A couple non-brand name smells are Kindergarten class construction paper and tempera paint. At Six Flags, where I worked as a teenager, the smell of creosol near the train tracks was somehow always a happy smell...at least on a cool day.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Synesthesia Part 2
There are very distinct smells that go along with other childhood memories. Three favorite brand name smells are Crayola™ Crayons, grape Koolaid/ grape flavored candy, Hershey's chocolate.
A couple non-brand name smells are Kindergarten class construction paper and tempera paint. At Six Flags, where I worked as a teenager, the smell of creosol near the train tracks was somehow always a happy smell...at least on a cool day.
Last year I blogged about favorite smells and flavors at Christmas time. I remember we would stick our heads in our Christmas stockings and take a big whiff of all the mixed up smells. The olfactory combination contained oranges, peppermints, Hershey kisses (yeah...I LOVE chocolate), walnuts, Klondike bars, Junior Mints, small wrapped packages (cellophane tape?) and finally, the smell of the bright red flannel stocking itself.
A couple non-brand name smells are Kindergarten class construction paper and tempera paint. At Six Flags, where I worked as a teenager, the smell of creosol near the train tracks was somehow always a happy smell...at least on a cool day.
Grapheme Synesthesia
For the longest time I can remember I have associated single digit numbers with colors. I don't know why this happened, but the colors for the numbers 0 through 9 have never changed since my childhood.
Imagine my surprise when a friend told me there was a name for it. Synesthesia, he said. Wow. There's a word for everything, even things that seem to be nonsense-nobody-else-experiences these things but me stuff.
So for the world to see...or at least a handful of followers, I've attached the image that I created following my personal synesthetic number-color arrangement.
0= White
1= Black
2= Red
3= Orange
4= Green
5= Yellow
6= Red -or- sometimes Maroon
7= Cobalt Blue -to- Violet
8= Caramel Brown (don't ask me why, but it is a certain hue of brown I see)
9= Maroon (the same as 6 which makes sense to me)
I also included certain colors which appear in my mind to alternate from time to time.
The most solid or consistent associations are 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 8
My remaining wishy-washy color numbers are 6, 7, 9
Who else does this? Jiggins?
Wiki quote: definition for this type of synesthesia follows. See full link here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia
As a child, Pat Duffy told her Dad, "I realized that to make an R all I had to do was first write a P and draw a line down from its loop. And I was so surprised that I could turn a yellow letter into an orange letter just by adding a line." Another grapheme synesthete says, "When I read, about five words around the exact one I'm reading are in color. It's also the only way I can spell. In elementary school I remember knowing how to spell the word 'priority' [with an "i" rather than an "e"] because ... an 'e' was out of place in that word because e's were yellow and didn't fit."[26]
"
Imagine my surprise when a friend told me there was a name for it. Synesthesia, he said. Wow. There's a word for everything, even things that seem to be nonsense-nobody-else-experiences these things but me stuff.
So for the world to see...or at least a handful of followers, I've attached the image that I created following my personal synesthetic number-color arrangement.
0= White
1= Black
2= Red
3= Orange
4= Green
5= Yellow
6= Red -or- sometimes Maroon
7= Cobalt Blue -to- Violet
8= Caramel Brown (don't ask me why, but it is a certain hue of brown I see)
9= Maroon (the same as 6 which makes sense to me)
I also included certain colors which appear in my mind to alternate from time to time.
The most solid or consistent associations are 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 8
My remaining wishy-washy color numbers are 6, 7, 9
Who else does this? Jiggins?
Wiki quote: definition for this type of synesthesia follows. See full link here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia
Grapheme → color synesthesia
Main article: Grapheme-color synesthesia
In one of the most common forms of synesthesia, grapheme → color synesthesia, individual letters of the alphabet and numbers (collectively referred to as graphemes), are "shaded" or "tinged" with a color. While different individuals usually do not report the same colors for all letters and numbers, studies with large numbers of synesthetes find some commonalities across letters (e.g., A is likely to be red).[19][21]As a child, Pat Duffy told her Dad, "I realized that to make an R all I had to do was first write a P and draw a line down from its loop. And I was so surprised that I could turn a yellow letter into an orange letter just by adding a line." Another grapheme synesthete says, "When I read, about five words around the exact one I'm reading are in color. It's also the only way I can spell. In elementary school I remember knowing how to spell the word 'priority' [with an "i" rather than an "e"] because ... an 'e' was out of place in that word because e's were yellow and didn't fit."[26]
"
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Jonny Quest Exotica
I just heard that Zac Efron will be playing the classic Hanna-Barbera character Jonny Quest. The first thing that comes to mind is how "pretty" young Mr. Efron is and how Jonny Quest the boy, let alone the concept, is anything but pretty.
In the early 1960s, Hanna-Barbera ventured into prime-time TV. The big deal was the adult following for shows like the Flintstones, The Jetsons and perhaps even Top Cat...PLUS they matched their adult audience by equally adult sponsors, such as cigarette companies who had Fred and Barney smoking with the likes of Lucy Ricardo ....business as usual.
These were obviously different times, but no way will we ever see Spongebob and Patrick smoking a Camel. I digress. Jonny Quest was designed for family viewing, but with a distinctly different approach than your average bear cartoon. Let me say this was a couple years before Gene Roddenberry followed suit incorporating likely sci-fi elements into his new Star Trek series. But Jonny Quest was an "all boy" adventure. No girls allowed.
Traveling the danger-filled globe with his father Benton Quest, his body guard and tutor, Roger "Race" Bannon, best friend Hadji and comic-relief canine, Bandit, we get a front row seat to Jonny's life as the home-schooled, privaledged youth. His story is clearly one which fit into the era in which it was produced. An unlikely boy's story for today. Which brings me full circle....Jonny Quest isn't pretty.
No matter. We're about to get an update and I wanted to give my 2 pennies on the subject.
First, if there is a director I would anme as "best-suited" for the job, my choice would be, Brad Bird (Iron Giant, The Incredibles). Hello? Talk about saving our jet-packed, retro futures, Bird has successfully recreated an updated "feel" for the past while keeping our 21st Century gadgetry in the picture. It seems a natural choice too since we would not have had the Incredibles, without Jonny Quest. Am I the only 1960s geek who cares about this? Ummm...I doubt it. Zac Efron may work for an older Jonny, who knows. But give us our adventure with someone who respects the.....I hate this word......"property."
Hollywood is brutal. Taking classic concepts and recreating, that is, squeezing the life out of them is old hat. Everything is always about the next quick buck. Hollywood can give us a Zac Efron Jonny Quest. Quest fans may or may not get their jet packs, energy beasts and one-eyed spider spies snd it may not be too late to consider Brad Bird....but for God's sake, give us a decent story filled with as many Quest-isms as you can!
I guess that was more like 3 cents.
In the early 1960s, Hanna-Barbera ventured into prime-time TV. The big deal was the adult following for shows like the Flintstones, The Jetsons and perhaps even Top Cat...PLUS they matched their adult audience by equally adult sponsors, such as cigarette companies who had Fred and Barney smoking with the likes of Lucy Ricardo ....business as usual.
These were obviously different times, but no way will we ever see Spongebob and Patrick smoking a Camel. I digress. Jonny Quest was designed for family viewing, but with a distinctly different approach than your average bear cartoon. Let me say this was a couple years before Gene Roddenberry followed suit incorporating likely sci-fi elements into his new Star Trek series. But Jonny Quest was an "all boy" adventure. No girls allowed.
Traveling the danger-filled globe with his father Benton Quest, his body guard and tutor, Roger "Race" Bannon, best friend Hadji and comic-relief canine, Bandit, we get a front row seat to Jonny's life as the home-schooled, privaledged youth. His story is clearly one which fit into the era in which it was produced. An unlikely boy's story for today. Which brings me full circle....Jonny Quest isn't pretty.
No matter. We're about to get an update and I wanted to give my 2 pennies on the subject.
First, if there is a director I would anme as "best-suited" for the job, my choice would be, Brad Bird (Iron Giant, The Incredibles). Hello? Talk about saving our jet-packed, retro futures, Bird has successfully recreated an updated "feel" for the past while keeping our 21st Century gadgetry in the picture. It seems a natural choice too since we would not have had the Incredibles, without Jonny Quest. Am I the only 1960s geek who cares about this? Ummm...I doubt it. Zac Efron may work for an older Jonny, who knows. But give us our adventure with someone who respects the.....I hate this word......"property."
I guess that was more like 3 cents.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Hi Diddle Riddler
Just finished some art that has been floating around in my head for some time. Frank Gorshin is the Riddler, but in life he did so much more. Riddler was tough on his career but it was one of those things that probably also made it. This is my tribute to my favorite villain. But I have to admit, the big four all run hand-in-hand. Cesar Romero's Joker, Julie Newmar's AND Eartha Kitts Catwoman and nobody could top Burgess "Buzz" Meredith's Penguin.
All were top of their game.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Franciscan TIKI Starburst
Okay......I got all jazzed up about the idea so here it is. What can I say. Retro, pop, futuristic + Tiki.
Franciscan Starburst as art
Recently, I discovered for the first time a set of China I had seen before, but never appreciated for it's futuristic simplicity and quality 1950s kitsch appeal. My friends have come along for the ride. So with all the retro modern popularity being as "hip" as it is, I couldn't be having more fun.
Coming soon, Starburst + Tiki!
Oh yes!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Favorite new pet names
Our church recently had a blessing of the animals AKA Feast of St Francis. I missed the event due to a family emergency, but my friend was kind enough to tell me the most unique cat names he had heard from a very sweet older woman who brought her kitties to be blessed by the Franciscans.
The precious names were:
Forbidden Passion
Little White Guy
and
Not Tonight Honey.
Gotta love it.
The precious names were:
Forbidden Passion
Little White Guy
and
Not Tonight Honey.
Gotta love it.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
New art - Batman & Robin
Anyone who is anybody knows my affection for all things Batman & Robin, especially from the 1960s. Call me old fashioned, but there is something plain and simple about that old show.
Here's a peek at the new art.
Back to the canvas!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Random favorite words
When I was a kid, I used to love to play on my grandfather's old fashioned typewriter. This was the 70s, so it wasn't electric, but we loved it. I remember once how impressed I was he wrote to then, Governor Ronald Reagan on it.
I never knew what to type and at ten years old, I definitely wasn't fast. But I used to love to make lists of the things I loved, and oddly enough, things I still love today. What I enjoyed was how certain words looked in typewritten form in black ink. As I look back on what it was I typed, I realized it's things that are still part of my life in one form or another. This is the list of those random words, just for my own personal fun. I seem to recall the italics to show SPEED, but it could just be my IMAGINATION. Indulge me.
cartoon, UFO, flying saucer, space ship, Batman, space, robot, superhero, SUPER, animated, impossible, monster, groovy, outer space, zombie, island, comic books, tazmania, Bugs Bunny, Hanna-Barbera, television, Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse, MOUSE, color, BATMAN, SUPERMAN, Superman, cartoon character, COMIC, professor, scientist, Bible, pool, fun, FUN, crazy, CrAzY, CRAZY, crazy. cRaZy, Tom Terrific, fantastic, science fiction, Charlie Rose, coloring book, paint, crayon, Crayola, SPACE, Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Spiderman, tarantula, book, BOOK, zoink, ZOINKS, POW!, Whammo!, puppy, jet, dog, god, GOD, supercalifragilisticexpeealidocius, dictionary, marsian, Martian, creepy crawlers, halloween, Santa Claus, mask, costume, Charles Christopher Rose, Flintstone, frizbee, cereal, Kelloggs, prize, surprise, present, package, secret, Secret, Secret Squirrel, Cracker Jack, candy bar, grandmother, grandaddy, C-H-A-R-L-I-E R-O-S-E, television, BOZO, Bozo, clown, wacky, snowman, create, zoom, ZOOM, Z-O-O-M! POP! BAM! ZOWIE! GHOST, ghost, glow, glow-in-the-dark, paint, orange, Orange, Yellow, brown, Green, Batmobile, Robin, fly, mountain, sea, ocean, Ocean, Vacaville, captain, Captain, CARTOON, add, ADD, scooter, SCOOBY, SCUBA, ACME, ROAD RUNNER, XXXXXXxXxXxXxXxOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooOOOOOOOOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO.
I never knew what to type and at ten years old, I definitely wasn't fast. But I used to love to make lists of the things I loved, and oddly enough, things I still love today. What I enjoyed was how certain words looked in typewritten form in black ink. As I look back on what it was I typed, I realized it's things that are still part of my life in one form or another. This is the list of those random words, just for my own personal fun. I seem to recall the italics to show SPEED, but it could just be my IMAGINATION. Indulge me.
cartoon, UFO, flying saucer, space ship, Batman, space, robot, superhero, SUPER, animated, impossible, monster, groovy, outer space, zombie, island, comic books, tazmania, Bugs Bunny, Hanna-Barbera, television, Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse, MOUSE, color, BATMAN, SUPERMAN, Superman, cartoon character, COMIC, professor, scientist, Bible, pool, fun, FUN, crazy, CrAzY, CRAZY, crazy. cRaZy, Tom Terrific, fantastic, science fiction, Charlie Rose, coloring book, paint, crayon, Crayola, SPACE, Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Spiderman, tarantula, book, BOOK, zoink, ZOINKS, POW!, Whammo!, puppy, jet, dog, god, GOD, supercalifragilisticexpeealidocius, dictionary, marsian, Martian, creepy crawlers, halloween, Santa Claus, mask, costume, Charles Christopher Rose, Flintstone, frizbee, cereal, Kelloggs, prize, surprise, present, package, secret, Secret, Secret Squirrel, Cracker Jack, candy bar, grandmother, grandaddy, C-H-A-R-L-I-E R-O-S-E, television, BOZO, Bozo, clown, wacky, snowman, create, zoom, ZOOM, Z-O-O-M! POP! BAM! ZOWIE! GHOST, ghost, glow, glow-in-the-dark, paint, orange, Orange, Yellow, brown, Green, Batmobile, Robin, fly, mountain, sea, ocean, Ocean, Vacaville, captain, Captain, CARTOON, add, ADD, scooter, SCOOBY, SCUBA, ACME, ROAD RUNNER, XXXXXXxXxXxXxXxOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooOOOOOOOOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO.
3's About Me
This is a FaceBook note and also blog.
You've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with the 3's of YOU. At the end, choose 26 people to be tagged. You have to tag me so really you just need 25 more people. If I tagged you, it's because I want to learn more about you. This is a good way to learn more about your friends without INTRUDING!!
(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 3''s of Me, tag 26 people - in the right hand corner of the app - then click publish.)
Three names I go by (besides given name)
1.Charlie
2. Muffin
3.Uncle ChuChu
Three Jobs I have had in my life
1. Puppeteer
2. lead character in a children's TV show
3. animator
Three Places I have lived
1. Irving, TX
2. Vacaville, CA
3. Arlington, TX
Three Favorite drinks
1. Water
2. Trader Vic's anything
3. Pina Colada
Three TV Shows that I watch
1. The Universe
2. Smallville
3. The Closer
Three places I have been
1. Maui, HI
2. Roswell, NM
3. Washington DC
People that call me regularly
1. Alvaro
2. Dan
3. Billy
Three of my favorite foods
1. steak - especially ribeye
2. hamburger
3. chicken
Three friends I think will respond
1. Elliott Seymour
2. Laura Seymour
3. Alvaro Abrego
Three Things I am looking forward to
1. Tiki Oasis in August 2009
2. Completion of new including Tiki and Space Monkey art
3. visits with old friends
Three Things that are always by your side
1. Inspiration....God is too easy an answer! ;)
2. cel phone
3. Sylvester, our cat
You've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with the 3's of YOU. At the end, choose 26 people to be tagged. You have to tag me so really you just need 25 more people. If I tagged you, it's because I want to learn more about you. This is a good way to learn more about your friends without INTRUDING!!
(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 3''s of Me, tag 26 people - in the right hand corner of the app - then click publish.)
Three names I go by (besides given name)
1.Charlie
2. Muffin
3.Uncle ChuChu
Three Jobs I have had in my life
1. Puppeteer
2. lead character in a children's TV show
3. animator
Three Places I have lived
1. Irving, TX
2. Vacaville, CA
3. Arlington, TX
Three Favorite drinks
1. Water
2. Trader Vic's anything
3. Pina Colada
Three TV Shows that I watch
1. The Universe
2. Smallville
3. The Closer
Three places I have been
1. Maui, HI
2. Roswell, NM
3. Washington DC
People that call me regularly
1. Alvaro
2. Dan
3. Billy
Three of my favorite foods
1. steak - especially ribeye
2. hamburger
3. chicken
Three friends I think will respond
1. Elliott Seymour
2. Laura Seymour
3. Alvaro Abrego
Three Things I am looking forward to
1. Tiki Oasis in August 2009
2. Completion of new including Tiki and Space Monkey art
3. visits with old friends
Three Things that are always by your side
1. Inspiration....God is too easy an answer! ;)
2. cel phone
3. Sylvester, our cat
Monday, June 29, 2009
Steve Sprinkle's Open Letter to Mayor Moncrief
Let's help Dr. Steve Sprinkle spread the word!"My Open Letter to Mayor Mike Moncrief on the Rainbow Lounge Raid of June 28.
Published from Christopher Street on this Stonewall 40th Anniversary from NYC NY
Hon. Mike Moncrief, Mayor
City of Fort Worth
1000 Throckmorton Street
Fort Worth, Texas
June 28, 2009
Dear Mayor Moncrief,
The news of the raid carried out at the Rainbow Lounge on South Jennings Street this morning around 1 AM is reaching around the nation. I was disturbed to hear of it from a distinguished graduate of Brite Divinity School by phone while I was on pilgrimage to New York City for the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion that began the world-wide movement to secure equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender human beings. It is incredible to me that a Stonewall-style raid, roughing up and arresting customers at Fort Worth's newest LGBT bar and lounge, would be carried out on the very anniversary of the birth of the LGBT rights movement. Sir, as a minister, professor, and gay man of conscience, I appeal to you to carry out a full investigation of this outrage against LGBT people and our allies everywhere, to issue an apology to the world LGBT community immediately before any more damage is done to Fort Worth's reputation, and to take steps to see that basic human rights and dignity are upheld in our great city.
You are a man of conscience, Mayor Moncrief. I have gladly met and worked with you and your administration in the past. You must know how personally distressing this act is to me, and to the thousands of LGBT citizens of Tarrant County. That is the reason I am writing this open letter to you and the public, to make my voice heard. I find it difficult not to believe that this raid was deliberately carried out on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion to create fear and consternation among gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people. Mayor Moncrief, this sort of heavy-handedness cannot be tolerated in a modern Texas city like ours. You know that. Please act deliberately and quickly to address the LGBT community. We must have personal action on your part as leader of Fort Worth.
As a minister, I must uphold the highest standards of justice for all people. This is not an act that any religion can condone or justify. At the very heart of the Golden Rule, observed in one form or another by all the world's great religions, is the holy standard to "do unto others as you would have others do unto you." The Fort Worth Police Department, the State Police, and whoever else planned, approved, and executed this act of humiliation and violence against God's LGBT children in Fort Worth have transgressed that ethical, spiritual, and religious boundary. LGBT people have come a long way since Stonewall, Mayor Moncrief. I am here today with millions from all around the world thankfully remembering that human rights are hard won. Our city has some hard work ahead, and some powerful explaining to do to the children of Stonewall.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Stephen V. Sprinkle
Associate Professor of Practical Theology
Brite Divinity School
Fort Worth, Texas
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Holy Hollywood Rapture!
David Carradine, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and now Michael Jackson! Can you imagine the party that's going on at the pearly gates??
Used to be, we thought about that part of theology that describes this thing called "the rapture," so I've used the term loosely in this case, but it as always seems strange that celebs file into Heaven three at a time....in this case four. This time it looks like Heaven couldn't wait.
As one who likes to look at the sunny side of life, I imagine the rafters must be shaking with the latest Hollywood death toll. I mean ONE BIG PARTY.
What do you want your passing to be like? Think of it....A party with all your deceased relatives, friends and (why not?) favorite celebs there to usher you into the next realm....seems an awful lot like a the finest, swankiest party with only the best, except this time, YOU are the real star.
In some ways, I can't hep but think these deaths seem premature in some ways, if only for the number of years the aforementioned folks had lived their paparazzi-filled existence. Ed McMahon being the one exception as one who lived the fullest. I must also believe regardless of age, I would wager all the others were not short of living life to the fullest, with all the trimmings.
We have been entertained by you. Godspeed to you all!
Image of Heaven © Jim Warren
http://iasos.com/audioclp/
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Favorite books and teachers
The Power of Now, Bob Burn's Basement, Night of the Tiki, I-Ching, The Secret, Change Your Thoughts; Change Your Life, Tao, California in the 50s, The Bible,Blast Off, The Art of the Incredibles, Tiki Road Trip, The Power of Intention, The Secret Language of Birthdays, (currently reading) Don't Get Too Comfortable, Excuses Begone, anything Wayne Dyer writes changes me.
Dan Peeler teaches me to learn AND retain new information about God, theology, thinking. Further, the things we "choose" to see in this world are tainted; they become our very own custom-made, personal doctrines which are as diverse and plentiful as there are people.
My partner Alvaro, teaches me to live as much within my means as possible and do what you must do, no matter what others say or think. Work hard; make sacrifices.
And finally, everything Dr. Steve Sprinkle writes enlightens me and changes my perspective; in that the reality of our world sometimes isn't happy or upbeat, as I like to be. Bad things happen to good people. I learn why humankind must evolve or we will all die horribly as so many young people have and about whom he writes and honors daily.
In all things we must "do the right thing" which is different for everybody.
Dan Peeler teaches me to learn AND retain new information about God, theology, thinking. Further, the things we "choose" to see in this world are tainted; they become our very own custom-made, personal doctrines which are as diverse and plentiful as there are people.
My partner Alvaro, teaches me to live as much within my means as possible and do what you must do, no matter what others say or think. Work hard; make sacrifices.
And finally, everything Dr. Steve Sprinkle writes enlightens me and changes my perspective; in that the reality of our world sometimes isn't happy or upbeat, as I like to be. Bad things happen to good people. I learn why humankind must evolve or we will all die horribly as so many young people have and about whom he writes and honors daily.
In all things we must "do the right thing" which is different for everybody.
Favorite music
Another ever growing list.....So I'm stopping... in light of better things to do:
Jazz, Classical, New Age, Exotica, 50s/60s lounge, Ultra Lounge, Yma Sumac, Les Baxter, Martin Denny, Danny Elfman, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, The Tikiyaki Orchestra, Adham Shaikh, Nelson Riddle, Michael Giacchino, Claude Debussy, The Eagles, Chicago..........
Jazz, Classical, New Age, Exotica, 50s/60s lounge, Ultra Lounge, Yma Sumac, Les Baxter, Martin Denny, Danny Elfman, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, The Tikiyaki Orchestra, Adham Shaikh, Nelson Riddle, Michael Giacchino, Claude Debussy, The Eagles, Chicago..........
Favorite movie list
Just a list....ever growing. But today.....I'll stop typing this and know that basically I love movies and the movie experience.
Harvey, The Day The Earth Stood Still-1951, Star Trek (2009), Pixar's Up, Field of Dreams, Star Wars Original Trilogy, The Bucket List, The History Boys, The Illusionist, The Secret, Sunset Blvd., Jaws, The Fugitive, Spider Man, Superman, Dogma, Undercover Brother, Austin Powers, All Pixar movies, The Dark Knight, Superman 2 (Donner Cut), Some Like It Hot, Psycho, Rope, (most Alfred Hitchcock), Hollywoodland, Men In Black, Men In Black II, Casablanca, The Birds, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, Rear Window, Mildred Pierce, The Addams Family, North By Northwest, Harry Potter, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Back To The Future, American Graffiti, Willy Wonka (1971), Snow White, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, King Kong-1933, War of the Worlds, Earth vs. The Flying Saucers, Creature From The Black Lagoon, Bride of Frankenstein, Young Frankenstein, What's Up Doc?, Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, The Wolfman, Alien, Aliens, Gidget, Batman (1966), The Producers (1965), Postcards From The Edge, The Women, Dracula, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, Bowfinger, The Wizard of Oz, Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, The Pink Panther, Best In Show, Burn After Reading, This Is Spinal Tap, Blast From The Past, Gods & Monsters, Kids In The Hall: Brain Candy, Now Voyager, Whatever Happened To Baby Jane, Kontiki (documentary), Singin' In The Rain, The Mask, Bringing Up Baby, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Alfred Hitchcock movies, A Christmas Story, Get Shorty, Kill Bill Volume 1 & 2, The Glass Bottom Boat,
Harvey, The Day The Earth Stood Still-1951, Star Trek (2009), Pixar's Up, Field of Dreams, Star Wars Original Trilogy, The Bucket List, The History Boys, The Illusionist, The Secret, Sunset Blvd., Jaws, The Fugitive, Spider Man, Superman, Dogma, Undercover Brother, Austin Powers, All Pixar movies, The Dark Knight, Superman 2 (Donner Cut), Some Like It Hot, Psycho, Rope, (most Alfred Hitchcock), Hollywoodland, Men In Black, Men In Black II, Casablanca, The Birds, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, Rear Window, Mildred Pierce, The Addams Family, North By Northwest, Harry Potter, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Back To The Future, American Graffiti, Willy Wonka (1971), Snow White, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, King Kong-1933, War of the Worlds, Earth vs. The Flying Saucers, Creature From The Black Lagoon, Bride of Frankenstein, Young Frankenstein, What's Up Doc?, Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, The Wolfman, Alien, Aliens, Gidget, Batman (1966), The Producers (1965), Postcards From The Edge, The Women, Dracula, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, Bowfinger, The Wizard of Oz, Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, The Pink Panther, Best In Show, Burn After Reading, This Is Spinal Tap, Blast From The Past, Gods & Monsters, Kids In The Hall: Brain Candy, Now Voyager, Whatever Happened To Baby Jane, Kontiki (documentary), Singin' In The Rain, The Mask, Bringing Up Baby, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Alfred Hitchcock movies, A Christmas Story, Get Shorty, Kill Bill Volume 1 & 2, The Glass Bottom Boat,
Believe and Manifest etc. NO Excuses!
Okay, Wayne Dyer....what's with the bald head thing?
Never mind you're cool....cooler?
Watched Wayne Dyer on PBS last night called "No Excuses." I am a believer.
How many times in my life have I placed custom-made obstacles in my path so I could defeat my plan BEFORE I even started. Answer: Plenty.
So today, this is my gratitude blog. A way of saying "thank you" to the Universe, God and whatever you call your higher self or highest power. I am thankful to say the least that I know this method works. I come from a place of heavy doubt and low self esteem. This side is WAY better.
The first thing you have to do is decide...rather CHOOSE one thing over another. In this case it may be happiness over depression, best health over ailing health and so on.
I have chosen success....S-U-C-C-E-S-S in all things. The flow of success begins as the natural course of what you decide to change happens in this moment. I was successful at delay, derailment, and other methods of procrastination that add up to zero. Not anymore.
Life has turned around to this new spiritual awareness that finds you exactly where you are today and just by doing, acting asking for what you want to change it happens. The catch...good things come with a price......you must believe with all your heart and soul it's happening to you right now, not tomorrow. Today, in this moment.
"As a man [woman, child] thinketh, so shall he be."
"Ask and you shall receive."
It does not take being creative, being an artist, or anything but sheer will. The belief that you control your destiny.
Step into your future. Know that every second you think about doing something, or not, a feeling surrounds you, it encompasses your belief set and you wallow in it. Good or bad....you are wallowing.
If you think about losing weight, being healthier, doing something you've always dreamed of doing, June 4 2009 is that day you have changed the course of your life from this moment forward.
Thunderbirds are go.
What will you do now?
Monday, May 4, 2009
Cat-Tiki or Tiki Cat
I'm very proud of this new piece. Dan and I decided Tikis in other forms would be cool too. So here's our latest Limited Edition print we call Cat-Tiki: Fishbone Moon or just Fishbone Moon...haven't quite decided.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
This Queen Loves Tiki
(http://www.arkivatropika.com/)
Being an old Disney fan and also an animator, I remembered seeing the Evil Queen from Disney's Snow White drink her magic potion from a similar mug to transform herself into the old hag.
Fast-forward -- OMG! Did the animators who conceived this scene go to Tiki Bars???? Were there such things as Tiki Bars in 1936? And if there were -- how cool is that??? Now, I want one of those goblets!!!!
Wait a sec.... if you drink Susie Wongs, will you become an old hag????
No. But it sure makes old hags look better.
Trader Vics anyone?
Thursday, April 23, 2009
What does Jesus have to do with America?
A friend of mine wrote the following superb illustration of the origins of Biblical scripture among other ancient texts. In it we get a capsule of information that begs some to ask: "What does Jesus REALLY have to do with America?"
Before you get all riled up, I found the following rather enlightening and revealing the ego of America's "ownership" of Christianity and all things Jesus.
Here it is:
"Iraq and The Bible
[The] land mass that we now know as Iraq was the location of much history that was recorded in the Old Testament, however it was divided into many small civilizations; the Ammonites, the Jebusites, the Hittites, the Canaanites, the Philistines, the Babylonians,the Medes, the Persians, the Seleucids, the Hebrews and many others. (I'm not sure about the spelling of all those right now, but take my word; there was lots of turnover in those desert lands during the approximately 2,000 year period that the scriptures record. The Egyptians, whose records are more ancient and more thorough, list a lot of additional cultures that came and went.
Before you get all riled up, I found the following rather enlightening and revealing the ego of America's "ownership" of Christianity and all things Jesus.
Here it is:
"Iraq and The Bible
[The] land mass that we now know as Iraq was the location of much history that was recorded in the Old Testament, however it was divided into many small civilizations; the Ammonites, the Jebusites, the Hittites, the Canaanites, the Philistines, the Babylonians,the Medes, the Persians, the Seleucids, the Hebrews and many others. (I'm not sure about the spelling of all those right now, but take my word; there was lots of turnover in those desert lands during the approximately 2,000 year period that the scriptures record. The Egyptians, whose records are more ancient and more thorough, list a lot of additional cultures that came and went.
The past tense reference in the Koran about the eagle triumphing, written about 600 years after Christ, is not prophesy of the future, but very likely a reference to the Roman Empire's destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. (A.D.), the Palestinian Peninsula being a part of that same highly populated land mass. The eagle was a popular symbol of many ancient civilizations, including Rome, so it could refer to other conquerors as well. None of this stuff in the Koran, New Testament, Old Testament, or any other ancient writing refers to the future United States. Their world was limited to the borders we have already mentioned, and their writings were full of symbols that represented clearly the nations known to them. They had no practical interest in predicting the future of any country outside their realm.
Maybe someday the people of the United States who see themselves in all these ancient texts will realize that history is just not all about them."
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Riddle Me This
I went to the Y today. First time in a week-ish...and by "week-ish" I mean nearly 3 weeks. Anyway, I'm doing the treadmill. I like it because I can listen to my meditation tracks on my iPod...you know...because I think of this when I'm about to work out and realize I can 'birth 2 birds with one egg' by doubling my workout pleasure and meditate to "positive thought training." So, I'm on the tread and this guy walks by...early 60-ish... with a gut and he has these sort of weird goggles for racket (raquet?) ball, but they don't look like actual goggles; more like a strange mask, like the Riddler used to wear on the old Batman....I mean JUST like it and I couldn't even see a plastic shine in the eye holes....just the mask. I'm thinking, "Ha! He's still hiding his old persona, when he was who he used to be.
I start to day dream a bit and I think what if that guy were a ponchy old Riddler for real. A former elite, top-of-his-game villain who had seen better days, but who still wanted to sort of keep an edge, so he works out and plays raquetball. Even though he wasn't "super" he still was crazy enough to wear bright-colored tights and was considered a super-genius.
I know we have seen the new incarnations like Batman Beyond and The Dark Knight of the comics age. It's not a far stretch to see others have given life to this kind of idea, but I don't think anyone outside of "The Watchmen" and Brad Bird's "The Incredibles" have actually fleshed out the what-if scenario of superheroes and villains existing in our world; not TV or movie world, or CG world, OUR Earth. I think The Incredibles came as close to ours as any could, even though it was a retro-futuristic, sci-fi, James Bond-ish kind of 1960s take. Okay so it wasn't that close.
Kinda crazy....so who else would we see trying to maintain their aged super-self. Would we see Flash on a treadmill; The Joker working at a Novelty Shop?
End of ramble......temporarily.
That old thing called etiquette
etiquette |ˈetikit; -ˌket|
noun
the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group.
Better known as Customer Service with a smile.
Is it just me? What is happening (has been happening) to customer service? I was standing in Frye's electronics waiting my turn to be directed to the next available cashier. The guy doing the deed was so busy texting, the cashier had to signal me himself. Jeez! I wanted to say something, but what do say "Think!" or maybe "Hello???" "Thanks for nothing."
But it's not just that.
A guy cut me off in traffic and then acted like I was in his way as he barely missed my front fender. I raised my arms as in "WTF?" and he gave it right back and proceeded to do that to another 7 or 8 cars ahead. "WTF" indeed.
McDonalds: Went back to the store that forgot my hashbrowns....yeah...they are THAT good. I got a "sorry 'bout that." What I wanted was, "Did you have to drive all the way back here because we screwed up? Gee....here's a free (something because WE blew it)"
Popeyes (yeah I eat out a lot) forgot cole slaw. I go back without my receipt and tell them and you think the $1.19 for the slaw was pure gold. "Sorry, not without your receipt." as if to say, yeah, you must be lying to us so prove it." They don't even serve Spinach and it's called freakin POPEYES! WTF???
Okay, so fast food is just the shits to work at. And God knows some just bounce from one fast food to the other for employment......so I guess and the people who eat there (like me) are really just looking for trouble.....Oh, okay I'll stop here. Epiphany realized. I feel ummmm... better?
God bless all you golden archers....I'll be back. Who am I kidding?
--Former Pizza Hut employee.
noun
the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group.
Better known as Customer Service with a smile.
Is it just me? What is happening (has been happening) to customer service? I was standing in Frye's electronics waiting my turn to be directed to the next available cashier. The guy doing the deed was so busy texting, the cashier had to signal me himself. Jeez! I wanted to say something, but what do say "Think!" or maybe "Hello???" "Thanks for nothing."
But it's not just that.
A guy cut me off in traffic and then acted like I was in his way as he barely missed my front fender. I raised my arms as in "WTF?" and he gave it right back and proceeded to do that to another 7 or 8 cars ahead. "WTF" indeed.
McDonalds: Went back to the store that forgot my hashbrowns....yeah...they are THAT good. I got a "sorry 'bout that." What I wanted was, "Did you have to drive all the way back here because we screwed up? Gee....here's a free (something because WE blew it)"
Popeyes (yeah I eat out a lot) forgot cole slaw. I go back without my receipt and tell them and you think the $1.19 for the slaw was pure gold. "Sorry, not without your receipt." as if to say, yeah, you must be lying to us so prove it." They don't even serve Spinach and it's called freakin POPEYES! WTF???
Okay, so fast food is just the shits to work at. And God knows some just bounce from one fast food to the other for employment......so I guess and the people who eat there (like me) are really just looking for trouble.....Oh, okay I'll stop here. Epiphany realized. I feel ummmm... better?
God bless all you golden archers....I'll be back. Who am I kidding?
--Former Pizza Hut employee.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Recreating Jesus
I often wonder what old JC actually looked like. The famous paintings of him make him out to have blondish hair and blue eyes; quite caucasion...perhaps too Caucasion.
Christians continue to recreate Jesus to fit her or his personal or doctrinal stance on the Son of God.
But it occurs to me that Jesus was likely as dark-skinned (or as light-skinned if you prefer) as President Obama.
Let's get our heads around that for a minute.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Lower Manhattan
Okay...the phrase is funny and people are starting to refer to the nether regions of Dr Manhattan from "Watchmen" as Lower Manhattan."
But, the first time I heard this phrase (note the date 7 Mar 2009) was the next day from my good friend Dan in an email. He said he was looking forward to seeing some fan art of Dr Manhattan I am working on, but he thought my true interest would be in "Lower Manhattan." And indeed it was. I liked other stuff too.
I mean really! I can't remember a time when a superhero (or anti-superhero) movie appealed to me more. But I have to admit, EVERY TIME Dr Manhattan appears in a long shot, I have NO idea what happened!
But, the first time I heard this phrase (note the date 7 Mar 2009) was the next day from my good friend Dan in an email. He said he was looking forward to seeing some fan art of Dr Manhattan I am working on, but he thought my true interest would be in "Lower Manhattan." And indeed it was. I liked other stuff too.
I mean really! I can't remember a time when a superhero (or anti-superhero) movie appealed to me more. But I have to admit, EVERY TIME Dr Manhattan appears in a long shot, I have NO idea what happened!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Happiness NOW!
Turning the whine button off now. And in the further midst of turning off the noise and voices from the world and in my head, I've decided today to be really happy despite my inner ramblings. I am happy because I know whatever negative thinking may be attempting to take root is ABSOLUTELY temporary. It is for you too.
Why write this? Because I know somebody else is in deeper despair than I was feeling a few minutes ago. I am not without work and there is plenty to do as a volunteer for any number of local charities. I have the ability to quickly raise for our company large sums of money and donate my time and resources. These things help my world become a better place.
I am traveling on a future time line which is in itself a mere illusion. I'm fast-forwarding to the place when I am basking in the millions that I'm creating today as a result of my good and faithful work, just by changing my thinking. I have so many resources, I'm not sure which to go with first, so I'm choosing the best thing for this moment.
I choose happiness over depression and action over complacency.
It's that simple.
Create a great day for yourself as I have done.
Eat a peanut butter and honey sandwich on 9-grain bread along with some celery.
Eat some foods that automatically make you feel better immediately. Avoid junk. Eat something healthy and that you'll be happy to reflect on later. Or give of your time to somebody who needs it. It is a scientific fact that our brain LOVES when we are cheerful givers. We feel better when we give, more so than when we receive.
Whatever you decide to do....start by being happy now.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Stem Cell Research
Wow! Another forward move by our President today as he signed the bill to further continue research on a highly controversial topic. The topic has been, like gay marriage, the money-making fear word used to give conservatives additional ways to create fear and make some money along the way.
People, what are we afraid of, really? Some say "the embryos that are 'killed' in the process" should not be made to begin with, therefore, we shouldn't do the research, therefore it's a moral issue. Is that too abbreviated? Did I jump too far ahead?
Hell, if it's a "moral issue" why send our troops overseas and lose even one of them? And you know, speaking of morality and so-called faith-based issues, when conservative Christians make statements about the stuff they fear, it is 1. a projection and 2. it always seems to be a black and white scenario. It's all gray.
About faith-based stuff....First of all, killing embryos as though it's right there with abortion. It's always weird to me when people who faith in their God and heaven and hell say it's a "moral issue." Break it down: When does the "soul" form? (Gee this is a lot of quotation marks, but I don't see a way around it.) If dead babies of any life-stage/progress go automatically to Heaven, you know, the place where God is...no more tears, no more pain, no more suffering place.....then what's the big deal?? We're talking about about embryos or even more-so, the research to give more actual living people H-O-P-E - hope for a better life. Those little life-bearing embryos are there for us.
As far as news items go, at least the gay marriage thing will be in the shadows while our focus is steered another direction by STEM CELL RESEARCH. Let's see...we can one day grow new kidneys, hearts or sheep....wait a second..we already grew a sheep. What do you say the odds are we already grew a few babies too? Albeit, highly secret clone babies but real babies nonetheless.
People, whether we vote for such a thing or not, it's happening in the private sector. We may not be able to, via government means, fund going to Mars either, but it will most likely happen in the private sector anyway.
Some preachers will keep you on the edge of your seat, creating things to be afraid of, while they take your money to give you some hope....while others give you hope reminding us that the God we somehow believe in, is always in charge.
Seriously, it never ceases to amaze how we come up with these fear-based issues, especially those that involve human progress and our planet's evolution. It galls me when the government, our government, uses our tax money to do things I completely disagree with. If I had my way, I'd say send me the check-box list of the ways you want to use my money and let me choose the ones I agree with. But fortunately, I guess we get a voice by who we vote for....at least when the polls are not miscounted. Don't get me started. As for this topic, I agree so do it. Use my money so we can all have a better chance for life or at least growing a kidney that someone else did NOT have to donate.
The best thing I heard this morning on CNN came from the woman who said (paraphrased) "....politicians are not the ones who should be telling the scientists what and how to research. We look to scientists to tell us when they ave a good idea of how to help humanity."
People, what are we afraid of, really? Some say "the embryos that are 'killed' in the process" should not be made to begin with, therefore, we shouldn't do the research, therefore it's a moral issue. Is that too abbreviated? Did I jump too far ahead?
Hell, if it's a "moral issue" why send our troops overseas and lose even one of them? And you know, speaking of morality and so-called faith-based issues, when conservative Christians make statements about the stuff they fear, it is 1. a projection and 2. it always seems to be a black and white scenario. It's all gray.
About faith-based stuff....First of all, killing embryos as though it's right there with abortion. It's always weird to me when people who faith in their God and heaven and hell say it's a "moral issue." Break it down: When does the "soul" form? (Gee this is a lot of quotation marks, but I don't see a way around it.) If dead babies of any life-stage/progress go automatically to Heaven, you know, the place where God is...no more tears, no more pain, no more suffering place.....then what's the big deal?? We're talking about about embryos or even more-so, the research to give more actual living people H-O-P-E - hope for a better life. Those little life-bearing embryos are there for us.
As far as news items go, at least the gay marriage thing will be in the shadows while our focus is steered another direction by STEM CELL RESEARCH. Let's see...we can one day grow new kidneys, hearts or sheep....wait a second..we already grew a sheep. What do you say the odds are we already grew a few babies too? Albeit, highly secret clone babies but real babies nonetheless.
People, whether we vote for such a thing or not, it's happening in the private sector. We may not be able to, via government means, fund going to Mars either, but it will most likely happen in the private sector anyway.
Some preachers will keep you on the edge of your seat, creating things to be afraid of, while they take your money to give you some hope....while others give you hope reminding us that the God we somehow believe in, is always in charge.
Seriously, it never ceases to amaze how we come up with these fear-based issues, especially those that involve human progress and our planet's evolution. It galls me when the government, our government, uses our tax money to do things I completely disagree with. If I had my way, I'd say send me the check-box list of the ways you want to use my money and let me choose the ones I agree with. But fortunately, I guess we get a voice by who we vote for....at least when the polls are not miscounted. Don't get me started. As for this topic, I agree so do it. Use my money so we can all have a better chance for life or at least growing a kidney that someone else did NOT have to donate.
The best thing I heard this morning on CNN came from the woman who said (paraphrased) "....politicians are not the ones who should be telling the scientists what and how to research. We look to scientists to tell us when they ave a good idea of how to help humanity."
Friday, March 6, 2009
The Daily Show
I LOVE the Daily Show. As much as they are comical, the team actually brings the real news all wrapped up in good-natur'd fun.
It is unbelievable how much crap people have to say about President Obama. I mean, if you truly listen he's intelligent, witty and takes his job seriously....oh yeah...and he thinks out of the box. He addresses us in a progressive way. By progressive I mean you don't have to wade through side-stepping bull s**t as we did for the 8 loooooooong years up till now.
I'm happy he's there and I wish people would let the man do his job. Meantime, Jon Stewart will keep us posted on all the real stuff. I love you Jon...in a manly way. And okay....I love Pres. Obama too.
Okay.....well....back to cartoon land.
I'm just sayin'
It is unbelievable how much crap people have to say about President Obama. I mean, if you truly listen he's intelligent, witty and takes his job seriously....oh yeah...and he thinks out of the box. He addresses us in a progressive way. By progressive I mean you don't have to wade through side-stepping bull s**t as we did for the 8 loooooooong years up till now.
I'm happy he's there and I wish people would let the man do his job. Meantime, Jon Stewart will keep us posted on all the real stuff. I love you Jon...in a manly way. And okay....I love Pres. Obama too.
Okay.....well....back to cartoon land.
I'm just sayin'
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
So my friend says . . .
Paraphrased: "Dude! Okay....I get the blue dog parody thing but...you would-a hit the mark if you actually had done Huckleberry Hound since he WAS the original blue dog. Scooby wasn't....not...nada." (see earlier post)
So I said. "You're on."
Here it is.
Monday, March 2, 2009
B-iiiiird Man!
Time for a little 60s kitsch. If you couldn't already tell, I love cartoons; originally the reason I became an animator. Among my faves are old Hanna-Barbera cartoons. You can imagine how much Boomerang is on in my house. Not to worry, I also love Sponge Bob, Powerpuff Girls, Venture Bros. etc.
Probably the weirdest HB factory work was Birdman. At the height of superhero cartoons in the 60s, NBC had to have their own brand of Space Ghost & Mightor. Sort of the "Shazam!" of its day (okay now we're in the 70s) being that the alter ego would yell out a word and become the super one. Let's note for a second, that Space Ghost never yelled his own name in public. That's just corny. Mighty Mightor is forgiven since yelling his name is kind of a battle cry...am I stretching?? So Birdman flies out of his secret mountain lair and yells "Biiiird Man in his operatic timber.....and we're not sure why. I guess just because it sounds good.
So Boomerang always uses the old HB toons as time-fillers to the next show. The other night, Birdman came on and it had to be the single WORST episode ever. (I'm not talking about Harvey Birdman, Attorney -- it's brilliant.) By the time HB was in to their 1960s hey day, they were really crankin' those babies out. They were probably already shipping stuff out to Mexico or the Philipines, but the drawing continuity was way off model in almost every cut. His head was too big, his body out of scale, his hands were huge...and you know what that means.....I looked for anything to let me know this was not a real Birdman cartoon. At one point I thought, why doesn't Birdman hold up a sign (ala Road Runner) that says "Silly ain't it?"
So in the interest of all that's kitschy, I've continued my entries into 1960s Halloween masks. Everything that had ANY popularity was made into a Halloween costume...still works today right?
Birdman was my next natural choice. Note the usual thing about Halloween costumes is they had to plaster the character name all over it. You couldn't just dress up in these store bought licensed versions. You had to be recognized by adults too. Without the word "Birdman" imprinted who would know what the heck superhero you were. Even Batman had it stamped all over.
I hated that. These days it's called marketing.
The state of "The Economy"
It really bugs me how some people seem to be automatically drawn to using the phrase "in this economy" or one like it. Is it something they actually have studied or have they just heard it on the radio or TV and so use it because they've been told.
"The economy" is a fantasy; a mere concept. If you believe what anyone says about it, especially about spending money, you feed the misunderstood concept like a weed. I'm not saying if you're making less money or are out of work you should charge your life on a Visa card, but I am saying the economy happens because of you, me and everybody. The consumer rules by what we spend, what we don't spend and who/what we support by our dollars. We actually have real P-O-W-E-R!
We could have greener cars if we sacrifice driving gas guzzlers. We change our world by what we buy and the decisions we make every minute of every day. But we have to think first and some of us think we have to be told what to do next. Pity.
The manipulation may be well-intended, BUT it is the consumer who decides how she/he spends. I guess I just want everyone to be comfortable and faithful that everything is going to be fine and the Universe, God will take care of Y-O-U. So don't panic.
The upside? The greatest thing our wonderful President is asking us to ask ourselves is to "roll up your sleeves," "get to work," and "stop buying things you don't need." We have been spoiled as a nation...we have been brainwashed to "keep up with the Joneses" whoever they are. We have been a Saks Fifth Avenue junkie for too long...and you know what I mean.
There are many ways to find your own bliss; a bliss that costs very little to nothing. That is finding the things that make you happy from within, the things that don't hypnotize you into buying something you don't need.
We're going to see many stores and businesses close. People will lose their jobs, but they will find new ones. We be forced to actually THINK about what we really need and it is long overdue. I include myself; one who used to buy shirts, cocktails, comic books, magazines, toys and so on just for the color alone.
We are being called to a simpler life; one that doesn't dictate our happiness based upon the last purchase of meaningless crap we just bought.
We CAN do this. It is easy. But first consider that a change of a lifetime happen is permanent when it is practiced regularly. I preach to myself.
Thank GOD for a president who inspires us to think, do and be better people, by being these things first.
We're watching you Mr. Prez.
"The economy" is a fantasy; a mere concept. If you believe what anyone says about it, especially about spending money, you feed the misunderstood concept like a weed. I'm not saying if you're making less money or are out of work you should charge your life on a Visa card, but I am saying the economy happens because of you, me and everybody. The consumer rules by what we spend, what we don't spend and who/what we support by our dollars. We actually have real P-O-W-E-R!
We could have greener cars if we sacrifice driving gas guzzlers. We change our world by what we buy and the decisions we make every minute of every day. But we have to think first and some of us think we have to be told what to do next. Pity.
The manipulation may be well-intended, BUT it is the consumer who decides how she/he spends. I guess I just want everyone to be comfortable and faithful that everything is going to be fine and the Universe, God will take care of Y-O-U. So don't panic.
The upside? The greatest thing our wonderful President is asking us to ask ourselves is to "roll up your sleeves," "get to work," and "stop buying things you don't need." We have been spoiled as a nation...we have been brainwashed to "keep up with the Joneses" whoever they are. We have been a Saks Fifth Avenue junkie for too long...and you know what I mean.
There are many ways to find your own bliss; a bliss that costs very little to nothing. That is finding the things that make you happy from within, the things that don't hypnotize you into buying something you don't need.
We're going to see many stores and businesses close. People will lose their jobs, but they will find new ones. We be forced to actually THINK about what we really need and it is long overdue. I include myself; one who used to buy shirts, cocktails, comic books, magazines, toys and so on just for the color alone.
We are being called to a simpler life; one that doesn't dictate our happiness based upon the last purchase of meaningless crap we just bought.
We CAN do this. It is easy. But first consider that a change of a lifetime happen is permanent when it is practiced regularly. I preach to myself.
Thank GOD for a president who inspires us to think, do and be better people, by being these things first.
We're watching you Mr. Prez.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
After-life Tour Guide
Recently, I accepted the possibility that my dreams are a window to other dimensions, not just my brain working out the kinks for the previous day or recent past. I have allowed myself to look at my dreams as visits to other parallel worlds none of which I can either prove nor disprove.Through this I have been able to begin experiencing lucid dreams, that is, dreams I can pick up from where I left off, usually from the same nights' dream. It's a fun journey and if your one who usually has positive, happy dreams, I highly recommend as an experiment for you.
While I'm continuing, I've been thinking about the afterlife and what it might be like. First I assume it could be very personalized, giving each dead person their own mystical take on the way they feel things ought to be.
In any case, when we die, I feel there has to be some sort of transition period; a time when we adjust to our new surroundings and become acquainted with the here-after. Make sense? Since we all have functionality of one kind or another...either jobs or things that occupy our time, it seems like an interesting spiritual aspect of functionality after we're no longer living in this physical realm.
One job I'd like to have would be the tour guide, showing freshly dead people their new home and the ins and outs of living in the new dimension...or at least in "a" new dimension, if millions upon millions of them co-exist anyway.
Maybe it would look something like this.
Hi my name is Charlie. Welcome to the after-life; a creation of your own unique design, desires and tastes. While the over-all look and architecture of your new home is what you'd like it to be. There are a few laws in place that are consistent with each personal utopia dimension AKA Heaven.
1. You may not time travel since time here does not exist.
2. You may visit with anyone you can think of, not only those who have already past but you may enter into living human's dream world as they sleep, approach mortality, or are unconscious.
3. Your travels are not limited to Earth and human beings minds; you may travel anywhere in the Multiverse.
4. Any appearances you make to living people may only be to help them learn, evolve and have better lives, whether they choose to follow your example, action or advice.
5. Travel comes to you as easy as a thought or a blink of an eye. You can go as slow as you want or blink through as fast as you can imagine or faster.
6. No matter what problems you had faced while you lived, you still have the opportunity to think and perhaps resolve old human issues without the crude matter that made up your mind and body. Now you are pure Spirit, free to enjoy all of Creation as your Spirit is meant to be.
7. What are you waiting for? Go.
Any of these things might be told to you from a former spouse, close friend or relative. What do you think your after-life will look like?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Post blogging blues
I am missing my blog community and just plain writing. The month of January I was sick with a chest cold....had it twice...and still I had lots of work, which is good.
I am delighted to have a new president and yet still amazed at how people are so accepting, even my Republican friends. I am also amazed at his use of the English language, his intellect and matter-of-fact way he has of handling anything. I know he's not perfect, but he is the complete opposite of what we had for eight years. The weird thing is, I got so used to watching Jon Stewart rip W, I'm afraid their comic material will be lacking for decent "slam content." There's always Steven Colbert Report, tho. Goody.
I've seen some cool new things on History and Science Channel...both coming up with new programs and continually updating their science data. I'm looking forward to a new show called "How The Earth Was Made." I've seen two versions of this before, but evidently they have enough material to have created a series. Cool.
Tonight I caught up with Smallville. (SPOILER ALERT) A classic comic villain "The Toyman" made his debut. Plus we got a lot of a shirtless, hunky Green Arrow in the hospital. And finally Lana has to leave again. All that eternal smooching and "I love yous" was starting to get to me again. Clark even bangs her at the beginning via sound effects through the wall. My "chick-flick loving" partner even said "ENOUGH ALREADY!" Agreed. Kristen is a fantastic actress, but sorry, I'm a superhero geek from the word "GO!" and I need me some super powers and costumed heroes...kissin' or not! Yeesh.
Meanwhile, at our company...that's the two of us.....we're creating a graphic Time Line showing overlapping Bible characters (some real, some fictional-since we're not literalists) along with world events and real people. It's very fun, for example, to see when the Polynesians first settled in Hawaii and other highlights of the 3rd Century. Can you say ka'mana'wanalaya?
Monday, January 5, 2009
Walk into the light.......
"They're not part of consciousness as we know it. They linger in a perpetual dream state... ...a nightmare from which they cannot awake. lnside this spectral light... ...is salvation. A window to the next plane. They must pass through this membrane... ...where friends are waiting to guide them to new destinies."
If you didn't get the quote, one of my favorite movies is Tobe Hooper's Poltergeist. I just saw it on AMC...or one of those channels. Looking back, the story holds up, even with the non-digital effects. My rule: never compare apples to oranges; in this case analog-to-digital. It'll screw you up every time. There are wonderful subtle truths about the spirit world presented in the film. Although it may be a bit heavy-handed at times, I was amazed at the humor and cleverness, which gave us an out to the spookiness when we needed it. Tangina will forever be one of my favorite mediums into "the other side."
And who doesn't love Zelda Rubinstein??
Cue theremin music here.
And who doesn't love Zelda Rubinstein??
Cue theremin music here.
Friday, January 2, 2009
One last thought . . .
It would be short-sighted not to wish my fellow bloggers a happy new year too!
This is an interesting concept and so 21st Century.
I love it.
...more to come! G'nite!
This is an interesting concept and so 21st Century.
I love it.
...more to come! G'nite!
I digress to resolve
first, I want to wish myself a happy new year! I don't think I've ever done that. It felt good. I'm going to say it again....Happy new Year, Me!
With all the traditions of Holidays behind us, sort of. I've been thinking about what I want to accomplish this year. It's nice to have the cycles begin again. It's like life's built-in re-boot.
I know a bit about what I want to do this year, that is what new or additional things i would like to accomplish. It goes along with what I wish to drop from previous years. I have the list in my mind and I was going to post it, but more importantly, I think I'll keep pondering and not formally commit myself. Therein lies the first problem I had last year. Commitment. What is it I'm afraid of when I think of committing or even thinking about the word "committing." It seems to create a feeling of a rule that I now must follow and if I don;t do the thing I said then I've failed because I didn't even try. And so what. I took on plenty of things last year I didn;t know I would take on. I ended 2008 in an upbeat mood because I didn't give a shit about the Holidays and therefore wound up with little to no feelings of depression afterward. Yay! This is fantastic because the holidays bring on a false sense of responsibility to to buy things and do things because we feel obligated to do them based on stupid traditions.
A friend of mine commented that he didn't feel the spirit of the holiday at any time; nor did he "feel like" buying anything just because. I congratualted him because that is the opposite side of our commercial spirit of Christmas that I've failed to explore in depth. That is, when you don;t feel like doing anything, i.e. buying gifts, sending cards, attending parties, then why do so? Why need some sort of approval or not. I missed a dinner with some good friends recently and analyzed why I had not made it a better priority. ADHD was one excuse. There were others, but I felt really bad because it didn't even register; I had no back up for memory loss and instead was called several times while I was doing somthing else. I went to the gym. I digress, but it still fits the point. So I resolved to give myself a higher sense of self-respect and made a personal promise to at least 1. be honest and 2. call when I';m going to be late or not even show up.
The fun would have happened but it was strange to be in limbo land at that point and not recognize by poor 'Emily Post' moment. Then again Emily Post was a much too formal apporach and was really for the snotty rich and not everyone else. THAT is unAmerican, or at least exclusive behavior. Oh well. She's dead and most people don't even know who she is anymore. Good. We need better standards anyway.
So as I conclude this post, may I resolve to myself to blog shorter, do the things I am thinking of doing this year and by all means raise my level of respect for myself and my friends.
I think I'll do the gym more too. It has a hot tub.
With all the traditions of Holidays behind us, sort of. I've been thinking about what I want to accomplish this year. It's nice to have the cycles begin again. It's like life's built-in re-boot.
I know a bit about what I want to do this year, that is what new or additional things i would like to accomplish. It goes along with what I wish to drop from previous years. I have the list in my mind and I was going to post it, but more importantly, I think I'll keep pondering and not formally commit myself. Therein lies the first problem I had last year. Commitment. What is it I'm afraid of when I think of committing or even thinking about the word "committing." It seems to create a feeling of a rule that I now must follow and if I don;t do the thing I said then I've failed because I didn't even try. And so what. I took on plenty of things last year I didn;t know I would take on. I ended 2008 in an upbeat mood because I didn't give a shit about the Holidays and therefore wound up with little to no feelings of depression afterward. Yay! This is fantastic because the holidays bring on a false sense of responsibility to to buy things and do things because we feel obligated to do them based on stupid traditions.
A friend of mine commented that he didn't feel the spirit of the holiday at any time; nor did he "feel like" buying anything just because. I congratualted him because that is the opposite side of our commercial spirit of Christmas that I've failed to explore in depth. That is, when you don;t feel like doing anything, i.e. buying gifts, sending cards, attending parties, then why do so? Why need some sort of approval or not. I missed a dinner with some good friends recently and analyzed why I had not made it a better priority. ADHD was one excuse. There were others, but I felt really bad because it didn't even register; I had no back up for memory loss and instead was called several times while I was doing somthing else. I went to the gym. I digress, but it still fits the point. So I resolved to give myself a higher sense of self-respect and made a personal promise to at least 1. be honest and 2. call when I';m going to be late or not even show up.
The fun would have happened but it was strange to be in limbo land at that point and not recognize by poor 'Emily Post' moment. Then again Emily Post was a much too formal apporach and was really for the snotty rich and not everyone else. THAT is unAmerican, or at least exclusive behavior. Oh well. She's dead and most people don't even know who she is anymore. Good. We need better standards anyway.
So as I conclude this post, may I resolve to myself to blog shorter, do the things I am thinking of doing this year and by all means raise my level of respect for myself and my friends.
I think I'll do the gym more too. It has a hot tub.
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