Key Concepts to Focus On:

Creativity

Multimedia

Interactivity

Perception



In an apocalyptic context.


Breathe
Eat
Work
Rest

The New Grammar

The new grammar is this:

Did you get your point across?



The next best thing is:

Did you get your point across clearly?



The next best thing is:

Did you get your point across using as few resources as possible?




All other rules are of little significance

Elements such as punctuation and capitalization are of little significance when you are delivering content in a clear manner


It seems that english is more gentle on the eyes and more conducive to reading when delivered in short bursts

and with frequent line breaks

and
perhaps
the line break can replace a need for punctuation altogether


maybe

Eternal Life: Go Perspectives

Perspectives of a impenetrable formation in the game Go.







This formation may be strong, but it isnt very efficient.

Residential North America

Stop.

They dont even say please.

Bastards.

Photos from January 10, 2007

Finally got these photos uploaded.

The Infinite Jest - Media and Apocalypse

In the book Infinite Jest*, there are details about a potent form of media.

Here is a brief re-cap:

In the world where the story takes place, promotional DVD-like discs were often sent to people in the mail as a form of advertisement.

Upon returning home from work early one day, one of the characters receives a DVD in the mail, but the package had no details or description on it. Dude popped it into his player anyway and began watching it.

The reader never finds out (I dont think) what the exact contents of the disc are. All we find out is that the disc is so engaging that the dude watches it, and it is so engaging that he watches it again. And then again. And then again. And then he just puts it on loop, and gets stuck watching this program.

When his wife comes home and finds him stuck in front of the screen, she sees that he has also pissed his pants and has slipped into some sort of zombie-like state watching this program. But when she starts watching it, she also gets stuck watching the program.

Eventually, dude doesnt show up for work the next day. His employer sends some lackeys to go check whats goin on. When they show up at his house, they peep the scene and then they too end up getting stuck watching the program on the screen.

Some door-to-door religious types find the door open and decide to enter the house. They too get stuck watching the program.

By now you should see where this is going.

As it turns out - if I recall correctly - the media had been put together by some sort of French-Canadian terrorist organization of people in wheelchairs. I cant remember the full details correctly.


The notion of creating a piece of media that is so engaging that people cannot turn away from it seems to be the aim of some people and organizations.

Controlling the mind.

In these days, creating a immobile, comatose audience is not the preferred outcome. Rather, media is getting better and better at making people move in a certain direction. Its not so much a quest to control peoples entire lives, but instead it is a quest to control the decision-making capacity insofar as revenue and profits are involved.


How does one counter this?

It seems that the approach of avoiding and/or boycotting media has been attempted, but has failed miserably. The media force simply becomes stronger and more effective.

The results are predictable: people making choices based on information that is broadcast not to 'inform', but to convince.


The destructive effects of this are evident and have been detailed repeatedly.

The only thing that seems clear now is that this is a trend that is not going to stop until 'the end' (whatever you may determine that to be).


If this is something inevitable, it seems that the only way to put an end to this is to leap into it and advance the progress.

This point of view can be seen in some literature:
"Immanentizing the eschaton" is a term I recall from The Illuminatus Trilogy*, and I also recall themes similar to this in the graphic novel Watchmen*.


Saying that something is imminent suggests that it is inescapable.
When there is something inescapable, it places constraints and pressure - like being trapped.
When something notices that it is trapped, it is not uncommon for that thing to seek any way out.
In a situation like this - it appears that the 'only way out' is to plunge head-first into the situation.


more on this later...

add on...


*
Infinite Jest - by David Foster Wallace - debut novel - a ridiculous 1100 pages - flashes of brilliance
The Illuminatus Trilogy - by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson - incredibly entertaining - many suggest it is poorly written with a sloppy ending
Watchmen - by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons - great piece of literature - held by some as the best graphic novel ever

A Few Works of Art

I tried to upload some photos last night but the file sizes were too big and my computer got overwhelmed.

Dam thing is only 2 years old and she is already having trouble keepin up with today's demands.

Anyway - here is some sample artwork that can be found on my Deviant Art site:



Details of the pictures can be found at my Deviant Art site.

Will post some photos later that I took wiff digital camera.

1

Miscellaneous Notes to Self

- www.flashinto.com - Flash in T.O. website

- people cannot disagree respectfully because new ideas cause painful self-reflection

- ideas:
- learning tools
- google earth calendar
- game innovation

- how good could somebody make a 16-bit video game at this point?

- need to buy art supplies + other supplies
- need to read creativity article
- need to re-read Utopia book I

- editorial on 'the new grammar' - 'did you get your point across?'

- 'what-have-you-done-for-me-lately' society

- need to take more photos

Good Samaritan

I found a wallet today wiff cash in it.

But when I checked the ID it turned out to be a dude in a lot of the same classes im taking.

So I tracked him down and gave the wallet back.


If I dint recognize the person, I wouldve kept it.

Failure to Communicate

Observations from Group Work session #1:

Be prepared to misunderstand and be misunderstood.

Some people will misunderstand you, and then get upset at you for it.

Don't hesitate to contradict yourself.

Even if you communicate effectively, it will not penetrate a audience that isnt looking for what you are communicating.

Does this actually work?

There is a option to be able to post blog messages via e-mail on this blogger.com system

This blog post is a example of me testing this system out



EDIT: o snap - it works

Bombs on Somalia and Good Morning Apple iPhone

it aint even 9:00 am and it already seem like some major shit went down today


i peeped the news and there was business about the US dropping bombs in Somalia, which was soon followed by some news about the release of the Apple iPhone

i dont know much about the Somalia business right now - but my analytical comment is that dropping bombs on anybody isnt very considerate

as for this iPhone business:
its obviously gonna be successful

a few early observations and hunches:
1. anybody in the media industry that isnt already planning to be producing material for this device might be left in the dust
2. YouTube is gonna get even bigger because of this
3. Apple is gonna be putting pressure on some people to come out with similar products (ie. Nokia, Motorola, etc.)
4. Phone companies are also gonna have their hands in the mix to ensure that they have a iPhone-type product to be offered to their customers


other details and time frames are as follows:
US release: mid-late 2007 (possibly early as June)
Canada release: unknown at this point

available in a 4GB or 8GB model

4GB model said to be retailing for $500
8GB quoted at $600

touch-screen technology (apparently there is only 1 conventional button on the machine)

in the US the service for this phone will apparently be provided by Cingular
in Canada, the best fitting shoe would be the Rogers network


exciting stuff


and to the people in Somalia - stay strong
this bombing business looks pretty foul

1

Updates

Links to Deviant Art and MySpace pages have been added to this blog.


This afternoon's classes were New Media Tools and a Psychology course called Perception and Communication.


The instructor in New Media Tools is also the Co-ordinator of the program. Dude seems like he handles business.


Psychology teacher seems slick.


Maybe this is one of the dangers of a blog - idiots like me get to go flinging judgements and airing out opinions.

Maybe later I can sling up some editorial work. Maybe some artwork too.

Easy

1

Day 2

I'm still trying to determine what all this blog business is about.

Afternoon class was a english course called Utopia: Dream or Nightmare.

Content of the course seems promising, and you can tell that the instructor is eager about the material.

It looks like there is going to be a lot of group work in that course, which seems a little un-utopic.

Choice is a important thing to allow people to have.




This AM class was about sound.

Another enthusiastic instructor.

We are gonna be using Pro Tools in the course - so far it seems basic enough.

Already I can see how these classes are all gonna mesh together.


This afternoon is gonna be action packed - 5 straight hours in the class room.


This New Media Tools class looks dope.

First Day of School

Dear Diary:

Today is the first day of school.

I did not bring a lunch box.

In class the teacher gave a assignment to put together a blog on a website called blogger.com.



The class was a good introductory class.

Overall: 8/10

I don't know what the professor did wrong to get the 2 marks deducted from his score, but it seems a little early to be handing out any marks higher than a 8.

What was noteworthy is the teacher's ability to promote a relaxed atmosphere and combine it with cutting-edge industry insights.

Looks promising.

Will post some material here soon.