"Why wait?"

George Eastman the inventor of the snapshot camera and founder of "Kodak" film and camera company committed suicide at age 77 with a self-inflicted gunshot to the heart, to avoid a battle with spinal stenosis (already painful in his case). His note read, "My work is done. Why wait?"

Hetairia Cover Art

 I just received copies of the printed comics, so now I will post the initial drawing and inks for the cover of "The Hetairia" from Five M Books.

In the spirit of Halloween here's a little zombie sketch.

Expect vs Faith

   I would like to make a brief statement about the claim that atheism requires faith and is in itself a religion (which I suppose is an attempt to delegitimize atheism in some way). You can see that to "expect" something is not the the same as having "faith" in something. You can expect a treatment for an illness to be developed or a mysterious question to be eventually explained if it is reasonable or probable (the illness being studied by people that have previously developed treatment for similar illness or by observing advances in the field of that illness, or by proven creative brilliant minds analyzing whatever mystery). Faith is expectation without a call for reason or probability and based solely on trust. There is a difference there. An atheist and anyone else for that matter can resonably expect something will eventually happen based on probability and previous occurance without it being termed "faith".

faith
2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust

3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs.

expect
2 : to anticipate or look forward to the coming or occurrence of

3 : suppose, think

4 a : to consider probable or certain.

Hope

Hope is not necessary to life or to human existence. Hope is like a diamond (no pun meant) in that it is something pretty but it is a luxury, it holds an implied value over a practical value. It (diamond) looks pretty but it is still just a piece of rock. I believe understanding and appreciating the way things are as they are presented is more valuable than hope. That also keeps us from being complacent or expecting a situation to resolve itself and makes us more industrious in finding solutions to our problems, so hope should take it's rightful place behind the failure of all else. Our greatest gift is to allow ourselves appreciation of our days. When you were born, you had more or less the promise of one day. One day to take in all of the colors and sounds and tastes and emotions. Everything after that however...all of your days thereafter are not promised. So you should savor them and appreciate them in the present. This doesn't necessarily mean you should run off and climb the highest mountain, become the worlds leading whatever, or bury your head in study to solve the great riddle...unless you want to. It means when you take a good deep breath, or you eat a good meal (or even a can of stewed tomatoes or a can of tuna), or someone says they love you or you feel love for someone else....appreciate it, you won't always have that. My grandmother used to say, "Nothing is forever. Not love, not pain, not anger, not joy. You aren't promised tomorrow." It was her mantra and it stuck with me. Life being temporary puts a higher premium on it.

"Composed upon Westminister Bridge, September 3,1802"

I'm sure that many of you are tired of this poem by William Wordsworth. As everyone knows, I like to pass the time in my study by the fireplace drinking a nice scotch and reading poems. Actually, I discovered it reading through a book of his poems while taking a break from receiving discount books in the warehouse of a local bookstore that I worked at while back. It struck a chord with me and sometimes I recite it (however garbled) in my mind. Specifically, I love the lines "Never did the sun more beautifully steep, In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill; Ne'er saw I, never felt a calm so deep!".



"Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802"

Earth has not anything to show more fair:

Dull would he be of soul who could pass by

A sight so touching in its majesty:

This City now doth like a garment wear

The beauty of the morning; silent , bare,

Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie

Open unto the fields, and to the sky,

All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.

Never did the sun more beautifully steep

In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;

Ne'er saw I, never felt a calm so deep!

The river glideth at his own sweet will:

Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;

And all that mighty heart is lying still!

Nick Cave's open letter to MTV 1996

The open letter below was floating around in the back of my mind as I've been reflecting on the way in which I have been pimping out my abilities into a sort of prostitution. Over the last year and a half I have not remained true to my own instincts, instead I've allowed the distractions and diversions to become the whole of my work. I've been allowing outside artistic influences that are not as natural to me and my personality have to dilute who I am as an artist. There’s nobody to blame but myself. -James




A Letter To MTV

October 96

by Nick Cave

To all those at MTV,



I would like to start by thanking you all for the support you have given me over recent years and I am both grateful and flattered by the nomination that I have received for best male artist. The air play given to both the Kylie Minogue and P.J. Harvey duets from my latest album murder ballads has not gone unnoticed and has been greatly appreciated. So again my sincere thanks.



Having said that, I feel that it's necessary for me to request that my nomination for best male artist be withdrawn and furthermore any awards or nomination for such awards that may arise in later years be presented to those who feel more comfortable with the competitive nature of these award ceremonies. I myself, do not. I have always been of the opinion that my music is unique and individual and exists beyond the realms inhabited by those who would reduce things to mere measuring. I am in competition with no-one.



My relationship with my muse is a delicate one at the best of times and I feel that it is my duty to protect her from influences that may offend her fragile nature.



She comes to me with the gift of song and in return I treat her with the respect I feel she deserves - in this case this means not subjecting her to the indignities of judgement and competition. My muse is not a horse and I am in no horse race and if indeed she was, still I would not harness her to this tumbrel - this bloody cart of severed heads and glittering prizes. My muse may spook! May bolt! May abandon me completely!



So once again, to the people at MTV, I appreciate the zeal and energy that was put behind my last record, I truly do and say thank you and again I say thank you but no...No thank you.



Yours sincerely,

Nick Cave 21 Oct 96.