Chubby Cheeks

Chubby cheeks aren't necessarily a bad thing, right? Kinda cute? Kinda loveable? At least some of the time?

My hairdresser wanted to cut my hair in a way that emphasizes my eyes and my face, so she cut my bangs REALLLY REALLLY SHORT. I think the new 'do is cute and sassy and fun, and, as she said, playful (LOL). When my boyfriend saw my new 'do, he said he loved how it brought out my cow eyes eyes and MY CHUBBY CHEEKS. Argh! But he is right -- I do have chubby cheeks. :)

The Central Park Five

Have you seen this documentary? Do you know the story?

The Central Park Five, a new film from award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns, tells the story of the five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem who were wrongly convicted of raping a white woman in New York City’s Central Park in 1989. The film chronicles The Central Park Jogger case, for the first time from the perspective of these five teenagers whose lives were upended by this miscarriage of justice.

Watch Central Park Five Preview on PBS. See more from Central Park Five.

The story of the Central Park Five raises important questions about race and class, the failings of our criminal justice system, legal protections for vulnerable juveniles, and basic human rights.

I think any person with a career in law enforcement, criminal justice, or journalism should be REQUIRED to watch this movie. I also think every citizen that may ever serve on a jury should be required to watch it.

I watched this movie last night, and it cut me to the core.  I like to think that most people are good, that most people strive to become better and more enlightened beings, but that is not always the case.  The criminal element will always exist.  The need for a criminal and legal system will never go away.  Those with the power to arrest, convict and prosecute should be held to a high standard -- we trust them to keep us safe and to deal fairly and effectively with those that commit crimes.  They have big responsibilities, and they should be made to face serious consequences when they willfully thwart or impede justice and shirk their sworn responsibilities. 

Watch the movie if you get a chance.  You can find it on PBS in the United States, and/or purchase the DVD here.

Note: text in italics found here.

Kiddie Litter

 
OMFG. HILARIOUS AND HORRIFYING!

 

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Dioramas

I went with my sister and nieces to visit the Natural History Museum over the weekend. I don't think I had been since I was a kid. I was BLOWN AWAY by how amazing the dioramas were (pictured above -- not great shots, but they give you a rough idea how cool the dioramas look). I just kept GAPING at them. They are total works of art -- startlingly realistic, incredibly detailed, and scientifically accurate. Totally believable. They transport you.  They are AMAZING.

Long after I left the museum, I still could not stop thinking about the dioramas and wondering how I could get a job making them. !!!!!!DREAM JOB!!!!!! I investigated this notion a bit further by looking at the Natural History Museum website which has a page dedicated to the artists that create these dioramas. YAY! 

 

From what I read, their are two types of artists involved with creating museum dioramas: 

1) artists that develop compositions, paint backgrounds, and create settings for the dioramas; and, 

2) taxidermists that create the animals for the dioramas.

I was an art major in college years ago.  It is not easy to make a living with a degree in art, but I have almost always managed to find a job connected to the art world.  BUT WOW, I never ever thought of becoming an artist that made dioramas for a museum.  TALK ABOUT A DREAM JOB!!!!!!!! I wish I had thought of all of this and TRAINED FOR IT long ago!!!!  

Needless to say, I am in absolute awe of what the artists, taxidermists and natural history museums present to us.  If you get a chance, visit a natural history museum soon and check out the dioramas.  I think/hope you will be impressed! 

P.S. If this topic is of interest to you, you might want to check out this article with Tim Bovard, Taxidermist for the Natural History Museum, Los Angeles. TIM BOVARD, if you happen to see this blog post and think you might want to train me to assist you, PLEASE EMAIL ME!  drollgirlmail@gmail.com   :)

Here are pics of some SUPER dioramas (not my pics -- found via google images):

And here is a book on the same topic that I cannot wait to get!

CLEARLY I HAVE A NEW OBSESSION!  :)