"Curated" vs. "selected"

When did the word "curated" become a thing?

I get using the word "curated" to mean "carefully selected," as used by The Jealous Curator. As the sub-title says, it's "a collection of artwork that inspires and depresses me. I know it's good when I'm left thinking DAMN I WISH I THOUGHT OF THAT." But now I'm seeing "curated" on 'membership only' style e-commerce sites.

Yes, the items on these sites are quite attractive, often well-designed, and some are actual art pieces. But come on. Does "curated" really belong on a sales site? What, is "selected" too understandable by the unwashed masses? I'm not the only one asking this question.

Call me literal, but  I think "curated" implies a certain level of artistic training and academic research into the subject. (The Jealous Curator has a BFA and a design diploma, plus several years' experience as a designer and creative director.) Yes, you can earn a degree in marketing and become an expert. I get that.

But it's as if some of the e-commerce sites are trying to convince me marketing items that might be discussed in an art history class is the same as teaching an art history class.

I don't like being manipulated (well, overtly manipulated anyway). Yes, these sites are interesting. But they're not so rare and unique that it's worth begging for an invitation to shop there. [eye-roll] I have to beg to offer you my money? Really?

EDIT: I can think of a couple of e-commerce sites, like Artful Home, for which "curating" makes sense because they're mostly about art and design. But the rest of it? "Our products are Art because we're selling them at such a high price we've decided to call them 'investment pieces.' "

What do you think about "curated" sites? Tell me in the comments or on Facebook.

Don't let them steal your power

The neighborhood boys were playing some game in which they could steal one another's powers (I think it had something to do with a video game). Poor TwoBoo... he had the saddest look when it happened to him.
Crossing my fingers, I tried to fix things: I told him to use his Nerf sword to get his powers back.

Off he charged, getting in touch with his inner berserker.

Here's to remembering that lesson the next time someone tries to take my power.

What artists do when they're snowed in

If there is enough snow in our front yard to attempt a snowman, you can assume I've been indoors long enough to get desperate for something to do. Like...organizing supplies.

I catalogued all my oversized decorative and handmade papers. The Husband used to tell me just to snip little pieces off the paper, then tack them to the tubes so I'd know which papers were inside. But... I could've USED that snippet. [agonized wail]

Somewhere, I read about an excellent compromise: print photos of the paper, collect them on rings, then put each ring of photos on the corresponding tube.

A much more involved task than I thought -- I have like 14 tubes and carrying bags of paper. But it's done! Unfortunately, I was also snowed in long enough to have to do housework. Thank God for snow melt.