my contracrostipunctus

2009-11-13T00:55:00.000-08:00

So after an incredible day doing interviews and a press conference and meeting many of our fans here in the Philippines, I got checked into our room at the Shangri-la Hotel and this was the view from the window... I am speechless.

2009-09-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

As a human being, I am in search of the Holy Moment. As an artist, Multisensory Aesthetic Experience is my quest to create the Holy Moment. The following scene from "Waking Life" captures this idea in a beautiful way.

2009-09-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

ASTORYA has some big news! Both of our long time projects are coming into view at once!
Check these out:

1. Worldwide Moment was an incredible success with over 1300 participants in 65 countries around the world. We just launched the first 99 photos in our gallery so check them out and let me know what you think. http://worldwidemoment.org/gallery/

2. "Dear Jack" is finally seeing the light of day! This powerful film is about our good friend and fellow musician Andrew McMahon. He was recently diagnosed with Leukemia and this is the story of his triumphant battle to overcome the disease and continue creating music that moves thousands of people around the world. Check out the trailer here below.

2009-09-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

Visualization of sound. This video is as progressive of a take on the MAE idea as I have seen. Thanks John Frazier for sharing this.

Ólafur Arnalds - Ljósið (Official Music Video) from Erased Tapes on Vimeo.

2009-09-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

To celebrate a new season of inspiration and epic aesthetics, I will be sharing a few new videos that have rearranged my mind. Please watch the whole thing, it hits its stride at the 2 minute marker. Thanks 2non!

2009-09-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

A fascinating look at another approach to the theory and concept of multisensory aesthetic experience. You can always rely on TED to deliver the goods. Enjoy!

2009-09-01T12:47:00.001-07:00

Today is a great day for learning something new. Here are two short videos that will enhance the way you look at the world. Special thanks to Melanie for the first one on Ants and Emergence. Emergence is the science of how collections of individual things work together without centralized leadership. I used to think that the ant queen was responsible for organizing everything the ant colony did, but that is not how it works. There is no "leader" ant. So how do a bunch of bugs work together to build a city? Check it out...

The second video is about one of my greatest passions; synesthesia! Multisensory Aesthetic Experience is based on this idea of synesthesia. Check it out...

2009-08-26T20:56:00.001-07:00

As I get closer to 30 its time for a look back at how far my DNA has traveled to get me to where I am today. Ready?

2009-08-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

New song and video from Pearl Jam. There is something about this band that moves me like no other other. I can clearly remember being thirteen and listening to Ten for the first time. It was pure love. This song takes me right back. I hope you like it. Thanks to Zach for the heads up!

2009-08-14T00:32:00.000-07:00

Very cool astronomy video! The best part is at the end and its breathtaking so be patient :)

2009-07-18T15:43:00.000-07:00

Check out this video from our current MAE (a)fternoon EP project partners at www.Donorschoose.org. Stephen Colbert is on the Board of Directors??? I bet those Board meetings are hilarious. And yet, somehow, they manage to get all of this stuff done. I love the internet!

2009-07-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

I took another trip to Washington D.C. yesterday. It was the second trip in three days so I decided to make the best of it. Hae-jin came along and we talked for hours about everything you can think of. The main reason for the trip was to pick up the visas from the Indonesian Embassy for our journey next week. After spending four hours in traffic and lines at the Embassy, we decided to have some fun. First, we met up with Vince Scheuerman (Army of Me) and had lunch at a little soup and salad shop in Georgetown. He is one of my favorite people and it was great to be able to spend some time hanging out and catching up. Next we went to the National Zoo (which is free!) to see the Giant Panda exhibit. See pic 5.
We drove up the length of Pennsylvania Ave and saw the White House and the huge grass mall where the Inauguration was held. The traffic was really bad getting onto the interstate so we pulled off at the Jefferson Memorial and walked the grounds for a few hours soaking it all in.
It is amazing to me how a person's perspective can shift over time. All of things you learn about in text books as a kid can seem so dull and impersonal... And then you are standing face to face with history and the realization hits you that these were just ordinary men and woman who faced extraordinary times and challenges. The monuments live to remind us that they rose to challenges of their day and met them with resolve and determination to better the world.
What are the challenges of our day? What must our generation rise above and overcome? There are so many. From religious wars and global warming to poverty, sex trafficking, aids, cancer, and countless others, we have our hands full. What is the first to come to your mind? What will our generation be remembered for in the history books? What legacy are we going to leave behind?

2009-07-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

Here is a new project from one of my favorite artists, Jonsi. He sings in the band Sigur Ros. This clips of music in the video sound incredible and I can't wait to get the record.

2009-07-07T08:50:00.001-07:00

2009-07-06T23:42:00.000-07:00

Interesting. At what point do art and commerce coexist productively? This is an honest and unloaded question. Does the thought of "corporate financing" for your favorite band sound better than a traditional record company? Welcome to the future. Marketing strategies are the new CD sales. Thank you Napster for the new music industry ;)
Here is the question; would you rather watch a commercial or buy a CD?

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/07/blink-182-rocks-augmented-reality-show-in-doritos-bag/

2009-07-03T19:20:00.001-07:00

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2009-07-03T19:17:00.000-07:00

2009-06-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

Fascinating Wired article about the war between Facebook and Google.
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/magazine/17-07/ff_facebookwall?currentPage=1

2009-06-30T15:44:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching an extraordinary film called "Baraka." I know I am late to the party on this one since it was made in 1992, but better late than never :)
This film strikes a powerful chord and I highly recommend checking it out. Apparently, the entire film is available on youtube and this link below is to the first ten minutes. Be aware, there is no dialog or subtitles, only music and imagery. (it is very MAE) The story is one of humanity and our relationship to nature, ourselves, and the eternal. Enjoy!

2009-06-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson Shot 3D Video Project Before Death
June 30, 2009 09:26 AM ET
Two weeks before he died, Michael Jackson wrapped up work on an elaborate production dubbed the "Dome Project" that could be the final finished video piece overseen by the King of Pop, The Associated Press has learned.

Jackson was apparently preparing to dazzle concert audiences in London with a high-tech show in which 3D images — some inspired by his "Thriller" era — would flash behind him as he performed on stage.

"It was a groundbreaking effort," said Vince Pace, whose company provided cameras for the shoot, a 3D system he created with filmmaker James Cameron.

"To think that Michael's gone now, that's probably the last documented footage of him to be shot in that manner," Pace said.

Two people with knowledge of the secretive project confirmed its existence Monday to the AP on condition they not be identified because they signed confidentiality agreements.

They said it was a five-week project filmed at Culver Studios, which 70 years ago was the set for the classic film "Gone With the Wind." Four sets were constructed for Jackson's production, including a cemetery recalling his 1983 "Thriller" video.

With 3D technology "the audience would have felt like they were visiting the 'Thriller' experience, like they were there," Pace said.

Shooting for the project lasted from June 1-9, with Jackson on the set most days. The project was in post-production, at the time of Jackson's death, and had been expected to be completed next month. It was not immediately clear what would be made of the video footage now.

Producer Robb Wagner, founder of music-video company Stimulated Inc., did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the project.

Michael Roth, a spokesman for Jackson's Los Angeles-based promoter AEG Live, said he hadn't heard about the production but did not rule that it could be part of the company's contract with the entertainer.

According to one of the people with knowledge of the project, a willow-thin, pallid Jackson left a memorable impression on the crew, arriving in a caravan of SUVs with hulking security guards in tow. The person said Jackson introduced himself to workers on the set and walked with a spring in his step but at one point needed assistance as he descended steps off a stage.

Besides the cemetery, one set was draped in black with an oversized portrait of Jackson in his "Thriller" werewolf costume. Another set was designed to simulate a lush jungle, and a fourth was built to replicate a construction site, with a screen in the back to allow projection of different backgrounds.

Taping took place in marathon sessions ending early in the morning. One scene filmed on the construction site set included scantily clad male dancers wearing carpenter's belts.

According to Stimulated's Web site, the company was hired to produce screen content for Jackson's planned comeback concerts in London. Stimulated has worked with Def Leppard and the Pussycat Dolls, and produced content for the Academy Awards and the Emmys.

Last year, U2 released the concert film "U2 3D," a film of the band's 2005-06 Vertigo tour, shot at several shows in South America with 3-D technology.

At the time, guitarist The Edge told The Associated Press the 3-D technology allowed "the songs to shine through."
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Associated Press writers David Germain and Ryan Nakashima contributed to this report.
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/michael-jackson-shot-3d-video-project-before-1003988959.story

2009-06-29T18:46:00.000-07:00

Synesthesia is a condition of human perception where one sense (hearing, vision, smell, taste or touch) triggers a response from one of your other senses. Studying synesthesia led me to a better understanding of the goals of MAE and was one of the foundations of the theory of multisensory aesthetic experience. Synesthesia actually IS multisensory aesthetic experience and this video captures the essence of it very creatively. Enjoy!

Synesthesia from Terri Timely on Vimeo.