Funny.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
We are the World... the Japanese impersonation...
If you only watch one group of Japanese folks impersonate the filming of the "We Are The World" video... you probably should watch a different one. That said, this is pretty darn funny...
Yay! Let's go play in some trash!
Open house on June 7 at the Vancouver Landfill. Fun for the whole family. Really.
Cool idea if realized in fakery...
The idea of using a GPS device to "draw" a self-portrait on the surface of the earth... turns out this site was for an imagined project of this nature, for a school project. Still pretty cool.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The Passive-Aggressive Primer - an ongoing series
Person: "I'm getting an ice cream."
P-A Person: "Must be nice."
~~~
It's all in the inflection and choice of words.
I mean, one could respond to the afore-mentioned ice cream purchase by saying "Isn't that nice!"
This comes across as "An ice cream sounds lovely, I hope to have one as soon as I have the opportunity to do so as well!"
It seems passive-aggressive to respond to the afore-mentioned ice cream purchase by saying "Must be nice!"
This comes across as "Well, aren't you lucky, and I wish I could have one if I were not screwed by life and unable to digest dairy without puking, thanks for bringing it up."
"Isn't" is inclusive, while "Must be" implies the person saying it is somehow restricted against their will and desire.
P-A Person: "Must be nice."
~~~
It's all in the inflection and choice of words.
I mean, one could respond to the afore-mentioned ice cream purchase by saying "Isn't that nice!"
This comes across as "An ice cream sounds lovely, I hope to have one as soon as I have the opportunity to do so as well!"
It seems passive-aggressive to respond to the afore-mentioned ice cream purchase by saying "Must be nice!"
This comes across as "Well, aren't you lucky, and I wish I could have one if I were not screwed by life and unable to digest dairy without puking, thanks for bringing it up."
"Isn't" is inclusive, while "Must be" implies the person saying it is somehow restricted against their will and desire.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Which of my faces do you want?
I struggle with many things. I'm sure I'll go through most of them. (I usually do, even if I don't write them down.)
Today it is the conflict between involvement and appeasement. Does one speak their mind or just go with the flow? Is it better to risk opposition or to push opinion? Does one perpetuate the status quo or attempt to change the world?
My problem with pushing opinion is that I am never as well-informed as I would like to be in making decisions. But I'm not convinced one ever is. I am coming to fear that most politicians pick their favourite stand and just go with it hoping their instinct is worthy.
I was watching the trees outside my backyard today, and was reminded of the African savanna. The UN is reporting that armed bandits are displacing tens of thousands of people from their homes in central Africa. Sitting in the backyard of my North American home, sipping my Corona beer and watching the sun set, I find it difficult to imagine the idea of vacating and fleeing from "armed bandits".
I began to realize the wisdom of the idea that "ignorance is bliss."
In considering the state of the world, I am left with futility and frustration. We concern ourselves when heritage buildings are threatened, but we are oblivious to the fact that children are living in refugee camps, are hungry. We concern ourselves with removing decades-old trees during re-paving, but armed bandits are forcing families from their farms.
Which face do you want? Why should I not "turtle up" and remove myself from society in whole? Is not ignorance bliss?
Today it is the conflict between involvement and appeasement. Does one speak their mind or just go with the flow? Is it better to risk opposition or to push opinion? Does one perpetuate the status quo or attempt to change the world?
My problem with pushing opinion is that I am never as well-informed as I would like to be in making decisions. But I'm not convinced one ever is. I am coming to fear that most politicians pick their favourite stand and just go with it hoping their instinct is worthy.
I was watching the trees outside my backyard today, and was reminded of the African savanna. The UN is reporting that armed bandits are displacing tens of thousands of people from their homes in central Africa. Sitting in the backyard of my North American home, sipping my Corona beer and watching the sun set, I find it difficult to imagine the idea of vacating and fleeing from "armed bandits".
I began to realize the wisdom of the idea that "ignorance is bliss."
In considering the state of the world, I am left with futility and frustration. We concern ourselves when heritage buildings are threatened, but we are oblivious to the fact that children are living in refugee camps, are hungry. We concern ourselves with removing decades-old trees during re-paving, but armed bandits are forcing families from their farms.
Which face do you want? Why should I not "turtle up" and remove myself from society in whole? Is not ignorance bliss?
Monday, May 19, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Somebody's going to change the world
I've been watching my hand a lot lately.
It's gotten older. It's gotten wiser. It's showing it's age. I spend a lot of time just watching my fingers drum on a desktop while listening to beats. It's way cool.
And don't get me wrong: in the grand scheme of things I'm not that old.
It's interesting that age is always at the forefront of humanity's mindset. We watch our lives rush past, and spend our time commenting upon how quickly our lives rush past. It's a downward spiral into mediocrity. We suffice ourselves with the middle of the road because it's all we feel we can attain.
I've started a list of all the mental fuck-ups I wish I never thought about: Age (or "time rushing by"), Mediocrity (or "potential yet unrealized"), Judgement (or "what others think"), or Legacy (or "how your name will live on"). I wish for innocence again, I guess. When you did what you did because it was what you did.
When did it turn into something more? When did the idea occur that others' opinions mattered? When did your gods change?
Here's a jump, but you'll get to it in a bit: We are all concerned with how we are viewed in our devoutness. We all want to be seen to worship Yahweh properly. (At least in Western civilization, which is entirely debatable here, and a tangent I am unprepared to pursue in my present state.)
The question is: who is your God?
The Greeks, 2,500 years ago, had it right. The Greek Gods were anthropomorphic personifications of the aspects of humanity. A competetive sports-minded person worshiped the God of War, the God of Competition: Mars. Some of us worshipped the gods of the household, Demeter or Hera, and learned how best to cook and clean. Some of us worshipped the Muses.
We have only the remaining literature of the time, the arts, to judge the anima of the era, and pretend (to our modern biases) the Gods were something that affected the daily lives of our ancient forefathers. And perhaps that was so. I would much rather believe they recognized the Gods they believed in were little more than the immortal aspects of the human condition.
We embrace the aspects that we are, and they guide our development and persona. But ultimately we are mortal and come to an end.
Consider: the Gods are immortal. Our passing, regardless of brilliance, does not diminish the Universal Truth. Yet, what more are we, but manifestations of that eternal truth, spit forth in randomness and eclecticism? Mental development, the very idea of universal truth, is as much related to the biological idea of evolution (as put forth by Darwin) as any organic process.
The organism, regardless of species, is eternal, only behest to The God.
The thought, regardless of era, is eternal, only behest to The God in Question.
The saddest realization: we collect data that will not exist past the next geologic era.
The Earth is 5.57 billion years old, at current estimates. Geological, or "deep time", is organized in units limited to events of geologic or paleontological events, such as mass extinctions.
But that, of course, is a discussion not for here nor now.
Right now, I just watch my hand drum on my desktop, and will be content.
It's gotten older. It's gotten wiser. It's showing it's age. I spend a lot of time just watching my fingers drum on a desktop while listening to beats. It's way cool.
And don't get me wrong: in the grand scheme of things I'm not that old.
It's interesting that age is always at the forefront of humanity's mindset. We watch our lives rush past, and spend our time commenting upon how quickly our lives rush past. It's a downward spiral into mediocrity. We suffice ourselves with the middle of the road because it's all we feel we can attain.
I've started a list of all the mental fuck-ups I wish I never thought about: Age (or "time rushing by"), Mediocrity (or "potential yet unrealized"), Judgement (or "what others think"), or Legacy (or "how your name will live on"). I wish for innocence again, I guess. When you did what you did because it was what you did.
When did it turn into something more? When did the idea occur that others' opinions mattered? When did your gods change?
Here's a jump, but you'll get to it in a bit: We are all concerned with how we are viewed in our devoutness. We all want to be seen to worship Yahweh properly. (At least in Western civilization, which is entirely debatable here, and a tangent I am unprepared to pursue in my present state.)
The question is: who is your God?
The Greeks, 2,500 years ago, had it right. The Greek Gods were anthropomorphic personifications of the aspects of humanity. A competetive sports-minded person worshiped the God of War, the God of Competition: Mars. Some of us worshipped the gods of the household, Demeter or Hera, and learned how best to cook and clean. Some of us worshipped the Muses.
We have only the remaining literature of the time, the arts, to judge the anima of the era, and pretend (to our modern biases) the Gods were something that affected the daily lives of our ancient forefathers. And perhaps that was so. I would much rather believe they recognized the Gods they believed in were little more than the immortal aspects of the human condition.
We embrace the aspects that we are, and they guide our development and persona. But ultimately we are mortal and come to an end.
Consider: the Gods are immortal. Our passing, regardless of brilliance, does not diminish the Universal Truth. Yet, what more are we, but manifestations of that eternal truth, spit forth in randomness and eclecticism? Mental development, the very idea of universal truth, is as much related to the biological idea of evolution (as put forth by Darwin) as any organic process.
The organism, regardless of species, is eternal, only behest to The God.
The thought, regardless of era, is eternal, only behest to The God in Question.
The saddest realization: we collect data that will not exist past the next geologic era.
The Earth is 5.57 billion years old, at current estimates. Geological, or "deep time", is organized in units limited to events of geologic or paleontological events, such as mass extinctions.
But that, of course, is a discussion not for here nor now.
Right now, I just watch my hand drum on my desktop, and will be content.
Not enough to panic about globally? How about tea?
According to the United Nations, we need to start drinking more tea, or risk widespread economic collapse in developing countries that are tea-producers. The growth in tea-drinkers has lagged behind the growth in tea-production, and nothing less than a global crisis can result.
Wait, isn't that basic capitalist theory: supply and demand?
Sadly, of course, economic theory does not take into account the human factor.
And hey, I go through phases, from coffee to tea to juice to water to... well... maybe it's time to jump-start a tea-phase.
Wait, isn't that basic capitalist theory: supply and demand?
Sadly, of course, economic theory does not take into account the human factor.
And hey, I go through phases, from coffee to tea to juice to water to... well... maybe it's time to jump-start a tea-phase.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
To gaze upon the face of Caesar
Amazing news from Arles, France. A bust of Julius Caesar, produced during his lifetime.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Contentment
It's always the fight inside. What you are, what you want, and what others around you-- what the ones you love-- desire. Desire is an odd thing. Everyone seeks contentment, yet are faced daily with desire.
And then: trying to figure out what your desires are, and how it all fits into your perception of contentment.
Is it having enough money? Enough friends? Enough academic credentials or wine over fifteen dollars? Isn't being happy enough?
(But, of course, that implied you have some idea of what "happy enough" means to you.)
Good luck with that. Understand it.
[Oneness with] Contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry none out. (1TIM6:6)
The Tidbits: Contentment is freedom from anxiety, want or need, and is the goal behind all goals, as once achieved there is nothing to seek until it is lost. A living system cannot maintain contentment for very long, as complete balance and harmony means death.
In that case, I am on the verge of death. And performance anxiety.
And then: trying to figure out what your desires are, and how it all fits into your perception of contentment.
Is it having enough money? Enough friends? Enough academic credentials or wine over fifteen dollars? Isn't being happy enough?
(But, of course, that implied you have some idea of what "happy enough" means to you.)
Good luck with that. Understand it.
[Oneness with] Contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry none out. (1TIM6:6)
The Tidbits: Contentment is freedom from anxiety, want or need, and is the goal behind all goals, as once achieved there is nothing to seek until it is lost. A living system cannot maintain contentment for very long, as complete balance and harmony means death.
In that case, I am on the verge of death. And performance anxiety.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
City Reflections: 1907-Vancouver-2007
Last night the Vancouver Historical Society unveiled its latest contribution to the keepsake box that is Vancouver, namely the much-anticipated City Reflections film.
The 52-minute documentary debuted to invited guests at the Fletcher Challenge Canada Theatre in the Simon Fraser University Downtown Campus at Harbour Centre exactly 101 years after Seattle film-maker William Harbeck mounted a hand-cranked camera onto the front of a B.C. Electric Railway streetcar and recorded the downtown streets of 1907 Vancouver.
The original film, combined with the exhaustive research and production of the Vancouver Historical Society and an army of volunteers, make for an entertaining and immensely fascinating look into the Vancouver that was, how it came to be the Vancouver it is, and hints at the Vancouver to come.
The film will be shown to VHS Members and the public on May 22, 2008 at 8:00pm at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre (in other words, go to the Vancouver Museum, that place with the big crab sculpture).
Some interesting tidbits: The Harbeck film is the earliest known film of Vancouver. It was lost for about 80 years and discovered around 15 years ago in Australia. Because of an incorrect title frame, it was originally thought to be of Hobart, Tasmania. There is exactly one car in the entire six-minute film. The film-maker, Harbeck, died on the maiden voyage of the Titanic.
About the William Harbeck film of 1907 Vancouver.
Georgia Straight article about the May, 2007 filming.
Some info from the BC150 website.
Northern Stars article about the City Reflections project.
re:place Magazine article on the film.
The 52-minute documentary debuted to invited guests at the Fletcher Challenge Canada Theatre in the Simon Fraser University Downtown Campus at Harbour Centre exactly 101 years after Seattle film-maker William Harbeck mounted a hand-cranked camera onto the front of a B.C. Electric Railway streetcar and recorded the downtown streets of 1907 Vancouver.
The original film, combined with the exhaustive research and production of the Vancouver Historical Society and an army of volunteers, make for an entertaining and immensely fascinating look into the Vancouver that was, how it came to be the Vancouver it is, and hints at the Vancouver to come.
The film will be shown to VHS Members and the public on May 22, 2008 at 8:00pm at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre (in other words, go to the Vancouver Museum, that place with the big crab sculpture).
Some interesting tidbits: The Harbeck film is the earliest known film of Vancouver. It was lost for about 80 years and discovered around 15 years ago in Australia. Because of an incorrect title frame, it was originally thought to be of Hobart, Tasmania. There is exactly one car in the entire six-minute film. The film-maker, Harbeck, died on the maiden voyage of the Titanic.
About the William Harbeck film of 1907 Vancouver.
Georgia Straight article about the May, 2007 filming.
Some info from the BC150 website.
Northern Stars article about the City Reflections project.
re:place Magazine article on the film.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Lollards of the Future, Unite! or: Another useless mental tidbit I found today
Lollary on Wikipedia
The Twelve Conclusions of the Lollards
A political and religious movement from the mid-14th century through to the English Reformation, supposedly evolved from the teachings of Jean Wycliffe, but likely older.
Some of their points: Piety was a requirement of a "true" priest, or to perform the sacrament, and that a pious layman had power to perform such rites. Authority of scripture over priests. The concept of the "Church of the Saved," meaning that Christ's true Church was the community of the faithful, which overlapped with but was not the same as the official Church of Rome. Apostolic poverty and taxation of church property. A form of predestination, and differences in transubstantiation. An interesting one: they "stated that the Catholic Church had been corrupted by temporal matters and that its claim to be the true church was not justified by its heredity."
They were persecuted, and burned as heretics. And now the word means people that are fat and lazy lying beggars, or worse.
The Twelve Conclusions of the Lollards
A political and religious movement from the mid-14th century through to the English Reformation, supposedly evolved from the teachings of Jean Wycliffe, but likely older.
Some of their points: Piety was a requirement of a "true" priest, or to perform the sacrament, and that a pious layman had power to perform such rites. Authority of scripture over priests. The concept of the "Church of the Saved," meaning that Christ's true Church was the community of the faithful, which overlapped with but was not the same as the official Church of Rome. Apostolic poverty and taxation of church property. A form of predestination, and differences in transubstantiation. An interesting one: they "stated that the Catholic Church had been corrupted by temporal matters and that its claim to be the true church was not justified by its heredity."
They were persecuted, and burned as heretics. And now the word means people that are fat and lazy lying beggars, or worse.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Are we floating or sinking...?
On Monday, May 5, 2008, Jeff Lee in the Vancouver Sun published the story Vancouver Maritime Museum forced to close.
The flashpoint: the Maritime Museum "has been told to close its doors by the end of 2009."
The Museum's Side: last week the city issued a "termination agreement" to force the Museum to close before a plan is in place for the collection's survival.
The City Side: the city is "simply assessing the collection", which it owns, and will report back to Council for direction.
abomb&thecorpse: There are too many unknowns to tell which side is in the right. Therefore, there may still be room to find the best possible path. It's important to assess the collection with the idea of maintaining as much as possible for integration with the proposed "National Maritime Museum" in North Vancouver, but we do not want to "terminate" our cultural treasures without a clear plan that is executed in a reasonable time-frame. Is the National Maritime Museum even 100% confirmed?
The Vancouver Sun story.
The history of the Vancouver Maritime Museum.
The Apologist, or, It can't always be heavy...
In case it isn't obvious, I've been trying to run through haphazard descriptions or introductions of the labels that I think would be used by abomb&thecorpse bloggin'. But it all goes back to that shakey-beginning phase: everything feels disjointed because there's no body of work to refer to. And so far things have seemed a little... deep.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a round of deepness now and again... and I admit I stray into the internal depths (usually for the worse, which I apologize for in advance) quite often... but there's a caveat in this practice when it comes to actual day-to-day activity, which is the Paralysis of Grandeur. In other words, if one starts to feel like their thoughts and opinions have to be "worthy" for wider dissemination, one will likely never utter a peep.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a round of deepness now and again... and I admit I stray into the internal depths (usually for the worse, which I apologize for in advance) quite often... but there's a caveat in this practice when it comes to actual day-to-day activity, which is the Paralysis of Grandeur. In other words, if one starts to feel like their thoughts and opinions have to be "worthy" for wider dissemination, one will likely never utter a peep.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Machiavelli and Me
Growing up in western society, I would do almost anything to bring the world to its knees before me. Growing up on a farm outside a small town in the interior of British Columbia, I would do almost anything to make everyone in the world comfortably wealthy, healthy, and happy. It is a difficult thing to be pulled in different directions at once, to hold unbridled ambition in one hand and a longing for peace and love in the other. I want to be the richest and most powerful person on the face of the earth... but I want everybody else to be, too.
I have long considered what sort of life I would like to build, what sort of world I would like to live in, what sort of activity and pasttimes I would like to participate in, and what sort of people I would like to surround myself and collaborate with. I have decided I am neither a Capitalist or a Communist or an Anarchist. I'm bits of it all, I think. I don't know what ideology I fully subscribe to. The closest label I can think of is Cottagist, and I sure as hell know that's not a word.
Is it possible for someone to believe they are at the beginning of a socio-economic revolution?
Ideas change the world. I don't know if this one will, or if it should. I certainly know that I don't care, and I just keep on keeping on, and tossing them out there.
I have long considered what sort of life I would like to build, what sort of world I would like to live in, what sort of activity and pasttimes I would like to participate in, and what sort of people I would like to surround myself and collaborate with. I have decided I am neither a Capitalist or a Communist or an Anarchist. I'm bits of it all, I think. I don't know what ideology I fully subscribe to. The closest label I can think of is Cottagist, and I sure as hell know that's not a word.
Is it possible for someone to believe they are at the beginning of a socio-economic revolution?
Ideas change the world. I don't know if this one will, or if it should. I certainly know that I don't care, and I just keep on keeping on, and tossing them out there.
tokyoplastic
Much is in Japanese, but the interface is easy to figure out. Just run your mouse around to see if there's something to click.
The drum machine is cool.
And playing around in the tokyoplastic main page is interesting.
The drum machine is cool.
And playing around in the tokyoplastic main page is interesting.
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