Dick Blick Art Supply goes all political...

and does it the right way.

I buy the majority of my art supplies online from Dick Blick and I've always been very pleased with the assortment, the prices, and the quick delivery.

 So when I received an email from them today concerning the defunding of the National Endowment for the Arts by the Federal government my first reaction was, "Oh no, I hope this isn't going to be an "I hate Trump" missive.

Instead, this is what I received:

Ladies and gentlemen, this is how you advocate for a cause that means a lot to you without pissing off half of your customers.

I'm a firm believer in the government not funding the "arts".  It should be up to an individual state if they wish to use some of their block grant money for the arts, although that would not be something I would support.  The difference is if it is handled at the state level, those of us who oppose would have a chance of changing the minds of the budget makers.

There is absolutely no way the government can be involved in funding for the arts without politics and cronyism entering into the equation.  Most of the grants awarded by the NEA are for what I consider less than worthy of even being called "art."

I understand why Mr. Buchsbaum would be in favor of the funding and applaud his stating clearly why, while at the same time saying if you didn't agree with his position that was okay with him.

I also believe if Mr. Buchsbaum delved a bit more deeply into the corruption and waste in the NEA, he would quickly change his mind.  We can hope.


Exceptionally good Amazon deals in Grocery

Instant Pot IP-DUO60 7-in-1 Multi-Functional Pressure Cooker, 6Qt/1000W still $99.99  (Later this week I'll tell you about cooking my corned beef in my Instant Pot)

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons

Still loving Prime.  I ordered some bath mats yesterday and my faithful mailman, Louis, handed them to me this morning.  How the heck do they do that? 

More:

National Review:  What’s the ‘Public Purpose’ of the National Endowment for the Arts?

Foundation for Economic Education:  The Pro-Art Case for Defunding the National Endowment for the Arts  (Excellent!)

Let's just throw out a bunch of stuff and clean up my tabs...

should we?

First up:

I guess there's some woman who's turning her back on technology, although she has an iPhone.  The fact that it has a cracked screen and is taped up is supposed to be testimony to her creds.  Ah, no.

I have nothing against technology.  However, I think the people who walk around clutching a phone in their hand, or seeing every event through the pinhole of a phone are very sad creatures. 

Supposedly, a man died after walking off a cliff in San Diego while, according to reports, looking at a hand held device. If it was a "smart phone" what he did was not very smart. 

Fran Porretto puts it well with his post Family, Proximity, And The Smartphone Plague: A Sunday Rumination - and we thank him.

Secondly:

After a busy day on Saturday having our car hauled out a snow bank in our driveway again (we've become a legend and a joke at the towing company), I was able to finally get someone out to plow our driveway.  I actually called one person who said he didn't want to do it because he "might break his plow."  I kid you not. The tow truck driver recommended someone because he felt my pain and probably figured our Allstate towing bennies may be running low.  I called, and this wonderful man, who works with his little fur ball of  happiness Pomeranian doggie, Wendy, showed up in 30 minutes and cleared our driveway.  He charged $35.00.  I gave him $60.00, and a big stack of fresh out of the oven sugar cookies.

He also does landscape work, and if our regular tree guy can't come out this spring, he promised to help.  Our broken and felled trees from the heavy snow fall are legion.

On to Sunday:

Sunday was spent clearing out a bunch of old papers and notes that were stacked everywhere in my office.  In one of the stacks was a copy of an email someone sent with recommendations of things to read. Unfortunately, I copied and pasted the info into Word and can't remember who sent it. 

One of the recommendations was Richard Mitchell (1929-2002), the Underground Grammarian.  All of his books are online and free.  I started reading Less than Words Can Say, and he had me smiling broadly before I even finished the forward.

The first thing he makes fun of is the use of the word "basically."  Listen to any talk show or anyone being interviewed today and their language will be liberally sprinkled with the word "basically."  When I hear it, I'm driven to basically what could be considered basic violence - sort of, basically.

Also recommended was The War Against Grammar by David Mulroy, which proves that the war on grammar is an intentional war, not an accidental one.

John Taylor Gatto also made the list.  I've already read his Underground History of American Education, available online.  

It's also available at Amazon The Underground History of American Education: A School Teacher's Intimate Investigation Into the Problem of Modern Schooling

Mr. Gatto and I agree 100% on education:




 And here he expounds on boredom, zombies, and economic collapse.  What I wouldn't give to have a long dinner date with him.

Did any of you ever dare to say to your mother you were bored?  I sure didn't.  Actually, I can't ever remember being bored. 





Thirdly:

American Thinker has a raft of pretty good articles today with all of them garnering many comments.  The comments are usually my favorite part of articles.

Fourthly:

My Dick Blick order of the last remaining art supplies I needed to begin painting again came Saturday.  On Wednesday I will commence with my painting career again, because man doesn't live by politics alone.

Yes, I know this post is long, but tomorrow is haircut day, along with Costco, and some other errands, so I will be absent.

Let's wrap up with some Donald Trump.