Artist Challenges Selfie Stick Ban By Taking A Bunch Of Selfies

February 27, 2015, 8:32 am

≫ Next: 'Star Trek' Star Leonard Nimoy Dead At 83

≪ Previous: Watch Meryl Streep Sing A Cut Song From 'Into The Woods'

$

0

0

Museums all over the world are working to ban the beloved selfie stick, but Australian artist Jesse Willesee isn't having it.

As a conceptual artist, Willesee is all about the selfie stick, which attaches to cameras and makes it possible to take selfies from a distance greater than arm's length.

"Anything that helps you document the world is a positive thing," he told The Huffington Post. So Willesee "stormed" the Museum of Contemporary Art in Australia and took a bunch of selfie stick photos for a project titled "Andy Warhol With Better Features."



Willesee shot the project in collaboration with photographer Valentina Penkova. His intent is to highlight the world's interest in selfies and the idea that we now use other people's art as the backdrop for our own.

“People were taking photos of Valentina taking photos of me while I was taking photos of myself,” Willesee said in a press release. “No one was looking at the art."



Although museum staff reportedly told Willesee that his project would "detract from the others' viewing experience," he did it anyway.

"I went in anyway and shot without their permission. And for most of the people there at the time, I was the most interesting viewing experience they were having," he told HuffPost. "After I started posing with the artworks, people wanted to pose with me. Galleries don’t accept that that’s the kind of experience audiences want to have. They have an old-fashioned solemn, contemplative viewing experience in mind when people want to interact and jump into the picture. Let the people take photos!"



So, why Warhol? Willesee told HuffPost that Warhol would have been a fan of the selfie stick.

"It seems like something he could have invented himself. So the title is a play on words with his name and the line from Jay Z's 'Picasso Baby,' where he says 'sleeping every night next to Mona Lisa, the modern day version with better features.' The idea of him taking Beyonce and mythologizing her against the Mona Lisa reminded me of how people want to mythologize themselves with great artworks."



H/T Artdaily

---

'Star Trek' Star Leonard Nimoy Dead At 83

February 27, 2015, 9:22 am

≫ Next: These Are Leonard Nimoy's Touching Final Words Of Wisdom

≪ Previous: Artist Challenges Selfie Stick Ban By Taking A Bunch Of Selfies

$

0

0

Leonard Nimoy, who was best-known for his role as Mr. Spock in the "Star Trek" franchise, died at his home on Friday in Los Angeles, his wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, confirmed to the New York Times. He was 83.

According to his wife, Nimoy's death was due to end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The star had been open about his condition, and spoke publicly about it last year. "Just can't walk distances. Love my life, family, friends and followers," he wrote on Twitter a week after announcing his diagnosis.

Nimoy had been hospitalized earlier this week, and many of his former co-stars, including George Takei, sent public well wishes. He had become active on Twitter in recent years, and wrote his last message on Monday:

A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP

— Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) February 23, 2015

Nimoy portrayed Spock for 40 years, reprising the role in 2009's "Star Trek" and 2013's "Star Trek Into Darkness." Aside from his work as Spock, Nimoy sat in the director's chair, helming "3 Men And A Baby" and "Star Trek" films like "The Search For Spock" and "The Voyage Home." He was also an accomplished voice actor, and can be heard in two episodes of "The Simpsons," “Atlantis: The Lost Empire,” “Transformers: The Movie,” “The Pagemaster," and dozens of other projects, including video games. More recently, he had a recurring role on the series, "Fringe," as William Bell.



Nimoy also released five albums via Dot Records, one of which borrowed from his days as Spock: "Leonard Nimoy Presents Mr. Spock's Music From Outer Space."

The actor is survived by his wife, two children from his first marriage to actress Sandra Zober, his stepson and grandchildren.

These Are Leonard Nimoy's Touching Final Words Of Wisdom

February 27, 2015, 9:54 am

≫ Next: Watch Leonard Nimoy's Screen Debut From 1951

≪ Previous: 'Star Trek' Star Leonard Nimoy Dead At 83

$

0

0

"Star Trek" actor Leonard Nimoy died Friday at his home in Los Angeles. But days before his death, the legendary Mr. Spock left the world with some final words of wisdom.

I will be sharing my poetry. Today's is, "You and I have Learned," which is in my book, These Words Are for You. LLAP pic.twitter.com/CsHAtmtDnz

— Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) February 22, 2015

A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP

— Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) February 23, 2015

Nimoy was famous for playing Spock in the "Star Trek" series, first on television and then in many of the film adaptations. He was an artist away from camera, delving into photography, music and poetry. Nimoy published numerous collections of his poems, including 2002's A Lifetime of Love: Poems on the Passages of Life.

His wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, told the New York Times Nimoy's cause of death was end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 83 years old.

Watch Leonard Nimoy's Screen Debut From 1951

February 27, 2015, 10:03 am

≫ Next: J.K. Rowling Bibliography To Reveal New 'Harry Potter' Secrets

≪ Previous: These Are Leonard Nimoy's Touching Final Words Of Wisdom

$

0

0

Leonard Nimoy, who died on Friday at the age of 83, will be forever remembered for his role as Mr. Spock in the "Star Trek" franchise. But Nimoy had a lengthy career before becoming the Earth's most quotable Vulcan, appearing on such television series as "Wagon Train," "Bonanza" and "Sea Hunt" throughout the 1950s and 1960s. His screen debut, meanwhile, came in 1951's "Queen for a Day," the film adaptation of a popular radio and television game show. In one of the film's segments, Nimoy plays a football player:



For more on Nimoy's life, head here.

J.K. Rowling Bibliography To Reveal New 'Harry Potter' Secrets

February 27, 2015, 10:11 am

≫ Next: Why I Do NOT Think Claudio Cutugno's Models Were In Blackface

≪ Previous: Watch Leonard Nimoy's Screen Debut From 1951

$

0

0

Forget new snippets of writing posted on Pottermore: The motherlode of Harry Potter revelations is coming. According to the Guardian, Bloomsbury has published a 544-page bibliography of the series in the U.K. Entitled JK Rowling: A Bibliography 1997-2013, it painstakingly documents the entire publication history of the books.

The hefty volume includes a cornucopia of delights for Harry Potter obsessives, from flow charts helping early readers determine whether their editions have value beyond the sentimental, to an exhaustive catalog of every edition of Rowling’s books, to tantalizing morsels of insight about the writing and editing process. The title’s description also indicates that it’s intended to “dispel rumor” about the storied series’ history.

Author Philip Errington, who compiled the bibliography, is eminently qualified for the position of thoroughly cataloging Rowling’s editions, as he’s currently Sotheby’s director for children’s books. Though Harry Potter has been read in forms ranging from ebook to audiobook, the bibliography focuses on the print editions. “This is a book about books,” explains Errington in his introduction. “These original books are merely the carriers of information [...] Yet, the features of those books provide some detail behind one of the defining moments in late twentieth- and early twenty-first-century culture.”

For print book lovers, this book is a goldmine, but Errington has also included fascinating glimpses into Rowling’s writing and editing process. According to documents and interviews cataloged in the book, Rowling was exhausted by the extensive rewrites and edits for The Prisoner of Azkaban and was “sick of it” by the time of its publication -- oh, and The Goblet of Fire was almost titled Harry Potter and the Three Champions!

The bibliography comes ringingly endorsed by the author herself, who writes self-deprecatingly, “Even in my most deluded moments, I could never have anticipated that an idea that occurred to me on a train to Manchester could have spawned this amount of verbiage and prose in every language under the sun.”

Harry Potter obsessives have been fortunate in their fandom; Rowling’s frequent release of fresh archival material on Pottermore.com provides them with a constant source of discussion. But American readers will have to wait a bit longer to throw themselves into this bibliography. According to Bloomsbury Academic, the U.S. edition will publish on April 23, 2015.

H/T Los Angeles Times

Why I Do NOT Think Claudio Cutugno's Models Were In Blackface

February 27, 2015, 12:13 pm

≫ Next: 21 Glorious Vintage Photos Of Kids Having Fun Before The Internet

≪ Previous: J.K. Rowling Bibliography To Reveal New 'Harry Potter' Secrets

$

0

0

If the debate around "The Dress" has taught us anything, it's that the way we see color can be starkly different. For the record, I'm #TeamBlueAndBlack.

That perception is being tested yet again after blackface was allegedly spotted on the runway during Milan Fashion Week.

While presenting his Fall 2015 collection, Claudio Cutugno decided to cover his models' faces in black paint, with glitter on top. The Italian designer was reportedly inspired by the artist Emilio Isgrò, who is known for his work with bees. Therefore, the models' blackened makeup was intended to depict their faces being swarmed by the insects.



The images have many media outlets crying foul and accusing the designer of employing the racially insensitive act of blackface. Refinery29 posed the question: "Why do people keep doing this?" And added, "It must be knowingly and for the attention, because we can't imagine that there is really anyone out there ignorant enough to think that this has no racist connotations." A journalist over at Bustle was also shocked, writing, "I’m all for unique and interesting styles that command attention, but come on -- you can hardly see the models’ faces. Not to mention that this is literally blackface, which is, you know, racist."

I don't blame those journalists, my knee-jerk reaction was the same. However, as a black woman who has covered too many instances of blackface within fashion industry, I must say that this most recent accusation looks and feels very different to me. After reading about the origin of Cutugno's inspiration, it seems clear his intentions weren't malicious or racially motivated. It would be a shame to ask all creatives to refrain from placing black paint on the body or face of a non-black person when they truly mean no harm.

We should and must always consider the reference. Claire Sulmers, the editor-in-chief of FashionBombDaily.com, who is African-American, shares our sentiment. She wrote, "Is it dark paint on a face? Yes. But is he mocking African culture, or using black paint in place of a black person? No."



Cutugno's show is starkly different from Numéro Magazine's interpretation of an "African Queen,", when editors darkened the skin of American model Ondria Hardin. Or the time fashion designer Allesandro Dell’Acqua dressed up like a Dancing Sambo for a "Disco Africa" Halloween party. And we'll never, ever, forget Vogue Italia's "Abracadabra" editorial shot by Steven Meisel, which shows model Saskia de Brauw in a series of images with her skin painted dark or with African tribal marks. De Brauw was shown posing in ethnic clothes including headdresses and colorful wrappings.

In my opinion, those are examples of blatant blackface that deserve to be publicly denigrated. Those remind us of how the fashion industry continually ignores or exploits ethnic diversity rather than celebrating it.

It's also worth noting that of the major outlets that have covered the story of Cutugno's models -- like Refinery29, Bustle and PerezHilton.com -- there are very few black writers chiming in. Their absence adds yet another interesting element in how Cutugno's show is being perceived.

Curious to see how readers felt about this, I asked for their opinions on Twitter. Here is a collection of the responses I received after posting the following question:

Models don black, sparkly makeup at the #ClaudioCutugno fashion show during #MFW. Do you think this is #blackface? pic.twitter.com/cCNaCQUWfx

— HuffPostStyle (@HuffPostStyle) February 27, 2015

21 Glorious Vintage Photos Of Kids Having Fun Before The Internet

February 27, 2015, 12:59 pm

≫ Next: Watch 'Frozen' Retold Using Only Emojis

≪ Previous: Why I Do NOT Think Claudio Cutugno's Models Were In Blackface

$

0

0

Life before Snapchat and Candy Crush was clearly really boring. As this collection of vintage photos spanning from the 1800s to the 1970s shows, there was just nothing to do before we had an app for everything. Poor kids.





Like Us On Facebook |
Follow Us On Twitter |
Contact HuffPost Parents

Watch 'Frozen' Retold Using Only Emojis

February 27, 2015, 1:36 pm

≫ Next: NYC's First Porn Film Festival Hits Brooklyn Feb. 27-March 1 (NSFW)

≪ Previous: 21 Glorious Vintage Photos Of Kids Having Fun Before The Internet

$

0

0

It looks Emojis are taking over more than just your text threads. In the new video "Disney's Frozen as told by Emoji," the blockbuster film gets reimagined with the cutest little animated faces. At less than three (very entertaining) minutes, could the short film nod to a whole new emoji genre? Here's hoping.

---

NYC's First Porn Film Festival Hits Brooklyn Feb. 27-March 1 (NSFW)

February 27, 2015, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: 3 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Fabric Scraps

≪ Previous: Watch 'Frozen' Retold Using Only Emojis

$

0

0

It's finally time for the first annual New York porn festival, which kicks off Feb. 27 in Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood.

Last November we brought you the news that Bushwick would house the Big Apple's first adult film festival, with organizer Simon Leahy (a.k.a. Babes Trust) putting out an open call for submissions. The festival is fittingly sponsored by Pornhub and aims to "give credit to adult film as a significant and socially/culturally relevant art form."



The Porn Festival will be held at music venue and event space Secret Project Robot in Bushwick, also home to New York's annual Bushwig Drag Festival. While the Feb. 27 festivities have already sold out, there is still space left to enjoy submissions from across the spectrum of adult entertainment on Feb. 28-March 1.

Among those who have submitted their work for showcase? Transgender icon and adult film producer Buck Angel will screen his project "Jesse," while James Franco and Travis Matthews' "Interior. Leather Bar." will also make an apperance.

Festival organizers wanted to showcase work from well-known names, as well as community-based projects from up-and-coming creatives.



The NYC Porn Film Festival also involves informative lectures, including one from Cindy Gallop, co-­founder/CEO of MakeLoveNotPorn, on monetizing the future of the porn industry.

But the main intention of the porn festival? To elevate the conversation surrounding adult entertainment to a higher plane, removed from the isolating nature of a computer screen.

"We need to get off our computers and engage with the real issues," Leahy told The Huffington Post. "We need to visually see -- collectively. There is no shame in this. Whatever you're [sexually] into, it's ok. But what we need, as a society, is to make things healthier -- for a more equal ideal -- to understand the reasons why we're turned on by what we are."

The NYC Porn Film Festival will run at Secret Project Robot from Feb. 27-March 1. Head here for more information.

3 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Fabric Scraps

February 27, 2015, 3:03 pm

≫ Next: Jennifer Lawrence Shuts Down 'Terrible Rumor' About On-Set Fight With David O. Russell

≪ Previous: NYC's First Porn Film Festival Hits Brooklyn Feb. 27-March 1 (NSFW)

$

0

0

Everyone has that pile of clothes they no longer wear but haven't gotten around to donating. And while it's always good to donate items to, say, Goodwill, there might be a treasure trove of DIY items in there that you can use in your home.

That is, at least according to Vera Vandenbosch, a stylist, writer and photographer whose recently published book, "Scraps," has singlehandedly informed how we'll be spending our weekend. We'll be busy crafting stash fabric -- or as Vandenbosch puts it, any textile, from stained shirts to ripped jeans and stray socks -- into lovely little home accessories, like the ones we've rounded up here.

The how-tos below are reprinted from Scraps: Stylish Stash Fabric Crafts to Stitch, with permission from The Taunton Press.




Have something to say? Check out HuffPost Home on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

**

Are you an architect, designer or blogger and would like to get your work seen on HuffPost Home? Reach out to us at homesubmissions@huffingtonpost.com with the subject line "Project submission." (All PR pitches sent to this address will be ignored.)

Jennifer Lawrence Shuts Down 'Terrible Rumor' About On-Set Fight With David O. Russell

February 27, 2015, 3:39 pm

≫ Next: Photographer Documents Days In The Life Of Elderly Women Living Alone In NYC

≪ Previous: 3 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Fabric Scraps

$

0

0

Jennifer Lawrence doesn't use social media very often, so when she does, you know it's got to be about something important.

The 24-year-old actress posted a message to Facebook on Friday in an effort to clear up the rumor that she and director David O. Russell had a heated argument on the set of their new movie, "Joy." TMZ first reported the alleged "showdown," claiming Lawrence and Russell got into a "loud argument" on Tuesday in Boston while filming a scene. A rep for the film's studio, Fox 2000, shot down the report, insisting that although there was some screaming going down on set, it was all just part of a scene -- aka Russell was getting Lawrence all amped up for a shot.

Now, Lawrence is backing that statement:

Hey guys!

It's Jen! I know I don't go on here a lot because I can barely work email but there's been a terrible rumor going around the last 24 hours so I wanted to clear it up.

David O. Russell is one of my closest friends and we have an amazing collaborative working relationship. I adore this man and he does not deserve this tabloid malarkey. This movie is going great and I'm having a blast making it!

So there you have it, straight from J.Law herself: No bad blood here!

Photographer Documents Days In The Life Of Elderly Women Living Alone In NYC

February 27, 2015, 3:44 pm

≫ Next: Did ISIS Smash Fake Sculptures In Mosul? Experts Say Many Of Them Were Replicas

≪ Previous: Jennifer Lawrence Shuts Down 'Terrible Rumor' About On-Set Fight With David O. Russell

$

0

0

"Even with all the rush and fast pace of New York City, many elderly women manage to keep up with their lives in their own rhythm and grace," photographer Patricia Monteiro begins in a statement on her website. "'Life Ever After' documents a community of women that live alone after losing companions, relatives or friends. To look at them is also to look at the beauty of life, that definitely does not end when you reach your 80s."



"Life Ever After" is her recent photography series, a project that follows the daily lives of elderly women -- more specifically, octogenarians and nonagenarians -- who live alone in New York City. Monteiro was inspired by her own grandmother, a woman who battled the effects of Alzheimer's disease and was sadly inactive in the twilight years of her life. In an attempt to process the illness, the photographer visited a senior center in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, where she met with Rita Immerman, an 88-year-old lover of art and culture who became the first portrait subject.

Immerman eventually introduced Monteiro to Claire Gottfried and Molly Kanner, both of whom agreed to let the photographer and her camera into their lives. A fellow resident at Immerman's coop -- Sonia Goldstein -- joined the project too. In contrast to Monteiro's grandmother, Immerman and the other widows and single women enjoy days full of activities and agendas packed with group gatherings. Intrigued by the independence these women demonstrated, Monteiro attempted to capture the sense of adventure they reserve for each day and each activity, from gazing at masterpieces at the Whitney to playing bridge with other seniors to enjoying a glass of wine before a trip to the theater.

"I wanted to show a positive side of growing old, to try to remind people that life is not over just because you reached your 80s -- there's still so much you can do for yourself and your community," Monteiro explained to HuffPost. "[Immerman and her friends] made me think about aging in a different way."

The pictures depict today, as well as bits of yesterday. While some of Monteiro's photos show the busyness of these women's days and nights, they also show fragments of a past lost, whether it takes the form of a portrait of a loved one long gone or a wedding ring tucked into the bottom of a frame. Other images reveal more banal moments, like the hanging of nightgowns or the carefully modified interior design that helps Immerman maintain mobility in her home. In total, the series gives an unembellished glimpse into real aging women's realities.

"We should look after our elders more and I see this very little, not only in the US, but in Brazil, my home country, too," Monteiro concluded. "After doing this project, I am more aware of people and more considerate, I'd say. It made me realize how easily we can underestimate elderly's opinions, for example, when they can be so thoughtful and helpful. Knowing these ladies taught me a lot about appreciating life as it is."





Molly Kanner, who is featured in this series, recently passed away, and this series is dedicated to her memory.

Did ISIS Smash Fake Sculptures In Mosul? Experts Say Many Of Them Were Replicas

February 27, 2015, 3:45 pm

≫ Next: Take A Moment To Admire The Buildings You Pass By Each Day, But Rarely Truly See

≪ Previous: Photographer Documents Days In The Life Of Elderly Women Living Alone In NYC

$

0

0

This post originally appeared on artnet News
by Brian Boucher


ISIS militants smash artworks in Mosul in their latest propaganda video.

While no one should take ISIS to be any less of a threat than it is, we might take some small consolation from the possibility that some of the sculptures the militants smashed on video this week at the Nineveh Museum in Mosul, Iraq, were replicas. While an Assyrian stone lion smashed in the videos is indisputably a terrible loss, the destruction of replicas in this particular case may soften the blow.

"According to archaeologists, most if not all the statues in the Mosul museum are replicas not originals," reports Channel 4 News, London. “The reason they crumble so easily is that they're made of plaster. ‘You can see iron bars inside," pointed out Mark Altaweel of the Institute of Archaeology at University College, London, as we watched the video together. ‘The originals don't have iron bars.'"

“According to the British Institute," adds Channel 4, “the originals were taken to Baghdad for safekeeping. ISIS probably wouldn't care about the distinction. One false idol is the same as another."

All the same, reaction around the world has been swift and horrified (see The Metropolitan Museum and Others Respond to ISIS Destruction of Assyrian Sculptures). ISIS has also done a brisk business in smuggling antiquities out of the region for sale on foreign markets (see Increase in Antiquities Smuggling Busts amidst Government Crackdown), though the international trade is mostly focused on smaller items.

Why are the militants so bent on destruction of the region's cultural heritage? Amr al-Azm, a Syrian anthropologist and historian, told the New York Times that the destruction of artworks, and the slaughter and capture of Assyrians and others in the area that it accompanied, are strategic. While the militants claim that they are smashing the sculptures because they are idols forbidden by Islam, he posits that “It's all a provocation" aimed to lure U.S. and Iraqi forces to try to retake Mosul. “They want a fight with the West because that's how they gain credibility and recruits," Azm said.

ISIS has “repeatedly threatened to destroy [the museum's] collection," according to the Times, since they took the city in June.

Follow artnet News on Facebook. Follow @briankboucher on Twitter.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
artnet News is the world’s first global, 24-hour art newswire, dedicated to informing, engaging, and connecting the most avid members of the art community with daily news and expert commentary.

Read More artnet News / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Tumblr

Take A Moment To Admire The Buildings You Pass By Each Day, But Rarely Truly See

February 27, 2015, 3:45 pm

≫ Next: The Blue And The Green

≪ Previous: Did ISIS Smash Fake Sculptures In Mosul? Experts Say Many Of Them Were Replicas

$

0

0

You work in them. You live in them. You pass by them everyday. They stretch above us like forest canopies made of metal and steel. They're the buildings, the skyscrapers, the various architectural structures that, after a while, begin to fade into the background.


via someguy/Instagram

Today, we're taking a moment to acknowledge these elegant architectural beasts, and just how good they look in front of the camera. From mirrored windows that seem to stretch on into infinity to the geometric fire escapes that zig-zag out of view, the following buildings are extraordinary in their ability to remain nondescript amidst the occupied passersby and utterly arresting to those who take the time to really look.

We asked some of our readers to send their best shots of their chosen entrances and exits, and the stunning results are below. Enjoy the weekend with this series of humble, yet utterly gorgeous, architectural openings.

The Blue And The Green

February 27, 2015, 3:45 pm

≫ Next: Alicia Keys Shares First Photo Of Baby Son Genesis

≪ Previous: Take A Moment To Admire The Buildings You Pass By Each Day, But Rarely Truly See

$

0

0

This article originally appeared on Slate.

By Phil Plait

Via my evil twin Richard Wiseman comes one of the best color optical illusions I have ever seen. The original was apparently posted on Buzzhunt Akiyoshi Kitaoka's incredible optical illusion website:



You see embedded spirals, right, of green, pinkish-orange, and blue? Incredibly, the green and the blue spirals are the same color. At first I thought Richard was pulling our collective legs, being a trickster of high magnitude. So I loaded the image in Photoshop and examined the two spirals. In the two squares displayed below, the one on the left is colored using the same color from the blue spiral, and on the right using the green spiral.




Like I said, incredible! For pedantry sake, the RGB colors in both spirals are 0, 255, 150. So they are mostly green with a solid splash of blue.

The reason they look different colors is because our brain judges the color of an object by comparing it to surrounding colors. In this case, the stripes are not continuous as they appear at first glance. The orange stripes don't go through the "blue" spiral, and the magenta ones don't go through the "green" one. Here's a zoom to make this more clear:




See? The orange stripes go through the "green" spiral but not the "blue" one. So without us even knowing it, our brains compare that spiral to the orange stripes, forcing it to think the spiral is green. The magenta stripes make the other part of the spiral look blue, even though they are exactly the same color. If you still don't believe me, concentrate on the edges of the colored spirals. Where the green hits the magenta it looks bluer to me, and where the blue hits the orange it looks greener. Amazing.

The overall pattern is a spiral shape because our brain likes to fill in missing bits to a pattern. Even though the stripes are not the same color all the way around the spiral, the overlapping spirals makes our brain think they are. The very fact that you have to examine the picture closely to figure out any of this at all shows just how easily we can be fooled.

This is why I tell people over and over again: you cannot trust what you see even with your own eyes. Your eyes are not cameras faithfully taking pictures of absolute truth of all that surrounds you. They have filters, and your brain has to interpret the jangled mess it gets fed. Colors are not what they appear, shapes are not what they appear (that zoomed image above is square, believe it or not), objects are not what they appear.

So the next time someone swears they saw Jesus, or a UFO, or a ghost, show them this picture. What you see in life is absolutely and provably not what you get.

Edit to add: if you like this illusion, then you might want to check out this audio illusion, and this one of a spinning woman's sillhouette which is one of my all-time favorites.

---

Alicia Keys Shares First Photo Of Baby Son Genesis

February 28, 2015, 9:14 am

≫ Next: Kobe Bryant's New Documentary Goes Beyond Basketball To Explore Fatherhood And Failure

≪ Previous: The Blue And The Green

$

0

0

Alicia Keys' baby boy, Genesis, is very adorable.

The star took to Facebook on Friday to share the first photo of her son, whom she welcomed with husband Swizz Beatz, a rapper and music producer, on Dec. 27, 2014. Along with the couple and baby, Keys' son Egypt and stepson Kaseem Jr. are also pictured.

Post by Alicia Keys.

Keys announced Genesis' birth in an Instagram post back in December, along with an image of the little one's footprints.

"The joy of joy is joy!! It's a boy!!," she wrote at the time. "We are so grateful!! #blessings!!"

Kobe Bryant's New Documentary Goes Beyond Basketball To Explore Fatherhood And Failure

February 28, 2015, 9:15 am

≫ Next: Touching Photo Series Captures Dying Pit Bull's First And Last Time Seeing The Ocean

≪ Previous: Alicia Keys Shares First Photo Of Baby Son Genesis

$

0

0

Kobe Bryant doesn't have the patience to write a book. He says so in the trailer for his new documentary on Showtime, “Kobe Bryant’s Muse.” Directed by Gotham Chopra, the film shows a side of Bryant that will be new to those used to seeing him in NBA warrior mode, as he examines his own upbringing, setbacks and failures and contemplates a life beyond pro basketball glory.

“I have things I want to think about," Bryant says, "things I want to dive into and get off my chest.”

Bryant and his wife Vanessa joined friends at a private screening in Los Angeles on Thursday night at the London Hotel in West Hollywood. The room fluttered with pro athletes dressed to the nines and sports agents in expensive suits. Former Lakers forward Rick Fox walked around looking for a place to charge his phone. The music of Ray Charles and Etta James floated from the speakers. Bryant was all smiles and posed with just about everyone who asked for a picture.



"Kobe Bryant's Muse" is more than a glorified highlight reel. Yes, there is great footage of him at every stage of his career, including air balls from his first season with the Lakers. But instead of focusing on Bryant's all-star games, championship rings and milestones -- like recently surpassing Michael Jordan on the NBA’s all-time highest scorer list -- the filmmakers aim to go deeper, and darker. Chopra and Bryant, who executive produced the film and was involved every step of the way, explore some of the more complicated and conflicted emotions behind Bryant's success.

For starters, the documentary anchors itself on Bryant’s devastating 2013 Achilles injury. Many professional athletes who have suffered the same injury have retired. But the subsequent recovery become a source of motivation for Bryant and the film focuses heavily on the ripple effect the injury and recovery had on him personally.

For Bryant, who has sometimes been called arrogant and smug, the film is an opportunity to reveal personal stories and vulnerabilities. He talks about how it felt to grow up as a complete outsider in Italy and then come back, even more an outsider, to the United States. Basketball was his refuge and his antidote to loneliness. As he grew up, Bryant reflects that basketball even became his equivalent of a psychiatrist.



The darkest parts of the film are quite painful. Bryant talks openly about feeling he had let his wife and family down, though he doesn't explicitly address the widely-publicized (and later dismissed) 2003 sexual assault case that made him a fixture in the tabloids. These moments show a version of Bryant far more vulnerable than in any of his on-court appearances. He speaks of waking up every morning wondering if that would be the day he would lose his wife and kids. And recalling his wife's miscarriage, during a time of extreme marital stress, Bryant bluntly says, while looking at the camera, that he blames himself.

Throughout "Kobe Bryant's Muse," the sense of joy and purpose Bryant derives from being a father is palpable. And after 18 years on the court, it's clear that the 36-year-old superstar has learned to accept some of his own limitations. At the end of the film, Bryant says his brain cannot process failure. He even admits that the idea of failure feels worse to him than death. “When do determination and drive become unreasonable?” he asks.

There is an air of deep contemplation about Bryant; an almost philosophical musing about how what we love and what we do informs the core of our identity. As he nears the end of his career, his thoughts are clearly tending toward the existential. “I'm no spring chicken. And that’s okay,” Bryant says. “But when do you know? When do you walk away?"

Touching Photo Series Captures Dying Pit Bull's First And Last Time Seeing The Ocean

February 28, 2015, 9:31 am

≫ Next: Captivating Photos Give A Glimpse Into The Lives Of Military Personnel

≪ Previous: Kobe Bryant's New Documentary Goes Beyond Basketball To Explore Fatherhood And Failure

$

0

0

When a photographer's beloved pit bull got sick, she decided to take him on one last special trip so he could make a few more beautiful memories.

Zhenia Bulawka spent almost a decade with her cherished rescue dog, Mr. Dukes. But after falling ill, her pit bull found himself in the last stages of Grade III mast cell cancer last August, according to a blog post she wrote for The Dodo. While Mr. Dukes' favorite activity was swimming in pools, the canine had never been to the ocean. So for his final adventure, the photographer and her boyfriend decided to bring Mr. Dukes, along with the couple's other two dogs, Ruby and Violet, to see the ocean for the first time in Assateague, Maryland.

The trip was captured in a moving photo series.


Bulawka and Ruby in the ocean.

"[Mr. Dukes'] initial reaction seemed to be intimidation -- as if he was confused by this endless 'swimming pool' which made so much noise," Bulawka told The Huffington Post of her pooch's first response to the ocean, but noted he became fascinated by what he saw. "He was transfixed. Perhaps he was mesmerized by the waves."


Bulawka's boyfriend, Christian Valiente, sharing a dog-safe sandwich with Mr. Dukes.

Sadly, Mr. Dukes died a month after the trip. The photographer recently decided to share her photos series in a memorial blog post.

"Every moment spent with him was the best -- he was that cool ... Cherish every moment spent with loved ones -- be they two-legged or four," she told HuffPost in an email. "The memories created will be with you, always."


Bulawka holding Violet, one of her dogs.

While losing her best friend was hard for the photographer, she says that photo project was a necessary undertaking. She wanted to both commemorate Mr. Dukes, while smashing the negative stereotypes regarding pit bulls.

"With so much stigma surrounding pit bull-type dogs, I just wanted to convey something that portrayed them in a positive light," she said. "They don't deserve mistreatment and are worthy of human love and kindness."


Mr. Dukes and Ruby, who had their ears cropped before Bulawka rescued them, with Violet.


Bulawka taking her dogs for a walk on the beach.

It's been a few months since Mr. Dukes' death, but Bulawka says that the memories of his big personality will never fade.

"Dukes loved life! He was the most eager to get the day started -- always on a mission," she said. "Dukes had so much purpose. He never let a second go to waste."

(Photo series continues below.)

The view along the beach.


Valiente relaxing with Ruby.


Ruby, sleeping.


Violet at the door.


Bulawka's bracelet, featuring two dogs modeled off Mr. Dukes and Ruby.


Bulawka on the beach with her three dogs.


Valiente and Mr. Dukes on the beach.

To see Zhenia Bulawka's photo series in its original form, click here.

Like Us On Facebook
Follow Us On Twitter

Captivating Photos Give A Glimpse Into The Lives Of Military Personnel

February 28, 2015, 10:11 am

≫ Next: William Shatner Tweets His Regrets That He Can't Attend Leonard Nimoy's Funeral

≪ Previous: Touching Photo Series Captures Dying Pit Bull's First And Last Time Seeing The Ocean

$

0

0

U.S. military branches share photos from around the globe to Flickr accounts, giving us a unique look into the day-to-day lives of military personnel.

During the month of February, the images came from San Diego, Germany, Kuwait and everywhere in between. Check out a selection of these photos below:

William Shatner Tweets His Regrets That He Can't Attend Leonard Nimoy's Funeral

February 28, 2015, 12:42 pm

≫ Next: Terry Virts Tweets Touching Tribute To Leonard Nimoy From Outer Space

≪ Previous: Captivating Photos Give A Glimpse Into The Lives Of Military Personnel

$

0

0

William Shatner took to Twitter on Saturday to express his regret over having to miss Leonard Nimoy's funeral.

Though the two "Star Trek" actors were very close friends, Shatner explained in a series of tweets that he won't be able to attend Nimoy's funeral on Sunday, due to a previous commitment to appear at the Red Cross Ball in Florida Saturday night. Though he will not be present at the funeral, Shatner said he plans to honor Nimoy's life from afar.

I am currently in FL as I agreed to appear at the Red Cross Ball tonight. Leonard's funeral is tomorrow. I can't make it back in time.

— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) February 28, 2015

I feel really awful. Here I am doing charity work and one of my dearest friends is being buried.

— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) February 28, 2015

So maybe tomorrow we come together here and celebrate his life.

— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) February 28, 2015

So let's spend some time tomorrow celebrating Leonard's life and remembering the man.

— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) February 28, 2015

Shatner and Nimoy starred as Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, respectively, on the "Star Trek" television series and in multiple feature films. Nimoy died Friday at his home in Los Angeles, at the age of 83. Following the announcement of Nimoy's death, Shatner released a statement expressing love for his longtime friend.

"I loved him like a brother," he said. "We will all miss his humor, his talent, and his capacity to love."