You Can't Escape .... Random Tuesday Thoughts

But this guy could
Happy Birthday Harry Houdini!

If you need a little escapist fun today let's get you started:

Harry's My Space page is "authorized by...the grand nephew..."
Houdini tribute If you're at work be sure to mute - the music's a bit of a giveaway that you're slacking off. Course if you're still at work you've already got this covered,yeah?

Den Mother of Random Tuesday, Keely The Un Mom, has rampant robots (+ a lovely Haiku) on her blog today. (C'mon....click thru, grab a button & play along....you know you want too....) So Keely, this pic I found last night on The Great Harry Houdini is for you


Had your dose of vitamin Z today? Check out this new zombie piece by digital artist Barbara Moustafa. She's having a bit o' fun with the latest image prompt from Art On The Darkside , one of my favorite challenge sites.

Mike over at The Mental Kavity features the seriously cool skateboard art of etsian alexxxcastaneda today. Had to nick the image & share....forgive me, Mike?Click the pic to visit alexxxcastaneda on etsy. If you like what you see, visit iamalexxx.com for some more fabulous work by this talented artist

If you are looking for a spellbinding tale check out The Hermitage blog by the wonderful wandering artist Rima. She shares her adventures in art, thought & the great wide world. Her house on wheels is extrememly photogenic too. If you enjoy her blog, be sure to check out Rima's etsy shop, also The Hermitage.

I want to take a minute to say thanks for all the kind comments that have been left by visitors. Although I suck at getting back to you, I do stop by & enjoy your posts. Been out of town & without internet but will be catching up this week, I hope. Seeing some amazing creativity out there! Keep it up

I could get lost blog-hopping today, but the day job awaits. If you can spare a minute, go grab a button & share your wonderful random thoughts with the world.....

4 to beam up - It's Random Tuesday!

If he were still around, it'd be James Doohan's birthday today. I was thinking that no one actually said "Beam me up, Scotty" on the old Star Trek series (yes, yes Once a nerd, always a nerd) & a trip down google-lane ended at TV Tropes. They have fun lists of phrases now stuck in our minds that were never actually said on film/tv. My dweeby anal-retentive nature aside, a toast too ya Mr Doohan!I nicked this pic off a post called StarTrek's Greatest Moments in Drinking, another google gem

The Un Mom is still encouraging the zombie-luv...no not that kind of....ewww... I'm talking icky fun illustrations by Jason Chan! If you lean toward the dark side, I recommend a look around his blog. He has a great Norman-Rockwell's-evil-twin thing going on *ach, poorly phrased but meant to be a compliment*

Some of his pieces (like this lovely lady)would fit perfectly with all the squiggly-goodness over at cephalopod tea party

Joe Bagley has a freaking awesome papercutting of his eye on his blog today!

A peek at JanuaryWish's blog today introduced me to Airborne Toxic Event- Somewhere Around Midnight - very very cool

This looks good too - no fee online self portrait competition, deadline May 31. I say go for it! Or check out the entries that have been posted thus far

Gotta run. Final bit of trivia today. Another birthday wish to the famous gent who once said Mr. Watson- come here- I want to see you

Random Thoughts Tuesday

As far as consistency of thought goes, I prefer inconsistency.

-John Cage

I heard Mr. Cage speak back in '88 or so. He was a trip. His lecture was all over the place. Many people left disappointed. I felt at home. (Whatever that says about me.) Random chance has always made sense.

Here's a clip of him performing Water Walk on a 1960 Game show

Here's a performance of Cage's 4'33" by the BBC Symphony Orchestra many many years later

What I find fascinating is the different reactions

Happy Belated Birthday to Abe Lincoln!He'd have turned 200 on the 12th. Here's a penny from 1809:

I read somewhere It'd be worth $200 today. Wonder what 1 cent bought you in 1809?

Also belated b-day wishes to Charles Darwin, who shares the same birthday as Mr. Lincoln. Here's a cute 200 Birthday Music list for Darwin. You can listen to it while reading Origin of the Species !

I meant to catch these 2 last week but have been busy posting about etsy shop OzBushfireAppeal. If you want to find out about it click thru or check out yesterday's post.

Gotta get the little dude to bed- time to cut this ramble short. So 1 last Happy Birthday - to Tom Ripley! Here's a fun piece from the NY Times about my favorite octogenarian. After reading Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr Ripley years ago I was totally hooked & tracked down the other 4 books. I love this guy!

By the way she also wrote Strangers On A Train - If you haven't seen the Hitchcock adaptation & like old thrillers, put it on your Netflix now! Actually, I should go put it on mine. It was a favorite when I was kid but I haven't seen it in at least 25 years.....

Speaking if kids, I've got a cranky 1 who insists he's "not tired!" A sure sign that it's time to go....

Monday's Muse - Happy Birthday, Mr. Poe!

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only at night. - E.A. Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was born 200 years ago today in Boston. Poe's Muse - Digital Collage

Many cities are having celebrations this month - there's a good calendar of events here. The Post office has issued another stamp. (I also found this one from 1949.) The NY times blog has a slide show of portraits, text & original writings here.

Sometimes referred to him as the father of the detective novel & one of the initial contributors to the science fiction genre, Poe's influence extends beyond the written word. His works have inspired artists, Filmmakers (Hitchcock), musicians (including Debussy & the Beatles)

(Can you find Poe on this famous album cover?)

Even scientist have been influenced by his works, including Eureka, A prose poem

I've enjoyed reading Poe as far back as I can recall & he shows up in my art from time to time. (see above collage of Poe & his wife Virginia)

(and the mini watercolor pendant Annabel Lee)

If you need a further dose of Poe today, a good site to visit is edgarallanpoe200.com - or just enter Poe into the search at Etsy to see the many creations there.

“It is by no means an irrational fancy that, in a future existence, we shall look upon what we think our present existence, as a dream.”