The Masks We Wear

I think everybody should like everybody.

Andy Warhol

Taiwan vs. Mainland Zhongwen!

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Youth is taken from us, either all at once or slowly over TIME...

Like so many before me, I grew up with these characters--learning, laughing and even grieving. Seeing the muppets was like seeing an old friend again. Today as an adult, I can now see the incredible feat of work that is required to bring our lovable monsters to life. To this group of amazing beings: my heart is filled with gratitude and admiration. Thank you for all your hard work. You've touched countless hearts and minds with your messages of compassion. 

Early 70’s behind the scenes of Sesame Street with the Muppets.

这是有意思。

Super cool Chineasy character illustrations. 

I like them a lot, but am admittedly a bit torn on some of them as teaching tools. Although not all chinese characters are pictographs (symbols that are drawn to look like the things they represent), some are - as easily seen above with kou, the mouth, and ren, the person.

Nu, the woman, is also a pictograph - but it’s meant to represent the entire figure of a woman, head, limbs, and torso, not just the face. If you ignore the drawing around it and just focus on the character strokes, I think you can easily see her.

If characters already have pictographic roots, I don’t think it’s entirely necessary to create new ones. Particularly when other, more complex characters may later incorporate those same pictographic roots to make a new meaning - creating new ones could unnecessarily confuse a learner.

A New Day

It's 11am when I pull the covers off myself

been feeling down, lost track of for how long

I stagger to my feet, walking toward the kitchen, trying to find something to eat

It's been a long time since I've felt  alive

It is like a darkness has surrounded me, and crept deep down inside

Something draws me to the window, where the blinds are closed so tight

The soft glowing light behind; entices  me

Something feels different, this must be the moment and I shall not let it go 

I'm going to let the light in, for the first time in forever

I'm going to let the sun warm my heart today

Showering in solar rays, looking at the world before me

My body feels alive, for the first time in so long

I feel the darkness melt away

Today is going to be a new day

Best of...

The best of me, I gave to you...

I stayed with you, all through the night

We danced the dance.

The Creator of Tetris Talks to Adam Sessler About Game Development in the Soviet Union, Fame, & more 

While Adam was in Russia judging the Imagine Cup 2013 Worldwide Finals, he got a chance to sit down with Alexey Pajitnov, the man behind one of the world’s most renowned games: Tetris. Learn how the game was developed in the Soviet Union, whether Alexey could foresee its success, and what he thinks about the current state of casual gaming. 

Cosmic Encounters: S.O.

We are but celestial objects soaring through the vacuum of space.

Life.

Two strangers in the vast darkness, randomly cross paths with one another.

Opportunity.

The forces of nature govern all, and pull these twilight travelers towards each other.

Attraction.

Occasionally,  when the gravitational bond is extremely strong, the orbital dance between the two wanderers will lasting eons.

Happiness.

If there is not enough attraction to secure an orbit, the dance will cease and the two will part ways, to once again, roam the darkness in search of companionship.

Sorrow.

By chance, one of these cosmic loners cross paths with an equal.

Hope.

If these two are lucky enough,they will be locked in the orbital dance, hand in hand while they journey across the heavens--side by side.

Relationship.

Behold, Terra and Luna. They depend on each other.  Luna blocks Terra from the hazards of meteors by shielding her love, with her own milky face.

Sacrifice.

Terra, strongly holds Luna close to her breast, keeping her smaller mate locked in orbit, preventing Luna from slipping away into the darkness of space all by herself.

Commitment.

From time to time the two will link up perfectly with the sun, and become one. The Sun's rays will bathe their elliptical bodies in a golden embrace of warmth. They will eclipse.

Coitus.

No other planets will notice this beautiful ritual, and it does not matter, for all that is, and will ever be, is between the two dancers, forever engaged.

Intimacy. 

Terra and Luna will take turns bathing each other in the suns warmth. Solar and Lunar eclipse.

Respect.

This symbiotic relationship between these two cosmic nomads is not unusual in the universe, nevertheless it is extraordinary for two to balance so perfectly, and is something to be cherished.

Love.

You're so beautiful to me...Like a full moon on a starry night, you are my love, my guiding light, in the darkness.