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Masters’ Palettes

The Telegraph has a terrific article about the preservation and study of renowned artists' paint palettes: Why preserve Van Gogh's palette? Why preserve an artist's palette? The daubs of raw pigment or the mixes left in position can be an intriguing index to the working method and the mind of the artist. And most, once the status of art had been elevated above the realms of mere craft, would paint themselves palette in hand. Where and how colour is laid can convey emotion, psychology, religious significance. "The whole value of what you are about" wrote John Ruskin in his Elements of Drawing, first published in 1857 "depends on colour. If the colour is wrong, everything is wrong: just as, if you are singing,...

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Is Your Personal Data on Spokeo?

My blogging friend Fabulously Broke alerted me of Spokeo this morning. According to their website, Spokeo is a "people" search engine that aggregates all publicly available data (including but not limited to: phone directories, social networks, marketing surveys, mailing lists, government census, real estate listings, and business websites). While a quick name search will bring up cursory information, paid members can access even more detailed data. I knew that after being active on social networks for years, my information would most likely be listed. What surprised me is that they had the wrong information. More specifically, their information was vastly outdated — they had me listed as still living with my parents, circa 1999! And NO, my parents' house is not worth $1...

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2010 World Cup Murals

There are exactly two weeks left until I become a soccer widow. While J and I share enthusiasm for basketball and football, there is one sport where we do not stand on common ground: soccer. Having grown up in Hong Kong and attended boarding school in England, J is a HUGE soccer — ahem, football — fan. His team of choice is Manchester United and he will be avidly cheering for England in two weeks. He even had a friend in Hong Kong find, and ship over a vintage England jersey for the event! Me? I can care less about soccer. (According to J, I am too "Americanized" to appreciate the sport.) Since the FIFA World Cup only takes place every four years, I am fully prepared...

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