The Universe is Inside the Earth

I'm pretty well-versed in conspiracy theories & outlandish ideas of all kinds.

 "The universe is not only stranger than we imagine; 

but stranger than we CAN imagine."

-J. B. S. Haldane 

Although all kinds of strange things may be possible, we still have to use our senses and critical thinking to understand our world as accurately as possible.

That is why ideas like the "flat earth" movement drive me nuts. It's just stupid. There's nothing about the reality that we experience that would make it probable that the Earth is a flat disc. Matter naturally accumulates into a sphere, as gravity pulls mass toward all other mass. Look at water droplets, bubbles, etc.

When looking at other celestial bodies it's clear that they have to be spherical in nature. This is self-evident, unless you believe that there is a massive conspiracy involving literally every space agency, astronomer, & anyone who's ever looked through a telescope.

As with so many things in today's interconnected world of limitless digital media, it's tough to tell who is a troll and who really believes this stuff. "The Flat Earth Society" is as ridiculous as a "Moon is Made of Green Cheese" society. Yeah ok, there is a infinitesimal chance it's true, & we've been fed a vast web of lies, but it's so unlikely & defies common sense that it's really just silly.

Then, there is a whole new level of craziness people take their theories to, whether or not it's something they truly believe or are making a joke.

I saw this funny approach to out-doing conspiracy theorists using the Moon, & the comments led me to the amazing image at the top of this post. The 'flat earth' theory seems plausible compared to that configuration. It illustrates the absurd notion that the Universe & the cosmos are actually inside the Earth.

It's a hysterically bizarre & unlikely view of the world. I refuse to accept that someone could actually believe that reality is organized as depicted in that image. It has to be a joke, right???

Oh, I guess not...

Flat Earth Must Decrease, LSC Concave Earth Must Increase 

Lord Steven Christ

However, the same the question arises in this model, as in the accepted scientific view of the Universe- What is 'outside' of the boundaries? The image at top depicts a hard boundary between the crust of the earth and... blackness? In actuality, the idea of cosmic boundaries may not even apply. I think the Universe is a fractal pattern, infinitely self-enclosed with no discernible edge. Our brain cannot formulate the idea of something without edges or definition.

That is why people come up with simple explanations of the way the world works- because the truth is so complex & unimaginable that the mind is powerless to truly envision it all.

Green Earth

Today is Earth Day, and it's a good opportunity to reflect on the importance of the living ecosystem that sustains life on this planet.

The Monkey Buddha Archives:

Earth

I love nature and being outdoors, so Spring is a time I truly enjoy. The return of animals, warm weather, and greenery on the plants & trees makes dealing with the winters of a temperate climate worthwhile.

The industrial age has wrought all kinds of havoc on the Earth, some of which may be irreversible- such as climate change and mass extinctions. However, I feel like we are finally entering a time where mankind will learn to once again live in symbiosis with nature, instead of trying to subdue it & exploit its resources.

People are increasingly looking toward nature-based solutions to approach technological problems.

The Monkey Buddha Archives:

Green Technologies

By working with nature and using design solutions based on living systems, we can begin to undo the damage from centuries of destructive human activity.

I made this graphic below to express the importance of maintaining a vibrant, living planet- in order for humanity to thrive, along with the countless other lifeforms that dwell here with us.

There are many items available in my Cafepress shop with this "Green Earth" design on it, if you'd like to check it out:

The Monkey Buddha Bazaar:

"Green Earth"

Ancient Earth Globe

My Dad & I were having a conversation about what the Earth looked like millions of years ago, and I was explaining how continents as we know them today have shifted over the eons.

The next day, I found this website that lets you pick any time in history, and see where the tectonic movement of the Earth's crust caused land masses to form. It has overlays of the current outlines of countries and US states, to help visualize where the areas are now.

It's an awesome interactive tool that reveals just how dynamic our planet is, and also demonstrates the vastness of the geological scales of time.

Ancient Earth Globe

The International Flag of Planet Earth

Today is Independence Day in the U.S.A., or the Fourth of July. It is the day we celebrate breaking away from British rule and becoming a sovereign nation.

There are a lot of American flags flying today, and the red, white, & blue flag is symbolic for our unity as a country. I saw this article about The International Flag of Planet Earth, and how it should be used a symbol to unite the whole of humanity living on this planet, once we expand outward into the solar system.

Inverse:
If Humans Go to Mars, We Need an Earth Flag 

I think it's very optimistic to think that humanity, with all its primitive tribal instincts, would be able to unite as a collective, instead of continuing to exist as competing factions. I would like to think that colonizing space would be a reason to join the people of this planet together, but even space travel will not be able to overcome the monkey mind that drives us to form different sub-groups.

Still, it is a good idea to create a symbol to represent the Earth as a singular political entity.It would at least represent the idea of the people of this world joined as one, even if it doesn't practically work out that way.

I definitely like the use of the Seed of Life configuration of circles. I created a game using the larger Flower of Life pattern called Da Vinci's Challenge, so I am familiar with the powerful visual impact of this symbol.

I have seen some variations on this flag design, & I prefer the "closed/flat" look, especially because the original looks asymmetrical to me:

Hopefully, the human race continues to progress and eventually travels into space to other worlds. Then, perhaps we will be able to minimize our differences to see the common goal we have been working towards since life began - to survive, thrive, & continue the process of life in new places.

"Grandma" by Chase Stone

On Superpunch, I saw this amazing digital painting of a grandmother and child observing the home planet Earth from an orbiting space station. It evokes a very real & emotionally stirring vision of the human experience in the future.

"Grandma"

by Chase Stone

This weekend a bunch of my family is getting together at my parent's house for Easter dinner. My very extensive family are the most important connections in my life. It's deeply meaningful to see the strong bonds formed between grandparents, parents, children, and 'Uncle Dudes' like myself & my brothers.

Now that we have a new generation of nephews & nieces coming up, I've become even more aware of the limitless possibilities that the future holds for the human race. These infants & toddlers who already know their way around the iPhone's digital interface will be hopefully one day be commanding the starships that will begin to explore our area of the galaxy.

Sometimes I wonder how people living thousands of years from now & traveling to other stars will relate to planet Earth. Will it become a legendary place, that space colonists only see in pictures?

I guess it all depends on how fast travel can take place throughout space & how easily people can stay in contact among the stars. Maybe technology, like hyperspace or gravity warp drives, will be developed that will allow future space travelers to return to Earth relatively quickly. Perhaps traveling to Earth at least once in a lifetime will be like a spiritual pilgrimage to Jerusalem or Mecca in the current age.

What I love about this painting is the beautiful simplicity of the scene- yet it still conveys a vast, mind-expanding sense of space, time, & the wonder of Life.

"Civilization: Beyond Earth" Trailer

 I used to play the original "Civilization" game when I was a kid. You used strategy & resource allocation to build up cities and control areas of a map. It was very addicting & was a fun way to simulate the evolution of nation states.

A few years ago I bought my brother Civ IV for his birthday, since he also used to love the game when we were younger. Even though the core gameplay was similar, the graphics were light years better & the game was much more sophisticated, overall. He says he's spent many hours building nations & empires, so apparently it's just as engrossing as the original.

I recently saw a trailer for the latest installment of the series created by Sid Meier. This game moves off our home planet, among the stars.

Civilization: Beyond Earth

The trailer for the new Civilization is cinematic & doesn't show any of the gameplay. However, it is a thought-provoking look at man's destiny to leave the planetary womb of Earth, to find other inhabitable worlds throughout the infinite expanse of interstellar space.

I've posted here many times about the importance on space travel for the survival of the human species.

The Monkey Buddha Archives:

Space Travel

Besides the technological hurdles that must be overcome, we tend to forget the emotional dimension that will inevitably accompany humanity's migration off-planet. The trailer very effectively conveyed the deep emotional experience that will be felt by our descendants when this journey begins. It also shows the influence of ancient institutions, such as religion & politics, will have on the endeavor.

Ultimately, human beings must break out of this tiny speck in the Universe if we are to continue our genetic & memetic evolution. If we have a destiny, it is among the stars. The time to start reaching for them is now...

The Monkey Buddha:

Travel Among the Stars

Game Review: "Resistance 2"

Alot of PS3 games I get to play are borrowed from my youngest brother. (He somehow finds time to play tons of video games, watch all kinds of movies, & see every single Philly sporting event.) Since he gets alot of good PS3 titles, it's like a free personal rental service for me.

Recently, I played twice through the sequel to "Resistance: Fall of Man". As a first-person shooter revolving around an alien invasion of Earth, "Resistance 2" was my kind of game.


You are a soldier who is fighting an invasion of creatures called The Chimera. Unfortunately you have been infected with a virus, turning you into the very monsters you are fighting. You have a great array of human & alien weapons to use throughout the game; various machine guns, sniper rifles, rocket launchers, energy rifles that can see & shoot through walls, and even a gun that fires circular saws that bounce around, slicing up any Chimera in your way.

The main individual antagonist of the story is another former soldier who was overtaken by the Chimera virus & morphed into a large tentacled creature named Daedalus. This floating freak Daedalus has somehow aquired the knowledge of the Chimera's origin & purpose.

Probably the best aspect of the game is the continuous feeling of overwhelming alien power you are up against. Throughout the many environments you encounter (the forest, a desert canyon, an abandoned 50's era town, Louisiana bayou, & being on a Chimera mothership) one feature is eerily ever-present. Most of the time, when you look up to the sky you are going to see a massive fleet of countless alien craft. It gives you the distinct impression of a truly overwhelming invasion taking place.

Unlike "Dead Space", where you are in outer space stuck on a ship w/ creatures creeping up on you in the dark corridors, Resistance 2 is mostly fought in open battlefields on Earth. The action is intense with hordes of Chimera footsoldiers continuously attacking you in the various locations they have overtaken. Then there are are the inevitable boss battles against insanely huge Chimera monstrosities- like The Leviathan that you have to fight from the top of a city high-rise building:

Overall this is a great game that is alot of fun. I haven't had a chance to play the co-op 2 player missions yet & I don't bother playing other people over the PS network, but the single player campaign was definitely worth playing through a couple times. It seems that despite the efforts of the player, your character ends up totally infected by the Chimera virus & Earth is somehow teleported to some strange location in space at the end of the game. I imagine this will be the setting for Resistance: 3. "This is just the beginning..."

It didn't knock my socks off like "Dead Space", but it is a title I recommend for anyone who likes the FPS variety of games. The amazing locations that are overrun with alien fleets, the wide variety of weapons & Chimera enemies, and the constant blood-pumping action are some of the great features of "Resistance 2".

• The Monkey Buddha's official rating: 8.0

The Overview Effect & Cosmic Consciousness

 “You develop an instant global consciousness, 

a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, 

and a compulsion to do something about it. 

From out there on the moon, 

international politics look so petty. 

You want to grab a politician by the scruff of the neck 

and drag him a quarter of a million miles out and say, 

‘Look at that, you son of a bitch.”  

- Edgar D. Mitchell 

I've posted many times about the wonders of the Universe, and humanity's place in the cosmic order.

Since my childhood, I've been fascinated by the mysteries of outer space. As an adult, my sense of awe over the infinite size & complexity of the cosmos has only deepened. I often think- if our species survives the transition to permanently living in space, what will be our relation to our home planet?

40 years ago, astronauts on the Apollo 17 mission, heading for the moon, took the iconic photo of a fully illuminated Earth. This photo, known as "The Blue Marble" photo, is one of the most widely distributed images, on the very planet it depicts.

To celebrate the anniversary of this pivotal time in the history of the human race, the video below was made with the help of astronauts- describing the utterly profound experience of viewing the Earth from orbit.

It is a great piece... something every person should see. If I could, I'd take Edgar Mitchel's advice & take each person by the scruff of the neck & make them watch it.

If thinking about the Earth, & the life it contains, from this perspective doesn't affect your consciousness... then nothing will.

OVERVIEW from Planetary Collective on Vimeo.

Earth from Saturn

NASA released this awesome shot of the Earth, the pale blue dot, as seen from the Cassini spacecraft near Saturn.

When our problems on Earth seem overwhelming, it's good to remember this cosmic view & put things in perspective.

I made a graphic to express this sentiment awhile back-

Monkey Buddha Archives:

LOOK!

 

 

"Chakra Ascension" Series- 1 Muladhara

In 2003, I created seven 3D images that I intended to be a series.

The images show a solitary, meditating figure in different environments. Each setting corresponds to the ancient metaphysical energy system within the body, known as "chakras".

I am not a chakra meditation practitioner, so I approached this as a metaphorical work of art. I've finally decided to post the "Chakra Ascension" series, for other people to contemplate.

I'll be introducing a new image every day, from now until the Summer Solstice- June 21, 2014.

*Now that it's complete, here is a link to the whole series. There's also a free e-book version that can be downloaded at this link :

"Chakra Ascension Series"

by Paul Micarelli

Scroll down for a description of Chakra 1, Muladhara.  

Click for larger images

From "Chakra Ascension" Series by Paul Micarelli

From "Chakra Ascension" Series by Paul Micarelli

••••••••••••••••••••

This image represents the 1st level of Ascension- the Root Chakra, Muladhara.

The color associated with this chakra is red, and the element is earth.

This energy center is located at the base of the spine.
In this image we see the representation of this chakra, the first stage of spiritual evolution.

Muladhara is characterized by burning, raw emotion, such as; sexual impulse, anger, and fear.
These instincts, which are the basis for our survival, can also lead to much of the suffering we feel in life.

The red hot lava, eating away at the solid rock, shows how these powerful emotions can dissolve away solid reasoning if left unchecked.
However, the lava also is creating new formations at the same time, so these feelings can alternately be a foundation for learning- if we can transform them from destructive energies into a way to understand the mind and our control over it.

As the root chakra, this level also represents the birth and creation of dynamic energy, through the formation of the Earth.
Here we see our primordial planet, which has all the necessary ingredients to eventually create human life, but is currently too volatile to maintain it.
Likewise, someone who dwells in this mental state cannot follow a productive spiritual path, despite the potential for change.

Only when these passions are cooled, and solidified into a stable and balanced emotional life, can this stage really be a foundation to advance to a higher plane of thought.

The close proximity of The Observer to the Earth's surface illustrates the idea of this stage as a grounding experience.
This is the level where we become familiar with the processes that make us alive and vital, although refusing to rise any higher will eventually lead to being consumed.

We are intimately connected with this planet, and also with our primal emotions.
Our attachment to them makes us human, but ultimately they must be transcended for the individual to evolve and for the human race to continue into the future.

The next stage is the 2nd Sacral Chakra- Svadhisthana

Tea Party Madness

The big primary night news this week was college-hussy-turned-Puritan Christine O'Donnell beating long-time incumbent Mike Castle in the Delaware Republican primary. The Republican Party seems it's being split by the Tea Party ideologues which may or may not cost them in the general elections.

It's pretty bad when George W.'s boys like Karl Rove & former speechwriter David Frum are talking smack on these know-nothing, reactionary Teabagger candidates. The far-right wingers have no truly practical policy positions, only that the government is bad & they have to "take our country back!".... back to the Dark Ages I presume (or at least the 18th century).

Mr. Frum, a Bush Republican, laments:

"Republicans have done insufficient serious policy work over the past half dozen years. The legacy of this inactivity is a party on the brink of power, lacking an intellectual framework for the use of that power."

Why would he say that- about his own party? Because a few of these Teabagger candidates say & believe pure craziness bordering on complete ignorance.

For instance:

CHRISTINE O'DONNELL: "Well, creationism, in essence, is believing that the world began as the Bible in Genesis says, that God created the Earth in six days, six 24-hour periods. And there is just as much, if not more, evidence supporting that."

I try to respect people's heartfelt religious beliefs, & find alot of wisdom in the Bible. However, this kind of thinking about the Universe is Sarah Palin-level retarded.

How can you say 24 hour periods exist- before the Sun & Earth were formed!?!?!

The arbitrary measurement of the 'hour' was created by man based on the periodic solar orbit of the Earth. The idea that God delineated Creation into "24-hour days" is so damn stupid it's scary. Yet, Delaware Republicans voted for her over an experienced, moderate 9-term Congressmen....

Alien Communication

Deep Sea Basket Star

People are so excited at the prospect of being able to communicate with 'alien' beings.

I think it's silly to assume that we will be able to exchange information with other-worldy or other-dimensional life any better than we already do with bizarre Earth creatures such as jellyfish or lizards.

There is a chance that the reports of humanoid lifeforms, like the virtually cliché Greys or Reptilians, exist. There is an even better chance that other dynamic forms that we may interpret as "life" will be strange to the point of near incomprehensibility.

I saw this video linked in Posthuman Blues and thought that this could represent some mode of unfamiliar communication or other function which our minds cannot even associate with.

There's another Related Video of abstract eye candy that is pure computer-generated craziness. I wonder, "what if these weird visual forms were actually some kind of completely alien, unimagined intelligence trying to engage me?" I'd like to know how SETI or NASA or any agency on Earth would propose to interact with such beings...

The Evolution of Form



Biogenesis

Asterank: Asteroid Database

 This is an awesome online database that tracks all of the asteroids in our area of the solar system.

Asterank

Asteroid Database and Mining Rankings

Although there are vast areas of emptiness in outer space, there are also alot of bodies of various sizes floating around out there. These objects range from the size of cosmic dust particles, to comets that are miles across like 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, to asteroids the size of small planetoids.

If we were smart, the human race would be pouring significant amounts of money into tracking objects that could have catastrophic collisions with Earth.

Effects of an Asteroid Impact on Earth

Unfortunately, humanity is full of stupid, shortsighted people who would rather spend resources on fighting and killing each other. Hopefully we can evolve & come to our senses before this threat is actualized.

"Chakra Ascension" Series- 4 Anahata

In 2003, I created seven 3D images that I intended to be a series.

The images show a solitary, meditating figure in different environments. Each setting corresponds to the ancient metaphysical energy system within the body, known as "chakras".

I am not a chakra meditation practitioner, so I approached this as a metaphorical work of art. I've finally decided to post the "Chakra Ascension" series, for other people to contemplate.

I'll be introducing a new image every day, from now until the Summer Solstice- June 21, 2014.

*Now that it's complete, here is a link to the whole series. There's also a free e-book version that can be downloaded at this link :

"Chakra Ascension Series"

by Paul Micarelli

 Scroll down for the description of Chakra 4, Anahata.

 Click for larger images

From "Chakra Ascension" Series by Paul Micarelli

From "Chakra Ascension" Series by Paul Micarelli

••••••••••••••••••••

This image represents the 4th level of Ascension- the Heart Chakra, Anahata.

The color associated with this chakra is green, and its element is air.

Anahata is the seat of love and compassion.
First, one must learn to truly love and accept oneself- then unconditional love can be extended to others.

Found at the chest-level location of the heart, with its dense nerve center, this chakra is said to be the center of our "human nature".

This is considered the middle chakra, a bridge where harmony and equilibrium are cultivated by connecting the lower and higher energy levels.

Here the complex emotions of the lower, physical chakras are all assimilated, through selfless love for other beings.

Mindful compassion is the key to sublimating the base emotions into more noble intentions. Then, one can be free to ascend into the higher, more subtle realms of existence.

The Observer on his pillar rises above the physical world, and is enveloped by the clouds and the air element representing this chakra. Looking out onto the ever-changing world below, the lush green color also characterizing the Anahata chakra (and all of Life) can be seen.

The head of The Observer is emerging from the mountains of the womb-like Earth, symbolizing humanity's eventual escape from the confines of this planet.

Although still connected to the Earth & the lower realms, The Observer is continuing the ascent up through the atmosphere.

This symbolizes the process of transcending the physical world, to reach the higher planes of consciousness.

The next stage is the 5th Throat Chakra- Visuddha.

Movie Review: "Interstellar"

Last night, my fiancée & I watched "Interstellar". Admittedly, I pick space movies to watch a lot, so she wasn't too thrilled at first about watching it. However, we both really liked it & spurred conversation today about black holes, the nature of space-time, higher dimensions, relativity, space travel, and cosmic consciousness.

I found myself kind of internally criticizing some of the movie's more scientifically far-fetched scenarios, but it's just sci-fi & entertainment, after all. Despite the fictional nature of the story, it was full of questions & possibilities for real science.

Space.com:

The Science of 'Interstellar': Black Holes, Wormholes and Space Travel

"Interstellar" actually helped spur scientific research, through the process of creating accurate visual effects to simulate approaching a black hole. Interestingly enough, simulating black holes with computer graphics was the topic of my last blog post.

Besides the scientifically-inspired attempts at accuracy, the visuals in the movie had a transcendental effect similar to those of "2001: A Space Odyssey".

The interstellar craft approaching the black hole, "Gargantua".

The story takes place in an unspecified time in the near-future, when the population of Earth is facing a blight that is destroying crops. In a time of global famine and planetary depletion, NASA makes finding another world to inhabit a top priority.

The main character, Cooper, is a pilot who is recruited to travel through a known "wormhole" in space-time near Saturn. The wormhole leads to another galaxy, and appears to have been created by an advance collection of intelligent beings. Astronauts had been previously sent through the inter-dimensional tunnel to find inhabitable worlds in this new galaxy, and Cooper was chosen to join a crew to follow up on these missing scouts.

Cooper leaves both his daughter "Murph" & his son Tom behind, sacrificing his relationship with them to save them and the rest of the species. The familial connection between Cooper & his daughter is the driving force of the movie. Due to relativistic effects of traveling near the speed of light & entering powerful gravity wells around distant stars, there is a experienced time differential. Cooper ages at a rate much slower than his daughter, and also enter hibernation for periods of his journey. They can communicate through some kind of quantum data feed I believe, that allows the ship to receive messages, but they cannot send any back to Earth.

The film explores many of the effects that physical and cosmic forces would have on various modes of space exploration. The strange effects of the theory of relativity are fundamental elements of the story & visual effects.

Although the exotic physics concepts were enough to make "Interstellar" interesting, it then went into an almost metaphysical level. Without giving too much away, the movie shifted into a mind-blowing vision of higher-dimensional space, where time is no longer seen as a linear. It appeared as an almost spacial quality, where all space & time can be seen as an interconnected terrain that can be navigated like our familiar 3D experience.

The ability to enter this dimension, where all space & time exist, leads to a narrative loop that the main characters find themselves in. It turns out that humanity's destiny may be an existence as multi-dimensional energy beings. Cooper's encounter with this mode of reality ends up being the reason he gets there in the first place- leading to a circular causality that is reminiscent of the "grandfather paradox" in time travel.

"Interstellar" was a long film, (especially with Comcast's bullshit commercials, throughout an OnDemand movie) but it was well-worth watching. Yeah, some of it was pretty ridiculous, but it was really thought-provoking and visually stunning. Especially if you are interested in space travel, physics, cosmology, the idea of higher dimensions... or just enjoy a beautiful, mind-bending film, I definitely recommend this movie.

Official Monkey Buddha Rating: 8.5

All the Stars Visible from Earth

This image I saw on Reddit definitely puts our small part of the Universe in perspective.

It is a visualization of the area (the blue sphere) in the Milky Way galaxy containing all the stars visible in the night sky from Earth.

click to enlarge

All the stars that we can see with the naked eye are actually confined to a very small section of our galaxy. There are countless stars throughout the rest of the galaxy that are not visible from our relatively tiny planet. Of course, the Milky Way is just one galaxy among billions- each with billions of stars.

The scale of the universe is truly incomprehensible, and leaves the mind reeling at the size & complexity of our reality.

The Election Multiverse

The idea of a multiverse - multiple, or even infinite, parallel universes existing simultaneously - has been pondered & discussed alot in physics, philosophy, and science-fiction.

Just the problem of free-will vs. destiny could fill volumes by itself. However, for all practical purposes, we can say almost anything the mind can imagine is possible. I started thinking about all the possibilities that could exist for even a single situation, like the outcome of the US Presidential election. Most people think "Oh, well it's easy, you fool, either a Democrat or a Republican will win!"

I'd say there are way crazier things that could happen that are neither choice A nor B. Sure, they might not seem possible, but alot of things don't seem possible... until they happen.

I'm channeling the multiverse and listing some of the myriad possibilities that currently exist for January 20th 2009. It has the potential to be one of the most significant days in history, regardless of the situation.

In order of the situation that I'd personally most like to see first:

1. The true progressive, Dennis Kucinich unbelievably wins through write-in votes, shocking the nation and the entire human race. However, he leads America into a Golden Age of reason, compassion, innovation, and prosperity. His smart & lovely wife, Elizabeth, is his Vice-President.
2. Barack Obama wins the election, & turns the established bureaucracy upside down like a modern-day Akhenaten. His VP is Dennis Kucinich. America is saved from oblivion.
   
3. Obama wins with John Edwards as his running mate & they lead the way in cleaning up The War Monkey's enormous mess.
4. Obama wins, with any other Democrat as his VP- including Hillary. America is returned to a course of sanity & fiscal responsibility.
5. Hillary is nominated and wins the election. She chooses any of the qualified Dems for VP & takes the country in a positive direction.
6. By the end of the summer, the technology exists to jack everyone into a virtual hive mind. As a result, there is no need for a governing body of any sort - all decisions are made through the Borg-like collective consciousness.
   
7. Either Obama or Hillary wins & chooses a Republican running mate. It might be strategically smart to pick someone competent from the other side of the aisle, like Chuck Hagel or another conservative who isn't a ideologue or a pandering hypocrite. I would personally not be thrilled about this possibility, though.
8. Ron Paul leads his 'Ron Paul Revolution' into the GOP convention & takes it over! He wins the election, and his first act in office is to immediately abolish the Federal Reserve.
9. Ralph Wiggum wins as a write-in candidate after a media campaign by Fox.
10. Kids who are too young to remember the 2000 election see the "new guy" Ralph Nader enter the race & forget all about Obama. John McCain wins, thanks to another Nader run. America continues it's descent into oblivion.
11. Obama is the nominee, but large numbers of white Americans would rather see their way of life crumble under a regressive Republican plutocracy than vote for an intelligent Harvard Law graduate with a multicultural background. John McCain wins. America continues it's descent into oblivion.
12. A dimensional portal opens and predatory alien entities flood our world, rendering governments useless. The election never takes place & mankind is scattered about the globe like cockroaches.
13. There is a violent shift of Earth's magnetic poles due to uncontrollable cosmic forces. Civilization is wiped out from the catastrophic effects & only a small number of people survive. Al Gore is one of them, and finally becomes President of New Earth.
14. "Skynet" comes online & the nations and military forces of humans are subjugated by autonomous Robot Armies. "Asimo" is declared the first robot President.
15. Bush & Cheney simply can't leave office without risking exposure to massive war crimes & fraud on the American people. So, they refuse to leave office, citing "Executive Privilege". The Democrats complain a little bit, while the citizens grumble & shake their fists before going back to their deteriorating lives. The United States is changed into The United Empire of America.
16. The Bush Inc. War Profiteering industry finds any loss of business unacceptable. A "terrorist attack" by "Iranian agents" causes George W. Bush to immediately declare nuclear war on Iran, wiping out bases and innocent civilians in cities. Before the election, a state of martial law is put in effect & Bush declares himself President-for-Life. Democrats, anti-war, and other liberal vermin are labeled "terrorist sympathizers" and placed into contracted Halliburton work camps. Dick Cheney's sick fantasy has come true & the rest of the world's nightmare begins.
17. I wake up to (what I think is) Inauguration Day. I'm filthy, tired, & feel absolutely miserable... To my horror, it was all a dream. The year is really 1840 & I realize I'm actually a child who works in coal mines. I don't know or care whose President at the time because my life sucks so bad.
18. Because of the massive amount of debt we can't pay, China announces that the US is now part of the People's Republic. World War III commences & our elections are suspended due to the crisis.
    
19. Anne Coulter becomes the first "female" President by some strange electoral anomaly that turns out to be the direct influence of Satan. He appears, in a horrifying physical form, to act as her Vice-President.
20. Bill Gates completely buys out the Electoral College, Congress, & Supreme Court with a billion dollars. He crowns himself "Supreme Technocrat" and mandates Windows Vista operating system on every single computer in the nation. Apple Computers are outlawed & I kill myself out of sheer desperation.

Wow, that was oddly cathartic.

Of course, I've only listed 20 of the infinite possibilites for this particular situation. I'm sure the universe will serve up a scenario that is probably different than all of these somehow. Since I am not really in the mood to challenge the entire universe right now, I'll stick with this list for now & see what "Reality" has to offer.

Hopefully, it's something that resembles one of my top choices,

...but I'm not holding my breath.

click to enlarge

(If you look close,
I'm in the green universe.)

aka "The Monkeybuddhasphere™"

Linking to the Hive Mind

There are 100 billion neurons in the human brain. There are about 7 billion people on earth- maybe not enough to make a 'brain' yet, but the levels of connectivity permeating our lives is accelerating faster than any one person can fully grasp.

The world's becoming enveloped by broadband, satellites, wi-fi, cellular communication, and all the other magical ways people are exchanging information using pulses of patterned energy. An external hive mind is now steadily increasing in connectivity and content as each moment passes.

When I was a kid in grade school, I knew there had to be a better way to learn and get new ideas than just the Encyclopedia or the Library. In the days before the emergence of the World Wide Web, though, I had no idea what that improved system could be. I just knew back then that getting information solely by looking it up in books really, really sucked.

Now, we have instantaneous information, creativity, and communication through "The Web". Although I'm satisfied with the current state of the internet & its capabilities, the march of progress continues. As technology becomes more ubiquitous and wireless, it's becoming a networked cloud, continuously sharing the collective experiences of humanity.

It seems we are becoming permanent participants in a technological mindstream. Perhaps we will soon be linked up to the hive mind via our iThink and be able to learn even the most difficult lessons instantly. Maybe one day we'll even shed physical networking systems altogether, when we discover how to tap into the Akashic Field. There is, of course, the crappier possibility that humanity will be destroyed before any of this happens.

The future of computing, networking, and how they relate to a global consciousness is something that is compelling to think about. These are links to great articles about the coming Overmind that have caught my attention so I wanted to post them:

Reality Sandwich
"Living in the Infosphere"

Wired.com
"Cognitive Computing Project
Aims to Reverse-Engineer the Mind "

Kevin Kelly
"Evidence of a Global SuperOrganism"

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
"The Singularity: A Special Report"

Discover Magazine
"How Google is Making us Smarter"

Gizmondo.com
"What If the Earth
Is a Giant Alien Hard Drive?"

"Chakra Ascension" Series- 2 Svadhisthana

In 2003, I created seven 3D images that I intended to be a series.

The images show a solitary, meditating figure in different environments. Each setting corresponds to the ancient metaphysical energy system within the body, known as "chakras".

I am not a chakra meditation practitioner, so I approached this as a metaphorical work of art. I've finally decided to post the "Chakra Ascension" series, for other people to contemplate.

I'll be introducing a new image every day, from now until the Summer Solstice- June 21, 2014.

*Now that it's complete, here is a link to the whole series. There's also a free e-book version that can be downloaded at this link :

"Chakra Ascension Series"

by Paul Micarelli

Scroll down for the description of Chakra 2, Svadhisthana.

 Click for larger images

From "Chakra Ascension" Series by Paul Micarelli

From "Chakra Ascension" Series by Paul Micarelli

 ••••••••••••••••••••

This image represents the 2nd level of Ascension- the Sacral Chakra, Svadhisthana.

The color associated with this chakra is orange, and its element is the primary substance of life, water.

Svadhisthana is the "Seat of Life"- governing sexual reproduction & creative energy. This is a result of energy rising up from the molten, swirling unity of the Root Chakra experience and separating into the duality that defines the human mind and society.
This is the level where we divide reality into ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ / ‘beauty’ or ‘ugliness’ / ‘this’ or ‘that’ / ‘me’ or ‘them.’

In this image, we see the water element associated with this chakra emerging from the Earth.
Now that the Earth has cooled, the primal lava eruptions have changed into more stable materials and forms that surround The Observer.

The concept of polarity gives rise to the emotional characteristics of this stage- relationships, sexuality, and pleasure. These feelings occur when a recognition of the self and also a sense of the other are present.
The mountains and deep waters are representations of these complex emotional landscapes. The water element can also be understood as the vast subconscious, that rules our dreams and subtly influences our waking life.
It is at this stage that many of our hang-ups or inhibitions concerning these natural feelings manifest themselves.

When this chakra is properly integrated, one learns to accepts change- like water that conforms to any surface. Life becomes fluid, graceful, and full of deep emotional meaning.

Like water, a person who has mastered this level can passively adapt to his surroundings, but also has the power to alter the world around him- as flowing water carves the hardest rock into beautiful formations.

The feminine aspect of the self is symbolized in the Svadhisthana chakra by a crescent moon. The idea of change and time has been influenced by the glowing moon ever since we were creatures dwelling in the tidal pools between land and sea, slowly making the transition from one medium to another.

Similarly, mastering this energy level and adapting to the never-ending flux of the Universe allows you to make the transition into higher stages of spiritual evolution.

The next stage is the 3rd Navel Chakra- Manipura.

Movie Review: "Gravity"

This weekend, I went to see the movie "Gravity" in 3D.

I saw the trailer for the movie & read the rave reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. I love anything related to outer space, so I definitely wanted to see it. I'm glad that I did, because it was an awesome movie that's as close as most of us will ever get to the experience of being an astronaut. Basically, the story follows Bullock's character, as she is separated from the space shuttle and must keep finding her way to temporary safety while in space.

From the very beginning, the cinematography is amazing. The movie opens with a beautiful vista of our home planet, Earth, that fills the movie screen. A white speck comes into view orbiting the planet, that slowly pans into the space shuttle on which the astronauts, played by Sandra Bullock & George Clooney, are working. This beautifully gradual zoom is the first scene in a movie full of awesome camera work, effects, & editing, The scenes alternately go between the wide, empty vacuousness of outer space, & the up-close, personal situations of the astronauts. There are points where you even get a 1st person view from Sandra Bullock's perspective, such as looking out from inside her helmet as she's taking it off. However, all these viewpoints flow together seamlessly into a very suspenseful virtual ride in Earth's orbit.

The movie does an excellent job at making the viewer feel the crushing isolation that one must feel in the vast emptiness of space. It also shows how physically vulnerable we human beings are out there, without the help of our technology and intelligence.

Neil DeGrasse Tyson has famously criticized some of the scientific inaccuracies in Gravity. However, he also said there was a lot that was right with the movie & that he enjoyed it. I'm pretty well-informed about science, so there were a few pretty big errors that I saw during the movie. For instance, the distance between the different country's space stations are probably much farther apart then they are portrayed. Also, there's simply no way any human being could endure the craziness & physical punishment that Sandra Bullock's character had to go through. Despite my inevitable criticisms, these pale in comparison to the experience of being in space that "Gravity" simulates.

I've posted here before about mankind's destiny to travel among the stars. This movie reveals how pathetically little we've truly adapted to life in space. We have barely transitioned to surviving just outside our atmosphere. We literally have light-years to go before we are ready for extensive space travel, even within our own galaxy.

There are also deep themes of rebirth & transformation throughout the film, such as scenes of Bullock in a fetal position inside a womb-like space capsule. She also emerges from water in a baptismal scene where she can be said to be re-born. Like the classic "2001: A Space Odyssey," these scenes could also allude to the transformation of humanity, into a new being that exists beyond the confines of our current world.

"Gravity" was an awe-inspiring movie that helps put our feeble, yet miraculous, lives into a much wider perspective. I recommend it for anyone who loves science, astronauts, or just a great thrill ride through the deadly darkness of outer space.

Official Monkey Buddha Rating: 8.0