bookofjoe

"Gerhard Richter Painting"

"Filmmaker Corinna Belz spent three years observing the elusive artist Gerhard Richter in his Cologne studio. Watch her fly-on-the-wall footage above."

More on the film here.

Today's New York Times Arts section features a front page story by Nicholas Kulish about a series of exhibitions in Germany this month celebrating the German artist's eightieth birthday on February 9. 

They follow on the current Berlin retrospective's first incarnation last year at London's Tate Modern.

Below, Richter's third painting of his daughter Betty, done in 1988.

Below, his first painting of her,

in 1977. 

Sushi Erasers

From the website:

"Words fail to describe how agonizingly cute are these Japanese erasers. How can your pencil box ever be the same without a tomago sushi piece waiting inside? Made of soft eraser rubber, these pieces are FUNCTIONAL as well as adorable."

Six-piece set: $5.75.

Leica Telephoto Assembly Rifle aka "Leica Gun"

Sold at auction October 30, 2011 for $100,000.

"Leica Telephoto Assembly Rifle, known as the 'Leica Gun' or, in Germany, as the 'Leica Gewehr.' A product of the E. Leitz agency in New York in the 1930s, the Leica Rifle is the rarest of all accessories."

"This example is in wonderful condition. The viewfinder is Nr. 123 and is marked 'E. Leitz Inc. New-York.' The complete outfit includes the special base plate, original case, a 200mm Telyt f4,5 that is hazy, a Leica IIIa as well as an eyepiece magnifier for the PLOOT. It is a beauty."

"For a complete Leica collection. Condition: Ex++."

[via Fancy]

Gerber Steady Multi-tool

Nice.

From the website:

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The Gerber Steady combines the utility of a multi-tool and the functionality of a camera tripod.

It comes equipped with an adjustable cellphone/screw-in camera mount and two foldable legs that serve as a tripod.

Features and Details:

• Micro flat, square cross & medium flat screwdrivers

• Stainless steel components

• Needlenose pliers

• Fine edge blade

• Serrated blade

• Bottle opener

• Wire cutters

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$48.28.

[via Fancy]

Gray Cat Black: Snow

Shot yesterday at 5:35 p.m.

Calming.

Insomnia?

Try a few viewings and see where that takes you.

Peacock Ring

"Peacock feathers give everything a little bit of glamour."

You'll get no argument from me on that.

Peacock print beneath glass stone.

Glass measures 1" x 1.5".

Sizes 6-8.

$12.

Life imitates art: Scientific American and John Koethe

Above, the cover of the February 2012 issue of Scientific American, which asks "Could foamlike fluctuations rule spacetime at the tiniest scales?"

Below, John Koethe's wonderful poem "Strangeness," published in the May 8, 2000 issue of The New Yorker.

Koethe told an interviewer, "Oddly enough, it's the only poem I've ever published in The New Yorker. Alice Quinn professes to love my work, yet each time she sends it back, saying, 'Oh this is great but not for The New Yorker. Remember: Wallace Stevens was never published in The New Yorker.'" 

Light bulb in a wallet

Credit card-size LED light turns on when you lift the bulb.

Pack of 10: $29.34.

Alas, shipping to the U.S. = $28.93 so it comes to $58.27 delivered for 10.

Perhaps you can become a self-declared dealer and sell the ones you don't want for what you paid — or even more, if someone gets a bee in their bonnet and must have one at any cost.

[via Alan Fick, who's full of bright ideas lately. Was it OK to say that?]

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Comment from John from Ohio, up at 4:58 p.m. today: Five for $7.03 with free shipping (via Amazon Prime) here.

John added, "Reviews: Cute, but useless. A firefly has more light. Worthless."