Drawing a Samurai from Ruthless & Toothless
Posted by Michael Opperman in Tattoo on December 18, 2009
My Somewhat Used Teeth
Posted by Michael Opperman in Dentistry on November 29, 2009
After a walk through the flats near the river at Minnehaha Falls (which I still have not confirmed was the result of WPA), we were meandering through the city for lunch (J was checking for what was open) and we stumbled across the Book Trader. The sign was being repainted by a guy with a van lettered with the moniker “Brushed Monkey” and the building was as unlikely as the store in Needful Things. & oh, did the place not disappoint.
A strange store where tin trains sit next to books on trains, a romance section pours out of its shelves as if vomiting on itself, Toms of Finland sketch porn is stacked near contemporary Hustler mags, and a Batman lunchbox is lost among drawings of generals and books on surveillance. Our friend Margaret is likely going back for a certain stuffed animal head to take its place next to the taxidermied grey fox that recently arrived from Pasadena. I walked out with a ’sales kit’ of ceramic dentures, as well as two sets of fake choppers on metal hinges (the teeth are removable, which a friend’s son considered ‘kind of creepy’). Already they have come in handy as I stall here and there on this history of dentistry. Nothing like handling a somewhat used set of ceramic teeth to get the creative juices flowing again.
Beeswax Candles
Posted by Michael Opperman in Uncategorized on November 25, 2009
Some interesting things about beeswax candles that Juliette’s mom sent me.
* Paraffin wax candles are made from petroleum and release the equivalent of diesel exhaust when burned.
* You can save fossil fuel resources, improve your indoor air quality and reduce your exposure to carcinogens by choosing 100 percent beeswax or soy candles.
* These candles are not only made from renewable resources, but burn 90 percent cleaner and at least 50 percent longer than conventional paraffin candles.
* The crude oil used to make just one sixteen ounce paraffin candle contains enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 100 hours.
* If just one in a hundred households replaced an 18 ounce petroleum-based candle with a soy or beeswax candle, the energy saved could keep the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center lit 24/7 from Thanksgiving until the 4th of July.
Designing for Social Traction
Posted by Michael Opperman in Social Networking on November 12, 2009
This is a decidedly smart presentation on sign ups, social user experiences, and encouraging engagement and ’stickiness.’
MK-Ultra: 17 Bullet Points Toward Better CIA Research (circa 1955)
Posted by Michael Opperman in United State Government on October 15, 2009
Thank you, wikipedia:
Range and effort of MK-ULTRA:
1. Substances which will promote illogical thinking and impulsiveness to the point where the recipient would be discredited in public.
2. Substances which increase the efficiency of mentation and perception.
3. Materials which will prevent or counteract the intoxicating effect of alcohol.
4. Materials which will promote the intoxicating effect of alcohol.
5. Materials which will produce the signs and symptoms of recognized diseases in a reversible way so that they may be used for malingering, etc.
6. Materials which will render the induction of hypnosis easier or otherwise enhance its usefulness.
7. Substances which will enhance the ability of individuals to withstand privation, torture and coercion during interrogation and so-called “brain-washing”.
8. Materials and physical methods which will produce amnesia for events preceding and during their use.
9. Physical methods of producing shock and confusion over extended periods of time and capable of surreptitious use.
10. Substances which produce physical disablement such as paralysis of the legs, acute anemia, etc.
11. Substances which will produce “pure” euphoria with no subsequent let-down.
12. Substances which alter personality structure in such a way that the tendency of the recipient to become dependent upon another person is enhanced.
13. A material which will cause mental confusion of such a type that the individual under its influence will find it difficult to maintain a fabrication under questioning.
14. Substances which will lower the ambition and general working efficiency of men when administered in undetectable amounts.
15. Substances which promote weakness or distortion of the eyesight or hearing faculties, preferably without permanent effects.
16. A knockout pill which can surreptitiously be administered in drinks, food, cigarettes, as an aerosol, etc., which will be safe to use, provide a maximum of amnesia, and be suitable for use by agent types on an ad hoc basis.
17. A material which can be surreptitiously administered by the above routes and which in very small amounts will make it impossible for a man to perform any physical activity whatsoever.
Interesting that the MK-ULTRA director was given 6% of CIA’s operating budget in 1953.
Dennis Gaboury & ZimKids
Posted by Michael Opperman in Business Models, Zimbabwe on October 11, 2009
Mary Jane LaVigne invited us to an event at House of Balls. Dennis Gaboury and his wife spend most of their time in Zimbabwe, working with orphans. Juliette and I purchased a couple of the dolls made by the kids in Zimbabwe. Thank you, Mary Jane, for inviting us; Alan for hosting; and Dennis for doing such an important thing.
ZimKids from Dennis Gaboury on Vimeo.
From the Zimkids site: “Zimkids Orphan Trust seeks to create a self-sustaining, neighborhood-based program that will provide artistic, recreational and educational opportunities for orphans and help provide them with the tools essential for self-reliance. Zimkids provides food assistance to orphaned children and youth in difficult circumstances and provides an after school program they will find a safe haven, educational, social, artistic and recreational activities and support for their development.”
New York Times & Twitter
Posted by Michael Opperman in Journalism, Newspapers, Social Networking, Twitter on October 9, 2009
The New York Times online has a rather elegant integration with Twitter. The user experience is simple and intuitive, the design appealing and the options perfect. After associating my NYTimes online account with my Twitter account, a header menu appeared on the NYTimes pages allowing me to recommend and showing the last article I posted to Twitter. Quite a good experience.