Age-defying Technology

Sitting at Burger King on the weekend, I was struck by this image of a retiree surfing the 'net on his iPad 2. I watched him make the screen fly with those old fingers.

Who says there's a generation gap? Technology has become not only a great enabler, but also a great leveler.

Dueling Art Festivals

This weekend was Art Festival weekend in my fair city. Actually Art Festival(s) weekend, since there are two of them, one downtown and one at the fairgrounds. Since I saw neither last year, I thought I'd visit both this year, and get a little compare/contrast action working.

Friday night downtown, Sunday afternoon fairgrounds, and in between a rainy 5K benefitting the Botanical Center. On the 5K, I slogged my way along at a respectable pace, given that I hadn't run that distance in 21 months. And this time... with no pain. :)

The downtown event made great use of the sculpture garden, which is about 3 city blocks of urban green space and artwork.

There was certainly some kitsch here and there,

but most of what was downtown was high-end, juried work in various media. With price tags to match! Despite the prices I still gawked at the things that usually catch my eye: glass...

and pottery, especially if the colors are interesting and vibrant.

There were also music stages,

and even a Habitat for Humanity exhibit, a home being built during the three days of the festival, and then moved to the property site. Very cool.

But the artwork was the focus, certainly. Striking.

The Art Festival at the fairgrounds was not as high-end and pricey (read: pretentious) as the one downtown. I could actually afford to buy something. And I did. :)

This event was less formal, and had some studio spaces set up where artists demonstrated their craft.

Though less pretentious and less expensive, they still had nice pottery...

and striking glasswork.

Though I'm not sure which was more striking, the glass work or the psychedelic dress on the older lady looking things over.

One of the painters exhibiting there seemed to capture her tie-dye dress in a luminous spiral staircase.

There seemed to be more painting at this show than downtown.

They even tried to educate the patrons on different styles of painting. Fauvism? News to me. I texted J1 about it, and of course she had a pertinent quote on the tip of her (virtual) tongue. Something about Donatello among the wild beasts... Guess you had to be there.

Fortuitously, while at the fairgrounds, I stopped in at the Ron Paul for President booth at the regional gun show going on at the same time as the art festival. Took my turn handing out literature, talking about how to reform government, etc.

The booth happened to be right next to a table where a guy did custom modifications on Glock pistols. Those were interesting conversations on which to eavesdrop!

But then, you were surrounded by firearms, ammo, knives and gear of all sorts, no matter where you were. You could smell the testosterone and the musky aroma of rugged individualism throughout the room.

And yet, the ladies were not forgotten.







There were tables selling everything from pink rifles







to belly button jewelry with firearm designs.

This state is one of those interesting places where not only is same-sex marriage legal, but so is either open or concealed carry.

The advocates of each rarely frequent the same events, more's the pity. That would make for some lively conversation..

Only pictures will do

The place I went to during the first week of June to speak at an industry conference was so far beyond description that only images will do it justice. Goodness gracious, it's incredible.

Of course, anything with Chihuly glass in the lobby has some class right from the start. And the rest of it was equally stunning, as you'll see.

The conference hotel had water features throughout. There were five different areas within the hotel, each with a different theme, but uniting all the themes was water, from waterfalls to rivers to watered gardens. I can still hear the rushing water two weeks later.

You walked along the river from one area of the hotel to another,

all of which areas were under the same common atrium roof. Very. Big. Roof.

Since this was a conference hotel, there was a dedicated conference space - multiple floors of it

Then there was the exhibit hall, where you ran a gauntlet of vendors (who were more like a combination of vulture meets carnival barker), with trinkets to hand out. I restrained myself. Mostly. Some trinkets are cooler than others.

The food was good, at the dinners and lunches (shown here: squash blossoms and corn grits souffle).

Plus there was entertainment. Yeah, it was C&W, but what do you expect in Nashville in a hotel near Opryland?

And even the entertainment came with food. Fortunately getting back to running at home has taken off what pounds I put on there.

There were beautiful places to sit and eat...

Peaceful places to sit and read...

With beautiful foliage all around (orchids growing in palm trees!)

But the rushing water sound coming from anywhere and everywhere... that was the best.

Family Merit Badges?

Have you seen these things?

Usually they only live on the back windows of minivans, SUVs or station wagons. Never saw a Dodge Viper, Mazda Miata, or Porsche Carrera with any.

I'm not sure I get what the message or the point really is. Why would you announce the composition of your family (and pets) on the back of your vehicle? Who is it, exactly, that you are telling this to?  Yourself, when you load your groceries?  Random passers-by?

And what's more... where the heck do you find them? The local family car-decorating shop? Tourist traps where you also buy shot glasses emblazoned with the local natural wonder and sugar spoons with the state flower on the handle?  I have never seen a sticker like this for sale anywhere, but I sure do see them on vehicles all over.

The point of these eludes me completely.