Wednesday

[nightdog_barks]

Bright sun! And warm temps -- 73 degrees (22.7 Celsius). It was 80 yesterday and we grilled some ribs for dinner. Today need to drop a couple of bills at the post office and stop by the grocery store.

In other news, I have NO IDEA who these people are, but this 'news' story made me LOL.

Meanwhile, in REAL entertainment news, Craig Ferguson's Late, Late Show has won a Peabody Award for their interview with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Comments

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

They're people famous for being on some reality TV show. Gah. You ever notice how nobody picks an unflattering Native American name? But Yah! for Craig Ferguson. He's such a witty, intelligent guy.

It's surprisingly calm at the moment, although I did get Harvey'd for close to an hour this morning. Nothing amusing to report except that "astronomical" is his new word, as in "It's astronomical for Wifey's diabetes to get outside and work in her flowers." I just kinda blinked at that one.

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

I really need a "do not think it means what you think it means" icon.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

You should hear his ideas for how to maintain a computer. It'd make your hair stand up. Guess what he has in mind to retrain for as a career? Computer technician!

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

Yeah, like that's ever gonna happen. Heh.

Heating up some soup now and doing minor chores meanwhile. I always feel better after taking out the trash.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

They're people famous for being on some reality TV show.

Is that it? I didn't even bother Googling them, I was so unimpressed. The byline popped up on the LA Times when I was looking to see if they were reporting on the Peabodys.

"Astronomical," hee.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

He's something else, I tell you. And if he doesn't stop repeating everything he hears on Fox News like it's gospel, I may have to whack him upside the head with a stapler.

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

*g*

"Whack [someone] upside the head" is one of my very favorite Southernisms.

Hm. The lady who contacted me about a Winnie the Pooh mural just replied that my quote -- $450 for a corner w/8' high tree, Pooh eating honey, landscape extending a few feet onto either wall -- was too high and the other artists she'd contacted had priced it "significantly lower."

I responded that I understood and asked if she was willing to tell me where she was finding artists (Craigslist or elsewhere) and what price range the others were quoting. I said I'd understand if she'd rather not, but that being new to this market, I'd really appreciate it if she could.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

I seriously doubt how "significantly lower" can equal anything in terms of quality.

Just sayin' ...

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

Eh, I had considered quoting it lower. If I didn't have other irons in the fire ... I mean, making $100/day (max 3 days, for the low level of detail she wants) is better than $0/day.

Can I out-paint the competition? Yes. But I think people often either can't tell the difference or -- especially for kids' rooms -- don't care much.

I'll do it for as low as $300 if that's in the range of my competitors. I have bills to pay.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

You know, when I've had to get bids from contractors on repairs at St. P's, I never contact them and tell them anything like that. It seems to me she's trying to bargain you down.

[perspi.livejournal.com]

YES, THIS. If somebody's cheaper, I don't go back to the more expensive guy to tell him that; I just go with the guy I choose.

Maybe Mare's 'OMG NO' spidey-sense was right on, in this case...

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

I think my initial RUN AWAY sense may have been correct; just got a reply, which I quote in full:

I found some on craigslist. Others I just googled and on facebook. I have prices from $150 to $450 and one college aged guy will charge $13 per hour. In this economy, the buyer has the advantage. Good luck to you.

I don't ever quote by the hour; I have never known a pro in my trade who does, because it leaves too much uncertainty for the client. Good luck to her getting work that doesn't suck. I'm bailing on this. I need the money, but not the attitude; I'll spend that time doing dog portraits or something, instead.

[perspi.livejournal.com]

OH GOOD GOD THE ATTITUDE. "The buyer has the advantage"??

Snot.

(Edited to say I'm calling HER a snot. And that you're right to bail, bail, bail.)

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

This.

Grrr.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Your Spidey-Sense was once again 100 percent accurate, Mare. Man, the nerve of that woman!

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

That had occurred to me, and wouldn't surprise me a bit. We'll know, if she gets back to me, which she hasn't so far.

She really didn't strike me as wanting to haggle, but her way of writing ("thanks anyways") strikes me as very blue-collar, and I think she found me via Craigslist, that bastion of bargain-hunting.

Trouble is, even if she's bargaining, I do need the money. If I can do the job in two days -- and I think I can -- it's hard to justify to myself that I won't take it and make a couple hundred bucks I wouldn't otherwise make. If I'm crying 'cause I'm poor ...

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that is hard to justify when you need the money. But I keep hoping people will come to their senses and pay good artists -- of all kinds -- what they deserve. You are certainly worth it. *hugs*

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

See my reply to Perspi, above. I was ready to play ball until I got "buyer has the advantage" remark and the "good luck." Now? No. She just told me, in essence, that she's trying to take advantage of me. I have no reason to believe she won't do it again in some other way once the job has begun.

Screw that. I'll spend the time painting animals for people I actually like.

[perspi.livejournal.com]

Or, you know, birdhouses. *cheeky grin*

*runs away*

(no, seriously, I need to go get Z. this was nothing more than playfulness. :)

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

Hey sweetie,

I know. *g* I'll probably be done w/Kipper in another couple hours, and your piece is waiting; I want to work on it this evening. I've also got to look up Spanish countryside photos so I can do a prep sketch for a job far better than Mrs. Buyer Advantage has to offer.

I did respond, btw, only to thank her for the information. I did not say, "The most skilled people also have an advantage. Good luck getting decent-quality art." I won't, however, claim I wasn't tempted.

[aries-ascendant.livejournal.com]

The Hills, I believe. Or maybe it was the show that preceded that one. Hmm. I've never seen it but as I understand it, Heidi had a big falling-out with the other girls on the show because they all hated her creepy, douchey, border-line abusive, controlling boyfriend, Spencer. (My sisters watch the show; they enjoy it in a trainwreck sort of way.)

Anyway, Heidi and Spencer are attention-seeking idiots. I refuse to acknowlege their new names. If this story is true, it just reeks of all sorts of FAIL.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

Heh. If it is true, I'm hoping some organization of REAL Native Americans takes them out behind the proverbial woodshed for a little lesson in the finer points of cultural appropriation.

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

I didn't read all the comments, but a brief skimming already turned up several very unhappy people of actual Native American descent. Along with plenty of white folks coming up with more appropriate "Indian" names, such as Running Bullshit.

I'm usually not a big fan of watching people get the big ol' smackdown, but these two have it comin'.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

The comments are just hilarious. "Walking Eagle" (because they're too full of sh*t to fly) was suggested by several people. :D

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

Huh. I didn't know Desmond Tutu had been on Ferguson's show; that's pretty amazing.

I <3 Craig. That kind of thing takes some courage, and also some faith in his audience, that they may be cheeky little monkeys, but they are not the lowest common denominator.

Speaking of which, I have heard of that Montag woman, though I can't recall where or why. As for the other idiot, I have no idea who he is at all. They do seem like one big dumb-blonde joke waiting to happen, though.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

I knew he had been on the show, but I haven't seen that episode. I loved it when Stephen Fry was on sans audience. Ferguson's the best late-night guy on TV.

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

Without question he's the best of 'em.

It's amazing to me how thoroughly the media seems to ignore Craig, but I think he likes it that way. It's hard to imagine what would happen if CBS did decide to give him all the bells and whistles -- the sidekick and the band and what have you. I think he'd be miserable.

Taking a lunch break now; the portrait of Kipper is finally really getting good, so I mostly have to finish the frog and some of the tall grass and such. Couple more hours, maybe. Getting out for a walk this morning really seems to have helped my focus problem.

Also, I cannot wait for "reality television" to die a well-deserved death.

[perspi.livejournal.com]

HI NIGHTDOG HI!

I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off ALL DAY. I even got to my office EARLY, but it didn't seem to help. First class, then a workshop thing over lunch, then more class (where I was reminded that I'd changed the available points for the event reports on the syllabus [now worth 40] but I'd been grading them according to the old point total [worth 30], so. GNARGH.), and finally I am sitting down in my office. Finally. And I want to do nothing for the next hour but surf the internet and maybe rest mah brainz. Except I think a student might be coming in. Or something.

Anyway: It's a beautiful sunshiny day here (mid-sixties!), and spring is springing, and your 'news' story made me *facepalm* so I will link you to something that made me laugh today (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OonDPGwAyfQ). I'm seriously considering showing it in my classes.

[hannahrorlove.livejournal.com]

I vote for showing the video to your classes - it definitely gets the point across.

Use the time for fic!

[perspi.livejournal.com]

I'm having a little snackaroo, and I turned on my music for the next 25 minutes. And I think I will do something ficly...

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

OOOOHHHH FICLY STUFF!!

I just got back from a quick run to the Tuesday Morning store a few miles away. Kell has been hunting all over for a little sturdy, plush rocking horse for her baby nephew who is yet to arrive. She'd found one before in an upscale shop for about $100 and then could never find it again anywhere. I'd seen one at Tuesday Morning, so she gave me cash and I went and bought it -- for $15.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

What a great deal! Miss V. keeps trying to lure me into Tuesday Morning and I keep refusing on the grounds that I might go nuts and buy half the store. :)

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

You wouldn't go nuts: it is primarily full of useless kitsch you wouldn't buy anyway. I've bought a couple nice towels there, and one sheet set; it's a good place to check if you need linens, but not half as tempting as you might think, otherwise. Just a more upscale Big Lots, really.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Kitsch never comes home with me and I do need some sheets, so next time she asks I'll go.

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love that Taylor Mali proofreading thing! You should absolutely show it in class.

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

White Wolf? Running Bear? :D Can they fill any more pathetic "retarded white people" cliches? Seriously, *I'm* offended by their stupidity, and I'm not a native North American. (Honestly, I deal with real First Nations all the time, this type of thing? Grotesque. Absolutely grotesque, even if it's just a bid for publicity.)

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I'm amazed -- given that he thinks he's "Running Bear" -- she didn't decide to be "Little White Dove" and make the cliché have its own Soundtrack of Fail.

ETA that if you've never heard the old pop song about Running Bear and Little White Dove ... then I envy you, because the lyrics are tragically embedded in my brain.

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

*howls in agony*

Why did I LOOK? I wasn't familiar with that monstrosity before. So I googled, and it's up on YouTube, complete with the most egregious "noble savage art" imaginable. I'm not linking, if people want to go look for that trash they can google for themselves. Dear gods. I need beer, and possibly some Vas to wipe that horror from my mind.

You know, the native peoples of this continent have suffered terribly at the hands of the European conquerers, but adding such vulgar *stupidity* to the mix... Grrr. No words. None.

Edited to add: Here is some Vas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEfh0-02KHk&feature=related). Water drums. It may not be to your taste, but it's better than that... whatever that other thing is.

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

American pop dreck -- also known as proof that music really WASN'T better "back in the day."

According to Wikipedia it went to number one on the charts, to be succeeded in that slot by an equally horrid (though for different reasons) thing called Teen Angel, which I strongly suggest you avoid.

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

Number one on the charts? :P *turns green* I won't look up the other thing, because if it displaced the Running Bear thing it must be stupendously awful.

Here, have Azam Ali singing and dancing beautifully in Promise (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM1Q1i3Toq4&feature=related). Again, tastes differ, and you may not care for it, but at least I don't think it would make you reel back in horror.

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

All you need to know -- blessedly with no soundtrack -- is HERE.

ETA that I followed your link, and that woman is incredible. What a voice. Wow.

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

That song sounds stupendously bad... I don't think I could hear it without laughing convulsively.

I'm glad you like Azam Ali. I find her work (whether solo, or with Vas or Niyaz) very pleasing, though her voice wouldn't be considered fashionable in North America I think.

[hannahrorlove.livejournal.com]

Dave Barry voted it as one of his all-time bad songs in Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs.

[romeo46.livejournal.com]

*head desk*

YAY for Craig. I saw the interview he did with Archbishop Tutu and it was wonderful. For all the flip and frivolity of late night television I love that Craig can actually do a decent interview and isn't afraid to have unconventional guests on.