Category Archives: facebook

When marketing goes wrong… and a little creepy. Today I received in the mail a dvd-rom from H&R Block Tax Software. The package design has a large masthead saying “Belated Wedding Gift For the Happy Couple” and on the back “Taxes for two, Just for You”. Even if I were a newlywed I would find this in really poor taste, but as it happens Julie and I live together and although we coincidentally have the same last name, we are not married. We don’t file a joint return. We’ve lived together for a long time, nearly ten years, so I have no clue what might have triggered this mailing now, except maybe that we both signed up for insurance on healthcare.gov.

I figure by about 2020 H&R Block will be sending out mailings that say “We’ve already filled out your return, just sign and send us your payment.” #privacywhataquaintidea

When I started this I thought there was going to be only three or four items. I was mistaken, and I’m not sure if I’m even done:

The Doodleslice Doodle Art Manifesto
By Doodleslice
2013-12-23

1) Lines are movements, let them dance.
2) Accidents are beautiful.
3) Overworked is the enemy.
4) Over-thought is the enemy.
5) Smiles and laughter are not just important, they are noble, elevating, aesthetic experiences.
6) Respect the integrity of your chosen media, embrace the quirks of your chosen media.
7) Experiment!
8) Practice acceptance.
9) Respond!
10) Improvise!
11) Let people see what you make especially the pieces that make you nervous.
12) Art is Love for everybody.
13) We make art on Earth. We are Earthlings one and all and only one planet is open for business.
14) Choose Mudita over Schadenfreude.
15) Glory in color.
16) Strive to bring the feeling of color even when using only a black pen on white paper.
17) Even a single line can be beautiful.
18) Even a single line can be profound.
19) Your hand knows its business – don’t be too swift to judge it when it surprises you.
20) Doodling is openness to the essential.
21) When in doubt, draw a bird.
22) When in doubt, draw a bunny.
23) When in doubt, write a word in the middle of the page. Love is a great word to choose.
24) Believe in every line you draw.
25) When in doubt, be simple and spare.
26) When in doubt, be complex and turbulent.
27) When in doubt about starting, make a single random mark on the canvas or page.
28) When in doubt about finishing, stop and walk away. If you’re not finished you’ll know it when you come back.
29) Poems love doodles and doodles love poems.
30) Grownups deserve art that is joyful without being jaded, mawkish, ironic or saccharine. They need it at least as much as kids do.
31) Give yourself permission to put your whole heart into what you do.
32) Give yourself permission to love the silly, the whimsical, the absurd.
33) When in doubt, draw!
34) When certain, draw!
35) Draw! Draw! Draw!
36) And don’t forget to post.