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Trevor Blake: Vibrotifer. Silent, color, 31 seconds. Battery holder, motor, screws, toothbrushes, on/off button. Also called vibrobot, bristlebot, skitterbot. March 2010.

Trevor Blake. Portland, Oregon USA. 1 March 2010.

On 2 March 1982, author Philip K. Dick died.  It was in 1982 that a friend recommended I read Valis, which I enjoyed enough to read all the rest of PKD’s books.  Eventually I collected around 70 titles by and about PKD.  This was after the film Blade Runner but before Total Recall, which started a wave of interest in his work.  Most of the PKD books I had were first editions I’d bought for next to nothing.

Among the books was Divine Invasions, a biography by Lawrence Sutin.  I read Divine Invasions around 1994.  A detail in this book (confirmed by Search for Philip K. Dick, 1928-1982 by Anne Dick) inspired me to box up all my PKD books and sell them at a loss just to get them out of my house.  PKD loved to get married but didn’t like staying married.  To get one of his wives out of the way, he drugged her then had her committed to a mental hospital.  That freed him up for the next marriage.  This fact overshadowed all the enjoyment I had taken from his books.

This fact hasn’t lost its impact for me, but in 2010 I can also remember my enjoyment of his books.  What puzzles me is something that puzzles me about author H. P. Lovecraft.  Why is PKD forgiven for acts that other authors would not be forgiven for?  It isn’t hidden that PKD did this – why are forward-thinking fans accommodating to him for this while being up in arms over much less from other authors?  Readers (especially those on the left) will rail night and day against an author that uses certain words, or was once a member of a certain group, but who harmed no one.  PKD harmed someone, but, well, he’s so cosmic!

Some women who protested at the Islamic Center of Washington, wanting to be able to worship in the main prayer hall with their male counterparts, were asked to leave by the police. But they say their struggle will continue. Carpets with intricate designs cover the floors of the main prayer hall and turquoise tiles line the walls. But the source of contention is a small room created with 7-foot-high wooden walls. Jannah B’int Hannah describes how she feels in there where she cannot see the imam, or leader of the mosque, speak. “Boxed in, stifling, suffocating and totally a second class citizen,” Hannah said. Over the weekend, Hannah and approximately 20 other women prayed in the main hall, but D.C. police were called. They asked them to leave or be arrested.

Article continues.  A few words for the person who made the call to the police.  When the police come next time to tell you how to conduct your religion, remember what you did.  Remember that you asked for the State to determine and enforce how you worship.  Remember that you requested armed police officers to enter your mosque and differentiate between the right and the wrong way to be a Muslim.  Remember well what you did.  Because if you complain when it happens next time, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.

Details are scant, but this appears to be a case of the establishment of religion – expressly forbidden in the United States Constitution.  The police should have taken the call and told whoever made it they could not respond without a criminal charge.  Threats of violence?  Sure.  Trespassing?  A little sticky, but maybe.  ‘Praying in the wrong room?’  Sorry, not our problem.  In this case, the State went too far in establishing how to be a Muslim.

The State doesn’t always go too far.  Sometimes it doesn’t go far enough.

Dustin Gardiner, Dad accused in ‘honor killing’ will not face death penalty:

A Glendale man accused of slaying his daughter in an “honor killing” will not face the death penalty. After sparring with the suspect’s defense attorney over its death penalty review process, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has said it will not seek death for Faleh Almaleki, 49. The Iraqi immigrant is accused of slaying his daughter, 20-year-old Noor Almaleki, for being “too Westernized.” Police say he used his Jeep Cherokee to run down his daughter and another woman in a Peoria parking lot Oct. 20. Noor Almaleki later died of her injuries. Almaleki is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault and two counts of leaving the scene of a serious accident. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The decision not to seek the death penalty comes after Almaleki’s attorney, Billy Little, a public defender, asked a judge to take special precautions to ensure the County Attorney’s Office wouldn’t wrongly seek the death penalty because Almaleki is a Muslim.  Little requested that the office make public the process it uses to determine whether to seek capital punishment.  “An open process provides some level of assurance that there is no appearance that a Christian is seeking to execute a Muslim for racial, political, religious or cultural beliefs,” Little wrote, referring to County Attorney Andrew Thomas’ Christian faith. [...] Prosecutors said Almaleki has admitted killing his daughter because she disgraced the family by not following traditional Iraqi or Muslim values.

I oppose the death penalty in all cases.  That having been said, this has the appearance that a murderer received a reduced sentence due to being a Muslim. The County Attorney’s Office issued a statement about the case: “The defendant is charged with first degree murder and, if convicted, will spend the rest of his life in prison. As is in all first degree murder cases, the decision on whether to seek the death penalty is made on a case by case basis. Cultural considerations played no part in the decision not to seek the death penalty.” I certainly hope so.

Trevor Blake: Chatroulette Puppet. Online video performance. 18-19 February 2010.  Excerpt.  Silent, color, 1 minute 9 seconds.

Background:
Geert Wilders [29 March 2008] [29 March 2008] [4 May 2008] [11 September 2008] [28 September 2008]  [10 June 2009] [3 September 2009] [3 November 2009]
Pin Fortuyn [6 May 2009] [1 July 2009] [21 October 2009] [3 November 2009]
Theo van Gogh [14 February 2008] [17 May 2008] [3 September 2009] [11 September 2008] [10 June 2009] [1 July 2009] [3 November 2009] [5 November 2009]

Thank goodness that a Muslim leader has made a public statement against the murder of homosexuals.  His statement is so clear that there is no way it could be taken out of context and turned into something wicked.  For all the railing against Islam I do, here is a bit of good news.

Mustafa Muhammad is the President of the Islamic Council of Jamaica.  Currently in Jamaica the act of buggery can lead to ten years in prison.  Mr. Muhammad has recently gone on record saying that he is against the murder of homosexuals.  Mr. Muhammad does note that sharia law does demand the murder of homosexuals.  He goes on to say “[homosexuality] is illegal and in the Sharia law the punishment is death. If you follow Christianity it is a crime in the sight of God. He destroyed a whole city because of this thing. It is an ungodly practice and I apologize to no one for this.”

But Mr. Muhammad is against the murder of homosexuals.  Why?  “This can only be done in a country that is being run by Islam.”  And right now Jamaica is not being run by Islam.

Let Muslims and multiculturalists everywhere salute Mr. Muhammad’s tolerance.

The television program LOST (first broadcast on the United States channel ABC between 2004-2010) includes a geodesic dome.  I do not intend to say much here about the show other than I have enjoyed it tremendously.  The sixth and final season of LOST begins in February 2010.  This essay will discuss the geodesic domes appearing in LOST.

Article continues.

“Join us for our 11th Annual Valentine’s Invitational! Dozens of artists contribute Valentine themed artwork to benefit a local non-profit. This year’s recipient in the Special Education PTA of Portland (SEPTAP).”

I have been making collages (of the paper, scissors and glue variety) since around 1978.  A few have been published in books, a very few have been given to friends, but never have I offered one for sale – until now.  An original collage by myself will have the honor of being included in this show.  I encourage anyone in the Portland area to attend.  Bid early and often to support this most worthy cause. On exhibit the month of February 2010.

Thursday, 4 February 2010, 6PM – 9PM

Reading Frenzy
921 SW Oak St.
Portland OR 97205

(503) 274-1449

Mossarium. Portland, Oregon USA. 31 January 2010.