Like many of you, I am balancing equal measure stacks of work to finish out the year and a wandering eye toward the prep for a scaled down holiday feast and celebration.
Last night my husband suggested we watch Charlie Brown Christmas. By we, it was just us. The kids were off in their own homes or upstairs enthusiastically engaged with an online posse of Valorant tactical team players. Steve is not known for sentimentality but we have always watched the special; either live on a network or from our own personal copy. The first holiday music to play is more than likely our Vince Guaraldi CD. I know we can stream it from dozens of options but there is nothing like tradition--especially around the holidays.
Curious about a credit at the end of the cartoon reading, “Graphic Blandishment by...” I found the director, production designer, storyboard and layout artist, and background painter--Edward Levitt.
He also coined the famous credit used for many years at the end of the Peanuts specials—Graphic Blandishment. “Blandishment” is defined as “something that tends to coax or cajole,” which speaks to Levitt’s modesty and his view of the role he played in the filmmaking process.--RIP: Edward Levitt, 96, Disney Background Painter and Cartoon Modern Designer
Thinking of the word ‘blandishment’ in the context of graphics is brilliant. “A flattering or pleasing statement or action to persuade someone gently to do something.” Well, yes. That is pretty much data visualization in a nutshell, right?
Here are a few year end thoughts from the newsletter, Mumble, Ponder, Delegate over on Substack. I pulled it out from the paywall to share with you. This specific post is from The plausibility of factual information--here are summarized ideas from a year that has been nothing but challenging, heartbreaking, and illuminating. 
Be safe my friends and have a happy holiday season...
Hope Smiles from the threshold of the year to come, Whispering 'it will be happier’--Alfred Lord Tennyson Comments are closed.
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