkey!

ANYway, for you weary folks, let it be known that this won an OSCAR...that's right, an ACADEMY AWARD. It makes no difference to me, but to you it might.

This film zeros in on the torture debate and proves there really is no debate- torture is torture.

Friday, October 2, 2009

The Corporation

You should watch The Corporation. Yeah, I'm talkin' to YOU.

Y'all know I'm into the documentaries and I have watched quite a few. I also try to stay informed, and although I knew a good majority of this information (not to brag or anything) I think it covers a lot of ground is informative and enlightening. I've posted the trailer. Take a looksie. Oh, and I also realized that it is in parts on YouTube so there's really no reason to say you can't find it. You can also order it on Netflix. No excuses! I promise it'll be worth it.