What Guns Allow -- And Don't

Fantastic, Thoughtful, Generous Idea From Terrific Local Artist

Check out what Kansas City's own Michael Savage is doing. He posted this today on his Facebook page.

Took a day off…don’t know what to do?!

So I was thinking….always a dangerous thing, I know. And I thought, it’s time for a new “contest” for art! (don’t mind all the commas, not a wordsmith like someone I know)

Here it is! Every month I am going to give a piece of art work, of my choice, away, duh, to one lucky (presumptuous?) and creative person.

Now the the deal. In the wake of so much sadness and craziness these days, and I’ll leave it at that, all I ask is for you, to enter, is to take a pic or record one random act of kindness ( or more) that you yourself instigate. Don’t plan on it, let it happen naturally. I know you have to have your camera ready, but isn’t it always!? Ha! And keep it simple. Example. Help the little old lady across the street. Help change someone’s tire. Buy someone a coke or coffee, hug a sad person, put a new roll of toilet paper on the dispenser when you empty it, cook some food for a needy family, pick a worm up after a heavy rain and set him in the grass, help someone move (well maybe not go that far). Make it fun, charitable, difficult, easy….it doesn’t matter. The point is to be kindand do it with a happy face. No smile, no win. I know most of us do this already, but I think it would be cool at the end of the month to see all the great heartfelt examples captured.

I believe we can have fun and share with our friends on this site. Because you wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think we could be friends. Goofy? Yes I am, but I want to show that we as humans are good and fun and happy. Please don’t feel obliged, but do feel free at the end of each month to participate in looking at the entries, commenting and going away happier.

So….start thinking or preferably not, and just remember to keep that camera ready! And don’t try too hard….it’ll just happen. Thanks and I hope you like the idea. I’ll throw some in there too!

Oh, and if you prefer not to post on this thread (I’ll keep reminding us throughout each month). Feel free to message me. And If you win, I’ll ask you first if you want to be known. And if you don’t I’ll just describe it. Cool? Good luck MY friends. We can change the world.

Especially for free art? Sav

What a cool thing, right?

Virtually any Kansas Citian knows his work, I think, either because of him or because of his fantastic style. For instance, here's one of his takes on our own Country Club Plaza.

Kansas City is so very fortunate to have artists--and people--like Michael living and creating right here in the city. (Charlie Podrebarac, too, I think and all the others, far too many to mention).

So there you are, Kansas City! Go out there and keep doing those nice things for others. For at least a while here, once a month, you'll get a huge reward for it, too! And thank you very much, Michael!

Things for which I'm thankful

My daughter

Her good health

How bright, fun and nice she is

My own good health

My family

My friends, certainly

Vacations

Days off work

Terrific light--sunsets, sunrises

Photos that turn out even better than I expected

Nature

Being in nature

Cycling, camping, canoeing and kayaking

Things that work

Things I need that don't cost a lot but that still also work

Spring

Summer

Fall

Snow, especially when it's falling or I'm in the mountains and can ski

Swimming

Fresh air

Flowers (see nature, above)

Music

Peace

Love

Good food

Great restaurants

Smiles

Happy people

Kindness and kind people

Thoughtfulness and thoughtful people

Quote of the day

"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." --Albert Einstein

Quote of the day

"It seems the only things that matter are not hurting another, love and creating things, creating beauty, being creative and expressing your own individuality."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Man, I hope this is true:

Study: Liberal brains bigger in areas dealing with complexity, conservative brains bigger in area of fear

Liberals have more gray matter in a part of the brain associated with understanding complexity, while the conservative brain is bigger in the section related to processing fear, said the study on Thursday in Current Biology.

"We found that greater liberalism was associated with increased gray matter volume in the anterior cingulate cortex, whereas greater conservatism was associated with increased volume of the right amygdala," the study said.

As both proof and an example, I think we could start, for instance, with Dick "Darth Vader" Cheney.

Have a great weekend, y'all.

Links:  http://www.americablog.com/2011/04/study-liberal-brains-bigger-in-areas.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Americablog+%28AMERICAblog%29;

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iISI7ifh-AjUE3ejyC1wQmwFrMFw?docId=CNG.61c886c438708471a9f4ea23070fa70c.3a1
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2011/04/06/AFNEgnqC_story.html

Quote of the day--on thinking and speaking

"Think before you speak. Read before you think."   —Fran Lebowitz



Please.



Have a great day, y'all.

Lessons for living

Mind you, these are mine.  Also, it doesn't mean I followed all of these at all time, through my entire life (see the last one):

--Be nice

--Be nice always

--Be patient

--As possible, be quiet

--Work hard

--Work smart

--Enjoy yourself

--Be thoughtful

--Be generous, as possible

--Help others

--Help yourself

--Don't criticize

--Love (that's it, just love)

--Don't be (too) foolish

--Don't be too serious ot take yourself too seriously

--Laugh often

--Keep everthing simple

--Read all you can

--Learn

--Never think you know that much

--Be responsible

--Lighten up, as possible and as necessary

--Forgive.  Forgive others, as necessary;  forgive yourself, as necessary

--Excecise

--Excercise caution

--Exercise restraint

--Excercise moderation

--Live life to the fullest

--Help everyone you can

--Give selflessly (but not foolishly)

--Be thrifty

--Don't be cheap

--Save, as much as possible

--Create as much beauty as possible

--Laugh as much and as frequently as possible (but don't be a fool or obnoxious)

--Don't be afraid to cry but... (see next line)

--Don't waste time feeling sorry for yourself, because that's what you're doing

--Remember we're all hypocrites at some time, to some degree, in some, different ways