by Marty Coleman | Feb 27, 2013 | Andrew Carnegie, Meh Meh Mediocrity - 2013 |
I motivated myself to drawing another Mediocrity napkin!
A Decapitated Life
This is gross, right? Well, so is spending your life sitting on a couch looking at gross images. So is wasting your life consumed with watching not doing. So is criticizing what other people do while you do nothing. So is killing yourself before your life is over.
A Reattached Life
I am currently reading the book ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley. We all know the story of the Doctor who makes a man out of various body parts and brings the creature to life. Did you know we do the same with ourselves? We just do it at the cellular level. Our body recreates itself constantly, old cells die off and existing cells divide to create new cells. One estimate, just as an example, says that we replace 10% of our fat cells per year and between 1% and .5 % of our cardiomyocyte heart cells per year depending on our age. That isn’t to say every single cell is replaced, that is not true. Many of our brain cells for example are with us since birth and will be with us when we die.
The Changing Life
Having new cells isn’t as nifty as say having a new face attached (which now can be done) but it is a reminder that what our cells can do, our brain and body can do. We ARE able to change our habits. We ARE able to change our attitudes. We ARE able to change our behaviors. We ARE able to lead a life of excellence instead of mediocrity.
The Mediocrity Chair
What does it take? It takes a decision to do it and the courage, when the moment arrives, to take action. But, But, But…..All the excuses, reasons, fears, roadblocks, shortcomings, past failures, past successes, pressure, relationships, disbelief, self-loathing, lack of hope, lack of trust, lack of ability are what courage is created to overcome.
So wind up that spring of courage, breathe deep and get the _______ out of your mediocrity chair and go. Whatever it is you want your life to be, I mean REALLY TRULY DEEPLY want your life to be… GO BE IT. You might fail but you will be farther and better than if you stayed in that chair of mediocrity.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who once had skin grafts done on my arms and back. They took the skin from my butt, which was basically the only place on my body that wasn’t burnt, isn’t that cute?
Quote by Andrew Carnegie, 1835-1919, Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist
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Trivia question of the Day
A man known to many as ‘The most hated man in America’ was suppose to be on the Titanic but missed the boat. Who was he and why did he miss it?
Hint: It was not Andrew Carnegie.
Come back tomorrow for the answer.
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 25, 2013 | Meh Meh Mediocrity - 2013 |
In Honor of Oscar night…
The Emperor
Did you make fun of some the actresses and their dresses on the red carpet last night? I am not asking if you had an opinion about their dresses, but if you ridiculed, mocked and made fun of them. If you did, let me ask you this; Do you have as good a fashion sense as they do? Do you put yourself together regularly (or even occasionally) with a lot of attention paid to the visual statement you are making? Or are you perhaps the Emperor with No Clothes?
The Playing Field
You might think I am saying we shouldn’t be judging. Nothing could be further from the truth. We judge athletes on the playing field with how they play, that is why they are there and why they get paid well, to perform. There is nothing wrong with judging in that case.
On the red carpet the women (and men to a lesser degree) are on their own unique playing field. It’s proper to judge their performance, which in this case consists of how they have visually and materially present themselves. If you don’t think they did that well, then I don’t see anything wrong with saying so.
Judgment vs Judgment
But is it good for you to mock them? To ridicule them? Perhaps if they came in a paper sack, yes. But otherwise isn’t there a substantial character difference between saying a dress is ill-fitting and the actress made a bad fashion choice vs saying the actress looks like a slut in that dress? One is judging their choices, which you can actually see right in front of you and the other is judging their character, which you cannot see and don’t know. One is a legitimate critique while the other is self-righteous, egotistical puffery.
And The Oscar Goes To…
Who was your best dressed last night? My choice for best dressed last night?
I liked the metallic look so my choice was… a tie between
Stacy Keibler
and
Naomi Watts (who also should have won Best Actress!)
Photos courtesy of Popsugar.com
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who has never walked the red carpet. But it’s on my bucket list!
Quote by Dita Von Teese, Burlesque Entertainer
Dita Von Teese
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 22, 2013 | Bodyless Ghirl Ghosts - 2012-2013 |
Last we saw the ghirl ghosts some of them were trying on hats but a number of them were still back at the farm learning how to milk cows. This is the story of what happened to them.
The Cow Milk Tasting
The remaining seven stayed at the farm. After they were done milking they all went back to the farm house to have a taste test. Two of them, Sassy and Skerri, liked Selma’s milk best because it was sweet and creamy. Three of them, Betsy, Belinda, and Beatrice liked BeeBee’s because it tasted a bit like chocolate (which is not odd since BeeBee had found the daughter’s stash of hidden chocolate candy bars in the barn and eaten them all just the day before). Two of the ghirl ghosts didn’t like the milk at all. Lacey had been lactose intolerant when she was alive and had a body and it still scared her to drink milk even though she no longer had a stomach. Kacey had been kicked in the head by Bee Bee when she floated too close to Bee Bee’s butt and Selma had snorted in a way that made Kacey think she was laughing at her (and she was) . She was not in the mood to drink milk after that.
It didn’t take long for the farmer and daughter to grow tired of the ghirl ghosts, not in small part due to the big mess of spilt milk on the floor since they don’t have stomachs. It didn’t help that Belinda burped really loud, spitting milk out on Skerri and Sassy laughing so hard milk came out her nose. Soon enough they shooed them out the farmhouse door and sent them on their way. The farmer and his daughter went inside, used up all their clean dish towels cleaning up the mess, then went to the workroom to finish building bird houses.
The Chase
As soon as they left the farmhouse they heard barking and realized 5 large dogs were running after them. In the meanwhile 4 other ghirl ghosts came back from the hat shopping trip and were looking for the farm when they saw the commotion. They all panicked and floated really fast up a big hill. They were hoping there would be a cliff on the other side that would stop the dogs but instead they crested the hill and ran right into an electrified fence. All eleven of them hit the fence much full force and were electrocuted.
Death After Death
One of the nice things about being a bodyless ghirl ghost, besides not having to worry about ingrown toenails or periods, is that you don’t have to worry about dying either. Since they had died once before they couldn’t die again. But the bad part is it still hurts like hell. The dogs meanwhile had stopped short, not wanting to get anywhere near the electrified fence. They did bark and howl in such a way that the ghirl ghosts thought they were being laughed at, and they were. After the ghirl ghosts recovered their senses (not that they had much sense to begin with) they all decided they wanted to go to a safer place. They decided unanimously and off they went.
And you dear reader, where do you think they are headed next?
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Drawing and short, short story by Marty Coleman, who has never milked a cow.
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Drawing and story © 2013 Marty Coleman
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 21, 2013 | Idealism - 2013, Winston Churchill |
It might be folly, but today is day 4 of The Ideal Series!
The Intolerant Idea l
That is not a hyphenation mistake at the end of the quote. You can’t be idealistic without an idea. When a person is so persuaded that his or her idea is worth hurting others, worth cutting them down, or worth castigating them as less than they are, then the idea, no matter how positive it is in the abstract, becomes dangerous and deadly. If you have any doubts think of the history of ideas and ideals.
The Religious Idea l
Although bathed in the teachings of love over the centuries, religions and their ideas of exclusivity have led to wars, persecutions, terrorism, hatred, condemnation, assassinations, and destruction of whole societies and cities, all because the ideas included having no tolerance for those who believe differently.
The Political Idea l
State Communism and State Socialism, supposedly started with the idea of ‘brotherhood of man’ and equality for all, led instead to the oppression, incarceration and murder of close to 100 million people under Stalin and Mao alone.
The Personal Idea l
Who do you dislike and why? Who do you make fun of? Who do you declare unworthy of consideration and respect? Who do you hate? Maybe someone fat? Maybe a cyclops? How about a prostitute? What about a Muslim? Perhaps a bigamist Mormon? What about a slut? Possibly a thief? What about a rich movie star? Maybe an atheist? How about a Democrat? Or a Republican?
The Power Idea l
Now give yourself unlimited power to do anything you want to those people. What would you do? That is how the damage of the religious and the political examples I mentioned above came about. They didn’t start after the person got in power. The hatred was there first, then the power gave them the capability to do the damage.
The Ideal Idea l
Jesus taught that the sin was not in the murder alone, but that it was the hatred that led to the murder that was also a sin. Now, I am not a big believer in ‘sin’ in the classic definition, but it really doesn’t matter what you call it. It starts in your heart. If you don’t practice tolerance and understanding when you are without power, you will never have it when you do.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who believes that in the end, only kindness matters.
Quote by Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British Prime Minister during WWII
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Trivia Question from Yesterday
Question: How did the dandelion get it’s name?
Answer: The dandelion’s leaves had ragged edges, much like the teeth of a lion, thus in french ‘dent de lion’.
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 20, 2013 | Idealism - 2013, John Galsworthy |
Ideally this would be day 3 of The Ideal Series, and thus it is.
The Ideal Meteor
You know what would be ideal? If a really large meteor, the largest in 100 years, screamed through the atmosphere and blew up and we could see it all happen! Yes it would be…from a distance. It would not be ideal if it hit your town, blew out your office glass and cut you up really bad. It all depends on how close you are, doesn’t it.
The Myopic Ideal
If you live in Oklahoma then chances are you might think your ideal world includes no need for gun regulation beyond maybe some safety classes. Perhaps everyone having a gun is your ideal. But would you feel the same way if you lived in that violence ridden inner city? I bet the solution would be harder than just simplistically saying let everyone have a gun and all will be well.
But what if you live in a bad area of Chicago or LA or some other city with a very high rate of gun violence? You are far, far away from rural Oklahoma with it’s uncrowded rural life. Your ideal is different. Perhaps your ideal is no one having guns. But would you feel the same way if you lived in that quiet rural world? I bet the solution would be harder than just simplistically saying take away all the guns and all will be well.
The 20/20 Ideal
What do you do if you want to find solutions and maintain your idealism at the same time? Well, we know you can’t find a solution without understanding the other side, since even if you do pass a law, it will come back to bite you if it doesn’t take into account as many people as possible. So, we have to compromise.
But what about the idealism, isn’t that dead if you have to compromise? No, it is not. Idealism is not about reaching something (see yesterday’s drawing) it’s about being guided by something. Your idealistic guiding principles can include finding solutions that help everyone, not just you and your tribe. But to do that you have to be willing to get inside that other world, if not in person, at least via reading and understanding, with an open heart and a belief in the good faith of the other side.
You know what that would be? It would be ideal.
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Drawing by Marty Coleman, who thinks it would be ideal if some well connected friend of mine contacted a marketing department in a paper company that makes napkins or an art company that makes markers and told them it would be ideal for them to sponsor me.
Quote by John Galsworthy, 1867-1933, British writer. Nobel Prize winner, Literature – 1932
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Trivia Question of the Day
How did the dandelion get it’s name?
Come back tomorrow for the answer
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 19, 2013 | Art, Idealism - 2013, W. C. Gannett |
Do you realize that today is day 2 of The Ideal Series?
The Creative Real
I believe art is at its best when it refines and distills something real. But what is real to an artist? Is it beauty? Form? Color? Humanity? Nature? Or something else entirely?
The Creative Ideal
I believe art is at its best when it refines and distills something ideal. But what is ideal to any artist? Is it beauty? Form? Color? Humanity? Nature? Or something else entirely?
The Ideal Real
I love art because it’s up to me to define both my ideal and my real. They are symbiotic, living with each other as lovers. They love and fight and make up again and again and again.
Who is your ideal and your real? Are they lovers or fighters or both?
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who ideally would have a real house at an ideal beach with his real wife.
Quote by W. C. Gannett, 1840-1923, Unitarian Pastor and leader, along with his wife Mary Louis Gannett, of the Women’s Suffrage movement
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Trivia question from yesterday answered:
Question: Who opened the first kindergarten in the US?
Answer: Margarethe Meyer-Schurz, wife of yesterday’s quote author
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 18, 2013 | Carl Schurz, Idealism - 2013 |
What an ideal day to start ‘The Ideal Series’ here at the NDD.
Do you have an ideal? Do you try to reach it or do you try to be guided by it to a life well lived? Tell us your ideal.
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Drawing and questions by Marty Coleman, who is learning to sail his ship.
Quote by Carl Schurz, 1829-1906, First German-born American elected to the US Senate, 1869
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Trivia question of the day
Who opened the first kindergarten in the US?
Answer in the comments below or if you don’t know, come back tomorrow for the answer.
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 15, 2013 | Antonio Porchia, Judgment - 2013 |
Eyes Down Illusion
If you are always looking down the illusion becomes reality, that everyone else is below you. They become inferior and needy. They are a burden to you. They aren’t worthy of respect or true care and attention like you are. They are less than you and you are on top. You are not only at the highest point, you ARE the highest point.
Eyes Up Illusion
If you are always looking up the illusion becomes reality, that everyone else is above you. You become inferior and needy. You are a burden to them. You aren’t worthy of respect and care and attention. You are less than them and you are on the bottom. You are not only at the lowest point, you ARE the lowest point.
Eyes Up and Down Reality
If you are looking up and down there is no illusion, there is only reality; some above, some below, some equal. You are not inferior or superior. You are not a burden nor are they. All are worthy of respect and care and attention, no matter where they are. You are not less and you are not more, you are not on the bottom nor the top. You are simply among friends.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman
Quote by Antonio Porchia, 1886-1968, Argentinian poet
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 12, 2013 | Bodyless Ghirl Ghosts - 2012-2013 |
Unsuccessful Milking
Last we saw the bodyless Ghirl Ghosts they were learning how to milk cows after their food fight in the ski chalet. The milking didn’t go too well since they have no hands. They either had to use their mouths, which they thought was gross, or bump heads with a cow’s teat in between, which was also not very successful because they slipped off the teat and hit each other’s head each time. Even ghosts don’t like getting head butted.
What They Shop For
But what Ghirl Ghosts do like to do is go hat shopping. Since they don’t have bodies it’s really not fun to go clothes shopping. They like to go to clothing stores, but just to watch people change clothes and then pull pranks on them. They especially like stealing men’s underwear and women’s bras in their changing rooms and then laugh as they have to walk out with too much ‘information’ showing and bouncing. But they also get depressed because they can’t try on the clothes.
The Bodyless Body Image issue
Eight of the ghirls ghosts went back to the hotel to take naps. Two of them had head colds as well, which is the only kind of colds bodyless ghosts actually ever get. The other seven decided to check out ‘Not Topless’, the cute little hat boutique in Wolla Tompo, the ski resort where they were staying. Penelope, the leader of the Ghirl Ghosts tried on two hats, one of which was cute and wavy-like, while the other was a boy’s top hat. She liked it but the other girls laughed at her, saying she looked like a boy ghost. She had always hated when people told her that she looked like a boy when she was not a ghost and had a body, mostly because she was thin and didn’t have any hips or boobs to speak of. She used to wear a lot of make up, especially false eyelashes and bright orange lipstick to make sure everyone didn’t think she was a boy. So now, even though she only had a head, it made her feel bad and she started crying.
Sharita told her to get over it, that they all had something that bugged them about themselves. She herself was always told she was a slut, all because she had a lot of curves and walked so the curves kept curving. Now that she didn’t have a body she never got called that but she still felt that the other girl ghosts thought of her that way. Sharita started crying too. Ethel, the one who started the food fight earlier, and still had some applesauce stuck on her forehead, told how when she had a body it didn’t work and she hated it. Sharita asked between sobs what that meant. Ethel said she had been in a unicycle accident and had become paralyzed from the belly button down. She said that she didn’t have any sensation below that and never had sex or an orgasm or anything like that in her whole life. She started to cry.
The Lonely Saleswoman
So now there were 3 bodyless ghirl ghosts crying while trying on hats. The other four started to cry hearing those stories and they all apologized to each other for being insensitive. The saleswoman, who wasn’t a ghost and did have a body and had been on her feet for 12 hours started crying as well. All the ghirl ghosts went over to her and nuzzled her (they can’t hug so they nuzzle), telling her they were sorry and that they would buy the hats and go. The saleswoman said she didn’t want them to go because she had no friends and was very lonely. She wasn’t crying because her feet hurt and that she was tired but that seeing them all have fun and cry together made her feel even more alone. She said she had all sorts of body and head issues and no one to talk to about them.
The Ghirl Ghosts told her to close up the shop and then they went in back and listened to her tell all her stories. They all cried together and had the best time.
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Drawing and short short story by Marty Coleman, who loves hats on women.
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 11, 2013 | Pope John Paul II, Thus Sayeth The Pope |
Since Pope Ben is going to retire this month I thought I would round up some interesting quotes from Popes recent and past and see how they illuminate things, both intentionally and un.
The Halting Hand
Who’s hand is that keeping them from seeing each other? Does the abused one hide or does the friend ignore? Do they have an almost invisible fence of hurt that keep them from reaching out? I have been accused in the past of probing too deep with people, asking too many personal questions, wondering about thing more intimate than I should wonder about out load. I will take that criticism and live with it because I would rather be accused of asking too many questions than not enough. I would rather be told I am being too pushy than to find out a friend of mine was abused or committed suicide and I hadn’t ask a question I really thought I should ask.
The Papal Irony
This quote is by Pope John Paul II, the Pope before the current and soon to resign Pope Benedict. I think it is a true statement. I think it is also a very ironic one considering the trouble the Catholic Church has had for decades in excusing the most unchristian and immoral behavior one can imagine. I am not suggesting Pope John Paul II knew anything about it but it is now obvious that child molestation and sexual assault has been going on a long, long time within the Catholic Church. It’s also obvious that many Priests and Bishops put their hands up and blinded themselves to the assaults. They cared about the political fallout and the monetary implications if the secrets got out. I am sure they were disturbed at some level about the actual assault as well. But obviously that was down the list in importance, that is why the best solution for them was to send the offender off to another parish or area of service so the blood would be washed from their hands instead of actually turning the criminal offender into the police.
That is ironic.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who is not Catholic
Quote by Karol Wojtyla, 1920-2005, Roman Catholic Pope (John Paul II) 1978-2005
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Trivia Question of the Day
What is the sedia stercoraria and what was it used to prove among Popes?
Come back tomorrow to get the answer
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