Dorkboat on Stubnitz

Last night, there was a gathering of the Dorkbot London on the Ship Stubnitz moored

in the dock.   I went there with James and John-san of  SPC.org  (Wireless Workshop).

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=====|  ____[“””””””””””””””]____
=====|  \ ” ”””””””””” \
======dorkboat~STUBNITZ~^~^~^~^~

^~~^~^~^~~^~^~^^~~^~^^~~^~^~^^~~^~

After too long a break, we’re dorkboating on the Thames again next
Wednesday, this time aboard the amazing MS Stubnitz. One *important*
thing, if you want to come, just email invited@stubnitz.com for entry.

Then fasten your electrically insulated life vests and get ready for….dorkbotlondon #82!*

[]

When: 19:00-22:00, Wed 28 November 2012
* Where: MS Stubnitz, Connaught Bridge Pier, London, E16 2BU
* Map: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=loc%3A+n+51+30.34+e+0+02.2

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^~^~^^~~^~ Featuring the soothing and powerful…^^~~^~^^~~^~^~^^

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– Shauna Concannon presenting The Hacked Human Orchestra.
– Chrisantha Fernando and Ed Burton presenting Darwinian Neurodynamic
Cognitive Architectures for Playful Robot Kittens.
– Ben Garrod working around and through and away-from technology’s
relationship with humanity.
– Alias Cummins opendorking on Open Source C++ Development with
Cinderblock SpriteSheet.

More info: http://dorkbotlondon.org/event/dorkbotlondon82/

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Location- MS Stubnitz, Connaught Bridge Pier, London E16 2BU

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Presentation of Newrodynamic control (photo left) and Shauna Concannon’s Hacked

Human Orchestra (photo right = which demonstrated an electronic system to play the

sounds by the switches mounted on the various part of the body.)

And Ben Garrod (photo left) and Alias Cummins (photo right) showed their creativities.

And it’s always the case, nature of the gatherings —– what ever the excuse, meet the

friends and chat over the drinks  😀  —– And it is a well known fact, electronic geeks

are not necessary only talking about technology but quite often very

trivial silly things as well  😀

[]

PS :  They are going to DO the same in the STUBNITZ.

Avast!

Back due to popular demand It’s….
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=====|  \ ” ”””””””””” \
====dorkboat~STUBNITZ~II~^~^~^

~^~~^~^~^~~^~^~^^~~^~^^~~^~^~^^~~^~Yes we are back aboard the marvellous ms.Stubnitz for our Xmas party!
People seemed to like it last time (http://bit.ly/Uct5Du) – so come!
_____________________________________________________________________
|*NB* email invited@stubnitz.com to inform the crew you’ll be coming.|
|If you would like the Stubnitz to stay in London, you can also chip |
|in to their campaign funds by paypalling: http://bit.ly/VEozwQ      |
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____________________________________________________________
dorkbotlondon #83When: 19:00-23:59, 19 December 2012
Where: MS Stubnitz, Connaught Bridge, E16 2BU (directions below)
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Featuring the bright and glittering…
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Liam Donovan: Two projects, maybe more
– a talking guitar and a barely working self-typing type-writer

Rachel Freire: Imogen Heap’s Musical Gloves
– think minority report for musicians brought to you by the DIY/maker
revolution.

Jokubas Dargis: Echo
– A game where you collect, recycle and destroy sounds on your way to
the king of space, and possibly other adventures.

And open dorks from:

Tim Monsees Stubnitz Projections
– the experience and challenges of a multi-projector setup on a ship
(work in progress)

Maybe you? If you have a 5-10 minute opendork/performance, bring it on
the night! Let us know if you want us to list you on the site:
dorkbotlondon@dorkbot.org
_______________________________________________________
Location
——–
MS Stubnitz,
Connaught Bridge
E16 2BU
map link: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=loc%3A+n+51+30.34+e+0+02.2

The Motorship Stubnitz is an 80 meters long ex East German fishing
vessel transformed in 1992 into a moving platform for cultural research
and exchange.

Nearest public transport Pontoon Dock DLR.

Turn right out of the station and walk to the next roundabout, take
first exit. Walk to second roundabout (with sculpture of giant woman)
first exit of that roundabout is the gates to the mooring.
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Photos
——-

To add your photos here, upload them to flickr.com with the tag
“dorkbotlondon83”.
—
sub/unsub yourself here:
http://music.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/dorkbotlondon-announce
………………………………………………………………
………dorkbot: people doing strange things with electricity……….
……………………..http://dorkbot.org.………………………
………………………………………………………………

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” What are you doing ?”

Somebody, supposed to be a Zen Buddhist teased me

“If you are Zennist, how come, what are you doing in your blog ?”

I answered to him “If you only see it so, your Buddhism is wrong”

[]

The reason why the Buddhism after the Nirvana of

Lord Buddha was formed as known as Hinayana was because the followers just copied the lifestyle

of Lord Buddha (as an Bhikkuh) and kept his teachings.  And it took 500 years for the followers to

realize what the real meaning of his teachings were.

—– It is obvious, if all the people in the country become keen Buddhists / Bikkuh,

Who else can feed those Bhikkuh. Who grows the rice to make foods or fish in the river.

(You may give a thought, in a scope of a sustainability of the society = the socio-economical size

= how may Bhikkuh can the society sustain ? —– number is very limited.)

Lord Buddha was not such idiot.   Buddhism is not forsake the LIFE, but to live with it.

[]

Zen is a psychological technique / Mind-set to DO the THINGS = to have the

LIFE in the best efficiency without having useless hindrances.

Me to do a photography —– after all I used to be a photographer / technical-writer

= What’s wrong, a man keep doing what he was (a sort of) good at.   😀 😀

DOING all those, I need the Zen (such as so-called Mindfulness, Mushin etc etc, hence I keep

my tools in the best condition, let alone to make them etc etc) and I have, at least, having the

results which leaves no (well more or less) regrets.  😀  — (still, I want to do even better

= this is not a greed as my work is not producing any profit or fame.   😀 😀 )

[]

My approach to the camera or photography which is in most of the case, non-conventional,

quite inventive way would solve and help other’s trouble well,  (without costing them  :-D)

—– such as, when the camera or Mob-devise was dropped in the sea water or toilet = just

wash under tap water then dry it with Hair-dryer,  or jammed, stacked Zoom lens may be

saved with just hitting it in all directions.  Or utilizing Chinese toys would save a time and cost,

instead of building a new circuit for electronic controller etc etc.  😀

Life is to live, hence it got be fun, as you can’t avoid — any how.

Make it fun, instead of resenting or complaining.

And by making something would be even more fun.   🙂

___/\___

[]

禅の源流 ／ How Zen was started

勤行や禅における日常の勤め，実践について具体的に説明した言葉は古代の経典の中には登場して来ません。  単に善き仏教者である為の身だしなみ，心構えが書かれているだけでそれが実際上,

本人の心理生理に いかなる変化をもたらしているのか，そのメカニズムに対する考察が行われた事は仏教２５００年の 歴史の中で，かつてー度たりとも無かったと言えるでしょう。

唯ーの例外でそれに近い考察はアーラヤ識という概念（潜在意識に近い）の登場でしたが実際にそれが構造的に,いかに仏教と関っているかが考察された訳ではなく単に存在論，認識論＝存るのか無いのか＝単に存ると思うだけなのか＝＞「アーラヤが捕えたものこそが真実」という考えであったにすぎず，

仏教における 空，無，無心，在＝不在，不立文字，以心伝心 といった概念の全てが実は［不可視の潜在意識］故に出て来ていたという事には思い至らなかった訳です。

そもそも２５００年前には［潜在意識］という概念は無く，その透徹した眼で己れの深奥に在るそれを見すえながらも，それを説明するのにはさすがの釈尊も手甲ずったようで，色々な喩えにたよらざるを得なかった。

例えばダルマ／法とともに在る喜びを「ー切矛盾の無い理想境，極楽に暮すようなもの」と描写すればそれが潜在意識中の満足感，ドーパミンホルモンの横溢による気分のことと理解できなかった者，後世の読者は字づらから「釈尊は極楽が存在すると言われた」と誤解する。

眼前に無くても，潜在意識はその存在を知っている場合。逆にそこに在りながらも，その確証が無い。理屈で解っても，どうしても受入れられないとか。そうした意識はどこに在るのか？

大乗仏典独特の｢在るのではなくして在る」といった苦しまぎれの表現は全てこの不可視の潜在意識が存在する故に出て来たものです。（しかしこの不確定性は物理学上のものではなく人間の知覚，認知の　ニ重性から生じるもので，先ず潜在意識で直観した情報を選択的に処理してから思考領域で概念化，言語化する為に起る=つまり無心というのは潜在意識での直観，判断に従い，追加処理の思考を排除する事。  ー方，無私というのは受覚した情報を情動域との連鎖無しに処理する事に外なりません。＝情動抜きであるから心は平穏）

[]ほとんど所有物もなく比丘としての生活を続けていれば毎日の生活は単純なパターンになり殊更「自分がこれをやっている」という意識を抱くまでもなく，無意識のうちに作業を完遂できるようになるものです。　　これが［無心］というものの出発点ですが

釈尊につき従っていた弟子達は同じ作業，同じ所作を無条件に模倣し毎日それを繰返していたので［無心］で作業するという事はわざわざ言われるまでもなく自然に身についていた訳です。 つまり，わざわざ書く必要も教える必要もなかったが，はるか後，孫，孫孫弟子の時代に，それ程の人徳もカリスマも無い老師の元に何十人もの弟子，しかも中には懐疑的反抗児も居ると言った情況になると，何か特別な教育法を考え出す必要が出て来た訳です。

[仏伝に登場するシュリバントクの庭掃除十年の話も，芥子の実（英訳ではマスタードの種子となっていますが）を捜して走り回ったキサーゴータミの話も，いかに

釈尊の教え方が臨機応変，方便に満ちたものであったかを言うのみで，そこに在った延々と繰返される反復動作というものの側面は忘れ去られていた。（反復動作＝同ー信号の入力は脳の情動域が無視するようになる為，｢自己の｣というタグ無しに処理されるようになる。－方，運動域には動作全体がパターンとして刷り込まれ自動的に処理されるようになる＝結果として自己意識／自覚／自我を抜きにして行動できるようになる＝これが無我無心です）

はたして中国に禅を伝えた菩提達磨師がこうした情況をどこまで把握していたのかは全く不明ですが　（達磨大師にまつわる伝説は荒唐無稽なものばかりで，その最たるものに師は青眼であったというのがあるが絶対有得ないハナシ）　間違いないのは，師自身は古代ヨガ　（含む，古代の舞踏ヨガ＝南印度のバラットナットヤムダンスの源流）　の達人であったという事でしょう。このヨガの動きがブラジルのカポエラ様の，複数の人間による瞬間的対応のゲームといった過渡期を経て云わゆる小林寺拳法に進化したというのは疑いない事です。－－－瞬間的な対応は無意識だからこそ可能なので，モタモタ考えていたら即ー発喰う。

菩提達磨師の着目したものはここに在る［無心］とその效果で，これこそが［無我，無心］に達し［ダルマ／法に身を委ねる］最上の道と喝破した訳です。

己れの生に対する執着，｢これは殺されるかも」などといった恐怖が有ると体が萎縮して元々持って生れたダルマの自然（じねん）すら働かない。思考も感情も抜きに，｢己れを捨ててこそ浮ぶ瀬もあれ」と言われる由縁です。

[菩提達磨師が空観，無我無心に立った仏教を説いた中国には既に［無為］を説く老荘哲学が流布していた。「意図的には何もやるな。全てを天命に委ねよ」と説く老子の教えは｢己れを無にして法に身を委ねよ」という大乗の教えと共通のものがあり，概念の翻訳設定や用語の選択をする上できわめて都合が良かった訳です。　しかしながら既製の用語を使う為に，どうしても元々のニュアンスが出て常人の日常生活に主眼を置いた大乗印度仏教も中国化し，むしろ通念に縛られない事を旨とした独特な禅仏教が生れたと言えます。　

（同様な意味で，日本の禅には神道の純粋主義，武士道が影響して，仏教の中でも特異な硬派となっているのでは？ —– 同じ禅でも中国人は［無為］は言うが［無私］はやらない。最も悲観的，厭世的で［捨身］（しゃしん）と言うのは日本人だけで，お寺が喪式専門になるのも日本独特と，うなづける　）

[]人間も含め，万物＝ダルマ／法が元々［無我］であると言うのは，バラモン教／ベーダの言うアートマンに 対立して示された

釈尊独特かつ当時としては革命的な発想ですが，この本源的［無我］ゆえに自己意識，我欲などは全て己れの想念の作り出した妄想に過ぎないという教えを納得するには既に［無心］を体感し実践している中国人にとってもいささか時間がかかる。それが納得でき潜在意識の深奥まで 染みつき，無意識に［無我，無心］の行動が取れるようになるまでの修業が［禅］と名付けられたプロセスです。

－－－で，本人無我無心の内に作業を続けそれが完成したとする。

＝それでは，これを作ったのはいったい誰なのか？　

＝それが外ならぬ持って生れた，内なるダルマ／法であるというのが

釈尊の教えです。

つまり，禅に限らず仏教は現に作業してみない事には体感もできなければ，その体感の経験に立って考えてみる事も納得もできない。座って考えていても何も把めない訳で，仏教の全ての宗派が延々と続く反復作業を修業として課しているのはこの理由からです。

当然ながらー二回禅寺に行って座禅をしても足が痺れるだけで何の足しにもならないし，釈尊にすら説明できなかった事は解説書を読んでも把めない。つまり禅には学んで理解すベき事は何ーつとして無いし，禅を理解するというのは有得ない。　実際にやってみて，出来るか出来ないかしかない訳です。だからこそ，自転車に乗れるか乗れないかの喩えが使われる。

しかし［無心］の作業というものは日常生活の中にいくらでも在り（当ブログの中で「レモン禅」のカテゴリーに分類されている例），＝それこそ単に歩くだけでも体験できるものです。その体感を出発点に禅の世界に入っていくというのは誰にでも出来る事。道元禅師の僧食九拝の教えは将にこの事です。作法として細かく様式化されたそれぞれの作業に集中しそれを緻密にやり遂げていく、この作業を修業としそれを雑念無く無心に行える事をめざすのが禅に外なりません。(無念無想、一切のこだわりを捨てよと教える一方で徹底してこだわった細部までを習得させる矛盾はともかくーーーまァその作業を五年十年、百万回も繰返せば無意識でも完璧にやり遂げられるようにはなるでしょうが）

逆に言えば禅，及びその心理作用は必ずしも宗教に直結したものではなく，むしろ心理工学と呼べる ようなもので，

無我無心である事で心理的拘束から解放される自由度にむしろ利点があります。（情動領域での　好嫌，損得，エゴといった自我意識を誘発する事なく判断行動できるという事） ＝当ブログに奇抜な試みや変った造形物が色々登場して来るのはその自由発想の見本です。 （しかもそれを黙々と作る手作業は，禅以外の何物でもない－－－で，結果として出来上ったものも満更悪くないと，本人マンゾクしておりますが如何？）

－－－つまる所，人生楽しく生きる事が肝心！＝それが本来の禅というものです。（強もての達磨師が弟子達と，踊るように体をひる返している様を思い浮ベてみられよ－－－渋っ面の老師のやる事ではないでしょう。　笑）

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［］

N’s Sports Party at Abbey

Newly wed N is a web designer and keen cyclist, traveler and doing Kinetic-sculpture as well. (hence we met many years ago on an art event).   In fact, he had Stag-do in the south coast, doing canoeing etc with his old baddies weeks ago as well.

So, when I arrived to the Abbey, I was greeted by his fancy dancing.    😀

As I was warned, this party was not a kind of eat, drink and catch-up chattering but quite physical.     😀

I don’t know the name of this game, still, there is an almost identical game in Japan but played only by the kids.

Sports party though, it’s still a family occasion, N’s mum and dad and of cause his wife and her sister D were all there enjoying the company.

This game (photo above) said to be called “Sheep stack in the mud ” = may be Japanese equivalent of Oni-gokko”  🙂

On such sporting occasion, photographer shouldn’t be just an observer = gone to more pro-active. (or a bit naughty ? ! = to inflate size D to FF) — no, not me, lens did  😀

Then egg on the spoon race. Though, some confusion of the rules —– spoon on a hand or on the mouth ?

And the Prize giving ceremony = of Gold, Silver or Copper.    😀 

In the same time, yet another activity which was a bit more intellectual research and the interview was carried out by D as she was a student of London Uni’

Yet more Spoon race.  😀

And more common ball game. 

So, the party went on till sunset.  It was a fantastic day and a nice quiet evening.

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Japanese New Year’s Card 2012 (2) / DRAGON IMAGE

It’s interesting to think, how the ancient Chinese got idea of the Dragon. —– ? ? ?

Their Dragon doesn’t looks like a Snake neither Lizard or Crocodile, but an element of all those,

except its head and the face (some said, that the head with its mane was inspired by a hose)

Still, its image and the myth has been in their culture thousands of years. —– where it came from ?

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Neither I know the origin of the Western Dragon which got separate wings.

As Chinese Dragon can fly without having the wings, it is even more mysterious than a looks rational (?) western

Dragon. —– still, the Western Design doesn’t anatomically convincing  (in comparison to the wings of a Bat).

So that, when I designed my Flying Dragon, I didn’t put fore-legs to it.

Anyhow, it is a pure imaginary existence, what so ever the design it is the design, as long as it looks fearsome 😀

The Flying Dragon which got 3m wing-span,  flaps its wings and kicks the legs.   And the head (right photo) got

blue fire in the eyes and the mouth blow a fire —- well, supposedly.  Yes, it did frighten the people    😀

( The reason why the wings are not fully covered was, because of the air resistance — motor wasn’t big enough)

The next photos are the Wire Dragon called Dino  🙂   Its moving image is in the You-tube ;

—– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV0Oyl0B_0g    or click the Link on the right side-bar ( Associates )

I made this, when I was in the South Bank Uni’  Engineering Product Design, Master Course and

the identical (well, more or less) twin is in their permanent collection ( indefinite on loan to them).

The graphic image (right) would be easier to compose for a card.

Lastly, this is the Try-Headed Dragon.  It moves the Heads like the Snakes.

The head was made by a beer can and the long neck is the shower hose.

—– Well, it’s still a kind of the Dragon, don’t you think ?

And the brush Calligraphy are all greeting word for the New Year which

may be composed with the Dragon image to make a New Year’s Card.

( Be sure, never put it, up-side-down or use it for tattoo stencil  😀 )

Rest of the work is up to you.

(I myself is not very keen to use Photoshop, which I learned when

it was a version 3,  and don’t remember how to use !   😀 )

(Left / Read as Gashow  / Congratulate the New Year )  ———–( Right / Read as Gei-Shunn / Welcome the Spring)

—————————————- (Middle /Read as Kinga-Shin-nen / Happy New Year)

Try work hard,  still,  it will be a fun —– it’s a pleasure to live a creative life   🙂

Making a Card would nothing to do your survival, in other words, it is purely for a sake of making card.

( Exactly same as me to create the Kinetic Dragon sculptures = they are utterly useless for my survival )

Nothing essential for the life, it’s mean, it is a light hearted selfless act = Act in Mushin.

Still, you need to work with full concentration (mindfulness) and do it in your best.  Otherwise the result

wouldn’t be an up to the standard.  If it isn’t good enough, try again and again.  You can perfect it.

This is the Zen in action.  Zen is everywhere.  In fact our dairy life is the Zen, provided

you live it in your best, with your mindfulness.

___/\___

—

Sheer JOKE

Some years ago, I was asked by a friend, stage designer Francesco to produce some stage set and props.

In fact, I also took a part acting as a Mad Doctor ? !  (If I were asked, I just join —– because its

occurrence was in the Karma.   Hence I don’t think too much or no use to think.  It’s a reaction in Mushin )

It was titled [O-project] which the story was based on the Hoffman’s Tale, but in the ultra modern settings 😀

—– instead to create a doll to whom a guy fallen in love, a Mad Doctor created a life in a vitro and so on.

( So, I created Oparlin’s Life Bottle of which lightning spark to the primeval sea water said to have

created first element of the life on the earth.

And the Laser Harp, on top of the Virtual Woman / rotating Wire torso )

non

While working it,  on a desk of a Sent Martin’s art student, I found a photo of Dalai Lama. —– I made

a joke  “Hey, don’t you know, He is my first cousin” and Francesco took picture of me

holding Dalai Lama’s photo.

When Francesco compiled the O-project DVD,  he put the photo-images to show the episode in the production

process —— ? ? ? What ! —– In the DVD, a photo-image of me holding

Dalai Lama’s photo has been  Photoshoped to  [Me holding Star-war’s Yodo]

So, the story has changed to  “ Hey, I’m a cousin of Yodo” —– ! —– Very very funny  😀

( Francesco expected me to get angry —– later he said though, for me it was more of an amazement

than a kind of matter to get angry.   What a fun ! ! !    I like this kind of  fearless,  blatant  idea.)

When it came to a joke, a western wit is far more naked (often quite bad tasted) which makes a big

difference to the Japanese.   Some said, it because of the carnivorous nature of the European against

the vegetarian Buddhist though, it seems it’s a too simplified view.   ( Simplly Itariano is noughty  😀  )

Non

I always fascinated by the artistic creativity of the Latin psyche. Yet, unlike other Italian or Spanish artists,

this designer’s thinking remains always within the feasibility —– never impossible fantasy —- and amazingly

able to find the best suitable material or structure which is good to convert for the purpose etc, in another

words quite technically minded —– that why he is a designer not a pure fine artist —– still

his novel ideas are always there and fascinated me.

non

After all, any creative perception, unless it was materialised, it couldn’t be displayed, unless it

was displayed, it couldn’t be noticed by others —– this is what the communication meant.

Otherwise, its perception remained inside of an autistic mind.

Stage design must be one of the hardest task which is facing this dilemma —–it  has to be materialised.

(while complying all the safety regulation etc, and reliably working in one-piece   😀 )

non

Artistic creativity live in the same terrain where the good joke came from.

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TOY and ELECTRONICS

A while ago I was introduced to a guy who needs to have some helps for his electronic project.

This guy Richard has been running his shop-sign design business near the work shop of the

Open Wifi Networking people / OWN, and he was introduced me through this group.

As he wanted to expand his design to LED light sign-board, but without having enough knowledges of

electronics. ( —– good boy. I like this kind of people. Keen to study and challenge new field.)

(Any how, I myself started a hobby of electronics from scratch

without having any formal education or training)

He had started to make sign-board using a kit bought from China —– and having mountain of

problems, the power supply, heat-up, etc etc. (May be it worked in China though, this country got

much more strict Safety regulation and the customers are more fussy, and so on)

Basically, the Chinese design was rather cleverly simplified, using less components —– would work

just within the limit and under an ideal condition.

Though, the trouble of bespoke designs are, they are not always the same design, and the number

of LEDs on the board are not necessary the same number.

So, I suggested the modification and the change of the components, power supply etc etc,  in fact

quite a lots of works needed to make them perfect    🙂

non

On the beginning, he tried to pay for my help. I told him “My help is free. And even if he want to pay,

he can’t afford my formal charge”   “One day, if I need, I may need to ask your help”

“So, just glad to receive a help from others, and give a help when he saw if others needed”

non

——- Then, he found the Chinese toys using LEDs and showed me if they can be used to control the

electronic signal in the sign-board.

Modification or adaptation of electronic circuit is much easier than to make a tandem bicycle out of

two broken bicycles (which needs to have a lots of cutting and welding —– a messy business)

As a matter of fact, I’ve been doing many of those kind of adaptation.

A video clip of my rotating  LED disco costume in Youtube was made out of a Chinese toy too.

When I saw the complicated lighting pattern of 5 LEDs in the small toy, I’ve got the idea to utilize it

(then, I made more than 10 design and the prototypes —– and one end-up as a fancy disco gadget 😀 )

If I design and make the same from scratch, by using gate ICs or a micro-controller IC, it would become

quite a size and impossible to rotates, let alone to mount it on a disco costume.

Since Chinese manufacturer designed and made it as a cheap toy, expecting to sell millions, they made

all the controlling circuit and the memory in one custom IC, everything is in a thumb nail sized board

—– so that, I’ve bought 20 of them 50 pence each 🙂 —– what a bargain 😀

Most of those ICs in the toys which execute a pre-programmed

routine is having a digital memory and its execution speed is

clocked by an internal RC clock, and its frequency is

supply voltage dependent, its mean if we change it, it could

slow down the speed.

The toys, Richard found was rapidly flashing RGB LEDs disco

pendant kind.   Those electronic circuit can be modified to flash

the letters on a sign-board by adding higher current transistor,

and can have more effective speed or giving more interesting

random movement as well.

And by using much higher supply voltage, it can light up lot more number of LEDs —– the variations are

endless —– after all, they are so cheap,  try this and that —– any faliuer wouldn’t cost you much.

Try to analyse and modify the circuit is a kind of game and a fun. —– and I made user friendly, ready to

use small board for him (and his assistants) to make sign-board.

—– rest of work is for him / he is the designer.    I was just an adviser.

It was an interesting occasion to see a person rapidly learning and succeeding.

This is the Zen at work. (for me and for him)

Let the things to come and happen.—– In Buddhist’s view, it is not an accident. 

It’s happened as it should be.

Be flexible in the brain / in the way of thinking, and to the occurence in the life,

and above all,  just do what required there in its best.

Hence, I was happy and he was happy too.

The day and the life in total would be quite fruits-full. ( with a lots of fun as well 🙂 )

___/\___

—

Why SUPERMAN Fly — not Japanese ROBOT ?

You know,  the Super Hero has Super Power which is beyond of human imagination.

—– well, it is in a case of Western Hero such as Superman, even Harry Potter kind.

And did you notice,  Japanese equivalent of them are often the Super Robot. — In old days, it was like

Astro Boy (鉄晼アトム), IronMan 28 (鉄人２８号 )and then Gandam etc who needs to charge-up or inject

the energy fuel —– doesn’t look like having super natural power.  No, they are not super natural Hero.

Strangely you may think, Japanese Super Hero is a variant of Ninja / Extreme Human. ! ! !

The origin of those Super Hero came from the Ethos and the Myth of each culture.

The Western God is the Almighty.  You can’t count what power he got.  It is unknowable.

And the same apply to the counter part, the Devil.    So that, they fight using super natural power.

In western tradition, to have a supernatural power is the norm to a Hero, Anti-Hero, Witch or Sorcerer.

But in the East, only the people in the Hades use supernatural power, and it is evil.

Hence, a Hero in the Eastern film, fight with his almost superhuman power and skill, yet it is still human skill.

Chinese Kong-Fu Hero, Japanese Sward Master, Ninja —– are all Hero in this category.

In a film, those Hero does incredible jump, still they never fly.

—

In order to spread the kids’ fantasy, a new type of Hero started to appear in the Japanese comics in 50th.

They are the Robot,  as it becoming within technological feasibility and reality.

So that, starting in my generation, the Japanese kids were growing up with Robot stories.

In tradition, Japanese Hero has to remain to be a human, regardless whether he got superhuman like power.

If not human, it’s a monster and never be a Hero.   And this principle applies to a Robot Hero too !

Japanese Robot has to be not only realistic but also Scientifically rational, even in a comic story.

If the energy run-out, even a super Robot needs to fill.  They are not a product of Myth or wild fantasy.

When those Comic Robot Hero fly, they open the exhaust of small jet engine, then blasted to the sky.

Hence they are realistic and scientifically rational, it made the kids to think its structure or mechanism.

Which lead those boys (and girls) to study science or technology —– and created today’s Robot on the end.

This is the reason why, they like to create Humanoid. —— still couldn’t forget their Hero.

If their Hero / Robot Hero was irrational and operated by the magic,  kids would just grown up

and forget a childish silly story —— nothing to do with science in their future life.

——–

It is showing remarkable contrast of  Eastern and Western psyche.

But a question here, is, have any of you ever seen flying-man, let alone any super natural act,

not mention the super natural power of The God and The Devil ? ? ?

There is no such things in the Buddhism.

Buddhism is in the Dharma which inherently follow the rationality.  Or, by observing the

manifestation of the Dharma, people found and learned, What the Rule of Rationality is.

( Rationality is not an invention of the man )

Therefore the Dharma having no magic.  Hence, Buddha himself prohibited to practice magic.

( Of cause, there is certain unknowable in the Dharma, but it is invisible any way,

and nobody can touch it.  Therefore even Buddha didn’t  answer for this question )

___/\___

—-

DorkBoat

Yesterday there was a marvelous boat journey called  Dorkboat organized by the Dorkbot London.

Dorkbot is a group of the people ” Doing strange things with electricity “ —— as their motto

suggests, it is the gathering of the people who is doing with electronics, electricity what so-ever

to show off or discuss what so-ever about their free-minded creation.

Naturally, some are purely digital electronics /

computer programmed graphics or music.

And some are involving kinetic mechanism with

electronic control.

As the group is completely open to anybody

some are doing it alongside of his or her profession

with profound expertise, but some time

utterly an outsider of electronics came up

with very witty approach of an invention.

—

Me to join the group was, again a sheer coincidence.

Somebody a friend, happened to know the member

introduced me to the Dorkbot London as I’ve been

making a lots of funny kinetic sculptures and designing lots of electronic devices.

I liked their motto and my approach —– making the things which are utterly useless but fun,

was exactly matched and found a common ground.

Since then, virtually all of my public exposure such as to French TV, news paper or BBC

were happened with the Dorkbot.  ( Gathering can be seen only for the members, which mean strict

Health and Safety Regulation which is always our headache, can be avoided )

—-

On the boat from Westminster Pier to Kew, we saw the presentation of many funny devices ——

” Mocking bird can be seen as a  recording device (since they can repeat human words ! )” or

ever hilarious  J.Rarson’s game controller, and some music performances  etc etc.

It’s funny to think, the people who follow rigid and rational Physics and Electronics rules

still able to conceive such utterly useless nutty idea 😀   —–  This is THE creativity.

—-

Event was coincided with the farewell award giving for the departure of one of the founder

Alex McLean / formidable  experimental Programmer, as his family is moving out London.

I wish his family’s ever happier life in new location

and his creative projects to ever more flourish.

—

Help = be Helped

Yesterday, when I popped out, my neighbour was struggling to disassemble a kind of machine saying

he doesn’t need the mechanism but just want to use the frame as a furniture.

It was a well made German machine though having strange construction and looks almost impossible to open.

M m m,—— ? ? ?  Interesting.—  Any machine constructed by a man should be disassembled by other man

since we share more or less same brain. (So, the theory says —– yet practically not necessary true —– some

latest electronic gear is not designed to be repaired or serviced —— very thin outer shell couldn’t be opened

without clacking the plastic )   Anyhow, I offered him to help and brought my tools as I got comprehensive

professional grade tools. ——- still, it was the puzzle to find how and what order each parts were assembled.

——- On the end I’ve succeeded to open and dismantle the mechanism, leaving only outer shell.  

Holley ! It was a lots of unscrew and tapping shifting losing the each fit next by next —–

Then,  I asked him what is he going to do with the removed motor, gear train and electronic controller.

He said  Oh, just chuck it out. —— So I said, May I have it, I may able to utilize them.  Oh, yes please.

————————

Brought back those mechanism and the electronic parts to my place —— reassembled, connecting electric

cable again and switched on ——– wieen  wieen click !  It’s works ! ( as a  power drive mechanism )

German Bosch motor with its heavy reduction gear, it seemed to produce 50 kgm power.

It’s very useful in deed.—— So, I can design much larger heavier kinetic pieces.

Just help someone, just do it, then I received such valuable gift ——- they are no longer any use to him

though  It’s a  very useful materials to me ——– So, he got the frame without heavy useless mechanism

and I got useful motor  for my yet another kinetic project —— everybody happy. 🙂

—

When you see anybody needs a help, just help, Just do it.

You may rewarded much more than what actually you worked.  Though, don’t expect such things. Just do it.

( Any calculation, greedy thinking spoil the good deed.  To make somebody happy brings your happiness

It’s mean, work first.  Not the words or thinking.  Just do it in Mushin, is the matter )

So, Don’t comeback to me complaining if you were not rewarded —— It’s a Karma of the greedy mind )

___/\___ 🙂

PS : Only a drawback of this Help in Mushin is, some time it was misconstrued by the people —–

especially by the woman.  As they couldn’t think the life’s events separated from the male-female relation,

” Man will approach me with only one intention — want fuck me”.—- May be that is only a thing in her mind

and an art project etc was just a pretext to meet a man. 😀 —— A female artist who asked me to build a

structure for her installation, came more than one hour late and said ” I’m a demanding expensive woman ”

—– ? !— I don’t care who she is.  I’ve just interested in her idea of installation and how it can be materialized)

Or even a respectable businessman mistook it ” This man must have a weak point and desperately need my

favour.   Otherwise no need to work such hard.  It’s must be an opportunity to exploit”  He might thought, He

got upper hand, then started  to ask more and more.(since its free of charge). ——- I only helped them just

for fun or I saw them  need my skill —— yet I had no obligation or expected any  return  from them.

In such situation,  I just terminate it. (And delete the contact and never see them again.  I loose nothing.)

Regardless even the project was only half done and the plan collapses. —— It’s their choice and the fate.

Since Zen preclude any emotion and have no attachment, some action may seemed  harsh and sudden.

But this is what the Zen is.   ( Zen react instant.  And Zen only has 100% otherwise  0%  Nil )

—-And what the ( Mind of No-Mind / Selflessness ) means.