Lest I appear biased in my geekery (I’m not shy about my penchant for art, science, medicine and various types of intriguing media), I want to balance the equation…pun intended, I suppose…with a little something for the math lovers.
Now you can have a mathematical theorem named after yourself or your favorite people at TheoryMine.
Right now there is a basic certificate, but more elaborate gift packages are coming soon.
Hine Mizushima is responsible for my favorite unique holiday wreath this year:
Her collection of plush work is impressive, to say the least.
And the 2D work is adorable as well:
Tons more on her Flickr site and website.
Sandra Arteaga’s one of a kind art dolls are amazing! Just the kind of sweet and sinister combo that so often strikes my fancy.
She also has plenty of 2D and mixed media projects.
Check out her beautiful blog and Etsy store.
The holidays are upon us…so I’m cleaning out a folder of bookmarks labeled (I’m not kidding) “STUFF.” This folder contains objects I think are fun, but can’t really justify buying for myself because they’re not exactly necessary.
Who knows? Maybe this will help someone’s gift selections…
Computer Code Briefcase, for the quirky geek in your life:
The Torture Device Coloring Book, for the morbidly inclined artist:
The Astro Mitt. Okay, this is awesome:
Trying very hard not to spend $17 on this A Christmas Story Ornament (come on…triple dog dare me not to!):
And bandages!:
Or for comic book fans:
Nintendo Keychain Set, for the retro game lover:
Robot Key Toppers. Great for differentiating between your keys.
We are already halfway through Tiffany Bozic’s new exhibit, Confiding to Strangers. I’ve been a fan of her work for quite sometime, and it’s nice to see new pieces.
From the gallery website:
Spanning the gallery’s two exhibition areas, Confiding to Strangers features thirteen medium-sized works in acrylic on maple-wood panel and eighteen watercolor-on- paper works. All showcase Bozic’s meticulous, realist rendering of plant and animal subjects that recasts nature as fable.
I’ve always found these goldfish fascinating, though it’s sad to see one swimming around with a popped sac on the side of its face. But rest assured, painted Bubble Eyed Goldfish eye bladders never pop. And you can quote me on that.
(See my other post on Bubble Eyed Goldfish)
Another one of my favorite unique sea creatures!
(See my other post on Leafy Sea Dragons)
View images from the exhibit here.
I rarely step on my soapbox and get personal here, but I feel the need to comment on the recent facebook trend of posting cartoon characters as profile pictures to “fight child abuse.”
Let me make this clear: if you posted a cartoon, I’m NOT insulting you. I have no problem with anyone taking part in the trend.
My beef is with the trend itself and what it says about our culture; the unprecedented distance between one’s public dedication to a cause, and any actual measure of reflection or helpful behavior.
Symbols have been iconic representations of various social causes for decades (red ribbons, pink ribbons, rubber bracelets). At least the proceeds from these culturally fabricated products went toward the cause they represented. A small step, but a step nonetheless.
In the social networking world, trends like the cartoon character meme are devoid of ANY direct connection to or impact on the cause itself. No profit, no research, no inquiry, no time volunteered, no outreach program, no benefit.
These trends are yet another reflection of the narcissism that now pervades our technologically advanced society. Only in an extremely egocentric, disconnected population could one believe that posting a favorite character or listing the color of their bra (in the recent “breast cancer awareness” meme) has ANY influence over the true misfortune at stake. Yet I’ve seen an alarming degree of smug self-satisfaction from those who comply.
Sadly, I’d wager that upon the spread of the cartoon character meme, most people briefly thought “Yes, child abuse is wrong.”…and then spent half an hour googling the perfect ironically retro cartoon image to post, enraptured in their own nostalgia. I’ve seen plenty of “Dude, I loved Thundercats!,” but ZERO comments about child abuse itself.
Suddenly, awareness of a good cause becomes about ME, ME, ME! MY favorite things! MY pictures! What do I like? What am I wearing?
How does a call for charity become self-centered and completely divorced from charitable behavior?
I am wholeheartedly grateful for the role technology plays in my life (including online networking), yet I find myself missing the days when people didn’t think what they had for breakfast was newsworthy enough to be shared with everyone they’ve ever known on three different sites. I miss when caring about a cause meant volunteering time and sharing valuable information.
The closer we get, the more disconnected we become.
99% of the time, I ignore solipsistic social networking trends, even when they involve causes very close to my heart.
Here is a cartoon I liked as a kid:
Are children still being abused now? Wait…Really? Are you sure?
I’m afraid I agree with Gossamer here:
I’m not sure if it’s actually possible to be “in love” with a quilt…enamored, perhaps? Smitten? Totally bloody awestruck?
Jimmy McBride’s intergalactic quilts rank among the most innovative beautifully constructed craft pieces I’ve seen.
I happen to explore astronomy photographs quite often (and always have an astronomy image as my computer wallpaper), so it was an added bonus to see images I know and love rendered in gorgeous bedding.
The details are stunning…
This is a geek’s dream! Or rather, something under which geeks may dream.
See more here
Sweet, decaying irony…
Did you ever have one of those days when you feel like the whole universe if flipping you off?
Let this remind us…STRESS: it’s never too early to start (or perhaps this is a label, referring to the role of the child in the family unit).
Rock(in’ knit) Lobster:
Long hair and bones…I relate (by Jessica Ward).
All heads must be watered regularly.
In poor taste? Perhaps. But I think it’s pretty funny (especially on those days when shopping seems like a real chore):
Two recent posts from the fabulous Surviving Sophia Walker:
For those who have not yet seen this amazing display:
I actually saw this sign in a doctor’s office. I want this printed on a T-shirt.
“If you are grouchy, irritable or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.”
Very cool promo art for the band Dead Man’s Bones (love them!):
Retrofuturistic urban planning diagram:
Hmmm…what exactly is a gentleman to do in this scenario?
My friend Ryan shared this the other day, and it is spectacular. “The Sandman” is an interpretation of a chilling European folk tale, featuring a wonderfully crafted villain.
If you are at all into stop motion animation (or delightfully nightmarish creations)…DO NOT SKIP THIS VIDEO.
Thanks, Ryan!
Helpful Figures is a dynamite series of bogus infographics. I just went through every graphic on the site from start to finish, because they were so entertaining.
Have a look through the archives for some comic gems!
SheWalksSoftly 