There is only one true experience of time... the continually-unfolding, present moment of NOW.
This idea has been done in a wristwatch, too.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
"Now" Clock
The past & future are illusions, constructs created & held by the mind.
There is only one true experience of time... the continually-unfolding, present moment of NOW.
This idea has been done in a wristwatch, too.
There is only one true experience of time... the continually-unfolding, present moment of NOW.
This idea has been done in a wristwatch, too.
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
"World of Religion" Infographic
Most of the hatred in the world comes from a lack of empathy & understanding for people who are different.
Since religion is one of the most personal and all-encompassing aspects of a person's life, it easy to see how incompatible views between individuals or cultures could lead to animosity.
The first step in overcoming ignorance & fear is to objectively examine the things you don't understand.
Infographics are are a great way to communicate complex concepts & otherwise incomprehensible data sets. The graphic below show the many belief systems around our richly varied world.
If the fundamentalist's dream came true & all people were strict followers of one way of thinking, the world would be a much less interesting place.
I don't believe in dogma or ideology, & don't consider myself to be part of any religious organization. My religious practice is simply making the most out of every moment I am blessed to experience.
"God" or "Tao" or "The Universe"... has no religion.
Reality is created indiscriminately, without the judgements or labels used by the human mind to try to make sense of it all.
Since religion is one of the most personal and all-encompassing aspects of a person's life, it easy to see how incompatible views between individuals or cultures could lead to animosity.
The first step in overcoming ignorance & fear is to objectively examine the things you don't understand.
Infographics are are a great way to communicate complex concepts & otherwise incomprehensible data sets. The graphic below show the many belief systems around our richly varied world.
If the fundamentalist's dream came true & all people were strict followers of one way of thinking, the world would be a much less interesting place.
I don't believe in dogma or ideology, & don't consider myself to be part of any religious organization. My religious practice is simply making the most out of every moment I am blessed to experience.
"God" or "Tao" or "The Universe"... has no religion.
Reality is created indiscriminately, without the judgements or labels used by the human mind to try to make sense of it all.
(Click the Graphic for Larger )
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Thought is Free
I came across this cool graphic that speaks for itself, by BMD Design in France:
At least, for now it is....
At least, for now it is....
Wednesday, October 03, 2012
More Political Madness 2012
To celebrate the 'World Series of politics', the start of the Presidential debates, I've updated this web album:
It's a collection of my favorite political graphics & art from around the web.
I'll comment on Mitt Romney some other time, but tonight I'm going to just watch the debate.
Then... I'm going to enjoy South Park's rendition of "Honey Boo Boo Child".
It's a collection of my favorite political graphics & art from around the web.
I'll comment on Mitt Romney some other time, but tonight I'm going to just watch the debate.
Then... I'm going to enjoy South Park's rendition of "Honey Boo Boo Child".
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Thoughts & Art of Leonardo da Vinci
One of my first book reports in elementary school was on an autobiography I read about Leonardo da Vinci.
Ever since then, Leonardo's genius has probably been one of my biggest historical inspirations- in both my creative career & my life-long quest for knowledge about the world.
The game "Da Vinci's Challenge" was titled to reflect Leonardo's study of the Flower of Life symbol on the game board, but also is an homage to the legendary Renaissance Man.
I actually finished reading my very first e-book on my iPhone recently,
It was very interesting to read into the thoughts of such an insightful mind. However, some of the things he wrote about were kind of petty, for such a lofty genius. For example, he wrote several lengthy rants about how painting was superior to just about any other creative endeavor- ie. sculpting, poetry, music, etc. This is entirely subjective judgement, & I was surprised he spent so much time arguing the case for such a meaningless opinion.
Anyway, it was good read to get perspective on how his mind worked.
In 2003, I got to see an exhibition of da Vinci's drawings & notebooks at the Metroplitan Museum of Art. I soaked up the experience of being in the presence of so much of The Master's work. It was something I'll never forget.
Here are some links with the amazing range of work by Leonardo da Vinci:
Despite his pacifist nature, Leonardo designed some terrifying war machines for Italy's princes & dukes:
Zoomable Hi-Definition digital version of the Last Supper:
New Scientist:
TED Talk about what Leonardo really looked like:
Finally, here's a video highlighting some of his revolutionary anatomical renderings:
Psychedelic Ape
This is what happens when a philosophizing ape looks too deeply into into his own existence,
The monkey mind disintegrates into boundless infinity....
seen on Ffffound!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
"Da Vinci's Challenge" on Facebook
The "Deluxe Version" of Da Vinci's Challenge:
made using laser-cut plastics that look like copper & stone.
As a professional designer, I've been lucky to work on a wide range of fun & interesting projects.
In my creative career, the creation I'm most proud of is the award-winning strategy game I invented & developed as a senior design student at Rowan University.
It's called "Da Vinci's Challenge": The Classic Game of Secret Symbols" & I've posted about it alot on this blog.
The Monkey Buddha Archives
The design of the game board is a symbol known as 'The Flower of Life'. This pattern of interlocking circles has been around since the dawn of civilization. The Renaissance Man himself, Leonardo da Vinci, studied the Flower of Life's geometric form, which is why I named the game after him. There are many examples of The Flower of Life motif in art & architecture around the world.
I am currently in the process of working toward creating digital version of the "Da Vinci's Challenge" game. I'd like to have at least an iPhone app developed, so I am trying to get a Kickstarter campaign together to raise funds for the cost.
To get some presence in the digital world, through social media, I recently started an official Facebook page for the game. I will use it to post reviews, pics, & interesting info related to "Da Vinci's Challenge".
If you are on Facebook, or know people who are on it, click the link below & please give the page a Like. Spreading the word about & sharing the link that would be helpful, too!
Official Facebook Page:
(The page is public, so anyone can just close the log-in window if it pops up.)
Hopefully I can the ball rolling before the end of the year, so I will be posting updates here & on the Facebook page regularly.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Reversed Logos
This is the last of my "Logo"-themed posts for the night...
I came across this article featuring clever and well-executed corporate logos - designed in the style of a competing company!
They are all very well done & are probably amusing to most design geeks, such as myself.
Here is a Flickr set, & below is a link to the artist's website:
I came across this article featuring clever and well-executed corporate logos - designed in the style of a competing company!
They are all very well done & are probably amusing to most design geeks, such as myself.
Here is a Flickr set, & below is a link to the artist's website:
by Graham Smith
Honest Names for Snacks
Since I started on a logo & branding kick with my Microsoft post, here's a humorous look at what snacks would be called... if their brand names were honest.
I love anything mint....
...but Cheetos are friggin' gross. That really is an accurate description.
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.
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:
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.
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
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.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
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.
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.
Monkey Buddha Archives:
It's a great visual expression of the rich cosmic & historic legacy that all of us human beings have inherited.
Sunday, September 09, 2012
Interview with Alex Grey
This weekend my brother sent me a link to this interview with the master visionary artist, Alex Grey:
Reality Sandwich
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:
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'.
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!
Colbert Report
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Bears Eat Monkey | ||||
| ||||
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!
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
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:
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).
Monday, September 03, 2012
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
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.
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.
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:
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.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
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;
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.
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;
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.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Learning the Meaning of Life
I've previously stated my view that there is NO such thing as a "Meaning" of Life.
The Monkey Buddha Archives:
"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.
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:
He directed this playful animated "children's song" that abruptly goes off the deep end... & into the hopeless pit of despair that is adulthood:
He directed this playful animated "children's song" that abruptly goes off the deep end... & into the hopeless pit of despair that is adulthood:
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
"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.
see on OMG Posters!
It glows in the dark, so the image of the aged person & tree appears when the lights go out.
see on OMG Posters!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
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:
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.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
"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:
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.
Absolutely NOT fun for the whole family!
'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:
Monday, August 06, 2012
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?":
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-portr
representi
transcendi
through immersion into the realm of pure energy.
The Internet is the beginning of a conduit
into a non-local experience of consciousn
"A digital self-portr
representi
transcendi
through immersion into the realm of pure energy.
The Internet is the beginning of a conduit
into a non-local experience of consciousn
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
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.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Poconos 2012 Photos
 |
| From Poconos 2012 |
I've uploaded some pics from my recent week in the Poconos.
Photo Album
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.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
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...
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...
Saturday, July 21, 2012
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:
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:
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
"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;
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.
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.
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/
Monday, July 09, 2012
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'.
We "human beings" are more of an ecology of life, rather than 'individual' entities.
Bacteria aren't the only symbiotic life forms within our skin...
Here is a clickable graphic, showing the various things throughout our body:
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).
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:
NYTimes:
Bacteria aren't the only symbiotic life forms within our skin...
Gizmodo:
Here is a clickable graphic, showing the various things throughout our body:
Scientific American:
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:
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.
Friday, July 06, 2012
"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:
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.
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.
On Reddit there's an excellent breakdown of some of important points of the legislation:
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.
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.
Monday, July 02, 2012
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.
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
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