Monthly Archives: April 2012

And Back To Hilarity…sort of

Posted by Carolyn on April 30, 2012 None comments

ok, so today’s soul-searching should at least end up on a fun note, so I submit the article “Scientists claim the way a person answers simple math problem is a good predictor of their belief in religion“. First of all, I suck! I looked at the question superficially and didn’t even read it correctly. Makes me understand why I suck at tests: I either overkill or underkill reading comprehension, which I’m find embarrassing right about now. But the great thing is that I’m not alone in the mess I’m in.

 

 

 

The sheer hilarity (sort of) of this post by Boing Boing comes in the form of the public discourse afterwards in the comment section. It looks like I’m not the only one who came up with $10 without checking my answer, while also claiming that I am most definitely not a believer of religion (spirituality is another matter). But then, I also consider myself intuitive so I am now torn into itty bitty pieces as I try to hide my shame. Obviously, I won’t be hiding alone. It’s also obvious that the hiding place we choose is probably going to get just a bit crowded after this little test:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously, Boing Boing. Thanks for saving this day from being a total mind trip. Well, actually you just finished off the mind trip, but you did it with such flair (as you always do). We salute you…and now we’re all going to hide. (#-_-#)

But not before this guy:

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Anger

Posted by Carolyn on April 30, 2012 None comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

here’s a short list of our problems (it’s not complete)

… authoritarianism, capitalism, classism, commercialism, conservatism, dogmatism, egoism, fascism, fatalism, malism, materialism, nationalism, pessimism, racism, sexism, skepticism, totalitarianism…

Solutions??? Here’s one, maybe? Gotta say, they’re brave to take on the system and status quo. But the biggest solution of all…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’re talking about the problems…finally! Now, we can start to work on solutions (while staying patient because it’s going to take a while). And keep pushing back against advice that tells us that things should remain the same. Guess what? They don’t have to, if we want change bad enough. Do you?

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Understanding (Get Ready to ball your eyes out)

Posted by Carolyn on April 30, 2012 None comments

I was lucky enough to work with handicapped people while I was in junior high school. The school had an amazing social program that allowed us to get to know them better through daily interactions. Frankly, all schools should have a program like this, because it helps get over the stigma attached to those so unlike ourselves. Here’s a great commercial that showed an experiment to help people get over their instinctual fear. I think it worked well, but I’m looking forward to the day when the costume isn’t necessary.

Pro Infirmis – Get Closer

And if you think that the stigma tears apart more than the handicapped person, then you should look at the effects it has on their family, who might not be able to or want to understand until it’s almost too late.

Silence of Love (reworked with music by GusGus007 – original here)

 

So, maybe now we can see how ignorance hurts more than just the victims. It hurts us all by desensitizing us to the need for our humanity. We all need more understanding in our lives.

p.s. sorry for the tears on a Monday, but it’s important. Thanks to Reddit ಥ_ಥ  (again).

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Fairy Tale Colors

Posted by Carolyn on April 29, 2012 None comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fairy tales comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Have you imagined how seasons seem to sweep in as though a page is turning in a book? Well, what if Gaia is simply an old woman who is knitting out new seasons for us to enjoy? What if the snowy landscapes on which we build our snowmen and forts are really made up of the softest of wool? We’ve all felt the deceptive warmth that sometimes tinges our fingers when we’ve played in the snow a little too long. If you don’t want to know the real reasons why our bodies react, then this might just be a more perfect explanation, as brought to us by the magical artist, Pete Revonkorpi. Go check out his deviantART profile to see some incredibly heartwarming pieces of whimsical fairy tales. I love the Eastern European influences that are visible in his style.

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Yasmine’s Whimsy

Posted by Carolyn on April 29, 2012 None comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re looking for whimsy, then you can probably find it at Cuded, my newest inspirational site of digital illustrations. Here’s an absolutely precious illustration, Kiriban: Fireworks, by Yasmine Putri, who is pretty involved in the world of gaming and manga. If you want to see some more of her imagination running wild, then check out her Deviant art profile, MischievousMartian. All I can say is that I love the feelings and movement in her style.  And I really, really adore those frogs!

Thanks, Cuded, for the share!

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NYC Images Online

Posted by Carolyn on April 28, 2012 None comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just saw through a tweet that the NYC Department of Records is providing online access to a lot of old images that can give us a taste of what New York was like at the turn of the century and beyond. If you want to see what the city looked like as it was being built, or see some pictures of luminaries who took New York by storm, then you want to go visit the NYC Municipal Archives Gallery.

- news courtesy of the Gothamist

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Fantasy

Posted by Carolyn on April 28, 2012 None comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This image, Secret Eye In The Sky, has always been a dream of my mind’s eye, and what (well, the idea of it) got me hooked into flying. I’ve always looked at clouds as a potential ride that would let me see the world spread in front of my eyes in all of its glory. I imagine that birds take the view for granted (?) since this is a daily occurrence for them, but this would be my ultimate fantasy! And it looks like I’m not the only one, since mutablend made up this incredible photographic concept as part of the Life In LoFi: iPhoneography. Wouldn’t this be awesome?!

- thanks Piccsy and Life In Lofi

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What The Network Means To Me

Posted by Carolyn on April 27, 2012 None comments

I listened to the folks talking about protecting the future of the Internet on Hacking Society on Tuesday. Now, there’s a word that I really love to see when discussing change: hacking. There’s also a pretty awesome post written by Venkat that has been floating around Twitter that caught my eye for obvious reasons: Hacking the Non-Disposable Planet. And with just a few of these treasures brings this post about what the Network means to me (as asked during #hacksociety).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The network is the all-inclusive digital society that literally gives each and every one of us a chance to be heard and understood. In our physical society, we only have to look around to see that this is not even remotely true. Those who have the most money or power are the ones who are heard loud and clear. The rest of us…not so much. We are those frail wraiths who are floating against the onslaught of hot air that carries little message of value through the norm. Although to the norm, this value is fundamental because it is something that can be measured and given a price tag.

Those of us on the digital network that are fighting tooth-and-nail against that hot air blowing across the lands and oceans know all to well that this domain is our last stand. But it’s not as hopeless as the words “last stand” might signify, because we’ve managed to build a vibrant community that hasn’t unleashed the multitude of horrors easily found in the physical world. Yes, we are physical, but we are also metaphysical. We’re much more than flesh and bones. We’re also emotions, ideals, dreams, hopes, and frustrations that push us to be more than physical. That’s probably the reason why digital netizens (I know, most people hate this word) choose to reject the divisions that seek to exclude. We get that we’re embracing contradictions, but we’re doing so because we don’t ever want to reach the point where there is something that we can’t uncover.

Read more »

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Introverts Unite In Hiding

Posted by Carolyn on April 27, 2012 None comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I laughed when I saw this image posted by Kyllingsara with her tale of an Introverted Extrovert, because I totally relate to the image. I lean much more to the introverted side of things, as extroversion is not my natural state of being (though I try to hide it in public).

Yes, I’ll be jabbering today because I’ve been reading about a lot of studies which claim that we’re lonely because of the Internet, and question whether we even know how to communicate properly anymore. And I’ve got to say that I’m a bit annoyed at all of this blame that we place so simplistically. I’m sure those specialists who have studied this know more than me, but I plan on relying on my own experiences before I believe blanket conclusions that experts continually make.

I talk about this a lot, but we are all created individually and act differently depending on how we react to those emotional stimulants.  But what I can say is that the Internet helps those of us who are tortured by our lack of extroversion. And making sweeping judgments that people thrive on face-to-face communications is taking our individual quirkiness out of their pronouncement. Some people freeze up in public – I should know since I cringe whenever the focus lands on me.

Yes, assuming that technology answers all of our problems is just as dangerous. But there has to be acknowledgement that the world has been drawn just a little closer through digital communications. Sure, you’re not able to touch the person, or hear the nuances of their words as you would in person, but context comes in as you familiarize yourself with other people through repeated interactions of any kind. Friendship and even love doesn’t always start with a touch or a sound of a voice. Sometimes it can start with a few simple words that reach out to us and make us want to get to know someone else.

Introverts unite in hiding on the Internet, but they’re really letting loose in the very best of ways because they feel protected. And if that let’s their honesty loose, then how bad can it be?

Besides, if you’re going to argue about various methods of communications being conducive to nurturing humanity, then how do you explain the success of arranged marriages that is still practiced around the world? Those strangers are introduced through similar methods before they learn to communicate comfortably in person. Just saying…

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The End?

Posted by Carolyn on April 27, 2012 None comments

The sun shone through the windows as Tammy washed the dishes left from the mad rush of breakfast. “What a beautiful day it is out there!“, Tammy thought as she lifted up another dish to be cleaned.

Suddenly, the quiet of her neighborhood was shattered by the shouts of running men dressed in black uniforms. Screams could be heard next door, and Tammy quickly ducked to the floor to avoid being seen. The sound of a door being kicked in, followed by one shout, and then suddenly there was gun fire. Frozen in shock, Tammy could only pray that she was safe.

The phone was a million miles away, or so it felt because Tammy knew that she’d have to stand to reach it. “Please, please, please.“, she chanted as she slid across the floor and tried in vain to reach the handset that was floating above her head. “Why didn’t I grab the cell?” , she mused as she carefully peeked through the doggie door that was at the perfect height.

Tammy could see boots walking past her door, and a pair of legs dragging between two of the officials. “Who are these people?“, Tammy thought as she tried to wrap her head around the events that she’d only ever seen on TV. “They’re wearing uniforms, so it must be ok?” But Tammy had never seen these uniforms before, and listened to her gut instincts telling her to stay hidden.

“Ma’am, we know you’re in there. We’re coming in to talk. There’s nothing to worry about.” A deep baritone shot out like one of those gun shots and she screamed. As soon as she screamed, Tammy knew she’d made a mistake because she was seeing her own door get kicked in. Boots rapidly entered along with more violent yelling, “Did he go through here?”

As Tammy lay cringing in the corner of her kitchen, she refused to raise her face to see her attackers. Somehow, it felt like she could make it go away if she just didn’t see it.

“Are you Tammy Hendricks?” One of the dark-suited officers was crouching down to her level to try to get  a look at her. With a quick nod, she answered the abrupt question. After hearing the man order the others to stand down, she slowly looked into the hardened face of the man who was clearly in charge.

“Who are you people? How can you just come in without any warning?” Hysterics made her voice shrill, but the questions just came tumbling out without waiting for answers. Not that any were coming from the man who stared hard at her.

“Ma’am, did you know anything about your neighbors?“, the officer questioned impatiently. Without waiting for her answer, he continued, “We’ve had reports that they’re violating statutes 1.5.7.18 of the penal code and selling illegal and inflammatory documents against our great nation. Do you know anything about this?”

Shaking her head again, Tammy looked at the man in hostility. “Are you talking about the Kahns? Why would you say something like that? They’re wonderful teachers who have contributed so much to this community. What kind of documents are you talking about?” Rising to her full height, she gave all of the men in the room a look of contempt. “They’re science fiction writers as well as being historians. What could they be writing that even approached illegal? I’ve read their books, and they are non-fiction. You know, not real”

The officer shook his head and gestured to one of the men standing near Tammy. “It looks like we’ll have to take her in for deprogramming. Such a shame, since her husband did his civic duty in reporting those people in to the commission.”

Rough hands grabbed her and held her imprisoned, though she continued to fight against the unwelcome hold. “Who are you people? What’s this commission?“, erupted as she felt herself get dragged out of her own home like a criminal.

“We’re the commission on morality, Ma’am. It was passed to help maintain control of the population during these troubling times that are endangering our very nation. We can’t let people question authority if we’re to have law and order. It’s what the majority wants.” The officer stood proudly as he watched another victim of knowledge get taken away. “The people want safety. Well, every demand requires a sacrifice. Even freedom has a price. Our savior has told us that free will comes with limitations. We’re his enforcers.”

A squad of black SUVs left the neighborhood as quickly as they descended. In the quiet, a voice rang out, “Tammy, honey. I came home when I heard about the commotion on the news. Are you ok?”

But there was no answer…

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