Consciousness -- Rethought

I read this article -- and I almost cried. Not because of the tragedy behind it all, but because of how this man dealt with it all.

"'I screamed, but there was nothing to hear,' he said, via his keyboard.

The Belgian former engineering student, who speaks four languages, said he coped with being effectively trapped in his own body by meditating. He told doctors he had 'traveled with my thoughts into the past, or into another existence altogether'. Sometimes, he said, 'I was only my consciousness and nothing else'. "

Only his consciousness and nothing else.

I need The Red Book to come out now.

IMPORTANT EDIT: Due to a wonderfully enlightening comment posted on this entry (thank you Mark D), some new information has been brought to the forefront. My only reaction to all of this is that people have some wonderfully wild imaginations, and that despite the truth coming forward, the moment was not lost, and I am still really excited for The Red Book. The idea that perhaps this man is actually stuck in his mind with only his consciousness is still a question that is unanswered -- that idea alone is what I took from the article to begin with, and despite its validity, I think it's worth sharing.

Learning

Tomorrow I embark and an exciting journey. With a team of 4 our students, I am going to create an iphone application over the course of three days while 2,000 attendees of the Learning 2009 conference watch us, chat with us, and then hear us present in front of them on the final day of the conference. To say the least, I'm a bit nervous, but more than anything I am excited for this incredible opportunity to help put Champlain on the map. The conference is about celebrating learning, and learning is something that I know I'll do while I'm there. I also hope that I can help other people learn by watching our experience and seeing the result of what we try to achieve.

For more information on what the conference is about, check out Learning 2009.

On another note, my Advanced Seminar game, titled "Euphony" is coming together. Most of my artwork is implemented, and although I've got a pretty major bug, I can almost see the end. Once I can get the collision and physics working correctly, I'll post it. I've learned so much throughout the process of creating this game -- I can hardly wait to start my next. I feel that Multimedia Fusion 2 and I are finally starting to get along, and I look forward to seeing what I can create in the future. For now, here's some artwork.

Zeuping

A lot of things have come out into the open this past week, and I'm appreciating them all, despite whatever hardships may have come from them. The few days ahead have a lot of excitement attached to them -- a late night waffle making party on Thursday, a trip to a scary Labyrinth in Old Montreal on Friday, and Halloween festivities on Saturday.

It's late now, and I should be in bed, but music is keeping me awake (as usual). I know I can turn it off and sleep right away, but deep down I don't want to. I think my favorite Arms and Sleepers song as of late has been "Helvetica". If it isn't obvious, I still haven't stopped listening to them.

A friend of mine and I came to a revelation a while ago. Think: Fantasia, the scene where Zeus is throwing down the lightning bolts. The music is intense, and the big, blue Zeus in the sky just wants to curl up and sleep. Before he can get to it, though, he hurls these spear-like bolts to the ground. We theorized that when it snows, Zeus is taking a nice, long poo. Are you imagining it? Good. We dubbed this action Zeuping. I hope you think of this next time you stick your tongue out for a falling flake.

Did I mention that it snowed last week?

My world is flipped upside down for a lot of reasons.

This is a big one.

---

I need to go dancing.

Coincidence? I think not.

Today is a very special day for two of the most important people in my life. It is the day where they can get together with the people they love and smile because a whole new year is ahead of them. It is the day where everyone wants to celebrate them -- their existence and presence in the world. I just want to say to these two (who do not know one another yet share a deep place in my heart and soul) that I am spending this whole day celebrating you!

Happy Birthday :)

Time Passes

The Arms and Sleepers show on Friday night was amazing. Nick accompanied me to a pretty neat venue called Casa del Popolo where we had a few drinks, enjoyed the music, and chatted it up with one of the band members (!!). Seeing them live was a great experience, and despite the long trek to get there through the rain, I couldn't have asked for a better evening -- especially after the disheartening events that occurred earlier in the day.

Since Saturday afternoon I've found myself escaping into the vegetative comfort of gripping television shows. My motivation is pretty low this weekend, and I suppose this lull comes at a decent time.

My room was quiet in between the pauses of the music playing, and for the first time in a long long time, I heard the ticking of a watch. I stopped the music before it came on and listened for a while.

It's strange that I almost forgot what that sounds like.

Connectivity

I just need to write that
The man in this Arms and Sleeper's video titled "I am a Strange Loop"
Is wearing the same ring as me
On the same finger
Of the same hand.

I wonder if his is a worry ring like mine.

"You came without a warning"

Uncanny Inspiration

Last night was beautiful.
The moon had a rainbow halo,
And after purchasing all of the Arms and Sleepers albums,

I sat outside in the courtyard and wrote.

I drew artwork,
and I felt.

Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa

I haven't been inspired enough to write in a long time, which I'm realizing now is probably a good thing because for the past year most of my writing has been evoked by intense negative emotions that have no outlet. It is rare that I write about sad things, though. I tend to let my mind delve deep into what I think are the intentions of humanity. I walk this road and see where it takes me. I have a lot of hope for it, but sometimes the actions I see around me try to tear it down.

But then again,

"I know that love is everywhere and I will do everything in my power to see it all the time, no matter how much negativity people throw at me." - Oct 7, 2009