Packing up Christmas

My second favorite time of the year is fast approaching Squeezies!! I�m so excited cause I get to harass you again soon about THROWING OUT YOUR CRAP!!

Hooty hoo!! If you just found this blog over the past few months, you probably don�t know my issues love of organizing and decluttering. I give myself a pass during the holidays. I have to admit, I�m starting to twitch ever so slightly over the past few days though.

I want all the Christmas decor packed up in bins, pronto. Usually I�m fine to wait till around January 1st, but I�m really feeling the need to start fresh sooner than later this year. The hubs wants me to wait for a few more days, but I showed him my hives and started hyperventilating just a little and he left me alone.

It will take about a week to get it all packed up, but with my �method,� putting it away takes way less time then getting it out. I decided to work on the dining room first since there wasn�t too much to take down.

I start by vacuuming out each bin as I pull them out, because I am a special kind of crazy and it makes me feel better. (It�s not crazy if I�m aware of my issues, right?) Then I pack everything away by room. Every bin is labeled with my BFF � the DYMO. Hello lovah�

You know all that stuff I put in my garland � ribbon, pics, crap, beady things? Well it all stays. I just take it all down and store it away as is. I�m going to refluff next year anyway, no need to waste my time taking it off. I even keep the cord covers and extension cords attached. Then I use zip lock bags and plastic bags for all the filler stuff:

I had the dining room packed up in about 30 minutes. Ahhhhh yes. I can breathe!

I even put the place settings away for now. I just need a clean slate for a bit. This is the first time the centerpiece has been completely empty since I made it back in September.

I�m already thinking up fun ideas for Valentine�s Day and spring though! ;)

So when do you start packing up the Christmas decor? I have had it up for more than five weeks, so I'm really ready to have everything back to normal earlier than usual. I have a feeling this is more of an emotional thing this year than anything. I need FRESH and simple right now. ;)

I have some GREAT bloggy events for the new year to tell you about soon. I won�t be doing another Decluttering and Organizing Party this year, but you can click to last year�s party to get some inspiration. Don�t worry, I�m still going to annoy the crap out of you to get. rid. of. your. stuff. (you don�t use).

P.S. If you are going to try the ornament wreath next year, look what happens if you don�t follow my warnings and then drop your wreath:

HALF of the ornaments popped off. Gah. I almost cried. May have cursed. Maybe. Thank God for shatterproof. ;)

Michigan Forces Business Owners Into Public Sector Unions; Detroit's Aura of Hopelessness

Not satisfied with wrecking the auto sector and most of the state itself, unions and the state of Michigan conspired to force small business owners into unions the businesses want no part of and did not even vote for.

Disgusted minds are reading how Michigan Forces Business Owners Into Public Sector Unions.

Michelle Berry runs a private day-care service from her home on the outskirts of this city, the birthplace of General Motors. "The Berry Patch," as she calls the service, features overstuffed purple gorillas, giant cartoon murals, and a playroom covered in Astroturf. Her clients are mostly low-income parents who need child care to keep their jobs in a city that now has a 26% unemployment rate.

Ms. Berry owns her own business�yet the Michigan Department of Human Services claims she is a government employee and union member. The agency thus withholds union dues from the child-care subsidies it sends to her on behalf of her low-income clients. Those dues are funneled to a public-employee union that claims to represent her. The situation is crazy�and it's happening elsewhere in the country.

A year ago in December, Ms. Berry and more than 40,000 other home-based day care providers statewide were suddenly informed they were members of Child Care Providers Together Michigan�a union created in 2006 by the United Auto Workers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The union had won a certification election conducted by mail under the auspices of the Michigan Employment Relations Commission. In that election only 6,000 day-care providers voted. The pro-labor vote turned out.

Many of the state's other 34,000 day-care providers never even realized what was going on. Ms. Berry tells us she was "shocked" to find out she was suddenly in a union. The real dirty work, however, had been done when the state created an "employer" for the union to "organize" against.

Of course, Michigan's independent day-care providers don't work for anybody except the parents who were their customers. Nevertheless, because some of these parents qualified for public subsidies, the Child Care Providers "union" claimed the providers were "public employees."

Michigan's Department of Human Services then teamed with Flint-based Mott Community College to sign an "interlocal agreement" in 2006 establishing a separate government agency called the Michigan Home Based Child Care Council. This council was directed to recommend good child-care practices�and not coincidentally, to serve as a "public employer." Although the council had almost no staff, no control over the state subsidies and no supervision of the providers' daily activities, it became the shell corporation against which the union could organize.

Thus the state created an ersatz employer and an ersatz "bargaining unit" against which what was essentially an ersatz union could organize.

Today the Department of Human Services siphons about $3.7 million in annual dues to the union�from the child-care subsidies. The money should be going to home-based day-care providers�themselves not on the high end of the income scale. Ms. Berry now sees money once paid to her go to a union that does little for her. She says she is "self employed and wants nothing to do with the union."

Shielded from market pressures, public employee unions have driven up taxpayer costs for decades. Now labor leaders are shanghaiing entrepreneurs such as Ms. Berry and Ms. Loar into government unions because their clients receive government aid. Who will be next? Grocers? Landlords? Doctors?

Detroit's Model City

Detrioit set out to create a "Model City". Instead it created a nightmare as the following video shows.



Detroit did not create a model city, but did succeed in creating an entirely state dependent city.

UAW rules and job banks destroyed the auto sector. Of course management incompetence helped. Until the bitter end, concessions are seldom if ever part of union vocabulary, and the unions had the most luxurious health care coverage on the entire planet. Eventually the scheme went bankrupt as it was guaranteed to do.

Education Facts

• Detroit students receive on average $11,100 per student. The national average is $9600. Yet Detroit students have a graduation rate of 25%.
• Detroit students have a greater chance of ending up in prison than graduating high school.
• Teachers fight merit pay as they do nearly everywhere else. It is difficult to get rid of a teacher with tenure no matter what the teacher does.

Snips From The Video

Steven Crowder Asks ....

Why would unions make concessions if the government continually bails them out?
And why wouldn't the government keep bailing them out when it is the unions who elect them?

You might be wondering why I've shown you this. Why is it necessary for you to see a once great city brought to its knees by government bureaucracies and powerful unions?

And to you I would ask. Look at the current administration's promises to the American people and compare them to the promises corrupt Detroit politicians over the last 50 years. They are nearly identical.

Detroit is the perfect laboratory for leftist policies at work for nearly half a century. When you continue to remove free market principles that have made this country great and you continue to create a state dependent society this is very well what America could look like in a very short amount of time.

Michigan's Cycle of Decay

• UAW runs auto companies into the ground
• Teachers run education system into the ground
• Good people leave
• Poverty rise and so does crime

Instead of discarding what is guaranteed proven not to work, the state of Michigan is hellbent on destroying what little good remains.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List

All Hail The Grand Poobah; Blank Checks For Fannie and Freddie

Losses continue to mount at Fannie and Freddie where Obama has virtually declared no loss is too big for taxpayers to pay.

Please consider U.S. Move to Cover Fannie, Freddie Losses Stirs Controversy.

The Obama administration's decision to cover an unlimited amount of losses at the mortgage-finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac over the next three years stirred controversy over the holiday.

The Treasury announced Thursday it was removing the caps that limited the amount of available capital to the companies to $200 billion each.

Unlimited access to bailout funds through 2012 was "necessary for preserving the continued strength and stability of the mortgage market," the Treasury said. Fannie and Freddie purchase or guarantee most U.S. home mortgages and have run up huge losses stemming from the worst wave of defaults since the 1930s.

"The timing of this executive order giving Fannie and Freddie a blank check is no coincidence," said Rep. Spencer Bachus of Alabama, the ranking Republican on the House Financial Services Committee. He said the Christmas Eve announcement was designed "to prevent the general public from taking note."

In exchange for the funding, the Treasury has received preferred stock in the companies paying 10% dividends. The Treasury also has warrants to acquire nearly 80% of the common shares in each firm.

The companies on Thursday disclosed new packages that will pay Fannie Chief Executive Officer Michael Williams and Freddie CEO Charles Haldeman Jr. as much as $6 million a year, including bonuses. The packages were approved by the Treasury and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, which regulates the companies.

At Freddie, annual compensation will total as much as $4.5 million for Bruce Witherell, chief operating officer; $3.5 million for Ross Kari, chief financial officer; $2.8 million for Robert Bostrom, general counsel; and $2.7 million for Paul George, head of human resources.

Excuse me for asking the obvious question but how in the hell can the head of human resources for a company that is losing hundreds of billions of dollars a year be worth anything, let alone $2.7 million.

This is precisely the problem with regulation. Fannie and Freddie should not exist at all, it was an act of regulation that created them, it is an act of regulation that keeps them in business, and it is regulation that defends its policies that lose taxpayer money to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, and it is regulators that are approving ridiculous salaries for a company that should not even be in business.

The only thing that makes any sense is to shut down Fannie and Freddie totally, yet regulation and regulators have not taken step one in that direction. Yet, people scream for more and more regulation.

The latest proposal is to create a regulator of regulators, some sort of systemic risk all knowing wizard who supposedly would have prevented this crisis.

Never mind that thousands of people knew Fannie and Freddie would blow sky high, including some Fed governors. Ironically, we cannot even get rid of the GSEs after they have blown sky high and losses continue to mount.

Never mind that regulators continually get into bed with those they are supposed to regulate.

All Hail The Grand Poobah

Instead we can look forward to the creation of the post Grand Poobah of regulators.

Grand Poobah is a term derived from the name of the haughty character Pooh-Bah in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado (1885). In this comic opera, Pooh-Bah holds numerous exalted offices, including "First Lord of the Treasury, Lord Chief Justice, Commander-in-Chief, Lord High Admiral... Archbishop of Titipu, and Lord Mayor" and Lord High Everything Else. The name has come to be used as a mocking title for someone self-important or high-ranking and who either exhibits an inflated self-regard or who has limited authority while taking impressive titles.

The term "Grand Poobah" was used on the television show The Flintstones as the name of a high ranking elected position in a men's club. Fred Flintstone and his friend Barney Rubble were members of the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes Lodge No. 26. The lodge is a spoof of men's clubs like the Freemasons, the Shriners, the Elks Club and the Moose Lodge.

The only regulation we need is a sound currency, no fractional reserve lending, and a balanced budget amendment. Instead we can look forward to the the creation of some sort of regulatory Grand Poobah, an idiotic waste of time and money.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List

Today's archidose #380

ito, originally uploaded by sinor favela.

Brugge Pavilion in Bruges, Belgium by Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects, 2002.

To contribute your Flickr images for consideration, just:

:: Join and add photos to the archidose pool, and/or
:: Tag your photos archidose

Female Figure study, woman body proportion modelsheet update

Female Figure study, woman body proportion modelsheet update.


Here are some figure studies I did recently and update on the female model-sheet that I did a while back in 2007 old version here "Learn how to draw woman female". These are somewhat quick pencil sketch, most of them are 5-6 minutes with the exception of the model-sheets itself.
Model-sheet itself the post are probably not the most flattering for women form, they are just for beginners and intermediate alike to study and check for accuracy and such.
One of the most critical thing to keep in mind when drawing female or woman is to convey their feminine (or otherwise) through their body languages. It would be best if an artist can capture her character's very essence and convey or communicate through your lines, sketch, drawing. Like a poet describe a beauty of his lover. Visually artist can communicate with showing images of her body language, gesture, and movement. You have to find what make them feminine, how sexy female stand or sit or lay.
The best way to study figure and all artists have done that for century is studying from real people, life drawing sessions is the necessary for all artists. Then reference or my tutorials ( ha ha) or any other art books are highly recommended for supplemental materials if you want to learn more.
Anyway, here are some female figures sketches.


You can also check out the new and update of the late 2010 tutorial on female figures, most of these are painting step by step tutorials, some include video tutorials.  Recline female figure study has two posts.  The first is nude recline female figure quick color.  And the second is female figure study recline step by step.  These two part tutorial I pretty much focus on rough brush work and play around with textures.  Both are the same painting but it has part one and part two.  Then there is a speedpainting figure study back which I pretty much focus on looseness control and brush strokes.  Also if you like comics style pin up painting, check out Emma Frost X-men first class and 2011 is year of the rabbit.  Both are not really focus on brush work, rather smooth rendering of the skin itself.  And Black Rock Shooter color sketch work is a really stylize that is similar to that of Anime or stylize Manga, but not typical.


Female Body proportion model sheet update April 2010

Here are some tunes I usually listen to when I am figure sketching.  They are very up beat, sensual and tribal at the same time.  It gives me the feeling of raw or primal.  There are a few songs, press forward to get to the next song.  Great music.


Some more female figure sketches from the other day.







Here is for the bigger version "Female Figure Model sheet"


Enjoy them sketches!! ;)



Female Figure Painting Premium Video Tutorials, Over 3 Hours of Lessons.




More full length Premium Video Tutorials

Healthcare Reform Sausage Not Fit For Consumption

As healthcare "reform" heads for passage, president Obama will soon have bragging rights for getting legislation passed that no one has before.

Although the Senate and House versions are different, the odds are something will pass. Moreover the odds are very high the final bill will resemble legislation passed by the Senate.

Senate House Clash

Please consider Senate Democrats Move Toward Clash With House on Health Measure

Senate Democrats, after securing a hard-fought Christmas Eve victory on health-care legislation, now move toward a battle over taxes and other issues with the U.S. House as lawmakers look to merge their differing bills.

The two chambers took different paths toward covering tens of millions of uninsured Americans. And when they begin reconciling their measures next month, they�re likely to clash over issues that include whether to set up a new government-run insurance program to restricting federal funds for abortion.

Finding agreement on financing the legislation �may be the toughest of all,� said Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat.

The House adopted a 5.4 percent income surtax on individuals earning more than $500,000 and couples earning over $1 million to pay for its $1.05 trillion bill. Senate Democrats would fund their $871 billion bill, which passed on a final vote of 60-39 yesterday, in part by placing a 40 percent excise tax on the costliest health-insurance policies. That provision is opposed by labor unions, which are among the party�s strongest backers.

Because it required all 58 Senate Democrats and two independents to stick together to get the 60 votes needed to secure passage of the chamber�s health-care bill, Thurber said it�s likely the Senate will win out on most issues. �The narrow majority in the Senate makes it almost a necessity to go with the Senate position,� Thurber said.

House negotiators �will have to capitulate on most main differences,� agreed Rogan Kersh, a public policy professor at New York University.

Drugmakers including Whitehouse Station, New Jersey-based Merck & Co. have a number of fights on their hands. Lawmakers are pushing for the industry to spend more than the $80 billion that it promised to help patients in the Medicare program for the elderly afford prescription drugs.

Negotiating Power

The House measure calls for the government to capitalize on its buying power to negotiate prices for medicines; the Senate bill calls for $2.3 billion in yearly industry fees.

�This fight isn�t over,� Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said. �My colleagues and I will work to stop this bill from becoming law.�

Healthcare Bill Flaws

• The bill does not open up competition between states.
• The Senate version of the bill does not provide for group bargaining of drugs by Medicare and that is what will likely pass.
• The bill does not allow drug imports in from Canada.
• Drugmakers won a 12-year period of exclusive sales for brand-name drugs before facing competition from generic rivals. This will benefit companies like Amgen and Genentech while driving up costs for consumers. President Obama wanted a 5-7 year period.
  
• The bill will hurt struggling small business owners who already are reluctant to hire.
• The bill does allow states to opt out of paying for abortions. This is folly given the huge ongoing costs of unwanted births.
• The senate bill granted special favors to senators from several states to buy their vote.
  

Arguably, the one of the few good things in the bill is coverage of preexisting conditions. The rest looks like rancid sausage. The biggest problem is there is not a single thing in the bill guaranteed to lower health care costs. We have to take it on faith that the plan will save money.

It won't.

However, when your goal is to get something (anything), passed it should be no surprise that the package is as flawed as it is.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List

Great expectations

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! It feels like ages since I�ve done a post! I haven�t even been on the computer once since my sicky post Wednesday night. (Thank you all so much by the way!!) It was kind of nice to not be online. But I�m soooo ready to get back!

If you are anything like me, you have grand expectations for certain holidays. My biggie used to be New Years Eve. When I was younger I had these images in my head of attending or throwing fabulous, swank parties. Hubs and I would clink our beautiful champagne glasses as midnight came, and share a perfect kiss as music played, everyone cheered and confetti rained down around us.

(Record scratches�)

Well, there were many years we didn�t do anything. Or we�d go out to dinner or just go hang with friends. There have been many, many fantastic parties. But the champagne is usually served in a plastic cups. ;) And in recent years, we�ll just get together with friends and (SHOCK!) head home before midnight!

And you know what? Now, as long as I�m with my husband, I love whatever we do. As I�ve grown up I�ve learned that�s what�s most important. Good friends and my family. If hubs and I just sat on the sofa next to each other and clinked Pepsi cans, I would be happy.

Well, before this year, nothing had come in the way of my expectations for Christmas Eve. Since the Bub has been born, (and before!) it�s always low key. It usually involves snacking, lounging, making some great food, finishing up wrapping and generally just spending time at home.

This year, I got a lesson in rolling with what comes, even during the holidays. You all know what we�ve dealt with in the past month. I guess that�s why -- more than ever -- I wanted, I expected, our regular routine for the night before Christmas.

Well, it wasn�t that. I will spare you details, but it involved shopping for last minute gifts, getting over sickness, cleaning the house, grocery shopping and other activities. Although we did spend some lovely time with my parents that night, the whole day just didn�t feel like Christmas. It ended with us getting in the door at 9:30 p.m., popping some cookies in the oven for Santa, and after the Bub was down for the night, wrapping gifts till about 1 a.m. (Did I mention we hadn�t wrapped ONE gift?)

Every. single. year. I plan to spend a few evenings in our living room, in front of the tree, just reflecting. Every single year, I lose track of time and don�t get to it. But that night, at 1:30 a.m., I was determined. I turned off all the lights except the tree and just stopped. And breathed. And thought. I was overwhelmed with our month and what we had been dealt.

I took the camera and shot some pictures of the tree with all of the gifts underneath, and then as I looked at the shots I came across pictures from our Fiesta earlier this week. And I cried. I did.

We are SO LUCKY.

For great friends who helped prepare and cook food for hours with my father-in-law:

For a chance to watch my father-in-law in action:

FANTASTIC food and drink:

And amazing family and friends, who throughout this month said, �Let me know what I can do.� And really, really meant it.

That group is TROUBLE right there. ;)

Only hubby�s closest friends and family attended this fiesta. We wanted to keep it small and �old school� � for those his father has cooked for over the past 20 years or so. It was their chance to get together and thank his Dad.

Sitting in front of our tree Christmas Eve, I was overwhelmed by the friendship and love we have felt from everyone we know over this past month, and always. (Including YOU!) We are so fortunate to be surrounded by these lovely people. So THANK YOU, from us:

I love to see my Hubby smile. :)

I do have to say�I am looking forward to the New Year. Whew.

I hope your holidays were all you expected and more!!