Brazil was the name of a strange and wonderful film by Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam. Whenever I think of that name, however, I think about the famous song of that name. It has a melody and rhythm that keeps repeating in one’s mind. The full name of the song is “Aquarela do Brasil” (“Watercolor [...]
I live in Southern California, about 30–45 minutes from the City of Pomona. Pomona was founded in 1888 on a trade route used by indigenous Americans. In the 1700s it was known as the Rancho San Jose. Later, it became known as the Mission San Gabriel Grazing Lands. It was later “given” (albeit not by [...]
One of the continued challenges of ritual design is simple: coming up with a good ritual. This has to take in several considerations: Theory/philosophy: Does the ritual you’re designing match your understanding of magick? Does it have something that counters your magickal philosophy or it is completely in harmony with what you know? Theatricality: Even [...]
My start in the publishing world rested in graphic design. This, of course, means I am a die-hard Mac fan. I love the hardware, the aesthetic appeal, the seamless functioning, and the intuitive use. Macs, I found, are an addiction. I was trained on them and just couldn’t turn back. My first Mac was the heaviest laptop [...]
Over 15 years ago, Microsoft spent half a decade trying to trademark the term “Windows.” They sued a company named “Lindows” and eventually just paid them $20 million to change their name. Today, there is a long list of rules available as to how you can use the word “Windows.” You could be sued if [...]
As I write this, Apple Inc. (formerly Apple Computer) is about to announce new products. Today they are a focal point of the technology world. But it has not always been so. About 15 years ago I had left my job. The new job I was promised before I moved across the country fell through. [...]