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Archive for November, 2007

Coping with the guitar

Monday, November 19th, 2007

I’ve decided to throw another cover up here. I really, really like this song. It’s called Sideways by Citizen Cope. Citizen Cope is one of my favorite artists, very soulful. Anyway, the following video is my take on the song:

It’s more of an out-pour than a song, really. I made up some of the words on the go, I rarely memorize the correct lyrics to songs… But maybe that’s a good thing.I also like the songs Penitentiary and Son’s Gonna Rise (both by Citizen Cope).

If you can’t see the video, here’s an mp3

All the best,

-Tom

Agent Hedgehog and Agent Fox

Sunday, November 18th, 2007

I’m working on another poster for Dr. Browne. (see my first one here) It is based on an analogy about a Hedgehog and a Fox by Sir Isaiah Berlin (who, incidentally, also is the progenitor of one of my favorite ideas, the idea of “positive liberty” and “negative liberty”)*.

The hedgehog and fox analogy is fairly simply: Berlin’s fox is a creature who knows something about an expansive range of subject matter- a generalist. Alternatively, the Berlinian hedgehog knows a great deal about one specific thing- a specialist.

So in trying to create an image to represent this idea, I made several doodles of hedgehogs and foxes… but I ended up with the following two characters. I’m not sure if I’ll use them, but they’ve been fun to make.

Here they are:
H_and_F

Agent Hedgehog sees extremely far through a tiny narrow scope.
Agent Fox cannot see as far, but is resourceful in any environment.

Any suggestions?

-Tom

* The distinction of “positive liberty” and “negative liberty” is rarely made in the U.S.- But I find it tremendously important. Essentially, it binds liberty (or freedom) with means.
In other words, being free doesn’t amount to much unless you also have the tools to accomplish what you wish. Many phrase the distinction like this:

Negative Freedom is Freedom From
Positive Freedom is Freedom To

Example: We have the Negative Freedom to go to Hawaii on vacation. There is no law preventing us from flying to Hawaii.

If we had the Positive Freedom to go to Hawaii, the government (or someone) would provide us with airfare, plan the trip, get hotels, etc..

For instance, public education is a Positive Freedom. Not only are there no laws preventing education- there is a school in every area, and it is free of charge.

Now, there is certainly a gradient present here. This is not a case of “either/or”. Pos/Neg liberty exists on a scale.

Legal Squirrels, rough cut

Thursday, November 8th, 2007

Still a bunch of issues to work out… but it’s getting there-

Download it HERE. (31mb)

Right click and “save as”

-Tom

Legal Squirrels: Work in Progress

Thursday, November 1st, 2007

So I’ve been trying to nail down this project. As always, it takes longer than I expected.

Here is a lower-quality render:


Download a little higher-quality file (right-click and save as) HERE. -36.1mb


Feel free to take a verbal swing at it. There are many things missing (text representing the legal end, for one). Sound clips are missing, but the general feel/animation is there.
enjoy!

-Tom