Category Archives: Art

Are Your Feet Electric Enough?

Photo from iStock

Do you “ground” your feet enough? There are whole bunch of people out there that walk barefoot because they want to connect with the Earth and receive some sort of electric charge. It is also called “Earthing.” What I want to know is, can I charge my phone that way? Could I just leave it on the ground and get a charge?

Whoever’s feet these are, they need to see a dermatologist

You know me. I’m open enough that I’m willing to consider all kinds of paranormal stuff, so why not grounding? My first instinct was that this is all nonsense. So, I did a little research.

First I wanted to know if the Earth’s surface carries an electrical charge. Guess what? According to AI “the surface of the Earth is negatively charged relative to the upper atmosphere which carries a positive charge.”  

The barefooted gentleman above is Mack Hollins, a wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills American football team. (GO BILLS!). This past summer he made waves after joining the Bills because, unless he’s on the football field, where his feet could get crushed by some very large men wearing cleats, he goes au naturel. If he’s not playing football, he walks barefooted because he believes in grounding. Mack and the Bills are having a good season, so Mack, feel free to go barefoot anywhere you want. If you are familiar with Buffalo Bills fans, this is our kind of “grounding”.

But I digress. This is supposed to be all about getting our toes muddy.

Just because they made this little diagram, it doesn’t mean it’s true.

I’m sure it feels nice walking in the grass, but I remember getting stung by a bee when I was grounding as a kid. I was way ahead of my time and that bee sting hurt quite a bit. So, have I convinced you to walk barefoot and fancy-free? What is fancy free? I don’t think I’ve ever felt anything that I would describe as fancy free.

Apparently it must be true because there is a movie about it. That’s not true. There are plenty of movies that are complete and utter rubbish. In fact, I think most movies are completely made up. But if you want to know more about the real benefits of grounding/Earthing, HERE is an article from WebMd. If some real doctors endorse grounding, then it must be beneficial just like all those drugs doctors endorse in TV commercials. I’m not a doctor, but I play one on the internet.

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on grounding/Earthing in the comments.

Have a great weekend and thanks for reading! ~Phil

Wordless Wednesday! Starry Squirrel

 

The top of this thing’s tail is about 5 feet tall. (that’s 1.8 metres for the rest of the world)

Have a great Wednesday! ~Phil

Wordless Wednesday!

A gorgeous mural on the side of a medical building in Buffalo, NY. And I know what you’re thinking, no, I didn’t pose for that. Happy Wednesday! ~Phil

Wordless Wednesday

I found this mural on the side of a theater in Erie, Pennsylvania last week. Have a great Wednesday! ~Phil

Thursday Doors!

I don’t often do the Thursday Doors, which is the brainchild of Norm 2.o, but when I find a spectacular one I like to join the fun. THis is the entrance to the Columbia Restaurant, which opened in 1903, in the Ybor district of Tampa.

Have a great night! ~Phil

2016: The Year The Music Died

If February 3, 1959, when a plane carrying Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson crashed, is “The Day The Music Died”, then 2016 is The Year The Music Died. In the past year we’ve lost David Bowie, Prince, Merle Haggard, Glenn Frey, George Michael and several more impactful musicians.

13715273_1573279396302050_1021131540_n

This beautiful mural is outside of the House of Blues in Boston. The painting “is the work of a trio of artists and House of Blues restaurant employees: Hannah Earley, Meghan Pierce, and Sydney Steeves.” Quote courtesy of Vanyaland.com  Have a great Wednesday! ~Phil

Wordless Wednesday!

img_0117

I love stuff like this. Just an alley next to an art gallery in Jamestown, NY. Have a great Wednesday! ~Phil

Wordless Wednesday! Together We Fall

FullSizeRender (5)

Another of the awesome murals from my city’s annual mural festival. It’s hard to see, but it’s two people fighting and falling. The mural is by Li Hill. You can follow him or her on Instagram @li_hill.

Have a great Wednesday! ~Phil

Wordless Wednesday! Pebbles

FullSizeRender (3)

The picture is titled Pebbles and was painted last year in my hometown by Swedish artist Andreas Englund. Andreas Englund, based in Stockholm, is mostly recognized for the realistic and humorous oil paintings depicting the everyday life of an anonymous superhero. The series ranges from the superhero’s first mission as a toddler to being an old man, still struggling with everyday trivialities. I feel very fortunate to have one of these murals in my town because he has painted this specific character all over the world. In addition to his website, which I linked above, you can also follow him on Instagram. Have a great Wednesday! ~Phil

Wordless Wednesdays!

FullSizeRender (2)

Wordless Wednesdays are back! Let’s be honest. I live in the northeast. Who wants to go out snapping pictures in the bleak, cold of winter? Each year my city hosts a mural festival. The picture above,titled Detecting Machine, was painted by the artists Nevercrew, which is Christian Rebecchi and Pablo Togni.

Have a great Wednesday! ~Phil