October 13, 2023
August 31, 2022
Hanging On The Kids Rides
Some people have great imaginations or does this creature really exist? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Hanging On The Kids Rides
June 26, 2022
This Seems Useful
As it says:
Don't get caught with your pants down!
Wonder how Shark Tank missed this one??? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
This Seems Useful
May 25, 2022
Silverware Dancer
This illustration was in the mall for a local high school art exhibit.
This dancer's pink dress is made of plastic cutlery (spoons, folks, knives).
Such creativity and flawless execution of the design concept that you almost don't realize how this is put together.
It's brilliantly done! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Silverware Dancer
January 24, 2022
Artist Expression x5
I'm having a little bit of a hard time with this one.
But I still like it! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Artist Expression x5
June 28, 2021
When You Absolutely Need A/C
What do you do?
Improvise! ;-)
(Source Photo: A friend)
When You Absolutely Need A/C
June 21, 2021
WTF Is It?
Do these thingamajigs represent people standing tall and with arms raised high?
Are you supposed to hang things off of it like jewelry?
Can you place on it reminder notes or small pictures using push pins?
Then again maybe it's a toy for a child or even a pet?
In the end, all I can say is WFT is it?
Perhaps that's what the meaning of art is! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
WTF Is It?
December 4, 2020
Awesome Vase 4 Shabbat Shalom
Love the cool designs on it and all the colors and shapes.
Tops off a week of hard work and creativity and eases us into the day of rest and spirituality.
All it needs is some beautiful flowers to go into the vase and voila! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Awesome Vase 4 Shabbat Shalom
October 11, 2020
Andy Blumenthal Does Some Hip Funk
He who makes peace in his high places
He shall make peace upon us
And upon all of Israel
And say Amen
Soundcloud song is recorded here.
https://soundcloud.com/dannielleblumenthal/osehshalom-remix-andy-blumenthal
Enjoy the vibes!
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Andy Blumenthal Does Some Hip Funk
March 20, 2020
The Dog Diet
-------------------
"I interrupt the COVID-19 pandemic to bring you this lil story...
Last night I went to Sam’s Club to buy a bag of food for my dogs.
Already in line, a woman behind me asked me if I had a dog.
I stare at her (those who know me will imagine my gaze 🤔😳) ...but then why would I be buying dog food...right? 😝😝
So on impulse I told her no, that I didn’t have a dog, that I was starting the dog food diet again, and that I probably shouldn't because I ended up in the hospital the last time, but 15 pounds less!
I told her that it was the perfect diet and that all you had to do is carry the kibbles in your pocket and eat one or two every time you feel hungry (I have to mention that practically everyone in line was interested in my story).
Frightened, the woman asks me if I ended up in the hospital because the dog food had poisoned me. I answered...of course not!
I was admitted because I bent down to smell the butt of a bulldog and I was hit by a truck 😂😂😂
I thought the man behind her was going to have a heart attack...he was laughing so hard!
...Let’s continue promoting reading! 😁
I have to confess...I posted this to make you smile. It's your turn to copy/paste it and make someone else laugh.
We need to laugh more! Have a GREAT DAY😄😄😄"
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
The Dog Diet
March 1, 2020
Toys Non-Digital
A couple of dogs, some Play-Doh, a crayon, and a fighter plane.
Off to the side (not pictured) are the Legos.
Interesting with what competes with video games and phone apps these days.
(Note: 85% of the world's toys are now made in China!)
Frankly, there is still a lot to be said for the creative play of yesteryear. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Toys Non-Digital
February 23, 2020
Innovation: Finding The 3rd Alternative
The first by David Ben-Gurion:
If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert.
The second by Shimon Peres:
When you have two alternatives, the first thing you have to do is to look for the third that you didn't think about, that doesn't exist.
Innovation: Finding The 3rd Alternative
September 27, 2019
That Decisive Qualitative Edge
It's basically about their elite genius program, "Talpiot," in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Each year the program accepts only the top 50 out of 100,000 graduating high school students for a 9-year commitment.
There are the mathematicians, physicists, and computer scientists that help give the IDF the cutting edge in military R&D and other innovations.
These are the brain trust behind Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system and Trophy tank active protection system and many more both military and industrial advances.
This program was born after the almost disastrous 1973 Yom Kippur War where Israel misjudged the intelligence and the advances in their enemies capability and almost lost the war.
I like the philosophy of General Yitzhak Ben-Israel who understands the importance of challenging the status quo and looking differently at critical situations and avoiding confirmation bias:
My method is not to look for supporting evidence. I look for refuting evidence...you see one white swan, then a second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth. You still can't conclude that all swans are white...nature builds us to be inductive, to make generalizations from past experience...this standard way of scientific thinking can be limiting and destructive."Instead we must be continuously curious, think outside the box, be creative, and innovate.
Especially, where we don't have a quantitative advantage like with Israel surrounded by many enemies, then we must rely on a very sharp qualitative edge. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
That Decisive Qualitative Edge
August 25, 2019
Tyson's Corner Wall Art
Create your own wall art.
People passing by in the mall, just pull over and start drawing with their fingers in these cool colorful shiny sequin tiles.
One way moves the sequins to one color and the other direction to an alternate color.
Some people went up to draw and then took a picture of themselves next to their artwork.
Everyone loves a little creativity (even in between shopping). ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Tyson's Corner Wall Art
August 7, 2019
Ocean of Words
An ocean of words and a desert of ideas.
Too often, we hear people who like to hear themselves talk, think very highly of themselves, show off, or just spout away.
And while they say a lot...
There may not be a lot there.
New ideas, thoughts, ways of looking at things, innovation, creativity, outside the box thinking--that's like a desert!
In Yiddish (and it's always funnier in Yiddish), we say:
A big, big mouth, and a tiny, tiny head.
Similarly, in Hebrew, there is phrase that translates to:
Say a little, and do a lot.
Sometimes, the smartest people are the ones who use their words wisely, strategically, with depth and meaning, and when they really have something to say.
It's at that time that you better be listening. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Ocean of Words
June 27, 2019
Is Beer A Color?
It's titled "Colors".
And it has the typical ones you'd expect: blue, red, green, yellow, orange, purple, black, white, grey, brown, and tan.
But thrown into the mix is beer (and Summer)--maybe these go together!
Perhaps, someone had a little too much beer when asked about colors.
On second thought, maybe beer is a color. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Is Beer A Color?
June 18, 2019
Beautiful Architecture, Washington DC
This fine exquisite pattern is all around this building by Metro Center.
I think this must've been restored over the last few years, because I don't remember it being this colorful and awesome in the past.
Civilization can still create some amazing works...whether technology, medical cures, and even beautiful pieces of artwork.
Now we just need to proceed with the positives of creativity and productivity without destroying ourselves with indifference, dysfunction, and mismanagement in the process. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Beautiful Architecture, Washington DC
August 16, 2018
Breaking The Paradigm
"But we've always done it that way."
They told me a funny story about the lady that made the ham with the head and tail ends always cut off.
One day, her daughter asked, "Why mom do you make the ham with the head and tail ends always cut off?"
The mother answers and says because "My mother always made it that way!"
So they went to her mother and ask the question and they get the same answer again.
Finally, they went to her great grandmother and ask, "Why do you always make the ham with the head and tail ends cut off?"
And the old lady takes a breath, pauses, and says, "Because, we didn't have a pan big enough to fit the whole ham!"
Just thought this was a great lesson on critical thinking and also on "asking why."
Change can be brought about by questioning underlying assumptions and historical ways of doing things and bringing an open mind and fresh light to it. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Breaking The Paradigm
May 13, 2018
Ship+ In A Bottle
Someone needs very dexterous hands and a lot of patience to put the pieces through the opening of the bottle and assemble the ship inside.
But this second grader, Dylan Yasseri, upped the game on this whole concept and imagined a whole beach in the bottle.
The sand, ocean, sky, birds, crabs, fish, umbrella, and even the shack (snack?) bar!
This is one reason that kids are so awesome--their purity of heart and their endless imaginations make almost anything possible.
The fantasy becomes the reality.
The colors are magical too here.
If adults could maintain even half the heart and creativity of our children--oh what a world it could be. ;-)
(Source: Andy Blumenthal Photo of Dylan's beautiful painting).
Ship+ In A Bottle
April 22, 2018
Sugarloaf Crafts Festival
Today, we took the opportunity to go to the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival.
There were so many vendors with artistic works in metal, glass, art, jewelry, leather, photography, pottery, and more.
Everyone seemed to be looking for those one-of-a-kind special pieces.
I did manage to find a very special colorful menorah, which I had my eye on since last year, and which I was glad that I waited for because the artisan made it even better and more beautiful than before.
Again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and most things were an easy pass on, but some things definitely caught my eye and attention.
The photo here was one of them where the artist was selling pots, and he set up this plastic chicken--as if the chicken was set and ready to go into the oven.
Creativity can definitely get weird, but everyone likes a standout. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumethal)
Sugarloaf Crafts Festival