A Walk in the Park

Yesterday at Balboa Park in San Diego.

—Photo by Peter Libby

Illustration Friday, Opinion

—Photo and illustration by Robert McLaughlin
created with Poser 6 and Photoshop Elements 6

I’m sure you’ve heard the story of 6 blind men and an elephant.

“The story of the blind men and an elephant originated from India. It has been attributed to the Sufis, Jainists, Buddhists, or Hindus, and has been used by all those groups. The version best-known in the West is the 19th Century poem by John Godfrey Saxe. Buddha used the simile of blind men in Tittha sutta in Udana (Pali canon). Buddha used a row of blind men as an example in Canki sutta as well to explain the blind following of a leader or an old text that had come down generation after generation.

“In various versions of the tale, a group of blind men (or men in the dark) touch an elephant to learn what it is like. Each one touches a different part, but only one part, such as the side or the tusk. They then compare notes on what they felt, and learn they are in complete disagreement. The story is used to indicate that reality may be viewed differently depending upon one’s perspective, suggesting that what seems an absolute truth may be relative due to the deceptive nature of half-truths.

“Various versions are similar, and differ primarily in how the elephant’s body parts are described, how violent the conflict becomes, and how (or if) the conflict among the men and their perspectives is resolved.”

—Wikipedia

The Blindmen and the Elephant
John Godfrey Saxe

It was six men of Hindustan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind)
That each by observation
Might satisfy the mind.

The first approached the Elephant
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side
At once began to bawl:
“Bless me, it seems the Elephant
Is very like a wall”.

The second, feeling of his tusk,
Cried, “Ho! What have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ‘tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear”.

The third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Then boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a snake.”

The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
“What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
“‘Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!”

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a rope!”

And so these men of Hindustan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right
And all were in the wrong.

So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!

—“Blind monks examining an elephant”
an 1888 ukiyo-e print by Hanabusa Itchō

[My observation is that we might all do a little better at being humble about our opinions. Forgive the pontifications!]

This work by Robert C. McLaughlin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

The Devolution of Robert McLaughlin

This is me before I got laid-off from the North County Times.

After getting the bad news, although still smiling, strange transformations began to take place.

Within mere seconds I had devolved to caveman status.

Now I can only do easy stuff!
[source: GEICO]

Robert McLaughlin in the 1980s

About 1984 walking with my son David. He’s married now and trying to get his wife pregnant. Around my neck is hanging a brand new Contax camera I had won in a contest.

About 1985 at Sandy’s Camera in Portland, Oregon. That’s a non-pooping dog that I am holding. He also didn’t require food. Fido passed away in 1998 and was buried in a Portland landfill.

About 1987 with my little brother Jeff and my younger sister Dian. Jeff passed away in 1999, Dian is divorced and living with my dad in Newark, Ohio. Sometimes she and my dad get along with each other.

The daughter of Sam Potato

This is Chloe, she’s studious and thoughtful, however strangely aloof. Chloe hasn’t spoken to anybody in years.

—Chloe Potato by Robert McLaughlin

Photo Friday, Food

At Benihana’s Restaurant, where the chefs are the entertainment.

—Photo by Robert McLaughlin

I Fix A Problem Photo

Before:

After:
I made this desperate client happy by removing the shadows from the corner. Don’t ask me how. That’s why God created Photoshop—to make me look good.

—Photo manipulation by Robert McLaughlin

Holiday Worship Pages

I made this before I was laid-off from the paper. Who they gonna get to make nice-looking flyers now? Probably someone younger, better-looking, more talented, and works for less money than I. :>)

–Graphic design by Robert McLaughlin

The President’s Job

All the President is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing and kicking people to get them to do what they are supposed to do anyway.

—Harry S. Truman

Mr. Sam Potato’s Son

He’s Simon Potato, the son of Sam. Simon has a way of getting into people’s heads; in fact, he often speaks to me.

—Son of Sam by Robert McLaughlin

Mr. Sam Potato’s Cousin

He’s Roberto Picasso, who thinks he’s an arteest—but everyone that knows him understands that he’s just a poser, a flagrant fraud with facial hair.

—Roberto Picasso by Robert McLaughlin

Remember Mr. Potato Head?

Click here for the digital Mr Potato Head. The man you see above is Sam.

—Mr. Sam Potato by Robert McLaughlin

Photo Friday, Autumn

—Photograph by Robert McLaughlin

This work by Robert C. McLaughlin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

The 2009 Maclochlainn Calendar

Click on the image above for a hi-res letter-size version of this calendar. Print it out. Enjoy (if you wish).

—Photo and calendar by Robert McLaughlin

This work by Robert C. McLaughlin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Pirates!

A recent ad I created.

—Design by Robert McLaughlin

Dia de los Muertos

A doll on sale in Old Town San Diego as the residents prepare to celebrate the day of the dead.

—Photograph by Robert McLaughlin

My Son Patrick’s Birthday Dinner

At Benihana’s, where the chefs are the entertainment. From left to right: Cathy Wiley, Gail Grischuk, Patricia McLaughlin, Patrick McLaughlin (seated), Robert McLaughlin, and Dale Hobbs.

My 64th Free Photo Restoration

Before

After

—Photo Restoration by Robert McLaughlin

Wind Power!

And no, I speak not of bloviation.

I speak only of the natural wind powering our future.

—Photograph by Robert McLaughlin

This work by Robert C. McLaughlin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Photo Friday: Garden

The garden-like landscape in front of Oceanside’s Mission San Luis Rey de Francia.

—Photograph by Robert McLaughlin

This work by Robert C. McLaughlin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Dark Shadows

My wife transformed herself into Dark Shadows’ Victoria. This photo really creeps me out!

—Photograph by Robert McLaughlin
Makeup by Patricia

This work by Robert C. McLaughlin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.