The Ides of March

What do George Clooney, Miami University and I have in common? Miami University is where I went to college, and it's where George Clooney is shooting his new film, The Ides of March. That's a photo of him on set.. it's cold here!

Miami University is in Oxford, Ohio. It's a sleepy college town northwest of Cincinnati. It's a pretty campus. And it's the REAL Miami... not the one in Florida! Miami is named for the tribe of Indians who used to inhabit this area. (I don't know where that other Miami got it's name!)


The small photo is the dorm where I lived. That was in the dark ages, when males weren't allowed inside, and our curfew was 10:30 on weeknights and midnight on weekends.


This is one of the classroom buildings, where I spent many hours...


...and this is the view I had as a gazed out the classroom window:


Go see The Ides of March when it comes out, and you will see where I went to school! (it's just one location... they are also shooting all over Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. George grew up around here, so I guess he remembered it.)

Black and White Blog

I found some black and white photos I really like:










Black and White Pinwheels:


Poetry Pinwheels:


But... color is good too!

I Like Maximal Art

When I lived in Philadelphia I discovered Maximal Art jewelry. I found my first piece at a charity auction. That's it in the photo above.


Soon I started noticing similar pieces in stores around Philadelphia. I also came across an article in the Philadelphia Sunday magazine about the designer of these pieces, John Wind.



He makes collages out of printed text and little pictures and puts them under liquid crystal. Then he embellishes them with crystals and jewels and little charms.

Here are a few more from my collection:






I like their originality and their vintage charm. I just noticed something... I have a lot of heart-shaped pieces, don't I?

They Became A Family

The kitties that live in our back yard and lounge together on our deck came from three different litters. They are not related to each other by blood. But they act like a family. They cuddle up together and cooperate with each other. They never fight. I think it's amazing to see how well they all get along.


Sorry if I got too political in my post yesterday. I think we humans can all get along too.

Speaking Out

I just read that Rahm Emanuel has been elected mayor of Chicago. I wish him luck... there are a lot of problems that need solving in Chicago. It will be interesting to see how he does. I like him. I know he is a controversial figure. He is known to be gruff, brash and profane. But I like him anyway. I think he is a true family man. I think he's smart. I think he says what he believes. Maybe it's because he's Jewish. Maybe it's because he can be funny.


I guess I'm about to get political. Because here are some guys I don't like.


He is ugly, inside and out. He's an opportunist. He will say anything to get ratings.


I don't like these two, either. I don't think either one is the least bit sorry for anything he did.


On the other hand, to balance things out, here are a few I do like.

Cousins

Feelings

I want to feel like this.


But I feel like this.


No bad problems, just a lot of quesions.




It's a crazy place, inside my head. I think there is a clown in there. Happy, sad, everything all mixed up.




I don't know what this is, but it looks cool... maybe opposites?

Apple Comes Through

You may recall some complaints I have had about my iphone. I've had it for over two years and it was fine for a long time. Then it started freezing up. It would become unresponsive and I couldn't do anything with it. I found out that once in a while they have to be "restored". To restore the phone you go through a procedure on itunes with the phone connected to the laptop. I did that a few times, but it never seemed to last. Finally, last week it refused to restore at all.

So, yesterday I made the trek up to the Apple store to visit the Genius Bar. Guess what happened?

They gave me a new one! YAY!

(They didn't give me a brand new one, like a 4G; they gave me the same version I had, a 3G... which was fine with me!)

What Do You Value?

It's unimaginable to me, but Congress has been debating a bill that would cut all federal funding to public media. I, for one, can not imagine life without public radio and public television.


Do you listen to public radio? Fresh Air? All Things Considered? Diane Rehm? Car Talk? My local public radio station is the only button I use when I'm in my car.


Did you grow up watching Sesame Street? Would Jim Henson's Muppets have ever appeared if not for public television? What about Julia Child? Are you a parent whose children watch shows on PBS Kids? Are you a teacher who uses PBS Kids programs in the classroom? Without adequate funding, all these could disappear.

If you value public media, go to "170millionamericans.org" and send a message to your Representative in Congress. If they care at all what their constituents say, maybe it will make a difference.