Triggers for Imaginings
As an artist, I am constantly on the look out for triggers. Triggers that spark an image or narrative that can result in a painting. I don't want or need the whole story from a trigger. I do not want someone to finish the story for me—or even "give" me a story. I only...
Staying to leave
Leaving has always been important to me. I like travel and a sense of the unknown. Discovery has been a gateway drug for me for a long time—ever since I was a little boy. Even when I am tethered to a place because of work, lack of money, obligations or illness, I...
The Boss is Coming after Me
I am living in Portland without a car and am loving it. The city's Tri-Met system of integrated bus, street car and light rail is efficient and coordinated. I can text from any stop, with the stop ID, and know exactly when the next bus or train will arrive. As I learn...
Trading Places
On March 21, 2018 Lea and I moved from Mérida, Yucatán, México to Portland, Oregon. The process of making this decision began in 2010 when we visited Portland for the first time thinking we might move there (we both had previously been to Portland for other events)....
Uni-ball and Afghanistan
As we begin to get settled into our new home in Portland, I am organizing the myriad of things needed for day-to-day life. One of those things, of course, is wifi access. Yesterday we had our fiber service connected at the condominium. Because of the dual...
Untangling myself from Facebook
I have completed step 1 of leaving Facebook. I have signed up for MeWe (see https://mewe.com/myworld). This relatively new social media site is the only site with a Privacy Bill of Rights. This is their mantra: "The Next-Gen Social Network that actually respects your...
Removing Hooks
Today, March 21, 2018 one day after the spring equinox, this quote appeared in a New York Times article: “We have a responsibility to protect your data, and if we can’t then we don’t deserve to serve you,” Mr. Zuckerberg said. At the same time, #deletefacebook is one...
about-face(book)
Several weeks ago I began to contemplate whether or not I would leave Facebook completely or reconfigure my relationship with this on-line platform. On the one hand, I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting old friends, making new friends and interacting on topics ranging...
Oneirology and In-betweenness
Oneirology (/ɒnɪˈrɒlədʒi/; from Greek ὄνειρον, oneiron, "dream"; and -λογία, -logia, "the study of") is the scientific study of dreams. in-between a state or position that is in the middle between two other things : a middle position. In less than 60 days, my wife and...
Facebook: is that all there is?
One of my favorite albums, Peggy Lee's "Is that all there is?" has one of my favorite songs: Is That All There Is? The last stanza and chorus of this song is: I know what you must be saying to yourselves “If that's the way she feels about it Why doesn't she just end...
The Descent
My morning routine is usually constant. I start with reading the news, catching up on my friend's daily postings on social media and completing my twice daily Words with Friends game updates. In between, I try to paint, draw or, if needed, update things at the house,...
Fear + Truth
The following chart was created from a quote by Neil Postman* Fears Orwell Huxley Books feared those who would ban books feared there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read Information feared those who would deprive us of...