Trump the Gold Shithead

Last night, my Dad & I were watching a town hall with Sen. Bernie Sanders talking to Trump voters.

Bernie was able to hold a rational discussion and clearly express his views to people in the room, even those who had clearly voted for Donald Trump out of pure ignorance & fear. (Meanwhile, Trump can't even hold a press conference about his endless conflicts of interest which threaten the security of the country. )

As I watched Sen. Sanders explain the issues clearly & with the sincere conviction that he is known for, I was thinking, "Damn, this is the man who should be President-elect right now... but instead we're stuck with Bozo the Corrupt Clown." We'd be facing a much brighter future with Bernie Sanders as President, where the concerns of the average worker would be the priority, not the further gratification of the wealthiest 1%.

Instead, the DNC and the Democrat primary voters pushed Hillary Clinton into the general election. She had no chance of winning over those who already saw her in a negative light, but she still managed to gain more of the popular vote by over 2 million people. The same antiquated winner-take-all Electoral College system that gave us George Dubya failed us again. Hillary was definitely a flawed candidate, but to me, she was the pragmatic choice over the inevitable disaster of the fascist man-child. Everything people hated about Hillary Clinton is exponentially worse in Trump.

In the town hall, some of the voters said they didn't really believe that Trump was going to do all the insane things that he said during the campaign. Bernie incredulously asked, "So, you voted for someone hoping they were lying?" It's just so damn stupid & crazy...

Now, all Trump's lies are already falling apart, before he's even sworn in:

• "Drain the swamp"
• "Lock her up"
•  "Build the wall"
• "Repeal Obamacare"
• "I'll release my taxes"
• "Divest from Trump businesses"
•  etc., etc., etc...

It was all bullshit- ridiculous slogans for people who were all too willing to be conned by America's premiere con-man. Now America's facing the most blatantly & unapologetically corrupt administration imaginable, with a pathetically thin-skinned, narcissistic, authoritarian grifter in charge.

To make it worse, he also has a radical right-wing Congress in power that is chomping at the bit to dismantle Social Security, Medicare, and any other program that benefits the working people or the less fortunate. All the horrible decisions the GOP are getting ready to implement makes sense, when seen through the lens of their ultimate goal- to destroy the United States government from within. Do you think this is hyperbolic? Ask Trump's top advisor, dark-sider Steve Bannon:

“Lenin,” he answered, 

“wanted to destroy the state, and that’s my goal too. 

I want to bring everything crashing down, 

and destroy all of today’s establishment.”

Now, as the gold paint is already flaking off, Trump is being exposed for the piece of shit that he truly is. I try not to degrade other human beings or see people negatively. However, this man represents the absolute antithesis to everything I value in life. Trump is greed, ego, hate, exploitation, and (worst of all) willful ignorance personified. If you have to tell people you're smart, you're probably a fucking idiot.

"The trouble with the world
 is that the stupid are cocksure

 and the intelligent are full of doubt." 

- Bertrand Russell

Many people recognize that he is a serious danger, not just to this country, but to the world. The writing is smeared with Trump's tiny fingers all over the wall. His supporters don't care and treat this like the winning team of football game, turning their backs and refusing to see it. Instead, they are seeing the gold-painted turd & still think there's value in it for them. When it inevitably hits the fan, they'll realize there's no real gold there, and the entire country will be covered in his crap.

I made the graphic at the top of this post to express this sentiment, realizing that respect & decorum are no longer relevant with this vile, small-fingered vulgarian.

In a sense, I feel like I did back when I started this blog, during the Bush/Cheney Dark Ages. The constant outrages perpetrated by that cabal of neo-cons gave me focus and caused me to become more aware of my personal humanistic values. This new administration, full of predatory swamp creatures, is already shaping up to be even more of a menace. Time is cyclical, and somehow I knew that this descent back into madness was coming.

Many, including myself, will feel energized to fight back against the regressive forces that want to stifle human progress. The best we can do is not be overcome by the foul stench that will be emanating out of DC with Trump & the Republicans running the shit show.

iThink Tech 2016

Back in 2008, I introduced my concept for an Apple-branded computer brain implant, the "Apple iThink".

The Monkey Buddha Archives:

Apple iThink

(Click to Enlarge)

iThink Technical Specifications

• Size:
1.5 x 1.5 x .5 inches

• Symbiosis™ Neural Interface:
Direct brain-computer link means your mind and computer are one!

• Intel Fusion™ Quantum Processing:
Uses the power of the atom to instantly compute at the speed of thought.

• Holographic Data Storage:
The iThink’s tiny internal holochip has a staggering individual capacity of over 666 Yottabytes (1000^8), for seemingly infinite augmented memory

• Intra-neural Communication:
Mentally allow or block any kind of signal you want to send or recieve instantly over the wireless iThink global network

• Perceptual Immersion: Images, sound, & other data are projected virtually into your sensory fields by directly connecting into your brain’s activity

• Integrated GPS and Google Earth:
Receive directions and location information anywhere on the planet, and the ability to be located in case of an emergency
_____________________________________

Since I originally created these graphics, I've watched technology continue to advance, as different fields converge to making such a neural implant possible.

Although there are now implants in use that allow communication by thought and remote control of software, we are still a long way off from a device that contains the many features of the iThink.

Without some cataclysmic event happening on a global scale, I don't see the progress of this kind of research ever stopping. There will always be resistance to any kind of implantable devices, and there might eventually be a "Deus Ex" scenario where humans create social distinctions based on cybernetic augmentations. There may be conflict between implant-free "Naturals," and "Enhanced" (or "Cyber") humans with neural or physiological augmentations. Any new technology, no matter how beneficial, usually brings with it slight uncertainty and the potential for misuse.

My iPhone and Mac computer are extensions of my cognitive and creative processes. I feel like these  devices are portals into the global consciousness, while simultaneously augmenting the functions of the brain. However, I often think about whether the digital techno-sphere is a trap for individual consciousness, preventing it from finding freedom in the more spiritual sense. My personal feeling is that digital technology and mobile devices are enhancements, more than they are traps. It depends on how they are used, of course, but I feel that their benefits outweigh the potential danger.

Anyway, I love to speculate on the future of humanity and the new ideas that will lead to revolutions in our world. I have been floating around ideas for even more advanced tech & features, that would be in an Apple iThink 2.0. However, seeing as we haven't come close to reaching even this stage in implantable technology, I haven't created graphics for the next version yet.

In the meantime, I've been compiling "iThink Tech"- scientific & technological advancements that are leading us down a road toward implantable computers which will interact with our brains directly, for completely immersive computing.

Here are the relevant links I've found from the past year:

 Singularity Hub:

The Brain Tech to Merge Humans and AI Is Already Being Developed

Digital Trends:

Gamers learn to control characters strictly through direct brain stimulation 

Big Think:

A New Implant is Being Developed for Enhancing Human Memory

New York Times:

Implant Eases Communication by Late-Stage ALS Patient

(Thanks to my good friend Dr. Phil for this link)

PBS Newshour:

Wireless brain implant allows paralyzed woman to communicate, but is it safe?

BoingBoing:

Neurosurgeon had brain-computer interface installed in his own head

Inhabitat:

 US govt developing brain implants that give humans the ability to never forget

BoingBoing:

Brainjacking: the future of software security for neural implants

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

"As our minds will attain the non-linear associative powers 

that will do away with the static mold of analog information,

we will finally break through the speed barrier of thought."

-rene

Everything is Temporary

Remember...

(seen on The Weird Wide Web)

"There is nothing permanent, except change" 

- Heraclitus

The Flower of Life in Commercial Design

This is kind of a random item, but I am very interested in the concept of sacred geometry. The Flower of Life is a symbol formed from a pattern of equidistant, interlocking circles. It is the basis for the strategy game I created, "Da Vinci's Challenge".

I've noticed this geometric pattern being used in commercial design. It's harmonic properties make it very appealing and applicable to a wide range of uses.

My fianceé's mom has this Flower of Life Pattern potholder by Charles Viancin. I decided to take a picture of it to share on the "Da Vinci's Challenge" Facebook page.

Here's another example of the design on a box of tissues:

Jim Bakker Prepping for Trump's America

I was a child in the 1980's, but I remember the beady-eyed little weasel televangelist Jim Bakker & his late ex-wife Tammy Faye. They were one of many in a long line of religious charlatans, who use the medium of TV to separate the downright stupidest people in this country from their hard-earned money.

They were both mocked on Saturday Night Live, and Jim Bakker eventually ended up in prison for fraud, after being exposed for being an adulterer.

Therefore, it's only natural that "Pastor" Jim Bakker is a Donald Trump supporter. Bakker is now out of prison and back to scamming people through a new TV ministry.

Since the election, I haven't even posted about the Trump transition, because it's a maelstrom of a shit-show that is almost impossible to coherently describe without just flipping the keyboard over & saying "Fuck it, we're screwed!" Every single day presents fresh new outrages that portend a President & an administration that will reach inconceivable levels of corruption and utter incompetence.

Everything is so absurd, that we don't even need satire anymore- you just look at what's happening and realize it's completely crazy as it is.

In that spirit, I found this video by Super Deluxe that has taken clips of The Jim Bakker Show and edited them in the style of Tim & Eric. However, Bakker's schtick is already so ridiculous and vile that it's disturbing even without any editing.

Pastor Jim Bakker Helps You Prepare For Trump's America

Molecular Visualizations of DNA

 

Recently I posted about a documentary I watched, called The Hidden Life of the Cell. 3D computer animation was used to show the inner mechanisms of human cells.  

I came across another video, that shifts the perspective from the cellular level to the molecular level. This animation shows the intricate processes of the molecules that form & replicate DNA.

Molecular Visualizations of DNA

No matter how many times I watch these little molecular machines and chemical interactions carrying out the basic functions of biological life, it never stops being fascinating.

It is a constant source of amazement that so many things are happening, trillions of times over... in every square millimeter of our bodies... in each of the trillions of lifeforms on this planet.

This reminded me of the graphic below, that I just posted to my Facebook page:

"It may look like I'm doing nothing,

but at the cellular level I'm really quite busy."

Movie Review: "Dr. Strange"

Last week, I went to see the latest movie in the Marvel franchise- "Dr. Strange".

It was an excellent movie that was a departure from the typical "superhero" genre. It opened up the mystical dimension of Marvel cinematic universe, and was a compelling story in its own right.

It is the story of the transformation experienced by Dr. Stephen Strange, a brilliant surgeon who is egotistical and materialistic. His life is turned upside-down after being injured in a car crash, destroying the nerves in his hands. This accident results in his inability to perform surgery, and presents an existential crisis for the successful doctor. He decides to leave his comfortable life behind, in search of a way to heal that Western medicine can't provide.

Dr. Strange travels to the Himalaya mountains in Asia, and finds a mysterious school run by The Ancient One. Although rejected at first due to his skeptical attitude, Strange is ultimately accepted and begins learning the mystic arts from The Ancient One.

Because of the mystical tone, this movie dealt with themes that aren't very common in superhero movies- or any other movies, for that matter. Such esoteric concepts as chakras, magick, astral bodies, and multi-dimensional reality are discovered by Dr. Strange on his journey to become The Sorcerer Supreme.

The Dr. Strange comic book was created by Steve Ditko in the 1960's, and was illustrated with the psychedelic flair common at the time.

This movie successfully translated that aesthetic into mind-bending visual graphics that were absolutely amazing to watch in 3D. There were awesome sequences throughout the movie- such as New York City seen through the kaleidoscopic effect of an alternate dimension, and Strange's visitation of The Dark Dimension that brought the trippy artwork of the 60's to life.

The special effects used in these scenes, and for the magical powers portrayed throughout the movie, were spectacular. They were enhanced by the strength of the story and its message- that Western science and medicine are limited in our understanding of the true nature of reality.

I've always had interest in the mystical aspects of our world, and this movie was an exciting exploration of the possibilities that such a perspective presents.

"Dr. Strange" was a very enjoyable film that was visually & thematically in a league of its own. It's rare that a mainstream movie can be called enlightening, but this one is able to open your mind and make you think about the world in a completely different way.

I'd highly recommend Dr. Strange, and it might be my favorite Marvel movie yet!

Official Monkey Buddha Rating: 9.5

Dying into the Light

I saw this animation on Dimensão7- showing the soul transitioning from the dying body into the infinite expanse of The Clear Light.

I am currently reading an e-book I downloaded, The Present (with Religion) by Michael Smith.

The section I am on now deals with the reality of death, and how very few people are ready for it when it happens. This is because people are so caught up in their day-to-day lives, that the matters of the spirit are either put off or ignored. The most important thing in life is to cultivate is the deep awareness of the present moment. Once you have a fundamental, immediate connection to your ground of being, you will be ready for any experience your soul encounters.

Hopefully when the body expires, the energy of our spirit will merge back into the infinite luminosity of the light known as God, Heaven, Tao, The Zero Point Field, Vacuum Energy, etc. - the nameless, fractal, interconnected web of vibration that gives rise to all things.

The animated GIF is derived from the painting "Dying" by one of my favorite artists, the visionary master Alex Grey.

Chimp in Virtual Reality

On BoingBoing, I saw this video of a chimpanzee being immersed in a virtual reality (VR) program.

The chimp is obviously experiencing everything that a human would, when presented with the same stimuli. This proves that living things with similar sense organs are going to have perceptions that are similar in nature. The only difference is that non-human creatures don't have the inner dialogue of language that accompanies human thought.

The brain of any "higher" animal is an extremely adaptable organ, capable of adjusting to new sensory inputs or modes. Placing a VR headset on a primate like a chimpanzee proves that they are just as capable of navigating an imaginary, virtual space as humans.

Here's another video, where it appears the chimp is already familiar with the VR hardware. It grabs for the controller with the headset already on, and goes right to popping virtual balloons.

See also:

The Evolution of Robo-Ape

Hidden Life of the Cell

 

This past weekend, I watched a BBC documentary that I had been wanting to see, Our Secret Universe: The Hidden Life of the Cell.

The Hidden Life Of The Cell from Dominique Cressatti on Vimeo.

It explained the biological processes that take place in a human cell at the microscopic scale. Specifically, the show followed the journey of an adenovirus as it tries to propagate & infect the body by taking over our cells.

I love science, anatomy, & biology- especially what is going on at the level below the threshold of our senses. The idea that there are all these organized processes and synchronous activity going on trilions of times at the cellular level, throughout any individual's body, is too much to wrap one's head around.

To me, being able to visualize these scenarios is key to understanding them. That is where modern methods of computer animation become so important. Being able to accurately render these microscopic phenomenon using 3D graphics allows us to appreciate the wondrous reality of our own bodies at such a small scale.

It reminded me of another video I've posted that similarly showed the workings of our cellular biology:

Life Inside a Cell

Ouroboros of Scale

On Weird Wide Web, I saw this illustration of the mythical Ouroboros, the snake eating its own tail. It represents the cyclic patterns of destruction & creation.

However, this particular image shows the various scales of reality- from the microcosm > to the human > to the macrocosm... and back around.

This seems to imply a never-ending, continuous loop of spacial repetition that fractally repeats ad infinitum.

It reminded me of this loop of an opening animation from the Simpsons:

Simpsons Reality Zoom

Election 2016- TRUMP

Well, it happened.

The President of the United States is going to be casino magnate, shitty businessman, con-artist, and reality TV host, Donald Trump. It's so ridiculous. I love surrealism and absurdity, but this is mind-boggling.

Trump was able to win because of the miscalculation by the Democrats that America would rather have a compromised, establishment politician like Hillary Clinton instead of an independent politician with real convictions like Bernie Sanders. I truly wish we could have seen a true outsider, populist match-up between Bernie & Trump. The difference is that Bernie actually works for the average citizen, while Trump works hard at screwing them over.

When I made the graphic below, back in 2011, it seemed inconceivable that such a wacked-out scenario could actually happen. I wish my Nostradamus-like visionary powers weren't so strong. It's a blessing and a curse.

The Monkey Buddha Archives:

Trumping Birther Madness

Now we are not only faced with 4 years of President A$$hole, but an emboldened Republican Congress that will push regressive policy affecting millions of people.

I'm trying to have an attitude of 'fuck it'. The optimist in me wants to that think maybe the conservative majority can listen to the will of the people and implement meaningful change. However, the realist in me thinks this is laughable. I think it's more likely that things are going to get bad with the short-sighted ideologues who make up the majority of the GOP running society.

As President Obama has said, the sun will rise tomorrow. Relatively speaking, this is a flicker of light off a wave's crest in the dance of an endless ocean. However, for those of us participating in this lightshow of maya, this seems like a truly odd and almost unbelievable phenomenon. I'm old & jaded enough to not be truly surprised by anything. I woke up this morning and saw the results on my phone, and could just shake my head & look out the window.

People will still keep fighting for what they believe in, and the endlessly complex interplay of human beings will continue on. However, the idea that we have to put up with this jackass being arguably the most powerful person in the world is just mind-blowing. I'm strapping myself in & getting ready for the ride!

I'm sure the first order of business will be renovating the White House, it will be tremendous:

Election Day 2016

Well, today is the day where The United States of America chooses its representatives in local & federal elections.

The citizens have a choice for President between two flawed, but distinct candidates. On the one hand, there's a career politician- the former First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State, and possibly the first female in the Oval Office if she's elected. On the other hand, there's an obnoxious, narcissistic man child- a shitty con artist of a businessman and reality TV star, who wasn't even allowed to stay in control of his own Twitter account because he was so goddamn stupid & reckless.

I started out rooting for Bernie Sanders, one of the few politicians who identifies as an Independent and has real integrity. I have never been a fan of Hillary Clinton, but for me and many others, this is a matter of keeping an unbelievably ignorant & downright dangerous Donald Trump from leading us back down into the ditch that modern Republican presidents inevitably drive us into.

I wish we had better choices on both sides. Unfortunately, with our winner-takes-all system, a vote for a third party is a complete waste. It really has been a complete shitshow of an election, especially with The Donald's antics throughout the process. As I've said before, I wanted him to win the Republican primary just so he could keep wreaking havoc on the political establishment & tear apart the decaying Republican party. Now, I just want him to go the hell away.

Statistically, it looks like Clinton is likely to win, but it ain't over till it's over. I'd like to see her crush Trump, just so he has less ground to stand on when he inevitably refuses to concede and claims everything is rigged. The guy is utterly delusional & I don't expect him to start accepting reality now.

So, today we'll see what we're stuck with for the next four years. I think Hillary Clinton, despite all her problems, is at least smart, competent, and knows how government works. The same cannot be said for Trump, who seems to lack even a basic understanding of our most fundamental governmental & social institutions. It's been a truly crazy ride- an election season that is unlike anything most people have seen in their lifetimes. Hopefully, it turns out to be an anomaly and doesn't prove to be the new norm.

Yoda Shrine

One of my favorite characters in the Star Wars saga is the 900 year old Jedi Grand Master, Yoda. Some of the best scenes in the movies were Yoda expounding his mystical teachings about The Force.

I came across this evocative image of other members of Yoda's unknown species, in front of a buddha-like idol in their own image. It appears to be in a shrine or temple, with one of them (Yoda himself?) levitating and holding a Force-channeling staff.

I saw it on the wiki page for Yoda's species, but I was curious where it originally came from. I did a search & found out that it's from a 1994 Star Wars Galaxy card series. I collected these as a kid & loved the variety of visions inspired by the rich Star Wars universe.

Medicine Man

On Reddit I saw this awesome illustration, "Medicine Man" by Infinity Life.

As an artist, lover of nature, & a mystical spirit, I've personally felt a kindred relationship to the many shamanic traditions of cultures around the world.

I think this image visually sums up the meaning of a medicine man/woman in a tribe or society. It is the role of the shamanic personality to commune with the energies & plants of the natural world, transcend normal consciousness, and bring wisdom to the people for their benefit.

"Echoes"

My last post was about fractal animations, and on BoingBoing I saw another interesting video using fractal animation.
It is called "Echoes" by artist Chris Bjerre. The animation uses a simple black & white palette, but explores a kaleidoscope of ever-changing forms.

ECHOES from Chris Bjerre on Vimeo.

At one point in the animation (00:38), the pattern known as "The Flower of Life" briefly emerges. This design is the basis for the strategy game that I created, "Da Vinci's Challenge". This pattern is an element of sacred geometry, the study of the forms and relationships that underly reality.

I'm not sure whether this pattern was programmed into the sequence in some way, or if it organically arose from the fractal mathematics.

Either way, this fundamental pattern appeared in the chaotic variation of fractal forms. Since my eye is trained to look for this design, it popped out at me & inspired me to share.

Fractal Shorts

 I am endlessly, recursively fascinated by fractal geometry & the imagery that can be produced with it.

Recently I found a series of awe-inspiring animations using 3D fractal renderings. The artist is Julius Horsthuis, and there is a whole playlist of his mind-bending creations in YouTube. I would recommend bookmarking this page so you can go back & watch through the dozens of videos on his playlist:

Fractal Shorts

 Here are a few of my favorites, but they all should really be seen:

"Emergence" feels like finding an impossibly constructed alien temple in a dense jungle:

"Divergent Evolution" takes the idea of a jungle theme even deeper and immerses us in an ever-shifting organic landscape.

"Solar Wind" has a cosmic, but foreboding feel to it:

"Dream/Iterate" uniquely includes a human figure in the animation, who is transported to a very non-human fractal realm:

Donald Trump Halloween Costume

This past weekend, my fiancée and I were invited to a Halloween party. We both had tried to think of costumes for weeks, and were considering dressing up as Anakin Skywalker & Padme Amidala from Star Wars.

Last week, she sent me a pic of people dressed as Donald Trump with Hillary Clinton in a prison outfit. We thought it was funny, but she didn't want to dress as Hillary. Instead, she came up with the hysterical idea of being a "cat" for Donald to "grab," if you get the reference.

So, she dressed up as a cute cat, and I put together a Trump costume- with a suit & red tie, horrible wig, orange face paint, tiny baby doll hands, and the most ridiculous facial expressions I could muster. I thought it turned out pretty funny & it was a hit with our friends on Facebook. Here are a few photos:

"Seed of Life Gold"

I have a gallery of 3D rendered art that I created, with hi-res images that I'll continually add to.

3D Art

by Paul Micarelli 

Here is another addition to the gallery, a sacred geometry symbol. It's a gold arrangement of circles known as "The Seed of Life", reflected in chrome to form an overlapping design:

 "Seed of Life Gold"

by Paul Micarelli

Awhile ago, I used to make a lot of 3D art using Vue software, which was intuitive for me to learn. My previous computer became obsolete, so I wasn't able to run the program anymore. Last year for my birthday, my wonderful fiancée helped me pay for a purchase of a newer Mac Mini. I downloaded a trial version, and this week I finally registered for their free Vue Pioneer. This image was my first attempt at getting back into using the 3D software.

I don't run any ads on this site, but I'd appreciate it if you check out my Cafepress shop. There are prints and products with this design available:

The Monkey Buddha Bazaar:

 Buy "Seed of Life Gold"

Common Planet Economics

One of the major sources of misery & distress in this world is the economic system that has been set up to regulate human activity. It is a system based on debt and fiat currency that only has value because the central banks say it has value.

Economics is one of those areas in which the status quo has been entrenched for so long, that people just accept how shitty it is and don't think of better solutions. Luckily, there are people who take the time to dream of better possibilities & think of new ways of doing things. Sometimes new ideas start out as fiction, such as the the post-scarcity economics of Star Trek.

The Monkey Buddha Archives:

Star Trekonomics

I came across this introduction to a "Common Planet" manifesto on Phroyd's World and believe it's the type of thinking we need to transform our economic system. It seems outrageously idealistic and impossible to implement in our current situation, but only by presenting ideas and new perspectives can we even begin to change our society and its institutions.

earthvote.org:

Common Planet

The plan has aspects of Universal Basic Income, an approach of eliminating welfare programs & poverty by guaranteeing a basic income to every person.

Universal Basic Income

This would be paid for by redistributing wealth from the very top of the economic pyramid, which is now basically extracted from circulation and hoarded for personal score-keeping, instead of used to benefit all of society. Anyone who argues against wealth redistribution from the top>down is making a de facto argument in favor of wealth redistribution from the bottom>up. Some of the same people who lament the disappearance of the "middle class" vehemently argue against raising taxes on the top 1%. The wealth of not just this country but of this world is being siphoned from the average population & into the bank accounts of the ultra-rich at an unsustainable rate. This is an indisputable fact, and something must be done to regain some sense of fairness in the economic priorities of the human race.

Perhaps change will be slowly implemented over decades or centuries, maybe we are stuck with this system for the foreseeable future. However, if people formulate, analyze, and discuss new ways of thinking, then the possibility of improving our state of being becomes much more likely. These approaches need to gain recognition in the collective consciousness, and will result in people demanding & creating a better world.

Make America Grope Again

We are coming up on the third & final US Presidential debate, and this election season has been a real shitshow.

Despite Hillary Clinton being a deeply flawed candidate, the pure insanity of Donald Trump's campaign is proving to be too much for all but the most diehard supporters & Hillary haters. If Trump stuck with his messages about jobs and trade, he would have a real shot. Instead, he is lashing out and tweeting his way toward what could be a significant loss. Some people still think that he is a secret Clinton plant, meant to throw the election for Hillary & rip apart the Republican party. I don't think it's really that deep- it's just the case of a spoiled narcissist & chauvinist who is finally getting scrutinized and facing the prospect of losing to a woman.

After the barrage of stories coming out regarding Trump's disposition toward grabbing, uh, women, I had the idea for this graphic before I went to sleep one night. Other people have used this phrase on graphics, but I had to do my own take on it. Like Donald around a beautiful woman, I just couldn't help myself!

Yes, I know... this graphic could also apply to Bill Clinton & his history. However, Trump is the one running for President, and he's the one I feel is the more dangerous of the two candidates. That, and the fact that he is such a fascist, thin-skinned jackass about everything makes me want to pile on & shun this guy from public life. Unfortunately, that probaboly won't happen & he'll use his base of supporters to create a media outlet or subscription TV channel of some sort. I think this campaign was ultimately a ploy to make money and to increase his profile, so we may be stuck with Donald Trump & his cult of personality for a long time.

"Modern Chaos"

I've started a gallery of abstract art that I created, with hi-res images that I'll continually add to.

Abstract Art

by Paul Micarelli 

  
Here is another addition in the gallery:

"Modern Chaos"

by Paul Micarelli

Prints & products featuring my designs are available in my Cafepress store.

The Monkey Buddha Bazaar:

Buy "Modern Chaos"

"Star Wars: Rogue One" Trailer

The poster & final trailer for "Star Wars: Rogue One" were released this week. It is the first in, what I assume, will be many "Star Wars Stories" in addition to the numbered main Episodes I-IX.

The "Rogue One" story takes place before the very first Star Wars movie, which is now know as "Episode IV: A New Hope". This movie details the efforts of the Rebellion & the central character Jyn Erso to stop the Empire from realizing it's planet-destroying weapon, The Death Star. Jyn's father Galen Erso was coerced by the Empire to help design the super laser weapon on the Death Star, and there is speculation that his reluctance may have been a factor in the presence of the exhaust port design flaw that was used in its destruction.

We all know the Death Star ends up being completed, then used against Princess Leia's planet of Alderann, and finally destroyed by Luke Skywalker. Despite knowing the eventual outcome, this movie looks to be an engaging and beautifully shot backstory to these events.

What most people are hyped about is the appearance of the greatest villain, and in my opinion the greatest character in all of fiction, Darth Vader. The former Jedi Anakin Skywalker is now the menacing Sith Lord and is probably overseeing the construction of the Death Star, while hunting down the Rebels who are trying to thwart the Empire's plans. This trailer only shows a few fleeting glimpses of Vader's menacing presence, but it is enough to make any Star Wars fan get excited for this movie.

There is alot of other cool stuff in this trailer, including this shot of a giant fallen Jedi statue on the planet Jedha, that I didn't notice until I saw someone mention it in comments about the trailer.

These are some of the other cool details that I think are part of what's going to make this a great addition to the Star Wars universe:

• The battles with AT-ATs in tropical settings

• Director Orson Krennic, the threatening Imperial officer in charge of the Death Star project 

• Blind Force-believing martial artist Chirrup Imre, played by Donnie Yen

• The oppressive presence & power of the Empire that is represented by the looming Star Destroyers

• Hope and resistance to authoritarianism as a message of the strength of the human (or alien) spirit

There has been some question about whether this is too much Star Wars media being released by Disney. As long as the content is well-produced & provides inspiring storylines, this lifelong Star Wars fan is happy to explore as much of the galaxy far, far way as possible.

Star Wars Cinematics

 This weekend, I was watching a couple of episodes of Star Wars: Rebels with my nephews. Even though it is a cartoon, it's really well produced and delves into some of the more interesting aspects of Star Wars- such as the mystical aspects of The Force and the power of Jedi & Sith holocrons.

The beauty of the Star Wars saga is its fictional universe that is ripe for endless characters & stories. This has not only been explored in movies & TV shows, but also video games. I was also showing my nephews cinematics from the multiplayer online game "The Old Republic" which takes place over a thousand years before the events of "Episode IV: A New Hope". They are almost like awesome mini-movies in themselves & show the amazing creative possibilities that that Star Wars galaxy presents.

This trailer is for an expansion to the game. It follows a force-weilding child who is trained and corrupted by the Sith Emperor Valkorion, the leader of the Eternal Empire, who lived 5,000 years before Emperor Palpatine.

STAR WARS: The Old Republic – Knights of the Eternal Throne

 "Betrayed" Trailer 

 Here's another trailer for the original game, showing the Sith infiltrating the Jedi Temple:

STAR WARS™: The Old Republic™

'Deceived' Cinematic Trailer

Finally, here's another video I came across that blew me away, breaking down the amazing visual effects used in "Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens":

"Sisyphus" Kinetic Sand Art

I've seen a few sites linking to this amazing creation by Bruce Shapiro that integrates art & technology in a mesmerizing way.

The installation is called "Sisyphus". It is named after the Greek myth of the tortured soul who is forced to roll a boulder up a mountain each day, only to have it continuously roll back down to the bottom.

"Sisyphus"

THE ART OF MOTION CONTROL

Sisyphus consists of a metal ball that guided through a surface covered in sand, presumably using computer-guided magnets underneath the table.

Sisyphus time lapse 2 from Bruce Shapiro on Vimeo.

Watching this system in action brings to mind the quote by Arthur C. Clarke, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

It is a modern take on the Zen art of rock & sand gardens, with similarly profound meditative qualities.

It is also reminiscent of Tibetan sand mandalas, which are intricate spiritual designs made of colored sand. These creations are ritually swept up & the sand dispersed after they are finished, to symbolize the impermanent nature of existence.

Trump: Putting the "CON" into "Conservative"

After my post about the first Presidential debate with the President A$$hole graphic that I made, I was inspired to create another Trump image.

I'm not enthusiastic about the idea of Hillary Clinton being President, but I think she is much less dangerous to the state of our society than the possibility of a President Trump. He would be an absolute disaster. Anyone who believes he would do a damn thing for the majority of working people is deluded. They've been conned by the quintessential con-man.

The Atlantic:

The Many Scandals of Donald Trump: A Cheat Sheet

Donald Trump's whole career has been based on screwing people over, in order to benefit himself. This is not the type of person you want in charge of public policy.

So, the idea that Trump has really put the "CON" into "Conservative" led me to make this graphic:

Hanging Snakeskin

Here's another addition to my album of nature photos that took me by surprise.

I was in the back yard of my parents' house when I saw this large snakeskin hanging among the branches of a bush. It was about 3 feet long, and it appears the snake shed it while climbing through the bushes.

My dad saw a large snake crawling along the roof of their house a few months ago, so I'm pretty sure this skin belongs to him...

Nature Photography

by Paul Micarelli