tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post5155056161344419667..comments2024-03-14T23:12:03.829+00:00Comments on Idiotic Hat: Careful What You Wish For, Part 2Mike C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-33966244899007961992017-06-19T08:36:21.328+01:002017-06-19T08:36:21.328+01:00Zouk,
Repeating the word "apotropaic" i...Zouk,<br /><br />Repeating the word "apotropaic" is how I ward off the Evil Eye from this blog.. That, and the wasps.<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-57628702270672187312017-06-18T23:52:11.095+01:002017-06-18T23:52:11.095+01:00Ah, but (reading on), yes! Holding thumbs is also ...Ah, but (reading on), yes! Holding thumbs is also covered (but not explained).<br /><br />Apotropaic. Great word, which I learnt on this blog (from many repetitions). Zouk Delorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07983226210415857258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-11925388382245858812017-06-18T23:14:17.690+01:002017-06-18T23:14:17.690+01:00Ah, but no! It seems the sign of the crossed finge...Ah, but no! It seems the sign of the crossed fingers is pre-Christian:<br /><br />https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossed_fingersZouk Delorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07983226210415857258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-9216142754847196672017-06-18T23:06:29.852+01:002017-06-18T23:06:29.852+01:00Zouk,
I'm not sold on the Christian interpret...Zouk,<br /><br />I'm not sold on the Christian interpretation of the crossed fingers -- it's what anthropologists call an "apotropaic gesture", and these are often of greater, pagan antiquity (the "evil eye", and all that). People probably crossed their fingers when forced to convert to Christianity...<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-2997826353711244142017-06-18T22:46:25.851+01:002017-06-18T22:46:25.851+01:00Of course the crossed fingers also often accompany...Of course the crossed fingers also often accompany the children's <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truce_term" rel="nofollow">truce word</a>, fainites (and variants), which I think you wrote about, Mike, some while back. I think it's probably right to say that in all these cases, the sign is an invocation of the cross of Jesus. Not sure what the thumbs are all about, though...Zouk Delorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07983226210415857258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-1919671621059192792017-06-17T09:05:24.275+01:002017-06-17T09:05:24.275+01:00Andrew,
Yes, my intention is to enclose a "t...Andrew,<br /><br />Yes, my intention is to enclose a "thank you" note (my mother would have been proud of me) which also invites a look around my online estate...<br /><br />I sort of regret, now, not having done anything about putting a "shop" on my website, with print offers, etc. However, invoicing, printing, packing, posting, and simply keeping track of just 100 orders is rather too much like being back at work. Plus, I don't want to attract the attention of the tax gnomes, which earning anything over £10K p.a. on top of my pension would do...<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-1332521490346717172017-06-16T23:26:02.655+01:002017-06-16T23:26:02.655+01:00Quite seriously now, it occurs to me that you migh...Quite seriously now, it occurs to me that you might usefully make up a flyer or postcard for your blurb store and include it with your delivered prints. <br />amolitorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743439184763617516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-66897663085740000372017-06-15T16:42:45.029+01:002017-06-15T16:42:45.029+01:00Thomas,
Bizarrely, we do the same to cancel an oa...Thomas,<br /><br />Bizarrely, we do the same to cancel an oath or promise, except the crossed fingers are generally held behind the back.<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-21884317647821708442017-06-15T15:56:10.220+01:002017-06-15T15:56:10.220+01:00This is a reply to Zouk's comment on 2017-06-1...This is a reply to Zouk's comment on 2017-06-14:<br /><br />I've heard "fingers crossed" before - this same gesture is known in Germany, too, but has an entirely different meaning. If you swear an oath, and make this gesture at the same time, the oath is considered void. The crossed fingers should prevent the perjurer from going to hell. Of course, this is from times past, and is nowadays only used by children at play (at least we did when we were kids). I wasn't aware that it has a different meaning in the anglo-saxon world, and thus used the more familiar "holding thumbs" (which, by the way, is also used in the Netherland, and probably found its way from there to South Africa).<br /><br />Best, ThomasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-56536368217005168952017-06-15T15:12:06.968+01:002017-06-15T15:12:06.968+01:00Paul,
Thanks, and I second your third sentence!
...Paul,<br /><br />Thanks, and I second your third sentence!<br /><br />Martin,<br /><br />Thanks, and for once, this actually feels like "up" to me...<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-62819650001932132052017-06-15T14:00:45.008+01:002017-06-15T14:00:45.008+01:00Belated congrats, Mike. Onwards, and sideways!Belated congrats, Mike. Onwards, and sideways!Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13494219959077922220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-45276389539417527202017-06-15T13:35:08.920+01:002017-06-15T13:35:08.920+01:00Woo-hoo. Well done that man. I think in some way y...Woo-hoo. Well done that man. I think in some way your success validates the faithfull followers of your blog !Paul Mc Cannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05839588218540865473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-57777103129993405672017-06-14T16:39:22.415+01:002017-06-14T16:39:22.415+01:00@Thomas
Although "crossing one's fingers...@Thomas<br /><br />Although "crossing one's fingers" (the middle finger placed over the index finger, the other two held down by the thumbs, hands raised) is the usual sign in England for holding out hope (and, as Mike says, "Fingers crossed!" the oral manifestation of the same sentiment), "I'm holding my thumbs" is used by English-speakers in South Africa (perhaps brought there by the Boers?), as I learnt a few years ago from a friend who was brought up there.Zouk Delorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07983226210415857258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-45838620048122245902017-06-12T21:05:23.629+01:002017-06-12T21:05:23.629+01:00Thomas,
Excellent, I'll remember that! We lik...Thomas,<br /><br />Excellent, I'll remember that! We like such things round here, and I can confirm that no-one in Britain would have a clue what you were doing (and would probably assume it was an unspeakably obscene insult...).<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-35077147087295522982017-06-12T20:43:37.736+01:002017-06-12T20:43:37.736+01:00Ah, OK, I thought "holding one's thumb&qu...Ah, OK, I thought "holding one's thumb" existed as an idiom in English, too! In German, it's called "Daumen drücken" and is an encouraging wish for success and good luck. The accompanying gesture is to form fists with both hands with each thumb tucked away inside the fist, then raise both fists (German Wikipedia has a picture). Aunt Google just told me that "fingers crossed" actually means the same.<br /><br />Best, ThomasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-23519921957776107002017-06-12T20:08:25.008+01:002017-06-12T20:08:25.008+01:00Thanks, Thomas -- is "holding my thumbs"...Thanks, Thomas -- is "holding my thumbs" a German expression (equivalent to, say, "fingers crossed")? Not heard that before!<br /><br />In the end, I've got nothing better to do, these days, than go through the chores associated with raking in the cash, so...<br /><br />Mike<br /><br />Mike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-82059520245967531522017-06-12T19:07:27.339+01:002017-06-12T19:07:27.339+01:00I'll just chime in with congratulations! This ...I'll just chime in with congratulations! This success is certainly well deserved. Possibly some helpful contacts into the art scene may originate from the sold prints - "I've got a vintage Chisholm here!". Holding my thumbs!<br /><br />With regards to shipping and billing, I believe that there are commercial fulfillment service providers to which these tasks can be "outsourced". However, I don't know if it would make economic sense in your case.<br /><br />Best, ThomasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-85187382207694950082017-06-12T09:31:12.693+01:002017-06-12T09:31:12.693+01:00Thanks, Huw -- it's a good show, with some exc...Thanks, Huw -- it's a good show, with some excellent work (I was tempted to buy a couple of pieces myself, until checking the prices...). Although one room is rather too much like entering an asylum, and I left pretty quickly.<br /><br />It is great, though, and maybe I can start calling myself an "artist" without the quotes...<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-85357390845827943232017-06-12T09:00:07.065+01:002017-06-12T09:00:07.065+01:00I have a note in my diary to visit the exhibition ...I have a note in my diary to visit the exhibition next Monday, and thought to maybe add a red dot of my own, but not sure I shall bother now! Congratulations though, Mike, it must be great to have further validation after the initial selection.<br /><br />HuwHuwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06346671593949866026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-30590558212474362632017-06-12T08:33:03.212+01:002017-06-12T08:33:03.212+01:00Andrew,
Thanks, my recently-appointed legal team ...Andrew,<br /><br />Thanks, my recently-appointed legal team is looking at your second comment with intense interest, but that's mainly because of the scale of their own fees...<br /><br />Struan,<br /><br />Thanks -- my son said something about "hashtag humblebrag" which, obviously, means nothing to me.<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-16568441867828509932017-06-12T07:50:58.263+01:002017-06-12T07:50:58.263+01:00Congrats – a nice problem to have!Congrats – a nice problem to have!Struanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13263096707648672923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-46467909026309942132017-06-12T03:38:39.430+01:002017-06-12T03:38:39.430+01:00Also I note that it may be considered fair game to...Also I note that it may be considered fair game to print the same thing at a different size, and call that a different edition. If you were itching to sell a few more. <br />amolitorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743439184763617516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-28588339696601410652017-06-12T03:32:32.117+01:002017-06-12T03:32:32.117+01:00Well done! You jolly well deserve it. Your picture...Well done! You jolly well deserve it. Your pictures are interesting, distinctive, good, and appealing. <br /><br />Now you need minions to pack stuff up and ship it. <br /><br />The effect of success is, of course, merely to increase the number of people who get paid before you do.<br />amolitorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743439184763617516noreply@blogger.com