The Good Life (a Vox.com remnant)

Illustration Friday: Phoenix

This week's word at Illustration Friday (http://www.illustrationfriday.com/) was "Phoenix" I went with my first thought, The Phoenix from X-Men (which is usually illustrated by a Firey Bird). But having just seen "ERAGON" today, I felt like a firey dragon would work too (though there is no fire on or from him/her). This took about 2 hours, and I should tell you, yes, it is on a plate. I didn't have enough clay for a full body, so imagine that she/he is rising from the Lake of Enchantment.

Oh, and since it isn't an "Illustration" it may not be eligible for Illustration Friday, but I am doing it anyway.

2 (or is it one) Sites You Should Visit Every Day

Just a quickie post to let you know about the wicked-cool website "GiveAwayOfTheDay.com."

As the site's title says, every day (even Saturday, Sunday and Holidays) http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/ gives away a 100% free, fully registered, fully legal download of a new software program.

I was late to the party and missed a few good ones, but I have also received a lot of gems since I discovered the site.

If nothing else, just add the RSS feed from the site to your reader so you can at least glance at what they have every day.

The other site is really part of "GiveAwayOfTheDay.com", but on this site, they give away a new Game! Not all of them are super-great-fantassmik, but they are all free. And hey, to kill some time, a game doesn't have to be all that good. But more are better than average, so check it out.

"GiveAwayOfTheDay.com" is definitely a good bookmark for your daily web reads.

Christmas Is The TIme To Say I Love You

This song takes me back. And oddly, it is still one of my very favorite "pop" Christmas songs. You don't hear it much on the radio, but if you grew up watching MTV in the 80s then you probably have a special place in your heart for  Billy Squier and the original MTV VJs singing "Chistmas is the Time To Say I Love You."

Billy Squier - Christmas Is the Time To Say I Love You

Scary Santa

There is something very creepy about this Santa in my neighbor's yard.

Scary Santa

His eyes follow you wherever you go. I think he is watching us sleep....

I'm not alone. Santa is just plain freaky to kids. Dig this Santas eyes!

Badsanta

Bad Santa! For more childhood nightmares, check out these other Scary Santas

This American Podcast

I just saw that Public Radio International has started (or has had) "This American Life" available as an MP3 podcast. I have listened a few times, when it happened to be on when I happened to be listening to public radio. That is to say, maybe twice. But each time, I knew I was listening to quality radio.

I never have liked listening to talk radio on the internet because I am usually working and I can not listen to the words and concentrate at the same time. So I never bothered to listen to the American Life streaming version. But now that I can get it each week on iTunes, I will be listening a lot more often.

You can get more information on the podcast, and "This American Life," at www.thislife.org.