Most people are not religious – especially religious people. Most just want to have their part and position in the Cosmic Drama. We want to matter! We want to be part of the story! We want to be seen – even by illusionary divine creatures.

Atheists like the great Mr Dawkins often overlook that most human beings are not as logical, brilliant and consequent like they are.

Therefore Atheism needs to recognize the "darker needs" of the human psyche – just like C.G. Jung has pointed out.

Most natural (sort of pagan) rituals often celebrate nature and the cycle of life without any Gods attached to them. Modern psychology, drugs and spiritual methods (like good old ZEN meditation) offers more than enough excellent ideas to give us mere mortals enough drama, excitement and involvement to calm down our little egos and feel important and connected.

Click for a close-up.

Wild Wonders of Europe is one brilliant website and offers many great galleries (like this one featuring Austria including that lovely bugger from above).

Bring some time to explore all the featured photographers and countries. There is a lot of great eye candy to be discovered!

Click image for more wetness …

What a lovely montage with one of my favourite stars and a Red Head in Deep Blue water is a special contrast.

Brilliant work by Madame Leibovitz!

Flowers smell lovely – especially this time of year. Yeah, but not for people like me who suffer from Hay fever.

Damn you Mother Nature!

Another masterpiece by Mr Brooker and his team – plus an extra section by the revered Mr Adam Curtis.

Once again some great insights and humor.

Charlie looks at the evolution of news anchors and compares them to their US counterparts, including Bill O’Reilly.  Enjoy!

Oink! Oink! Oink! I am gonna kill ya …

New Scientist: Swine flu: What you need to know

Good thing we humans don’t panic or blow problems out of proportion. On the other side: the Spanish Flu has killed millions of humans and was a real threat.

But with six billions humans eating away the planet who would really miss a couple of million people?

Some promotions are "nerdier" than others …

Maestro Frank Dicksee is for me the King of Romance. His paintings are the modern equivalent of romantic Kitsch & Chick movies.

The Painting above (translated: The Beautiful Lady Without Pity) is such a masterpiece.

A Lady in Red, a willing – but tamed Stallion to ride on, a young potent Knight in Ecstasy and a lush fertile landscape.

Just like the toxic bank assets the Obama Government has to clean out the torture legacy of George W. Bush.  On one side Obama has to please the "Change" crowd on the other side is pure Realpolitik.

Now Obama has purely work to please US interests, he is now longer just a candidate that can condemn bad policies. Now he has to deal with ugly realities and problems.

Many CIA agents who did the dirty work wanted to stop, a few brave soldiers and agents refused to torture. But most of them simply followed the orders coming from HQ or the White House. Following "the orders" was also always the excuse of torturers from many countries.

It is so to easy and simply to label American Torture just a Bush problem. American culture has a violent streak, that is why it’s prisons are overcrowded, they still have the death penalty, throw mentally sick people into prison instead of handing them to a non-existent health care system and it’s national murder rate is the highest in the western world.

And there is the obvious lust for unlimited military power: the US spends more on so called defence than most other nations combined (including China, Russia, all Nato Allies, India, Brazil, etc.).

As a so called Christian Nation they behave philosophically more like Jews: an Eye for an Eye. Forgiveness is not very high on it’s cultural agenda. This is most visible with the justice system, the death penalty and three-strikes-law (you commit three criminal offences and then you get locked away for a long time).

There is a large portion within American society that sees itself as "besieged" and under attack from follow Americans (those dangerous "Liberals") and the rest of the world (Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys and Muslims). They despise peacemakers like Jimmy Carter and applaud fictional strong men like Jack Bauer (from "24") as real world solutions.

Such a mindset ignores or at least tolerates torture, wars and an inhuman justice system. It’s a mindset that still sees the world in black and white, sees "evil commies" everywhere and is unable to apply long term and complex soft-power solutions to problems.

Today’s netbased social interaction is getting lazier and lazier. Writing long eMails to you friends? Nope. Send a nice eCard with a personal note? Nope. Chat with them for hours via IM? Nope. Write a blog entry or comment on a posting? Nope. Write a Tweet (max 140 keys to press)? Nope.

We are now just down to one click to "connect" to your friends and tell them you are "with them".

Less and less context and "social stickiness" is created with these tools. It’s more like "rating" relationships and friends instead of creating your mutual "carpet of friendship" by creating unique actions and interaction.

Click heads to get some more acting.

I am a huge Fan of Richard Burton, he was one of a kind and an amazing actor. Too bad he was wasted in many stupid movies.

The Chinese more and more consider Europe irrelevant in the global game. No surprise, since Europe doesn’t speak with one voice. Almost all European leaders are willing to forget about China’s nasty deeds and policies when it comes to generating trade agreements and deals.

On the other side China is getting more and more protectionist about it’s own economy and building barriers to make it harder for any foreign country to do business.

China is closely tied to the USA – it’s biggest market and debtor. The Chinese hold huge amounts of American debt, plus they sit an a huge cash reserve themselves. This binds those two giant closer together – more than each of them wants to.

So much about the popular vote: NASA asked people to name the new Node-3 for the International Space Station. That was easy bait.

Stephen Colbert put his viewers to the task and they voted like mad for him. So he won the vote – but NASA pulled back and just named a bloody treadmill after him.

That is sooo lame.

NASA should have named the Node-3 "Colbert". I am sue that would have stirred up a lot of of good & weird PR – and NASA needs PR these days.

Some excellent insights on how the News have changed and the Age of Interaction is now a pest.

It’s a bit Brit-centric, but his findings are universal.

I especially like his comment on viewer’s comments – the so called "idiot magnet".

All so true … and sad!

I actually don’t know if this image is called "Spring" – I just thought it’s the perfect title.

And I also thought that two flowering young gentleman are a nice spring metaphor.

So happy Spring everybody!

Since a Black Person is President Gun sales have literally exploded in the USA.

The usual suspects (NRA, Fox News, Right Wing Nuts, etc.) are afraid that the Negro might take away their guns or they might be another ban on sales of Assault guns (you know those toys which the free citizens of Iraq use to kill each other).

Anyone how Obama was chastised for saying that some people just cling to their Guns & Religion? That’s exactly happening right now.

That is pure satire …

These people are cowards: they can’t face Democracy without a Gun. It’s pure paranoia, not the true involvement of active citizens in the Democratic process. Instead of being well informed and political active they rather trust in violence instead of votes.

Their mindset is stuck somewhere around 1775.

Nietzsche has killed all Gods for us (again – because some Greek Philosophers had done that before).

Some religious people have argued that now Humanity feels lost – because we are no longer part of divine plan or connected to a great power.

Rubbish!

We are now liberated from the mental constraint of following some imaginary being’s plans. And there are no longer any excuses to really take responsibility for your OWN life. Don’t make up excuses, don’t follow any rules made up by ancient people. You have develop your own moral and social compass.

But even many religious texts emphasize each individuals liberty to choose in the face of God. And based on your decisions and deeds you will be judged. You find these judgement metaphors in Egyptian sacred texts as well as in Christianity and the idea of Reincarnation based on your Karma of your former life in many eastern religions.

Don’t be sheep: don’t follow social, cultural or religious rules or pressure to play it safe. This is your life now and head straight for it.

If you want to follow certain rules then do so, because YOU decided to do so. Many moral ideas make sense, no matter if you think they are based on ethereal religion or down to earth common sense.

But many conventions or consensus is simply rubbish and made for sheep. Don’t be one …

Not always is what you see that what you get. But sometimes the perfect promise can be more exciting then it’s fulfilment …

Whipping yourself into a bloody pulp or even getting nailed to the cross doesn’t get any closer to any God. It just shows that you are willing to trade pain for a nice spot in Heaven.

BBC News: Somali Pirates Q&A

The American’s have successfully rescued one of their own. Hurray! But the battle isn’t over – far from it

Sure, more military ships certainly makes the business of piracy harder for the Somalis, but it doesn’t solve the underlying problem: poverty in a failed state.

Somalia has been plagued by civil war for a long time, it doesn’t have a stable economy nor government.

Just like in Afghanistan and Darfur the world community didn’t care or didn’t do much to stop the rot.

But this is the 21st century and even people in shitty places can buy disrupt the sensitive flow of goods.

Rebuilding Somalia will be equally nasty then pacifying Afghanistan. But ignoring the problem or bombing these people won’t make the pirates or poverty go away.

This is pure pleasure: Charlie Brooker’s nasty and satirical comment on how the (British) Media coped with the credit crunch.

Some people have compared his television shows with Jon Steward’s Daily Show, but I think they are very different styles.

PS: Warning some nasty and dark British Humour ahead.

When I was a kid and heard about the Sinclair QL I was on fire! Great processor, stylish design and powerful graphics. But Sinclair blew the product launch and sold the machine before it was ready for the market. The rest is history as they say.

I still think this is a great machine.

I can understand flashy nudity to attract attention from the media and angering more conservative people. But nakedness is hardly as provocative as it used to be.

And what does your nakedness express apart from you having no new ideas?

Sure there are many metaphors to explain this: being naked equals vulnerability, nakedness can also imply a certain naturalistic innocence. But as a political statement, especially regarding political protest against global bankers and brokers it’s a bit daft.

Today we are constantly bombarded by messages and new initiatives to save the environment, the green turtle of south Peru and other more esoteric causes. There are gazillion initiatives and groups out there trying to bring “awareness” to us ignorant consumers.

But you hardly hear people talking and caring about the growing millions of jobless people. Bing out of work is still a big social stigma and almost always a personal tragedy, especially when kids are involved.

Here in socialist & communist Europe most people benefit from our strong social networks – paid for by our high taxes. Unemployment benefits obviously help a lot, but there still is the psychological and social impact. Only a few groups care about these fellow humans and their problems. A good unemployed citizen is meant to help himself and find a new job quickly.

But it’s often not that easy. Most people who have been goo employees are often not very good organizing and motivating themselves. And being rejected is always a blow to the psyche.

In times of an economical downturn we need to include everybody and include those who are not as fortunate as those with a steady job.

Celebrating an ancient Jews death by eating chocolate Eggs and Bunnies seems a bit odd to me.  Sure these days we simply enjoy the start of spring – in which case we are either pagans or naturalists.

I think we should rebrand Easter and make it a tree & nature festival. To achieve this we simply press the leftover chocolate from xmas into different shapes than bunnies …

Mr Brooker is my new Hero. Although this short piece is hardly as satirical as his TV shows Newswipe and Screenwipe – it already shows his style and sarcasm.

Click image to see a larger version.

This Fractal is TOTALLY amazing and it’s not the only great piece of mathematical bliss Halo has created. Go and visit his impressive Gallery.

More? Fleur D’apo by *mynameishalo on deviantART

Click image to see a larger version of the magnificent photo by Sarah-Fiona Helme – Summer stripes.

Garden Photography sounds pretty lame, but this competition is full of great snaps. Take some time to visit all the galleries like Plant Portraits, Trees and Wildlife in the Garden.

Website: International Garden Photographer of the Year competition

I am a huge soundtrack fan. A good score paints images and stories right into my mind – even when I haven’t seen the movie. Because soundtracks follow the great tradition started by Richard Wagner by using themes for moods, characters and places in the movie they have more of a "story structure" compared to normal classical music.

The score for "House of Flying Daggers" (which is a brilliant movie by the way) mixes symphonic elements with Chinese drums and flute. The mood ranges from total tranquillity and beauty to fierce battle scenes.

Highly recommended!

You can listen to excerpts on Amazon.com and obviously buy it there as well: Amazon.com: House of Flying Daggers (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): MP3 Downloads

I am a huge fan of good Infographics – or Infopr0n as I call it. The great Blog "The Toilet Paper" has recently posted an excellent series of visuals about American Tax Payer’s Dollars at work. I love that this series is not just a dumb series of figures, but it also makes you think and look closer. It also reflects perfectly that it takes the money of many (taxpayers) to make a country work.

Excellent work!

More? The Average Man’s Tax Dollars – The Toilet Paper

Mel Brooks wrote with his show and movie "The Produces" a marvellous piece of entertainment. I think he is the only person on this planet that can mix Hitler, Broadway and juvenile jokes – and get away with it.

Finally Hitler has come home and "The Producers" are shown in Berlin.

More? ‘The Producers’ Debuts in Germany: It’s Springtime for Hitler in Berlin – Spiegel Online

PS: If you haven’t seen the movie go and rent it. It is odd – but in a good way …

The Easter Bunny gets ready … are you?

No European Championship this year. No World Championship this year. Excellent news, because I hate football.

The Deutsche Telekom or Magenta Giant as it’s called here in Germany has never had a good reputation based on it’s often terrible services and products.

Once again T-Mobile proves that it’s still a crappy company. It has decided to block Skype on it’s German networks – so iPhone Users can’t save money and use the net as freely as it should be.

We need Net Neutrality for cell phone data networks as much as for the normal net.

I love (pseudo-)historical shows like the Tudors, one of the view entertaining ways to look back in time. Sure – this show is not perfectly accurate, which I find a shame, but at least it’s entertaining.

I actually thing that many old real stories are far more entertaining and spooky than most stuff Hollywood can make up. I am still waiting for great TV series about Ancient Greek or Rome (that are accurate). There is enough blood and drama to keep even the Twitter-Generation entertained …

More? Official Site

It was a very symbolic meeting from a historical point of view. Obama represents for me not only the US of A, but "brown people" of all developing nation: India, Brazil, Iran, South Africa, Indonesia etc.

So far the world’s power has been in the hands of White People. It’s time for more colour and new blood …

The second largest population gets to vote soon (BBC Special here). 714 Million Citizens are going to vote – electing 542 Politicians from 1,055 Parties (Indian Election in Numbers). Wow!

Since India is a Major Global Player it’s a shame that Western Media reports so little about this (compared to the global coverage of the American election).

Interested? Read this Quick Guide …

Documentary about Japan’s secret Empire. Enjoy!

Charming and insightful documentary by Stephen Fry about the machine that changed the world.

Click image for a larger Queen.

I still think it is kinda stupid to let white people play non-whites, but Hollywood thinks in revenues not historical accuracy. But Liz Taylor certainly can play one of the most beautiful queens in history – because she can easily take that spot herself …