Reflections: Most Read Posts

Imagination Part 1

ebakst — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:26:09 -0700

To share ideals and bring about meaningful transformations one needs a voice. Coming from a country where artists were the heralds of freedom and the voices for change against an oppressive system shaped by single-minded and intolerant ideology and resulting government, I have found mine through the power of imagination.

Encounter with Japan Part 5

ebakst — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:56:24 -0800

Political correctness, fear of being painted as insensitive, a chauvinist, a racist, or being too this or too that, or “I’ll sue you”, is killing our free spirit, our sincere openness, ability to dialogue or differ with others on a deeper emotional level.

Encounter with Japan Part 1

ebakst — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:17:47 -0800

"Are you insane?” "Have you lost your mind?" "Are you not afraid?" "Don't you realize this is the worse time to go there?" This is just a sampling of the polite examples of reactions and comments my plans for a trip to Japan had triggered. And yet, based on my own life’s journey, I understood early on that, sometimes the worse time could be the best, the most raw, sincere, revealing and insightful.

Encounter with Japan Part 4

ebakst — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:45:54 -0800

There are many impressive aspects of and qualities I now associate with Japanese people, their ways of lives and their culture with. However, what sets them apart in minds of those who have had a limited exposure to, or those who have never been there, are Anime and Manga, and to a lesser extent a mysterious Geisha.

Encounter With Japan Part 2

ebakst — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:54:19 -0800

As I reflected in my previous blog, Japanese are true perfectionists, in all they do. Thus, when it comes to political correctness, over centuries, and elected isolation from the external world, they turned it into an art form, a nature, but at what cost? Bowing projects a wonderfully charming sense of politeness and respect, but it does not end on just one bow, it goes on, and on. It is very carefully and skillfully choreographed and, as such, not spontaneous.

Encounter with Japan Part 6 - Climax

ebakst — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:28:29 -0800

For some time now I have been promising myself a return to organic art. In my case this means line drawing. I love how line fluctuates, swings, cuts, curls, twists, envelopes, stubs, caresses, how it becomes a natural extension of an artist, how its creator can funnel into it the inner thoughts, passions, desires, frustrations or dreams.

Crash Landing – Encounter with Reality Part 2

ebakst — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:50:03 -0700

And so it seems that humanity is loosing appreciation and benefits of simple and pure nothingness, of silence and calm, which come with not being under pressure to talk, to respond, to converse, react, but instead to think and feel, digest and reflect. Why?

Imagination Part 3

ebakst — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:07:14 -0700

To many the “system” is the symbol of oppression, the foe to resist in almost any cause. To us, not understanding something is a challenge that motivates and inspires, it ignites our imagination, makes us restless until, if fortunate, we arrive at an answer, a climax, whether right or not.

Imagination Part 2

ebakst — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:04:55 -0700

These days, when technology plays such a significant role in all aspects of our lives, and in much of what we do, there is a strong relationship between “IT” and our imagination: when they are not in balance, technology itself can overshadow imagination and seemingly become the ultimate answer to all. But when they are, technology empowers us, acting as our “magic wand”.

Why Me?

ebakst — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:37:42 -0800

When invited to become a AWN expert blogger, my instantaneous reaction was - “why me?”