Saturday, May 11, 2024

Online Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) Simulator


AGC was the main computer system of the Apollo program that successfully landed 12 astronauts on Moon. There was one AGC on each of the Apollo Command Modules and another one on each Lunar Module. There was also a second backup computer system called Abort Guidance System (AGS) on the Lunar Modules, which is simulated by Virtual AGC, but not the current version of Moonjs.

Astronauts interacted with AGC by using DSKY, a combination of 7-segment numerical displays, indicator lights and a simple keypad,

Click
HERE to enter data and toggle the controls.

Friday, May 10, 2024

Emanations 11 Call for Submissions

International Authors and the editors of Emanations are happy to announce a Call for Submissions:

Emanations 11

Emanations is an anthology series featuring fiction, poetry, fine arts, and essays. The emphasis is on alternative narrative structures, new epistemologies, peculiar settings, esoteric themes, sharp breaks from reality, ecstatic revelations, and vivid and abundant hallucinations.

The editors are interested in literary material. We seek fiction and poetry that present unworldly ways of seeing, feeling, and describing. Recognizable genres—science fiction, fantasy, horror, political dystopia, satire, mystery, local color, romance, realism, surrealism, and postmodernism—are fine, but the chief idea is to make something new, and along these lines the illusion of something new can be just as important.

In Emanations 11 we seek to emphasize graphics and visual pieces. We are especially interested in asemic writing and images, visual poetry, formalist experiments in prose, bricolage, new experiments in graphic representation, and visual narratives. Artists are invited to prepare “compressed” portfolios (5-20 images) with an “artist's statement.” Please bear in mind that the production will be in black and white.

If an image, story or poem makes someone say, “Yes, it is good, but what is it?” then it is right for Emanations.

Essays should be exuberant, daring, and free of pedantry. Accounts of unusual travels are especially welcome. Length is a consideration in making publication decisions, but in keeping with the spirit of the project contributors should consider length to be “open.”

Our editorial vision is evolving. Contributors should see themselves as actively shaping the “vision” of Emanations.

Email files with brief cover note to: 

iasubmissions@hotmail.com 

Review of Submissions begins June 1, 2024

Contributors should place their name in the subject heading, and they should include their name and contact information in the submitted file.

Emanations is a not-for-profit literary project and contributors cannot be compensated at this time. All proceeds from the sale of Emanations will support the efforts of International Authors to publish new voices from around the world. Contributors receive a copy upon publication. Only one complimentary copy will be sent to each contributor; the fortunes of the mail, particularly international mail, is beyond the control of International Authors.

The project is a collaborative effort, and as we share ideas the “vision” transforms, evolves, and grows. When we write stories and poems we hope to bring to bear the entire battery of modern and postmodern literary devices. More simply: we like good, strong writing. Our essays are incisive, precise, keen, challenging, and driven by the writer’s desire to advance an intelligent audience’s understanding of exotic and important subjects. In addition to travel writing, memoirs reflecting upon professional experiences—law, medicine, education, architecture, filmmaking—are very welcome.

The Fine Print:

1 Submit files as follows: Microsoft Word, Times New Roman size #11. Set Tabs for .2” and set spacing at 15. Remove extra lines between paragraphs. Use smart quotes. This will help reduce the workload as the editors format the book for publication

2 No simultaneous submissions (contributors should get fairly quick feedback anyway, especially if their submission meets our needs). Material that is obviously pulled from a file and has nothing to do with the goals of the anthology won’t get any feedback beyond the initial acknowledgement.

3 Word count/line count? See details above. We’re flexible, but contributors should be sensible when considering what they send in. A novella? Well, maybe, and so on... Rules of thumb: a) Stories: very short to 20-30 pages. b) Poems: send in 5-10 pages. c) Essays: 5-10-30 pages.

4 Published as hard copy only—Emanations will be available on Amazon. Participants who make a substantial contribution of material, editorial work, or art will get a copy. It can take some time to get copies to contributors outside of North America. In the case of our first anthology, for example, it took forty-five days to get a copy to a contributor in to Nepal. As described above, only one copy will be sent to each contributor; the fate of the mail, particularly international mail, is beyond the control of International Authors.

5 International Authors is a consortium, and as such every contributor is a “member” of our community, and contributors are encouraged to help promote the anthology by sending review copies to newspapers, journals and relevant Web sites.

6 Copyright “reverts” to contributors upon publication. That is, after an accepted piece appears in Emanations, the contributor can publish their piece elsewhere. Contributors should understand that Emanations could remain for sale on Amazon indefinitely. All materials appearing in Emanations are under the exclusive copyright of the contributing writers and artists.

7 Note to poets: Please do not send poems as individual files. All poetry submissions should be sent as a SINGLE Mircosoft Word file formatted in Times New Roman, size 11. Please submit three to ten pages.

8 Please DO NOT submit AI writing or art. 


Contributors submitting work to Emanations agree to these points.

 

Published by International Authors

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Subtle Symmetries

John Schoenherr illustration for Analog Magazine (December,1962)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Artists in 2-D and 3-D and Video at the Williamsburg Art and Historical Center

 International Show

Artists in 2-D and 3-D and Video

 

Curated by Yuko Nii & Assisted by Germania Reyes  

 

May 18 - June 22, 2024

OPENING RECEPTION:

 

Saturday, May 18, 3-5 PM

Featured Artists:

 

Ricardo Arango (Colombia), Greg Geffner (USA), Glen Goodenough (USA), Drew Maillard (USA), Tairan Hao (China), Sato Masaaki (Japan), Larry Scaturro (USA), Oxana Kovalchuk (Russia), Rhea Marmentini (Spain), Eloa Jane Pereira (Brazil), Yupin Pramotepipop (Thailand), Cheryl Safren (USA), SUPRINA (USA) and Natsuki Takauji (Japan)



Curator's Statement:

Dear Friends,

                                                                 

Most artists tend to concentrate on their one chosen medium either in 2-D works such as painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, or in 3-D works, sculpture, ceramic, glass work, etc. - one or the other but not both. This particular show is of work by artists who pursue both 2-D and 3-D works and also Video. It will be interesting to see how these artists have expanded their creativity not limited to one medium only, but working 2-D, 3-D, or Video. 

“Recently we have experienced a darkest period in our life, first with the deadly coronavirus pandemic followed by another horrifying social pandemic both of which have spread not only all over the USA but also worldwide like a tsunami, and nothing seemed to help lift our spirits in hope for humanity.” –Yuko Nii

The long-lasting coronavirus pandemic and social pandemic have resulted in today's fragmented world as if we've lost any solution to make the world united and working together.

The fact is that throughout human history, the world has never experienced total peace. As long as we are human beings embedded with the animal instinct, we fight for survival. Our strong innate emotion takes over the intellect and war seem inevitable.

 

While we are seeing/experiencing the horrifying scenes in every part of the world, I think of my own small life, feeling how blessed I am because my life is gratifyingly directly connected with creative art-making projects, which is far from fighting for or against something, but rather struggling within ourselves to find something satisfying and getting pleasure as result of what we have created.

 

The mission of the WAH Center is based upon my "Bridge Concept.” which is encapsulated in the word “WAH” which means in Japanese written in with Chinese characters, "Peace" or "Harmony" or 'Unity."

 

The WAH Center connects internationally, so we have quite a few international artists who have exhibited in our shows in the past.

 

When I began thinking of the future show, I thought this time would be fitting to have an international show. So, I came up with the idea of bringing together the multi-talented artists from our local community of American artists and some international artists who have exhibited at the WAH Center in the past. I am happy to say that both the American artists and the international artists have been continuously pursuing their artists' careers actively in New York City. 

 

And this show is very special to bring the artists who pursue 2-D and 3-D, but also Video. And interestingly enough one cannot help noticing each distinctively unique heritages and cultures they have in their native countries, which reveals itself in each artist’s work.


I am very pleased to present the special visions of the following 14 participants in the show including 7 male and 7 female artists from different countries, Brazil, Columbia, China, Japan, Russia, Spain, Thailand and of course from the USA!

 

Ricardo Arango (Colombia), Greg Geffner (USA), Glen Goodenough (USA), Drew Maillard (USA), Tairan Hao (China), Sato Masaaki (Japan), Larry Scaturro (USA), Oxana Kovalchuk (Russia), Rhea Marmentini (Spain), Eloa Jane Pereira (Brazil), Yupin Pramotepipop (Thailand), Cheryl Safren (USA), SUPRINA (USA) and Natsuki Takauji (Japan).

 

Looking forward to seeing you there!

 

Yuko Nii


 

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Inscrutable Packaging Conundrum

I don't know what to make of it. A prohibition against adult participation, grotesque biological renderings of (evidently) sentient beings, the image of a stressed child, multiple labels--the object has no definite name, except perhaps the cryptic "MONSTERS" scrawled in some horrific font across the top of the package...

 
An innocuous package, or something else?














What does "#139" mean?








On-demand dementia, or something worse?







What are their pronouns?
Do they appear angry and confused?
















The child appears stressed: PTSD, ADHD, schizophrenia, or some combination?










Yet another product title.  What is it?

On the surface of the object the designation reads "Space Orb." And mark that curious eye!

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Is she seeking to frighten the grown-ups?

I heard a Fly buzz - when I died – (591)

                 Emily Dickinson

I heard a Fly buzz - when I died -
The Stillness in the Room
Was like the Stillness in the Air -
Between the Heaves of Storm -
 
The Eyes around - had wrung them dry -
And Breaths were gathering firm
For that last Onset - when the King
Be witnessed - in the Room -
 
I willed my Keepsakes - Signed away
What portion of me be
Assignable - and then it was
There interposed a Fly -
 
With Blue - uncertain - stumbling Buzz -
Between the light - and me -
And then the Windows failed - and then
I could not see to see –


"the Heaves of Storm" -- Such language. Is this how a little girl thinks poets emote?

"when the King/be witnessed in the room" - Ah, transgressive punk Emily shocks the grown-ups with profane musings. Get ready, grown-ups, rather than Jesus, the FLY is coming instead!  

"...and then it was..." etc.  Reading this for my students, I like to suddenly slow the cadence and narrow my eyes as I pronounce, "there interposed a fly."  Each syllable is fraught with diabolism that Milton's Satan might, erm, envy.

"...stumbling buzz" alliterates with the th in then, the "s" in windows and, after a fashion, the "s" in see (x2), which is anyway rhyming with Between/me/see/see, and so on.  Emphasizing the buzzing sounds is fun when teaching the poem, and (one wonders) presents an opportunity to act like a nut before a group of young people. Even more fun is concluding on this irreverent note: 

"The poem might be vaguely unwholesome if it wasn't so silly."

Emily Dickinson

Monday, April 29, 2024

Ambrose Bierce - Shapes Of Clay (1903) - with art by Herman Scheffauer

Collection of poems. Cover designed by Herman Scheffauer.

More of Scheffauer's images:

The Infant in the News Sheet

















 

The Hollow Head of Mars















View The Hollow Head of Mars HERE.

Sunday, April 28, 2024

John Locke, Analytic Philosopher

Vague and insignificant forms of speech, and abuse of language, have so long passed for mysteries of science; and hard and misapplied words, with little or no meaning, have, by prescription, such a right to be mistaken for deep learning and height of speculation, that it will not be easy to persuade either those who speak or those who hear them, that they are but the covers of ignorance, and hindrance of true knowledge. To break in upon the sanctuary of vanity and ignorance will be, I suppose, some service to human understanding; though so few are apt to think they deceive or are deceived in the use of words; or that the language of the sect they are of has any faults in it which ought to be examined or corrected, that I hope I shall be pardoned if I have in the Third Book* dwelt long on this subject, and endeavoured to make it so plain, that neither the inveterateness of the mischief, nor the prevalency of the fashion, shall be any excuse for those who will not take care about the meaning of their own words, and will not suffer the significancy of their expressions to be inquired into.

John LockeAn Essay Concerning Human Understanding, “The Epistle to the Reader, § 7.

*In the Third Book Locke presents his remarks on the accurate and the confused use of language, where he describes how the misuse of language leads to conceptual confusion and philosophical credulity, key concerns in Twentieth (and Twenty-First) Century Analytic Philosophy.

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

CBC's Man Alive

Leo Rampen (whose art portfolio in Emanations Zen was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize) was the executive producer of the CBC program Man Alive from 1967 to 1979.

Here is the introduction to the first episode, which aired in 1967:



From Blaine Allan's CBC Television Series, 1952-1982:

Man Alive

Here is CBC television's weekly inquiry into issues of faith, commitment, and contemporary life took its title from St. Irenaeus, the second century Bishop of Lyons, who wrote, "The glory of God is man fully alive." The fact that the phrase, "Man alive" appears more popularly as an expletive suggests the down-to-earth pertinence of the program's approach. In fact, a Maclean's review called Man Alive "An irreverent new approach to religion" (December l967). Catchy headlines can misrepresent the show, however. Man Alive grew out of the wake of Vatican II and the movement toward ecumenism in the 1960s. Although it has maintained a vigilant and critical attitude toward the church, it has generally reflected its sense of self-criticism and reform and its growing social commitment. As the program went to air, the CBC's assistant supervisor of religious programming, Rev. Brian Freeland cautioned, "We are not a public relations department for the churches of Canada," and executive producer Leo Rampen added, "Nor are we seeking the benediction of the churches."

Since its premiere in 1967, Man Alive has built a reputation for adventurous public affairs programming. The show and its host since the beginning, Roy Bonisteel, have shared images of credibility and integrity. The program's producers have been rewarded with a consistent and loyal audience and the show's consequent longevity.

 

Man Alive resulted in part from the expansion of the CBC's Religious Broadcasts department. Personnel for previous programs, such as Heritage (q.v.) had come from the network's regional production centres. In 1967 Rampen, formerly producer of Take Thirty, headed a team that included veteran producers who had worked on such public affairs shows as The Other Eye and This Hour Has Seven Days. Originally in a magazine format, Man Alive reflected the public affairs training of its producers, and covered such subjects as current bills in Parliament that dealt with questions of divorce, capital punishment, and abortion; the recent Synod of Bishops in Rome; Billy Graham's rally at the CNE Stadium in Toronto; and the cult of exorcism. The program employed both filmed documentaries and studio discussions in its inquiries. In the 1970s, the producers decreased the studio-bound programs and tended more toward documentary investigations and filmed interviews.

 

The program started in a Sunday afternoon time slot, where it was followed by Hymn Sing, itself a popular and long-running series. After two seasons, Man Alive moved into prime time on a weeknight, where it became less strictly associated with religious programming. In fact, it was North America's only prime time offering devoted to issues of religion. It remained in that time slot, with little variation, until 1979, when it moved to Tuesdays. Repeat broadcasts, sometimes under the title, The Best Of Man Alive, have turned up on Sunday afternoons during summer seasons and in the regular season.

 

Producers of Man Alive have included David Ruskin (l967-68), John Ryan (l967-68), Garth Goddard (l968), Terry Thompson (l968-69), Sam Levene (l969-7l), Louise Lore (l970-l979), John McGreevy (l970-75), Sig Gerber (l973-77), Tim Bentley (l974-78), Rosalind Farber (l974-75), Wayne Thompson (l978-date), Catherine Smalley (l978-date). Executive producers have been Leo Rampen (l967-77, 1978-79), Sig Gerber (l977), and Louise Lore (l979-date).

 

See also Roy Bonisteel, In Search of Man Alive, Toronto: Collins, 1980.

Source