I think it has something to do with a TV show, The River, that I'll never watch.
Hopefully I never come across anything like this while hiking or being in the wilderness!
It would be much worse than almost stepping on a rattlesnake.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Creepy River Monkey
This pic is nightmarishly freaky-
I think it has something to do with a TV show, The River, that I'll never watch.
Hopefully I never come across anything like this while hiking or being in the wilderness!
It would be much worse than almost stepping on a rattlesnake.
I think it has something to do with a TV show, The River, that I'll never watch.
Hopefully I never come across anything like this while hiking or being in the wilderness!
It would be much worse than almost stepping on a rattlesnake.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Resolution for 2012
This is a funny bit of graphic design humor I saw on Ffffound!
Personally, though... I'd much rather experience the year in high definition.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The Ancient History of Games
In my career as a commercial designer, most of my creative work is meant for mass market consumption.
To be an effective artist, though, it's good to be familiar with a wide range of topics & material. Ancient history & lost knowledge from past civilizations are some of my favorite subjects.
Since I work on alot of packaging & product design for games, I like to learn about the history of gaming. My interest in ancient cultures was one of the reasons I created the game Da Vinci's Challenge™ to resemble an artifact from classical times.
Games have been around as long as human society. The act of playing games of skill or chance is an extension of the basic pattern-forming capacity of our brain. Games are a way to explore possibilities and a fun way to stimulate the mind.
Historically, people with the most leisure time had the most opportunities to play games. The wealthy could indulge in enjoyable pastimes more than a toiling peasant. Also, priests in cultures that followed the movement of the stars spent long nights observing the skies. I can imagine it was common for those at a temple or a royal court to pass the time with games of varying complexity.
Common people can make dice out of bones or simple carved objects. The elite had more intricate creations- like the Royal Game of Ur, a board game found in royal tombs in what is now Iraq. However, there were also games like the Egyptian board game Senet that were enjoyed by the royalty and regular people alike.
Games in the Ancient World:
Discovery News
From the excellent article above, I learned a bit of trivia -
• The first mass-produced board games in the U.S. were Travelers' Tour Through the United States and Travelers' Tour Through Europe, both published by New York booksellers F. & R. Lockwood in 1822.
Here are some other links about Mohenjo-daro, one of the oldest human settlements ever discovered. The archaeological site is littered with game & play-related artifacts.
Science Daily:
Past Horizons:
Monday, February 20, 2012
The Horrible Truth of the Purple Squirrel
Recently, a strangely-colored critter made the news. In Pennsylvania, a purple squirrel was found & nobody knows how it got that way.
There are theories that it fell into ink, and then there's commenters theorizing that it's the result of bromide from water polluted by fracking. Both theories are wrong...
The real answer is that it is a malevolent Trabie has obviously crossed over into our dimension.
We're doomed.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Vanilla Ice Rap Game
I recently posted about Bad Action Figures, but here's a contender for the worst game idea ever:
The style of the art on that box is sooo early 1990's. The 90's were basically a hangover from the most tasteless decade ever- the 1980's.
When Vanilla Ice's album came out, I was in 4th grade. My aunt got me the cassette tape To The Extreme for Christmas one year, since I was too young to know better.
Here is my review of his classic movie. It's so bad that it's awesome.
Cool As Ice
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Future Games
With the prevalence of smart phones & touchscreen computers, digital gaming is an unstoppable force in personal entertainment.
I see my little nephews & other toddlers easily navigating iPhone apps, and it seems inevitable that human interfacing with electronics will only increase in the future.
However, as long as we inhabit the physical realm, there will always be the need for physical interaction- with humans & objects alike.
The appeal of a tangible products or items is not going away anytime soon. That's why I think there's alot of potential for games or other applications that are a hybrid of physical and digital attributes.
I saw this cool demo on Neatorama of a game that uses a touchscreen playing surface & physical game pieces. It's called the ePawn Arena:
Searching for other instances of digital game boards, I came across this prototype by Philips Electronics from a few years ago:
As we become more enmeshed with electronic devices, it will become more "natural" to interact with virtual interfaces that augment our physical senses, intelligence, & consciousness.
At some point, if people engineer a truly symbiotic connection with future digital devices, like an 'Apple iThink', it will be interesting to see how perceptions of the virtual and physical worlds are combined in the mind of the person.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Bad Action Figures
Since I'm getting ready for Toy Fair in NYC this weekend, it's a good time to post this great list of really bad action figures I saw a while back:
There are plenty of other examples of action figure failures. One day I'll have to gather up some of the worst ones I can find & make my own list.
This stupidly grinning Lex Luthor that punched himself in the head comes to mind:
Even the packaging sucked for that that 1990's line of DC superheroes by Toy Biz.
Cracked.com:
There are so many laughably bad characters, but my favorites have to be the He-Man "smelly" characters:
& Stinkor... yes, an action figure that looked & smelled like a skunk (which was just a Mer-man figure painted black & white). They are just awesomely bad toys.
"Why won't anyone play with me?!?!?!"
As kids, my 2 brothers & I amassed an extensive collection of toys & actions figures over the years. With such a vast collection, we inevitably had most of the crappy toys on that list. Batman's "Bob" & The G.I. Joe character "Chuckles" were off-the-charts lame.
I guess when you're trying to create so many characters for a toy line, a few duds are bound to slip in the mix.
There are plenty of other examples of action figure failures. One day I'll have to gather up some of the worst ones I can find & make my own list.
This stupidly grinning Lex Luthor that punched himself in the head comes to mind:
Even the packaging sucked for that that 1990's line of DC superheroes by Toy Biz.
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Brain Scrambling
This weekend, I'm going to Toy Fair in NYC for a couple days. One reason is to try to find a new publisher for the award-winning strategy game I created & developed, Da Vinci's Challenge™ based on the ancient Flower of Life pattern.
We have also developed some other new games, toys, & activities that we hope will create some interest. Toy Fair is an interesting show to attend & I usually feel some visual overload from trying to take everything in.
Besides spending the last few weeks trying to prepare for the show, I was in a minor car accident in the middle of January & have been dealing with that situation.
Then, I was in work last Wed. & my head started burning up w/ a fever. My fingers felt numb & my body had the chills, despite my head being on fire. The next day the fever went away, but then I had a painful throat infection that lasted several days. It was really bad during the week, but I still went in to work to make sure I got all the stuff done for Toy Fair. I ate nothing but soup for 4 days. To ease the swelling I tried gargling water + everything: salt, honey, hydrogen peroxide, & even cayenne red pepper after seeing it recommended online.
Saturday morning I felt relatively better, & ate some cherry water ice that was like a frozen miracle. Last nite I went out to eat with my parents & was so damn hungry that I tried to tackle a burger, my first solid food in days. Even though I had an ravenous appetite, my throat was so raw that each swallow felt like I was swallowing tiny shards of glass. My Dad was laughing at me, saying I looked like an alligator the way I was grimacing & struggling to put down each gulp.
FINALLY, I woke up this morning & could swallow with no discomfort at all! Hallelujah!!! Most of the day, I was still reflexively wincing each time I swallowed, even though it didn't hurt anymore.
No matter how much awareness we place on our well-being, we easily take for granted what a blessing it is to experience life free of debilitating pain.
Anyway, the physical discomfort was enough to frazzle my mind as I've been trying to focus on dealing with the rest of life's steady march of craziness.
I saw the optical animated GIF below & thought it was a good representation of my general state of mind during the last week.
WARNING!!!
IT WILL SCRAMBLE YOUR BRAIN!!!!
I also saw this other cool optical illusion GIF, "Hide the Corners" that is hard to stop staring at:
Besides spending the last few weeks trying to prepare for the show, I was in a minor car accident in the middle of January & have been dealing with that situation.
Then, I was in work last Wed. & my head started burning up w/ a fever. My fingers felt numb & my body had the chills, despite my head being on fire. The next day the fever went away, but then I had a painful throat infection that lasted several days. It was really bad during the week, but I still went in to work to make sure I got all the stuff done for Toy Fair. I ate nothing but soup for 4 days. To ease the swelling I tried gargling water + everything: salt, honey, hydrogen peroxide, & even cayenne red pepper after seeing it recommended online.
Saturday morning I felt relatively better, & ate some cherry water ice that was like a frozen miracle. Last nite I went out to eat with my parents & was so damn hungry that I tried to tackle a burger, my first solid food in days. Even though I had an ravenous appetite, my throat was so raw that each swallow felt like I was swallowing tiny shards of glass. My Dad was laughing at me, saying I looked like an alligator the way I was grimacing & struggling to put down each gulp.
FINALLY, I woke up this morning & could swallow with no discomfort at all! Hallelujah!!! Most of the day, I was still reflexively wincing each time I swallowed, even though it didn't hurt anymore.
No matter how much awareness we place on our well-being, we easily take for granted what a blessing it is to experience life free of debilitating pain.
Anyway, the physical discomfort was enough to frazzle my mind as I've been trying to focus on dealing with the rest of life's steady march of craziness.
I saw the optical animated GIF below & thought it was a good representation of my general state of mind during the last week.
WARNING!!!
IT WILL SCRAMBLE YOUR BRAIN!!!!
I also saw this other cool optical illusion GIF, "Hide the Corners" that is hard to stop staring at:
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Generative Computer Art
This is a cool video I saw on BoingBoing that shows the endless creative power that people are developing with the aid of computers.
Ever-improving digital tools are crucial in generating visuals that we mere humans could never create with physical means.
Most of my art is done with computers- so it's the brush, paint, & canvas of my artistic life.
Usually, I can directly translate imagery in my mind's eye onto the screen, using Adobe software or other image-generating programs.
The magical process of interfacing with machines is so ubiquitous now, it's often taken for granted. On the other hand, I personally often think how amazing it is that we can manipulate these pixels of light around a translucent surface to externalize our thoughts.
Technology is like an alchemical process of forming new things from existing elements. As long as communication and innovation are continually encouraged, there's no telling what astonishing feats man will one day see as commonplace.
Ever-improving digital tools are crucial in generating visuals that we mere humans could never create with physical means.
Most of my art is done with computers- so it's the brush, paint, & canvas of my artistic life.
Usually, I can directly translate imagery in my mind's eye onto the screen, using Adobe software or other image-generating programs.
The magical process of interfacing with machines is so ubiquitous now, it's often taken for granted. On the other hand, I personally often think how amazing it is that we can manipulate these pixels of light around a translucent surface to externalize our thoughts.
Technology is like an alchemical process of forming new things from existing elements. As long as communication and innovation are continually encouraged, there's no telling what astonishing feats man will one day see as commonplace.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Telsa's Understanding of the Universe
I thought this an awesome quote to add to my last post about one of history great inventors, Nikola Tesla:
"If you want to understand the Universe,
think of energy, frequency, and
vibration."
seen on fusionanomaly.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Mad Electricity: Nikola Tesla
I was watching this engaging documentary of one of the greatest inventors of all time, Nikola Tesla.
He was the father of the modern electric age & single-handedly created many of its wonders that we take for granted now-
Tesla was the inventor of A/C electricity, florescent light bulbs, wireless signal transmission, and other ideas that literally changed the entire world.
Unfortunately, he hasn't historically always received the credit he deserves & his efforts were often challenged or outright squashed by greedy corporatists like Thomas Edison, or short-sighted financiers like J.P. Morgan. Tesla initially worked for Edison, who screwed him out of compensation he owed for Tesla's inventions.
Before his success lighting the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with A/C power, he even had to find work digging ditches in New York City for a time after he left Edison's lab.
This History channel documentary, "Mad Electricity,"is an excellent overview of the amazing insight & accomplishments of this visionary mind.
He was the father of the modern electric age & single-handedly created many of its wonders that we take for granted now-
Tesla was the inventor of A/C electricity, florescent light bulbs, wireless signal transmission, and other ideas that literally changed the entire world.
Unfortunately, he hasn't historically always received the credit he deserves & his efforts were often challenged or outright squashed by greedy corporatists like Thomas Edison, or short-sighted financiers like J.P. Morgan. Tesla initially worked for Edison, who screwed him out of compensation he owed for Tesla's inventions.
Before his success lighting the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with A/C power, he even had to find work digging ditches in New York City for a time after he left Edison's lab.
This History channel documentary, "Mad Electricity,"is an excellent overview of the amazing insight & accomplishments of this visionary mind.
Here's another great page on the PBS site for information about Tesla:
PBS:
Tesla: Master of Lightning
Even his previously fantastical vision of wireless electric power is now finally being realized, as well.
Engadget Primed:
Tesla was truly a genius & his work should be taught in every science class around the world.
“When wireless is perfectly applied the whole earth will be converted into a huge brain, which in fact it is, all things being particles of a real and rhythmic whole. We shall be able to communicate with one another instantly, irrespective of distance. Not only this, but through television and telephony we shall see and hear one another as perfectly as though we were face to face, despite intervening distances of thousands of miles; and the instruments through which we shall be able to do his will be amazingly simple compared with our present telephone. A man will be able to carry one in his vest pocket.”
-Nikola Tesla
Friday, January 27, 2012
Choice
by Benjamin Patterson
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
maybe [ ]
I also came across this very relevant quote by crazy wisdom master RAW on The Daily Grail:
"Do not try to give either/or answers
in a multiple-choice universe"
in a multiple-choice universe"
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Monkeys & Mortality
There are many things I enjoy in life, but bizarre creations & monkey pictures always make my day.
I saw the masterpiece below on the Tumblr blog JUST_MONK3Y.
A pensive ape, wearing a fez hat with the the all-seeing eye, is holding a human skull.
Using the mind-boggling power of Google Images & Search ("ape+fez+skull"), I just took 30 seconds & tracked down the creator of this superb image, Jean Labourdette. The title of the work only adds to its awesomeness:
Perhaps the ponderous primate is wondering about the nature of the process we call consciousness that experiences our mortal existence...
Perhaps he is thinking about bananas...
Also on that blog, I saw this funny vintage print of a cheeky monkey trying to make moves on a human circus lady.
I looked up the artist, E. Gayac, but there's not much info other than that he was a Spanish postcard artist.
I saw the masterpiece below on the Tumblr blog JUST_MONK3Y.
A pensive ape, wearing a fez hat with the the all-seeing eye, is holding a human skull.
Using the mind-boggling power of Google Images & Search ("ape+fez+skull"), I just took 30 seconds & tracked down the creator of this superb image, Jean Labourdette. The title of the work only adds to its awesomeness:
by Jean Labourdette
Perhaps the ponderous primate is wondering about the nature of the process we call consciousness that experiences our mortal existence...
Perhaps he is thinking about bananas...
Also on that blog, I saw this funny vintage print of a cheeky monkey trying to make moves on a human circus lady.
I looked up the artist, E. Gayac, but there's not much info other than that he was a Spanish postcard artist.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
State of the Union 2012
Last night, I watched the premier piece of political pageantry in American politics, The State of the Union address.
This version posted by the White House has additional infographics accompanying the speech:
Some people will inevitably complain about it being just another speech by Obama & his teleprompter that, according to his critics, no President has ever used before. Personally, I think The Long-Legged Mack Daddy has done as well as anyone can be expected to in his position.
The one credit I've always given our previous President, George W. Bush, is that he's the reason I got interested in politics & government affairs as a young adult.
His administration was like a car wreck that I had to watch, in horror. The GOP's policies were horrible overall, and Bush was himself was a continual disaster & embarrassment in the eyes of the world. The real President at the time, Dick Cheney, was widely regarded with the same affection as The Emperor in Star Wars.
Therefore, it's nice to be able to sit through these State of the Union speeches & not feel like the leader of the country is an inarticulate ignoramus.
Obama's clearly not perfect, but he's a helluva alot better than Bush or any of the current Republican candidates. If anything, he hasn't been forcefully progressive enough. Actually, the points where Obama & his administration are at their worst is where they try to continue the policies of the Bush White House. However, he campaigned as a moderate Democrat (not a liberal) and realistically has to deal with the conservatives in Congress & "The System" in general.
Haters gonna hate, though, so there are people who get sucked into the Fox News & right-wing talk radio (((brain-warp))) who think Obama's a muslim socialist who was born in Kenya & deeply hates America. I read the comments for articles on Fox Nation & Red State with the same sense of morbid curiosity as someone visiting an insane asylum. ...but, hey, all views should be taken into equal consideration, right?
Fair & Balanced™!!!
Obama, like all Presidents, is faced with a tremendous job & there are plenty of decisions to criticize or praise. I generally agree with his articulated vision for the country. If he had a greater degree of cooperation from Congress, the country would be improving at a much faster rate. The alternative is the traditional, disastrous Republican ideology, which is basically the privatization of everything & welfare only for multi-national corporations & the top 1%, sucking up America's wealth.
I'm pretty cynical, but I still think voting is an important civil act. I'll almost certainly be voting for President Obama, regardless of what obscenely rich knucklehead the GOP finally nominates.
This version posted by the White House has additional infographics accompanying the speech:
Some people will inevitably complain about it being just another speech by Obama & his teleprompter that, according to his critics, no President has ever used before. Personally, I think The Long-Legged Mack Daddy has done as well as anyone can be expected to in his position.
The one credit I've always given our previous President, George W. Bush, is that he's the reason I got interested in politics & government affairs as a young adult.
His administration was like a car wreck that I had to watch, in horror. The GOP's policies were horrible overall, and Bush was himself was a continual disaster & embarrassment in the eyes of the world. The real President at the time, Dick Cheney, was widely regarded with the same affection as The Emperor in Star Wars.
NEVER FORGET!!!...
Therefore, it's nice to be able to sit through these State of the Union speeches & not feel like the leader of the country is an inarticulate ignoramus.
Obama's clearly not perfect, but he's a helluva alot better than Bush or any of the current Republican candidates. If anything, he hasn't been forcefully progressive enough. Actually, the points where Obama & his administration are at their worst is where they try to continue the policies of the Bush White House. However, he campaigned as a moderate Democrat (not a liberal) and realistically has to deal with the conservatives in Congress & "The System" in general.
Haters gonna hate, though, so there are people who get sucked into the Fox News & right-wing talk radio (((brain-warp))) who think Obama's a muslim socialist who was born in Kenya & deeply hates America. I read the comments for articles on Fox Nation & Red State with the same sense of morbid curiosity as someone visiting an insane asylum. ...but, hey, all views should be taken into equal consideration, right?
Fair & Balanced™!!!
Obama, like all Presidents, is faced with a tremendous job & there are plenty of decisions to criticize or praise. I generally agree with his articulated vision for the country. If he had a greater degree of cooperation from Congress, the country would be improving at a much faster rate. The alternative is the traditional, disastrous Republican ideology, which is basically the privatization of everything & welfare only for multi-national corporations & the top 1%, sucking up America's wealth.
I'm pretty cynical, but I still think voting is an important civil act. I'll almost certainly be voting for President Obama, regardless of what obscenely rich knucklehead the GOP finally nominates.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Day in the Life of a Graphic Designer
On Ffffound! I saw this retro-looking graphic by Amerikan Made Prints.
It's a very funny poster & I can relate to alot of it. Thankfully, my life as a graphic designer isn't quite as crazy!
It's a very funny poster & I can relate to alot of it. Thankfully, my life as a graphic designer isn't quite as crazy!
Amerikan Made Prints:
click to enlarge
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The Magic of Bob Ross
Recently I caught a bit of this documentary about the late, legendary landscape painter & TV personality, Bob Ross.
Bob Ross was on public television when I was a kid, and later became a hero for me & some of my friends in high school.
Part of the reason I admired him was due to my love of art, but his laid-back demeanor & hypnotic banter could make anyone feel like they were in a Zen-like state of mental relaxation.
His descriptive imagination & his seemingly magic technique could instill a sense of wonder not just for art, but for the natural world that he was recreating in his paintings.
One of my friends recently sent me a video of his young daughters transfixed while watching an old episode of The Joy of Painting. Though he's no longer with us, Bob's gentle spirit still has a calming effect on people of all ages.
After seeing some of the documentary, I decided to have some fun & imagined myself in his painting. I wish I could've been lucky enough to meet him...
"Paul Mic in the Mountains"
not by Bob Ross
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Ancient Greek Punishment Games
This could also be called 'The Game of Life'
These simple 8-bit style games put you in the role of characters from ancient Greek myths who were punished by the gods with eternal torment.
I've been interested in ancient mythology since first learning about the Greek & Roman stories in grade school.
These impossible games simulate the torturous afterlives of the following characters:
• Tantalus
• Prometheus
• Danaids
...and my favorite, which is actually a philosophical paradox & not an eternal punishment:
• Zeno
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Truther Toys
Continuing on the topic of having some fun with conspiracy theories from my last post...
I saw a link to these totally crazy "Truther Toy" parodies that take some of the more nefarious conspiracy theories floating around, and made them into games & other not-so-fun products for kids.
Having years of experience designing products for the toy & game industry, I can confidently say that NONE of these concepts will ever make their way into the toy aisle, at any store!
My favorite, however, is probably the Bank$ters Monopoly Press, which is a goof on the illusory, abstract nature of our entire monetary system:
Right now, perpetual Presidential candidate Ron Paul & his fanatically loyal supporters are probably the most visibly vocal opponents in this country of the Federal Reserve & the entire fiat system of debt-driven currency. Although I find some of Congressman Paul's policy positions to be questionable, the private control of the issuing of money is one aspect of economy that is untenable & definitely needs major reform.
Although auditing the Fed, while creating more transparency & accountability in the highest levels of the financial sector, would be a good thing- his obsession with gold-backed currency seems antiquated & impractical in the digital age.
Like all things, the global economy & our systems of exchange will continue to evolve- perhaps into processes that we may not be able to even imagine today.
I saw a link to these totally crazy "Truther Toy" parodies that take some of the more nefarious conspiracy theories floating around, and made them into games & other not-so-fun products for kids.
Having years of experience designing products for the toy & game industry, I can confidently say that NONE of these concepts will ever make their way into the toy aisle, at any store!
My favorite, however, is probably the Bank$ters Monopoly Press, which is a goof on the illusory, abstract nature of our entire monetary system:
click to enlarge
Right now, perpetual Presidential candidate Ron Paul & his fanatically loyal supporters are probably the most visibly vocal opponents in this country of the Federal Reserve & the entire fiat system of debt-driven currency. Although I find some of Congressman Paul's policy positions to be questionable, the private control of the issuing of money is one aspect of economy that is untenable & definitely needs major reform.
Although auditing the Fed, while creating more transparency & accountability in the highest levels of the financial sector, would be a good thing- his obsession with gold-backed currency seems antiquated & impractical in the digital age.
Like all things, the global economy & our systems of exchange will continue to evolve- perhaps into processes that we may not be able to even imagine today.
Reality Sandwich:
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Conspiracy Theory Rock: Media-opoly
This "TV Funhouse" skit by Robert Smigel (aka Triumph the Insult Comic Dog) is as true today as it was a decade ago when it was made for SNL.
The power of the giant multinational corporate conglomerates still disproportionately influences the media, the economy, & the government.
Any attempt to reign in the inevitable abuses committed by these impersonal, profit-driven monstrosities through regulation is usually met by screams of "Socialism!" or "government overreach!" by those with little sense of business ethics or social responsibility.
This particular segment was never used on the show, for obvious reasons.
The power of the giant multinational corporate conglomerates still disproportionately influences the media, the economy, & the government.
Any attempt to reign in the inevitable abuses committed by these impersonal, profit-driven monstrosities through regulation is usually met by screams of "Socialism!" or "government overreach!" by those with little sense of business ethics or social responsibility.
This particular segment was never used on the show, for obvious reasons.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
The Satirical Genius of Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert transferring his "Colbert SuperPAC" money to Jon Stewart.
I've been a regular viewer of The Colbert Report since the first episode. He was one of the funniest 'correspondents' on The Daily Show, and (in my opinion) has far surpassed Jon Stewart has the greatest political satirist alive... maybe ever.
The NY Times magazine had this great article that gives a look behind the persona that he has meticulously crafted.
NY Times Magazine:
His roast of Dubya in 2006 was a legendary performance & guaranteed him a place among the Gods of Comedy.
Google Video
However, since then he has continued to bring an insane amount of wit & cutting insight to every show. His character is a consistently brilliant parody of the know-nothing plutocratic jerks who can usually be found on right-wing media like Fox News, as either guests or pundits.
Recently on his show, he has been masterfully utilizing all the great comedic material being provided by the buffoons running in the GOP primaries.
He has also been busy exposing the ludicrous process & laws behind elections in our country. At the forefront of his crusade to highlight the absurdities of our political system has been the 'Citizen's United' decision by the Supreme Court.
NYT:
Basically, it ruled that current election law allows corporations to be considered "people" when it comes to political speech.
Therefore, through supposedly unconnected groups known as Super PACs, unlimited money can be raised by supporters of candidates. There is no requirement to disclose how much has been raised or where it came from.
Therefore, he started Colbert SuperPAC to show the process behind forming these legal entities which are having such a detrimental effect on the democratic system.
This week he made a surprise move to hand over the operation of his Colbert SuperPAC to Jon Stewart. By doing this, he has opened himself up to exploring a run as a candidate in the South Carolina primary election!
This should be very interesting... & hysterical!
Full Episode Link
The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Design Like Nobody's Watching
Vermin Supreme, a Tyrant You Can Trust
On a couple websites I saw links to this video of a maniac who turned an otherwise boring public forum into an insane spectacle.
So I finally watched it, & the brazenly wacky Vermin Supreme is truly a sight to behold.
He is apparently a political activist of the crazy kind & has somehow been allowed to run in the Presidential primary in New Hampshire.
Gawker.com:
His jingle that he sings around the 5:00 mark and then glitter-bombing anti-gay activist Randall Terry is worth sitting through the rest of the madness.
I'm totally entertained by absurd happenings such as this.
Madmen such as Vermin Supreme briefly lift the veil off the artifices of accepted social mores & our general perceptions of reality.
Despite my enjoyment of crazy crap like this, I can't imagine how anyone would actually let "Mr. Supreme" near public office. Most people prefer a state of order over mayhem- even if it's an order that's corrupt & dysfunctional.
Last night, Stephen Colbert was skewering GOP candidate Rick Santorum. They showed a clip of Santorum being confronted by.... a crazy man wearing a boot on his head!
I had a friend over who exclaimed, "Look at that crazy boot-head!" I couldn't remember the name at the time, but I knew it was ridiculous & ended up looking it up online.
When the primaries move on from New Hampshire, who knows if the Vermin Supreme phenomenon will continue...
In the long line of 'out-there' politicians, Vermin Supreme is on a different level.
See also:
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Guides to Creative Thinking
I saw this list on Visual Bits & thought it had very good points:
I also came across this excellent article in The Atlantic that sums up the mysterious creative process:
The four steps outlined in the article definitely reflect how I usually approach design projects or problems in general:
1. Saturation - expose yourself to as many different possibilities & solutions as you can
2. Incubation - take time to reflect & simply think about the project or problem
3. Ilumination - the often sudden mental lightning strike of an idea
4. Verification - re-evaluate the approach you are taking and weigh the pros vs. cons.
I also came across this excellent article in The Atlantic that sums up the mysterious creative process:
The four steps outlined in the article definitely reflect how I usually approach design projects or problems in general:
1. Saturation - expose yourself to as many different possibilities & solutions as you can
2. Incubation - take time to reflect & simply think about the project or problem
3. Ilumination - the often sudden mental lightning strike of an idea
4. Verification - re-evaluate the approach you are taking and weigh the pros vs. cons.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
10 Technology Breakthroughs of 2011
This is a little late, but here is a good list of some really mind-boggling innovations that have been emerging recently.
Gizmowatch:
I never stop being amazed at the ability of the human mind to physically realize what it can imagine. My Dad always comments about how visionary Star Trek was back in the 60's, but he doesn't even know just how much of that sci-fi tech is now really being developed.
Infographic:
When I see things like 'Brain-like CPUs', 'Cloud Computing', 'Auto-Repairing Circuits', & 'Nanorobotics', it's clear that an 'Apple iThink' computer is closer than ever.
 |
| From Paul's Portrait |
Friday, December 30, 2011
Top Internet Memes of 2011
Among the many wonders that the Internet has provided humanity is the endless supply of useless yet entertaining memes, which is the closest thing to a "fad" in the Digital Age.
I've found some excellent lists of the top Internet memes of 2011.
Scumbag Steve, of course, is likely to show up (uninvited) at the top of any list... because he's a scumbag.
I've found some excellent lists of the top Internet memes of 2011.
Scumbag Steve, of course, is likely to show up (uninvited) at the top of any list... because he's a scumbag.
Know Your Meme:
Know Your Meme:
Buzzfeed:
Thursday, December 29, 2011
My Mixed-Up Family
Due to a storm, the power has been out at my house for a couple days.
Until I can get back on my computer at home, I'm posting my contribution to the 'White Elephant' game my family plays on Xmas Eve.
Basically, everyone brings a wrapped present to add to the game. Then everyone picks a number & takes turn picking a random present from the pile. My family all have a twisted sense of humor, so some of the presents end up being bizarre or crazy.
This year I was having trouble deciding on what to do for a gift.
Then, in a flash of inspiration, I decided to Photoshop the group pics from Thanksgiving to make insane mixed-up family portraits.
The one with all the guys is really funny because of all the baby heads.
I like to set the bar really high when it comes to creative gifts...
(My face is in the middle, & I'm all the way to the left in the original photo.)
Click the image for a bigger version:
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Santa vs. Jesus
It's time to celebrate the winter solstice holiday & specifically the beloved traditions of Christmas.
During this special time, let's not forget to take time to reflect on the deeper meanings of the holiday tradition...
During this special time, let's not forget to take time to reflect on the deeper meanings of the holiday tradition...
Friday, December 23, 2011
Santa, American Christmas Devil
I'm not sure if the background story to this grotesquely insane, but awesome depiction of Santa Claus is true, but it's appropriately crazy:
Paper Pusher:
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Creative Governing
Obviously the title of this post is not describing current American politics, especially when it comes to Congress.
If anything, the reason the government is so dysfunctional is that there are not nearly enough creative thinkers on Capitol Hill.
As a graphic artist, I can appreciate the sentiments in this article reflecting on the need for true "intelligent" design in our politics:
With the utterly incompetent & reactionary GOP caucus in the House of Representatives, it's now near impossible to get anything legislatively productive done. Their hatred for Obama & anything that progressives remotely support overrides their ability to approach problems from a reasonable perspective.
They are currently paying a political price for their inability to do anything than obstruct what even their Republican colleagues in the Senate are trying to accomplish:
It's just a shame that these battles aren't spent on issues that actually impact the fundamental problems facing the economy & government. Congress can't seem to do any more than put band-aids on an amputee.
Anyway... for all it's faults, one thing I can appreciate about the Obama administration is their appreciation of thoughtful design & its general outreach to the design community.
Recently, the White House had a poster contest for the proposed jobs bill, which was predictably opposed by Republicans. I spent a few hours to put together this design in the hopes I could win & get a copy signed by the President. Unfortunately, I wasn't a finalist. Oh well.
Using the iconic logo of the Obama campaign, I tried (in my best 'minimalist propaganda' style) to illustrate what the government should be doing - Working *FOR* America... trying to unite Red & Blue and everyone else for common goals...
L....O....L!
If anything, the reason the government is so dysfunctional is that there are not nearly enough creative thinkers on Capitol Hill.
As a graphic artist, I can appreciate the sentiments in this article reflecting on the need for true "intelligent" design in our politics:
Seed Magazine:
With the utterly incompetent & reactionary GOP caucus in the House of Representatives, it's now near impossible to get anything legislatively productive done. Their hatred for Obama & anything that progressives remotely support overrides their ability to approach problems from a reasonable perspective.
They are currently paying a political price for their inability to do anything than obstruct what even their Republican colleagues in the Senate are trying to accomplish:
CBS News:
It's just a shame that these battles aren't spent on issues that actually impact the fundamental problems facing the economy & government. Congress can't seem to do any more than put band-aids on an amputee.
In honor of this most recent political fiasco cause by the knuckleheads in the House, I dug out the graphic below of Paul Ryan's Republican-backed plan to privatize Medicare & throw America's senior citizens to the mercy of Wall St. & private insurers.
The right-wingers are an endless source of horrible, absurd ideas that benefit nobody except the wealthiest citizens and corporations.
Anyway... for all it's faults, one thing I can appreciate about the Obama administration is their appreciation of thoughtful design & its general outreach to the design community.
Recently, the White House had a poster contest for the proposed jobs bill, which was predictably opposed by Republicans. I spent a few hours to put together this design in the hopes I could win & get a copy signed by the President. Unfortunately, I wasn't a finalist. Oh well.
Using the iconic logo of the Obama campaign, I tried (in my best 'minimalist propaganda' style) to illustrate what the government should be doing - Working *FOR* America... trying to unite Red & Blue and everyone else for common goals...
L....O....L!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Natural History
This animated GIF, featuring two closely related ape-creatures, is a funny take on Leonardo da Vinci's canon of the human form.
That classic drawing is also known as the Vitruvian Man:
That classic drawing is also known as the Vitruvian Man:
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Weapons of Mass Creation
If we had more energy & money going into creative pursuits, instead of vicious cycles of destruction, the world would be a much different place.
Although I recognize all of the old-school visual art tools inside the 'creativity bomb', the only design tool I need nowadays is the Apple computer.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Picasso's "Guernica" in 3D
I have a large 6 ft. print of "Guernica" by Pablo Picasso hanging over my TV.
The painting is a general condemnation of the violence & atrocities of war. However, it is a specific reaction to the bombing of the Spanish town of Guernica in 1937, during the Spanish Civil War.
I've spent alot of time studying it & it's possibly the piece of art I've looked at the most.
Below is a really cool animation that splits the painting into the extra dimensions that Picasso envisioned. It highlights the many details of the design that tell the story of death & destruction wrought on innocent civilians.
It brilliantly ends with the focus on the tiny symbol of hope in the chaotic hellscape, the lone flower at the bottom center of the composition, emerging from a broken sword.
The painting is a general condemnation of the violence & atrocities of war. However, it is a specific reaction to the bombing of the Spanish town of Guernica in 1937, during the Spanish Civil War.
I've spent alot of time studying it & it's possibly the piece of art I've looked at the most.
Below is a really cool animation that splits the painting into the extra dimensions that Picasso envisioned. It highlights the many details of the design that tell the story of death & destruction wrought on innocent civilians.
It brilliantly ends with the focus on the tiny symbol of hope in the chaotic hellscape, the lone flower at the bottom center of the composition, emerging from a broken sword.
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Political Infographics
Since I posted about the Death & Taxes chart, 2 more political graphics have caught my eye.
The first one was actually put out by The White House, comparing the proposals in Pres. Obama's Jobs Act to the consequences of the GOP's plan.
I'm no mindless Obama drone, but I think he's clearly a helluva lot better than Dubya was. If you watch speeches by the 2 presidents & you still think Obama's the worse one, then you've got problems. Obama's not nearly progressive enough for me, but I would much rather have him stay office than ANY one of the Republican candidates... even that half-genius/half-idiot Ron Paul.
Some critics would argue that this chart's just another piece of Obama Marxist propoganda, but it seems to correlate w/ the news I've been seeing coming out of Congress.
People could use more graphics like this that outline policy differences in a clear way, as long as they are accurate.
I also saw this well-made infographic on iab.com, outlining the percepual and factual differences of the Occupy Wall Street protests & the Tea Party political movement:
The first one was actually put out by The White House, comparing the proposals in Pres. Obama's Jobs Act to the consequences of the GOP's plan.
I'm no mindless Obama drone, but I think he's clearly a helluva lot better than Dubya was. If you watch speeches by the 2 presidents & you still think Obama's the worse one, then you've got problems. Obama's not nearly progressive enough for me, but I would much rather have him stay office than ANY one of the Republican candidates... even that half-genius/half-idiot Ron Paul.
Some critics would argue that this chart's just another piece of Obama Marxist propoganda, but it seems to correlate w/ the news I've been seeing coming out of Congress.
People could use more graphics like this that outline policy differences in a clear way, as long as they are accurate.
click for larger
I also saw this well-made infographic on iab.com, outlining the percepual and factual differences of the Occupy Wall Street protests & the Tea Party political movement:
click for larger
Monday, November 28, 2011
Lincoln: Capital vs. Labor
Since I'm on the topic of populist messages by great Presidents, I came across this quote by Lincoln:
Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.
Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of protection as any other rights."
I would take issued with the last line of the quote in the text, though. I don't think that an conceptual tool like 'capital' should be considered to have rights at all, as individuals or groups of people do.
...that's like saying that computer software has rights.
It could also be argued that capital can be created from sources not normally considered "labor".
The creation of intellectual property can be considered a form of labor, if it leads to further production of goods & services.
What is definitely NOT productive labor? Financial schemes that do nothing but extract value from the economy, for the benefit of manipulative firms & their executives.
"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital.
Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed.
Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed.
Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.
Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of protection as any other rights."
I would take issued with the last line of the quote in the text, though. I don't think that an conceptual tool like 'capital' should be considered to have rights at all, as individuals or groups of people do.
...that's like saying that computer software has rights.
It could also be argued that capital can be created from sources not normally considered "labor".
The creation of intellectual property can be considered a form of labor, if it leads to further production of goods & services.
What is definitely NOT productive labor? Financial schemes that do nothing but extract value from the economy, for the benefit of manipulative firms & their executives.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
FDR Speech at Madison Square Garden 1936
I felt like doing something EXTRA-exciting, so I was watching a history lecture on C-SPAN.
The lecture was by Professor Stephen Ortiz of Binghamton University. The topic was New Deal programs & the Roosevelt administration.
There was an excerpt played of this speech at Madison Sq. Garden by Roosevelt a little more than 75 years ago.
President Obama's political instinct is to continually attempt compromise with the Republican party & corporate America.
FDR, however, openly declared war on these right wing factions, who he asserted were preying on the American worker:
The lecture was by Professor Stephen Ortiz of Binghamton University. The topic was New Deal programs & the Roosevelt administration.
C-SPAN
President Obama's political instinct is to continually attempt compromise with the Republican party & corporate America.
FDR, however, openly declared war on these right wing factions, who he asserted were preying on the American worker:
"We had
to struggle with the old enemies of peace--business and financial monopoly,
speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war
profiteering.
They had
begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage
to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is
just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.
Never
before in all our history have these forces been so united against one
candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me--and
I welcome their hatred.
I should
like to have it said of my first Administration that in it the forces of
selfishness and of lust for power met their match. I should like to have it
said of my second Administration that in it these forces met their master."
Friday, November 25, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Violence vs. Silence
People love to complain about the government, Wall St. & how "The System" as a whole is corrupt.
When people actually get out, organize, & try to do something about it, there are inevitably critics who feel like the status quo is better than actually trying to make major changes.
I think the Occupy protests are, overall, an effective force to initiate social and political change. I'm old enough to fondly remember the massive Iraq War protests during the Bush Dark Ages. The broad, sustained nature of the current Occupy protests are now having a large impact on the nation & the world.
Although the movement is fueled by future debt slaves, aka. "college students", there's also alot of labor unions & public workers involved, too. It's more than just a bunch of kids sleeping out in tents in parks. Like any large movement, there are bound to be wackos along with the people who are trying to do the right thing...
What should be the focus, are the stated goals of the movement-at-large:
The basic ideals that the people want to address are: democracy, justice, & freedom from oppression in it's many forms.
Most people don't expect a free ride in life, but we should all expect to have some protection against being exploited or preyed upon.
So, it's very disturbing to see the bizarro world we live in- where the forces that are supposed to protect the people are violently used against peaceful citizens & students who are trying to assert their rights as citizens and human beings.
Why are the victims (The protesting, debt-saddled American people) being criminalized instead of the perpetrators- (the financial & corporate players who have defrauded the country)?
To have any credibility with people interested in the nation-wide movement, President Obama needs to emphatically condemn violence against peaceful protesters. He's publicly sympathized with the sentiments of the protesters, even if he is a partial Wall St. beneficiary. Regardless, he should take action, or at least speak out, to prevent this kind of extreme assholery. It should not be tolerated from any law enforcement in this country, especially against unarmed students & innocent civilians.
This officer is basically a grown-up version of South Park's Eric Cartman- "Respect Mah Authoritah!!!!!"
Later on, the chancellor of the school finally emerged to a creepy walk of shame by a silent mass of students staring her down.
It was a powerful, silent reaction to a petty, violent action:
Of course, nothing is sacred... so anything that causes outrage is now also a target for all the ridicule that The Internet has to offer:
When people actually get out, organize, & try to do something about it, there are inevitably critics who feel like the status quo is better than actually trying to make major changes.
I think the Occupy protests are, overall, an effective force to initiate social and political change. I'm old enough to fondly remember the massive Iraq War protests during the Bush Dark Ages. The broad, sustained nature of the current Occupy protests are now having a large impact on the nation & the world.
Although the movement is fueled by future debt slaves, aka. "college students", there's also alot of labor unions & public workers involved, too. It's more than just a bunch of kids sleeping out in tents in parks. Like any large movement, there are bound to be wackos along with the people who are trying to do the right thing...
What should be the focus, are the stated goals of the movement-at-large:
The basic ideals that the people want to address are: democracy, justice, & freedom from oppression in it's many forms.
Most people don't expect a free ride in life, but we should all expect to have some protection against being exploited or preyed upon.
So, it's very disturbing to see the bizarro world we live in- where the forces that are supposed to protect the people are violently used against peaceful citizens & students who are trying to assert their rights as citizens and human beings.
Why are the victims (The protesting, debt-saddled American people) being criminalized instead of the perpetrators- (the financial & corporate players who have defrauded the country)?
To have any credibility with people interested in the nation-wide movement, President Obama needs to emphatically condemn violence against peaceful protesters. He's publicly sympathized with the sentiments of the protesters, even if he is a partial Wall St. beneficiary. Regardless, he should take action, or at least speak out, to prevent this kind of extreme assholery. It should not be tolerated from any law enforcement in this country, especially against unarmed students & innocent civilians.
This officer is basically a grown-up version of South Park's Eric Cartman- "Respect Mah Authoritah!!!!!"
Later on, the chancellor of the school finally emerged to a creepy walk of shame by a silent mass of students staring her down.
It was a powerful, silent reaction to a petty, violent action:
Of course, nothing is sacred... so anything that causes outrage is now also a target for all the ridicule that The Internet has to offer:
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