Ample Sanity

Ignoring Good Advice

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:22:24 EDT

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." Abraham Lincoln

Regarding A Googler Has his Tiananmen Square Moment .........

Two men behaving badly. Both wrong. Both breaking the law. One silly and misguided, the other childish and vindictive. As for the remark "And the cell phone ban hasn't actually resulted in less accidents", couldn't that fact likely be due to self-important jerks who tend to ignore the ban? Furthermore, if there really needs to be a determination of who's more wrong in this situation, the amount of fines for each infraction seem a frivolous way to go about it in my view. Better, perhaps, would be to tally the annual toll in property damage, personal injury, and deaths linked to distracted drivers versus pedestrians blocking a crosswalk. Common sense and concern for public safety are the real crux of this issue, and both men seem to have missed at least part of those points entirely. I did not, however. Nor did I miss the hint of cultural insensitivity in this article.

When someone publicly opens a door and invites consideration and comment, i'm going to walk through it and have my say. These are my personal opinions, mind, derived without benefit of Google, a Google phone, Google PR people, or a meeting of any sort.

Fortunately for us, he did.

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:45:17 EDT

"I remember in third grade reading class we were reading something called Aesop's fables. Fable was a word I may have heard before but wasn't sure what it meant and I was completely in the dark as to who or what an Aesop was. Anyway, we were reading the tale of the Fox and the Grapes. I don't particularly remember much more about the tale, but what I do recall is that at the end of the story there was this thing called a moral. I didn't know this word either but it wasn't long before it was explained that a moral was the whole point of the story even being there. It was an idea or lesson that was being conveyed through the interaction of certain characters in a specific setting. I guess that in a way I kind of understood the idea already but having it in writing made it official. I think that from then on I began looking for these hidden meanings all around me perhaps creating for myself an unhealthy tendency to overanalyze all cause and effect scenarios in relationship to me.

In trying to explain my work, I find myself drawn back to this time when I feel many of the themes may have been conceived. Not to say that I saw visions of naked pigs and pixies when I was eight years old but that I began to worry that there might actually be a reason for everything I knew... and I was supposed to do something with that."

Scott Hassell

Moon

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:24:01 EDT

The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose." John Mason Brown

300&65 Ampersands. (via)

Record Tripping is a collection of five time-limited mini games you need to complete in specific order. Mouse wheel is required to play the game.

I adore the art and design work of Jeremy Holmes of Mutt Ink, which is why I bought his delightful and cleverly designed book There Was an Old Lady some time back. If you enjoy art, fun and smiles, I urge you to do the same. On this page you'll find three splendid 1920x1200 desktop wallpapers.

Here, I cannot mention Jeremy Holmes without also mentioning Norma V Toraya, aka Crankbunny as well -- largely because her work is thoroughly engaging, but also because one of her paper puppets, a Humpty Dumpty marionette, hangs on the wall just above the spot on my desk where Jeremy's book sits. However gloomy the day, the charming fellow is always there to give me a smile. I've been a Crankbunny fan since I first laid eyes on Army of Me. Be sure to allow plenty of time to give adequate attention to her all of her works, including those in her online shop, where you'll find a unique secret decoder pop up card for your Valentine. And if, like myself, you're into papercrafts, you'll love her Paper Puppet Palooza, a storybook instructional on building paper puppets.

MP3s: 40 Day Dream. Modern Drift. Beach House. Jasper. Cold Cold Cold. Top 200 Tracks of the 2000s Pt 7. Dark Road.

Found Sentence: "It's amazing what's being done for Haiti, but it's amazing what hasn't been done for New Orleans." Lil Wayne »»

Each night, I like to sit outside for a bit watching the deer. I'm sure it's just that it's been so overcast lately, but I did wonder briefly last evening if someone may have stolen the moon.

Shorty

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:23:32 EDT

The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple." Oscar Wilde

The work of French illustrator Caroline Selmes makes me smile. And, really, do you need much more than that? Plus, I see she's done her own take on the Catalan Caga Tió, or pooping log.

I suppose I mention A Bad Guide so often because it's such a lovely, friendly place to visit. I'm sure you'll find these images AJP Crown posted the other day to be breathtaking, and they are. But it's images like these of Vesla the goat which strike me most. Animals are often better company than people, don't you think? I suppose it's that we have no expectations or worries beyond love and friendship.

Artist Jodee Knowles has a remarkable illustrative style. Her characters seem at once innocent, sad, and extraordinarily fragile. Superb work. (via)

Timothy Allen, A Year on the Road. A selection of previously unseen pictures from a year of travel for Human Planet in 2009.

Quite enjoy the work of street artist Gaia. Talented fellow.

Inventing Interactive is a discussion of past, present and future interactive media, and the blog of David Young.

Haven't actually tried CellStories myself, particularly as I refuse to carry a cell phone, so perhaps you'll let me know how you like it.

MP3s: Henry the Van. But For You Who Fear My Name. I'll Quit.

Retail Therapy: Tia's is known for their freestyle sandals, but i'm in love with their beautiful recycled Vintage Sari Scarves.

Revisits: John Baker's Blog.

Listening To: Nothing. It's quiet. Giving cohesive thought a try.

Found Sentence: The new Apple iPad - all the functionality of an iPhone now with the portability of a desktop computer. Perfect for people with poor eyesight, huge hands and really big pockets. »»

I haven't felt warm in days. Shorty needs a thicker sweater and battery-powered woolen knickers.

Yes, we have no gift baskets

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:19:29 EDT

Creativity comes from looking for the unexpected and stepping outside your own experience." Masaru Ibuka

Bkristiansen is living in Copenhagen, working as an interactive designer, and shooting images with old film cameras. Say hello.

Boulder Pavement: Art & Ideas Magazine.

Michael Cline Tells the Parable of His Painting

A person in a rented apartment must be able to lean out of his window and scrape off the masonry within arm's reach. Go

Daily Grommet is a marketplace for unique, creative gift ideas. Discover one new product idea every day at a great price.

MP3s: Bloodshot and Blistered. Animal Tracks. Numbers Don't Lie. Reckon.

Recipe: Marble Chiffon Cake.

Retail Therapy for Good: Rosa Loves. Buy a shirt, learn the story. Everyone has a story. Everyone has a need. By using art and creativity, we hope to foster hope and encouragement through the aid of apparel. Each story will be told through stimulating graphics and actual text that will appear on the inverse of the shirt directly in line with the heart, where the Rosa Loves movement stems from.

Revisits: Itty Bitty Mini Game: Marooned. Help Mr Chip get off the island

Listening To: Bad Rabbits.

Found Sentence: Adam from Bonanza has died. And if you know who Adam from Bonanza was, you're probably not doing too well yourself. »»

In case you're wondering, it's perfectly okay to send me gifts and homemade goodies. Like "Adam", I won't be around forever, you know. You just think about that.

Plimpton, Mapped

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:11:22 EDT

Every day, I have a most embarrassing moment." Steven Hill

How very interesting: "A Google Maps Essay, in Which George Plimpton Delivers My Belated and Well-Deserved Comeuppance." Mr. Plimpton's Revenge.

note: this link was found via A Bad Guide (thank you!), and eventually led to literary magazine The Normal School. I see a subscription in my future.

Dagnabit

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:37:47 EDT

I loathe the expression 'What makes him tick.' It is the American mind, looking for simple and singular solution, that uses the foolish expression. A person not only ticks, he also chimes and strikes the hour, falls and breaks and has to be put together again, and sometimes stops like an electric clock in a thunderstorm." James Thurber

Snapshots of Provence, a wonderful journey of image and sound.

Quite enjoying the art and illustration of Alfonso Muro

Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center Inmates in the Philippines perform Michael Jackson's "This Is It" routine, with the help of Jackson's long-time choreographer Travis Payne plus dancers Daniel Celebre and Dres Reid.

Pervagus is the first text-based Steampunk MMORPG, designed to be played in groups or solo. (via)

Hmmm. All i can say is, one woman's "art" is another woman's "holey moley that's disturbing". ...and speaking of legs, unsettlingness, and taxidermy.

MP3s: Stranded. Texas Is An Only Child. By and By. Top 200 Tracks of the 2000s Pt. 8.

Recipe: Single Serving Pie in a Jar.

Revisits: The Marionette. A Tale of Two Kingdoms.

Listening To: The Modern Electric.

Found Sentence: "Dammit" or "Damnit" are both acceptable, unless you are over the age of sixty, in which case "Dagnabit" is required. »»

Can't think of a single question to ask. Have you got one?

Blistering Remark

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:52:01 EDT

Happiness is having a scratch for every itch." Ogden Nash

I doubt there's a single thing artist Angie Wiggins could create that I would not seriously covet. Thanks, Cynthia!

MP3s: Restless. The Darkest Side. Zephyr Wind.

As for the quote of the day, well, rooftop chickenpops here. What other people call "shingles". Yes, again. Life gave me a wrinkled moon face and the desire to spend my life in the company of men. You'd think that'd be enough.

Pinned

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:03:36 EDT

Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above them." Washington Irving

I guess the word "ample" is far too titillating, because Wordpress/Akismet blogs are still sending my comments (as well as others' false positives, i expect) into spamville. No problem. It would be a mighty small person who couldn't rise above the situation and handle things in a grown-up manner.

just call me Tiny

Nourished

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:21:28 EDT

If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him." John F. Kennedy

You Are Ace
Fernando Garcia
Top 200 Tracks of the 2000s Pt. 9
Web 2.0 Blues
Tim Hunkin