The Hidden Gallery

I've been watching really good tv. I finished all 5 seasons of HBO's The Wire and the miniseries John Adams.

The Wire is epic television. It is a commentary on what is happening in our world and has left me with so many questions and some despair.  What an education I got from watching that show.  Season 4 and 1 are tied for my favorite, then season 3.

John Adams is a really great miniseries 7 episodes long with embellishments on one of the Founding Fathers of the US.  who was also their 2nd President. The show is so steam punk.  Very Cool.  And really interesting. I found the world history during that period fascinating. I wish historical television shows would mention that these dramas are very loosely based on historical events. I am watching The Tudors now which is an embellishment of King Henry the 8th's rein. Also  loosely based on historical events.  I will say that it does make me read more about history to see how accurate shows are and how much they go off track from real history.

I finished reading Hermann Hesse's The Glass Bead Game.  I  enjoyed the book and the fictional account of the Glass Bead Game was something I wondered on. I read somewhere that Hesse imagined his story was set around the 25th century. Whoa. Because I used to play piano, I really appreciated and admired the way Music is described and respected in this book. Anyway, I'm still have to read the last part of the book which consists of poetry and short stories.

Okay, now art pimp:

Click to see whole painting.



Monarch Butterfly Fairy

16 in x 12 in

acrylics on cotton canvas sheet

OMG

The last 2 months have been crazy.  So what was that good news I had?  We've finally moved.  The bad news?  Renovations took way longer than expected.  Move in date was for July 1st but had to move it back to the 15th because the washroom was not finished.  Guess what? It's still not finished.  Thank god Khai was generous enough to offer his shower several times over the last couple weeks.

The plumber was utterly useless but what is worse is the lying and the deceit.  When called out on the lying, he got angry and started yelling and would not leave when asked.  Get this.... I had to call 911 before the guy would leave.  Absolutely appalling behaviour.  I have documented 4 pages of their wrong-doings, threats and lies and have taken pictures of what they've done to our washroom.

Enough about that (for now)...  I mean, at least we didn't find a dead baby from the 1920's during renovations, right?  right?  And at least we've got the good folks at the Holmes on Homes forum to ask questions to.

The internet connection is finally consistent but the computer and art materials are still scare around here because of the huge amounts of dust and I just don't want to put those things at risk.

There is still no washroom and there isn't a kitchen.  What have I gotten myself into?!  How does Ellen (
ellenmillion) do it?!  Oh, I know!  She is amazing and fantastical.

With desperate efforts, it will be nothing but working and fixing up the place so that life can get back to normal as quickly as possible without any more dust, damage and headache.  We've got a toilet at least so no longer do I have to pee surreptitiously in the backyard.  Hey, got to look for and appreciate all the positives, right?

And because of this craziness, art is on hold as are auctions and new online listings for the time being.

Hey, at least there's air conditioning here.  I am truly grateful for that.

***

There's no cable.  I was lucky that my old landlord provided that for free and I am in no hurry to hook it up when there is no time to sit and watch tv, but I do miss watching Jon Stewart although the last couple times I watched it, it was so painful even his comedy could not dampen the severity of evil from BUSHCO.  I couldn't even take the truth from one of my favourite commentators never mind actually having to live through the atrocities he speaks about.  Whatever I feel, it utterly pales in comparison to the suffering of others who are dying.  How can their despair continue?

And I don't understand why the American people aren't able to stop BUSHCO from further damaging their country and their constitutional rights for an illegal war.  Lot's of chicken hawks on the BUSHCO team.

Greenwald explains the true nature of the chicken hawk.

"A "chicken hawk" is someone who not merely advocates a war, but believes that their advocacy is proof of the courage which those who will actually fight the war in combat require."

***

I am so saddened and angry about

Col. Ted Westhusing.






He died two years ago.    Robert Bryce has posted military documents of this man's death.

1. Anonymous letter sent to Col. Westhusing in May 2005 regarding alleged misconduct by contractors working for the U.S. military in Iraq.

2. June 17, 2005 interview of Westhusing’s widow, Michelle, by Army investigators.

3. Sworn statements from people who knew Col. Westhusing.

4. Bulk of the report done by the Army’s Inspector General.

5. Bulk of the report done Army Criminal Investigation Command.

 

And about

Pat Tillman

who's death is being covered up by the BUSHCO.

What can I say?  It's too horrible.

***

Dad has been angry with the Korean Christian community regarding all that's happened with the 21 South Korean hostages of the Taliban.  He has very little sympathy for a group of aggressive evangelical Christians going into another country and trying to convert Muslims under the guise of humanitarian aid.  It's sick.  The arrogance of those church groups is disgusting.  And that's what they've been trying to do, I'm told.  These Christian Korean churches get all high and mighty and actually compete with each other to see who sends the most Christian missionaries to the Middle East for bragging rights.  BRAGGING RIGHTS.  No, I kid you not.

Dad is himself a Christian but does not believe in the aggressive tactics of evangelicals.  Everyone has a right to their own religion and everyone has the right not to have a religion imposed on them.  How dare one religious group criticize and hate another and then impose their own religion on them under humanitarian aid?  Christian missionaries have been doing this for centuries by destroying the indigenous cultures and traditions of the countries and people they claim to help.  Don't they ever learn?  It's arrogant and delusional.

***
Speaking of delusions.... I just finished reading



The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.

Recently, I finished



Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris.

I had a couple of jehovah witness yahoos come to my house and once again, after questioning them I find myself being more aware of what is written in the bible than they were.  This seems to be common.  Why am I more educated and aware of what is in the bible than Christians are?  This is baffling to me.  It's like they haven't even read the book!  I'm no scholar on biblical history, but come on!  If you're going around all high and mighty and preaching the bible and stuff, you should at least read the material you impose on the rest of us.  I mean, don't these religious people feel embarrassed or even ashamed that a lowly 'infidel" like me knows more about the bible and the word of god than they do?  o___O

***

If ATMs in churches isn't proof that religion is a big money making operation (organized religion... organized crime?) with ridiculously generous tax-free privileges, I don't know what is...

According to the Bible (King James Version for those apologists) Jesus was pissed that mercantile activity was going on in his father's house.

John 2:13-16

 13And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

 14And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

 15And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

 16And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

(emphasis added)

o___O

I'm not even a Christian and even I know that!  How can Marty Baker of Stevens Creek Community Church in Augusta, Georgia sleep at night???!  Oh, I know... very comfortably under a big pile of money.

"The Bakers charge between $2,000 and $5,000 for the kiosks, which come in a variety of configurations. They also collect a monthly subscription fee of up to $49.95 for licensing and support. And a card-processing company gets 1.9% of each transaction; a small cut of that fee goes to SecureGive."

Absolutely appalling.  WWJD?  Jebus would cry.

***

Yeah, damn long post meandering from a thieving plumber, to an evil empire, to the tragic deaths of real heroes in a sea of cowardly draft dodgers, to Christian imperialism, to cashing out at church complete with a user fee.

Yeah, I'm all over the place.

I'm reading



American Fascists by Chris Hedges next.

Yeah, I'm worried about our civilization.  This stuff keeps me awake at night while greedy pastors are, no doubt, are sleeping very well.

***

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction" - Blaise Pascal

***

I have lots of catching up to do with you guys and all that you are up to.  I will try to get on it and will try to get back to posting again. 

Cho was a crazy, murderous bastard.

What can I say about the Virgina Tech shooting that hasn't already been said?  Not much. 

Just what is wrong with stricter regulations concerning guns?  Would it be such a bad thing if there were more limits on who and when an individual can own a gun or how many guns and bullets they can purchase?  Does anyone really need to own automatic weapons like ak-47s?  Guns are made to kill. 

I'm tired of the hunting argument.  Hunting is cruel.  And dangerous as demonstrated by Dick Cheney.

Guns are dangerous and even The Secret Service has accidents.  Yet there are people who think more guns are needed so people can engage in shoot outs on public streets in the name of defense.  Can you imagine a frat party at 2am with a bunch of drunken people with guns?  The amount of "accidentals" or "misunderstandings" that could result with fatalities is too horrifying.

I'm tired of the ol' "if guns are banned then cars should be banned too because they kill people too!"  Here's the thing.  Cars are not built with the intention to kill.  Guns are made with the intent to kill and injure.  That is their sole purpose.

And no, I am not arguing to change the precious American constitution, but how about a little more rational thinking?  Why can 12 year old kids can buy guns?

Why is there so much resistance to rational thinking and reasonable suggestions?

Yes, yes, crazy people who want to kill will find a way to do it, but try not to make it so easy for them.  If crazy Cho can get a gun easily, then terrorists can get a gun just as easily.  Is that not scary enough to reconsider gun regulations?

Meanwhile, in Iraq such violent homicides happen EVERYDAY.  (Saddam is dead.  How about going after bin Laden Mr. Bush??  Remember that guy??!  How about leaving Iraq alone and letting the people mourn the thousands of deaths that have occurred and letting Iraqi's have the dignity to rebuild their country, hmmmmm?!  It's their country!)

The white house and media are just up in glee because this terrible event will be a convenient distraction from Iraq, women's rights, corrupt attorney generals, Walter Reed, etc...etc... They will milk this dry waiting for the next Anna Nicole mystery.


I finished reading:



by Chris Hedges.

More ACEOS

Do you know what it feels like to paint entire walls after painting tiny 2.5 in x 3.5 in cards?

Wonderful.

Finished reading:



Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster
by Svetlana Alexievich (Author), Keith Gessen (Translator)

Need proof that nuclear energy is not a good idea?  Read this book.  Prepare to be saddened and horrified.  Anger at poor government, petty politics and costly bureaucracy that led to such suffering.  It is criminal what happened.

*   *   *
I don't want to be depressing after that so here is a shot of warm fuzziness (a.k.a. serotonin):

Well, I just finished:



and wow, it was a really good book.  A million little times better than "A Million Little Pieces".  The grammar was confusing again but it was easier to understand and get used to.  He stops with all the "and"s which makes the writing more mature and thoughtful.  No quotes again!  I had to re-read passages to figure out who's saying what and when.

Here's the clincher.  This book made me cry.  Twice.  Okay, ya, it doesn't take much to make me cry but I can't remember the last time I cried while reading a book.  That's how effective it was.  I really enjoyed reading this book and I'm glad that "A Million Little Pieces" didn't turn me off completely from reading another one of Frey's books.

Yeah, it's Leonard that made me cry.  Him and Lilly.

It's a great book and I'd advise reading this one before picking up his other one but that's just me.  If anything, his other book gives insight on what may happen with addiction.  I appreciated that.

This book has made me appreciate his other book.

It has not been a good photoshop day.

But looky here!



Here too:  clickey me!

I just finished reading:



I enjoyed this book.  I kept hearing about it and I heard they made a movie of it.  It is thoughtful and gives a hopeful feeling.  It will cheer you up and soothe your soul.  I wonder how the movie was?

And I also read:



Now, I've heard that there was some controversy concerning the truth in this book.  I didn't know much about it - only that it is recommended by Oprah.  So when I saw it in the library on the "Best Bets" shelf, I thought, "well, why not?"  I was curious.

What a disappointment.  The beginning of the book was interesting because I could relate a little to the main character.  But it started getting tired really fast.  About half way through the book, I was wondering when the heck it would end.  It's so long because of all the repeating  phrases and he does
this
a lot.

I mean
a lot.

It was hard to read at first because he uses strange grammar.  There are no quotation marks in the whole book so it gets confusing as to who is saying what or when they say it.  Not very many commas.  And he uses the word "and"
a lot.
I mean
a lot.
So much so that it gets really
annoying.
Annoying.
Really annoying.
And he capitalizes certain words which is fine but confusing.  Sometimes I couldn't tell if it a word was capitalized because it was important or because it was a proper noun.

I had to finish it.  That's the kind of obsessive person I am.  It wasn't easy.  The most interesting thing in the book is the character named Leonard.  I wanted to know more about Leonard and because I'm am a glutton for punishment and a little masochistic, I had to read:



which is just as
confusing.
Confusing.

Losing a couple hours of your life to crappy books is one thing...so thank goodness i didn't lose any $$ over them.  The library rocks!!!

I can't recommend these books and I cannot just tell people not to waste their time with them.  These books are books that you either love or hate.  It seems a lot of people love them.  You'd have to find out for yourself by reading them.

I am looking forward to reading:



which is a parody of "A Million Little Pieces".  I'm sure I will appreciate it!  This will also help me justify wasting time to read "A Million Little Pieces" just so I can enjoy the parody to its fullest.

A little harsh of a review?
Perhaps.
But it leaves me smiling.
Smiling.
Smiling.
Smiling.
Because I'm being Honest and Real and sharing my Experience and I hope you're laughing too and I bet you find it just as funny as I do and if you don't that's okay and this is the kind of writing Structure that works sometimes and you happen to be e. e. cummings and can write beautiful poetry.

(lmao... I'm sure you're laffing at my journal entry too if you've read his books!)

Haven't commented on books I've been reading lately but I do have to mention this one book.

I really enjoy listening to podcasts especially TVO 's Big Ideas. They often feature really interesting lectures by a variety of people on a variety of social subjects.

Recently, I listened to a great lecture from Michael Adams about American and Canadian values. It was incredibly interesting. Anyway, I had to go out and read his book:




A pet peeve of mine is when people associate Canada with the United States because we happen to be neighbours. Our values are just to different to associate us. This book clearly identifies those values and also explained values that I just didn't understand before.

When we were in Costa Rica, every American we met admitted their disappointment (and/or disgust) with the war and BUSHCO. Many of them admitted to us that they pretended to be Canadian because they didn't want negative responses to their nationality. I never knew why people had passport covers until I saw many Americans using them. Sure, they are decorative but I have to wonder if it is also to conceal their nationality from the public when pulling out their passports. I don't blame them considering all the international concerns.

As a Canadian, I have always been welcomed when traveling and this book identifies the clear differences between Americans and Canadians. The international community certianly is aware of our differing values and their response certianly shows it.

Of course this book is just a generalization and that must be remembered but I can clearly see why there are conflicting values between the 'red' states and the 'blue' states.

I also listened to this podcast lecture from Alvin Toffler and have made a reservation for his book, Revolutionary Weath at the library. You must listen to this podcast.

My Art Collection continued....

As you know, I have a thing for pop-up books and clever paper engineering.  It is absolutely engaging and always filled with surprises. 

One of my all time favourite artists is Maurice Sendak.  Ever since I was a little kid, his illustrations have fasinated and filled me with wonder.  So imagine my profound delight when I found this:



It is a pop-up masterpiece created by paper engineer Matthew Reinhart using Maurice Sendak's illustrations.  No, I kid you not.... It really is a masterpiece....

( More pictures... )

Hope you enjoyed!!

(cross-posted to my journal and storybookland)


( comments )