Art of the day:

Happy inktober! Pictured: Ink and stationary, NES and SNES deconstructed by PencilJockey. In one of the rare good gestures from my mother, she purchased these two illustrations from a graphic designer she was working with. You see, my mom works in marketing (read: advertising). PencilJockey happened to be working with the team on some adverts (print, commercials) and I suppose she saw his work and thought of me. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure how she came about these works, if they were commissioned, or a gift to her after maybe she spoke of video games. The cheap plastic frame is cracked (the work is not damaged); I know I need a new one – the work needs be shown more proudly (I’ve had this piece for over a decade).

Song of the day:

On the subject of mothers; we have A Perfect Circles “Judith”. Named after Maynard’s mother, the song was conceived with wry amusement and bitter outrage. Maynard James Keenan’s mother had had a stroke and was wheelchair bound for the rest of her life. In spite of all this, she remained a woman of faith. Deeply personal, sung with heartfelt anger, it’s an all time favorite and remains my #1 APC track. I’ve also been a long time TOOL fan, but I must say APC has aged like a fine wine. Emotive in particular has left me in deep reflection about the current state of affairs in both my country and the world at large with its powerful covers such as Fiddle and Drum, Peace Love and Understanding, and Imagine.

Thought of the day:

My mother used to say, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Amusing, since the message itself is well-intended; it serves as a wise warning. It stuck with me, and though I hate to admit it, I do think contextually the words are wise. I’ve realized how “good intentions” can cause negativity. Planting seeds of doubt, offering sympathies when someone doesn’t want pity, something as simple as extending a hand can cause a person to feel shame, and you can lower their self esteem. If you see an old man struggling to walk, pushing groceries to his car… you may immediately ask to help them; but think of how you may strip his pride. If someone wanted or needed help, they would ask. There would be a cry, a sign, I assure you – if you have a shred of empathy or any wits about you – you’d know. (This hypothetical man is also not entitled to your help either). In summary, maybe keep those thoughts and prayers to yourself sometimes…