Since 1949, on the night of the anniversary of Poe’s birth, a mysterious stranger has entered this cemetery and left as tribute a partial bottle of cognac and three roses on Poe’s grave. The identity of the stranger, referred to affectionately as the Poe Toaster, is unknown. The significance of cognac is uncertain as it does not feature in Poe’s works as would, for example, amontillado. The presumption for the three roses is that it represents the three persons whose remains are beneath the monument: Poe, his mother-in-law (Maria Clemm) and his wife Virginia. Out of respect, no attempt is made to stop or hinder him. Several of the bottles of cognac from prior years are kept at the Baltimore Poe House and Museum.
In 2008, Curator Jeff Jerome reported that nearly 150 gathered to observe the Toaster's appearance.2009 marked the bicentennial of Poe's birth; despite this milestone, the crowd was smaller than in past years, and the Toaster left no note.In 2010 the Poe Toaster failed to appear. Jerome, who had witnessed every visitation from 1976 on, had no explanation, but did speculate that if the Toaster intended to end the tradition, the 2009 bicentennial would mark a logical ending point.
The 2011 anniversary saw only the appearance of four impostors (immediately dubbed "faux Toasters"), identified as such because all four walked in clear sight of waiting observers (contrary to the real Toaster's secretive nature), none gave the secret signal that only Jerome knows – a gesture the Toaster predictably made each year at the grave – and none arranged the roses in the unique pattern established by the Toaster. Their appearance sparked controversy: Some suggested the tradition should die a "dignified death", while others praised the impostors' efforts and urged that the tradition be carried on, whether by the "original" Toaster or not.
Jerome (who has denied rumors that he himself was the Toaster) said on January 19, 2011 that he will keep watch for one more year, and if there is no genuine appearance in 2012 he will consider the tradition ended
The Mysterious Poe Toaster
Has the tradition ended? This might be the final year to find out
Flick Week
Hey, so yeah...these are pictures I collected over the weekend. They are my favorites and as always I want to share them with you...because...in the bottom of my heart, I hate you. <3
Down with the Machine!
Helen Warner
Photo as Theatre
Warner's photos has a dark, intense and a down right frightening quality to them. The set up for each shoot seem to have the layers of a theatre production. Some of the photos appear as if they were film stills for their theatrical complexity and effort.
In her own words:
"I try to create photographs that allow us escape into fictional worlds, mainly influenced by mythology and legends. I like my shoots to be full of movement, theatre and expression, it's a complete collaboration between me and the models."
Via: Helen Warner Flickr
Marilyn Monroe took an art appreciation class at UCLA in 1951.
She had reproductions of Durer, Fra Angelico, and da Vinci in her Hollywood apartment.
In 1955 she told Earl Wilson she was a fan of Goya.
She purchased a bust of Ancient Egyptian Queen Nefertiti for her Waldorf-Astoria apartment in New York.
She told other reporters that her favorite artists were Goya, Picasso, and El Greco.
In 1955 she attended a Rodin exhibition at the Metroploitan Museum of Art, and in particular she liked Pygmalion and Galatea and The Hand of God
She had a Toulouse-Lautrec in her reception room in her East 57th St. apartment in New York.
Also in that apartment she had a large, nude, black metal statue by William Zorach. The year of her death, she purchased three paintings from the Byrna Art Gallery in Mexico City for her Brentwood home.
She also bought a Rodin statue of a man and a woman in a passionate embrace, which she displayed in the living room of her Brentwood home.
Monroe's Art Interests
Via: Marilyn Monroe Pages
Twilight?
Back in my day Vampires sucked blood, not dick.
Pretty badass illustraton byles jeanclode. I really like all the crazy things going on in this. when you make a little discovery...at that moment, you just find more and more. My favorite illustrations are the ones you always make new little discoveries...so it never gets old, you always find something new.
LES JEANCLODE
Chewing Gum Sculptures?
The Italian artist Maurizio Savini makes amazing sculptures with fibreglass and pink chewing gum. Mario Codognato wrote about his work:
The sensual act of chewing, the voluptuous warmth of rebelling saliva, the artificial and secretly aseptic fragrance which spreads from the mouth as a promise and missed kiss. The synthetic fleshliness of the pink color, the obsessive square shape of the product unwrapped and ready to be shred to pieces by the power of the tongue, all compete in crashing on the senses. Applying all this to the power and energy of the Sculpture and its history causes a short circuit having the capacity of turning the ludic into stately and vice versa. The strict minimalism of parallelepiped is subverted by the uniform coating with many bars of chewing-gum completely cover it, rendering chewable to desire, soft and provoking to forbidden touch, what was abstract and distant.
Via: Bibi
Fabulous lips are your best defense. Wonder Woman comes to the rescue with four lipsticks—each one selected to empower your looks. Signature packaging includes a glossy red/blue/yellow lipstick shell with Wonder Woman/M·A·C logo and comic book-style outer carton.
Via: Nordstrom
PEACE?
With a body like that you can start wars. Oh, wait...those are bunny rabbit ears. See..what I mean?
This made me laugh. Thanks Mr. Neuman.
Social Media World Order Meeting. Epic.
Oh man, I remember trying to make cool stuff with this material when I was in 4th grade, it could never happen. This is great. I love Calvin and Hobbes.
Crafting Calvin
Give me doggy treats or I'm gonna shit on your favorite chair.
- Lil Boss
X-Men as The Hangover ? LOL
"The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely." — Bill Gates
"Steve was such an 'original,' with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend."
"Steve Jobs was an iconic entrepreneur and businessman whose impact on technology was felt beyond Silicon Valley. He will be remembered for the innovation he brought to market and the inspiration he brought to the world."
"The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve's wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him."
Read more via Wired.com
The inspiration for Ownzee came from looking at the amazing product pages of Apple.
Thank you Steve Jobs for helping us all Think Different.
"Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you."