A Conundrum

Sometimes I think blogging is just a legitimate way of talking to myself without the apprehensiveness of wondering if someone is listening to me talking to myself. If I'm blogging that's ok, however if I'm talking to myself, there are those who may think I'm losing my mind or my ability to keep my thoughts contained within my consciousness…or I'm insane.

Which brings to mind a question. Would be better or worse if we could hear others' thoughts? Since I have a blog (and anyone is welcome to read it), my stream of consciousness (most of it, anyways) is out in the open. However, if we could invade others' thoughts for a good cause, should we consider it or would that be an invasion of privacy (and we certainly don't want that, do we?). Nonetheless, what if we had the power, to read others' thoughts? What if we had the ability to read criminals' thoughts, prior to that criminal making a bad decision? One of my favorite movies, The Minority Report, starring Tom Cruise, told a story (based in the future) about a special Police Department, Precrime Unit. This special unit had the ability to predict murders (through *Precognitives) before the murder actually happened. Therefore, they would stop the murder before it actually took place and arrest the (pre?) murderer. I won't spoil the ending for those who haven't seen the film, however, "the best laid plans of mice and men, often go awry"

Although the films' science was predicated on predicting the future, wouldn't we get the same result (of stopping future crimes), if we could read criminal's minds? Would you support the invasion of our privacy and rights if it resulted in the end of crimes and murders? Or would you argue that your personal loss of privacy (i.e., everyone knowing your every thought) outweighs the benefit to society of the elimination of crime? *Precognitives are individuals with extra-sensory perception of objects or events in the future, or of another person's future mental processes, a conjectural paranormal phenomenon

Routines

I loath unproductive routines. For me, unproductive routines are the biggest factor in life passing us by. If I slip into one of these routines, I’m done. Wake up. Drink coffee. Go to work. Come home. Eat dinner. Go to bed. Rinse and repeat twenty seven million times...and if one’s not careful, a routine can last a lifetime. Even if it's a good routine, if it doesn't have a purpose, it can be dangerous. Before you know it it’s one year later and BAM!…you’re one year older and you're at the same place you were a year ago.

At the opposite end of the scale are productive routines. Routines with a purpose (i.e., I'm going to draw something everyday). However, even some productive routines can cause problems if they lull you into an unimaginative routine of just putting pencil to paper, just to continue a streak . It’s good to draw everyday, but have a purpose in mind behind those everyday drawings. Don't just pick up a pencil, draw a smiley face and say, “there I drew a picture today!” How has that benefited you? Bring creativity into that routine of drawing every day. Think about what you're drawing. If it’s a smiley face, ask yourself, "why is that smiley face smiling?" "What is it thinking?" Drawing is not just the physical act of putting pencil (or pen) to paper, drawing is the act of creating. Creation is the genesis of life. Life is nothing, without the arts. So create artists! Without the arts, life is…meaningless.

Wake up. Drink coffee. Go to work. Come home. Eat dinner. Go to bed. Rinse and repeat twenty seven million times.

Wake up. Drink coffee. Go to work. Come home. Eat dinner. Go to bed. Rinse and repeat twenty seven million times.

Wake up. Drink coffee. Go to work. Come home. Eat dinner. Go to bed. Rinse and repeat twenty seven million times. 

My Own Osmosis Jones

It's been a couple of debilitating couple of days at the ole Michael Hopkins Cartoons Blog headquarters. What started out as a sore throat about a week ago, turned into something that knocked me on my ass the last couple of days. The good news is that I believe it's now on its way out of my system (keeping the proverbial fingers crossed). If there's anything else good from these past days, it's the fact that nature reminded me that I need to take better care of myself, to be able to fight off these obscure viruses that I'm going to run into now and then.

So what do you think of my foray into writing (i.e., My Alternate Reality series *see below*). I'm not sure where it is going or when it will get there (my plate's kinda full) however,  it's a good way of exercising the old cerebral matter. As of this moment, I'm thinking, graphic novel. I'm working on the visuals of the story…we'll see what happens.

Besides this blog, The Michael Hopkins Online Store and my Fine Art America account, I am now also actively using Ebay once again (all these links are on the right side of this page).  Besides more exposure, I’ll be using Ebay to offer occasional/temporary price reductions. The price reductions I offer on Ebay will be valid on any of my other sites as well (in case I forget to update one of the other sites). As always, if you see one of Michael's Original Pen & Ink Caricatures that you really like and would like to make an offer that is below the listed price, please feel free to contact me at scribblesisme@yahoo.com, as I will consider all reasonable offers.

My Alternate Reality - Part 3

As I climb down into the reactor, I thank God and Rudolf Diesel for our back up power, without which, I'd be as frozen as a popsicle. Luckily 'ole Vladimir and his troops aren't the smartest goons in space, or they'd have checked for back up power when they decided to cut the wires on the main reactor. Come to think of it, lucky for me this ancient diesel backup generator, didn't kick on until they left the ship. If they'd heard that, they would have certainly destroyed that as well and I’d be, well….done.

It’s creepy down here in the reactor. Although I know that there’s nobody left on this ship but me and the brain dead Tamroidian up on deck, I'm still hearing things…voices? Screams? Nah, just my imagination…but still? 

Since I reconnected the wires up on deck, all I have to do to activate the reactor, is to input the proper reactivation sequence and abracadabra (a low humming noise fills the room as from inside the titanium chamber, the reactor begins to revolve) There ya go! Good thing I paid attention in the, What to do in Case of an Emergency, class. Ha! Should have been called, What to do in case your Chief Mechanic gets obliterated by Vladimir Syonkia and his goons class! I find the dead Chief’s vodka stash and pour myself a shot. Here’s to you Chief!

I think to myself, it's time to get out of this hole and back up to the flight deck before something creepy happens. So I turn off the diesel backup generator, head up the stairs and turn off the lights. As I grab the door handle to exit…"clunk"...the deadbolt locks from the opposite side of the door. 

My heart stops…something creepy is happening...

To be continued.

© Copyright 2023 by Michael Hopkins

My Alternate Reality - Part 2

As I stumbled into the main cabin to power up the ship's fragile reactor, I could still smell the stench from last night's failure. The aroma of panic and the fear of indecision that led us to this point left its aftertaste lingering like an unbathed prostitute who no longer cared. At one point in time this craft was the pride of the Enceladus Class cruisers, alas no longer. Even prior to last night's debacle (an ignominious failure, to put it mildly) the time cruiser had seen its better days. But even so, with competent leadership, it was a force to be reckoned with. However in this day and age, competent leadership is a lost art and that was proven again, last night. At least I don't have to deal with their corpses, Vladimir Syonkia, his troops and their SDC-13's (Spontaneous Combustion Destabilizers, Model #13) saw to that. The SDC-13 is a very advanced weapon that vaporizes any time travelers who are not in their own time period and simply obliterates the mind of those who happened to be in the wrong place at the right time (so to speak). This explains the look of shock in the eyes of the homeless Tamroidian we befriended at the bar last week, still shivering on the floor, under the navigation panel. Had I arrived back from my explorer pod a few minutes earlier (when they were departing) I would be dust as well. Instead I am the lone survivor of a crew of 137 who needs to find a way to bring this craft home or to be lost forever in a galaxy that time has forgotten, that existed before my time. 

To be continued....

© Copyright 2023 by Michael Hopkins

My Alternate Reality - Part 1

My alternate reality is festering with rats and it’s thick with the malodorous odor of bullshit. Although, I have to give these swine credit, as they have a penchant for precise timing and keeping their game hidden among the rotting feces they warm themselves with. It would be easy for me to play their game and luer their unsuspecting docile minds into a trap that reveals them for what they are… however, it wouldn't be as entertaining. Instead I choose to sit back and watch their self destruction. Anyway, who am I to save a ship that is listing in the frigid waters of the problematic. I'm just a temporary servant to these false narratives and my best days are ahead of me. So sleep well you little narcissistic rodents. Sleep and feast today, for your time is coming soon. Unfortunately, I won't be able to partake in that spectacle, as my time is coming sooner.

© Copyright 2023 by Michael Hopkins

March 25% Off Sale!

The Michael Hopkins Caricatures Online Store is having a sale! Now through the end of March, save 25% off any print by using the coupon code MARCH25PRINTS at checkout!

Click on the link below to visit The Michael Hopkins Caricatures Online Store!

The Michael Hopkins Caricatures Online Store

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Questions

Last Friday evening around 9pm, a care flight was involved in a fatal accident, approximately 45 miles south of the Reno/Tahoe International Airport. Following is the link to the story, as reported by the New York Times 

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/25/us/nevada-care-flight-plane-crash.html

First off, I'd like to extend my condolences to the family and friends of those lost in this accident. Most of us have experienced loss and I'm sure all of our hearts go out to these individuals. 

The reason I've brought up this accident is that it occurred close to my home in Reno, Nevada. Also, the fact that when I start my day at 3am, I've often seen the type of aircraft that was involved in the accident (a Pilatus PC-12), landing at Reno/Tahoe International Airport. Whether or not, I've seen the same aircraft landing (that was involved in the accident), I can't say for sure sure, but it was definitely the same type of aircraft. The Pilatus PC-12 is very noticeable aircraft landing in the darkness. It has a very unique set of lights that remind me of something out of the movie, Men in Black.

I've often been intrigued by what we leave behind, when we are no longer physically here. Do we retrace what we did before we left, trying to figure out what happened? I know that when I make mistakes, I retrace the steps leading up to that mistake trying to learn from my mistakes. 

“In a 1948 speech to the House of Commons, Churchill paraphrased Santayana when he said ‘Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.’ 

International Churchill Society

Of course after we’re gone, we can't repeat it…or can we? 

I believe in the afterlife. Something which I can't prove, its just a feeling. Some believe that if there are ghosts or spirits that walk among us, they are doing so, because they are trying to figure out what went wrong. Why was their life taken away? If this is true, does this mean that in the afterlife, can we figure out what went wrong? Would we rest easier knowing? It’s an interesting question. I believe that if spirits (ghosts) walk among us, they valued life to the extent, that they came back. Maybe in the afterlife, they can come back and share their love of life with us? Wouldn't it be nice?