The Federal Arts program lasted from August 29, 1935 til June 30, 1943. As a part of the Works Project Administration the Federal Arts Program employed artists to provide art for non federal buildings.
I learned about this in maybe Mr. Haren's 11th grade history class and more recently Wikipedia then had not really thought about it. I occasionally would come accross a mural and then I noticed my boss's calendar which has different national parks as drawn by WPA artists. My favorites are the Sequoia National Park
and Yellowstone.
Also everyone should go see HP7.2 it is amazing. Horrible Bosses was also very funny.
-jv
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If you haven't seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 yet........like, what? Seriously? It's been out for almost 16 hours now. Get off your ass.
I am bursting to discuss it. So, I'd like to propose that IN THE COMMENTS SECTION of this post, we discuss what we saw, heard, experienced, and lived for for the last few days, weeks, months and 13 years.
****BE ADVISED: SPOILERS WILL BE IN THE COMMENT SECTION!!! DON'T READ IT, IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT******
What's up everyone? Our nations Independence day is approaching soon and as much as things are wrong with the world and our respective political parties there is still one thing we can all agree on; fireworks=awesome. I'm not talking about the Katy Perry song but the actual explosives. So to get everyone hyped over something that doesn't involve epic Hogwarts battles here is a video of some slow-mo shots of explosives blowing up a jar of mayo and some jell-o to name a few. Enjoy the vid and make sure to be a true blue American come the 4th and enjoy some stellar fireworks while enjoying a bratwurst, a hot dog, a cheeseburger, and a steak all on the same plate!
By now you've probably heard about Pottermore, JK Rowling's latest project. It was shrouded in mystery and steeped in anticipation and now that we know what it is, we still don't really know what it is.
According to the site: "Pottermore is a free website that builds an exciting online experience around the reading of the Harry Potter books."
According to JK herself:
But what does all the mean? Here's what we know:
-The site goes public in the fall, for now you can submit your e-mail address and wait
-UNLESS you get selected to be in the preview stage this summer
-Pottermore will have the only way to get official digital e-books and audio books of Harry Potter
-The books will release one at a time, will gaps between them
-Some content will be user generated, hopefully more stuff like the awesome curling paper in the above video
-Rowling will use the site to share more secrets of Harry Potter, like Dumbledore being gay, etc.
I submitted my e-mail address. You probably should too. And if anyone gets in the site this summer, TELL US!
There's also a twitter account that is spewing updates. Apparently the first three chapters are going into preview tomorrow. And on July 31st, aka Harry's birthday, they're will be an opportunity to win early access.
Also JK Rowling is the most powerful person in the world that she can get people jazzed up about three chapters from a book that came out 14 years ago.
This has been online for about a week, but I just rewatched it and got serious chills. I had to put on a sweater, literally. I have a love/hate relationship with a lot of the Potter movies (both castings of DUMBLEDORE for example), but the first part of the 7th movie was amazing. I feel pretty sure that this last film is going to be EPIC. I mean... it's the Battle of Hogwarts. Nuf said.
-id
p.s. okay one nitpick: why is Harry tackling Voldy and diving into a crater with him?
I don't think I'm alone when I try, and fail, to describe what a massive place the wizarding world of Harry Potter holds in my heart. I was 11 when I first read the first book (the same age as Harry) and now at age 23, I still own all the books, card games, board games, calendars, and can still have a three hour long discussion about the analyzation of literature, plot devices, and every character from Ron to Madam Pomfrey, without blinking a eye.
Going off AV's most recent post, it will be 9 and a half years almost to the day when the first movie was released. I remember anticipating the first trailer and spending three hours downloading off AOL 4.0. Then losing my mind with giddiness after seeing it.
I can honestly say nothing has changed with this most recent trailer. I invite you to watch the trailer for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, then watch the trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 back to back. I can guarantee any fan, including myself, will (and did) get choked up at the recognition that this series is an era that spans more than half of our lives and will continue with us for the rest of them.
And I don't think anyone expects the series to go out with anything less then a hullabaloo that would make Fred, George, and Peeves proud.
July 15 can not come soon enough. Let's all go see it in IMAX.
Just stumbled across some totally sweet cartoons by Lucy Knisley. She is super funny and talented, but I got quickly side tacked by her 1-frame Harry Potter summaries. She has one for each book and they're pretty great.
I've mentioned it before, but I kind of hate 3-D. It's more expensive and it's doesn't do much for me but make me feel slow and stupid because my eyes can't keep up. Well, apparently the director of Tron:Legacy 's wife felt the same way. So he did her a solid and made 2-D glasses, that make it so you can watch a 3-D movie without getting the blur that happens when you take of your 3-D glasses.
How? Here's some science:
Normal 3-D glasses feed a slightly different image into each eye; take the glasses off and all you see is a blur. With the 2-D glasses, both eyes get the same image: No 3-D effect, and no blur.
Basically if there's a movie that's only coming out in 3-D (ahem, Harry Potter 7 Part 2), you can wear these glasses and, boom, no 3-D, no headache. Or you can give yourself a break from the 3-D part way through and go back to 3-D when it's worth it.
The downside is that you're still paying for a 3-D movie, so you're not saving any money. But for $9.99 it might be worth it, cause summer blockbuster season is right around the corner. And nausea really takes the fun out of it.
-av
p.s. The new X-Men trailer is even sweeter than the original. Watch it here
I know there are a few HP fans checking this out and I also warned Alice that my contribution may end up being a bunch of arts&craft ideas so this seems like the perfect way to start.
One of my little sisters friends spent a lot of time in the hospital as a child and became a knitting prodigy. This is her newest creation. Its too incredible not to share:
So from straight on this just looks like your run-of-the-mill striped (black and glow-in-the dark green!) scarf but as you look at it from different angles the dark mark is revealed! I have no idea how she did this and I sort of want it to remain a mystery. Maybe she's a deatheater..
I am the chosen one
No need to hold a gun
I take you there like a Double Decker bus does
I am a Gryffindor
Stand up to Voldemort
I break it up like it was horcruxes
Loved by the kitchen staff I'm why the Weasleys laugh
Know my way around in fact I memorized marauders map
If you have to ask what its like and how longs it last
Kinda sorta felt like wearing a flaming sorting hat
Name is Neville, Im a rebel, dont worry about detention
Did I fail to mention that my specialties suspension
As in getting lifted Im a hippy comes to Hogwarts hookups
Im the kid you look up when you feel like getting shook up
I got cockroach clusters I got them chocolate frogs
I got every flavor made by that babe Bertie Botts
I got what you want
I got what you need
I got those wizzy beats so fizzy you say wizard please
Im summoned with a spell cause pagers are prohibited
You can go to hell if you think my times unlimited
Ill meet you by the willow kid if you prefer the forest
Just bring that goblin gold and dont wake Mrs. Norris *what*
I am the chosen one
No need to hold a gun
I take you there like a Double Decker bus does
I am a Gryffindor
Stand up to Voldemort
I break it up like it was horcruxes
They say that I am lacking and I aint up to snuff
Snapes always on my case cause he secretly sucks
Its hard remembering stuff I think my brain has been wiped
Like I might have seen some shit that would scar you for life
So they think that Im a fuck up and its brilliantly clever
So many things I cant remember like wheres my toad Trevor
Can I ask for the password I fear I have forgotten
Call me Neville longbottom I leave every bong rotten
Love treacle, buckbeak elf eye to Ireland
Meet me at the One Eyed Witch or Room of Requirement
Step back catch a cactus blast of my stinksap
Chill Dumbledore is down in fact he likes a fat sack
If you want a break from the stress and the studies
Holler at youre buddy and Ill make you feel funny
Im the pudgy pure blood packin unicorn power
Up in the highest tower where I fire up my flowers
*coughing*
This is stupid guys...
This is stupid...were wasting our money
We should be using magic
I am the chosen one
No need to hold a gun
I take you there like a Double Decker bus does
I am a Gryffindor
Stand up to Voldemort
I break it up like it was horcruxes
As you may all know, I LOVE HARRY POTTER. Who wouldn't? I'm counting down the days till the hopefully-not-sucky HP7.1 movie hits theaters on November 19. (As Alice pointed out, it won't be in 3D—yay!)
But there is no way in hell that I'd ever get a HP-themed tattoo. This collection of hilariously awful HP-themed tattoos made me laugh out loud. It was hard to pick a favorite.
You may not agree with me, but I am tired of 3D. I don't need it, I don't want it, and honestly when it moves too fast (I'm looking at you, Step Up 3D) I can't follow it with my poorly trained, slow-moving eyes. It's pretty much the only Luddite tendency I have, but damn it, screw 3D.
And frankly, I resent the rash of making every movie 3D. Titanic? Seriously James Cameron, don't give me another reason to hate you. Now to be fair, some movies benefit from 3D and Harry Potter genre-wise makes sense. But thank the gods of movie making, HP7 part 1 wasn't filmed in 3D and the studio can't get it transferred to 3D in time for the Thanksgiving opening. YES!!!
According to the studio, Part 2 will be available in 3D and 2D, so depending on whether or not you agree with me, maybe we'll go see it together.
