Snickers

Yeah there is oodles of talk about the new Snickers campaign, and I guess this is my two cents.

I like it! I think it is eye catching. And in our world today is quite an accomplishment. I think as soon as you see it, even if you cannot read it, it delivers the message that it is a Snickers bar. It could say "Have A Nice Day" which may be a better choice and you still know it's a Snickers.

Language is a tricky thing. Satisfectellent, Nougatocity, Substantialicious, and Peanutopolis, are the rest of the campaign message. I will agree that most things "ectomy," appendectomy, lumpectomy, are not wonderful things that you would want associated with a tasty treat. So let's hit the hand of the copywriter but applaud the art director.

Biology 101

Cows are female. Bulls are male. There are no male cows or female bulls. Are there? Well according to Nickelodeon and their recent movie release Barnyard, there are indeed male cows.

The "male" lead in the movie is a COW named OTIS, voiced by Kevin James (seen in the photo on the right clearly shown with udders). There are other male cows in the movie too; Eddie, Igg and Budd, all Jersey COWS, and Sam Elliott as Ben the COW. But to add confusion, there are some true female cows like Daisy and Bessy (how original) voiced by Courtney Cox (she seemed to have lost the Arquette on this credit) and Wanda Sykes.

Grammar 101

A sign on the CTA, Chicago's public transportation system.

Need I say more?

Suga

Suga is a great candy store in Australia.

The candies, or lollies as they call them, are all handmade in the tradition of the famous millefiori glass makers of Venice. Want to know the flavor, look closely at the candy and you will see the flavor right there in the candy itself! Using different colors of sugar they roll the candy creating the image inside. Then they extrude the candies into long glass like rods and snap them into the bite size pieces!

You can watch them actually make the candy in their stores. I was there daily watching them.

Corteo

My fourth Cirque show of the year, Corteo and as far as I can see the last. And what a great way to end! I think seeing a Cirque show in their tent is the best way to see it. And then I think about O and say that is the best. I guess they are each a unique and special treat.

The stage was great, a huge path through the middle of the audience creating a processional where all acts performed and characters passed.

There were wonderful highlights like human trapeze! Bedsprings and handsprings! A wonderful performer attached to giant helium balloons floating above the audience and being sent back to the stage with the help of the audience.

Another brilliant gift from the genius of Cirque du Soleil!

A Pair of Jacks of Clubs

These were actually the top two that everyone picked as well as my top two choices. The originals are on the left with some modifications on the right.

Not sure which will be the final quite yet!

XXI

Twenty one. That is how many times you have to do something for it to become a habit. At least that is what the researchers say.

Oh, the image? I did a Google image search on 21 and it was one of the images that came up!

Pick A Card

The school I teach at, Columbia College Chicago, is doing a promotional deck of cards with artwork created by faculty.

I am doing the Jack of Clubs and have narrowed the choices down to these eight.

Which do you like?

Skyline - Illustration Friday

Chicago from Lake Shore Drive heading north near Monroe

Fiori di Como

The only thing more spectacular than Cirque's O at the Bellagio is the ceiling in the lobby by Dale Chihuly.

As Chihuly himself tells the story…

"Steve Wynn started talking to me about the ceiling at the Bellagio long before construction even began. He wanted me to make a “spectacular” piece in the lobby of the hotel that would rival the aquarium at the Mirage, and generate more interest. Back in Seattle, we built the entire seventy-by-thirty-foot ceiling, full-scale, at my studio. The commission, as contracted, called for a whole new armature type and about a thousand new “flowers.” Steve visited several times, loved it, and wanted even more glass. Finally FIORI DI COMO was installed with over two thousand handblown glass elements. It’s the glory of Las Vegas."

KÀ

Almost forgot, I haven't told you about KA, the third Cirque show I saw in Vegas.

KA is more a theatrical production than your typical Cirque show. There is a very clear narrative story of twins separated and their journey back together. One twin takes a journey underwater, on the beach, through a jungle. The other stays very land bound, through dark trails, dealing with the elements including fire. There seems to be an emphasis on the story telling and less on the Cirque-ness of the show.

There were some very Cirque moments. First the stage is the star! It turns, rotates, goes vertical, drops out of view, is a boat, a mountain, a cliff. The performers are all over the stage and we see scenes from above as they move on the wall tethered as the wall is vertical! There is an amazing acrobatic act that uses the wall vertically and swing on pegs coming out of the surface (actually arrows shot at the heroes).

The other highlight was the boy twin and his mentor being very small in front of a fire, the stage turned vertical behind them and them performing hand shadow puppets against the wall! It was a simple yet truly an amazing element of the show.

Oops! Almost forgot! There is a wonderful flying maching that comes and flies out over the audience, while the other twin performs trapeze-like feats!

Everything production-wise was stellar, staging, lighting, costumes, theatre, sets, everything. But as for the acts of wonder you want to see from Cirque, I feel it fell a little short. The acts that were a part of the show were very much every bit Cirque, there just wasn't many of them.

•<] : )

I am wearing a party hat! Got my computer back today and after a few software glitches. . .everything is back to working order!

WOO! HOO!