Um, my first thought (and it’s amazing that I actually had one) was an answer to the question posed in your headline. And that answer is “No.” Time and age have taken their toll, and most of my “thoughts” evaporate on their way into existence. Then my next thought was really just laughing out loud (for real) at this sentence: “It shows us a man who is so lost in thought that he went outside without his clothes, sat down on a tree stump and then forgot to go back inside and get dressed.” So freaking hilarious. You’re killing me! Thank you.
Great piece! “A thought is above your head and to the right” - perhaps that is the origin of “right-brain” and “left-brain” thinking. I wonder where “lame-brain” thinking comes from?
Love this! But ummm actually, the direction of your gaze when thinking ACCORDING TO SOME MAY PERHAPS indicate what you are thinking. I am writing this without looking it up so the combos may be wrong (also indicates how relevant this piece of info has been throughout my life). Looking left is remembering, looking right is creating (also possibly lying). Not a science.
I am guessing that is some correlation of left brain/right brain analysis. And maybe that has some truth. I dont know. I was just looking at stock photos and drawing conclusions for absolutely no reason.
I believe I have discovered the only creative use of stock photos. And I am only getting away with it here, without paying them,because I am so far under the radar.
Low-key, teasing humor is not supposed to generate big laughs, at least not ordinarily. Nevertheless you did it again. Out loud, in front of my desktop, alone.
Um, my first thought (and it’s amazing that I actually had one) was an answer to the question posed in your headline. And that answer is “No.” Time and age have taken their toll, and most of my “thoughts” evaporate on their way into existence. Then my next thought was really just laughing out loud (for real) at this sentence: “It shows us a man who is so lost in thought that he went outside without his clothes, sat down on a tree stump and then forgot to go back inside and get dressed.” So freaking hilarious. You’re killing me! Thank you.
You have *created* a transformation of stock photos and elevated them to a useful truth. I really love it. Also you're brilliant.
You are very kind. Thank you so much.
Yes this series could be turned into a class in studio photography school
Sitting in my car laughing out loud! My answer to the 100-point bonus question is NONE.
Thank you, Merrill, for brightening my evening 😄
thank YOU!
Totally apropos of the zeitgeist. Thank you.
I love your stock photo posts! Always illuminating, and they always make me laugh out loud at least once.
Maybe for the men, pointing at their own head is a sort of pre-thought warm-up / magic trick.
Great piece! “A thought is above your head and to the right” - perhaps that is the origin of “right-brain” and “left-brain” thinking. I wonder where “lame-brain” thinking comes from?
Sitting here alone in the break room, thinking, why do I have no one to eat lunch with?
Love this! But ummm actually, the direction of your gaze when thinking ACCORDING TO SOME MAY PERHAPS indicate what you are thinking. I am writing this without looking it up so the combos may be wrong (also indicates how relevant this piece of info has been throughout my life). Looking left is remembering, looking right is creating (also possibly lying). Not a science.
I am guessing that is some correlation of left brain/right brain analysis. And maybe that has some truth. I dont know. I was just looking at stock photos and drawing conclusions for absolutely no reason.
I love these, this genre, unique to MERRILL MARKOE. You make my eyes open. And it's terribly funny.
I believe I have discovered the only creative use of stock photos. And I am only getting away with it here, without paying them,because I am so far under the radar.
THAT was a funny piece! Please keep writing… I also loved the axe murderer piece!
Thank you, JSH. As this substack has proven to me, I CANT stop writing....so...um...there's that!
Note to self, look up and to the right more. Thank you!
Low-key, teasing humor is not supposed to generate big laughs, at least not ordinarily. Nevertheless you did it again. Out loud, in front of my desktop, alone.
Thanks again!
YAY.
Your use of "Even" in sentence number 2 is golden and I laughed out loud. Thank you
Thank you Malachi!
It's not a tree stump...it's part of the petrified forest. And he's in the bathroom, waiting for... action.
He's thinking - shouldn't've had *that* for dinner last night, causing prorlumps this morn - oh my tummm
😵💫
Good point. I do not know what prorlumps are. PLEASE DO NOT TELL ME.