@Ted

I agree with you Ted, but necessity is elusive. Perhaps I feel it necessary to remark on matters of depth wherein others only see matters as shallow. Then, to them it would seem unnecessary.

A non-conformist is one who conforms to the prevailing paradigms of non-conformity.

All of matter is merely energy condensed into a slow vibration. We are all of one consciousness, experiencing itself subjectively [as individuals]. There is no such thing as death and life is only a dream with an imagination of ourselves. - Bill Hicks

The above quotation could be applied justifiably to absolutely everything, since everything is predicated on reality experiencing itself subjectively, there is always a trace pattern extending from this ontological certainty which tends to characterize the entire event. That is what enables me to relate everything to the principal of existence; it all exists, and so must necessarily relate to existence, or else it wouldn't exist. This also means it is bound to the conditions of existing. It is a lot easier than it seems since much of what is done, is done in glorification of this fact, but only to one sees the necessity of it.

@Alex

LOL, well thanks! I was going to suggest adding them to the Neatoshop, it seems like it might be up neatoalley.

Don't think too many people will be talking about this, so forgive me if I post many comments alone.

Rammstein's lyrics can be rather disturbing, some have gone as far to call them Nazi sympathizers, but I don't see the connection. Never-the-less, it is hard to decipher what their philosophy is, particularly as I'm not a native German speaker.

"Du riechst so gut" (You smell so good) "Ich geh dir hinterher" (I come after you). This song is supposedly about stalking and raping someone?

"Zwitter" (Hermaphrodite) "Ich bin ich mich verliebt" (I am in love with myself) "Eins für mich, Eins für dich, Gibt es nicht, für mich" (One for you, One for me, it is not, for me) "Eins für mich, Eins für dich
Eins und Eins, das bin ich" (One for you, one for me, one and one, that I am)

And of course, their song "Pussy" whose official music video in Germany consists of the band having sex with adult film stars in pornographic detail. A very odd group.

I would like underwear with the following symbols: The Ouroborous, The All-Seeing Eye, The Masonic Compass, The Fibonacci Sequence, The Yin Yang, The Möbius Strip, The Mandelbrot Set and Euler's Identity.

About Euler's Identity, the SU Mathmatician Dr. Kieth Devlin said: "Like a Shakespearean sonnet that captures the very essence of love, or a painting that brings out the beauty of the human form that is far more than just skin deep, Euler's Equation reaches down into the very depths of existence."

What does Batman's symbol "capture" (reflect)? Think about it.

The Onion News Network - Video Game Consists Solely of Shooting People in the Face
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYQhvW-tjNM

@Craig

I would suspect that as well. It is interesting to note that the vast majority of video games are simulations of war, killing, hate, anger, violence, etc...

Some of the reactions, those of elation, may be of people playing Mario Bros or something, but keep in mind that even Mario Bros is essentially a violent game wrapped in rounded character models with simple shapes and colors. This gives the appearance of something else, but the dynamic is still Good vs Bad in a bloody battle. Even if it only dimly appeals to humanities desire to kill, it is still the main force of the game-play.

I guess, as the OP implies, that was the point, to reveal the "secreted" [hidden] emotions of humanity at large.

“I’ve never been very interested in straightforward portrait photography… What of hidden emotions and feelings? Characteristics that are usually secreted from the world? How do we record those? I wondered if there was a way to unconsciously tease out aspects of people’s personality, and capture it on film. So I had them play video games.”

Right, because all you get from "straightforward" portrait photography is the false ego.

These would make for good captions; despite the fact that these people are "playing" they appear to be incredibly stressed, in a heightened state of arousal, anger, rage, determination, necessity! I must win. "You filthy swine! I shall smite you with the holiest of holy. Wipe you off the face of the earth!" "DIE!" "DIE DIE DIE!"

I can see it in the face, you know. I used to have this feeling too, like when I'd stomp on a bug just for the thrill of killing something. Or break twigs just for the thrill of destruction. It's a bit of ancient wisdom that we rather enjoy vicariously watching others die, but when asked about it, we will put on an innocent face and say "No, I love." but that is only because that looks good and makes others want to love us. The human psyche could be said to want all love for itself, and seeks to deprive others of that love, even to the extent of killing them.

@Jessss,

Case in point; I don't find any value in those tracks. Now maybe someone who feels like an absolute victim, and wants to dash their mind against a bed of rocks, would find some sympathy in Bjork's music. But I take responsibility for my life.

The biggest break in my career was getting into the Beatles in 1962. The second biggest break since then is getting out of them.
-George Harrison

The world used us as an excuse to go mad.
-George Harrison

We were talking about the space between us all and the people who hide themselves behind a wall of illusion. Never glimpse the truth - then it's far too late when they pass away.
-George Harrison

When you've seen beyond yourself, then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there.
-George Harrison

"From the Hindu point of view each soul is divine. All religions are branches of one big tree. It doesn't matter what you call Him just as long as you call. Just as cinematic images appear to be real but are only combinations of light and shade, so is the universal variety a delusion. The planetary spheres, with their countless forms of life, are naught but figures in a cosmic motion picture. One's values are profoundly changed when he is finally convinced that creation is only a vast motion picture and that not in, but beyond, lies his own ultimate reality."
- George Harrison

I don't know, I send you links to stuff that appears to be neat like Lev Yilmaz's Tales of Mere Existence or the TEDx talk on Emotional Equations. You don't ever post them, maybe you don't want to give me credit and have to put "Thanks Ryan S" which is fine, just leave me out of it.

You know George Harrison was a very enlightened man who's private work reflects his depth of philosophy, the few songs he wrote for the Beatles also reflect this philosophy, such as; I, Me, Mine, Here Comes the Sun, Think for Yourself, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, All Things Must Pass and The Inner Light. One of my personal favorites was his solo track "My Sweet Lord".

You know, nobody talks about this part of the Beatles. They don't talk about how "Hello, Goodbye" is an artistic statement of non-duality, a la, the Hindu religion which Harrison was steeped in.

"Hare Krishna, Hare Rama" - My Sweet Lord, George Harrison.

I guess it really does depend on what tickles your fancy. I'm pretty sure for Harrison, Hinduism was more important than the Beatles.

Deconstruction the irrational associations with color.

Then there is the song everyone knows from Guitar Hero and Rock Band, which is about the movie A Clockwork Orange

Die Toten Hosen - Hier Kommt Alex (Here comes Alex)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X-yqPhItr8

I forgot one of my favourite performers; Xavier Naidoo

Xaiver Naidoo - Was wir alleine nicht schaffen (What we cannot accomplish alone...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku-DmPHU9Bk

@Jessss

All that means is that you don't value truth above everything else. It means if you have to choose between truth and your ego, you will choose your ego. All a philosopher is, is one who loves truth more than anything and so conforms him/herself to what is true at the expense of their own sense of self-hood.

In the colloquial sense, that philosophy is thinking about the world and formulating beliefs; everyone is a philosopher. No one can escape making judgments, in particular no one can escape making metaphysical, ethical and theory of mind judgments. It is best that we do so in a way that is truthful, instead of egotistical. Which is the impetus that should make us all strive to be genuine lovers of wisdom.