I am currently writing this post in the dark.  Lori and I have decided to participate in Earth Hour this year, turning off our lights from 8pm to 9pm.  Actually it is 7:40 - 8:40 for us since we are going out later and don’t want to leave the puppies home in the dark.

As I sit here, there are a few observations I would like to make:

•  The light on the pole outside our house is enough to keep me awake when I want to sleep, however provides little light when I want to see my way around the house.
• It is impossible to turn of all of the lights in your house without decreasing your personal safety.  Even candles only provide so much light.
• I don’t understand how anyone could get anything productive done by candlelight.  You need to get close enough to burn yourself to be able to use the light.

Finally, one interesting question pops into my head: how many candles do I have to light to produce the CO₂ output of a 13W CFL light?

I don’t understand modern art!

A couple weeks ago, while Lori and I were in New York City, we spent a rainy morning at the Metropolitan Museum of Art enjoying the impressive collection.  We started with the Egyptian collection (from my point of view more for the history), checked out the photography and then the 19th century European art.  I really enjoy Monet, so this was a treat for me.

Last, we decided to check out the modern art.  The collection includes some familiar work by Andy Warhol which was interesting have a chance to see somewhere other than the web or TV.  On our way down the stairs to another part of the exhibit, I noticed a florescent light mounted on the wall diagonally just before the stairs.  It wasn’t until Lori pointed out its title that I realized it was art.

Someone (the Artist, who’s name I don’t remember) attached a working florescent tube light to the wall on an angle, titled it and therefore it was art.  When I do this, it’s considered a DIY project gone terribly wrong.

Mind you, someone out there may enjoy that piece just as much as I enjoy Monet and I am fine with that.  However, at that moment I decided I had to admit to myself, I just don’t understand modern art.   I guess it can now keep modern dance company in the part of my brain where I store things I don’t get.