A Real List of Crazy, Weird and one or two Bushy Eyebrows

I feel like the internet isn't as useful as it used to be.  Now when you search for something in google it feels like you get only the most recently talked about things and it's hard to find anything else.

The other day I tried looking up something related to Hercules and all I could find was stuff related to some new game.  I don't care if it's the best mobile game ever created.  If I look up Hercules and I can't even get one search result including a Wikipedia page for Hercules, let alone one including his legendary adventures and labors, something has gone horribly wrong. 

To illustrate my point even more clearly I will use a random search I was performing today.  I remember seeing an older actor who had these crazy bushy eyebrows.

And the search words "british actor with crazy eyebrows" brought me Will Poulter.  I grant you, he has distinctive eyebrows but I would not call them crazy. 

This list of famous eyebrows was disappointing, only a few of them were even interesting.

https://www.gq.com/gallery/19-eyebrows-as-famous-as-the-men-who-own-them

And then there was this list of "insane" eyebrows.

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls070780793/

If your article has a list of 21 names claiming to be insane, is it too much to ask for at least one of them to be interesting?  I thought not.

 You ask which actor has the most insane eyebrows?

And then you suggest that normal looking male actors belong on that list.  Nicholas Cage, Joan Crawford, Colin Farrell, Lee Pace.  Come on!  Well, I say you're crazy.  Nobody on your list has crazy eyebrows. 

When you say insane eyebrows I expect more of the following:

Photo from this article

Granted there are not his normal eyebrows, he's made up for Dune.  This is Freddie Jones by the way.  But if you say insane eyebrows I want pictures like this.  Not of Nicholas Cage with his normal eyebrows.  Or Whoopi Goldberg, Peter Gallagher, Jack Nicholson.  Come on!

I mean really, are you crazy?  If you say insane eyebrows and that's the list you give me, or Will Poulter, whose eyebrows are distinctive sure, but are nothing like what I'm looking for, are you doing your job as a search engine?

I say not.

Now let me show you what I think are "insane eyebrows", or at the very least weird eyebrows.  Not just normal eyebrows that happen to be slightly distinctive or slightly bushy.

Let me show you what I was looking for.  I couldn't remember this man's name, so I tried googling him.  I knew he was a British actor, with a round face and strange eyebrows.  

His name is David Hemmings by the way.  For more on him you can read this article or this one that that picture came from.  And yes these are his real eyebrows.

Looking very classy with his pointy bushy eyebrows. Photo via this article.

But if you search for British actor with a round face and strange eyebrows you get this:

This!  First of all most of these are models with perfect eyebrows, the non image search isn't any better.  But let's take a moment to appreciate how bad the search results for this are.  One of these guys definitely doesn't have strange eyebrows, he has Alopecia, he doesn't have ANY eyebrows.  This is not to say he's less interesting as a person, he just doesn't have the insane eyebrows I was looking for.  

Now look at the text search that Google offered for this. 

Anyway, I thought it was appallingly lacking in any of the things I was actually searching for.  

But let's get back to the issue.  There are some people with really strange eyebrows out there.  And since you can't find them through normal means, just searching for strange eyebrows, let me give you some of them.

Here is a picture of Denis Healey from an article about his politics to be found here.  

I personally think his eyebrows should have been on a list of interesting eyebrows.

Then there is Archbishop Rowan Williams:

Archbishop Rowan Williams

And then there's Bernard Ingram 

Bernard Ingram

This guy came up under big noses, but I think his eyebrows are more of a salient feature myself.  

I can't even find this man's name but here is where I found his image.

Then there's Brezhnev

From the BBC page here.

And then there's Robert Morley Allan Warren

This next guy is really more of an honourable mention, but he's still better than that list I showed you above.

And ok, ok, the list did have a few guys with legitimately bushy eyebrows.  But that was the best they could do, not really crazy.

They at least included Eugene Levy with his bushy eyebrows.

Bushy yes, crazy?  I wouldn't say so.

And last but not least, if I search for crazy eyebrows.

And if you're going to show me perfect female models when I search for crazy eyebrows, I expect them to at least look like this.

This came from the following article.

Is it the most important thing in the world, no?  But, when I look up random search terms I don't like getting endless perfect models no matter what I search.  I want some of them to be at least in the ballpark of what I'm looking for.  If I look for crazy, weird, strange, bushy eyebrows, I want them to be at least a little interesting to look at.  

And no, bushy eyebrows aren't important.  But I feel like I keep running into this whenever I try to search something.  The search engine seems geared towards whatever is newest and popular even if it's not a good fit for what I'm actually trying to look up.

It's infuriating.

And that is my rant about how I don't think one of the most helpful tools of modern life is helpful enough for me. I'm going to go do something more useful with my time now.

But in the meantime if you're looking for some photos of crazy eyebrows, as one occasionally does, I hope these help.

The Reason We Must Try Harder to Actually Communicate, Especially When We Are Different

I just read a thing by a dear friend of mine saying that "if you claim you're not a political person you are lying, you're apathetic and you're an ignorant asshole who is a part of the problem".

Now, let me start by saying that I agree, apathy and ignorance are not acceptable traits.  I think we should avoid ignorance and apathy and try as far as possible to stay informed and active in our communities.

But now, if you will allow me to speak my mind, I will disagree with some of her points.  If I tell you I'm "not a political person" what I'm saying is that I don't want to engage in the conversation you want to have.  You are not entitled to my opinions just because you want to have a conversation.  I'm not in any way required to share my opinions with you if the conversation you want to have is insulting, emotional, illogical and most importantly not an actual conversation.  If you want to talk fine, but don't yell at me if you want to rant and I don't feel inclined to listen to you.

I do usually tell people I'm "not a political person".  This is not because I'm ignorant, and it's not because I'm apathetic.  That's the opposite of reality.  I feel way too strongly about so many things that go on in the world.  I just choose not to voice them with people who open conversations with inflammatory remarks, whether or not I agree with their points.  I have no desire to be involved in a "conversation" that is actually a rant about how you are right and smart and good and everyone who disagrees with you is evil.  You might even be right, smart and good, and everyone who disagrees with you might be evil, but if you're just looking to rant about it, I don't want to be involved.

Now, I know what my friend is getting at.  There are a lot of people who cloak ignorance and apathy with the self-righteous mantle of being "not-political".  But it is not everyone.  Sometimes the people who are telling you they are "not-political" are just those of us trying not to get shouted at for something that isn't our fault.  I'm trying to be very broad because this is something that happens to me often over many issues.  I'll give a quick example.  I had a cousin, who didn't like that I didn't share a political view of hers.  In a discussion when I stated my views, she said "educated people think the way I do."  I walked away, because it was clear that this wasn't going to be a conversation, it was going to turn into a place to say things we regretted.  That didn't mean I'm wasn't aware of the details (or the injustices) of this particular point.  Walking away didn't even mean that I wouldn't act on the issue.  It just meant "I don't want to talk to YOU about it anymore."

I am a very non vocal person about my political views and stances.  But it doesn't mean I don't vote, sign petitions, etc.  I resent being called an ignorant, apathetic, asshole because I won't engage in a heated, futile, exchange on social media.  Shouting electronically at someone you aren't even talking to in person does not actually accomplish anything.  It certainly isn't doing good.

I honestly think that posting inflammatory comments on social media only rouses more inflammatory remarks from both sides.  Angry words online have never made a situation better.  This is why I appreciate and respect people who don't just post their own rants in angry language in an attempt to make others angry.  (Or worse still, those who want to wound others verbally simply because they are angry and they can't handle the emotion without inflicting it on others.)  I appreciate it when people actually provide a way to help change whatever situation they feel needs changing.  I appreciate those that include links to petitions, or news about what is on ballots, or how and where to join a rally etc.  Actionable advice.

Of course this is a fine line.  Sometimes just sharing the information is what is necessary for the situation.  Sometimes the situation is that people aren't aware of the injustices going on and broader segments of the population need to understand that there are, in fact, injustices.  In these cases it is important to share the facts, but your opinions aren't needed with them.  Truth can stand on its own two feet.  Calm, rational, logical facts are necessary and can change minds and cause action.

And Action is what is really, truly necessary!

Yes, sometimes writing about or telling other people about an injustice is the action required.  More often, voting, signing petitions, attending rallies, and PEACEFUL protests is required.  If you are talking to people who don't understand or see your side, it's going to be rough.  But what is required is one on one rational conversations to really attempt to understand the other side first and then and only then trying to explain the other side of that coin to them.

That's the hardest part, you have to actually try to understand why the other person believes what they say, what the core fears are that they are expressing to you in their negative beliefs.  They are usually emotional fears not based in facts.  You have to understand what fears they are expressing and that there is a kernel of truth buried under that emotion even if the trappings are irrational.  You have to listen to what they mean, not what they are saying if you're going to have any hope of persuading people.  People say and do things that make no sense when they are afraid and unaware of reality.

You see, no matter how angry and right you are, if you shout your views at someone it doesn't help.  What good does it do if you tell a close friend that they're ignorant because they don't agree with you?  Even if they are ignorant, will they be more willing to hear your side and arguments?  Does it help anybody if you say insulting things to people who don't agree with you?  Or to those who haven't yet learned all the facts about a situation yet?

Shouldn't ignorance be met with patient facts?  Don't yell at the ignorant, calmly educate them with reason.  And if you cannot, then walk away, but don't shout at them.  It solves nothing.

Shouldn't apathy be met with an appeal to humanity?  Not a shouting, insulting response that at the very best, has the likely result of helping to shovel extra sand onto the ostrich's buried head, and at worst of rousing resentful anger towards you and your entire cause.

Shouldn't wrong ideas be met with right ones?  Politely explaining the right things, not just addressing a wrong with another wrong.

Yes, as a student of history, I know all too well that peaceful protests do not always garner good results.  But we do not respect Gandhi because he got beat up once and then started a violent revolt.  We respect him because he and his followers took the high road and never once backed down.  Helping to awaken the sleeping to a new woke world is not a road for the feint of heart.  It is a long, lonely road filled with hardships and that is exactly why we must take it.  Because we must believe that eyes can open and minds can be changed.  We must believe that the future can be sculpted into something new and just and equal with perseverance and enough helping hands.

Shouldn't friends be able to politely, and yes firmly, disagree without devolving into insults?

However wrong they are, insulting the other side has never won any allies.  And when we are talking about systemic injustice, we need to enlist every person we can to our cause as an ally.  Alienating those willing to listen out of the heat of anger and a mean spirit, helps nobody, and brings no justice to those you claimed you were fighting for. (I'm speaking of those who shout at friends and create enemies out of them.)

Is there still room among the Woke for those who are just awakening?  Think long and hard about that before you answer, because if you do not believe so you are dooming us through a self-fulfilling prophecy to a world that cannot change, a world full of eyes that cannot open.  

Now, this is has all very vague, because I believe it applies to so very many political discussions, and disagreements I've personally experienced over the years.

However, if you'll permit, I'd like to be more specific at this juncture.

There are occasions where something must be said, and to as many people as possible.  Wrong is wrong.  And it must be demanded that justice is pursued for those wrongs.  The oppression of a person based on their skin color, gender, religion, ethnicity or national origin cannot be tolerated.  Abuse of power is wrong.  Murder is wrong.  Black lives MATTER.  ALL lives matter.  Every single life matters and we cannot stay silent when any lives are taken violently and publicly: especially those who belong to a minority that have been repeatedly marginalized by our society through long-lasting cycles of oppression, poverty and prejudice.  Until every life taken through violence receives the same justice we are not safe.  IF any person can decide who is worthy of justice we are none of us safe and free.  And we cannot stop fighting for equality and justice and safety and freedom until all of us have it.

We must pass laws that require fair and equal treatment of all people.  Yes.  But we must also gain public awareness AND support.  This must be done with patience, kindness, and the kind of perseverance that is willing to talk one on one with the people you don't agree with, and probably don't much respect.

I won't say anything else.  I've probably already said too much.  I'll simply show you what we need more of in this world.  We need more of the tough, patient, peaceable and persistent conversations that so rarely happen these days.

We need this kind of communication.




We need more of this kind of communication.  Because communication, real communication, tough, uncomfortable, patient and firm communication can change people and can change minds.  This one video of a Black Lives Matter protest at a Trump rally is proof of that.

May we all live to see better days.

Recreating Paintings in Quarantine

During the lockdown in southern California I have been keeping busy.  I'm doing some freelance writing, I'm reading, I'm cleaning and I'm doing art.

I'm doing all kinds of art.

I have begun painting, making dollhouse miniatures and most recently I've started recreating paintings with things from around the house.  This whole thing was started by The Getty Museum Challenge and you can find other fine recreations under the hashtags #gettymuseumchallenge and #betweenartandquarantine

For the first one depicted below I've recreated Tissot's painting, The Widower.

My Recreation and Tissot's The Widower

And that was so much fun that I decided I need to recreate a few more paintings.


So here is my recreation of Henry Fuseli's The Nightmare.

The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli and a recreation with Jojo the cat.

The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli












My recreation of The Nightmare - featuring my cat AKA Jojen aka JoJo

I didn't want my dogs to feel left out by all the fun that Cat and I were having so the next few recreations involve them.

This is Charles van den Eycken's painting titled "Willpower" 1891

My poor fools were so confused about what they could and couldn't eat after this they almost were reluctant to take the treats when I gave them to my boys by hand.

Next is the recreation of Briton Rivière's painting Requiescat from 1888.

Shadow snuffled my hand for treats the entire time we tried to do this photo.  Not smiling was almost harder than keeping his attention when he thought treats were a hopeless endeavor and tried to give up.

Next is a recreation of Compulsory Education, also painted by Briton Rivière.

Do not let Rocky's mournful eyes deceive you.  He was so excited by the treats that came out of this photoshoot that he happily traipsed over for more than one take.  

The next painting is untitled but commonly referred to as Knight Resting with Dog by Nicaise De Keyser

The amazing armour dress and leggings I'm wearing are from Lorica Clothing, the Sackville skater dress and the Sackville leggings. All of their products are amazing, if you have need of comfy armour dresses or leggings I advise you look for them at Lorica Clothing.

The next is a painting by Thomas Weaver and is titled The Dunearn Ox c.1812-1815

No, really though, why are so many portraits of cows so rectangular?  If you're interested in this particular phenomenon you may want to check out this article on rectangular cows in UK art. 

I thought my rabbit had a nice scale next to my "cow".  Doesn't Shadow make a fine cow? I thought so anyway.  So, I decided to take advantage of his lovely cowhide (tshirt situation) and take another pastoral photograph with Rocky too.

This one, Animals Resting in the Pasture is a painting by Paulus Potter

Aren't my cows fine? Don't I make an enviable farmer? I'm marriageable at the very least, if I'm not the envy of the county with such fine cows as these.  It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman in possession of a fine herd of dogs, I mean cows, must be in want of a husband.  Or perhaps just an occupation.

Ok, so technically this next one is a woodcut not a painting.  But I think it still counts, it's very much a recreation.  

This is a woodcut by Hans Holbein the Younger called either the Chandler or The Peddler for the Dance of Death series c.1526.

and here is my recreation of it...