Microsoft's New Logo - Blah.

The first 'real' PC my family bought in the early 1990's was a crappy machine running Windows 3.0 with DOS.

Ever since those days of primitive computing, my disdain for Microsoft products has only increased.

Thankfully, in college I began using Apple computers for my design classes. Now, I use Macs for work & home, and I also recently bought an iPhone. My digital experience is now wonderfully seamless & hassle-free, in a way that was unimaginable 10-20 years ago.

Although I avoid using Windows computers like the plague, I wanted to comment on the new Microsoft logo that was recently unveiled.

What Do You Think of Microsoft’s First New Logo in 25 Years?

Don't worry, I'm not going to waste too much cyberspace saying alot about it.

Basically, the new branding is predictably lame, uninspired, boringly corporate, & just 'blah'... like the company itself:

Yeah I understand how it relates to "the company's shift of focus from the classic style to the tile-centric modern interface."  It's still bland & completely lacks any soul.

The latest iteration above, though it's modern-looking, sucks the little sense of whimsy or originality out of Microsoft's corporate identity:

 

Although I appreciate simplicity in design, "simplicity" & "design" are things that Microsoft has never done well.

The original Microsoft logo, below, might be the craziest... & therefore the coolest-

 

The Conveyor Belt of Life

Don't let this happen to you.

Jump off the conveyor belt & try to live a little on your own terms.

Take a deep breath & appreciate this moment in which you are alive... while you still have the opportunity.

Our Story in 2 Minutes

One of the wonders of modern technology is the ability to easily visualize scales of time and space that were previously unimaginable.

Monkey Buddha Archives:

Scales of the Universe

This is a video made by a high school student that takes the viewer on a trip through the history of the Universe, culminating in our recent human history.

It's a great visual expression of the rich cosmic & historic legacy that all of us human beings have inherited.

Our Story in 2 Minutes

Interview with Alex Grey

This weekend my brother sent me a link to this interview with the master visionary artist, Alex Grey:
 

Reality Sandwich

Nets of Being: An Interview with Alex Grey

The article describes his unique style of art very well:

"Grey's work features a rare alchemy of science and spirituality, 

where anatomically precise human bodies interweave 

with profound kaleidoscopic mystical experiences."

Alex Grey & his transcendental visions have inspired me for many years. His work never stops instilling a sense of wonder about the profound mysteries of reality & the human body.

The Monkey Buddha Archives:

Alex Grey

I had the privilege to talk to him & his wife Allyson after one of his multimedia lectures in Philadelphia back in 2005. It was amazing to meet someone whose work I admired so greatly. 

He signed the picture, called "Painting", at the top of this post, which I still have it on my desk at work.

Monkeys vs. Bears

 I saw this classic Stephen Colbert rant on my Facebook feed, about the dangers of monkeys intermingling with bears - nature's 'godless killing machines'.

Colbert Report

Bears Eat Monkey

 

 

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Bears Eat Monkey
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

Then on Picture is Unrelated, I came across this crazy animated GIF with a cymbal monkey surrounded by angry bears. It made total sense to post these 2 items together... so here they are!
 

       

Happy Artists

 from FFFFOUND!

I recently saw this article on Neatorama about a study suggesting that artistic people are happier with their careers than workers in other fields:

ScienceShot: 

"Starving but Happy"

Any profession that allows a degree of creativity will be rewarding on some level. 

I feel fortunate to have a successful career in graphic design, because I've always loved observing & making visual art.

However, I also try to venture into other types of projects for the sake of creative exploration. An artist with a wide breadth of vision can express ideas through any medium.

Despite the long history of disturbed artists, expressing one's inner vision & bring forth new things into the world is a joyful & fulfilling experience (...for those of us who are not completely crazy).

Classy Chimp Painting

Not much to say about this, it's just awesome.

This is how I feel when enjoying a holiday...

 Seen on Cheezburger

Visual Trip Through Video Game History

Even though I haven't really had a chance to played video games lately, I had a little time over the holiday weekend to play some PS3 w/ friends. I've been a casual gamer since I was 5 years old, so I've seen plenty of systems & titles in my time.

Now my nephews, nieces & friends' kids are starting to play video games on iPads & the traditional console systems. Luckily, I'm from a generation that doesn't feel like one should give up something they enjoy just because they're getting older.

The Monkey Buddha Archives:

Video Game Reviews

I came across this video on Neatorama that starts out with Pong & Atari, then works its way through the many memorable games over the years to virtual reality-like quality of the current-gen consoles.

Some of my recent favorites that are featured in the video include; Dead Space, Batman Arkham Asylum, Assassin's Creed, & Bioshock.

 There's no dialog or identification of the individual titles, just a visual trip through the development of the art of video games.

A Brief History of Video Games

Political Madness 2012

I haven't really commented on politics this election season as much as I have in the past, but I always  pay close attention to the political & election news.

To coincide with the bizarre carnival of archaic & absurd ideas going on right now- also known as the 2012 Republican National Convention - The Monkey Buddha presents some favorite political humor & infographics;

Political Madness 2012

I'm a registered Independent, but my political views would tend to be seen as progressive. However, I'm also conservative- in the sense that I don't think public money should be wasted on unpaid wars of conquest, unfunded mandates or tax breaks for the obscenely wealthy. I'd like to think of myself as a realist & an objective observer, but I also think there are real differences between the objectives of the 2 major political parties.

I find the Republican Party, as a whole, to be hopelessly obsessed with out-moded ideas & downright delusional policy positions. They seem to long for a mythical time in history... where America was uncorrupted, pure, & righteous in the eyes of (the Christian) God.

Of course, such a time never existed.... The World Was Always Awful!

Watching as much of the GOP convention as I can stomach, it's almost like viewing performances from a weird political satire movie. It's just lame on an epic scale. Who knows if the Democratic Convention will be just as bad, but it'll be hard to match the lack of charisma of these speakers.

Anyway, I come across alot of political material in my Internet travels, but haven't posted alot of them. To kick of the Presidential Election race, I dumped some political art I've saved into an album in The Monkey Buddha Visual Archives.

Learning the Meaning of Life

 After the video featuring Cyriak's dissonant view of Life in my last post, I thought I"d balance it out with a more tranquil vision.

I've previously stated my view that there is NO such thing as a "Meaning" of Life.

The Monkey Buddha Archives:

The Meaning of Life

"Meaning" is an abstract concept, created by the mind of humans, and is NOT inherent in nature.

Life just IS.

Despite that fact, I can appreciate the sentiment below, by Lin Yutang.

Lin Yutang Quotes

It hints at the need to let pressing worldly concerns drop away once in awhile, to appreciate the immediate sensations we experience when relaxed & at peace.

I constantly have design work & other projects going on.
However, I've also continually cultivated the ability to turn off the computer, the TV, & the cell phone- so my mind can experience periods of introspection or undisturbed calm.

One of my great joys in life is the chance to rest & do nothing at all.

seen on FFFFOUND!

"The Counting Song" by Cyriak

I've known about the twisted mind of Cyriak for awhile, & really enjoy his crazy animated GIFs:

Cyriak

Animated GIFS

He directed this playful animated "children's song" that abruptly goes off the deep end... & into the hopeless pit of despair that is adulthood:

"Counting Song"

Visionary Art by Mugwort Designs

On The Teleomorph, I saw links to the excellent work of 2 talented artists that caught my 3rd eye.

The art of Isaac Mills of Mugwort Designs is simply awesome. His creations are on par with other great visionary artists, like Luke Brown & the master, Alex Grey.
 
Check out his gallery... it's hard for me to pick favorites:

Mugwort Designs: 

Visions

He makes unique, hypnotic collages of geometric & symbolic forms. In the one below, he utilized the ancient Flower of Life pattern. This symbol, made of equidistant interlocking circles, inspired me to create the "Da Vinci's Challenge™" strategy game.

 The perfect, emergent symmetry of the Flower of Life has inspired artists like ourselves since the dawn of civilization.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1341262@N25/pool/ 

 I also thought this techno-buddhist future totem was a wild journey from the Hell Realms to the Buddha Realms of Pure Light:

Such mind-bending illustration would be almost impossible without the infinitely versatile light canvas that we call "the computer".

On the same post I saw Mugwort's art, there was also this brilliant depiction of the lotus flower as a symbol of Spirit/Consciousness emerging from the muck of the physical world, by Julie Beloussow.

Third Perception

"Growing Old" by Dan McCarthy

This is a beautiful transforming print, by artist Dan McCarthy, that perfectly captures the inevitability & poignancy of Life's impermanence.

It glows in the dark, so the image of the aged person & tree appears when the lights go out.

Dan McCarthy

see on OMG Posters!

The Secret To Eternal Happiness

Seen on this isn't happiness

Solar Energy Spill

I've posted previously about the insanity of paying for electrical power when our world is awash with unlimited free energy.

Monkey Buddha Archives:

Free Energy

One source of boundless energy is the giant nuclear furnace in the sky, our Sun.

I'll be on vacation at the Jersey shore this week, so I'll be too busy exposing myself to the 'solar energy spill' on the beach to post alot.

I Want Happiness!

Although cleansing the mind of ego-driven desire is by no means this simple, below is a fun visual representation of the Buddhist perspective on the root causes that result in our emotional suffering.

Also, working to diminish the influence of the ego & the things it wants isn't a path to "Happiness". That is NOT the goal. 'Inner peace' is a more accurate consequence of this work- since 'happiness' is just another aspect of our fluctuating spectrum of emotional states. The temporary feeling of 'happiness' invariably leads to a sense of loss, once we stop feeling happy.

Therefore, a continuing cultivation of mental & emotional calm is the more direct purpose of attentive spiritual practice.

Archival Fred Rogers Interview

While working on the computer, I listened to this entire 4 hour, 9-part interview with public television legend, Fred Rogers.

He is best known for the children's TV show, "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood", which influenced generations of young American minds.

Mr. Rogers was an uncommonly kind & gentle soul. His lifelong commitment to providing young children with positive, educational programming was truly a gift to our culture.

He emphasized art, music, learning of all kinds, and nurturing healthy emotions in a child that are vital to developing a mentally sound human being, early in their life.

I watched Mr. Rogers when I was a little kid. He was an ordained minister & was almost like a childhood Zen master to me- teaching calm, compassion, and the value of an inquisitive, open mind. These are qualities that have stayed with me into my adult life.

He even testified before Congress in 1969 to save public television programming from the fiscal chopping block of the regressive conservatives of the time. 

I'm glad I listened to the whole interview, as he has valuable insights & inspiring wisdom shared throughout.

His loss was a profound one for our society, but thankfully his work lives on in hundreds of episodes & this archival interview.

"Connect One!" Game

Continuing from my last post about 'Impossible Objects'...

I saw this great image below on Picture is Unrelated, which is a great source of complete visual nonsense.

After working as a designer to create graphic order all the time, it's fun to just look at things that are totally crazy & make absolutely no sense at all.

This would fall under the category of horrible, un-playable bad toys, such as my previous favorites:

Truther Toys

Ancient Greek Punishment Games

Absolutely NOT fun for the whole family!

'Impossible Objects' by Jacques Carelman

I saw this great set of paradoxical creations on Visual News. They are called 'Impossible Objects' by the French artist Jacques Carelman.

Catalogue of 'Impossible Objects' by Jacques Carelman

We take the functionality of so many tools & other items for granted, that even simple modifications can make them appear totally bizarre.

Visual News:

Impossible Objects: Perfectly Useless & Entertaining

The Evolution(?) of Man

My Dad, Big Paul, has a funny outlook on technological progress.

He always insists that technology is changing us in such a way that humans are going to end up as immobile blobs, with video screens attached to their faces.

The movie Wall-E had a similar premise:

Considering that I & my siblings have iPhones that we're always on, I can see how he'd think his prediction is being vindicated.

I saw this amusing animated GIF below on Memebase & I immediately thought of my Dad's theory:

I personally think that even with future technology (like an "Apple iThink") humans will still physically function as we do now. However, our senses, perceptions, & mental abilities will be enhanced beyond limits we can currently imagine.

Maybe there will eventually be movements of people, "Naturals," who vigorously oppose the inevitable melding of man & digital machine.

One day in the farther future, however, there might be a point where, as the late, great Terence McKenna claimed, we may 'shed our monkey bodies' & enter hyperspace, no longer confined by the physical constraints of our current biological existence.

Until then... I'll just continue to enjoy the many pleasures & novel sensory experiences of this mortal, humanoid form.

(...although I would appreciate augmented memory & perceptions with multiple, parallel streams of consciousness.)

To illustrate this jump into the Singularity, below is a techno-eschatological self-portrait I submitted to the website, "Can You Draw the Internet?":

From The Monkey Buddha Visual Archive:

"A digital self-portrait
representing the mind integrating with &
transcending physical technology
through immersion into the realm of pure energy.
The Internet is the beginning of a conduit
into a non-local experience of consciousness."

 

 

Meditation on Life & Death

As a college design student, I created an interesting booth for my senior show.

One part of my exhibit was the hand-crafted prototype of the game, based on the Flower of Life, which became "Da Vinci's Challenge™".

In another part of my exhibit, I had graphic art & found items, accompanied by meditative quotes. At the time, I had begun to explore Eastern spiritual philosophies which expanded my perspective greatly.

For instance, I smashed a porcelain laughing buddha, with the quote: "If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha!"

One quote that was used with the Death Buddha I made below, & which I reflect on almost daily, was this:

"Of All Mindfulness Meditations, 

That on Impermanence and Death is Supreme."

-Buddha

I recently came across this painting, which initiated this post. It pictures a monk visualizing the process of bodily decay after death:

Although revulsive for many to think about, it is important to expose yourself to the natural cycle that follows the departure of life force from the body.

In addition to preparing the mind for its point of departure, meditating on the reality of Death should be meant to give you a greater appreciation for Life... right now!

Fully grasping the inescapable, impermanent nature of our existence should make any person eager to completely fulfill each precious moment they experience.

Poconos 2012 Photos

From Poconos 2012

I've uploaded some pics from my recent week in the Poconos.

Photo Album

Poconos 2012

They are mostly nature pics & shot of the amazing mountain scenery. The lake we stay on always has stunning sunsets, in pastel or golden colors.

The first day we were there, we went to Jim Thorpe, PA & took the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. Then we walked around the town, visiting the many neat shops there. I met an artist in one art gallery who showed me some decorative furniture he had in storage with the Flower of Life motif on them.

Early in the week we also went to the flea market I talked about in my last post.

Although I didn't go on any long mountain hikes this year, we did take a short hike to one of my favorite scenic places, Hawk Falls, in Hickory Run State Park. There is a picturesque waterfall at the bottom of the trail & we did some diving into the ice cold mountain water.

There are also some pics of the ridiculous shish kebab feast my brother grilled one night. We ate 10lbs+ of steak, chicken & shrimp kebabs.

The fishing was pretty good & I usually went out by myself on a kayak. One night, I was kayaking alone on the lake & fishing from dinner until after midnight. There was no moon, so it was dark, perfectly quiet & a wonderfully peaceful time out on the water.

My family always has a great time on vacation & this trip was no exception.

Flea Market Finds

When I was in the Poconos last week, my family all went to a big outdoor flea market.

I don't usually buy anything, but we all love to look at the tons of crazy crap people are selling.

My sister started the idea of having a contest to see who could find the most insane item at a flea market. Of course, "insane" is one of those qualities that's hard to define, but I know it when I see it.

It's always hard to commit to buying something, since there might well be an even crazier thing at the next table. As soon as I saw it, I was pretty confident that my pick was a winner. (see below)

Anyway, halfway into the trip, I finally figured out that I should just start taking photos of the wackiest stuff.

After I saw this ridiculous fancy Ladycat, I started snapping pics:

It's definitely 'magical', but I can't imagine who would hang this plaque up in their home:

 I thought this totally 80's Body Rap toy was Vanilla Ice bad & totally hysterical:

Some guy in a scooter & his overly-enthusiastic son were tending a big tent of weapons.

This was their sales display:

This speaks for itself, a sorry bastard flushing himself down a toilet- "Goodbye Cruel World":

Finally, this may (or may not..) be me with my prize find... a breast-shaped creamer cup:

I was browsing the table & the nipple cup was turned backwards, apparently to protect the eyes of the youth. The guy working there looked me right in the eyes & slowly turned the cup around to face me. It was only $2, & I immediately told him "I'm buying it."

My brother-in-law was standing right behind me as this was happening, eating wasabi nuts. I turned to look at him, & he simply said, "Game Over."


As an artist, I have to say, it's actually a well-crafted ceramic piece! I can appreciate the artistry as much as the absurdity.


At the end of the week, I fulfilled my promise to drink beer out of it. I don't think I'll post that pic here, though...

Back From the Poconos...

 I'm finally back from my annual vacation at the Pocono Mountains in PA.

My family all stay in a house right on a lake & we always have a great time. The week consists of alot of fishing, eating, drinking, & lounging around by the water.

Until I have more time to post, here's a pic of one of my favorite scenic places- Hawk Falls at Hickory Run State Park:

"Da Vinci's Challenge™" & Flower of Life History

 The original hand-made version of

"Da Vinci's Challenge™"

featuring the Flower of Life game board

As a college design student, one of my senior projects was to create an original board game. At the time, my interest was piqued in ancient history & sacred art traditions. I read about the pattern of interlocking circles called "The Flower of Life' & thought it would make a perfect game board.

It was one of those lightning-strike moments I'll never forget. I had an immediate & complete vision of how the game should be, from the rules to the visual appearance.

To give it a look like it was from the ruins of an ancient temple, I made the original version out of stone- with a copper playing surface & wood case. I had never worked with some of these materials before, but my professor pushed me to make it into the amazing piece of fully-functional art in the photo above.

In the beginning of my career as a graphic designer, Briarpatch produced it as a retail board game, "Da Vinci's Challenge™". Leonardo da Vinci himself studied the properties & proportions of the equidistant, geometrically arranged circles.

Wikipedia;

Flower of Life: Leonardo da Vinci

To maintain my unique vision for a game using a Flower of Life game board pattern, I patented the game play (Patent US7114721). Inside the oval & triangle spaces formed by the interlocking circles, you must form "secret symbols" with your playing pieces. These are familiar patterns worth more points as they increase in complexity.

"Da Vinci's Challenge™" Score Sheet

This summer, I'm FINALLY working toward developing "Da Vinci's Challenge™" as a digital app for mobile devices like the iPhone. If things go according to plan, I'll post updates here on the process. This past weekend, my brother worked with me to film a test shoot & edit a rough cut of the pitch video that'll be used to raise funding for the project. We inserted some of the graphic elements I've been creating & it's looking like it might turn out pretty cool.

"Da Vinci's Challenge™" is probably the single creation I'd like to live on after I'm gone, because it really does contain profound qualities that transcend the label of a mere 'game'. With the right perspective, it can be seen as a reflective meditation on the mind & Reality itself.

"Secrets of Da Vinci's Challenge"

It also possesses a rich legacy, that spans human history.

Through one of my random Google searches, I just came across an excellent Flickr group. It's a pool of photos showing the many uses of the Flower of Life & the central 6-petal motif in ancient art.


Here's the front page for the Flickr group, with some basic Flower of Life & Petal Motif info. 
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1341262@N25/

Here's a link to the full photo pool, with a collection of amazing examples of this motif used around the world.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1341262@N25/pool/

Microbial Meditations

This weekend my friend who I've know all my life & who's going to med school in NY, was in town. We basically stayed in his pool & drank beers all afternoon on Saturday, when the temp was 100º+. We always have great conversations & now he's becoming even more knowledgeable about medicine & science, in general.

Some of our talking about physiology & also the microscopic world made me think of a few articles I've seen recently. They're about micro-organisms, the tiny lifeforms that make up most of our 'being'.

Wikipedia:

Composition of the Human Body

We "human beings" are more of an ecology of life, rather than 'individual' entities.

NYTimes:

In Good Health? Thank Your 100 Trillion Bacteria

Bacteria aren't the only symbiotic life forms within our skin...

Gizmodo: 

The Weird Fungus That Lives In Your Gut

Here is a clickable graphic, showing the various things throughout our body:

Scientific American:

 Explore the Human Microbiome [Interactive]

On a more disturbing note, there's evidence that micro-organisms may also be able to directly effect a more complex animal (like a human).

 Raw Story: 

Studies Suggest That Microbes Can Control Our Minds

People gave George Lucas alot of crap for adding the 'Midi-chlorian' concept to the Star Wars universe, but I thought it was an interesting angle. The idea of trillions of tiny, living things creating energy fields that can be sensed or manipulated is an explanation that mirrors the vital necessity of these unseen organisms in the real world.

One thing I love about modern computing is the ability to visualize the reality that lies beyond our immediate senses. There've been many animations created that make processes on the cosmic & microscopic scales able to be easily understood. 

This is a good video showing the life of the dreaded flu virus:

Finally, here's a remix of a Bjork song I came across while searching Google for things in this post. Leave it to her awesome craziness to write a song comparing love to a virus.

"Obamacare" Explained

Even though I haven't commented on politics recently, the recent Supreme Court ruling narrowly upholding the "Obamacare" law (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) was actually a pretty big deal... with real results for millions of people.

On Reddit there's an excellent breakdown of some of important points of the legislation:

  What Exactly is Obamacare 

and What Did it Change?

Whether you think it was good or bad is probably determined by your ideology & sources of editorial viewpoints. I try to analyze the facts & understand the arguments pro vs. con. With something as complicated and colossal as the health care system (or education / banking / etc.), there's alot of issues that need to be considered.

Although 'The Affordable Care Act' leaves the privatized health insurance shark pit intact, it does seem to begin to address some of the massive problems with the existing system. Most of the over-reaction to it is an echo of the hyper-reactionaries at Fox News or talk radio who scream about tax hikes & death panels. Ultimately, though, the law is only a band-aid for a festering situation in which our health is at the mercy of corporate greed & malfeasance.

In my American utopia, health care would be a totally nationalized health care system. Yes... government-run health care, providing for the public welfare, like most civilized countries. For some reason, this is considered a "liberal" position, even though it's the only one that makes sense.

Medicare-for-All 

(Single-Payer Health Care) Explained

Why do we give members of Congress & the heroes in the Armed Forces socialized government health care, if it's such a crappy, evil system? ...& how is the current corporate health insurance racket a better option, in any way?!? 

The private health insurance industry should be banned by an act of Congress & we should have single-payer. The status quo is complete nonsense & it's probably one of the most crippling aspects of our economy.

There is NO reason why an employer should be made responsible for their employees' general health insurance. It's f*ing crazy. If everyone was paying into a government system, the employers in this country, small & large, would be freed of the private health insurance burden...which is enough to crush some small businesses & would be completely unnecessary under a different system.

Would there be waste, fraud, & abuse in government-run health care? Yes! Of course!!! ... but the difference is it wouldn't be the insatiable for-profit vampire we have now, & we can vote for people who have ideas to change the public system. The current free-market solution is a disaster & completely indefensible. If you are defending it, you must be either an insurance executive or a lobbyist... otherwise it's insane.

Suggestions for Success

I thought the set of suggestions was a good list of beneficial qualities & attitudes to cultivate.

Of course, it's probably impossible to consciously embody all of these ideals at once.

Keeping a list like this can help us be mindful of the way we are living, though.

Here's some more quotes by H. Jackson Brown Jr.

GoodReads.com

Quotes by H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Battle Babies: Coptorilla

When I was a kid, G.I. Joe's were among the legions of action figures my brothers & I would collect.

I used to save all the blister card packages, with info about the characters & admire the art on the box.

On Superpunch, I saw this awesomely humorous concept for a G.I. Joe-style line of toys called "Battle Babies."

How could I not post this picture- of a cigar-smoking baby, shooting weapons from the back of a gorilla flying with a helicopter pack?!?!?!?!

Weirdo Toys:

Coptorilla Comes in for a Landing

Louis C.K. on Boredom

I've posted before on the idea of "boredom", but I saw this rant by comedian Louis C.K. which is even more to the point.

Someone who says "I'm bored," is basically saying "I can't stand myself."

A calm mind is not perturbed by inactivity.

iPhone Free Apps: Top Picks

Since getting an iPhone, I've been able to browse the App Store to find downloads that may be fun, useful, & informative.

I'm not really into too many games, since I'd rather play on a larger screen. Some of them are pretty good, though. Reading on the iPhone is actually not bad, & I'm currently reading the version of "Thoughts on Life & Art" by Leonardo da Vinci in iBooks.

I am starting to work on getting my own game app developed, for the award-winning strategy game I created as a college student, "Da Vinci's Challenge™" The gameboard is a pattern of circles known as the Flower of Life, that was studied by Leonardo in his codex drawings. I have been downloading other  Da Vinci based material to help inspire this effort. Now that I am able to check out apps & their capabilities, this project is one of my top priorities now.

In order to share the time I personally spent picking quality apps, I'm making a quick (nevermind, this took me awhile) list of ones I've downloaded to date. I've only gotten free ones for now, & they're in the categories I use to group them.

Probably one of my favorite apps is Relax Melodies, which is a wonderful ambient noise generator. I love using it!  Although I don't really have trouble sleeping, having relaxing background noise is really nice sometimes.

Fun
• Forge of Neon - draw cool glowing mult-dimensional designs, with details you can zoom into & rotate.
• Mandala Lite - this is a cool colorful fractal kaleidoscope in motion
• Shark Fingers! Free - my little nephews & friends' kids love this. You touch the screen & sharks start "biting" your finger & the water turns red w blood. Crazy.
• SpinArt Free
• Sci-Fi Sounds

Games
• Genesis Free - I've only played a little of this game but its very engaging. You manipulate beams of light to hit all the planets, which burst into color & activate sounds.
• Beatles Trivia - I downloaded this while I was showing the phone to my Dad & we played a round. Some of the questions were tough even for him.
• Fun Blast Trivia Lite - As a trivia buff, I'm inevitably going to try this type of game.
• Logos Quiz Game - As a graphic designer, this is a must-have.
• Top Gear Stunt School Revolution - fun stunt driving game
• Atlantis Oceans Free - kind of fun, but is also tough
• Hungry Shark Part 1+ - I literally just downloaded this but it's entertaining, you just eat everything in sight.

News
• Pulse - a great customizable visual news feed that can be organized into categories
• Reddit's Alien Blue

Reference
• Red Cross First Aid - the obvious medical emergency reference
• Wikipedia
• Google
• Yellow Pages - very useful
• Global Convert - indispensable unit conversion
• Drinks & Cocktails - encyclopedia of stuff that will get you drunk
• SAS Survival Guide Lite - outdoor survival
• Minipedia - an offline encyclopedia with varying amounts of data you can store
• How to Tie Knots
• Stellarium - this app boggles my mind & makes me feel I'm truly living in The Future. You point your phone at the sky & it tells you what stars & constellations you are looking at.

Utilities
• Flashlight
• Magnifying Glass w Light - see details closer than the human eye can discern
• Find iPhone - if someone is dumb enough to steal my phone, or if I'm dumb enough to lose it, this will help me find it.
• Multi-Measures - a neat toolkit with metronome, stopwatch, timer, seismometer, ruler, surface level, teslameter, plumb bob, protractor, etc
• Google Translate - an amazing app that confirms my lazy refusal to learn other languages.

Navigation
• Waze - an innovative, community-based navigation app that shows all kinds of relevant traffic info, along with it's turn-by-turn directions. This is what I'll use, at least until Apple releases their app.
• Google Earth - just a virtual planet, that's all.
• Official NJ State Parks & Forests Guide - a great app for people here in NJ who enjoy the outdoors
• Official PA State Parks & Forests Guide - ditto for PA
• Sierra Club Trail Explorer - great app from America's most well-known nature advocates


Art
• Musée du Louvre - an awesome timeline of artwork from the Louvre's collection.
• Leonardo da Vinci -
• Impressionism HD Free - a nice collection of beautiful paintings by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, & more.
• National Gallery in London HD - another great digital art collection
• Artmatch - using the iPhone's capabilities to recognize & catalog interesting art

Spirit
• Buddha Quotes 500
• iDharma
• Tao of Wisdom - a nicely illustrated version of the Tao Te Ching
• A Seeker's Journey
• Daily Zen Enlightenment

I'll probably post lists of new apps as time goes on, but these are ones that I think are worth getting so far.

iPhone 4S: Full Review

 Last week, my old phone finally got to the point of being unusable. Since my next phone was inevitably going to be an iPhone, on Tuesday I took another step deeper into Apple's digital clutches & purchased the 4S.

Apple iPhone

As much as I love technology & novelty, I also appreciate the Zen approach to simplicity. Not having a million streams of constant input can go a long way to maintaining mental calm. I was quite content with using my LG Vue only for calls, texts, & occasional lo-res pictures.

I know enough people with iPhones to know its capabilities, so I was already very familiar with their awesomeness. Since I use Macs at home & at work, I also buy into Steve Jobs' lasting vision of integrated digital devices, and nobody else has achieved the superb functionality that Apple has implemented.

For the past week I've been able to dig into the iPhone's features, download a bunch of apps, use it thoroughly, and think about it's pros & cons.

First of all, one of the points that salespeople were making in the store is absolutely true: the iPhone is a portable computer... with functions like phone, camera, etc.

After using it for a week, I'm even more awestruck at what such a compact device can do. People are making all kinds of great apps that take advantage of the hardware in creative ways. The magnetometer is used for digital compasses & Teslameters. The camera flash can be used for a bright flashlight or strobe function. The accelerometer is used for game controls. GPS is integrated with navigation apps. Combinations of these various powerful features can be used for amazing things like augmented reality software.


There are alot of good apps, but I'm going to save my recommendations for another post. Even though there are plenty of games & frivolous time-wasters, there are also ones that are excellent sources of knowledge or information.

Overall, the app-centered interface is simple and effective. It's a way to be packed with features, yet not have a complicated, confusing interface.
I'm glad you can group apps into category icons. I'm all about organization. It's good to now have all my contacts and calendar dates easily synched between my iPhone & Mac. I've also manually transferred my various "To Do", "Graphics Ideas", "Need", & "Want" lists from my old phone to the 'Reminders' app. I use these lists constantly.

I haven't transferred any music yet, but I might put a few playlists on it even though I don't think I'll use it to listen to mp3s alot. Since I use (& love) Sirius satellite radio in my car, I'm considering getting the XM Skydock for the iPhone which acts as a charger & satellite receiver for the iPhone app.

The iPhone's HD camera is great & now I don't have to use my aging Nikon Coolpix camera to take decent photos.

I've used the voice-activated digital assistant, Siri, to write a couple texts & look up contacts. It's a little buggy, but works pretty well for these limited uses. Although it's a developing technology, I can see it as a jumping point to where we are eventually conversing with A.I. as if they are fellow sentient beings. Maybe it's even a step to learning how to communicate with digital devices through thought alone.

There are very few criticisms I can voice concerning this wondrous device...

• My biggest complaint would be the noticeable level of inaccuracy in the typing keypad & touchscreen editing. It's not uncommon for the wrong letter to come up as I type, & I sometimes have trouble getting the cursor to go to the spot I want it to. Maybe it's just me...
• The battery drains pretty fast, but I guess when its doing all sorts of cool crap, that's to be expected.  You can turn apps that are running in the background off, but you don't want be stuck more than a day without a power supply.
• I don't like Apple's aversion to file management for photos & video. Everything has to be managed inside the app, and you have to export an image from iPhoto to free it & make it an independent file. Apple also does this with videos in Final Cut Pro.
• One physical feature I find strange is the extra switch on the side of the phone that slides [on/off] to activate [sound/vibrate] mode. This seems like an unnecessary button. There are already + and - volume buttons on the side. On my old phone you could just hold the (-) button down to lower the volume until you reached "Silent," then "Vibrate".
• There's probably more nitpicky details I could find fault with, but I can't think of any right now.


None these issues are really worth a damn when compared to the iPhone's outstanding overall functionality. I have to marvel at the seamless way all Apple products work together to make a  productive user experience. When I think waaay back to my first personal computer, with the horrific MS-DOS/Windows3.1, it makes me feel fortunate to finally have tech that truly works to my satisfaction.

I have long been a devotee of the Apple brand and Steve Jobs' vision for personal computers. The 'digital hub' consisting of devices such as iPhones & Apple computers are no less than the virtual extension of our biological brains.

We are interfacing with the scaffolding of a global mind that will have results we can barely begin to imagine. As I said in my last post, at some point we are going to require multiple parallel consciousness streams to process & experience the flood of data bombarding our individual sensory systems.

The Apple iThink seems inevitable...

Making the iPhone Jump

Last night I finally put my LG Vue to rest after 3 yrs. It worked well for most of its life, but recently the touchscreen was going crazy. I've known my next phone would be an Apple iPhone. My hand was finally forced & now I must further assimilate into the digital Borg.

 I'm writing this post on the iPhone 4S using Google's Blogger app. However, the features are limited & I can't even post a pic, so I don't think I'll be posting from the phone often. I'll post some more thoughts from my Mac when I get a chance.

Despite its limitations, it is a truly amazing device. It is a masterpiece of design & a wonder of technology. Though I have some criticism, my overall feeling is that smartphones & mobile devices are a quantum leap toward greater enhancement of the mind & augmentation of the senses. Now all I need is an iThink to facilitate multiple streams of consciousness.