Italians React In Beautiful Way To Coronavirus Quarantine

This Italian neighborhood is deserted due to a government-imposed
coronoviris quarantine, but residents insisted on making things
beautiful anyway

Italy, as you have probably heard in the news, is pretty much locked down because of the corona virus.

That means 60 million or so Italians have been told to stay in their houses. Italians have a reputation of being very social animals, so this has to be painful for all of them. No matter how physically  healthy they feel.  

To boost each other's spirits, residents in city neighborhoods have been singing to each other from windows and balconies, even as the streets below are deserted. A viral video of this, which you can see at the bottom of this post actually made me cry a little.

When there's big calamities hit, there are sometimes awful moments of cruelty. Or moments of absurdity - witness the great Toilet Paper rushes of this week.  But also great beauty emerges from humanity in times of crisis.  This is video is just one manifestation of that.

Let this being an example of how we should behave, moving forward:

A Musician Named Willie K An Amazing National Anthem

Willie K stuns with his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner 

Recently, there was a forgettable football game in Hawaii that nobody ever would have heard of if not for a guy named Willie K.

Willie K is a wildly popular musician in Hawaii, but many of us had never heard of him, until now.

He's certainly a brave musician. He was asked to perform the National Anthem at this football game, and he had the temerity to change the melody of the song. Usually, messing with the melody of the National Anthem is anathema. Nobody likes it.

But in this case, it worked. Big time. With his ukelele, natch.

Plus his voice was so powerful, so perfect, so poignant. This, despite the fact the guy is battling lung cancer of all things. I would think that lung cancer would screw up a singer's voice, but I hear no sign of it in the viral video that resulted from Willie K's performance.

Meghan McCain, daughter of recently deceased American patriot John McCain, said it just as well as anybody could in this tweet: "This brought tears to my eyes - one of the most gorgeous performances fo the Star-Spangled Banner I've every heard. Just absolutely beautiful.

I totally agree.

Here's the video:

Downs Syndrome Kids Recreate Famous Paintings, Beautifully

Left: "Fifer" by Manet, Flavio poses for similar
photograph by Seola Zani. 

Sometimes great works of art beg to be recreated.

If only placed in the right hands.

The right hands in this case belong to Seola Zani, an Albanian photographer.

Zani had an ingenious idea: He took famous paintings, and used children with Downs Syndrome to recreate those paintings through photography.

Zani used famous paintings such as "Child With Dove" and Paulo as Harloquin, both by Picasso; "The Fifer," by Manet; "Prima Ballerina" by Degas and "Clara Serena Rubens" by Rubens

According to the Web site TheMighty, a web site with articles about successes with special needs youths, Zani specializes in family photography, and has always been drawn to classic works, so the photo project was perfect for her.

 

Left, "The Dancer" by Renoir: Right, "The Damcer"
(Ima) buy Seola Zani

Said Zani:

"The message I want to share through this project is that every human is a piece of art, so we have to learn to see them in a beautiful way....These children are beautiful, and they are able to do everything if we give them a chance."

I have to say, judging by the photos, Zani has certainly highlighted the beauty she describes.

Left, "Child With Dove" By Picasso, Right: "Child With
Dove," (Eljana) Ny Seola Zani.

Russian School Custodian Makes Awesome Snow Art

I know many of us don't want to think about snow after a long, cold winter has finally ended, but this is too good to pass up.  

Russian school custodia Seymon Bukharin made
this snow art in a school yard with just a broom.  

Huffington Post recently featured photos of what a Russian school custodian named Seymon Bukharin did with just a broom after snowfalls.

He'd go out into the school yard and make beautiful art by sweeping snow away just so.

Maybe I'll hire him to clear snow from my yard next winter.

More snow art by Seymon Bukharin  

One more.  

This Photo of Police Dog's Last Moments Will Touch Your Heart

The photo in this post touched my heart because it hit so close to home. But it's a beautiful picture.

The Plymouth, Mass. Police Department
pays its respects to Kaiser as he is led
into a building for his final journey.  

Kaiser the police dog served the fine citizenry of Plymouth, Mass. for two year before kidney disease took over.

Kaiser's illness became so bad that the department had to say goodbye and let him go.

As you can see, the men and women of the Plymouth, Mass. Police Department salute Kaiser as he is led into a building for his final journey.

The whole thing stabbed my heart (but in a beautiful way) because Jeff and me recently lost our beloved Bailey the Wonder Dog to kidney failure.

Just as touching as the picture was the statement Kaiser's handler, Plymouth Patrol Officer Jamie Lebretton released.

"Kaiser taught me more about myself and my profession than I could have ever taught him. I feel privileged to have had a front row seat to witness his bravery and heroic actions while serving the people of Plymouth and my brothers and sisters in blue. Although his career was short lived, he made a huge impact that will never be forgotten. Kaiser loved being a police dog and I will miss him dearly."

Given the respect the Plymouth Police Department showed Kaiser, I think the community is being very well served.
 

Bailey Modereger-Sutkoski 2000-2013

The sweet golden dog Bailey Modereger-Sutkoski, 13 in human years, died peacefully after a short illness Saturday with his loving dads and brother Jackson the cocker spaniel with him to send him off.

Bailey enjoying a windy autumn day last November.   

Bailey was proud of his reputation as a bit of an International Dog of Mystery.  His origins are indeed murky, though it appeared he was a handsome mix of Huskie and maybe some golden retreiver, or possibly Malamute.

His soulful brown eyes melted hearts where ever Bailey went

He lived with another  family who obviously loved Bailey and kept him well cared for over a number of years.

However,  the family had to very reluctantly relinquish Bailey in 2012 because they could no longer financially care for him.

By that time, Bailey had become fast friends with Jackson at his doggie day care in Milton. Jackson introduced Bailey to his dads, Jeff Modereger and Matt Sutkoski.

Since Bailey needed a new home, Jackson asked his dads if the family could adopt Bailey.  Jeff and Matt enthusiastically agreed and never regretted it.

Never one to focus on the past, Bailey offered us few clues as to what his life was like before he moved in with his dads and Jackson around the first of July, 2012.  He settled quickly and happily into his new home.

Bailey was pleased that his new digs were situated on an exposed, breezy hillside. He loved to spend time standing in the yard, facing the wind, the gusts blowing through his gold and white mane. He savored all the different aromas wafting in the breeze.

At various times during the day, Bailey also liked to slowly explore his grassy yard, just looking and smelling for whatever went on in the course of the day.

Bailey also loved his morning routine, which involved heading outdoors in the cold, predawn hours with Jackson and usually with his sleepy but still loving and patient dad Jeff at 4 or 5 a.m. In those early morning outdoor jaunts,  Bailey reminded Jeff about the beauty and miracle of each new morning.

Later, when dad Matt was up and pecking away at his laptop in his office, Bailey always came into the room for kisses, a neck rub, then a vigorous belly rub.  Bailey knew that all work was no way to go, so he made sure every morning to remind Matt that belly rubs were much better and more important than the latest news.

Bailey enjoying a nice snooze in the warm indoors
on a frigid day in January, 2013.  

Bailey's morning routine was complete when he chowed down his breakfast, always with gusto, then he'd settle down next to Jeff, who would be enjoying his morning coffee.

Bailey was the quiet, zen-like Yin to his brother Jackson's rambunctious Yang. They were an odd couple, but a happy one. Jackson liked to enthusiastically and playfully bat at Bailey's neck and face, which Bailey accepted for awhile, until a quick, authoritative growl would settle Jackson down.

Bailey also loved spending time at Deja Vu Dog Kennels for the day while his dads were at work, playing with his brother Jackson and the other dogs cavorting at the day care.

Settling into somewhat old age by the time he arrived in St. Albans, Bailey also liked to curl up in his comfortable bed in the living room as his dads watched TV, then move to another bed in the bedroom to be close to his dads as they turned in for the night.

Healthy until the last two weeks of his life, though a bit deaf, Bailey would often snuggle up to dads Jeff or Matt, seeking and getting a sense of security in the aromas the two men picked up during the day.

During his illness over the last two weeks, Bailey was stoic and uncomplaining, as he always was. His dads were understandably distressed by Bailey's sudden poor health, but despite his own pain and discomfort, Bailey always went out of his way to try to ease his dads' worries and tell them everything will be OK.

Bailey is survived by his dads, Jeff Modereger and Matt Sutkoski of St. Albans, Vermont, his brother, Jackson the cocker spaniel, also of St. Albans, Vermont, his special, dear friend Barb Brodhead of Deja Vu Kennels in Milton, Vermont; his (Jeff) grandparents Donald and Lois Modereger of Yankton, South Dakota; his (Matt) grandparents, Henry and Pauline Sutkoski of West Rutland, Vermont; many loving aunts, uncles, and other human relatives, and very many human and canine friends.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may donate to their local animal shelter, Humane Society or any organization that shows love and support to dogs and all other animals.

Hilarious Parody: Men Think They're Hot. Yeah, Right

The other day I posted something here on Dove Real Beauty Sketches, a video from the Dove skin care company that had women describe themselves to a sketch artist, who couldn't see them, then had somebody else describe the same women to the sketch artist.

From the parody men's version of the
Dove Real Beauty Campaign"  

The portraits that emerged from the self descriptions were decidedly less accurate and more ugly than those that came from the descriptions from the acquaintances.

Since that post, I've noticed there is some debate over whether the Dove Real Beauty Sketches are a tribute to women's beauty and an antidote to womens' self doubts, or a something not entirely wonderful. 

Critics have said the video lacks diversity, and may elevate the importance of physical beauty even if attempted not to.

Of course, there's also the inevitable parodies of something like this. So I give you "Dove Real Beauty Sketches--Men" which imagines how the same experiment would work out with men. It's really funny, and in its own twisted way, true. Have a look and have a laugh:

You're Beautiful. Just Ask Anybody Other Than Yourself

Dove, the skin care products company, has released a great video that offers the best perspective I've seen in a long time about perceptions of beauty.

According to Mashable, woman were asked to describe their facial features to a former police sketch artist. 

The women were positioned behind a screen so the artist couldn't see them. He had to rely on how the women described themselves to make his sketches.

Two sketches of the same woman, one as described
by the woman, one by an acquaintance. Watch
video to see which one is more accurate. 

The women who had their sketches done were then told to get to know one other participant in the event.   

Those other people were then brought into the room with the sketch artist, again behind the curtain. The friends had to describe the woman they had met and explain that other woman's features to the sketch artist. 

The result of the sketches were striking. The drawings of the women  that were based on how women described themselves were not nearly as attractive, and much less accurate than the sketches that were drawn based on the descriptions other people gave. 

The really rather moving video is below and I think a lot of women ought to watch it. It's very enlightening.  Many people are their own worst critics, it seems.

Awesome Views From Space: NASA Compiles 2012's Coolest Images

NASA put out an awesome video recently of various views of the Earth from space taken during 2012.

Some are the views a human eye would see from space  some are computer augmentations to study certain aspects of climate, topography, or other scientific fun stuff.

The whole video is a Gee Whiz That's Cool! montage. I loved it. So will you. Watch:

Amazing Panoramic Photo Contest Winners

The aerial, panaromic, amazing view of Central Park and parts of Manhattan in this post were taken by photographer Sergey Semenov in the annual Epson International Photographic Pano Awards.

Do click on the link to Dphoto to see the other winners if you want to look at some amazing photographs. (Note to self: I'm not worthy!!!)

When you're in the site gaping at the wonderful photographs, make sure you click on the image of VR/360 winner Eric Herrmann and follow the instructions to put your mouse on the image and move it around.  You'll get a real treat with that.

Do click on the photograph on this post to make the image bigger and easier to see. Believe me, it's worth it.

Hmmm. I've never really done anything with panometric photography. Maybe I ought to look into it.