The Simmon set-up!

You are probably wondering where this sheet-wearing, queer-eye for a clan guy caricature of Jack Simmon came from and why I am just now posting about it. When I read Simmon's Op-ed piece in the Post & Courier (a great local medium or platform because they'll print anything) and then read the Post & Courier's architecture reporter Robert Behre's article in support of fighting the Federal Regulations and I'll admit-I was "sofa-king" pissed, pardon me, "sofa-king" livid (where are my manners?) that I hand-wrote a snarky diatribe about these two dilettantes and their lack of understanding of both Palladio and architecture as well as the intelligence of the average reader of the Post & Courier into my sketch-journal.

One of the Bushido tenants that I try to adhere to is, if you are really livid write down your thoughts, or begin the snarky e-mail and then put it in your desk drawer, wait a couple of days and then pull it back out of your drafts or desk-drawer and if you are still overcome with anger, hit send or toss it in an envelope. Since I have become more reserved over the years, I decided to not write into the Post & Courier, but to finish my remarks and then stash them in my desk for a few days. If I was still quite livid, I then would write a letter to the Editor at the Post & Courier. (Boring!)

So, I was indeed bored and wanted to see what sort of talent I still had with a pencil, pen and marker, so I decided to have some fun with my frustration of these two Chucktown cronies. Above you can see my initial ideas, and then here is the circle enclosure of Robert Behre. Granted I have never met either of these two gentlemen, and I doubt Behre wears thongs (then again, maybe he does) and I doubt Simmon is a battle-flag boxer type of guy (then again, maybe he does) but alas, I had to vent my frustrations. Which interestingly enough, were bent around one single word-chiaroscuro (Italian for light/dark).

So why post now? Well, these sketches were done on a Post-it presentation board paper, which I had stuck to the back-side of my bedroom door, meaning, I have been looking at this thing for about three months and it seemed apropos to tear it down and share my frustrations. The lesson here for all of us is that someone is always watching, even if the editors have gone to sleep and misusing Italian phrases for your own pat-on-the-back-look how smart I sound just pisses people off. (I have my notes, which I will post this Sunday).