HOME | DD
frantastic-scribbles — Overwatch - Mercy
#blizzard #mercy #overwatch #pencildrawing #mercyoverwatch
Published: 2018-05-21 22:00:21 +0000 UTC; Views: 631; Favourites: 76; Downloads: 5
Redirect to original
Description
I've never played Overwatch but I like Mercy's design so here she is. Also, I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to practice drawing different angles other than frontal or side view that I always do.Reference photo by: Lee-JenG
Related content
Comments: 46
hey! same here. I've never play the game but damn.... I have to say that you have
done a very sweet job there with Mercy. I also have to say that you've done a pretty
sweet job with her wing and armor.
~awesome job and keep it up 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Wow! Interesting drawing, a skillful balance of positive and negative. You achieved a lot of different values with the combination of line and form.
Now I wonder...do you have the ability to use Illustrator? It would be cool to see digitized Mercy in color. (Just because I'm a color freak.)
I only had one drawing class. The medium was charcoal on drawing paper and we were forced to do huge (60 cm x 40 cm) drawings in class. They were timed, drawn from objects in the studio, like still life arrangements or live models. We also had to do a drawing a week for homework.
I was hooked on black and white after that and did a lot of charcoal and pencil drawings. My point is, it took me a long time to move to color, and then to painting.
Good job my friend!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I can use both Illustrator or Photoshop for digital drawing but I haven't gotten around to getting myself a drawing tablet just yet. As far as color goes, I've only dabbled in color pencils so far and I'm only really planning on trying out alcohol-based markers once I find a decent set. My dad's prefers oil paintings but I never took to it from what I can remember way back in the day. It could be a different story now that so much time has passed.
Thanks for the support!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You're welcome.
Since you seem to be comfortable with drawing with colored pencils, may I suggest two techniques I used to employ in my transition from black and white to color?
You can apply color using strokes of ordinary pastels, then blend the colors with a brush soaked in alcohol.
You can also apply color using strokes of oil pastel, then blend with a brush soaked in thinner.
Either way, you'll be pleased with the results. One suggestion: use a thick paper or even cardboard.
I used these techniques because of the relative low cost of the materials. I wanted to move beyond charcoal and pencil, but I was poor. Oil painting is a fairly expensive process, especially if you paint something that sucks. Believe me, I've done a lot of horrible paintings. My one comfort is that whenever Monet did a bad oil painting, he burned it, so that it would never be seen. Have you ever destroyed somthing that you have created? It's easier if it didn't cost a lot ot produce.
Of course, using these methods mean that your work will be less precise, and I see you favor precision drawing. Oh well. I get the feeling that you are interested in artistic growth and I imagine that one day you'll be painting giant paintings in color with the precision you currently dominate.
I hope you take these suggestions in the spirit in which they are offered.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh interesting, I've never thought of doing something like that. I may have to give it a go once I get myself the materials as I still haven't gone hunting for a good art shop after I moved. Alcohol based markers were first on my list but maybe I'll give your idea a shot first to play around a bit 
I keep everything that I draw at the moment since it's an indicator of what I did right and wrong. I also post the ones I'm not too pleased with to track my progress. To quote the late Bob Ross: "There are no mistakes, only happy accidents".
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Again you have made me laugh. I thought Bob Ross was only famous in Mexico. When I first came here, when people found out I was an artist, everyone, I mean everyone, asked me if I knew Bob Ross. I said: who? I had never seen him in the US, although he was an American. I'm not ready to call him an artist. I think he was an art technician.
He had a chain of art supply stores here that closed a decade after his death. I liked shopping at those stores.
Now let me see if I can make you laugh:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLO7tC…
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I know of Bob Ross but I've never actually watched his videos other than a short clip or two. I wouldn't call him famous in Europe but I'm pretty sure the recent generations close to my age would know of him like I do, probably from the internet and its never ending silliness. Sure, the paintings he did on TV were purely technical tutorials but I'm guessing he had a fair share of his own artwork that he may not have shared publicly. I have no idea though, I've done zero research as usual. I had no idea he had an art supply store chain, too bad they closed down, they could have kept his legacy alive after his passing.
Oh I've seen that mix on 9gag before (don't know if you're familiar with the site). I love how calm and serene he is while he paints and I imagine he was a lot like that in person as well. He's pretty much the polar opposite of my jittery self, at least while drawing/painting.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Happy to know someone else is jittery while drawing and painting.
I imagine Bob Ross had help from chemicals to attain that calmness and serenity that you refer to. He was a drill sergeant in the Air Force for 20 years. Anyway, I think he was a brilliant businessman who invented the second half of his life to his conform to his limited abilities. Not to worry about his legacy. He's available on Netflix now.
The Art and Material stores have been replaced by a huge chain of stationary stores, called Lumen, that used to sell only paper, but after the Bob Ross stores closed, those clienrs migrated to Lumen. Art supplies are incrdibly inexpensive here, about half of what they cost in the US.
You're right...off-camera, he probably painted like Kandinsky or Picasso. I bet he hated painting those snowy mountains and trees; he was born in Florida! He just did it to sell paint and brushes.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'd be resorting to the calming green leaves after 20 years in the military too 
Art supplies definitely aren't cheap here in Switzerland, so much so that I get most of my stuff when I visit my parents in Croatia because it's more than half the cost. That's the price you pay for a higher living standard, everything costs an arm and a leg. I found a 12 piece set of Copic markers in a store near me that costs $120 but the same one is sold on Amazon for $75. Then they wonder how online shopping is killing retail.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Your point about successful businessmen reminds me of a truth I heard a long time ago...all the successful drug dealers are the ones who don't use drugs. Bezos, Gates, Jobs, Trump, the Koch brothers, etc. are just like the Mexican druglord El Chapo Guzman, currently in prison in the USA. These nabobs all peddled intoxicating luxuries that were irresistable, with little regard for the effect they had on their customers...
How many people all over the world are addicted to their iPhone, or Windows, or Amazon? (My sisters, my friends, my clients, to name a few...) What's the difference between these 21st century dependencies and a classic cocaine addiction? I say the tech addictions are worse, because they are so innocuous. Holding an iPhone isn't like holding a needle and a spoon, right?
Copic markers here are 120 pesos each at Lumen, about $6. So a set of 12 would be about 72 dollars, relatively the same as Amazon, 60% of the price in your hood. Living in the third world does have its perks.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
That's pretty much been the case throughout history, men in power peddling things to those in need in order to gain even more wealth and power. The only difference now is that most of the stuff being peddled isn't a necessity but a luxury. Sure, these luxuries are a more subtle type of addiction but an addiction nonetheless and they often dub as a form of behavior and thought control because so much information that can be found out there is sent out by those in power. At least back then the people could easily see the propaganda for what it really is but these days, it's no so obvious.
Sure but don't they know I can just order them online for the fraction of the price? I get that it's hard to compete with online shopping but at least keep the price somewhat close to account for the time it takes for the product to reach the buyer as a sort of excuse for the slightly higher price. I haven't really done a lot of online shopping myself but when it comes to art supplies, I don't really have any reservations like I do with clothes or shoes.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Online shopping is new and rare here in Mexico, mainly due to security concerns. My sister, who lives in the US, is addicted to Amazon. Whenever she needs anything, she immediately goes to Amazon, orders the item, and it's on her doorstep the next day. Of course, she lives in a very secure town and the package could sit by her front door for days and no one would steal it.
I have used Amazon in the US on my visits there, but I'm increasingly against the company because of the fact that they get a huge subsidy on the shipping rates from the US Postal Service. Basically Jeff Bezos got rich with help from the American taxpayer. I also disagree with the editorial policies of the extremely liberal Washington Post, of which Bezos has a controlling interest.
WalMart destroys mom and pop stores when it moves into an area, and now Amazon is destroying WalMart, which explains their big push into Latin America and other regions of the world where online shopping is not yet dominant. This is similar to how Starbucks destroyed the coffee shop/diner model, but now there is a backlash against Starbucks, in addition to the saturation of the American market. My sister's town has 55,000 people and 4 Starbucks. WTF?
So like WalMart, Starbucks is investing heavily in Mexico. Nevertheless, I imagine you could go to any country on earth and find WalMart or Starbucks in the capital (with the exception of North Korea, Yemen and either Sudan.) But in the US, it appears their growth is slowing and I find some hope in that. There's a company called Black Rifle Coffee that is owned by US military veterans and hires only vets or ex-offenders. They advertise on right-wing radio and have their sights et on Starbucks. And their coffee is reportedly better than Starbucks'. I always say, when you go to Starbucks, you're basically renting a sofa, a bathroom and wi-fi. The coffee is incidental.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I have only used ebay a few times and that was to order a laptop charger once mine stopped working but other than that, I'm still old fashioned when it comes to any sort of shopping. Love it or hate it, Amazon is changing the game forever and those who don't adapt will die out. The effects are very much visible in giant shopping centers that are slowly becoming a thing of the past. I remember loving to go there as a kid and they were always full of people but now, they are ghost towns. Naturally, that's not only due to online shopping, people in general have less spending capital than they did in the 90's so naturally, the luxuries are the first thing to be cut.
I always disliked WalMart while I was living in the States but the sad thing is, I always shopped there too. Where is a broke college student supposed to go, after all? I let my money do the talking now, that I actually have a steady salary but back then, it was ramen noodles and toast more often than not and WalMart has the lowest prices. It seemed to me like they're exploiting the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor by setting prices so low no regular store could compete. Their slogan should be "WalMart, because you have no choice".
Ah, Starbucks, the Apple of coffee shops. You're paying $5 for the brand, not the coffee and their coffee actually tastes quite bad, it's just that most of their drinks are loaded with sugar. They're peddling it like a dealer peddles crack to addicts. One of the very few things that I'm proud of about Croatia is that Starbucks tried to open a franchise in Zagreb but it closed down after a few months due to low sales. Nobody was willing to pay 4 to 5 times more for a cup of coffee that was worse than most local cafes around. McDonalds does ok with teenagers but that's about it and it only ever had decent sales in the capital as well, while the smaller cities largely reject it since Croatia food is pretty damn good, even the fast food variety. Subway, KFC and Burger King failed, WalMart never tried but we do have local eqiuvalents with similar business practices and I'd be quite happy to see them burn too. One CEO from the biggest retail chain corporation refuses to go to jail on threats that he will shut the company down and leave a large chunk of the population unemployed which is basically political suicide for any party currently in power. People like that should be hung on the main square by their balls, Old Testament style.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Wow, great information about Croatia. I had no idea. The tidbit about the CEO was so surreal, like a satirical, ironic, Hollywood feature film. Imagine pitching the concept to some movie mogul, who would ask: "It's a future fantasy, right?" And you tell him, no, it's a fucking documentary!
Starbucks is a success in Mexico because half of the population is poor, and the other half, with varying degrees of wealth, like to presume it. Status is big business here. Like Croatia, the local coffee is ten times better than Starbucks, and there are a variety of exotic cafe experiences where you can find art, music and conversation, as well as the obligatory wifi, weirdos and sofas. (I am happy to brag that I have some of my paintings on permanent exhibit in a small cafe in an upscale zone, and I have sold some paintings from this presence.)
Mexico, like Croatia, has delicious local food that is cheaper, better and actually faster than Starbucks, McDonalds, Burger King, etc. There are options, and, as you indicated, we can shape the business climate with our money. Your information about how the Croats thwarted the multinational food invasion is first-hand evidence of this.
By the way, have you ever analyzed the name Starbucks? I know it comes from the Melville novel Moby Dick, but stop to think about the subtle implications. Star=the movies, bucks=money. Conclusion: I'm a movie STAR when I spend my BUCKS at STARBUCKS. This is not accidental. I hate this kind of psychological manipulation.
The comments you made about your WalMart years reminded me of my own time in college. Ramen, canned tuna, steamed vegetables during the week, a roasted chicken and a six pack of no-name beer on Sunday, and there you have my diet in my 20s. It's a miracle I survived. Yeah, I agree, they should change their slogan to something like:"Wal-Mart: You're poor. What's your option, BITCH?" Sorry. I admit I still go to WalMart, but only because they have good deals on mouthwash, socks and spirits, but other than that, it could disappear from the face of the earth and I wouldn't miss it. I can find socks, thanks.
I appreciate your passion regarding corrupt government. One of my favorite moments in history is when the "king and queen" of Romania, the charming Nikolae Ceaucescu and his bride, the lovely Elena, were summarily tried and executed by their own people. i remember seeing it on the news and it was so cool, and then it was like wow.
So,how is Romania today? I understand they have fantastic beaches. Romanian native Simona Halep, with her incredible tits, just won the French Open. I bet life is much better without the Ceaucescus, but you would know better. What's up with Romania today?
Anyway, my point is, your desire to string up the corrupt by their testicles in the town square, streamed live, is always a possibility, and I offer the family Ceaucescu as a guiding star towards this end. Keep the faith, brother.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah, it's the kind of cooky, almost comically criminal stuff that I've grown up watching on TV in the 90's that's happening right now. That scene from Lethal Weapon 2 comes to mind, where at the end the bad guy yells at Riggs "You can't hurt me, I have diplomatic immunity". The only difference is that the guy gets shot in that case, whereas here, he just gets to take his money and leaves without repercussions. Though, I can't say I'm all that pissed off at the people doing it; it's human nature to push the boundaries of what we're can and are allowed to do, be it positive or negative. I'm disappointed in the people that just bitch on social media (like myself now, ironically) and do nothing to change either the power structure or the governing bodies.
I'm pretty happy to see that Starbucks is actually closing down some of its stores. Sure, I don't like seeing people getting fired but Starbucks has done so much to over-saturate the market that they essentially started killing their own business. I think I've mentioned it before, they are essentially the Apple of the coffee world, you pay for the logo, not the quality and I reject that wholeheartedly at every turn, but who am I to preach what people should be drinking and which phone they should be using? If there is a demand, then by all means, give the people what they want, even if it is a false sense of higher value that you're essentially purchasing with those products.
Living in Switzerland now, there really aren't many overly cheap choices like Walmart is in the States. SUre, there's Lidl and Aldi but the government regulates them so highly and penalizes them if they don't hold something like 70 to 80% of locally produced products, that they are basically a completely different store when compared to their franchises in other countries. That's why I like Switzerland, they don't give a flying fuck if they are breaking some free market rules or what not. You want a piece of the arguably richest nation in the world per capita? You play by our rules. Want to open up a private practice of some kind and undercut your competition? No sir, first you wait for one of the other practices to close in case there are too many in the 50 km radius and then, there is a set minimum price you're allowed to charge, and a set minimum salary you're allowed to give your employees. Also, good fucking luck if you're caught breaking any of those regulations and believe me, they check. Often.
To be honest, I've only started paying attention to Romania a few years ago after finding out that they've had a solidly superior GDP growth than Croatia for the past 10-ish years. I believe that their living standard is still fairly inferior in comparison to Croatia but that gap seems to be closing. I have a friend from Romania here in Switzerland and the stories she tells me are rather similar to my own experiences. Just because you've gotten rid of one corrupt (or in their case murderous) ruler, doesn't mean there aren't 10 more waiting to take his place and continue along similar lines once the masses have cooled off. I gotta say though, their women are possibly the best looking I've ever see and that's no small praise coming from someone who grew up in the Balkans.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
One more thing my esteemed scribbler...
I'm not worthy of your profound rants and notes on the passing parade. I find in every correspondence from you the base for at least two or three columns or essays. I read a lot of crap on the internet, and you are better at expressing an idea than most professionals.
I know journalism is dead, but you would have been a great journalist and commentator in the 20th century. I sense you take you writing skills for granted. You should have a blog. Just my opinion.
As far as art is concerned, you're far too humble. Your new offerings are very sophisticated. You're on the right track.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks for all the compliments I truly appreciate it even though I would hardly call my ramblings profound. They have some base in facts from either history or personal experience but in the end that's all they are, personal opinions. Journalism died the very second the ruling class figured out what a powerful tool it can be in controlling the masses, much like religion, massive sporting events (panem et circences) etc. Sadly, today I'm more prone to getting my news from comedians or podcasts rather than what should be credible news outlets. The only time I pay attention to major media outlets is when they are all in consensus and feeding the same top story repeatedly; that's when I look what's trying to get through under the radar.
As far as art is concerned, I treat it like every aspect of my life, by which I mean that I try to be as hard as I can on my own work in order to stay on track of improvement. While getting constant positive feedback is a nice moral boost, it's also important to get constructive criticism from time to time.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You know there is a function on dA called Add a Critique and you can ask people to critique your drawings. Now that you have so many people seeing your work, you may want to ask them to critique it.
As for the news, my esteemed scribbler, it's all propaganda, like you say. I don't own a television set, so I don't see the cable networks except when I travel to the US, and what I see is Orwellian. People want to know what's going on in their world, so they watch the news and what they get is pure manufactured bullshit. And when something important is happening, they do stories about the new white tiger at the Berlin Zoo, or how to make carrot cake, or a police car chasing a criminal for 2 hours, while Rome burns. Bread and circuses, as you say.
I tend to get my news from 3 sources:
The Drudge Report is a news aggregate site. It publishes headlines from sources all over the world. You click on the headline to read the story.
drudgereport.com/
Rush Limbaugh has a radio show with 26 million listeners, 40 times as many as CNN has viewers.
www.rushlimbaugh.com/
And Dave Barry for fun.
blogs.herald.com/dave_barrys_b…
World Cup update. Croatia advances! OMG! Mexico plays tomorrow. Let's do it boys! Soccer! Yaay! Go team. Beat South Korea and we advance just like Croatia!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I think the critique option is for Core members but I could be wrong. I've seen people's critiques that pop up on my feed every once in a while and it's a cool option to have.
Sad as it is, I get my (US) news from the Daily Show and some podcasts like Joe Rogan to some degree. At least with those I know where their biases are as they are rather upfront about them. I still haven't found an objective news commentator/journalist who doesn't blatantly favor one side over the other so I just stick with the Jon Stewart type comedy for my news. In all honesty, I've been avoiding following the news for quite some time now with a few irregular exceptions, and it's mainly because the media tends to paint a grossly radicalized picture of the world. Everyone on the left is a communist, non binary baby murdering nutbag, while everyone on the right is basically team Hitler/Spanish Inquisition tiki torch enthusiast. I am yet to meet a single person that comes even remotely close to either of those descriptions, yet I'm supposed to believe the world is filled with them.
Though I haven't had the chance to follow the World Cup much this time, it seems to be one of the craziest ones yet. Germany is out, Argentina barely squeaked through, England is actually not completely awful as for the past 4 world cups, not to mention Croatia actually winning all of their matches somehow. Mexico may as well add South Korea to their list of saints since they saved their asses from elimination
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
We have a considerable Korean population in Mexico City, and the ambassador was at the center of the party. They closed the streets to celebrate the win of South Korea over Germany. You're right. They saved our sorry asses. I suspect Croatia and Mexico to be the surprises of the tournament. I think Argentina and Brazil will be the big disappointments.
I agree with what you said about the cartoon depictions of the left and the right. I believe it is a choice between big government/little people or small governemnt/big people.
Would you rather be a bee or an ant, part of a thriving colony? Or a lone wolf, sometimes starving, but answering to no established order? That's my view of the left vs the right. A bird or an antelope is safe as long as it stays in the flock or the herd. That's the left. A cheetah or a bear is responsible for its own well-being. That's the right. IMHO.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Germany takes the cake as the big disappointment, and I find myself unable to judge objectively how far Croatia can go. They've barely squeaked through the qualifiers, changed the coach in the meantime and now they seem to be doing really well but we'll see. I'm Both not sure about Mexico knocking out Brazil but I certainly hope they pull it off. I'm sick of watching princess Neymar rolling on the pitch like a noodle-headed ballerina every time there's a gust of wind. Argentina is fueled purely through Maradona's supernatural cocaine powers so I wouldn't write them off even though Croatia tore them a new one.
I think it all boils down to a sum of educational prowess and interest in governmental affairs that the populace displays and when it comes to either Croatia or the US, things aren't looking great. Though I gotta say, having spent a year in an American high school, I felt like rocket scientist among those students and I was always tethering between being an A or a B student in an objectively mediocre educational system that is Croatia. I quickly learned to appreciate the knowledge I had after hearing things like "Is Croatia a part of Russia?", "Do you have electricity" and "Geography is an elective here".
Both aspects have their advantages and drawbacks but as human beings, we've only managed to survive and thrive for so long because we banded together and that won't change with superior technology. That being said, relying completely on others to do the important work for you leaves many individuals useless members of the collective, especially when disaster strikes. What I'm sure of is that the answer doesn't lie on the fringes of either ideology but somewhere in the middle, with parts from each side being implemented. Just get the money out of politics first, as there can never be a functional and fair system while the select few constantly battle over who will get to pilfer the nation for the next 2, 4 or 6 years.
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
So Mexico is gone from the World Cup, victim of a typical Oscar-worthy performance by Neymar. Karma's a bitch, Neymar. Like the boy who cried wolf, one of these days you're really going to break your damn leg and no one is going to believe you. Anyway, Mexico didn't even deserve to be in the round of 16, so it's no big deal.
Switzerland tried hard, but it looks like Sweden is for real. WTF, do they play soccer in the snow? And well, well, well, look who's still in the mix. Compact, corrupt, confused Croatia.
The socialists won everything in the vote on Sunday by the biggest margin of any election in the last 30 years. I've never lived in a socialist country before. Should I inform the government that I'm anti-social? They need to know, right?
As Margaret Thatcher once said: "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money to spend." Now with oil at $75 a barrel, and Mexico a major oil producer, the new president will definitely feel like Hugo Chavez. Free stuff for everyone! Should be interesting.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I saw a statistic saying that Nexmar spent 14 minutes laying down on the pitch pretending to be injured. Alright, I gotta give credit where credit is due, he's an extremely dangerous striker and often the only way to stop him is to foul him but come on, why roll around on the floor? The judge either calls it or doesn't, so scream as loud as you want once struck but get your ass up once the call is (or isn't) made. It can't be motivational for the entire world to look past your tremendous talent and remember your entire performance during the world cup as one of a whiny baby throwing a tantrum.
Yeah, it was kind of a boring game but Sweden is playing really well. I think Zlatan is quietly begging for them to get beaten since it's the first time he's not on the national team. What are you talking about? There's an African team in the quarterfinals, haven't you seen France?
Hmmm, I've lived in a socialist country all of three years but that was during Yugoslavia's last dying breaths so I can't say I know what it was like. However, what I do know is that Croatia wouldn't have jack shit now if it hadn't been for Tito who created all the factories and built up the infrastructure that is still working today, only to have the oh so modern democratic leaders sell it all to foreign investors and line their pockets while the people have less and less. Besides, people tend to forget that everything from public healthcare to public roads and infrastructure is a socialist concept. Mexico is still Mexico though and I doubt much of anything will change, the only difference are the people at the top who are going to get richer during this term.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh ye of little faith! Croatia is now in the semifinals. You know I’ve believed in them all along. And they won, fair and square, through hard playing during two extra times and not getting discouraged when Russia tied it up. I like Croatia to beat England, France to beat Belgium, although Belgium holds a special place in my heart for defeating Brazil and the melodramatic Nomore. And I stand corrected, there is an African team still playing. Maybe France can change its name to North Algeria.
Your observations about Tito were the type of off-hand comments you so frequently make that for me are like ground gold. The media and historians have painted him as a monster, which I always suspected was an exaggeration. What came after Tito was worse, and I’m thinking of Radovan and Slobo and their charming bands of henchmen. As a parallel, I offer Chile. For years I was told by the news media that Salvador Allende, the elected socialist president eventually assassinated by the CIA, was the paragon of virtue, and that Augosto Pinochet, the military leader who replaced him, was the devil incarnate. Then I met some tourists from Chile at Disneyland and I asked them about General Pinochet, and they told me he was a wonderful man who saved their country from ruin. Chile today has one of the strongest economies in Latin America (not saying much) and has had peaceful transitions of power for the last 30 years. Would it be the same if Allende had remained in power?
You’re right about Mexico. Nothing will change except the rich will get richer and the left will prove themselves to be just as corrupt and incompetent as the right, thus destroying the myth of their moral superiority. What’s brewing here is a hunger for a far-right religion-based party. 95% of Mexicans are Catholic and they don’t have a party reaching out to them. Recent initiatives by the left, including abortion, euthanasia, gay marriage and legalization of marijuana, are not in sync with the traditional Catholic values of Mexicans. The new leftist government can’t take these voters for granted if they want to keep power.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
And now they're in the finals, I'm still having trouble believing it to be honest. I've been getting pictures and videos from my friends non stop and Croatia is quite literally lit up by fireworks and flares. I love the fact that the people finally have something to celebrate and be proud of, even if it is something (arguably) non essential such as football.
Don't get me wrong, Tito was a dictator without a doubt and many people who opposed the regime were "swallowed by the dark" once the milicija got their hands on them. There's a term being tossed around in political discussions, Yugo-nostalgics, for those that believe life was better in Yugoslavia and many right wingers in Croatia are the ones who toss that term around, in the same way that one would the words like libtard or republitard in the States. My father summed it up quite nicely in my opinion when he said "we had less in Yugoslavia but we were happier". By less he meant that most international products were unavailable or if they weren't they tended to be well above most people's price range but there was a sense of community among the people. There was no racial, nationalistic, religious (for obvious reasons) or political divide. Propaganda was childishly obvious unlike today and though freedom of speech was somewhat limited when it came to opposing the big man, people rarely felt the need to do it because they had enough for themselves and their family. I dare say that socialism is a far superior system than capitalism but human nature is what makes it impossible in its true form so we only use bits and pieces. Like you I've heard only bad things about Pinochet and while I'm certain many of them are true, I'm not surprised there are still people who revere him.
The real truth (in my mind) is simple, Yugoslavia was getting dangerous because they were starting to unite any and all who refused to submit to the western powers or the Soviets, named the Non-Aligned Movement. No need to explain why that rubbed the Americans and the Russians the wrong way so as soon as Tito died, they moved in like vultures to break it apart. The Balkan nations are extremely volatile by nature so it didn't take much to create a conflict that in a way, still keeps us separated through ideology to this day and only a strong leader was capable to keep that ragtag group in check. Hate on the man as much as you wish, but Tito was both a great man and a murderer, a noble leader and a dictator. Sometimes you just need both.
I'm seeing a lot of religious resurgence in political regimes these days, Turkey being the most obvious example and I'm not happy with the direction it's going. Religious zealots are extremely dangerous and I don't need to cite my sources to know that much has been true throughout history. If those people are allowed to be in power we might as well restart the crusades but only this time they will be with guns and nukes. That will be a very short chapter in human history, if not the last. I don't know much about the voters in Mexico but I'm assuming many of them either don't share those hardcore Catholic views or they were willing to turn a blind eye this time in a desperate attempt to try on a different approach as the other option was just more of the same. Kinda like the US and Trump, almost France with Marine Le Pen and the Brits Theresa May to a smaller degree since she's not as radically different as the other ones.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Your observations about human nature and socialism being incompatible were on the mark. People are selfish and socialism involves being altruistic. The best chance of implemting socialism would be in a homogeneous society, ideally Iceland or Finland, educated populations with common ancestors. Mexicans and Americans are too self-centered to fully go along with total socialism. Plus, what about Americans is homogeneous, besides their belief in the almighty dollar?
Regarding Tito's Yugoslavia...you are a wealth of information about things that are unknown on this side of the Atlantic. Mention Yugoslavia in the US and the only thing people remember is the Yugo. It was a constant source for late night comedian monologues. I remember that time and it was all about the non-aligned nations, so I completely accept your revelation about how the superpowers could never allow Yugoslavia to rebel against the established order.
Your Dad makes a good point, and one that would be echoed by many a Mexican...when the PRI was the only party, we had less, but we were happier. Now we have every model of iPhone, but they're unaffordable to 90% of the population. And we have to buy crap from China because the Mexican businesses can't compete.
Here's a weird question and one that I suppose will send you into orbit... would you ever consider returning to Croatia and running for public office? If I were a Croat, I'd vote for you, especially if you have the same power of speaking as you have of writing.
Another question, totally hypothetical...if you ran for a public office and won, do you think you would you be corrupted by the system or would you be able to resist the temptations and actually clean it up?
Third hypothetical: Your friends want you to run for office because they believe you can make a difference. (Assume you could run in any country.)
Would you be more likely to consider the idea if they were your a) American friends, b) Swiss friends or c) Croat friends?
I only ask because of your passion for politics. I think I know your answers (if you choose to answer that is) but you always shock and amaze me, so I take the chance.
Two weeks ago I told a friend to not be surprised if Croatia turned out to be the winner of the World Cup. I'm glad that your native land is going crazy this week and England is rioting over...Trump. National soccer is everything and nothing. It's all Buddhism: Be Here Now. And here means in front of the tv and now means Sunday.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
The belief in the almighty dollar isn't limited to the US but the materialistic obsessions of the modern age probably do have their roots in the American pop culture that's sweeping the world. Iceland is a great role model when it comes to dealing with capitalist greed. They were on the brink of bankruptcy and instead of just taking on more debt to pay off interest on past loans, they completely replaced their government, kicked out the bankers and refused to pay a single cent more of the artificial debt the banks had pushed on them. Sure, the bankers pushed back but in the end, there's not a damn thing they can do against a united nation. I was hoping that would be a great lesson for the rest of the world but sadly, all it ended up being was a cool story and an inspirational tale for anti-establishment bloggers.
I don't see capitalism working out for the benefit of the people until the rest of the world catches up to the living standards of the prosperous western countries. As long as there is a China, Taiwan or Indonesia where you can get a factory worker for 10 cents per hour, the playing field will never be even. Switzerland does a pretty good job with that from what I've heard and read. They have requirements for Swiss businesses no matter how big or small and one of them is that at least 50% of the production (I suppose that varies from branch to branch) has to take place in Switzerland. However, they do have very low industrial taxes and while their workers are extremely expensive, many companies and corporations choose to have their plants and headquarters there. There's also a culture of buying domestic products that I've noticed here and nowhere else. People don't really have a problem with paying a little more to support both the small local businesses or the national economy in general. That can most likely be attributed to the fact their salaries are astronomical in comparison to the rest of the world.
Oh boy, how do I answer that one... In short, no, I wouldn't because one doesn't get to the top in Croatian politics without becoming corrupt. You either play ball or you get nowhere. Now, if we were talking about a hypothetical situation where I could just snap my fingers and pick the parliament members with myself as the prime minister, I might consider it but I'd probably still refuse in the end. There are already too many powers with their hands up our leaders' asses, making them dance to their tune and the issues we have are far more complex than simple internal corruption. The destabilization of the Balkans by major powers has been a tactic for centuries because it is a geographically crucial spot, and it certainly isn't in anyone's best interest for a strong, independent nation to form. Our people were basically bred for fighting the Turkish invasions as front line soldiers (you can look up the Military Frontier of the Hapsburg empire) and nobody likes unruly soldiers who question their superiors or ask questions. The result of that can be seen even today.
Alright, second question. If I could somehow get to the top without owing anyone any favors and having a spotless record I wouldn't give into the corruption that's currently in place but I probably would do something arguably way worse on the moral scale. I'd have many people either eliminated or scared to point break to assure their cooperation if they were more crucial to keep the government running. There is no such thing as a legal cleanup in Croatia because the courts are both corrupt and ineffective to the point of comedy. We literally have rich men who murdered people in their vehicles/boats in broad daylight, with dozens of witnesses, walking around as free men with barely a smack on the wrist. No sir, those people would be hung and their companies would be sold to the highest bidder in the interest of not turning the country into a military dictatorship that repossesses all private ownership. Now that would all be fine and dandy if there wasn't the EU and the Americans who would most likely have me assassinated at the first sign of this dictatorial trip. Point of the story is, the government can't be cleaned up, it can only be completely replaced over and over again until the politicians learn to fear the people once again.
Third question is a rather simple one. I'd run in the States for a very simple reason. Switzerland doesn't need to be cleaned up, Croatia can't be cleaned up and the only country with enough power and influence (and love for butting into other people's business) for such an endeavor is the good ole USA. Cleaning up Croatia would be easy for a superpower if it ever were in their best interest but that's one of the things that I would do and I wouldn't limit myself to Croatia but the whole region. That being said, I'd severely cut military spending in the States over the course of, say, 30 years, double down on education, shake up the universities and stop allowing them to turn their students into slaves via student loans (no loans with interest above .5%). I'd change and actually enforce the immigration laws because that whole anchor baby thing is plain ridiculous. Big pharma and doctors get a few solid bitchslaps for turning half of the nation into prescription pill addicts, corporations would actually get taxed for a change and if you want to have access to the US market, you don't get to move your production into Asia. A big portion of the old military budget would go into green energy research, science in general and space exploration because that's actually the future, not squabbles over imaginary lines in the sand fortified by (still) imaginary walls. I could add all about the social issues as well but that would just take me too long and I've already written at least a third of a an extremely incoherent and poorly edited book in our already lengthy correspondence.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well I was right about 2 of the questions. I thought you would run for office in Switzerland, but I totally understand your point. The USA needs a cleansing more than Switzerland. I wonder about the cutting of military spending, but all your other ideas are an excellent platform.
Your proposal for student loans is the best I have heard. The entire student loan industry is a disgrace. I'm glad I never fell into that trap. I was offered a partial scholarship to Berkeley, but I declined because I would have had to take out a loan for the rest of my tuition. Meanwhile college graduates who owe 100,000 USD can't find a job. I don't owe anything and I have more work than I can handle. Still find time to paint. Too bad I'm not a college graduate. Oh well.
Unfortunately to implement your plan, you would need to take on the energy interests, not to mention Big Pharma and the education lobby. You're right. They'd kill you like they killed Colosio and Scalia.
Nevertheless your platform would be sure to attract support from across the political spectrum. Something for everyone! Green energy for the Left, space exploration for the right. BTW, Trump already proposed a sixth branch of the military, the space force
I'm not ashamed to admit that I am a Capitalist. I believe it is the oldest economic system, and the model people always turn to when the going gets tough. In my colony, street sales compete with small stores, we have a farmers market on Thursday and Sunday, and there is a healthy service economy from ladies who wash and iron clothes to English teachers (like me!)
Unlike the USA, you don't need a license in Mexico to buy things wholesale, so anyone can go to a producer and buy anything at wholesale price and resell it for a profit. This is so helpful for people who can't get a real job, like the mentally ill or drug users. These people go downtown and buy items at low cost and resell on the metro, the bus, or on the street. It's a question of necessity because welfare in Mexico is not as generous as in the USA. Funny how poverty can motivate when there's no big brother state to fall back on.
Iceland... Journey the the Center of the Earth, the fifteen minutes of Eyjafjallajokull, Bjork & the Sugarcubes and a bold middle finger to the worldwide financial structure. You're right, no one followed their lead. Gotta love Iceland.
What can I say about my heritage, American pop culture? It's Fascism with tits and catchy music. Sometimes I understand why people are attracted to radical Islam, especially if they have seen any of the crap from Hollywood. I confess I haven't seen a full movie since 2010, but I can imagine what kind of bullshit passes for cinema art today.
Scribbler I hope you copy and paste all this correspondence and make an illustrated ebook with some of your scribbles, put it on the internet and charge a dollar to download the damned thing. Run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes it. Now that's Capitalism, baby!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I apologize for the long overdue reply. I wasn't on my computer (or any social media) for a very long time, as they just tired me out and I felt like I needed a break. I also deleted most of those apps from my phone with the exception of those I use to stay in contact with my family and friends. Turning 30 has made me a grumpy old man
Now back onto our ramblings
For profit colleges are the worst thing to have ever happened to the educational system, Education, like healthcare, can never be for profit unless we're talking about niche or specialized courses like deep ocean knitting or extreme brownie baking. The prices have become so inflated and the quality has dropped drastically to accommodate any idiot who wants to finish college. It used to be an honor and quite an accomplishment to finish college back in the day because it require a lot of time and dedication but now the students, myself included, basically have to just show up to class often enough to get a passing grade. Sure, there are still tough courses/careers that don't tolerate mediocrity (medicine being one for example) but many degrees on the liberal arts side are about as useful as a roll of toilet paper that costs +60k dollars.
I can't say I'm a capitalist because that stuff is out of my hands but I live in a capitalist world and I know that none of the other systems we currently have are better, so I supposed I am one too. I'm actually surprised to hear Mexico has such a positive retail practice, I wish more countries would allow stuff like that but it won't happen because we can't let the regular mortals take away from corporate profits. God forbid some suits have to justify declined third quarter profits because abuela was selling apples on the street.
I'm not a religious person but I've certainly seen crappy movies that made me want to fly plane into some pompous Hollywood studio It's so sad that this shallow, simplistic crap is America's biggest export when there's so much more it could offer to the world (no, not guns and nukes). I watch less and less movies and tv series nowadays as I found it much easier to amuse myself with hobbies and actual human interaction, though human interaction can be tiresome sometimes when people (women) become too needy.
Alright, that's all for today. I promise to be more regular with our correspondence and I really need to catch up on my drawing as well since I've managed to neglect it too. Have a good one!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hey Fran,
Good to hear from you. Please, no apologies. I’m fortunate that I have a lot of down time to be able to correspond with friends, but most of them can’t reply immediately because of work demands, laziness,etc. Also, I don’t do social media or Whatsapp, so dA is my platform of choice for communication. Also it’s the only place for me to get the kind of intellectual stimulation like you have to offer.
Surprised to learn that you’re 30. I thought you were younger, maybe because of your idealism? Anyway, let’s say that 30 is the new 25. You think you’re grumpy now? Just wait! I passed grumpy a long time ago. I think I could qualify for pissed off white guy on the verge of mayhem. The littlest things really bother me. I have a low tolerance for stupid people, loud people, rude people, and smelly people. This comes from the 4 hours that I spend almost daily on public transportation. When I get home I pour myself a drink, turn on the music and isolate myself until the next day working in the studio.
Regarding your idea of worldwide demilitarization, I think it would work on a macro scale, but on a micro scale the problem would remain unsolved. On a human level, not everyone likes everyone, and the weak-minded will always resort to violence, much like a young child pounding on his mother in a tantrum. This infantile feeling of not getting one’s way is the root of violence. The cowardly form gangs, and the most cowardly form armies, in order to get their way.
Buddhists believe there are five things that lead to evil: pride, ignorance, greed, desire and fear. Evil is real I don’t know how you can demilitarize the world, borders or no borders, in a world with 50% of the population tending to the dark side (violence, manipulation, corruption, predatory capitalism, etc). Your Utopia would require a huge infusion of kindness and trustworthiness, things evil people aren’t endowed with. I suppose if the governments all put LSD in the water, it might happen. Otherwise, don’t hold your breath.
Anyway, a man’s reach must exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for? I’d be the first to name you head of the project, because you at least have a vision. Nevertheless, Mexico would be the last country to board that train. Mexicans are stubborn and cling to tradition. Also they are very self-centered and it’s hard to get them to sacrifice for the greater good. That’s why I doubt that Mexico will change, even with the new socialist government. But who knows? We’re separating our trash into 4 different categories, something I never thought would happen, so anything is possible.
I think it’s going to be hard to eliminate for-profit education. The solution is to reduce the demand by educating people to the reality that you can get a good job without going to college. My uncle was graduated from the University of California with a degree in Political Science and the only job he could get was as a dishwasher. He later became a prospector and made a lot of money staking claims in the Western US. The big lie that I heard all my life was to get a good job, you need to go to college. Talk to some of the baristas at Starbucks about how their college experience has helped them. I still like your idea of putting a maximum ½% interest on student loans. Also requiring colleges to employ graduates at the college if they can’t get a job in their field might be a good idea.
So you’ve discovered that women are insatiable? And that all men want is a hot meal, a cold drink and a blow job? Oversimplification, perhaps, but symbolic…
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Well my esteemed scribbler, France finished the job that Croatia started. So Argentina's "new one" as you so delicately put it, is now more like a doughnut.
Call it Schadenfreude, I don't mind, I'm glad we wont be seeing any more of the greybeard messiah Messi. (Maybe he can change his name to "Missing" or "Messy".) And I agree with you. I'm hoping that after Monday we won't be seeing princess Neymar ("No More") writhing on the field. Another prima donna who, like Messy, is not aging well: unlike fine wines, as the years have passed, these two millionaires have turned into vinegar. They could have a future on ESPN, but, you know, you need to speak English and all that. Oh well.
Don't doubt Mexico or Croatia. As Bob Dylan said: When you ain't got nothin', you've got nothin' to lose."
Yeah, geography is intentionally optional in the US. That's what Google Maps is for. The truth be told, compared to an American teenager, you ARE a rocket scientist. American kids are stupid, but they have very high self-esteem.
When I was in high school, basically the Bronze Age, we didn't have computers or internet, so in order to pass my classes, I actually had to go to the library and open books and encyclopedias to learn things, and type my papers on a manual typewriter, and if I made a mistake, I had to use correction fluid, then wait for it to dry, and then type the new word, and it always looked fucked up. Xerox copies made the mistakes look even worse.
With all of today's technology, the general population should be incredibly informed and creative, but the opposite is the case. From what I can perceive, you seem to be more like what I think young people of the 21st century should be like: taking advantage of technolgy, producing new creations, continually learning.
What sets you apart, and this is significant, is your ability to bounce back and forth between the brain's right hemisphere and the left. Most people neither write nor draw. You do both with ease, and this may be the same as rocket science.
Einstein said “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”
Regarding getting the money out of politics...dream on. "Money is the mother's milk of politics."- Jesse Unruh, former Speaker of the California Assembly said that...in 1963!. Has anything changed in the last 55 years? I totally share your frustration with the current global political system, but I'm more concerned about the masses who don't understand sociology, economics or politics. Again, all the information is available to anyone who wants to investigate, but it's hard to compete with Fakebook, YouTube and Netflix. I have lost faith in the democratic process. It seems that unless there is a bloody revolution, we're fucked.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Many European friends asked me whether it's true that Americans are as stupid as popular culture seems to depict them. I agree, stupid isn't the right word but I did notice a prevalent lack of curiosity among people over there. Granted, Alabama isn't exactly the best place to get a feel for the entire nation but I still got to meet people from all over the US during my university days and many seemed awfully uninterested in anything going on outside their borders (unless the army was actively bombing it). In fact, I've met a ton of people that never actually traveled much farther than 200 miles from their hometown and that's just sad. I'm not saying everyone has to fly all over the world, finances tend to put a halt to those plans, but at least people shouldn't seclude themselves into the comfort of their small intellectual box and refuse to look at issues from a different perspective.
Heh yeah, I was at the dawn of the Wikipedia generation of students but luckily I didn't rely on it very much, except to look up actual literature related to the topic I was writing about. There are definitely positive sides to the availability of so much information on our fingertips but that does to make us somewhat lazy and less likely to double check the credibility of our sources. Trump didn't bring about the age of "fake news" but it's definitely on the rise now.
Oh, I know, one can only dream that money someday won't have such an impact on politics. What the US is doing with the super pacs and similar donation practices is just downright ridiculous. I've see someone state that law should at least require the politicians to wear logos of the donors on their suits, (like F1 drivers etc.) just so it's perfectly clear which corporation you're voting for in the long run. Even if there is a revolution and everyone currently in power is skinned alive, I'm not too certain the next generation would be any better. The aristocracy in power has stopped fearing the people, mainly because we are so easily distraced and I'm certain that things would improve if that fear returned. To quote Jefferson: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Well, patriots have bled enough in meaningless wars that made rich people richer. It's time for the fat cats to bleed but alas, let me first look at 8 hours of cat videos on YouTube.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Damn it Fran, I almost did a spit take when I read your comment about politicians and F1 drivers. I really did laugh out loud, which I rarely do, except when watching cat videos. I think it’s an excellent idea; if not on their suits (there wouldn’t be enough room) but defintiely on the ballot, or at least behind them on the wall whenever they’re speaking or involved in a debate.
I would extend the requirement to CNN and Fox News: have a kairon scrolling at the bottom of the screen with the names of all their sponsors so the people could know who is pushing the agenda. I can assure you, there would be little overlap between the sponsors of CNN and Fox.
Most journalists aren’t big on getting the story right, but on getting the story first, and making sure it reflects the narrative, especially in Mexico. Our top story tonight: Trump takes immigrant kids away from their parents and puts them in cages. Ahem, excuse me, that was the policy under Obama also. Doesn’t matter. It’s Trump now.
So the narrative advances. Trump is Hitler. He rips babies out of the mothers’ arms and puts them in cages. But, but…Obama did it too. Doesn’t matter. It’s Trump now and he hates women and children, especially if they are minorities. And that’s what everyone is talking about in cafes and offices Fuck. I hate it.
I will confess that I Wikipedia everything I’m not sure about. I’m old and I remember most stuff well, but some things I need to refresh and I’m so thankful to have Wikipedia. Even if it’s in a letter to my sister or advice to a student regarding resources on the internet, I always fact check before posting or even sending casual correspondence. I think it’s because I’m a teacher and it’s incumbent upon me to pass on correct information, unlike teachers in the US, whose job is to pass on the leftist gospel to young skulls full of mush, knowing full well that kids are lazy and won’t check anything out for themselves.
And I’m one of those who had never traveled more than 200 miles from his home town until I ran away to Louisiana and joined the military and was sent to Texas and then Mississippi. The military was one of the best experiences of my life. Still, North America is not like Europe: traveling is definitely a serious luxury. Don’t disparage Alabama. They have a great football team.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah but then CNN, MSNBC and Fox would have to also cite their donors which isn't in their interest either, is it? I'm not even sure how those news outlets still survive to be honest, their audience has been dwindling for ages now because the format doesn't allow complex topics to be properly debated. I'm rather new to the podcast world but I did some research on their numbers and they outclass the prime time news show by staggering amounts. The number one podcast at the moment has roughly ten times more viewers than either of the major news outlets and that's making me rather hopeful. You can't discuss complex subjects such as the economy, freedom of speech or women/minority rights during 6 minute segments that have ten "experts" talking over each other constantly. I've found myself question and re-questioning a lot of my core beliefs during the last two years only because I've finally had the opportunity to listen to in depth discussions from people that actually have an idea what they are talking about.
I did some research on the whole separating children from their parents thing. It was passed in 1997 which makes it a Democrat baby and Obama certainly detained his fair share of children and families in general. However, the tightening of the enforcement policy did come directly from Jeff Sessions in April 2018 so the republicans can't claim their hands are entirely clean on this one either. I'm very much in favor of people calling out their leaders and presidents on crap they pull but please, for the love of whatever deity you may or may not worship, inform yourself before spouting party talking points. I no longer need to read the comments regarding popular controversial topics because I already know what both sides will be saying. It has become that predictable and it's quite pathetic.
Universities are liberal playgrounds just like Hollywood and I'm glad they are being called out on it. Have you ever heard of Jordan Peterson and the clustefuck that he's been through involving a Canadian university where he's tenured professor? Though I certainly don't agree with the guy on all of his views, his position on universities and their stifling of free speech is spot on. He's all over YouTube so listen to a few of his segments if you're interested.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
She looks awesome. I love the detail in the wings but particularly in the clothes.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
The wings were possibly a new challenge but it all turned out amazing!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thanks
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Even if they were tricky, the work definitely paid off
👍: 0 ⏩: 0