Hacking the Brain

I guess my posting of about the iThink article in MacLife was timely...

People are beginning to consider one of the implications of the emerging field of neural engineering - the possibility of hacking into an interconnected brain-computer interface. The question of neurosecurity is addressed in this article I saw linked on Neatorama:

The Next Hacking Frontier:
Your Brain?

Wired.com's article end w/ a reference to the excellent neuroscience blog MindHacks.com that I check out regularly.

Of course, it is already possible to hack into the mind without a direct interface...

For example: hypnosis, mind control, and this snazzy device-

"Brain Machine:
tune in, turn on, drop out"

Apple "iThink" Concept- in MacLife!

(click to enlarge)

It is always cool to see any of my work published, but I was really excited when an editor at the magazine MacLife contacted me - & wanted to include a concept that I created for fun in one of their issues. They ended up publishing my letter, "Future Influencers", and both images!

Unfortunately, I didn't get my hands on a print copy of the magazine, but here is a link to the digital edition that I came across recently:

MacLife
Photo of the Month - "iThink"
February 2009 pgs. 10-12

A year or two ago, I put together some graphics for a concept that I had floating around in my head for awhile: an Apple-branded computer w/ a brain interface, that I dubbed the "iThink".

I am re-posting the 'specs' and the artwork at the bottom of this article. Here is a link to my previous entry where I improved the graphics a little:

Monkeybuddha.com:
Apple iThink-Upgraded

I have seen others comment online about this idea from around the world, which itself is amazing to me. Ex. (1) (2) (3)

People's views have ranged from very enthusiastic to completely horrified at the possibility of our brains being directly connected to The Machines. As one girl I know exclaimed when she saw it, "You thought of this?... My God, you're the enemy!!!" For some reason, I was totally amused by this reaction.

Regardless of how one feels about the inevitable progression of technology, digital-neural interfaces are becoming more of a reality- even since I first posted the original artwork. I saw the following article linked on Monochrom & realized I might not have been all that far-sighted:

Scientific American
"Plug and Play:
Researchers Expand Clinical Study
of Neural Interface Brain Implant"

So here is the iThink, presented again in light of it's print debut in MacLife (as well as the impending Singularity).

click to enlarge

iThink Technical Specifications

• Size:
1.5 x 1.5 x .5 inches

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

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

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

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

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

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


*My favorite web comment so far:
"This looks much more congenial than the long anticipated converted pneumatic cattle dropper designed to stuff an rs-232 micro socket somewhere above the hairline. And it appears to be short range wireless, which eliminates any need for hygienic socket maintenance. Bravo puppet masters! Soon we’ll all be dancing around like multi-mode idiot savants, knowing all while aware of nothing! Can’t wait for my turn up on the rack."

'Seed of Life' Garden

On a much more comforting note than the last post....

I often search Google Images for random visual inspiration. For me, it is like treasure hunting for pictures that are interesting, crazy, informative, or just eye-catching.

The Seed of Life is a repeating design, created by intersecting circles at their midpoints. It is the initial pattern behind the larger symbol known as The Flower of Life. (with the only reference to my blog on Wikipedia...:)



This is an ancient design, with rich geometric & metaphorical secrets contained within. My appreciation for the heritage behind this geometric symbol led me to create the award-winning strategy game "Da Vinci's Challenge" while a Senior design student at Rowan.

Of course, I am not the only one who has been inspired by this beautiful & symmetrical form-

Google Images: "Seed of Life"

Getting to my original reason for this post -

While searching through the pages of images on Google, I saw an interesting application for the pattern of interlocking circles.... Landscaping!

Seed of Life
Garden Plans

The Palin Revolution HAS Begun!?! *wink*

PALIN 2012!!!

Reading comments in stories about warrior queen Sarah Palin's latest insufferable drama has left me amazed at the spectrum of perceptions that can encompass how a single person is viewed.

As a result of this varying consensus- I was inspired to come up with this simple, yet statistically accurate 'yes-or-no' test that scientifically measures political views:

A) Do you truly miss the strong, decisive, and above all, straight-shootin' leadership of George W. Bush & Dick Cheney?

B) Do you think that President John McCain & V.P. Sarah Palin would be doing a much better job at extracting America from it's myriad crises?

• If you answered "Yes" to either of these questions:

Your political acumen =

.
.
.

Bizarro Superman!!!!

Dubya was smart, honest man... Bizarro like!!!!

Auditing "The Fed"

I may not agree with everything Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) says, but I think there are alot of institutional problems that he is correct to criticize.

In the spirit of America's "Independence Day" I began to think about what keeps us from being truly free... or at least relatively more free. People talk about the threats of tyranny and oppression from government, but I personally think the modern economic system is the cause of much greater personal restriction than the workings of politics in America. (Of course, government is supposed to reserve the right to control it's own monetary system, but our politicians haven't been eager to assert that right.)

"1913: America's Worst Year:
The Federal Reserve"

The majority of working people are in decades worth of debt when they graduate college, or can't even afford higher education, become bankrupt due to medical situations, are hard-pressed to pay for basic utilities & living costs...
Problems like these exist on a larger scale than they should and cause people to feel bound by virtual financial chains that directly affects the quality of their life.

We seem to be continually moving toward a more innovative & open-source approach to social life. Since money is currently the driving force behind productive society, it is inevitable that people are going to start to rethink the traditionally effective, but archaic, approach to economics that is mostly a subtler version of 'indentured servitude.'

Ron Paul is one of the few elected officials with the intellectual honesty to question the root of the economic problems we are facing. He looks at the fundamental, controlling forces of our money system: The Federal Reserve, the IRS, and the very idea of fiat currency.



I saw this article on Disinfo.com which reveals a basic fact that many Americans don't even know - our government doesn't audit the Federal Reserve that prints U.S. money:

Ron Paul's 'Audit the Fed' Bill on Fast Track

Ron Paul's "Audit the Fed" Bill:

Audit the Federal Reserve: HR 1207 and S 6055

I don't think Congressman Paul or even The Constitution are perfect, but they intrinsically hold a better set of human ideals than any bank or money-based institution.

My Facebook Page

Paul Micarelli @ Facebook
Facebook.com/paulmicarelli

I try to keep my life as simple as possible, so I've hesitated getting onto Facebook since it's just another thing to log onto & take up time.

Enough people I know & have seen around have recommend it for me to feel that I was completely out of the loop. I like being a contrarian sometimes, but the power of the mob is too much to ignore.

It's definitely a great service, as long as they don't end up misusing everyone's info. A nice part about it is the simplicity of both the basic concept & the interface.

Of course, we all know that Facebook is just a front for C.I.A. intelligence gathering operations...

"Facebook - The CIA Conspiracy"

Well, the spooks can't get ALL of us right?....right?

Seriously, though- life is all about connections, and social networks are a powerful tool to connect people.

By increasing the power of personal interconnectedness, iThink we are forming the beginnings of what could be compared to a digital "hive mind."

"Social Networks and Mind Evolution"

Joe Rogan: "Talking Monkeys in Space"

I just posted about my appreciation for monkeys & their antics. Comedy is another of my favorite aspects of life & Joe Rogan is a very funny dude.

I've posted about his standup act before:

Joe Rogan on Space, The Grand Canyon, & UFO's

I was browsing the blog Teleomorph & saw some good Youtube clips of his recent comedy special with a title after my own sensibilities...

Youtube Videos:
"Talking Monkeys in Space"


Joe Rogan on Monkeys

The Teleomorph also linked to some more Crazy Wisdom from Joe Rogan... talking about Terence McKenna & his mind-bending 'Stoned Ape Theory'.

Drunk Beach Monkeys

Obviously, monkeys are a favorite topic of mine & I've posted about them alot here.

Many times, I find examples of monkeys doing human activities that give me a good laugh.

This Youtube clip I saw on Neatorama, though, just makes me jealous. These monkeys are getting free drinks at a tropical location on a beach full of hot women in bikinis every day.

Our hairy relatives prove that decadent beach living is not just for humans...

Michael Jackson, aka "Mr. Jefferson"

"Michael Jackson and Bubbles"
Jeff Koons

Well, I was driving to Sea Isle City last night after work & the lady DJ on one of the radio stations was sobbing uncontrollably on the air while breaking the news about Michael Jackson's death.

It's weird how people can be so affected by someone they never met or even seen in person... but especially with today's media, making a personal connection to a popular figure is just human nature.

Michael Jackson's Thriller was the very first album my parent's ever bought for me when I was about 5 years old & I listened to it all the time. As I also just posted recently, the Thriller music video scared my ass off as a kid in a way I'll never forget. Hearing all his songs being played the radio again is a reminder of what a legend he has been in the world of music and entertainment.

As one of the most iconic people in the world, and as someone with such a 'unique' personality & life it was unavoidable that he became a caricature in alot of respects. Not only was he eccentric and creative in his own right, but he inspired (for better or worse) other artists to comment on his phenomenal existance.

For example, when I first saw the sculpture pictured above, I simply thought of Jeff Koons' "Michael Jackson and Bubbles" as a humorously ridiculous piece. However, I have come to recognize it as an image of sublime beauty and deep meaning about the illusion of appearances and the mysteries of nature, fame, mortality, and the idea of a " True Self". Besides, the very concept of a porcelain & gold statue of Michael Jackson with Bubbles the chimp is absolute craziness that ascends to the level of genius. Wacky art & monkeys are two things I can truly appreciate.

On the other end of the spectrum is the completely awesomely disturbing episode of South Park titled "The Jeffersons," in which Jacko tries to disguise himself & his children while in South Park- to both hilarious and horrifying effect. The most insane part of the episode is where his face starts falling off & he chases the kids like a Thriller zombie. Watching it the first time I don't even think I could laugh because it was so over-the-top.

Michael's appearance must have been the most torturous part of a life in which his image predominately defined the public's perception of him. It is impossible to comprehend the triumphs and the troubles he faced during his time, but it is definitely fascinating.

Sha-mooona!!!!

Gallery of Fictional Spacecraft

Audio Interview:
Science Weekly with Michio Kaku:
Impossibility is relative

On io9.com I saw this excellent gallery of sci-fi spaceships from many different stories & media.

The designer in me loves studying the different possibilities, with their many pros & cons.

The Evolution Of Space Cruiser Design:
A Gallery

I posted before about an interesting spaceship size comparison chart, where I first revealed the incomprehensible nature of the "Monkeybuddhasphere™":

The Monkey Buddha:
Sci-fi Info-graphics

This is one of those areas where art & the creative fields can inform the intellectual efforts of scientists and engineers.

By pre-conceptualizing the possible forms of things like interstellar transportation, these design ideas can be applied to emerging technology- like this brilliant concept that this guy totally stole from me:

Lebanon Man Designs
Magnet-Powered Motor

At an ever-increasing rate, popular science is catching up to the ion engines of TIE fighters & the hyperspace drives of more elaborate vehicles.

Of course, it is entirely possible that the form & function of space-faring craft has already been perfected...

"The Sport Model"

Dinosaurs Attack!

Continuing on the theme of Childhood Lizard Memories....

One of the countless things I used to collect as a kid was the series of trading cards called "Dinosaurs Attack!"

These were really graphic, had dinosaurs, dealt with crazy sci-fi stuff... & therefore was totally cool back when I was in grade school.

I found a great site that has scans of all the cards, front & back. I recommend looking at every single mini-masterpiece.

Bob's Dinosaurs Attack! Homepage

Like "V", the story behind these cards involves the influence of humanoid Saurian creatures.

One of my favorites that I had was this one- Ripped Out of Time, with a dinosaur's face getting peeled off due to some kind of tear in space-time:


Another memorable image was the back of "The Ultimate Sacrifice" with a truly touching portrayal of the scientist's agonizing demise:


I didn't have this particular one, but the Dinosaur Satan from the card "Supreme Evil" is a horrific drooling gem:

"V" & The Newborn Reptilian

When it comes to truly frightening childhood TV-related memories, there were exactly three that I can remember instantly...

1) Watching Michael Jackson's new video, "Thriller" when I was 5 years old. When the zombies came creepin out, I was really frightened. When Michael's eyes turn into wolf eyes, I almost ran out of my friend's house.

2) "The Empire Strikes Back" for the first time on the TV at my grandmother's & the scene where the Wampa ambushes Luke scared the living crap out of me.

3) Finally, the one scene that completely freaked me out was from the series "V"...

The premise of the show was that human-looking aliens come to Earth with promises of peace & progress. However, the "V"isitors are actually malevolent Reptilian bastards out to steal our resources, while eating our apparently delicious flesh.

"V" was basically a pop-culture version of David Icke's take on The Reptilian Connection.

After seeing a new trailer for the ABC remake of the "V" story, I went looking for the scene from the original that I thought was so horrible as a kid.

Although the aliens consuming rodents was disgusting, the most traumatizing visual for me was "The Birthing Scene" in V: The Final Battle.

I was about 6 and my Mom was working at night, so my Dad was letting me & my younger siblings watch this wacked-out show about evil lizard people. When this scene came on, I went ballistic & started screaming for my Dad to turn the TV off. I wasn't crying, but I refused to look at the TV until a different channel was on. As a result, I never even saw the unbelievably awesome second baby being born...

Looking at it now, it's obvious the special effects are borderline ridiculous. I even remember my Dad laughing & saying it wasn't even scary, but as soon as the first baby's tongue flicked out, that was it for me.

TV Buddha

TV Buddha

According to Blogger this is post# 550,
which I've decided is a very auspicious number...

Since this blog is mostly a reflection of my own interests, for this particular post I found subject matter that deals with the ideas of connectivity & awareness of "The Self" (whatever that is).

While browsing through Ffffound! I saw the above image, a meditation on experiential reality. It suggest the mind and universe are part of a single, perpetual feedback loop.

The allusion to 'mind' and 'circuits' makes me think of The Eight Circuits of Consciousness theory.

This installation was actually created in 1974 & called 'TV Buddha' by Nam June Paik.

Thomas Paine

I'm always impressed by the wisdom of many of the founding U.S. politicians, especially in comparison to the unsettling number of absolute cretins in the government today.

For my brother's graduation w/ a history degree I got him a book of quotes by the 'Founding Fathers'. Their insights were so direct and rational in a way that is very rare nowadays in DC or the media.

I saw this BBC article mentioning the 200th anniversary of Thomas Paine's death at age 72.

BBC:
"Who was Thomas Paine?"

After reading Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense', 'Right's of Man', as well as 'The Age of Reason', I could instantly appreciate the fundamental principles that Paine was describing. He is still a main source of political inspiration for me.

Although it's been 200 years, his core ideas of intellectual liberty, pragmatic rationalism, & populist democracy are timeless.

“The world is my country,
all mankind are my brethren,
and to do good is my religion.”

-Thomas Paine

Green Lantern Fan Trailer

The Green Lantern is the superhero I've always considered have the coolest powers. My favorite color is green & black, so the Green Lantern uniform would work for me, too...

Being Superman would obviously be pretty awesome, but everybody knows that

Superman is a Dick

Anyway, this trailer for an unrealized Green Lantern movie was created from snippets of other movies, but looks pretty awesome:

A Dream Within a Dream

'The Monkey Buddha'- posts about
The Nature of "Reality"

Saw this video @ The Daily Grail

The First Space Simians

I saw a link to this gallery on BoingBoing:

National Geographic
"Space Monkey Pictures"

It's really strange to think that the first creatures to travel off-planet (that we know of) were actually monkeys that we strapped down into rockets.

Maybe I'm too empathetic, but all I think about when I see these photos is how they must feel like 'alien abductee' experiences. There are these scary beings, placing an innocent creature into machines that it doesn't understand- and forcing it into terror of the unknown.

In honor of these furry & unwitting cosmic pioneers, I almost named this blog "Space Monkey" or something crazy like that.

"Why are you frightened, little guy?!?
You're making history!!!..."

The Secrets of Alchemy

"Alchemy is an expression of the fact that light is hidden in darkness."

Alchemy is one of those areas of knowledge, like astrology, that has mostly been considered an 'unconventional' idea system. In fact, alchemy was a precursor of modern science and is literally "The Great Work"- ultimately a transformation of one's own mind & state of being.

Like a complex visual & mental puzzle, trying to understand the myriad meanings behind any alchemical works can be an almost absurd task. Even for someone well-versed in art history and symbolism, trying to figure out the story behind the symbols can be mind-boggling.

A while back I got the book Alchemy & Mysticism, The Hermetic Museum that is filled with esoteric art. Although I often browse through the strange imagery with a basic idea of what is behind some of it, it's still a very obscure system of thinking.

I saw this article on Reality Sandwich and it has several excellent observations:

The Sacred Art of Alchemy

"Contemplating an indescribable divine mystery, according to Jung, "the alchemists did not really know what they were writing about," certainly not with their conceptual mind. Not knowing what they were trying to articulate, the unconscious itself was simultaneously living through the alchemists as it revealed itself to them.

This explains the alchemists' oftentimes confusing, contradictory, and inscrutable description of their art.


Another excellent article, also from Reality Sandwich, discusses the alchemical musings of the late, great neo-shaman... Terence Mckenna:

Terence McKenna's
"Alchemical Dream"

Random Jim Morrison Quote

Because I feel like it...

"Soft driven, slow and mad
Like some new language
Reaching your head
with the cold, sudden fury of a divine messenger

Let me tell you about heartache, and the loss of god
Wandering, wandering in hopeless night
Out here in the perimeter, there are no stars..."

"Land of the Lost" Marathon

While I was gratefully enjoying a Memorial Day BBQ over my parent's house, my Mom had the SciFi marathon of the goofy classic series "Land of the Lost" on the TV.

My brother was watching it, too, & we all were enjoying the pure silliness of it.

I remember seeing a few re-runs of the show as a kid in the 80's, & I knew it was old & crappy even back then.

My Mom surprised us by saying she used to watch it all the time in the 70's... & she even knew the names of all the ridiculous characters & dinosaurs in the show. I thought she only watched "Bonanza" & stuff,- not the kind of craziness created by Krofft Productions. She was talking about 'Chaka' & 'Sleestaks' and I realized what it's like to hear about 'Sith Holocrons' or 'Zabraks'.

Of course, this marathon was used to promote the predictable Will Ferrell movie version that's coming out. Remaking such a profoundly low-budget show into a multi-million dollar film completely misses the point.

The opening may be the best part of the show. I noticed in later episodes the 'Dad' in the show got lost in a time warp, & he was replace by an 'Uncle'. The show got a revised opening sequence that is just as hilarious:

"The Monkey Buddha" Visual Archive

Since Blogger is a Google-owned service, I knew the pictures on this blog were uploaded to the emerging Universal Mind of Google's servers.

Recently, though, I discovered that all the images I've uploaded are stored in a web album on Google's online photo hosting site, Picasa.

I changed the status of The Monkey Buddha album to "public" so the visual madness can be viewed by others.

Even without the context of their respective blog posts, the image collection is very representative of my personality & the crazy things that interest me. I'd be willing to say that it is one of the most unique sets of imagery anywhere!

"The Monkey Buddha"
Visual Archive

It's almost impossible for me to pick any favorites from such a treasure trove of visual gems.

Here are a few highlights:


• One of the greatest pictures ever:


• Squint to see the secret message in this one:



The essence of modern political sensibilities:


...and finally, an image I'll use as shameless self-promotion for my creation, the game "Da Vinci's Challenge":

"Da Vinci's Challenge
@ 3Amoebas.com"

Jesse Ventura is Still a Badass

I used to hate Jesse "The Body" Ventura as a WWF wrestler & interviewer when I was a kid. He was much cooler as the gung-ho marine in the classic movie Predator.

After an entertainment career & also a stint as Minnesota governor, Jesse Ventura has been speaking out in his own special way. He's got a rare combination of thoughtful arguments with an unapologetic, forceful delivery.

I've seen other videos of him talking to groups about controversial issues like The War Monkey, 9/11 or the Iraq occupation. Sometimes he can seem overly-confrontational & a little out-there, but I think he does have alot of strength of wisdom. Most of all, he is correct to encourage questioning everything, especially "The Unquestionable". It definitely takes a unique personality to be able to rant over the King of Radio himself, Howard Stern...

Howard Stern Show 1/29/09:
Jesse Ventura on 9/11

Especially when it comes to the power structures of society, we should accept that Americans are people- capable of the worst that humanity has to offer, as well as the best. If we turn a blind eye to either possibility, it degrades our functioning as a whole.

Speaking of degradation...
Jesse Ventura has simplified the entire sub-human debate about the morality of torture (aka. 'Enhanced Interrogation Techniques'):

"You give me a water board,
Dick Cheney, and 1 hour,

...and I'll have him confess
to the Sharon Tate murders."

I also just saw a video clip on Raw Story from a TV show that I never watch otherwise- 'The View'. Jesse talks down the ridiculous & clueless Elisabeth Hasselbeck.



"The Body"'s on a roll... & should be given at least as much airtime as Emperor Cheney.

Everytime I see Cheney's now-iconic sneer burning through the TV, I listen to his 'tortured' logic & think of the names bestowed upon him by Lyndon LaRouche, the fringe Presidential candidate: "Beast-Man" & "Brute".

I'm glad there are some people with the dedication to truth & the tremendous balls to call out The Dark Lord himself.

*Bonus Video!
Jesse Ventura is the gift that keeps on giving. Here is another clip of him taking on the male version of Elisabeth Hasselbeck- cable news' biggest knucklehead, Sean Hannity:

"Jesse Ventura slams Sean Hannity"

News Flash: Artists are Crazy!

Some relevant Crazy Wisdom from Terrence McKenna:

Every so often, a study is released claiming that creative personalities are more likely to be 'mentally ill'.

I've posted about the very unique qualities of artistic minds before:

"Artists are Sexy & Crazy"

I also saw this recent article about - "the unusual and sometimes bizarre thought processes associated with mental illness to fuel creativity."

"Creative Minds:
The Links Between
Mental Illness and Creativity"

This is like saying- "Engineers tend to have overly-analytical minds!" ...It's not really that shocking of a connection.

All artists need to be at least a little crazy. It's called "thinking outside the box." Commercial designers like me create for mainstream consumption, but an unfettered mind allows a wider variety of ideas to take form during the creative process.

Qualities that we now consider to be mental disturbance in modern society have, in fact, often been held in awe by members of many cultures around the world. Creative forces, such as artisans & shamans, have been held in high esteem throughout history despite their 'unconventional' personalities. This is because they bring forth novel possibilities into the world that cannot be conjured with 'conventional' thinking.

I have a book, The Shaman, by Piers Vitebsky that is full of fascinating material. However, most of the techniques & anecdotes about these important visionary healers would be considered absolutely wacky by Western standards.

Of course, sometimes crazy really is just crazy which is just craaazy.

Cracking the Maya Code

Before I went out to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Tuesday, my Mom called me to tell me about a show on PBS about the ancient Mayan culture of Mexico. My family has been to the ruins at Chichen Itza & everyone knows I am a connoisseur of the art of lost civilizations.

It ended up being one of the more informative documentaries I've seen about this amazing culture, so I ended up getting into it (& delaying my plans by almost an hour!).

Anyway, there is a section of the PBS Nova website for the program where you can watch the episode, too.

NOVA:
"Cracking the Maya Code"

NOVA:
"Cracking the Maya Code-
Watch the Program"

Here is a link to all my commentary related to the Mayan culture:

MonkeyBuddha.com:
"MAYA"

Obama the Superhero

On io9.com I saw a link to a comic featuring Barack Obama as the leader of a fictional America nearly destroyed by an alien invasion.

I just thought, "Wow, that's pretty crazy..."

"Drafted: One Hundred Days"

President OBAMA! has already teamed up with one of the most popular superheroes ever, Spider-man:

"Obama, Spider-Man
on the Same Comic-book Page"

However, after looking at a couple links related to the "Drafted" comic, I saw this link with other Barack Obama comics by the publisher, Devil's Due Publishing:

" Meet Barack the Barbarian
taking on scantily clad nemesis Sarah Palin
in new comic superhero role"

I think the barbarian versions of Barack & Sarah Palin (below) are just awesome.

Having Dick Cheney, (aka. "Chainknee of the Elephant Kingdom") & his menacing scowl in the background is too funny.

Stephen Colbert Eats an Ewok

I haven't had a chance to post anything lately, but I saw this a few nights ago & got a laugh out of it.

The Colbert Report:
"A Rare Correction - Stephen Eats an Ewok"

Star Wars is my all-time favorite movie series, but the primitive teddy bears called 'Ewoks' were one of George Lucas's very transparent toy-marketing ploys.

Therefore, I found it very amusing when Stephen Colbert decided to 'eat an Ewok'. Having eaten bear meat before, I can imagine one of the furry inhabitants of Endor's Green Moon might taste similar.

Despite their cuteness & their heroic role in crippling the Galactic Empire, I would probably have to try a juicy Ewok steak if it was placed in front of me...

Rock & Roll Editorial

My Dad buys several newpapers each week, The Philadelphia Inquirer & local ones like the Gloucester County Times.

He rarely stops in the middle of reading the paper to talk about it.

Last Wednsday, I was over my parents house & my Dad handed over the Gloucester Cty Times editorial page to me with a smile on his face, so I knew it had to be good....

My father (Big Paul) is a child of the 60's & has always been a classic rock guy. He has been in several bands & even recently got back together to rock out with some of his old bandmates.

The ridiculous editorial I scanned below gave him a good laugh. I had to read it twice & thought it might even be a joke. I ended up taking the page with me, because the letter was so fascinatingly pathetic.

I was actually considering writing a simple 3-word reply to 'L. Kramer', the author of this unintentionally(?) amusing anti-rock screed, saying...."YOU'RE A SQUARE."

click image to enlarge

Considering L. Kramer's final question:
"It's a war of good vs. bad music.
Which side are you on?"

My answer would be:
"The side in which monotonous, overpowering beats are hypnotizing me as my body thrashes around, of course!"

Creating Rem Lazar

"When I'm dreaming,

I'm dreaming of a dream."

I just came across a ridiculous clip on Ebaum's world that made me think - "?!?!?!?!?!?".

It is from a bizarre film from 1989 called "Creating Rem Lazar" that is both hilarious & torturous to watch at the same time.

This is the type of thing that sends my mind reeling.

First of all, why? WHY?!?!

Why would anyone feel compelled to make this????? Even my most creative instincts cannot grasp the motivation. BTW, how is this character walking through a city dressed like that, walking & holding hands w/ kids- yet nobody finds it odd?

It is a rare gem that can make me furiously annoyed, while laughing out loud at the same time!

Watching all 6 segments on Youtube is a supreme exercise in mental fortitude. I don't know why I find this madness so amusing.

All I know is I need a Quixotic Medallion, pronto!

Mayan Palingenesis 2012

I love to browse through Ffffound!.com and can click away through the wide variety of pictures posted there.

There's plenty of visual evidence of how wonderfully crazy the world truly is. This particular picture that stopped me in my tracks features nothing more than 3 essential elements:



1) Sassy she-devil Governor Sarah Palin's Cheshire Cat-like visage vibrating in mid-air.

2) The ancient Temple of Kukulkan, of the Mexican Mayans, with what appears to be Dark Side lightning emanating from within.

3) Appearing over the Mayan pyramid - the menacing date of "2012", the supposed end of a Meso-american time cycle. Depending on who you listen to, this either means the total end of human existence as we understand it... or not.



I saw this and thought it was absolutely awesome. The Ffffound! post links to one of the blogs on Tumblr that is nothing but cool wacked-out pictures.

The creator of the 'Palin 2012' masterpiece above^ must have seen something I posted about before - one of the most spectacularly stupifying rants imaginable:

"Mayan Palingenesis

Whore of Babylon & Rise of the Fourth Reich"

It still amazes me that someone actually created that article... it makes me feel like this blog is at least 'semi-rational'.

However, if by some horrible, horrible twist of reality, Sarah Palin becomes President in 2012 - I will proclaim the author to be the modern Nostradamus.

God in Mind

A few posts back as I wrote about "seeing God", I remembered a story about Michelangelo's painting of the Old Testament Deity... where he's shown as an old man being floated around by kids inside his cape.

A physician has claimed that the Renaissance master painted the figure of YHWH in the "Creation of Man" in the shape of a brain cross-section! Is this just another case of the mind's eye recognizing similar images?

Just the speculation of meaning behind it (if it was intentional) can fuel plenty of theological and philosophical discussion.

"Michelangelo, Renaissance Man
of the Brain, Too?"

A while ago when I first read about this, I made an overlay of the painting over an X-ray & it's very similar:


After it popped back in my head, I also animated a sequence back & forth to compare the images. Because Blogger can't handle animated GIFs, I might have to link it through Myspace:

Augmented Reality Exhibit

It may seem crazy, but think it's inevitable that humans and computers will meld together, to the point of what could be called an "augmented reality" (& beyond).

To some extent, this is already in progress- since we already constantly use electronic devices to improve the way we communicate, remember, navigate, and learn.

This continual expansion of human consciousness inspired me to project into a possible realm where symbiotic computers like an "iThink" become integral to our reality. This would be no different then how society has adapted to the universality of instantaneous communication. Having a symbiotic, consciousness-effecting networked computer implant might soon be considered no different than having a cell phone on you at all times.

One of the countless applications of such a computer directly tied into the nervous system might be the ability to virtually immerse oneself into enhanced environments. Data could be displayed and transmitted as fast as the user's thoughts.

I've always thought it would be great to visit an ancient landmark and experience virtual buildings and surroundings to overlay your immediate view.

This exhibit I saw linked on Gizmondo is like a primitive version of my dream archaeology lesson. In this present case, a moveable Apple monitor is needed to shift the view of the area. Having more advanced data overlays activated in your line of vision at will is going to prove to be much more interesting...

" Augmented reality
on hand at museum in the Netherlands,
threatens to make learning cool"

ASN: "American Shopping Network"

In my Tribute to Infomercials, I linked to a preview for a set of videos my brother & I made several years ago.

Justin just uploaded a set of episodes to Youtube for a spoof we created called -

"ASN:
American Shopping Network"

We made it for one of his film projects when he was in school & had a blast with it.

I convinced Justin to edit & upload these segments, despite their laughably low-budget appearance.

We actually filmed over an hour of improvised bits, but he had to cut it down to fifteen minutes of material for his assignment. Alot of other craziness got cut out, though we're trying to salvage some other parts. If these clips get alot of viewers, we'll probably make more segments.

Basically, it is a parody of QVC & other merchandising shows - starring two loveable hucksters selling absolute crap.

• I play "Jimmie Ray" aka. "JR", and Justin is "Montgomery 'Monty' J. Scheisterman".

• Our brother Joe helped out, playing "Bud the Camerman" & Nate plays the director "Burnt Shooskii".

Here is the link to the Micarelli Productions page that Justin set up, with links to all the clips:

Youtube.com/MicProsVideos

• I would recommend watching this episode first-

"Ketchup Packets"

"Pompeii Rug"



"Knife Set"



"Scientific Calculator"



"Cuban Cigars"

Gates vs. Jobs Game

I was just playing this funny little game on iambored.com.

Gates Vs. Jobs
The Game!

Even though the game is limited, it's a great premise. As an Apple devotee, it is oddly satisfying to beat down Bill Gates with a lightsaber.

The Windows & Mac themes in the health bars & special moves are a nice touch.

Infomercial Madness

I've been wanting to dedicate a post to my thoughts on infomercials.

The spectacle of infomercials has always given me a certain amount of amusement & fascination. I am always in utter disbelief that people actually watch them and order the crap they're selling.

What finally made me comment on the infomercial phenomenon was this particular doozy of a news item:

"Vince Shlomi
Beats a Prostitute in Miami,
ShamSLAPCHOPWow!"

"ShamWow Guy SlapChops a Prostitute"

It couldn't have happened to a shadier con-man...
Just looking at this guy pisses me off. Who in their right mind would trust this creep enough to buy something from him??????


I never thought that any TV pitchman would ever be as astoundingly annoying as BILLY MAYS!!!, but Shamwow Scumbag Vince Offer/Shlomi is definitely in the running.



Speaking of Billy Mays, The Bearded One's obnoxious delivery (honed right here in New Jersey, of course) has predictably got him a reality TV show documenting the making of one his mind-numbing infomercials.

"Billy Mays, Commercial Superstar,
Gets Reality Show 'Pitchmen'"

Of course, there is one Infomercial God that stands above these other clowns. His name graces the legendary Ronco™ Corporation:

Ronald M. Popeil

As scary-looking as he is cunning, Ron Popeil was one of my early icons in the sublime art of 'B.S.' known as Marketing.

Me and a couple friends back in high school used to watch his spots on TV late-night & obsess about the crazy details of his carefully-crafted pitches.

Here is way more info about Ron Popeil than anyone needs to know:

"The Pitchman"

In fact, Ron Popeil is a big inspiration for a ridiculous 'infomercial' video project I helped my brother with when he was in college. We got completely carried away with the idea and he's about to upload several of the segments onto Youtube like this preview.

Colbert in Space

This is just another reason why Stephen Colbert is awesome.

Space Module: Colbert
"Democracy in Orbit"

NASA has run a contest online to name the International Space Station's "Node 3 module". Colbert urged his viewers to enter his name as an entry. I actually went to the website to vote & Colbert's name ended up getting the most votes!

CNN:
"Colbert Demands
'Democracy in Orbit'
After Winning Poll"

If NASA doesn't use Colbert's name, they'll just look lame beyond belief.

Speaking of lame, Stephen did a nice little number on the unique stylings of the recent addition to Fox News, Glenn Beck:

"10/31" Project"

Seeing God

"Born Believers:
How Your Brain Creates God"

"News" items like those in the video above always give me a sense of horrified amazement. Besides the grim realities of war, stories like "Jesus's Face on Toast" make me the most pessimistic about mankind's chances of long-term survival.

I saw the video compilation on Cynical-C blog and I can't believe how much airtime is spent on craziness like this. (I'd rather watch stories about leprechauns anyday!)

My question is- why haven't the major news agencies picked up on the more relevant mystery of my Tibeten Doppelgänger?!?

The reason that people imagine they are seeing their body double or a holy apparition is explainable. The mind is a network of connections that is constantly processing patterns. The connectivity of the brain operates at all levels - cellular, genetic, and quantum- experiencing limited frequencies from the infinity of reality .

"Scientists Model Words as
Entangled Quantum States in our Minds"

'Seeing' divine signs in random patterns is no different than when I used to look out the window at night as a kid, imagining faces & figures in the trees. The only difference is that even as a child, I knew my mind was creating those images.

Either all the people who believe this stuff are just more foolish than I can relate to, or some are cynically trying to hype the 'sightings' to somehow make a profit. Unfortunately, there's probably a nice amount of both in there...

Hero Machine

(click to enlarge)

I saw this website a few years ago, & it showed up on Neatorama recently.

It's called Hero Machine and lets you put together a character from all kinds of options.

Although it pales in comparison to the Character Creation of Soul Caliber IV, I still had fun putting together a heroic version of 'The Monkey Buddha', above.

I also took a few minutes to make another character.
He would be so kick-ass that he wouldn't even give himself a name. However, the alarmed people of his fictional world would name him "The Quantum Menace." He would then proceed to atomize those same people....

*Don't call him "The Quantum Menac......"
zzzzzzzzzzzaaaappp!!!

Packaging Garbage

I truly enjoy graphic design & have designed alot of packaging for a variety of products. Sometimes, though, I can't help but think about what crap people try to sell where a designer must create packaging to make it appear to be a valued item.

On the other hand, some products don't even have the benefit of decent packaging. Looking at items in stores like a dollar store really cracks me up. Bad design is an exalted form of comedy to me.

TheDieline.com is one of the design websites I visit daily, and there was a link to an NPR article that takes the notion of "selling garbage" to a literal level. It just shows that the idea of 'value-' like the idea of 'art'- is a totally subjective experience. This is a case where the 'story' is what creates the value, not the physical product.

NPR:
"Treasure or Trash?
Artist Says It's in the Packaging"

No Global Currency?

It was very refreshing to watch President Mack-Daddy give a press conference where, unlike his predecessor, he can explain the issues intelligently & at least speak like a sane human being.

One answer that caught my attention was in response to a concern that I had in my last post, regarding the possibility of a global currency. This 'solution' to the worldwide financial crisis would simply be a means to consolidate control over the world's population.

Obama stated very succinctly,

""No, I don't support a global currency,"

Unfortunately, it's probably not within President Obama's or any other government official's limited power to determine such an outcome.

Since the United States gave up its right to create money to the Federal Reserve, the government has been the subordinate of the central banking system, not the other way around.

Obama:
"I don't support a global currency"

The comment comes in this video @ 3:33

Global Currency

The current financial crisis surely has nothing to do with the eternal dream of international bankers - control over a single global currency.

"Pay no attention to
the financial overlords behind the curtain!!!"


"IMF poised to print billions of dollars
in 'global quantitative easing'"