February 8, 2024
August 25, 2022
Superhero Bedding!
What kid isn't going to love this? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Superhero Bedding!
December 3, 2021
Absolutely Mind Blowing Humanoid Robot
Absolutely Mind Blowing Humanoid Robot
November 19, 2021
Ready To Drag Race
But this guy definitely souped it up so that it looks pretty nice!
Why don't call cars look exciting like that? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Ready To Drag Race
March 24, 2021
Dress To Express
I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone where something like this before.
But I'd like to!
It seems colorful, bold, and exciting.
The awesome cartoon makes it youthful and alive.
We need to be more expressive, unique, and alive.
There is only one life to live, and it passes too quickly. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Dress To Express
March 15, 2021
Vibrant Fashion Colors
Wow, what a vibrant fashion display of color at Macy's!
This is bold.
This is fun.
This is exciting.
This is alive.
We're coming from the Covid dead back to the pre-pandemic life!
Take out your stimulus checks and get ready to spend.
There is still hope for humankind. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Vibrant Fashion Colors
February 21, 2020
Boom Boom Coffee Table
Superhero effects.
Big BOOM!
With explosive rays and cloud formations.
This is a definite standout in Tel Aviv showroom.
Very colorful, exciting design, and with all the intended impact. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Boom Boom Coffee Table
February 10, 2019
The Not So Civil Service
The Civil Service was not only a term, but also a reality filled with honor, dedication, and devotion to one's country.
Working for the Federal government meant interesting and exciting work opportunities not only defending our great nation, but in making it just and prosperous, and literally a beacon of freedom for the world.
While no one became rich working for the government, you could make a stable living, build tenure over your service, and finally receive a pension upon retirement.
Over the course of almost 20-years of my federal career, I have had the opportunity to serve in positions that I only could have dreamed about as a child, and to feel such pride in serving.
But it seems like times have taken a turn for the worse either willfully or through neglect:
- From Capitol Hill to the Executive Department, we see the extremus of polarization and endless obstacles to getting anything done.
- With each change in administration, aside from a change of leadership and direction at the top of each Department, the workforce is seemingly accused of subversion for the other side and turned on itself.
- Just recently, we've seen the longest federal government shutdown lasting 35 days and with hundreds of thousands of Federal workers required to work without pay at the time.
- We have also seen many years of pay freezes--with not even a meager cost of living adjustment (COLA), while the overall economy is booming!
- The pay for grades at the upper levels are hitting up against the Congressional limits with multiple pay steps being the same pay and no increase for career advancement or growth of responsibilities.
- Employees have been forced to endure the A-76 outsourcings, threats of disbanding entire agencies, demands to reduce the size of government, and hiring freezes even while serving a larger population requiring ever more services.
- There have been limitations on the power of employee unions, and an ongoing series of tightening of benefits from CERS to FERS and continuing thereafter requiring greater employee contributions and what feels like ever less benefit payouts.
- Staff are threatened with firing in a short(er) period of time for making a small number of mistakes to a host of "conduct" issues that may or may not be true, and may at times be the outcome of poor leadership rather than problematic employees.
- The system for employment grievances and judging these has gone without a quorum for the longest period on the books and the backlog of cases continues to build.
While no system is perfect, and there are bad apples on every side, there clearly seems to be a devolution of the federal service, and what this means for governing and for our defense and prosperity is yet to be fully felt.
For me, serving the Federal government has been one of the greatest honors and has been many of the best years of my life. My wish is for others going forward to have a positive and productive experience as well.
Perhaps with an appreciation and true respect for the millions of good men and women that serve our country--from the front lines to the back offices--we can once again create a system that is equitable, fair, and just and that inspires the world-class results we needs for our nation and our people.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
The Not So Civil Service
September 4, 2018
Does Color Make The Man?
I personally like color and making a little bit of a a statement.
In a sense, color makes the man happy, exciting, alive, and uplifting.
With these shoes, I suppose if your going dancing or a splendid night out on the town these may work.
So there is a time and place for everything.
Day-to-day, these shoes are a little out there, and more than a little scary, and too much for my sense of tasteful design. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Does Color Make The Man?
March 29, 2017
X Marks The Spot With A Dot Dot Dot
Unfortunately, they were out of passes for this special showing, so I could only grab a quick photo or two.
But I was amazed at how splashes of dots and color can make such am amazing impact on a room.
Futuristic and yet surreal.
Everything in the room--walls, floor, chairs, tables, fixtures, and ornaments--had the design elements on them.
The only thing that didn't were the people checking it out and what a contrast that was.
It felt like being in the fantasy world of Willie Wonka and The Chocolate Factory or something amazing like that.
It is no surprise that people were lining up out the doors for tickets to this exhibit.
What an spectacular vision for the world--so happy, so magical and so wow beautiful! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
X Marks The Spot With A Dot Dot Dot
October 16, 2015
Wild Advertising Art
Milagro ("Miracle") is a company that prides itself on it's collaboration with artists to create cool murals to advertise it's liquor.
Tequila is made from the sweet, fruity, blue agave plant from northwest Mexico, hence the writing over the mural saying, "Agave Expressionism."
It must be challenging to look out the windows of this tour bus covered in this very blue mural and messaging.
Why is this ad effective?
First, it is intense and exciting--the vibrant colors, the big mask with the bulging eyes, and the skulls with the green leafy stuff growing out of the head.
Second, it really is a work of art, and you wouldn't expect to see this on a regular tour bus shlepping around town.
Third, the cultural contrast between the Mexican artistic expressionism and the rest of the comparatively humdrum city life is standout.
Fourth, after a long hard day at work, people are tired, thirsty, and ready for some fun--so this is a welcome message.
Overall, this has the creativity and connection with the people to hit the mark--pretty neat. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Wild Advertising Art
October 13, 2015
Fantastic Drone Capabilities Coming
Exciting video by Futurism on what drones can and will do.
Swarming.
Wall landings.
Acrobatics.
Drone on drone landings.
Playing catch.
Juggling.
Building a rope bridge.
These little drones are so versatile and dexterous that perhaps what they can do is only limited by our imagination.
Soon drones will do everything from caring for people's personal needs to building our cities, fighting diseases from within our very bodies, and conducting open warfare on the battlefield and behind enemy lines.
Fantastic Drone Capabilities Coming
June 22, 2012
One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other
There was a train coming by pretty fast, and on the flatbeds were what seemed like a endless line of Tractors.
-- Red, red, red, red, blue, and then red again.
I hurried to get my iPhone out and capture this photo while the train was rushing by at full speed.
I love this shot, because it teaches an important lesson about diversity.
Firstly, it reminds me of the children's song, "One of these things is not like the other. One of these things just doesn't belong."
From early in life, we are taught to conform a certain way--based on norms, culture, values, policies, rules, regulations, laws, religion, and so on.
There always seems to be a reason that we have to talk, dress, think, and conduct ourselves--properly, politically-correct, and just like everyone else.
And we are warned that "the nail that sticks out, gets hammered down"--so don't do it--it's too risky--you'll be labeled bad or worse yet, crazy.
So while creativity and innovation is valued if it can bring someone a nice profit, we are still cautioned not to go out too far on a limb or else you risk getting ridiculed and rejected--hey "you may never work again in this town."
But in this picture, the tractors tell a different story--that it's okay to be a blue tractor in a long parade of red ones.
No, the blue tractor wasn't a mistake, it isn't abnormal or alien or evil, it's just different and it's cool.
The blue tractor stands out, but it isn't a bad thing to stand out--and the blue tractor won't get hammered down.
It's okay to be a blue tractor in a long procession of red tractors--and it's great to just be who you are--blue, red, yellow, green, or whatever.
Conformity is not normalcy--it's just look-alike, copycat, and probably even boring.
Being different can be novel, inventive, out-of-the-box and exciting--and more important it can usher in needed change.
I think we need more blue tractors in a red tractor world.
Will you take a chance and be a blue tractor too?
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other