Picasso at the Seattle Art Museum

Last night I went to the Seattle Art Museum exhibit of "Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso, Paris" with LJ and SOLJ, an exhibit of more than 150 works of art, from paintings and sculptures to prints, drawings, and photographs.

The painting above is called La Danse Villagoise and was painted in 1923. It's an oil with pastel. I like the sturdiness of the people. I also was particularly intrigued by how the color is applied. It looks like it's sitting on top of the painting instead of within the painting. I believe a lot of the highlight color was done with pastels. The blue, red, and white looks like it's been laid on top of the grey/black/white clothes. I think the people are farm people from the village who come into town to enjoy an evening of dancing. During the week, when working on their farm, they are black and white and working. But, on the weekend, they dance and color is added to their lives. That's why the color is laid on top of the black, grey, white. In my imagination anyway!

I enjoyed what I would call the architectural cubist paintings (though I don't have a good sample at this time).

I learned that the distorted images were Picasso's way of showing ALL views of an item at the same time - each angle of an item is presented as a joined unit. Profound way of breaking out of the box - in more ways than one.

Picasso himself picked out these pieces for inclusion in the Picasso Museum as a way to create his own artistic legacy. As a result, I think, the paintings are a depiction of what Picasso was experimenting with - the developing ideas and techniques. Although some of the paintings and drawings weren't finished, Picasso saw their value because it described his journey. I thought that was quite interesting.

I don't trust Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart, Humana Offer Low-Cost Drug Plan to Take Rivals' Sales

This company gives me the creeps - they bully vendors into producing products more cheaply, they encourage the idea that money should be a consumer's only consideration when purchasing goods, they don't pay their workers very much money, they so dominate the marketplace that rural towns (where Wal-Mart began) have lost their unique character - and a lot of Mom and Pop stores.
And now they're going to sell prescription drug insurance?  That seems odd.

They hire people to work for a low wage and their vendors are forced to pay lower wages to cut costs.
Their store caters to the very same people.
They market themselves as a partner with poor people to help them save money.
But...they're the reason the people are poor in the first place!

They've created an economic class, and then cater to it to make money.
A strange cycle.

The Walton family and the WalMart Foundation may donate (to conservative think tanks among others), but the percentage they donate is very small as a percentage of their income/sales.  Less, as a percentage, than  most regular folks.

Peculiar.

P.S.  My image makes me smile.

New show I watch...

This is the one new show I've added to my Season Pass Manager on Tivo.

The FX show is called "Terriers" and stars Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James as two unlicensed (if you have a license, you have to worry about losing it) private investigators in the San Diego, CA area.  Hank (Donal Logue) is a former cop and former alcoholic, and Britt is a former thief. 

The show has a real casual vibe, with a sense of humor.  And yet - it's serious too.  Nice balance.

It has a good heart.

The last event that happened, though, I'm not looking forward to playing out.  Blah, blah.  Secrets.

On the other hand - it was completely believable and honest...a screw up that was unexpected, but now that it happened - it makes sense.

I enjoy the show.  I hope it sticks around.

Getting frustrated...

I'm getting a little frustrated by my photography. All the features and functionality on my camera are confusing.  I am completely overwhelmed by PhotoShop Elements 8.0.
Oh well - I still want to keep trying.

Here are two photos:

This photo was taken by Kevin Fugii via this weblink at the Seattle Times
A bee on a dahlia at Bellevue Botanical Gardens:

And the following was taken by me.

A bee on a ?? at Bellevue Botanical Gardens

Inspiration

Oh! the White Balance setting DOES matter!

White Balance setting is 'cloudy'.

White Balance setting is Incandescent - Daylight.

Current Candy Obsession

These are  my current candy obsession.  When I pop one in my mouth and the chocolatey, caramelly goodness begins to melt, I'm already thinking of how good the next one will taste.
Yes, I think this says something about me - I don't know how to enjoy what I already have without thinking about wanting more.
I also eat these without awareness.  I grab three thinking it will last me a bit of time.  I reach for what I think is my second piece and all I have are three empty wrappers.
I can eat one bag in a day and it's catching up with me.
So, I'm at the end of my obsession.  I choose to practice self-discipline.
I won't buy any more.

I'll always have the memories.  Mmmm-Mmmm Good.

As a sidenote, the image above came from Candy Blog - a great site for all things candy related.

My picture, her words

"Rock bottom is the solid foundation upon which I rebuilt my life."
JK Rowling, Harvard 2008

Project Runway

I'm not clear why Gretchen is so disliked by the fans. I find her to be honest, sincere, and generous. I can see that when she won the first couple challenges she may have started to think herself invincible, but beyond that I don't know what she's done that's worthy of such ire. Although watching her backpedal during the group challenge runway critique was painful and awkward to watch. But honestly, I've been in that position before; you compromise because you want everyone to feel included, and then get excited and stand up for it because that's the right thing to do. But when you are chastised for it you realize it didn't work and you're standing there alone and nobody else will join with you. It feels like crap because you thought you were being generous and supportive of your whole team, and they let you stand there and take the crap. That's doesn't feel fair, so you let it all go and speak the truth. It looks bad, but that's how I see it went down. She could have kept her mouth shut and let people believe she was to blame or she could stand up for herself.

Why is it okay that everyone else kept their mouth shut and are not to blame?

I think Gretchen is sincere and confident and talented. I like her and am proud of her.

Mondo was the star of the episode I just watched because of his personal backstory, but more importantly because he's the designer who just won his third challenge in a row. He started out the series feeling left out and alone, and we've discovered he's one of the more charming contestants.
Valerie has always been a favorite of mine. She has a gem of a personality. Her exit tonight was filled with love and class and generosity. She's good people.

Bellevue Botanical Gardens

I'm still there...

I am still with Barack Obama.  I trust his goal.  He is doing the best he can given the circumstances.  He's trying to govern, but he's being hampered by the Republican side of congress who won't let him even TRY his ideas.  I'm tired of people who decide that if things aren't going exactly THEIR way, then things won't go ANY way - they'll do whatever they can to not even let us try to fix things.  That's what I see Republicans doing.  I can't believe that most voters don't see that's the way things have been going.  And the 'tea party'?  These are people who know how to complain and find fault and make derisive jokes, but they have no better ideas that are realistic, and consistent with American values.

I'm FIRED UP and READY FOR CHANGE!

Relax in Love

Comfy chair

Swedish designer, Matti Klenell created this huge chair from a teddy bear. Description: Upholstered teddy bear/easychair. Designed for a solo exhibition at the Agata Gallery, Stockholm, 2001.

Cooking and Competition!

Fast paced, creative cooking, by experienced chefs who are passionate about food. 
Tense competition.
Judges I respect - all of them, but I especially enjoy Alex G.
Congenial host.

This has become my favorite cooking show and reality competition all in one...love it!

Tonight was the finale of Chopped Champions...not a dry eye in the house at the end of the show.
http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/28/ted-allen-interview-chopped-champions/

Opportunity lost...

I love Netflix.
I love them so much I purchased a few shares of their stock when it was between 16 and 20.
I watched it go up to about 60 and figured that was the best win I could hope for.
Sold.
Now, it's at 162.
I am not smart.

Just something I noticed

Hey - it's 9:21 on 09/21/2010

Vasomotor Instability

This is part of my reality.  I'm a club member for about a year now.  Sometimes often, sometimes less often.  Funny, strange, disruptive. I marvel that this is a physical manifestation of the miracle of my life - age, change, adjust, adapt.  Pretty amazing.

Talented but Troubled

Indeed.  I'm sending out some good energy for Lindsay Lohan.  I truly do think she's talented and would like to see her find out how to live this life with love and peace.

Come to think of it, I wish that for everyone else too - including me and you!

Here's to living in peace and love!!!

FYI - The Burqa

FYI...the term Burqa encompasses several different items. 

The Hijab

(the head covering)

The Niqab

(The face covering)

The Abaya

(full length coverage)

The Chadri

(complete coverage)

This style of clothes predates Islam.  

The Koran makes only three references to a woman's dress:

“O children of Adam, we have provided you with garments to cover your bodies, as well as for luxury. But the best garment is the garment of righteousness. These are some of God's signs, that they may take heed.” (7:26)

“O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the wives of the believers that they shall lengthen their garments. Thus, they will be recognized (as righteous women) and avoid being insulted. God is Forgiver, Most Merciful.” (33:59)

" Say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty ; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof. " [Quran : 24.31]

I wouldn't have any problem with this style of dress if men were also required to wear it.  

They aren't.  

From what I've read, at least some Muslim men believe a woman should be wearing these clothes because men are too weak to behave themselves when faced with a woman's beauty.

A woman's beauty tempts men to do wicked things.

Men can't be held accountable for their own actions.

Therefore, women must be covered.  

***

And what about this:

"But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head—it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil.
    "For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. (For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.) That is why a woman ought to have a veil on her head, because of the angels....If any one is disposed to be contentious, we recognize no other practice, nor do the churches of God." (1 Corinthians 11:3-10,16)

from:  http://www.catholicplanet.com/women/headcovering.htm

***

And now a word from the Jewish people...

http://judaism.about.com/od/prayersworshiprituals/f/kippah.htm

"From a biblical standpoint, only the Kohanim serving in the temple were required to cover their heads (see Exodus 28:4).  Yet for many centuries, the obligatory custom has been for Jewish men to wear a kippah all the time, as the code of Jewish law says "It is forbidden to walk four cubits without a headcovering."

***

Seriously, who comes up this stuff?!?!?!?!?!?!

Woman with outstretched arms...

I save these images from Oprah newsletters.  I'm nearly always attracted to the feeling I think the women are expressing...

I feel overjoyed!

I am limitless!

I embrace the world!

Sometimes life feels like that, right?

The Islamic Cultural Center in NYC

Here we have another issue concocted by the right wing in their support of the money puppeteers who wish to divert our attention from their own misdeeds.
Those with financial power seek to 'run' America like an aristocracy under the radar.  They encourage the right wing 'culture warriors' to create emotional 'issues' that the rest of us can battle because our basic American liberties are being attacked.
And, like lambs to the slaughter - we do.  We battle.
While, in the background, the people who REALLY run things keep on keepin' on.

That's what I think of the Islamic Cultural Center in NYC.  It shouldn't even be a debate.
This is America.