(Don’t have time to read? Here’s the punchline. http://layertennis.com/)
A couple years back a phenomenon began when members of a designers forum posted images from their current projects for critique, as is want to happen. Out of bored creativity, other designers took the original spirit of the work and turned it into a completely different work. Although the two pieces shared themes or elements or styles, they were a testament to the random directions different artists can take their work.
This creative one-upsmanship was so fun that artists began to be called out in competitions to see who could come up with the most comical, beautiful, or overall creative pieces. The two artists would take turns creating an image, video, or other artwork and pass it along to their competitor, who would the modify the artwork and pass it back. Each piece passed among the competitors was called a “volley” and the challenges were called “matches.” Eventually, a tennis style format emerged as the most natural expression of the nature of competitive artwork. This is the birth of Photoshop Tennis (or at least it should be).
The rules are simple: There are no rules. Wait, no. There are a lot of rules.
- Each match is between two artists respected in a common field
- After receiving a volley, you have no more than two hours to return fire
- Winners are decided by a panel of your peers
- All work must be done in the agreed upon medium
- Don’t use anyone else’s work
I’ve witnessed the “official” Layer Tennis (so called because of copyright issues with Adobe Photoshop) championships sponsored by Coudal Partners last year, and it is amazing. Take a look at one of my favorite matches from the Season One Archive for an example of the raw creativity on display. There’s something about a time deadline and competition that puts super-creative ideas on paper that would never had a chance otherwise. Good stuff.
Crazy deals on Southwest Airlines right now. 50% off all tickets to Seattle, and that’s just for their “Wanna Get Away” style deals. I’ve heard you can get even better deals by using their Ding! program. It’s always looked like malware to me; like some combination of spyware and just plain bloat, but I just might have to install that and let you know how it works.
Southwest in general is one of those companies that seems to get it. They are constantly ranked #1 in customer satisfaction, and have the best fares around. I’ve got to start checking them out more.
Obama was inagurated. Rev. Lowery gave the benediction, ending by saying “we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around — (laughter) — when yellow will be mellow — (laughter) — when the red man can get ahead, man — (laughter) — and when white will embrace what is right.” Just struck me as being “when will white people finally stop being evil, Lord?” Which makes me think, “I’m not evil. Why do you think I’m evil?” Which is a question I’ll never be able to ask him.
That is my frustration with politics. Not just politics, but anything so big that I have next to no chance of having a chance to ask for clarification, or perhaps even make my voice heard. Perhaps I just need to try; send a letter to Rev. Lowery, send a letter to the president and see what happens. Cynically, I can hardly let myself believe it will be anything other than a complete waste.
It will not be a waste, however, because even if there is no response (which is the worst response) that tells me something about the other party and their intentions. I have some letters to write.
I have yet to permit myself to be excited about our new president, despite how great he seems. Listening to President Obama’s speeches, seeing the passion and feeling a genuine sense of care is both reassuring and inspiring. However, I really have a hard time witnessing any political grandstanding, and I believe this is because of the torrent of ill will that is displayed for President Bush.
That’s right, I’m out of the closet as a Bush supporter. Still. Before bringing out your slings and arrows, though, please bring out your reason.
There is so much passion about spitting on the man that it seems no one brings forward the charges against him. To them it seems everyone should know, but I don’t. The only thing approaching reason is partisan statistical analysis; swift-boat style reproach. Saying “he’s bad” simply because he is; his decisions are horrid because I don’t agree with them. No! These are not valid arguments to condemn a president’s legacy.
President Bush was a good president, and I believe that in ten years, once the passion has died down, he will be viewed as such. If not, I hope his crimes will truly come to light such that even I can see them. He does not seem the super-villain that most hope him to be.
With that out of the way, I will continue to pray for President Obama. May he lead our country in honor and peace.