Inspirations

Art Museums

October 5,2018
You might be thinking a picture of a building. So what! I love museums… I love art. I really can't rally say what would be my favorite piece but I like especially modern and paintings. I don't know if I could  pick favorite 
artist, but I guess it would be by Read Moreā€¦

Steve Jobs


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I don't know if you would agree with me, but Steve Jobs is (in my opinion) the tech mogul and pioneer in the computer world. It is very hard for me to sum it up in one sentence. Jobs had found Apple in his garage with friend Steve Wozniak. The computers on the market were targeting people in the office and business fields. Steve Jobs and his team were creating products that are truly fantastic. At one point Steve Jobs was fired, but this have not stopped him. He created a new computer company, NEXT. During the absence of Jobs, Apple was on a edge of bankruptcy. He was brought back in 1997. I have no problem with other tech companies but I look up to Apple and how Steve Jobs overhauled the computer industry. No offense to Steve Ballmer, a former CEO of Microsoft but I feel like he way too bombastic. Just hear him scream in presentations and bash products like iPhone that they will not sell… boy he was wrong.   
DID YOU KNOW: Steve Jobs dropped out from college couple weeks into his freshman year.

Apple Technology

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Apple vs. Microsoft… When we will put this stupid fight to the end? There are many Apple fanboys that many people are sick of hearing, constantly bragging how much they love Apple. And yes, I am one of the Apple fans too! I am not saying that Microsoft sucks but somehow many people prefer Apple. I am a former PC user and my first Apple computer was purchased in late 2005 (well it was my mom's but we both used it) and we both had iPhone's since 2007. Personally I am using iMac since November 2014 and I never touched a PC based computer again, but everywhere there is a slow PC somewhere running outdated version of Windows, there is no way avoiding an old Dell hoping you will not get a blue screen of death. You might be thinking why I put the computer in the inspiration folder. Here is why… Computers are being used since the 1950's and made slow transition from the office in late 1970's to our living rooms or bedrooms. Now almost every other home has a computer. The story of a computer is quite old. The very first computer was invented by Charles Babbage in England in 1800's. During the victorian times he thought if machines can help with mass production, it can help with office work as well. Technically it was a marvel that used many gears and dials. When he showed it, the community praised the invention but the board was rather concerned that it would be way too expensive to put into mass production. I admire Steve Jobs because not he threw the general rule of cuping out the window. Becoming successful had many obstacles… Steve Jobs took his time by observing and studying others. Later he took that idea and improved it. What Apple had made is very astonishing and if Steve Jobs would be alive today, he proud where the company is heading. Thanks too many dedicated engineers and developers in both Microsoft, Goggle and many others, their products can offer so much.

Matt Groeining

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Matt Groening is a creator of the most famous family in the world, The Simpsons. It is the longest American animated series in the world. The dtysfunctioning family is based on his life events. The Simpson make fun at popular culture as well but a little more family friendly with a focus on mistakes and fixing them by learning a valuable lessons. The show draw laughter and controversies but still millions adore this bold nincompoop. I am quite a fan of Family Guy and The Simpson, I might of saw every episode two or three times. In many episodes Homer Simpson gots often drunk, put a town in danger, bad mouthed others for expressing his distaste for specific trends or situations and stood up for others who are weaker than others. And Marge a typical stay at home parent with three children. The creator based the characters around his family and himself.

DID YOU KNOW: That most of our animated shows, one 30 minute episode take about nine months to complete. It takes time to write the the script, draw and animate where the studio sends the material to South Korea where it perfected with color and animation. Koreans frown on the subject of American comedy, because particularly when a youngest character refers to an adult parent by their first name. In societies with highest respect to elders, particularly Japanese, Koreans and Chinese they see it as very rude and disrespectful. 

Seth MacFarlaine

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I would be very embarrassed for you, if you said you love Family Guy but you haven't heard of Seth MacFarlane. A talented creator and voice actor for other shows like American Dad and recently Ted, an foul mouthed teddybear. With many productions under his belt Seth MacFarlane is also a musician. Every episode of the beloved show has rather interesting scenarios, for one of the examples Peter Griffin (the main character) is forced to see a school play and misses televised award show. And when watching his favorite shows everything started to be heavily censored because once actor had a wardrobe malfunction the night before. Then he starts his own TV station where he puts everything is X-rated. Or the one in which plays non-spot his favorite song from 1960's Surfing Bird. Being the creator it does not mean that he is on top of everything, each episode has very talented writers. Each episode mocks how ridiculous the world is and how we can make fun of it. But not everything is pink and fluffy bunny cute, there were some episodes that made rather negative headlines. In one Chris Griffin goes out on a date with a girl who has down syndrome, in one line she tells him that her mom used to be the governor of Alaska, Sarah Pailn. The joke was not aimed at her child but at the personality of the charter. The line was just a reference. Voice actor has down syndrome herself.

FACT: On September 11, 2001 Seth MacFarlane had to fly out to LA in the morning from Boston. He arrived late to the airport after a conference from night before and a heavy hangover, missing the flight that he supposed to be on hit one of the Twin Towers in New York City.

Walt Disney

I really love movies! Particularly action and comedy. I probably don't have to go to a deep details and explain why… When I was a kid I watched many animated shows and movies, one of which was Disney. I probably saw almost every Walt Disney film. Everyone of them is a masterpiece! As I am a adult I like more sophisticated materials, but it is fun to reminisce of the younger days. Disney brings smiles to billions of people. The very first Disney cassette was Pinnochio, my favorite part was when the hooligans turn into donkeys, for skipping school and vandalizing the theme park. I grew up on values and I guessing I was born a badass from the start. 
DID YOU KNOW: Animated films from Japan by Hiao Miyazaki's- Studio Gibli are dubbed by Walt Disney Studios for American market. Family Guy episode Adventure (Trip) To The Multiverse, animators and directors hired few of Disney staff and asked (and happily agreed)  to illustrate segment in which Stewie and Brian who visit the Disney Universe.

Luigi Colani

ColaniI am a car enthusiast but looking from an average person, you only want a seat, four tires and a steering wheel. Luigi Colani (1928-2019, he was still alive when I wrote this entry), is an industrial designer and the most impressive line of products are vehicles. His idea of design is to take inspiration from nature and implement it into the product. With focus on nature his vehicles the design looks like from many centuries ahead in the future. One of his known projects are his trucks. His claims and research states that you can improve mileage by improving aerodynamics by at least 50%. The other prototype is an rotor-home, 10x10m structure with 4 common rooms. Three of which are bedroom, kitchenette and bathroom that spin on a lazy-Suzan type mechanism to maximize space.

Robots

Robots
I Don’t know where to start on this one. Since the new millennium we have been introduced to new technologies and ideas. In recent years robots are becoming helpful. Maybe not like these but like Romba vacuums or Asimo personal office assistant. Japan introduced us to robots in past centuries ago with mechanical windup dolls. These dolls used tiny gears, levers and connections. Today they are programed by software… there are robots that help you with heavy lifting or disarming bombs and even assist in medical therapies. Japanese are on top place for robot production and technology research. The robots pictured here are research prototypes and they can be used in entertainment industry. Sadly according to many articles and presentations, robots are used for short amount of time due to overheating. And battery like on HRP-4C (pictured above) lasts between 15 minutes to 2 hours. Regardless the short usage battery technology is getting more and more advanced. These robots are very impressive! One cool teaching tool is used in one dental school. Who developed a robot patient robot that uses reflexes when feeling pain and also can gag when operated on. Now when the students can predict and see how their future patients behave in office during operations. Inconceivably, we still use plastic dentures to study oral hygiene. And with artificial intelligence advancing sooner or later we will have an robotic partner. Honestly I would prefer a human being. Computer robot technology development began a little after a popular original anime Astroboy premiered back in the 1960's. No offense to Apple's Siri, the Japanese really hit this one out of the park. 

FACT: In some Japanese pancake stands, robots cooks and serve meals. In Arizona one McDonald’s location will have robots that will replace kitchen staff and cashiers. But there will be someone who will have maintain them. 

Japanese Tattoo

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Japanese tattoos are one of the most beautiful and unique. Called tebori which is the traditional style and has many designs. These body canvases have many associations with Buddhist (Shinto) Gods and warriors, animals like dragon or tigers, and nature flowers such like chrysanthemum. Prior tattooing, tattoo artist interviews the customer what they like and how they describe their personality. Like in many other cultures tattoos tell individual's story. Symbol of animals like tigers and dragon display strength and power, or koi fish which for good luck. Gods on the other hand have many meanings, one can mean that a spirit watches over your safety. Unlike modern method today that use a mechanical needle to imbed the color, tebori uses traditional tools that are human powered. The positives is the tattoo is more vibrant and how much pressure is applied depending on the shading to make it perfect. The instrument is a bamboo stick and has sharp needles on the end. The negatives are this particular tattoos take a very long time to make and the process is painful… It many take from few months to years. But it's worth it, if you are the one who can stand the pain.
FACTS: In ancient times of Edo Period, tattoos were used to mark prisoners based on your conviction. In Edo period Japanese prison tattoos feature different shapes and Kanji characters depending on your crimes and time period conviction, after certain methods of punishments were deemed overly barbaric.
Japanese society still regard body art as taboo and not many people get them. Many bath houses or resorts don't allow individuals with body modifications, even foreigners (unless its covered somehow). Commonly only the yakuza really get them. As for females, they don't usually get tattoos or at all. When a gang member dies the human skin is preserved and framed.

Japanese Gardens

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Personally I think without any doubt Japan is by far the most beautiful country in the world. Anyone can say their own gardens are beautiful. If there was a competition to design and grow gardens, Asians would take a top price. The reason Japan is praised in my eyes are their outstanding care and detail to any product they produce. Sure they make wonderful appliances, cars that can be tortured and still run, and computer robots. But gardens are breathtaking. European gardens yet very nice but are very symmetrical (very Tetris like) and splashed with luxury. Japan gardens take different approach. I really love the odd shapes and total randomness. The Japanese in simple words say, just plant this here and put the rock over there, plant flower pots near the entry and let the nature take it course. But throughout thousands of years Japan found many method and tools to plant and maintain their gardens. Now I am not a gardening expert but this is how I imagine my backyard to be. And yes many other countries are using the Japanese example and putting their own twist. The way Japanese way of thinking artistically, nature takes a huge importance in life.   
NOTE: I really love Japan and I have watched many documentaries from personal daily life to the yakuza. This is a Japanese inspired park in California I found on the internet.

Warsaw

fb_warszawa_panorama_med_hrI am from Poland originally and I am proud to be Polish-American. Poland has many influences impressing  the world. Throughout the history this beautiful country had been through a lot. World War I, World War II, and a rule of Communism. One time throughout history Poland was wiped from the map. We take a big pride in our heritage people who are very talented and take achievement seriously. Warsaw is one of those examples. During the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944 and rebellion against the Nazis and take back whats ours, sadly we lost… causing many fatalities and 80% of Warsaw was destroyed. Exactly one year later United States drops two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This big modern city was built from its ashes after the war. The real end to all the wars ended in 1989 with an end to communism. Poland joined the European Union in 2004. All the victims who died in the wars, they wouldn't recognize the city where they once lived. But would be proud how Poland changed.
FUN FACT: Warsaw is still expanding and improving daily life of its residences. After excavating, building or remodeling many artifacts were found. From currencies left behind in the basements, also active bombs and missiles that failed an airstrike. Throughout Poland, many buildings that survived the war, they still have visible bullet holes.