Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Art for New Year's Eve

We promised you yesterday ... here it is: Ann Elizabeth Schlegel's "Cook's Champagne" ... in a time of economic crisis, frugal bubbles ...

I know someone that enjoys drinking Champagne. Now, I'm not talking about Dom or Perrier Jouet or even Korbel. This woman loves Cook's Champagne. She purchased a painting from me of a champagne cork and one of a corkscrew ... and then we toasted with some 'Cook's Brut'. I thought of her when I opened this bottle.

It was opened in celebration of another person who turned 50 years old and is a breast cancer survivor. I shared a glass with her daughter. I'll tell ya, for the $6.99 it's not bad. Not bad at all. Cheers!

The painting by the way, has long been sold.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

A Painting Each Day Keeps the Blues Away!

Rummaging the Internet for a work of art to illustrate this year's New Year celebrations we were lucky enough to stumble upon the extensive collection of paintings created by Ann Elizabeth Schlegel, Bethlehem (PA).

A message at the top of the sidebar on her blog offers to send you a painting a day - upon your email request of course.

The collection of figurative paintings elevate a variety of every day items, from household clutter to kitchen and cooking utensils, to a carnival of colors and shapes.

The chosen illustration for New Year's Eve we'll keep under wraps till tomorrow, but as a consolation we include a post by Ann Elizabeth dating back to Thanksgiving 2007: a series of charming allegories, mostly female figures representing a variety of drinks, cocktails, grapes and some of the other festive things that brighten up the dark days of winter.

A Painting Each Day: "Adult Beverage Gift Items"

Friday morning I begin my quest to paint, exhibit and sell at Christkindlemarkt in Bethlehem, PA for forty straight days. I will be painting my Painting Each Day series and also exhibiting my Adult Beverage prints and cocktail aprons. The prints and aprons have been big sellers to those shoppers searching for the perfect 'cash and carry' item for the individual who enjoys the unique gifts.

I sign everything and the prints are also numbered in a limited edition series.

So .... if you're out of the area and are thinking 'Hmmm .... wouldn't 'so and so' really like this great print or cocktail apron, just drop me an email and I can get it to you in time for the Christmas season. (...) >>>

Friday, December 26, 2008

I Want a Hippopotamos for Christmas!



Great lyrics! Brillant rendition by Aaron!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Embarrassing Realism of "Obscure" Emperors

Oops ... reality has a nasty habit of surfacing in the most appalling ways and on the awkwardest of moments!

Here's another golden embarrassment for Ummah revisionism ... what now with the meme that historically no one has any business in the Middle East but the Dar-al-Islam? Oh, wait ... it must be a Zionist plant!

CNN: "Israeli archaeologists find rare gold coins"

Some Israeli archaeologists are having a particularly happy Hanukkah, thanks in part to a British volunteer who took time off from her job to work on a dig.

The Israel Antiquities Authority reported a thrilling find Sunday -- the discovery of 264 ancient gold coins in Jerusalem National Park.

The coins were minted during the early 7th century. (...)

The 1,400-year-old coins were found in the Giv'ati car park in the City of David in the walls around Jerusalem National Park, a site that has yielded other finds, including a well-preserved gold earring with pearls and precious stones.

They were in a collapsed building that dates back to the 7th century, the end of the Byzantine period. The coins bear a likeness of Heraclius, who was the Byzantine emperor from 610 to 641. (...)

The authority said that while different coins had been minted during this emperor's reign, the coins found at the site represent "one well-known type."

In that style, the emperor is clad with military garb and is holding a cross in his right hand. On the other side is the sign of the cross.

Authorities said the excavation of the building where the hoard was discovered is in its early stages. They are attempting to learn about the building and its owner and the circumstances of its destruction. (...) >>>

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Bushes Brushed (rather than bashed)

Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery: "President and Mrs. Bush’s Portraits"

During the winter holidays, visitors will have the first chance to view the portraits of President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush commissioned for the National Portrait Gallery.

The president and first lady will unveil the portraits in a private ceremony at the museum Friday, Dec. 19. The paintings will be on public view beginning Dec. 20. This is the first time that the Portrait Gallery will present the official likenesses of a sitting president and first lady.

“It is always a great moment for the National Portrait Gallery to unveil the portraits of presidents and first ladies” (...) >>>

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Modelling the Archimedes Computer

New Scientist: "Archimedes and the 2000-year-old computer"

Marcellus and his men blockaded Syracuse, in Sicily, for two years. The Roman general expected to conquer the Greek city state easily, but the ingenious siege towers and catapults designed by Archimedes helped to keep his troops at bay.

Then, in 212 BC, the Syracusans neglected their defences during a festival to the goddess Artemis, and the Romans finally breached the city walls. Marcellus wanted Archimedes alive, but it wasn't to be. According to ancient historians, Archimedes was killed in the chaos; by one account a soldier ran him through with a sword as he was in the middle of a mathematical proof.

One of Archimedes's creations was saved, though. (...) >>>

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Unadulterated Sentimentalism ...

... but boy, what a Voice!



Here's Mark Steyn with a rather astute comment to the lyrics, which have indeed an extraordinarily high "world peace" octane ...

Friday, December 12, 2008

I Won't Dance