Oxygen Is Metal

Inside a Cello
Charles Brooks Photography

Hebrew calligraphy in dark green stretches in lines across the image. Negative space makes room for a simple representation of an inflatable frog costume with a blue bandana. That shape consists of the English translation of the Hebrew, in a lighter green, and in much smaller text. -- Famously, the Egyptian tyrant causes Egypt to be overrun with frogs because he refuses to free the Hebrew people, but there are additional details that make this a fun one to ponder. For one, the Hebrew says "the frog came up" - ONE frog - even though the rest of the time it says "frogs." So there are a few explanations rabbis have come up with to explain this. One is that a single frog multiplied to create swarms. A more creative explanation is that there was a singular giant frog who traveled and brought destruction. Jewish social media was sharing videos of the Portland Frog protester with the caption, "One Big Frog! One Big Frog!" Of course the frog protesters did multiply, and many were seen in crowds all over the world on "No Kings" Day. This calligraphic work takes the verses addressing the frog plague and combines them to form a simple rendering of the Portland Frog protester. The frog figure itself is made up of the English translations of the Hebrew around it. At the bottom left my signature is in the shape of a lily pad.

"Tzefardea Tzedek" (Frog of Righteousness)

As soon as the Portland Frog became a meme, Jewish social media blew up with jokes about the 2nd Passover plague - tzefarde'a (frogs) - and the Rabbinical commentary around it. I knew I had to make a calligraphy piece encompassing all of it. (more in alt.)

sad for New York to reject him when his catholic, and in some ways jewish, mother survived 9/11 then died of cancer soon after moving to the city in 2003, a tragedy he was forced to relive in 2016 when his mother died of cancer. his only crime? a few fake charities and also every other type of fraud

Graduate seminar did a deep dive on Thomas Paine’s Common Sense yesterday. At the line, “in America the law is king,” they (14 students from 6 countries) burst out laughing. I've been doing this for 35 years and this is the first time that was a laugh line.

Someone who can draw beautifully made a protest sign that's a playing card with trump as a joker card.

#NOKINGS Hartford

We need to talk about Russell Vought – But Properly Why certain mainstream outlets insist on sanitizing Vought as a devout “small government” conservative – and what actually animates his war against pluralistic democracy

We need to talk about Russell Vought – But Properly

Why certain mainstream outlets insist on sanitizing Vought as a devout “small government” conservative – and what actually animates his war against pluralistic democracy.

Some thoughts from my new piece:

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Worth reposting

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@bahocker.bsky.social @theeyeoftim.bsky.social

BREAKING: Chicken Pox caused by Vicks Vap-o-Rub: White House

BREAKING: Astigmatism caused by chewable vitamins and parental failure to invest in Trump Coin: NIH

BREAKING: Havana Syndrome caused by component of Tito’s: CIA

BREAKING: Red hair caused by potato consumption: Marine Corps

Americans' Views on Immigration's Effect on the U.S. On the whole, do you think immigration is a good thing or a bad thing for this country today? — % Good thing - - % Bad thing 100% 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 79 17 2001 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 The percentages who volunteer that the effects are "mixed" or who do not have an opinion are not shown. GALLUP®

Highest level of support since Gallup started asking this question a quarter century ago

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Books On Books – Barbara Hocker Watercourse I (2022) Watercourse I (2022) Barbara Hocker Scroll in variant dragon scale binding. L152 cm (variable) x W12 cm. 64 panels. Unique. Acquired from the artist, 10 February 2024. Photos: …

books-on-books.com/2025/08/05/b...
Please check this out! I am thrilled to have work included in this collection! It's also really fun to browse thru the books.

Thank you so much to Robert Bolick for collecting my 1st dragonscale book and for this lovely record of it!

Eyeopening walkthrough of DC by this creator. If you aren’t in DC, worth a watch all the way to the end—

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