BLOCKBUSTER TRADE!

Reports are streaming in that the first painting has been sold at Motherfool's. After an extensive bargaining session, with concessions by both sides, a price has been agreed upon and "We Built A Fire" has been traded to a Madison home. The paintings, 16x20 inches made with acrylic, ink and pastel, has been in Milwaukee since it's creation about a month ago.

When asked about the trade, WBAF said, "I have always loved my home in Milwaukee, loved the city and it's people but it's time to move on to better things. The home in Madison is exactly what I've been looking for and I'll be sure to give 110% and take up that wall-space with the impact that a 36x48 inch painting would."

Though the house could not be reached for contact, onlookers waiting outside the offices were quoted saying that it looked "psyched" about the acquisition.

Not all people suck

O yes, it's true. Not all people suck, even though it seems like it a whole lot these days. And I'll go even farther, not all rich people suck. Just look at this story.

Josh Beckett walks over to a young boy taking a picture of him and hands him a ball. Not "stop the presses" material but then it gets a little more interesting. The kid jumps a bit and then is completely overwhelmed with joy, actually sits next to his dad and starts weeping. Now...I know that giving a ball to someone isn't that big of a deal, so I'm not ordaining Beckett a saint, but he didn't have to do that whatsoever. He could have walked to the mound and pitched, gotten an ovation from the crowd and it's a normal day. But the fact that he actually gave it to a fan to whom it meant (obviously) so much to is just cool. That kid will NEVER forget that (beckett is his favorite player btw) and that ball will be his most prized possession for a long time. It's not a "good samaritan" level story, but it shows that even the slightest kindness can go a long way.

Not everything good has to be yelled over a loud speaker or done with a ceremony. Sometimes simple things just KICK ASS

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Video-Josh-Beckett-8217-s-gift-brings-young-fa?urn=mlb-wp14224

GALLERY NIGHT!

IT'S GALLERY NIGHT AGAIN!

If anyone's going out tonight come on down to the Marshall Building. There's a bunch of great stuff like Reggie Baylor's Gallery, Timo's Gallery (with a guest artist) on floor one, and "The Fine Art Gallery" along with us on the second floor. Gallery 218 has a half n' half juried/regular artist show with some great painting and sculpture, along with new pieces by the regularly exhibiting artists. We'll have live jazz and a cash bar so come on down and let's talk about art!

THE SHOW - Motherfool's

Here is the story of putting up the show...I suggest playing this song while you look through the pics slowly.

And for your viewing pleasure, me and tyler planking...or drowning

check out crystals awesome stuff here: http://crystalclearpixels.blogspot.com/

O ya...the Olympics

They just released the designs for the medals for the 2012 games and while the back looks pretty much like any "patriotic" design every country has used for coins since whenever, the front is pretty different. And surprsingly, though the design for the games logo was highly criticized, and for good reason IMO, the design plays off of the harsh angles and sharp corners and completely distinguishes it from circular and rather minimal beijing medals. Personally, I kinda like it. The logo gets a bit lost in all the lines, which is a good thing, and the lines emit great energy and movement. It comes across a little busy and reminds me of the game "Kerplunk!" but it has a rather "explodey" feel that gives it energy that the beijing medals lacked.  I like the abstraction but paired with the back, it seems kind of...off. But, I supposed thats the danger when picking such a "radical" or "modern" design for a historical event. Check it out.

I got in a fender bender once...

but all it cost me was some ridicule from an old crazy guy on the sidewalk...which actually made the whole thing worth it. This lady one-upped me...or one million-upped me.

Not only did she get into a fender bender in a Bentley, but the other cars involved weren't exactly the quaint the corollas from my crash. A Ferrari, Ashton-Martin, Mercedes, and Porsche 911 were all hit by the blonde in the bentley, racking up more repair charges than if my entire house was obliterated. I mean, I'm lucky to even see any of these cars whizzing past me on the highway, let alone ALL of them at once...in a crash. While some people may weep at the site of such beautiful cars being crunched, we can all at least bask in the stereotypical hilarity. I guess if you're gonna get in a fender bender, get in the news for it.
http://autos.yahoo.com/news/million-dollar-fender-bender.html

How to Disappear Completely

I'd been thinking about a piece like this for a little while and I'm surprised how well it works at such a small size. I had planned for a big ol guy but was lazy and cheap so I picked up this gem of a canvas and frame from goodwill for 2$ instead. I think the small size lends itself to the relation in size between the brushstroke, paint splatter and borders of hte canvas. Sometimes if a piece is really large, the detail and texture can get overlooked while trying to view the whole picture. Here the strokes and shapes made by them seem much more expressive and real, whereas if the picture was bigger I would have had to "create" the feathered brushstroke look in some parts. Or buy a huge-ass brush. Anyways, it's a mysterious little melancholy dude with a bit of an iconic punch creepin' through.

Oh the gloriousity of my camera phone...and made up words

And if you like hilarious stories...

Listen to at least the first 20 sec of this song so you get the subject fresh in your mind.

Then watch this standup routine...Hilarious

Well actually just listen, I think it's just a slideshow.

If you like Vampire Weekend...

...then you'll see how different their side project is. I listened to a couple songs and this is the best one as of "the first 40 sec. of each song album test."

 

It's the side project of Vamp Weekend and Ra Ra Riot sooo...here ya go!

This is pretty cool Running physics

Check this out...pretty much why Usain Bolt is awesome.
http://www.thepostgame.com/features/201107/usain-bolt-case-study-science-sprinting

Duke of Earl

So next time anyone does karoke, they simply MUST sing this song. Not only is it awesome, but if you look up the definition of awesome in the dictionary, you'll find a definition  that pails in comparison to this song. I mean seriously, no jokin...next time im in the vacinity of a karaoke machine this song will be sung at full inebriation at full volume...you can mark it on your calender.

Plus that guy is just an effin BOSS. You have no idea how much i wish I could pull that off on a normal day.

Touched Down in CHI town (V2)

So here is a way cooler picture of the second placement of " A Brief History of the Universe."

Check out more of Crystal's stuff here. She's perty darn cool.
http://crystalclearpixels.blogspot.com/

Runnin' round the backyard and workin' long days

Im a big fan of this one. It's simple, pretty, nostalgic and has a very "pleasant" feel to it...something like intros to movies where someone's looking back on their life, starting at the good parts and waiting to get to things that really shaped them...

Can't you just hear Morgan Freeman... "now back on the farm, things were simple. Wake with the sun, sleep with the moon, eggs for breakfast and then out to the stables. My world was the farm...but the rest of the world wouldn't keep at bay for long.

FOOTBALL!

FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!FOOTBALL!

and My plans to go back and invest in Apple are dashed

A bunch of scientists in Hong Kong released a study that "proves" time travel is impossible. Basically, the findings of the study say that no particles, even single photons, can go faster than the speed of light, thus making traveling through time impossible...at least through the method that had some theoretical possibility.

While it may seem a bit disappointing that we won't be going back to relive our best moments or catching the one that got away, at least we don't have to worry about that whole "Screwing up the future thing"....

http://news.yahoo.com/hong-kong-scientists-show-time-travel-impossible-150026913.html

A Brief History of the Universe

It's placed! That's the second piece to get placed in Chicago. Thanks guys and to Chicago, enjoy the free art. More to come!

Lucien Freud 1922-2011

On a sad note, Lucian Freud died today in NY after an illness at the age of 88. The painter, most known for his portraits, stubbornly kept with his "realist" style even as it fell from popularity, never giving into the demands and beliefs of the critics and collectors of the art world. He created stunningly intimate paintings of the most "regular" people, delving into more than just the image on the canvas but the meaning and emotion beneath the subject.

He was in his most revered state in his latest years and his prices and respect had never been higher. For him to fight through the explosion of abstraction without batting an eye led to a great importance for the artist in the art world, someone who truly worked outside of the critics and collectors, someone who seeked to fulfill a personal goal and let nothing stand in their way. Even into his last years he would paint long hours in the studio, always looking to improve upon what he had done before.

Said by many to be one of the greatest painters of the 20th and 21st century, the art world will only continue to discover his great contributions. Rest in peace.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43846232/ns/today-entertainment/

Alexander Calder

On this rainy day back in 1898 Alexander Calder was born, and once again, the art world would never be the same. Famous for his large "Mobile" sculptures, Calder created a new type of sculpture that had not really been seen in fine art: Kinetic sculpture. Even more, he abandoned his powered sculptures for piece that would move and undulate with wind currents, further taking the artist away from the finished product, an idea used and coveted by many contemporary artists. From the tiny wire portraits of friends he made at parties to the monumental sculptures that dominated the later years of his life, Calder brought a new dimension to fine art, becoming one of the first artists to embrace actual movement and real time in their work. Take a look at his stuff as we celebrate his post-humous 113th birthday!

http://calder.org/work.html

And hey, we even have one of his pieces at the MAM you can go see in person!

Touched down in CHI town

Some art touched down in Chicago last night so if you're around there, keep an eye out. This piece is "Double X", one of my favorite of the most recent batch of stuff, so while I was a little hesitant to watch it go, I think it'll have a much better "reason for being" if it doesn't spend the next few months sitting in my studio. Besides, Im planning on making a giant version soon.

 It's buddy, "A Brief History of the Universe," should be joining it somewhere as well. And hopefully a buncha people can see them before the PO's decide to take them away. Thanks "anonymous friends" for placing them...now all I need to do is meet other awesome artists around the nation to keep the "placements" alive and well...

ART.WORK.ART.WORK.ART.WORK.ART.WORK.ART.WORK.

And that looks like my next few weeks. I am just going to throw out a basic list of everything I'm doing in the next month and then, if/when I have time, I'll go into more detail and let yall know the dirty details...deep breath, here we go!

1. Set up Motherfool's art show, work will be up through the end of August. all prices below 100$ and many, much less than $100.

2. Commission of three large painting for Camp Olson, YMCA (aka the coolest and bestest place on earth).  Subjects and size are still being decided, but one will be of the coral and field, all three will kick ass.

3. Gallery Night July 29th, Milwaukee WI. Gallery 218 in the Marshall Building! 3 large paintings, a 21st anniversary juried show.

4. Recycled Art workshop for kids at the UEC with Art Milwaukee, August 31st.

5. Private Commission for Chicago based piece.

6. Private Island Art Jamboree August 4th with Art Milwaukee.

7. Pyramax Bank Painting Installation. Runs Indefinitely, starting Summer Gallery Night.

8. Start Planning Winter Show at Crossing at Carnegie in MN.

9. Milwaukee Domes Art Festival: Plein Air Competition, August 19, 20, 21.

10. Live Painting for Gallery 218, August 6th. Buffalo Ave.

And that is kind of it as of right now...There is a show in the works for early September in Madison, with details still to be figured out and I will be continuing to make art outside of all these events....but that's the sched for the next few weeks...GO TEAM

Heaven

It's so hot that I died and went to heaven and this was what's for dinner...

This Pretzel is at  least 2.5 ft across

Good Morning Chicago

Two of my recent pieces are on their way to the streets of Chicago, hopefully to brighten someones day and maybe even get put up in someone's place. The two pieces "Double X" and "A Brief History of the Universe" turned out very well and are probably two of my favs of the recent stock of art I've made and are sure to influence future pieces. I'd love to create some type of monolithic piece based on "double X" that stops you in your tracks, working almost like an enormous statue from prehistory, but that'll have to wait a bit...anyways, thanks to the guys that are transporting and placing the pieces and an excited "what's up"  to the city of Chicago.

New Leonardo!

Not talking about the new Dicaprio film, but the real Leonardo, the Da Vinci one. 

Found and sold in the fifties for 70$, the above painting has recently been authenticated as a long lost treasure of renaissance art, and more impressively, of the artist Leonardo da Vinci. The painting had been attributed to one of Leonardo's students, as dirt, varnish and overpainting had obscured the original paint below, but following an extensive cleaning and restoration project, the wonder and majesty of the true hand was shown. Said to now be worth about 192 million, I'd say whoever bought it in the fifties made a pretty good investment. Read below.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43741817/ns/today-entertainment/

Way to go pops and Mayo Clinic

The Mayo Clinic was just named, once again, to the best hospitals list  for the 2011-12 year and ranks in at #3. Way to go pops and the rest of the doctors workin hard...and way to be non-profit! yay hometown

http://health.yahoo.net/articles/healthcare/best-hospitals-2011-12

Art Is Moving interview

Hey, I forgot I got interviewed by these two lovely people a few months ago and the interview is available on the following site. Take a look and support these people in any way you can. It's a really cool project they are doing and we can only hope they succeed in there goal; "2 artists collaborating to make art part of everyone's life"

http://artismoving.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-am-artist-daniel-fleming-wisconsin.html

Copied Work?

I'd call that a match...plus, given that the buyer is a convicted tax felon and the difference between the prices of fakes (1,250$) to an original by the artist (35,000$) is so large, I'm not really giving the owner much of a benefit of the doubt. What mystifies me is that a billionaire real estate baron, someone who has very visible buildings, would place fakes completely out in the open...in the same country and state that the original artist is from.
Granted California is a big-ass state, you still would think that a guy that rich would have enough lawyers that one would point out the stupidity of openly displaying a plagiarized work.

Now lets not convict anyone I guess. Let's let them tell their story. I just find it strange in a world with so many avenues of research, a billionaire would even risk buying an unoriginal piece, let alone multiple copied works...someone's getting sued...and fired.

http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Sculptor-finds-alleged-copies-of-his-work-in-corporate-collection/24330

NatGeo's Hawass still minister of antiquities

Hawass, who has become somewhat famous for his appearences in a variety of egyptian antiquity shows, is in a bit of hot water. He has been the minister of egyptian antiquity for a little over half a year, after serving on its supreme court for almost a decade and the problem is that he was appointed by then president Mubarak, who has since been taken out of power. Hawass resigned after the rebellion for a couple reasons including his belief that the army was no longer guarding the ancient sites as well as, and more notoriously, the (he claims false) accusations that he has been stealing antiquities.

His links to the ex-president, as well as his lucrative deals with National Geographic and other American institutions have called into question his honesty when dealing with valuable national treasures, claims he vehemently denies. While the number of accusations have not been proven, it seems a lifelong lover of Egyptian antiques will finally be forced out of the top spot.

Hawass has said that, no matter what happens he will continue his studies and lecture and teach around the world. He has pushed through a lot in his time and this seems to be one more obstacle for the fiery archeologist.

Check the whole story out here:
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Zahi-Hawass-remains-antiquities-minister—for-now/24336

PACKERS FOOTBALL!

Just read the story below, not a guarantee but its what we've all been waiting for for 126 days...

http://eye-on-football.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/30713774

A Worry In The Wind

"A Worry In The Wind" is a small and simple little composition, meant to seem rather frivolous and faint. It doesn't jump out, doesn't grab you by the neck or slap you in the face. It won't make you weep or embrace those you love. It sits in the back of your mind. Wearing down a place to  call it's own. Like something tossed into the wind, it just "is."

For The Love of the Game

"Shadows" or "For The Love of the Game" has been placed! It's over on the east side, probably baking in this temporary hell that has stationed itself over Milwaukee, stealing my ability to sleep and covering everything is a film of hot dampness...ewww. SO, go out and look for it if it tickles your fancy that way. To the victor go the spoils, or in this case, to the heat-braving souls goes the painting.

Dan-dinsky!

What a pun. I just got a "Taschen 25" book about Kandinsky (awesome books for a quick introduction to artists) and have probably looked at it at least 6 times in the last week and, unsurprisingly, there are aspects and entire ideas that have made their way into recent paintings...

^ Kandinsky - What a Boss! 

For those of you who don't know, Kandinsky was awesome. His surreal/abstract "compositions" helped break down the doors of expression and paved the way for artists like Pollock and Rothko to completely dismiss representation in favor of pure expression. His transformation from impressionistic landscape artist to almost complete abstractionist is a great path to see the beginnings of abstraction and the metamorphosis that art took through the turn of the century.

So i present my Kandinsky-esque landscapes of the rural midwest. Colorful, bounding and plentiful; spiritual, native and untamed. These pieces try to express the utter beauty of the landscape while also connecting to the primal energy and connection that those who have spent time here feel. From the billowing bluffs along the Mississippi to the expansive lakes that checker the states, our past is always interacting with our constant push to the future.

Notes

The Ridge

The Beach was Hazy at 5 in the Morning

Chop to the Sea

Bastille Days

I did some Plein Air painting at Bastille Days for Art Milwaukee on Saturday and had a farmers tan inducing good time. I ended up there pretty much all day and came out with a pretty awesome piece, a sunburned face, and about fifty less business cards than when I went in. The piece ended up a pretty decent depiction of the scene with a bit of artistic freedom, and an engaging and energetic view of the city, expressing the excitement and fun of the festival despite the humidity and heat. So anyways, here is "The Festival" in all it's glory. It took about four hours of painting and a good amount of conversations to get to the end, but it was great to see all the interest, very uplifting to hear all the comments and words of encouragement, and in general, an overall fun time. Great job Art Milwaukee and hopefully I can do some more work for you guys.

Website

THE WEBSITE IS BACK UP! after navigating through godaddy's amazingly un-userfriendly website, and flash's incredible ability to be ridiculous and frustrating, I finally got my website working again and updated all the art work with recent stuff, all without punching my computer in it's stupid beautiful face! Take a look!
http://dflemingartdesign.com/

ART EXPLOSION!!!! #1!!!!

So when I have nothing to do, I paint...a lot...And thus was my weekend of constant paint-covered hands, dripping ink onto my floor, and going to get dinner with paint on my face (the cashier thought I was bleeding from the eye.) So...in order to keep things...in order I am going to seperate my "projects" into a couple different posts today. sooo here goes #1...

THE SQUARES.

Double X

A Brief History of the Universe

Stop Sign

Younger Brother

I did these four at the same time, rotating between the pieces as they dried and completely intend to release them upon milwaukee in the next week. I think it could be really striking, given the right placement, to have something like one of these appear on your normal walk to work or on a stroll around the block. Graffiti has its place, and I've talked about it before, but often, the fact that it is graffiti takes attention away from it. It's almost like a street sign, you just pass it by as something that's always there. These, on the other hand, hopefully stand out as individual objects, deliberately placed, meant to catch your attention. Anyways, I think this format lends itself very well to "placing" art around the city. It's big enough to see, doesn't destroy anything, and is small enough that someone could have wall space to put it up, which would be the ultimate goal.

So if you see any of thse around the city, feel free to take them and put them in your house. More will be coming, and hopefully they can find a good home...enjoy

Get Visually Slapped RIGHT IN THE FACE!

HEY ALL!
come to Bastille Days tomorrow between 12 and 3 to see dan create some effin masterpieces! PAINT COLOR BEER DANIEL CANVAS TALKING SUN FRENCH WINE EIFFEL TOWER!

Get Visually Slapped Right in The FACE!

Save your money kids

Even the richest athlete in the world can fall back down to earth and it's proof that, no matter how much you make, you should always plan ahead and spend below your means. Be smart everyone...if a guy earning 100 mil a year can lose it all, an art kid makin 30k can too...SAVE
http://steveelling.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6267041/30628816

Homage to the Square

I started getting ready for the Motherfool's Show coming up in a month or so and was going to try to keep everything really affordable and one thing I think is going to be cool is these little square paintings I started. They are small abstract works that I wouldn't quite call a series, but they do have a similar feel to them. THey are rather simple and minimal, but I think they really pack a punch for their size. I am planning on selling them for 15$ at the show and plan to make a bunch...sooooooo if you really like one of them as I continue to post them, let me know and I'll hook ya up. Anyways, here are the first three...

Luff In The Sail 

We Built A Fire

On The Surface of The Sun

Well this is just disappointing

Apparently that heartrending story of Obama's mother spending her last days worrying about insurance that he used to push his idea to end pre-existing condition exclusion from insurance company wasn't exactly as heartrending...or as true as he has stated. In a new biography of the mother, the author claims that not only was Obama's mother not worrying endlessly about the family going bankrupt, as Obama claimed, but the insurance company apparently paid for the medical expenses without argument. When asked about the discrepancy, a white house official did not dispute the author's claim, but argued that Obama's overall message was still "salient" or prominent meaning basically that the idea of the story is what was important. They also said that Obama was reporting the story "based on his recollection of events."

I don't wanna blast him for making up a story, we all lie, but it is a bit disappointing (if the author is proven correct) that a President that ran on the line of "Hope" and "Change" would resort to the same dishonest tactics of the politicians we all hoped he was separating himself from. I don't want to condemn him without proof, but i do find it hard to believe that he could simply and innocently misremember such an emotional time to the extent that insurance became the main worry instead of his mother passing.

Anyways, I hope it's how he said it, but if not...I am disappoint

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2011/07/obama-lied-about-central-fact-about-his.html

Tattoo Reality Show Not Really Reality

So im a bit late on this but there is a TLC reality show about becoming a tattoo artist and it is pissing people off. Apparently they are going to train people to be "Pro Tattoo artists" in 2 weeks and, I assume, will pick a winner at the end. Now that doesn't too bad, except that you can't just become a pro at pretty much anything in 2 weeks. Tattoo artists see it as degrading or demeaning. Something many of them spent years practicing and building toward is now being offered in less than two weeks. Also, they think it shows tattooing in a very "untrue" light. They have kids tattooing on wooden benches and without plastic covers, something a respectable and safe tattoo shop would never do. Many tattoo artists are saying the show undermines all of the safety and quality improvements that the time-honored practice has made in the last decade. They say that it reduces it from a professional job, to a hobby someone can just pick up and do at their will. Anyways, as art has proven, the fact is that NOT everyone can do it and when people express that view, it will always annoy some of the real artists. I understand the concern and especially the note about safety, but also realize that the show probably won't spur a ton of amateurs to believe that they truly are professionals. It's frustrating to see your "craft" or "trade" shown as less valuable than you believe, but also realize that every profession deals with it. As long as your shop is clean, abides by rules and creates quality products, you shouldn't have a problem. It's really the show that could face problems. If they are using unsanitary means and displaying them as correct, there could be legal ramifications...as for the real tattoo artists and shops, I wouldn't worry all that much about the "new perception" the show might create. Anyways, I won't watch the show based on the fact that most reality shows I've seen are carbon copies of one another, with slightly interesting people doing slightly interesting things. That said, it definitely does not help your case if you aren't portraying the "craft" in a realistic manner...not very cool TLC...

Read more below
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8218529/thousands_are_boycotting_tlc_over_new.html?cat=9

Notes on "Notes"

This piece called "notes" is based off of two completely separate things, an old landscape I did of a setting sun on a wheat field and Kandinsky. I think it references the latter too much and look to fix that later tonight, but I do like the movement and the color composition. The "objects" seem to be dancing together, moving based on the actions of the other, allowing each to create its own space. Not gonna lie, it's a jumbled mess, but it each piece seems completely comfortable in its location. It's an explosion of action, but everything seems to have its own path which to follow, none crossing each other, an none standing in the way.

It's a harmonious blast, a well performed chord...now to just make it distinctly mine

Well this seems positive

I don't really know what all this means in the grand scheme of things but apparently studies have found that the drug Truvada, along with a couple other things, reduces the risk of HIV positive people passing the virus to their significant others. Ya...sounds like a big deal. It's kind of strange that this isn't a bigger story but maybe the ramifications aren't as major as it seems, but definitely a good step forward.
http://news.yahoo.com/drugs-may-prevent-hiv-spread-among-heterosexuals-160407993.html

No more beer for MN!

So the MN gov. is in a shutdown at the moment, and while we are all complaining about politics here in Wisconsin, at least we aren't getting liquor pulled off the shelves. Due to an unforeseen schedule mishap, the shutdown happens to be in effect when liquor distributors were supposed to renew their distributing licensees...or something like that. Since the government can't give anyone new licenses, well, the beer and liquor can't be sold in the state.

And if you think it won't make a difference, MillerCoors was just told they needed to remove all 39 of their products from MN shelves. Apparently they are all working on a solution and nothing has really been done yet, but, for once in the last few months, be thankful we are in Wisconsin despite the political BS thats going on.

http://www.jsonline.com/business/125484923.html

Real Progress...

Through all this economic crap, bailouts, recession, rising prices, and falling job numbers, everyone seems to be complaining about budget cuts instead of working toward finding better ways to deal with them. I read on some business blog somewhere that if any business or organization told you they couldn't cut 10% of spending, they were either lying or not giving it a serious effort...this recent article about GM leads me to believe that.

Not only is GM keeping a subcompact car production in the US, but they are keeping it cheap enough that they can still make a profit. When normal car production lines can end up costing 60$ per employee per hour, using union workers, production of cheap cars just didn't make sense. BUT with the changes to the plant, production, and union wages the subcompact can finally be kept in the states providing jobs to Americans who desperately need them.

How they got unions to agree to drastically reduced wages, I'm not sure, but the production changes seem like something every business can look to as a model for getting back on their feet. Simple changes that cost money up front, but will save millions over time. The way to get a business back to making profits isn't  pumping money into an expensive and broken system, but to change the system completely, reduce the costs without reducing the product quality, and be thrifty....being on a budget sucks, but it works. take a look and hopefully the rest of the factory based industry does also...

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/With-Chevrolet-Sonic-GM-and-nytimes-3082900830.html?x=0&.v=1

Bless the Rain...

And there ya have it. Sadly I didn't keep track of this painting before the first photo, but that is the six month progression of this canvas. It's one of those things where you work on something for long enough that you get to a point and, no matter if it's any good, you become content or at least complacent with the piece. It's taken so much time that you give it the benefit of the doubt that it's done...that's the situation of the second photo. Then, after seeing it for months and months, you realize that, while you were content before, there is work to be done. Sometimes you just have to spend some time away from a piece to find out where to go next. And who knows, the same could happen in another 6 months and the series could be expanding to a completely new concept...Anyways...after six months we've gone from "The Stack" to "The Grid"  and finally through the steps to the final "Bless the Rain that Falls the Leaves, Our Weathered Fears."