tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-192734092024-03-12T22:19:58.375-04:00jabberousMark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.comBlogger891125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-78606866474027689862010-06-16T06:42:00.001-04:002010-06-16T06:44:27.210-04:00let's face itI am obviously never going to get back to this blog. Follow me on facebook now. Or don't. I know some of you are anti-facebook. Well, I won't beg. Be that way.Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-6612196041147965882010-02-15T10:37:00.002-05:002010-02-15T10:39:25.912-05:00duli<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/S3lqlETvAVI/AAAAAAAAB6w/fQ3NpnLoMog/s1600-h/duli.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/S3lqlETvAVI/AAAAAAAAB6w/fQ3NpnLoMog/s400/duli.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438495210070802770" border="0" /></a><br />This is a Czech chapter book we saw in Prague. Nobody in the house would ever read it, even if it was in English. But we loved the cover so much we bought it anyway.Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-31592526146166588162009-12-30T19:14:00.003-05:002009-12-30T19:22:49.140-05:00elaborate shrines<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzvulhgzHrI/AAAAAAAAB6o/xBPiJPXN9kQ/s1600-h/P1000305.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzvulhgzHrI/AAAAAAAAB6o/xBPiJPXN9kQ/s400/P1000305.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421188904889032370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzvulDKtbJI/AAAAAAAAB6g/L9PfH0ASZMA/s1600-h/P1000300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzvulDKtbJI/AAAAAAAAB6g/L9PfH0ASZMA/s400/P1000300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421188896743320722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/Szvuk_zi_XI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/Weqgf0YkLP8/s1600-h/P1000293.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/Szvuk_zi_XI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/Weqgf0YkLP8/s400/P1000293.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421188895840861554" border="0" /></a><br />There's a small town just outside of Prague. You can get there on the underground, not far. I can't remember the name of the town. Maybe JP will look it up and let us know. In this town is a church, and in that church cemetery are hundreds of uber-chic graves and tombs. This is just a tiny sample. If you ever go to Prague, you should check this out.<br /><br />My problem was, it was all just way too much. I felt overwhelmed. I knew this would probably be the only time in my life I would ever be in this cemetary, and I wanted to see it all, and I mean really see it, stop at every shrine and take it in. Many of them are very ornate and artistic and detailed. It was just too much. I started to feel weary and the sheer impossibility of the task made it hard for me to just relax and enjoy. So I just went and sat on a warm rock wall in the sun and watched some birds hopping around in a tree.Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-28979863291323985782009-12-27T20:06:00.002-05:002009-12-27T20:07:27.136-05:00elf trio<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzgEtQaaH5I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/4nOpxWPPzdM/s1600-h/IMG_2504.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzgEtQaaH5I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/4nOpxWPPzdM/s400/IMG_2504.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420087327086747538" border="0" /></a><br />This is one of two tree stands we saw at the muddy flea market. Ten bucks! Plus the extra buck I spent for a screwdriver to dismantle it so it would fit in our checked bag. But the checked bag was overweight and they were going to charge us A HUNDRED DOLLARS EXTRA, so we had to take some stuff out and put it in our carry-on bags. Go figure. All of the weight ended up on the plane anyway, so what was accomplished?<br /><br />So I took out the heaviest thing - this metal tree stand, wrapped in a towel, and put it in my shoulder bag. Which had to go through the X-ray screener, which caused the airport cop to pull me aside and say "What's in the bag?" I started to unwrap it, but as soon as he saw the painted elf he said "Oh, OK," and that was that. I never even finished unwrapping it. So here's a tip: If you want to smuggle a metal hatchet blade onto an airplane, just paint it like an elf and you'll float right in.<br /><br />We used it for a centerpiece on the food table at the Open House party. But I forgot to light the candle. I bet it would have been prettier with the candle lit.<br /><br />I have no idea where you find trees with trunks skinny enough to fit in that skinny tube. Somewhere in Prague I guess.Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-28205476324194642922009-12-24T15:02:00.003-05:002009-12-24T15:06:12.303-05:00dresden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzPJpkn_bpI/AAAAAAAAB6I/Mh6Ho4hybqo/s1600-h/P1000162.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzPJpkn_bpI/AAAAAAAAB6I/Mh6Ho4hybqo/s400/P1000162.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418896492700069522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzPJpfkengI/AAAAAAAAB6A/WHf5oLIVqrQ/s1600-h/P1000151.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzPJpfkengI/AAAAAAAAB6A/WHf5oLIVqrQ/s400/P1000151.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418896491343158786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzPJpBZdSUI/AAAAAAAAB54/SLDbKXUQiPA/s1600-h/P1000141.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzPJpBZdSUI/AAAAAAAAB54/SLDbKXUQiPA/s400/P1000141.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418896483243870530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzPJpLLYhTI/AAAAAAAAB5w/7coM8po9Oso/s1600-h/P1000133.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzPJpLLYhTI/AAAAAAAAB5w/7coM8po9Oso/s400/P1000133.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418896485869192498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzPJo1_ciFI/AAAAAAAAB5o/qdaSj5QCsVA/s1600-h/P1000127.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzPJo1_ciFI/AAAAAAAAB5o/qdaSj5QCsVA/s400/P1000127.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418896480181979218" border="0" /></a><br />Brigham and WGC went to Dresden for a couple of days. I stayed behind in Prague. Here are some pics Brigham took. The "crafty" wooden chandeliers are a traditional folk art there. I did not know that. Did you? Now WGC wants me to make a "crafty wooden" chandelier. Er, uh, I'll get right on that!Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-22996584048127895772009-12-22T19:15:00.002-05:002009-12-22T19:23:45.063-05:00old photo of jewish street scene<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzFi0YDANJI/AAAAAAAAB5g/YNxsnJG-Jek/s1600-h/streetscenepainting.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzFi0YDANJI/AAAAAAAAB5g/YNxsnJG-Jek/s400/streetscenepainting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418220478651184274" border="0" /></a><br />This is hanging on the wall of the Kafka Bar in the Jewish section of Old Town, the oldest part of the oldest part of Prague. I took a photo of it, intending to use it as inspiration for a scene I was going to paint on the wooden casing that I built to seal over the air conditioner. I used to cover the OUTSIDE of the AC with plastic every winter, but it's very high up in a second floor window. Climbing the ladder, positioning myself around the AC, taping and sealing, climbing back down, going back up the other side where you can't even lean the ladder flat against the wall due to assorted obstructions - it's a dangerous pain in the neck! So this year I created an INDOOR solution! And I was going to paint a scene on it to spruce it up some...<br /><br />I ended up painting it barn red and tacking a cardboard Santa Claus on it. Maybe I'll paint a scene on it "next year"!Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-5764432457358636732009-12-21T22:09:00.001-05:002009-12-21T22:11:20.565-05:00strange taxidermy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzA4zEipoxI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/aCVjJspsyoc/s1600-h/taxidermy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SzA4zEipoxI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/aCVjJspsyoc/s400/taxidermy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417892801770267410" border="0" /></a><br />This is hanging on the wall in a fancy deli near Charles Bridge.Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-80332538713126054292009-12-20T09:45:00.003-05:002009-12-20T09:47:10.150-05:00public toilet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/Sy44pfypjVI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/PhWoOL86FVE/s1600-h/pigeonhead.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/Sy44pfypjVI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/PhWoOL86FVE/s400/pigeonhead.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417329687333014866" border="0" /></a><br />WGC collects pics of important people with pigeons on their heads. (But this one just happens to be a gull, I think...)Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-81016011158519599002009-12-19T18:19:00.002-05:002009-12-19T18:21:49.305-05:00good luck<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/Sy1gApLNVvI/AAAAAAAAB5I/uxbhHT1og1Q/s1600-h/statuerub.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/Sy1gApLNVvI/AAAAAAAAB5I/uxbhHT1og1Q/s400/statuerub.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417091490965706482" border="0" /></a><br />Rub the dog, and other areas of certain plaques and statues on Charles Bridge, for good luck. The ass of the lady in confession appears to have some limited good luck power.Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-62303495221273253702009-12-18T07:08:00.002-05:002009-12-18T07:12:30.053-05:00hedgehog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SytxnFZhz_I/AAAAAAAAB5A/KiCKw98gxB8/s1600-h/hedgehog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SytxnFZhz_I/AAAAAAAAB5A/KiCKw98gxB8/s400/hedgehog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416547893121241074" border="0" /></a><br />WGC just had to have it. It was pretty good, but not as great as she thought it would be, nor as great as I thought it would be. It was basically chocolate-covered cake. I don't know what we were expecting, but I think I imagined it more chewy and less cakey.Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-12861001552620332422009-12-17T18:39:00.002-05:002009-12-17T18:40:20.566-05:00money wheel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SyrBUulijeI/AAAAAAAAB44/VkIPjcw_7sc/s1600-h/pizzamoneywheel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SyrBUulijeI/AAAAAAAAB44/VkIPjcw_7sc/s400/pizzamoneywheel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416354063713471970" border="0" /></a><br />On the wall near the gorgeous pizza oven...Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-16113188952650934222009-12-16T20:22:00.001-05:002009-12-16T20:23:41.184-05:00gorgeous pizza oven<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SymIBxlw_9I/AAAAAAAAB4w/PlmRFyTWHTA/s1600-h/pizzaoven.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SymIBxlw_9I/AAAAAAAAB4w/PlmRFyTWHTA/s400/pizzaoven.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416009590962716626" border="0" /></a><br />in a pizza joint near Charles BridgeMark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-43688985720882684532009-12-15T20:33:00.003-05:002009-12-15T20:36:42.514-05:00der super-spender<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/Syg5gSQv5pI/AAAAAAAAB4o/yIXrERyio_Y/s1600-h/bigwilly.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/Syg5gSQv5pI/AAAAAAAAB4o/yIXrERyio_Y/s400/bigwilly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415641778733704850" border="0" /></a><br />We were in a restaurant. WGC went to the loo. She came back and said they had one of those giant t.p. roll dispensers on the wall with a cartoon character on it named Big Willy. And she said "Go get a picture!"<br /><br />So I did.Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-7900559042506959712009-12-13T06:33:00.002-05:002009-12-13T06:36:22.823-05:00try my delicious meat!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SyTRqpEKyyI/AAAAAAAAB4g/onwuDF5QIWQ/s1600-h/deliciousmeat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SyTRqpEKyyI/AAAAAAAAB4g/onwuDF5QIWQ/s400/deliciousmeat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414683182514228002" border="0" /></a><br />Compelling invitation to eatMark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-22267165150926644242009-12-11T18:29:00.002-05:002009-12-11T18:30:15.590-05:00schindler's lift<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SyLV9CYO6hI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/DnKOCq-NRWA/s1600-h/schindler.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SyLV9CYO6hI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/DnKOCq-NRWA/s400/schindler.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414124946640005650" border="0" /></a>Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-7436987851463880912009-12-10T20:51:00.003-05:002009-12-10T20:53:00.116-05:00shark!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SyGl4ZS_gGI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/MH99648nqDA/s1600-h/shark.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SyGl4ZS_gGI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/MH99648nqDA/s400/shark.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413790615357849698" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the shark that never ate his little tankmates in the hotel lobby tank. Little tankmates are hard to see in this jpg, so I circled all I could find. Click to embiggen.Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-43820446692880829702009-12-09T16:49:00.005-05:002009-12-09T16:53:32.271-05:00little wooden television<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SyAcEMKXJMI/AAAAAAAAB4I/pclBYZAuAVg/s1600-h/toytv.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SyAcEMKXJMI/AAAAAAAAB4I/pclBYZAuAVg/s400/toytv.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413357610409075906" border="0" /></a><br />appears to be what's left of some kind of larger artsy installation along the top edge of this subway entranceMark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-77035981721480738752009-12-08T17:37:00.002-05:002009-12-08T17:38:22.785-05:00you must be this tall to enter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/Sx7VVAUu-4I/AAAAAAAAB4A/UippKhmLXsE/s1600-h/mustbetall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/Sx7VVAUu-4I/AAAAAAAAB4A/UippKhmLXsE/s400/mustbetall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412998358986849154" border="0" /></a><br />Ha ha! WGC does not even come close!Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-33805027546816216572009-12-07T20:47:00.003-05:002009-12-07T20:53:56.422-05:00just call me mr. full of baloney<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/Sx2xht34MeI/AAAAAAAAB34/9ERDKpZnLMA/s1600-h/graffiti.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/Sx2xht34MeI/AAAAAAAAB34/9ERDKpZnLMA/s400/graffiti.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412677519976968674" border="0" /></a><br />Dammit, after all my bitching about graffiti, I have to go and fall in love with this face. And after all my whining about Juxtapoz and modern art museums etc "promoting graffiti", I have to go and post this on my blog.<br /><br />Just look at it. How can you not love it???<br /><br />In principal, I know that it may very well be "garbage" to some people, perhaps the little old lady who lives in the second floor apartment and has to see this God-awful thing leering at her every time she steps out for a walk. In principal, I know that I cannot arbitrate beauty, so I have to say I would vote to smack the artist just like any other tagger.<br /><br />But I can't help it. I love that face.Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-84273294496588837232009-12-07T06:16:00.002-05:002009-12-07T06:17:07.262-05:00subway eat fresh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SxzkJbCKUBI/AAAAAAAAB3w/t42ru5LM5ao/s1600-h/subeatfresh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SxzkJbCKUBI/AAAAAAAAB3w/t42ru5LM5ao/s400/subeatfresh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412451702719270930" border="0" /></a>Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-63205294432712307822009-12-06T14:53:00.001-05:002009-12-06T14:55:22.987-05:00original bambino praga<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SxwMG20sV4I/AAAAAAAAB3o/fCIUm5hsVow/s1600-h/bambprag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SxwMG20sV4I/AAAAAAAAB3o/fCIUm5hsVow/s400/bambprag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412214164127766402" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1324655/the_story_of_the_infant_of_prague.html?cat=37">The story of The Infant of Prague</a>Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-474711888407190842009-12-05T06:55:00.002-05:002009-12-05T06:59:59.380-05:00ok, one last "touristy" pic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SxpLN2oun2I/AAAAAAAAB3g/yfFGxNU5aKs/s1600-h/satstat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SxpLN2oun2I/AAAAAAAAB3g/yfFGxNU5aKs/s400/satstat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411720603615797090" border="0" /></a><br />I just think it's funny that me and Brigham look so "Eyew! Don't sit by me!" in this pic. We like each other just fine! That's the statue of Jan Hus that looks over Old Town square, and yes, I am wearing white socks, as I always do 24/7 except when I am bathing or otherwise barefoot. Dyes make my feet break out in horrible hives you don't wanta hear about!Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-38052759661568043452009-12-04T19:44:00.003-05:002009-12-04T19:48:15.760-05:00rare wgc sighting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SxmtjUwRx6I/AAAAAAAAB3Y/6u1KUs4bILg/s1600-h/wgc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SxmtjUwRx6I/AAAAAAAAB3Y/6u1KUs4bILg/s400/wgc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411547249640589218" border="0" /></a><br />Farmer's market in Old Town. The color of the fruits and veggies was really striking in real life. The camera did not really capture the glory of the produce, and all those other dang people got in the way...<br /><br />Still, that's a great pic of WGC!Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-20362264519464177682009-12-03T19:29:00.002-05:002009-12-03T19:35:10.868-05:00marzipan is big in prague<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SxhZLxvp6VI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/2DnxNtfRezI/s1600-h/120409.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SxhZLxvp6VI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/2DnxNtfRezI/s400/120409.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411173011152300370" border="0" /></a><br />I love the fact that you can still find lots of stuff like this in Prague that is not based on huge megamedia characters like Shrek and Hannah Montana. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_%28Zden%C4%9Bk_Miler_character%29">The little black mole</a> in the back is a licensed character that is very popular in Prague, but as far as I know the rest are just cute anonymous characters.Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19273409.post-73940499839510426722009-12-02T07:46:00.002-05:002009-12-02T07:48:59.390-05:00my connection to usa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SxZiI6QNpjI/AAAAAAAAB3I/pfqfj7hhCpo/s1600-h/120309.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qelTuXVeogg/SxZiI6QNpjI/AAAAAAAAB3I/pfqfj7hhCpo/s400/120309.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410619907547964978" border="0" /></a><br />The free hotel lobby computer (and the free hotel lobby TV, that I actually saw people sit and watch! In PRAGUE!)Mark Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04799399359022340724noreply@blogger.com0