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Pro-Date Rape T-shirt For Sale on Amazon

An attempt at irony that just didn't land right? Because this has to be a joke.
Still, only a total ass would wear this.

Via Jezebel 7/2/08

Happy Canada Day?

Image originally uploaded by the Chania Allen

July 1^st is "Canada Day?" Where did this come from, and why are we celebrating it all of the sudden? Even my dentist sent out a "Happy Canada Day" email today. I live in Chicago. I just heard three gunshots, so I'm sure of that. Wait, four. Now police sirens.

Canadians are smart. They understand that guns are only for occasional moose hunting and for making a handsome display on one's pickup truck gun rack. Americans don't get this.

Here is a beautiful felt Canadian flag I found by Chania Allen, a felt and fiber artist from Ontario.

See her work at:

http://www.chaniaallen.blogspot.com/

Latching On To The Memory Of Tim Russert

Tim Russert, 2007 by Robert Conger.

Image uploaded by Mixed Greens.

Ok, that was a really stupid pun. Sorry. I was reading today about Brokaw subing for the late Tim Russert on Meet the Press, and out of the blue sky I remembered seeing this amazing Robert Conger latchhook portrait. I googled around and found a blog post from the artist last week addressing...a curse?

Smut By The Sea

Image uploaded by Transition Gallery

Closeup of one of Tabitha Moses's embroidered “smutty souvenir hankies” from Fan Fair, a show about boardwalk spectacles at Transition Gallery (London).

Amy Sedaris's 'I Like Rum' Dress

As if I needed another reason to love Amy Sedaris! Here she is hosting a Chicago digital art event in the West Loop June 26th, resplendent in a blue dress embroidered (?) with the words “i like rum.” According to Amy, the dress was created by Adam Selman, who has also designed costumes for Ms. Dolly Parton.

Via.

Making ends meet in NYC

This report from All Things Considered (6/18/08) inspired me. Chris and I mastered the art of living very frugally long ago, and I like hearing others chime in on this way of life--no fancy travel, no fine dining or conspicuous consumerism, but still getting maximum joy out of life because you are doing what you want to be doing.

“A recent study of 213 visual artists aged 62 and older found that the average income of these artists was $30,000 a year.”

“Many of these artists manage to make it in New York through frugal living. All they seem to need is some food, a roof overhead and the time and opportunity to practice their art.”

Perfecting the Art of Frugal Living in NYC
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91556654

Felt dumplings

A pierogi is a tasty, fattening little dumpling filled with cheese or meat.

Artist David Watts' pierogies are stuffed with polyester filling. They're also made of felt. His piece “Comfort Cake” was featured in the Three Arts Festival in Pittsburgh (June 6-22, 2008).

Mr. Watts tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "I'm working on a pierogi dress. I want to call it 'Putting on the Pounds.'"

Trivia: according to Wikipedia, the world's largest fiberglass sculpture of a pierogi speared on a fork was established as a roadside attraction in Glendon, Alberta, Canada in 1993.

Source

Photo originally uploaded by Robin Rombach/Post-Gazette

Getting my library on Facebook

I created a page for my library on Facebook, and today the director sent out a mass email letting all students, faculty and staff know about it, so that they can "fan" us. He also added a link for this on the library's main page and the student portal. There are several reasons why having a presence on Facebook is good for libraries. It connects with students where they hang out, it gives the library greater visibility, it allows us to network with other libraries and information professionals. Also, I believe it makes the library seem more relevant to students. (Actually, it's all stated here, and very well) When I was making it, I showed it to a couple and they could not believe that a library could do "something that cool."

I got word that one of the Deans said it was "impressive and a good thing." I think that's cool.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chicago-IL/Carl-F-Shepard-Library-IL-College-of-Optometry/30493074936

Librarians and other friends, please stop by and fan us too if you are on Facebook.

*6/23/08: By Monday, we'd already accumulated 86 fans! It caught on fast.

National Juried Fiber Arts Show at Sixth Street Gallery

I'm doing a fiber art group show August 1-31 in Washington state at a space called Sixth Street Gallery. I wasn't going to do any more shows because of our move, but one won't hurt. It looks like a nice local place.

We are moving to New York City

Last year around this time our frustration with RP and Chicago was at its peak. So, we decided to make our long-time goal of moving to New York City a reality. We began to religiously set aside money from each paycheck we earned in savings just for the move. We did our homework about NYC rents, neighborhoods, jobs, and public transportation. Our moving budget slowly but surely began to reach our savings goal. Recently we booked a flight & hotel for late July to apartment shop. The move still won't be for months, but we have already started packing our CDs, books, and other nonessential stuff.

I don't have my heart set on a particular neighborhood. Williamsburg happens to be where will be staying, but that doesn't mean it's even my first choice. It's all going to come down to timing, I think--what's available to be seen and grabbed when we are in town.