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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Not Buying It

Not Buying It

by | 132 Comments

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cop_out

I saw this on a bike ride yesterday. Judging from what I think is supposed to be a pony tail on the left, but looks like an elephant’s trunk in silhouette, I’m guessing that it was lack of talent on the part of the artist, not the overwhelming beauty of the subject, that caused him to give up and spray some stenciled words instead. But perhaps that’s just cynicism on my part.

Reader Interactions

132Comments

  2. 2.

    big ole hound

    Looking at the “signature” I would say that this is a junior high artist wannabe seeking attention. Very unclever crapola.

  8. 8.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    Creating things is hard. I tried to write a drinking song once but I couldn’t get past the first few bars.

  13. 13.

    Cassidy

    Those who can, do, those who can’t, teach; and those who can’t teach, become critics.

  14. 14.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    @WaterGirl: Well no actually, could be. Are you one of my siblings?

    Oh wait “sister”, no, no fairly certain I’m not that.

  15. 15.

    WaterGirl

    @Cassidy: I cannot tell you how many times I heard “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach” as a joke when I taught the Human Sexuality course at the University. Everyone was a comedian!

    I had to have heard that one a thousand times, right along with keeping kids after class for “one-on-one tutoring”. Oh, and “extra credit”!

  17. 17.

    Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)

    For some idiot reason, I looked at my FB feed first thing this morning. I found out that someone I knew in college died yesterday of breast cancer. Shitty way to start the day.

  18. 18.

    WaterGirl

    @Bill E Pilgrim: Well, you just never know! I am constantly realizing that someone on BJ that I assumed was male (or female) is indeed not the gender I had originally assumed without even thinking about it.

  23. 23.

    Tommy

    @WaterGirl: My name here is clear. I’ve been apart of other message boards where people after years didn’t now I was male. Often thought I was a women. I always took that as badge of honor. Made me very happy.

  25. 25.

    coin operated

    It’s Sunday, my only day off, and you want to start it by giving me a friggin Rorschach test?

  26. 26.

    Baud

    @Cassidy:

    Those who can, do, those who can’t, teach; and those who can’t teach, become critics Republican nominees for political office.

    Fixed.

  28. 28.

    Corner Stone

    @Bill E Pilgrim:

    I tried to write a drinking song once but I couldn’t get past the first few bars.

    Well, do you think you could at least hum a little of it?

  29. 29.

    WaterGirl

    @Baud: Maybe not the one-on-one tutoring or the extra credit, but I’m guessing they get the “those who can’t do, teach” joke.

    Not sure anyone would say it to them directly, but it surely gets said behind their backs. I preferred the joking about it to my face, even if I had heard it a thousand times!

  30. 30.

    Corner Stone

    I don’t know, mistermix. You can tell just by looking at his signature how cleaver the artist is.

  31. 31.

    WaterGirl

    @Corner Stone:

    You can tell just by looking at his signature how cleaver the artist thinks he is.

    Fixed that for you.

    Edit: aren’t those axes, rather than cleavers?

  39. 39.

    Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)

    @WaterGirl: @Betty Cracker: Thanks. She was someone I knew back then but hadn’t really thought about in the intervening years. Until this morning. Funny how that can happen.

  41. 41.

    Schlemizel

    We were at a Northern Woods Leauge baseball game yesterday when I saw a guy with an interesting quote on his T-shirt. I think this needs a bit more popularity amongst America’s Christian right:
    Psalm 82
    2 How long will you judge unjustly,
    And show partiality to the wicked?

    3 Defend the poor and fatherless;
    Do justice to the afflicted and needy.

    4 Deliver the poor and needy;
    Free them from the hand of the wicked.

  44. 44.

    Citizen_X

    @WaterGirl:

    right along with keeping kids after class for “one-on-one tutoring”. Oh, and “extra credit”!

    I believe I saw that video.

  45. 45.

    Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)

    @Cervantes: The kids are teenagers. She was diagnosed in 2004, so this apparently was a 10 year fight. She was a friend in college, but no someone with whom I had stayed in touch, so it was a bit of a shock that the first news I had about her in years was her illness and death. One tends to think of the friends of one’s youth just continuing on as they had been doing, but not all of them do, do they?

  51. 51.

    Villago Delenda Est

    Noisemax strikes again:

    Billionaire Warns: Yellen Collapse ‘Will Be Unlike Any Other’

    So, hurry up and buy that gold, suckers!

  53. 53.

    WereBear

    In honor of the late James Garner, I am watching The Rockford Files today while resting in bed. Rowdy week last week with the hub’s family. They are not planners. They see it as impulsive but in my state of health, I see it as exhausting :)

  56. 56.

    WaterGirl

    @Citizen_X: I’ll bet you did! Is the X in Citizen_X because you like x-rated movies? (just teasing)

    @Baud: I just taught for a couple of years, then I switched to a technology related field. I was good at teaching, and I loved it. I wonder if I’m the only one who looks back and wonders about the road not taken.

  57. 57.

    Violet

    About the art, guess I saw it differently. I saw it as a classic case of blaming the woman for something that isn’t her fault. Her looks aren’t her “fault”. That the artist is unable to paint or draw her is the artist’s fault alone. Has nothing to do with her being “too pretty”. The artist is blaming the woman for his or her own failings. Reminds me of “You made me hit you.”

  60. 60.

    Corner Stone

    Speaking of “not buying it”, there is so much wrong in this Ezra Klein piece on Paul Ryan’s plan that if I started pointing it all out I would violate Fair Use.
    Democrats should welcome Paul Ryan’s poverty plan
    “Ryan is refocusing himself and, perhaps, the Republican Party on reducing poverty by making the government’s anti-poverty programs work better: that’s a project that’s both more important for the country and more amenable to compromise. Democrats should welcome it.”

  61. 61.

    Carrie

    Hey all,
    just got back a little while ago from being away for 3 weeks and i’m just catching up with the saga. Any news regarding John?
    I’ve grown attached to the big lug.

  62. 62.

    Violet

    @WereBear: Sorry you’re not feeling well. Am I remembering correctly that you are the one who has found some benefit from going gluten-free?

  65. 65.

    zippity

    @WereBear: I watched the first two episodes last night, and was struck by how many really long shots of just scenery without any dialogue or really advancing the story.

  66. 66.

    Baud

    @Corner Stone:

    Why do we always have to do the welcoming?

    And Ryan wants to give more control to the states. You know, those states that refused to take expanded Medicaid and that are trying to end subsidies on federal health exchanges. Yeah, they’ll get right on that poverty thing.

  67. 67.

    muddy

    @Corner Stone: I read that the other day, and began assuming he was going to say that we should embrace it in a “Please proceed, Governor..” kind of way. Was unpleasantly surprised. Not that I really remember the details what why, I just remember reading it and asking the dogs, wtf?

  68. 68.

    WereBear

    @Violet: Yes, I’ve been gluten free for three years. This latest challenge is finally responding to a new protocol devised by a neurosurgeon. Three weeks in, working better than anything else so far, and I believe I laid the proper groundwork for a quick response with dietary changes like that one.

  69. 69.

    WaterGirl

    @WereBear: I am just finishing the episode of Maverick that I recorded last night, also in honor of James Garner.

    James Garner has that certain something, and it’s not just his good looks. It’s a much more natural charm than the Cary Grant style. He’s just plain likable.

    The Maverick episode I am watching has two “gunmen” who are trying to run Brett out of town, and Brett wants to know why. Back to real life: these assholes who want to parade around with their guns? I want to know why we don’t start calling them “gunmen” or “gunslingers”.

  70. 70.

    Violet

    @Corner Stone: Me either. The preponderance of hipster glasses is seriously annoying. I don’t know if Chris Hayes’ glasses are considered hipster glasses but they look awful on him. He kind of looks over the top rims. Or they hide his eyes or something. It makes him look like a serial killer. Do. Not. Like.

  71. 71.

    Cervantes

    @Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name):

    The kids are teenagers. She was diagnosed in 2004, so this apparently was a 10 year fight.

    Sorry to hear this. Trauma all around. Is their dad with them?

    She was a friend in college, but no someone with whom I had stayed in touch, so it was a bit of a shock that the first news I had about her in years was her illness and death.

    Reaching out to the family may help — you and them.

    One tends to think of the friends of one’s youth just continuing on as they had been doing, but not all of them do, do they?

    A childhood friend of mine died in childhood, of an illness — a very brief illness. We friends of his, in our innocence, tried to hold on to him, to help him stay with us, for us — he was a bright star in our young lives — but he died, anyway. I’m not sure we learned anything, but if we did it was shrouded in bitterness.

    A few years later other friends died left and right — still children all, but not seeking knowledge, only escape.

    I am sorry your friend is gone. I hope you find solace in your memories of her.

  73. 73.

    Violet

    @WereBear: Have you been following the newest trend of ‘resistant starch’? Thought if you haven’t, it might be something to look into. It seems to help people who are sort of stuck with various issues. Let me know if you want some links.

  74. 74.

    Corner Stone

    @WereBear:

    He lost an eye in a high school shooting incident (he inadvertently crossed a budding psychopath.)

    Really? Huh.
    Knew a few of those. Not too much “budding” about them, though.

  76. 76.

    Corner Stone

    @Violet: I think if CH wore frameless glasses he would like even more intense. The way he smiles and shows all his teeth when a guest is straight out bullshitting him to his face? He would look like he’s waiting for the garrote to drop over the guest’s throat.
    I’m not sure what would be a good look for him, but I confess I haven’t spent more than a few hours a day thinking about it.

  77. 77.

    Corner Stone

    @muddy: Were you watching when MED said that the nation “had a black daddy right now…and they hated him” and it got quiet for like three beats?

  78. 78.

    Violet

    @Corner Stone: I don’t watch Chris Hayes but only see him occasionally on clips. He used to have some glasses that were definitely more hipster-ish. Then he switched to whatever he’s got now. The first time I saw them I was really taken aback. He looks like the nice quiet boy next door who ends up being the serial killer. Can’t watch him.

  79. 79.

    muddy

    @Violet: I like them better than the previous pair. The lenses were really reflective (blue lights) and light would flash back and forth along the tortoise shell frame (orange lights). I felt like I was going to have a seizure.

  81. 81.

    Ruckus

    @WaterGirl:

    I wonder if I’m the only one who looks back and wonders about the road not taken.

    The more crossroads you’ve had in your life, the more wonderment you have. But it really depends on if you like the road taken. If on the other hand if that road led you off a cliff at a 100 miles an hour…..

  82. 82.

    WaterGirl

    @Violet: @muddy: HIs new glasses and the terrible eyebrows they have given him make him too creepy for me to watch. it’s not a matter of attractiveness – I used to think Chris Hayes was very attractive, in part because he’s so damn smart.

    But this look is creepy, and I am hard-wired to avoid creepy. Just can’t watch anymore.

  85. 85.

    Violet

    @WaterGirl: Yes, that’s right. The eyebrows have changed too. You’re right–the whole look is just creepy. I can’t watch either.

  86. 86.

    Ruckus

    @WaterGirl:

    I want to know why we don’t start calling them “gunmen” or “gunslingers”.

    Because they probably would like that?

    I still think idiots and assholes is better.

  87. 87.

    Bob Munck

    @Betty Cracker Note that the message is computer-generated, not printed by hand. (No ones prints all the letters exactly the same. Look at all the “t”s and the “o”s.) That makes me wonder if you really saw it somewhere other than on the Internet.

  88. 88.

    WaterGirl

    @Ruckus: Yep. It’s not like I’m looking back with regret, just wondering what life would have been like if I’d gone another way. For me, the other ways were mathematics, attorney, teacher, therapist, programmer, social services.

    The weird thing is, we seldom realize at the time that we are at a crossroads and that this decision will determine the course of the rest of our lives. I suppose if we were always aware of that, we might all be rocking in a corner somewhere instead of doing anything!

    edited for grammar

  89. 89.

    WaterGirl

    @muddy: That may be, but that’s just a fashion thing and I don’t care so much about fashion. it’s the creep factor, like something you’s see in the unsubs on Criminal Minds.

  90. 90.

    WaterGirl

    @Bob Munck: I was momentarily confused but then I think I figured it out – are you thinking this is a Betty Cracker post instead of mister mix? Can’t blame you, it does have the style of a BC post.

  91. 91.

    Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)

    @Bob Munck:

    That makes me wonder if you really saw it somewhere other than on the Internet.

    You found out her dirty little secret.* Congratulations.

    *Both BC and mistermix are DougJ.

  93. 93.

    Ruckus

    @WaterGirl:

    we might all be rocking in a corner somewhere instead of doing anything!

    I’ve tried to do this while falling off that cliff at that 100 miles an hour.

  94. 94.

    KRK

    So no credit for proper use of to/too and your? I consider it a success on that point alone.

  95. 95.

    muddy

    @WaterGirl: I don’t think it is entirely just a fashion thing. What I was getting at was that when they look like old man ’80’s glasses, that seems creepy, because no one wears them now, not even current day old men. Only weirdos on tv.

    You’d think being in media they would have a better handle on this stuff.

  98. 98.

    Scout211

    Woke up this morning to smoke everywhere. The latest NorCal wildfire is in the next county (Amador) and the smoke is drifting over us to pretty much choke out the sun.

    They are calling ithis one the Sand Fire and last night it was up to 4000 acres with only 20% containment.

    This drought is really, really scary.

  99. 99.

    Violet

    @muddy: I think those old men 80’s glasses are actually cutting edge hipster type things at the moment. I’ve seen them once or twice or those kinds of people. But yeah, for the position he’s got he doesn’t want to be cutting edge fashion, especially thumb-your-nose-at-the-establishment hipster type cutting edge. So they end up making him look creepy.

  103. 103.

    kc

    @WaterGirl:

    these assholes who want to parade around with their guns? I want to know why we don’t start calling them “gunmen” or “gunslingers”

    .

    Or “thugs.”

  104. 104.

    FlipYrWhig

    @Violet: yes, there has been a terrible trend towards giant Mike Myers-as-Linda Richman glasses frames lately, to the point where there was nothing remotely appealing for my already big head the last time I tried to shop for glasses. Everything was disproportionately enormous.

  106. 106.

    FlipYrWhig

    BTW, the number of people I know and like in real life who have been taking to Facebook to repost that stupid Howard Stern pro-Israel rant is dumbfounding.

  107. 107.

    WaterGirl

    @muddy: I know! You’d think that when you’re on primetime on a major tv channel that they could get someone to do your eyebrows who has more talent than a 5-year old. And it’s not just this show – so many weird eyebrows on tv – someone should know better. I mean, don’t these people look at themselves and realize they look very very odd?

  109. 109.

    WaterGirl

    @kc: If creepy is part of your brand, you’re doing it wrong! Smart and nerdy with nerd glasses, that actually works. Creepy eyebrows and glasses that make me think about who creepy you look is a distraction from what you’re saying.

  110. 110.

    Violet

    @WaterGirl: It’s interesting to look back at pictures or video of Chris Hayes from a year or two ago, before he changed his eyebrows and glasses. He looked like the nerdy smart kid–a nice guy. Now he looks like a creepy serial killer in his dad’s clothes and glasses.

  113. 113.

    WaterGirl

    @kc: Thugs might actually be a good one, especially since “thugs” secretly means” scary black man” these days. They might find that humiliating and would really take offense!

    I swear, ridicule is the only thing that works.

  115. 115.

    WaterGirl

    @kc: Oops, not paying enough attention, I thought you were talking about Chris Hayes to EJW.

    (Thanks for the clue, Violet!)

  117. 117.

    Mandalay

    @Violet:

    Now he looks like a creepy serial killer in his dad’s clothes and glasses.

    I find him repulsive, but not because of his appearance. Regardless of how smart he may be, and how correct he may be on the issues, he shouts and spits and interrupts his guests. He’s a mini-Tweety.

  118. 118.

    Corner Stone

    @Mandalay:

    Regardless of how smart he may be, and how correct he may be on the issues, he shouts and spits and interrupts his guests. He’s a mini-Tweety.

    Oh, c’mon. He does push back against some guests but it’s mainly the ones who are out of touch with reality and/or repeating BS talking points.
    He is nothing like Matthews’ style.

  119. 119.

    Corner Stone

    @Baud:

    And Ryan wants to give more control to the states. You know, those states that refused to take expanded Medicaid and that are trying to end subsidies on federal health exchanges.

    It’s funny, or sad, that that is explicitly mentioned in EK’s piece. And yet he still tried to sell some good about this “plan”.
    One of my more favorite parts was this:
    “Similarly, Ryan’s “Opportunity Grants”, though missing key details, might have merit if thoughtfully constructed”
    W..T..F!?
    How would one even begin to say something like this when talking about a known entity like Paul Ryan?

  120. 120.

    Violet

    @Mandalay: I don’t watch him except in clips. I don’t even know which channel MSNBC is on my TV. I just don’t watch cable news.

    To me, both Chris Hayes and Rachel Maddow come across as exasperated with the idiocy of people, specifically Republicans. I’m exasperated too but I don’t want to watch someone be exasperated at me. It just makes me tired.

  121. 121.

    Violet

    @Corner Stone:
    One of my more favorite parts was this:

    “Similarly, Ryan’s “Opportunity Grants”, though missing key details, might have merit if thoughtfully constructed”
    W..T..F!?
    How would one even begin to say something like this when talking about a known entity like Paul Ryan?

    That sounds like it’s right out of Andrew Sullivan’s blog circa Paul Ryan’s budget from a few years ago. First Ryan’s ideas were great, then they were worth looking at, then they needed refining but he made some good points, then he was wrong on some things but generally headed in the right direction, then he was mostly wrong but at least he was willing to do something! Then finally he was just wrong and moronic, although I don’t know if Sully ever got to that point.

    I think Paul Ryan’s blue eyes must distract people or something. He’s just wrong. He’s always been wrong.

  122. 122.

    Mandalay

    @Violet:

    To me, both Chris Hayes and Rachel Maddow come across as exasperated with the idiocy of people, specifically Republicans.

    Me too. They are both dismissive, smug and condescending towards those they disagree with, just like Hannity and O’Reilly. That approach is fine here on BJ, but who the hell wants to watch folks doing that constantly, even when you agree with them?

    Bill Moyers shows that you can make your case far more persuasively without all the histrionics and sneering.

  123. 123.

    Violet

    @Mandalay: Agreed. The other issue is that Hayes and Maddow, among others, appeal to viewers with logic and facts. Hannity and O’Reilly and most of the Fox News and wingnut radio folks appeal to emotion, specifically negative emotions like fear. Appealing to emotions works better as entertainment–that’s why people like comedies or horror movies or whatever. Appealing to people’s brains just doesn’t work as well. Wish it did. It doesn’t.

    I think comedy shows like The Daily Show or Colbert show you can make your point via comedy as well. It doesn’t have to be all sneering condescension.

  124. 124.

    Bob Munck

    @NobodySpecial: You’re absolutely right; it’s a stencil. I missed the little stripes across letters that hold internal parts of letters (actually not-the-letters) in place. Across the sides of an “a”, for example.

    Apologies for getting the authorship wrong; I don’t know how I goofed that up.

  125. 125.

    WaterGirl

    @kc: Maverick and The Rockford Files are both showing on my cable TV channels.

    It looks like one episode of each show M-F mornings and one of each on Saturday nights. Maybe something on Sundays, but I’m to sure about that.

  126. 126.

    Ruckus

    @WaterGirl:
    Still here and back on the road.
    The outcome usually depends on how you land.
    It’s not too bad, if you hit rock bottom in the fetal position. Break fewer things that way.

  127. 127.

    Ruckus

    @Violet:
    Good synopsis of sully’s style.
    Always wrong.
    A little bit closer.
    A little bit closer.
    Almost reasonable.
    A swing and a miss. Possibly gets on first on an error. Then steps off the bag and gets tagged out.

  128. 128.

    patrick II

    When I was young I made a little extra money drawing portraits, and it was my experience that drawing truly pretty people is much harder than the drawing of an average person. Give me a few wrinkles, a large crooked nose, a lopsided smile any day. Drawing a portrait of a scowling Winston Churchill is much easier than a portrait of Heidi Klum in all of her delicate symmetry.

  129. 129.

    Corner Stone

    @patrick II:

    and it was my experience that drawing truly pretty people is much harder

    I’m sorry for causing you so much hardship.
    Apologies.

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