Monday, September 21, 2015

Time


Thursday, December 11, 2014

I've being waiting for the freedom to purchase a Hydrogen electric car for 7 years!
I've been following Hydrogen Cars Now a blog that tells the story about the "Quiet Moratorium" blocking the sale of H2 Cars to the public, until 2015.
They say the Petroleum industry has tried to extend the moratorium another 10 years to 2025.
 I can't beleive 2015 is here, just next month, and it will be 'legal' for any of us to purchase an H2 Car. However, I do not see fueling stations as the biggest hurdle.{A myth propagated in the media by Petroleum lobbyist}
The biggest hurdle remains the dealerships! Just last night, my local Toyota dealer is 100% ignorant of H2 cars, no knowledge of the Toyota Mirai which the company has built.
My Local Hyundai dealer, I stopped in a few weeks ago - knows nothing of the H2 Sante Fe mini-SUV supposedly available next week. I've left my contact info and they never get back to me.
And Honda dealers know nothing about the Honda H2 Clarity which has been on lease in SoCal since 2008.
Success of H2 does not look possible with the massive lack of awareness among the manufacturers California Sales Teams.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

How to store and protect oil paintings

Reposting wisdom from others and highlighting the best parts
How to Store Paintings
By: Jennifer Brinkle
http://www.finearts360.com/index.php/how-to-store-paintings-2-6846/
    Published: March 13, 2007   

Whether you have purchased one or created one yourself, eventually you will redecorate and wish to store your paintings. If not stored properly, the painting will become damaged and repairing it can be costly (and sometimes impossible). To protect your art and store it properly there are only a few simple steps to follow.

Unless your attic or basement is climate controlled, do not store your paintings there. Excessive heat and cold will cause cracks and warping to name but two types of damage. When choosing an area to store your paintings, choose an environment similar to that where the painting was originally hung (a closet is recommended).

If you are dealing with a painting on canvas, first insure there is a backing board attached. If one is not already there, adding one will help provide physical protection from direct contact to the back of the canvas. Ask a professional before attaching this yourself. You may inadvertently damage your painting.

It is also recommended to frame your painting. This helps to prevent buckling and makes it a little easier for transporting, but ultimately is a personal choice.

Make certain you store your paintings vertically from largest to smallest and off of the floor. Raising them off of the floor promotes airflow which is a necessity and prevents mold and water damage. Protectively wrap each of your paintings and separate them with two pieces of rigid material (cardboard is one example). Covering them in cotton sheets (as opposed to synthetic fibers) also prevents mold, but you must be careful NOT to allow the cotton fibers to come in contact with the front of the painting. When this is the case, use appropriate paper to shield the front of the canvas. One recommendation is to use silicone release paper. Talk with a professional about which papers are best to use depending on the type of painting you are storing. {So the point above is apparently to cover over the painting with a cotton sheet that does not touch, to reduce mildew.}

If storing your paintings for an extended period of time, it is recommended to check them periodically for damage and do some general housekeeping to keep them free of dust. If the painting you are storing is of value (either personal or monetary) always speak with a professional before taking any action. While visiting your local gallery for advice you may just find something new to add to your walls.


How to Care for Original Oil Paintings[1]
By Robyn Bellospirito
http://www.tfaoi.com/articles/apprais4.htm

If you're an artist yourself, you won't need to read this as you will probably already know it, or will you? This little bit of information is to give first-time art buyers a very basic understanding of how to take care of the original oil paintings they have purchased and chosen to live with. Believe it or not, most non-artists are unaware that art needs special care and cannot be treated as a piece of furniture might be treated. Whenever someone buys one of my paintings, I try to explain to them the basics of caring for the work, and offer to be available any time they have a question or need assistance with its preservation. After all, I care very much about the well-being of my work. My paintings remain as personal and dear to me when they are purchased as they were the day I created them. Art collectors should always keep in mind that this is how artists feel about their work, and that art is more than just a commodity. It is a piece of the artist's soul.

Here are just a few basic rules:

(For those of you who already know these things, Yippee! This is not for you. These instructions will sound very simplistic, nevertheless I have met many people who actually don't know these things.)

1. Never lean the front or back surface of a stretched canvas on a pointed or sharp object, no matter how small. This will leave a dent that will disfigure your work, and result in annoying and upsetting the artist who spent so much time creating it. If you must lean it against something, lean it on the wood of its stretcher bars so that nothing presses against the canvas. {Do not lean oil paintings against each other, the staples on the back of one press into the canvass of the other}

2. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will fade the colors in your oil painting. Please be aware of this when choosing a location for your work.

3. You might want to dust your painting regularly, so that a thick layer of dust does not build up which will dry out the paint and possibly result in cracking and peeling. Do not spray anything (like pledge) on the work. Dust with a soft, dry cloth. If the surface of your painting looks dry and dull, you may want to have it varnished. Most artists will offer to varnish the work, if they haven't done so already, at a new owner's request and free of charge. Varnish is a protective surface which will not only enhance the image, but will keep the surface intact and safe from cracking (except under extreme circumstances, of course).

4. If you must transport the work, lay a flat piece of cardboard, mat board or similar firm material over the front and back surfaces, and then wrap it in bubble wrap or styrofoam wrap. Try not to keep it wrapped up for too long as to avoid moisture buildup which might cause damage to the work.

5. Never expose your painting to extreme heat, extreme cold, or to extreme humidity. (Yes - this means a flood. Yes - this means a fire. Yes - this means snow. This also means an attic in the summer or a damp basement).

6. If something bad happens to the work (i.e. it crashes down on someone's head and gets a big gash in it), bring it to a professional conservator who can fix it properly. Don't do it yourself! Bring it to someone who knows what to do. The artist will appreciate it.

7. If you ever need or want to get rid of the work for any reason, always contact the artist, who should be informed of the work's new whereabouts so he or she can update the work's provenance records. {a record of ownership of a work of art or an antique, used as a guide to authenticity or quality.} Never, ever destroy or throw away an original work of art!!! If you absolutely can't keep it for any reason, offer to give it back to it's creator.

Note:
1. Reprinted with permission of Robyn Bellospirito who may be reached at: PO Box 302, Locust Valley, NY 11560, or http://www.anxietyreferralonline.com/art/welcome.html

Saturday, February 8, 2014

 

 Yes We Can ~ Improve Our Government


  1. Take the Profit out of War-Profiteering ~ Give Peace a Chance
  2. Defund Domestic Spying ~ Let’s spend our tax-dollars wisely
  3. Prevent Wall Street Financial Schemes ~ dramatically grow our economy instead of bubble/bust Schemes
  4. Legalize Whistleblowing of Government Crimes
  5. Equality Nationwide
    1.   End the War on Women
    2.   Healthcare for All
    3.   1994 Employment Non-Discrimination Act
    4.   Recognize LGBT marriages nationwide.
  6. Fund Rehabilitation & Mental Health Services ~ reducing futile/costly Incarceration
  7. Save Social Security, Save Medicare fm Republican Pilfering & Pocketizing.
  8. Cut the Red-Tape slowing Green Energy Transition; Strong Green Action
    1.   $2.1 billion for San Francisco Wind Turbines
    2.   Clean-up our Toxic Waste
    3.   GMO Labeling
    4.   Wind & Solar the Keystone, halt further pipelines
  9. Support Labor, Investors & Pensioners together vs. "Fraud & Corruption"
  10. Require 100% public access to all lobbyist requests of congress via the internet.


You can help support this Legislative agenda:
Forward this email to your friends and family

Donations to  David Peterson for Congress
  • Online: Donations @ ActBlue
  • Mail:  268 Bush Street, Suite 2712
                San Francisco, CA 94104-3503
Share your support for this campaign via social media:
   Facebook
   @HoldCongresAcct on Twitter

Volunteers are welcome to join this campaign.


_____________________________________________________
Q: How does congress support WarProfiteers?
A:By demonizing international people and campaigning for new wars.
Examples:
5 Days Championing congressional colleagues to support a new war:
 1) http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/nancy-pelosi-syria-action-96211.html#ixzz2dxDBl1Sf 
 2) http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/pelosi-syria-letter-house-96279.html#ixzz2e1g8TIJb
 3) http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/middle-east-north-africa/320573-pelosi-presses-case-on-syria
 4) http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/pelosi-sends-fourth-caucus-letter-on-syria
 5) http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/nancy-pelosi-letter-syria-96407.html