Long Whisker debut with Long Live Long Whisker

Some things are bound to happen, like Long Whisker. The assemblage of Reagan Sova, Scott Hein and Jim Cherewick must be fated since it is so unlikely. All three members come from acts that have made their names in the burgeoning Ypsilanti scene or in the Detroit area to such a degree that they needn't have begun another project (granted, LW may not have happened had Sova's old project Bear Mountain Picnic stayed together). Yet Long Whisker is real and the quickly assembled debut EP is so well executed that it can't be anything but destiny.

Long Live Long Whisker is the proclamation made at the outset and the name of the band's first effort. Cherewick and Sova summon the plodding rhythm and indie sensibility of acts like Silver Jews and imply the nostalgic ethos of The Kinks' Village Green Preservation Society with their acoustic guitars and vocal tradeoffs. The interjecting harmony of Hein's various keys, especially the occasional Rhodes-like sound, is a perfect unifying element for the overall sound. Lyrically, Long Whisker are a synthesis of storytelling and peculiar observation ("astronauts are so expensive to insure because the darkness of space is so unforgiving"). Sova's direct, doubletracked delivery contrasts with the unique emotive croak of Cherewick.

In all their modesty and subtlety, Long Whisker appear to be a modern version of what any number of prestigious bands might have been in the seventies had they not slipped from country-fried to arena rock, or hated each other so much or been such broken, self-conscious rock gods. As grandiose as that may sound, all it really means is that modesty and sensitivity coupled with masterful execution makes really good music and Long Whisker have made a great start. Download it for free here.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/longwhisker
Last.fm: http://www.last.fm/music/Long+Whisker

Art of being stable minded

I came across a site named Advantage Business Quotes, which can prove to be beneficial for small and medium level businesses. Basically it provides insurance coverage by providing plans and access to various corporate entities.

In today’s society , many dishonest entities have cropped up, which intend to dupe the companies that are working for them, for no reason or frivolous reason. Small and mid level companies are primary targets. Customer satisfaction has reached a very high level, considering the tough competition among corporates. In such a scenario, insurance coverage is a must. I like the simple working of this site. In order to wok with this site, you only have to fill a simple form. According to the data supplied to them, this site will link us to the concerned companies which will contact us and provide their quotes. We can select the best quotes. This site also provides insurance for the top level management.

I especially like their policy which deals with lowering the rates. This site provides substantial advice on lowering the cost of the premium, that is paid by the company. I also liked their policies which deals with dealing with liability. It gives sound advice on how to maintain balance between disaster management and being cost efficient.

A GIFT FOR DELUSION

Once upon a time, an artist was born in a shabby apartment in a bleak part of NY City. He grew up playing in vacant lots littered with junk. He watched neighbors beating their wives in the street. Once a drunk died in front of him on the sidewalk. The boy learned at a young age to call Jews "kikes" and Italians "wops." Sometimes he watched from the roof of his apartment as street gangs battled below. For amusement, he would spit on pedestrians walking by. Quitting school (he was always a poor student) he leased a spare room in a whore house.

That artist was Norman Rockwell.



Was Rockwell's sweet vision of small town America nothing but a cynical charade?

I don't think so.

We each perceive the world through our own personal filter. Sometimes artists employ a more active filter than others; perhaps it's a natural defense to their chronic poverty and lack of success with the opposite sex. Below, some artists have fun with the disparity between reality and their artistic vision:


Leyendecker


Picasso


Saul Steinberg

Personally, I don't think think Rockwell was trying to con his audience. His art had less to do with the illusion of reality than the reality of illusion.

Sticking to it until you get stuck

I suppose the following is a fair comment to this and to that:


More about The Leave Me Alone Box here.

Look of the year, a must see for all the style freaks

I came across a site named Look of the year, which is an interesting site. It is a must see, for all those who wish to have a career in modeling. This unique site is a web based Beauty contest. To join this site, simply register with them. Your photo will be posted on the site home page, and web surfers will vote for you when they come across your profile. Needless to say, the person who receives maximum number of votes, shall be deemed a winner.

Anybody and Everybody can join;location and ethnicity, is not a barrier. If you are Beautiful and have the looks and the personality, you have a strong chance of winning this competition.

This site gives an opportunity to Young and aspirant Models to showcase their talent. Just think! Even if you don't win, your talent is bound to be recognized by some modeling agency. You might just land up as a model, and would have a chance to work with top designers in various fashion capitals(Paris, New York, Milan). I highly recommend this site, to anybody, who think , he/she has got the looks and the persona to be a Model.

Information link
http://www.lookoftheyear.com

PAUL COKER, JR.

You've seen Paul Coker Jr.'s drawings all over the place-- on countless greeting cards, ads, magazines and comic books-- but when was the last time you actually paused to look at them? His drawings may appear simple, but they reflect considerable sophistication and talent.

For example, Coker understands anatomy and body language. Notice the shoulders and lowered head of this boy looking over his father's work:



or the twist of the body and the bouncing step of the happy runner in the background:



This is how a good artist uses anatomy: not as a distraction, but with confidence and understatement, in the service of the total image. Coker's drawings never brag about his knowledge, but they would not "ring true" without it.

Or look how at how Coker takes fundamentally symmetrical subjects-- a ball, or a standing boy-- and transforms them into highly asymmetrical, interesting shapes by means of the personality in his drawing:





And Coker's mastery of facial expressions ranges from the reserved (above) to the zany (below).



Any artist who has been asked to draw children knows how incredibly difficult it is to simplify them without losing character and believability. In my view, only a handful of cartoonists, such as Charles Schulz, Percy Crosby, Hank Ketcham and Paul Coker managed to pull it off well.





Coker's drawings will never attract the kind of fanatical fans who collect pictures of muscular barbarians or huge-breasted space nymphs.  Coker specializes in a different kind of subject matter.



Nevertheless, he is a highly observant and subtle artist who draws with a beautiful line. I wanted to post a few examples here for those of you who may have thought that the pictures on Hallmark cards weren't worth your attention.

Hospital Garden

Lucas Hollow left Bear Mountain Picnic behind in Ypsilanti, Michigan in late 2007. Having settled in Dayton, Ohio, Hollow has found a new cohort to launch the project Hospital Garden, which continues the loud, frayed-edged and earnest rock that came out of BMP. Hollow's latest self-recorded songs are now available via AvE as Mailbox Demos. These tracks were originally circulated among friends to allow a testing of the waters, now that Hollow is without his BMP songwriting partner, Reagan Sova. They will be the basis for full band recordings later on. Though all you get here is electric guitar and vocals, one can already tell that Hospital Garden is going to be an intensified continuation of the BMP experience (anyone who saw them live will wonder if further intensity is possible, but those that have already seen Hospital Garden might attest that it is). Think of a fierce crystallization of Dinosaur Jr., Pavement and The Pixies and then imagine it as lo-fi as it can get (almost). Mailbox Demos is available here for free. It's also up on last.fm.

• Hospital Garden on Myspace
• Hospital Garden on last.fm
• Download Mailbox Demos for free.
  

Fields of Industry set to release Two Dogs, A Television

It's taken a long time, but a release date for Two Dogs, A Television is finally set. The album will be digitally released May 20th by Cerberus Records via iTunes and other major digital outlets. The band is self-releasing the CD on Arts vs Entertainment. Copies of the disc are already available at shows. The album features art by Graham Mason.

Check out FoI's myspace for upcoming shows in and around Grand Rapids, Lansing and Ann Arbor.

Goro Doesn't Die

Messi hopes Ronaldinho will stay at Barca

Barcelona's Argentine striker Lionel Messi(R) said Thursday he hopes Ronaldinho(L), who is being courted by AC Milan, will remain at the club next year.

Barcelona's Argentine striker Lionel Messi said Thursday he hopes Ronaldinho, who is being courted by AC Milan, will remain at the club next year.

"At Barca, we want everyone to remain at the club. If he goes, I will be sad," he said.

"He has helped me a lot to integrate into the team. Any team would like to have him. I still hope that he will stay."

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said on Sunday that the reigning European champions have come to an agreement with Ronaldinho over a possible summer transfer.

Former twice world player of the year Ronaldinho has fallen out with Barcelona this season as a dip in form and frequent off-field indiscretions have seen the love affair between club and player come to a bitter end after five years.

He is currently sidelined with a leg injury that could keep him out of Barcelona's run-in, where they are chasing La Liga and Champions League glory.

Messi had been sidelined since tearing a muscle in his left leg on March 5 but returned to action on Saturday in a 2-2 draw with Recreativo Huelva, coming on as substitute on 64 minutes.

The Argentine said he hoped to spend longer on the pitch on Saturday against Espanyol, in order to be fit to face Manchester United in the Champions League semi-final next Wednesday.

Parry's reign at Liverpool 'a disaster' claims Hicks

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks stepped up his attack on Rick Parry on Thursday, the Texan tycoon branding the chief executive's reign at Anfield as "a disaster."

Hicks also took a fresh swipe at George Gillett, warning his co-owner that the stalemate over the club's future will continue until he agrees to sell his stake.

But in a statement issued later Thursday, Gillett, a supporter of Parry, said: "Tom needs to understand that I will not sell my shares to him and that we need to find a way forward that is properly funded and truly in the best interests of Liverpool Football Club."

As Americans Gillett and Hicks each own 50 percent of the club, the present stand-off looks like continuing for sometime yet.

"I am saddened at this latest outburst from Tom Hicks," Gillett said. "If Tom wanted a serious discussion on the issues to help the club move forward, he should bring his views to the board and not to Sky Sports.

"Here we are, a few days away from a vital Champions League semi-final match and Tom has once again created turmoil with his public comments.

The Liverpool football club emblem on a gate at the Anfield ground in Liverpool. Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks stepped up his attack on Rick Parry on Thursday, the Texan tycoon branding the chief executive's reign at Anfield as "a disaster."

"Tom should stop. He knows that Rick Parry has my support and that airing his comments in this way will not change my position."

Hicks, who has insisted he was not behind the approach to Jurgen Klinsmann that unsettled Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, revealed he had plans to rid the club of all debt by heading up a group of financial backers willing to invest in the club.

Hicks blamed Parry for Liverpool's failure to compete commercially with their Premier League rivals.

"Look at what's happened under Rick's leadership. It has been a disaster," claimed Hicks.

"We have fallen so far behind the other leading clubs. We should have the stadium built three or four years ago. We have two or three major sponsors when we should have 12 or 15.

"We are not doing anything in Asia, the way that Manchester United and Barcelona are, and we have a tremendous number of fans in Asia.

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks stepped up his attack on Rick Parry, seen here in 2007,, the Texan tycoon branding the chief executive's reign at Anfield as "a disaster."

"Rick needs to resign from Liverpool FC. He has put his heart into it but it is time for a change. You have to be able to work with the manager and Rick has proved he can't do that.

"At the first meeting we had with Rafa he talked of the number of players he had missed out on because he (Parry) was too slow."

But Parry, in an interview with BBC Radio Four, insisted he had no plans to leave Anfield. "It's for the board to ask me to resign - and they haven't."

Hicks and Gillett took over the club in February 2007 but Hicks admitted their relationship has now completely broken down.

"At this point it is unworkable," he stated.

"We started this as friends but 50-50 is a difficult business proposition because you cannot do anything without your partner's approval."

The stand-off between the two Americans has led Dubai Investment Capital, agroup bankrolled by the ruling royal family of the United Arab Emirates to put on hold its interest in buying a stake in the club.

On the infamous meeting in New York last year about Klinsmann becoming manager Hicks added: "George became good friends with him (Klinsmann) a year ago.

"He and Rick set up the meeting in New York. I did go to the meeting along with my son Tom.

"Rick Parry had already met with Jurgen alone for a couple of hours when we arrived. We all then spoke to him for another four hours."

EARTH, AIR, FIRE and WATER (and of course, ART)

In the flickering light from ancient torches, the shadows on cave walls suggested mastodons and bulls to our prehistoric ancestors. They became the world's first artists, reaching out with charcoal to complete visions that were inspired by the earth's shapes:


This cave wall suggested the head of a deer to some prehistoric artist

This large rock reminded an artist of a horse

In this way, the earth and the artist came together to create art.

30,000 years later, artists discovered stained glass. Rather than drawing with sticks in the dirt or making marks on parchment, artists were now able to combine their art with the radiance of light. Look what glorious things happened when artists added sunshine to their palette of colors:

Nativity scene from Priory Church, circa 1501


Prayer of a righteous man, St. Mary's Church, late 14th century


The Last Judgment, 15th century

Just like with the earth, the artists combined with the sun to create art.

At some unknown point in the distant past, artists discovered that by making designs and colors on cloth rather than on hard surfaces, their designs could take on the shape of the wind. Static images became flying banners that inspired armies and flags that symbolized nations.










Christo's "Gates" in NY, copyright 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Once again, the artist teamed with the elements to make art, combining wind and image.

Artists who use watercolor, if they are wise, take advantage of water's special properties rather than concealing its role. Even artists who specialize in tightly controlled images seem to gain depth and profundity when they give the freedom of water a larger role in the artistic process.


Saul Steinberg began his career with technical pen drawings with geometric shapes and cross hatching, but later turned water loose to create lovely skyscapes.


Here, Andrew Wyeth wisely did not attempt to paint snowflakes. He randomly spattered liquid tempera, using the qualities of water to contribute the effect of snow.

Just like with earth, sun and wind, the artist can interact with water to create a higher form of art.

All of these beautiful images we have seen were made more beautiful because the artist opened the artwork to the elements. Nature adds variety, change, unpredictability, ambiguity, mistakes and uncertainty to the product of human will. Water does whatever it wants, and watchful artists keep their eyes open for the happy accident. The light through stained glass windows changes depending on the time of day or month of the year or the weather outside, creating very different effects. When the wind shifts, flags do a completely different dance.

One concern I have with digital art is that it seems to reduce the important role played by the elements in the creation of art. We can now assert greater and greater control over the screen, pixel by pixel. The light from a cathode ray tube or a plasma screen remains constant, regardless of the time of day or year. The mathematical formulae used for CGI are immutable. Color can be adjusted for saturation, brightness and contrast in tiny increments. Mistakes and accidents can be effortlessly eradicated with mid-course corrections. And the pictures never, ever change with the wind.

Hotels in Europe: an artisitic creation

Europe is a very beautiful place; the cities of Europe, exude beauty, grace and charm. The hotels of Europe share the qualities of their cities. The hotels are of superior quality and highly reasonable in their pricing.


Let us start by talking about Dublin. It is the largest and the capital city of Ireland. Dublin has a vibrant nightlife and one of the most youngest cities of Europe. Dublin Hotels guaranty leisure and good service. Hotels of all statures are available with the lowest fares being $28 for ordinary lodges to $370 for 5 star accommodation.

Next comes Paris. Paris, is the capital city of France and situated on the Seine river in Northern France. Paris, as we all know is famous for its Eiffel Tower. Along with being the fashion hub of Europe, it is the site for one of the greatest architecture the world has seen. Paris Hotels are works of art themselves. Prices for Paris hotels start at $46. Even 4 star hotels, which are highly pleasurable start their rates at $127.




Next comes Barcelona. Barcelona is the second largest city of Spain. Barcelona is famous for its beautiful parks and sunny beaches. The pricing of Barcelona Hotels is one of the most reasonable among European cities. Ordinary hotels began their pricing at a very low $24. 4 star and 5 star accommodation are available at $86 and $141 only.




Finally, we shall talk about Rome. Rome is Italy's most largest and Europe's most popular city. As we all know Rome was the center of one of the greatest empires this world has seen. Rome still retains its greatness in terms of language, culture, architecture and artistic skills. Prices of Roman Hotels is a bit expensive than the rest but still quiet reasonable. Ordinary lodging is available at $50, while 5 star accommodation is available at roughly $250.

All hotels are top class in terms of service, quality of food and hospitality. Staying at these hotels is an enriching experience.

ROBERT FAWCETT'S OPINIONATED DRAWING

When it comes to strong, opinionated drawings, I know of no 20th century illustrator better than Robert Fawcett.

He did not simply record the world around him, he aggressively sought out nature's designs and amplified them with astonishing power and clarity. For example, this vigorous drawing...



...is just the seat of some old guy's pants in one of Fawcett's illustrations.



How many other artists could find such energy and beauty in such a banal subject? Next, look at the designs Fawcett finds in the folds of Sherlock Holmes' cape...



...or in the anatomy of a hand. Now that's what I call drawing!



More bold designs in the pants legs and clothing of this couple stranded in the desert:



Even the most delicate lines reflected Fawcett's distinctive personality. Note the hair of this lovely young lady from a P.G. Wodehouse story.



Some very astute observers of illustration art, such as Mike Vosburg and Leif Peng, recently paid fresh attention to Fawcett's work on their web sites. He has been gone for 40 years, but Fawcett's art always rewards attention.

For all those dudes, who lack in academics!!

For people like me who lack in academics, I have written a poem :-

THE CV

An average boy, named Chetan has prepared his CV. He compares his CV with his fellow classmates and discovers that he is way behind in terms of academics, training and co-curricular activities. This is how he feels :-

Seeing the White Devil,
I scorn my fellow mates,
The green snake of envy instigates me,
My mind dims with frustration,
I say "Let them make merry in Hell";
"As If I care",
The arrow of scorn inverts and points toward me,
The warrior of impartiality thrusts the arrow in my torso,



Chetan realizes that he alone is responsible for his shortcomings; because of his lack of hard work and idiocy(idiot nature), he has been put much behind in the race.

The poison of realization flows within me,
"Remember those days when you were idling before the TV";
"Remember those days when you were spending precious currency of time before the computer";
"Remember those days when you kicked your friends of knowledge and thrusted them in the cupboard",
You paid for your incompetency,
The "lazy" Devil who befriended you now mocks you,



He realizes what he should do.

I purged myself,
Decided to have an alliance with my real friends,
My brothers(books) welcomed me with open arms,
The maiden of hardwork enlightened me,
My resolute is unlimited,
In front of my eyes,
The curtain of future unrolled,
My potential broke the sky.


by Chetan M

LEAVING THE BEST UNTOLD

I swear I see what is better than to tell the best,
It is always to leave the best untold.
.......................................... . --Walt Whitman

Illustrator Robert Hilbert decided that the best way to convey a man who had hung himself was not to paint the noose around the man's neck, but to imply the event in a way that draws the viewer into the picture:



By exercising restraint, an artist compels the viewer to engage in the picture. When the viewer has to meet the artist halfway, it personalizes art and makes the experience more meaningful.

Sometimes artists receive unwanted help in deciding what parts of a picture to leave to the imagination. Congress famously required publisher Bill Gaines to explain how the following picture was "tasteful" merely because it refrained from showing where the woman's head had been severed:



Of course, today Gaines would have no trouble showing the severed neck and a whole lot more. Not only is there little risk in being daring, there's hardly any sport left in it either. I applaud artists who fight censorship, but many seem to have trouble distinguishing censorship from artistic restraint. Here's a hint: the former is your enemy, but the latter is your best friend.

For example, Walt Whitman paid a heavy price for the freedom to put anything he wanted in his explicit poems. But he recognized that a license to say anything doesn't mean he should say everything. There are separate aesthetic reasons to "leave the best untold."

This awful drawing from New York's Museum of Modern Art makes you yearn for the days of the Counter-reformation, when gloomy Vatican censors pasted fig leaves on art that dared to show human genitals:



But here is a selection of less explicit, more inspired images that succeed by "leaving the best untold."


The brilliant Milton Glaser conjures up a mood with a limited palette and a glimpse of thigh


A few simple lines on a plain background are enough to create an extraordinary effect on the viewer's imagination


Look at how evocative mere feet can be


If Tomer Hanuka's cover was more detailed or explicit, it would only lose some of its considerable heat

Our current freedoms might help us to achieve great artistic heights, but they are just as likely to lure artists into spelling out things in explicit detail that would have been artistically stronger if left untold.