I entered the tablet world with a Viewsonic gTablet, a low-cost yet full-featured 10-inch screen tablet with a Tegra 2 dual-core processor and a nice complement of full-sized ports and an active development community providing alternate ROMs, including Android 3.0 Honeycomb.  The biggest shortcoming of the gTablet was the very limited viewing angles of the screen, sort of like a built-in privacy screen unless you were viewing it straight on.

Intrigued by the specs of the ASUS Transformer Prime [Tegra 3 quad core processor, 1280x800 Super IPS+ screen, very thin (.33 inches) and very light (1.2 pounds)], I preordered it in November and received it on Dec. 22.  I ordered the Amethyst Grey 32 GB version, and matching keyboard dock.  The Prime worked great for 15 days, then one day after receiving a firmware update it got stuck in a boot loop (which I not so affectionately call the TSOD, or Twirling Sphincter Of Death).  Could not even factory reset / wipe it.  Others had reported similar problems with updates bricking their Prime.

I was able to return the defective Prime and ordered another, as I really liked the Prime features and design and was willing to take a chance. Good news is the second Prime is working great, and is not experiencing any of the problems some have complained about (poor Wi-Fi and GPS, light bleeding, or flickering screens).

The screen quality is phenomenal and responsive, with very wide viewing angles.  I actually turn down the brightness levels to less than half for more comfortable viewing. There is also a Super IPS+ mode, which cranks up the brightness for better viewing outdoors.

Battery life seems quite good, and I have used it for around 8 hours on a full charge (it is touted to have up to 12 hours of battery life).

The optional keyboard dock ($150) essentially turns the Prime into a touch screen netbook. The tablet snaps securely into a hinge on the top of the keyboard. The dock has its own battery, and combined with the tablet can provide an impressive 18 hours of battery life (have not verified that yet).  The keyboard is quite solid with full-sized keys with good response, a trackpad with on-screen mouse pointer, special Android and hardware keys, and a full USB and SD port.  I’m using the keyboard dock to type this, and it is more than acceptable for lengthy input. Combined weight of the Prime tablet and dock is about 2.4 pounds, a small yet very capable combo.

Transformer Prime, endorsed by the Ood

The “stereo” speaker is on the back right of the case, and provides adequate quality sound (and can really be cranked up loud). Apparently there are two speakers in the guts of the unit (thus technically stereo), but only one speaker grill, so the “stereo” effects are minimal.  Not a big deal to me, as you can always connect headphones to the supplied jack or use a bluetooth headset.

As mentioned, the Prime is amazingly thin and light. My one design complaint is that the aluminum case makes it slick (and some have complained that it reduces Wi-Fi and GPS signal strength).  Supposedly the case is “hydro-oleophobic” (my favorite new tech word!), making it resistant to water and oil (although the screen is a fingerprint magnet, like most tablets).  To reduce my fear of having $500 worth of gadget technology slip from my grasp, I installed the Skinomi carbon-fiber skin on the back of the case, which provides some texture and grip and also reduces the “coldness” of the bare aluminum case.

The Prime comes bundled with several nice apps, such as SuperNote (for hand/stylus writing or keyboard entry), Polaris Office (for docs, spreadsheets, presentations), App Backup, and ASUS WebStorage (8 GB of free cloud storage for syncing from Prime and other devices).

My Transformer Prime received Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) update almost immediately upon first boot.  ICS is a slick update, very snappy, with attractive design touches.  Love the improved Browser, which seems to becoming more like Chrome (a good thing IMO).

The Transformer Prime is a state-of-the-art Android tablet, and although some have unfortunately been plagued with connectivity and operational issues (including my first unit), ASUS has been working to correct the issues in later builds and updates. ASUS upset some early Prime adopters when they announced an upcoming improved Prime recently at CES, the TF700T with 1920×1200 resolution and a non-aluminum back case to improve Wi-Fi/GPS connectivity.  But that is the state of the technology leapfrog pace, and I am loving every minute using my current Transformer Prime!

The Rosetta Tarot by M.M. Meleen is a new tarot deck that provides a fresh interpretation of the epic Thoth Tarot (by Aleister Crowley and Frieda Harris).   The Rosetta Tarot, while derivative of the Thoth and the Golden Dawn heritage, is infused with the artist’s own perceptions, visions and creative riffs.  The artwork has an inviting personal vibe to it, which may make it more approachable yet just as effective as the intensity of the original Thoth deck.

The artist took a unique creative approach in using different mediums for each suit. The Major Arcana were done with acrylic paints, the Wands with colored pencils and acrylics, the Swords in dry-point etching, the Cups with watercolors / inks / acrylics, and the Disks in oil pigments and acrylics.  Amazingly, the original artwork was done in about the same size as the printed cards (4 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches), which is a testament to both artistic skill and dedication to the work.

The production quality of the deck is top-notch, with vibrant colors, smooth yet silky card stock, and a well-constructed and designed box. For those who may be leery of independently produced decks, rest assured this is a high quality deck.

The deck comes with a 56-page booklet.  Also available is a detailed 240-page companion book, “The Book of Seshet”.  Seshet is the Egyptian goddess of wisdom and writing, and is the female goddess analog to the male god Thoth, thus an appropriate counterpart to Crowley’s Book of Thoth companion book.

As a Thoth inspired deck, I have been particularly impressed with the fresh potency that the cards have demonstrated in readings.  The combination of familiar themes and images from the Thoth enhanced with M.M. Meleen’s unique depictions is a surprisingly effective fusion.

Like the Rosetta Stone, the Rosetta Tarot presents a reinterpretation of classic symbolism, reinvigorating my interest and exploration of these esoteric themes.

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Note:  Art and images are copyright by the respective artists who created them, and may not be reproduced without permission from the artists.

Gene Colan, one of the premier and uncompromisingly unique comics artist, has passed away on June 23, 2011, at the age of 84.   Gene was an absolute master of “painting with pencil”, creating movement, depth, mystery, power, emotion, and wonder through the thousands of comic book illustrations he penciled over a 60+ year career.

I can still remember vividly my first exposure to the artwork of Gene Colan.  It was 1969, and I was just starting to get into collecting comic books.  At that time, I had primarily been reading DC comics (Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Flash, etc.).  My best friend also was into comics, and he had gotten some Marvel comics that he wanted to trade. I made the trade, and in that stack was a comic that changed my perceptions, in so many ways.  It was Dr. Strange # 182, illustrated by Gene Colan:

Dr. Strange #182

The dynamic posing and unusual perspectives drew me into Strange new worlds, where matter and mind and action were merged and juxtaposed in cosmic cinematic slices. (Click images to expand)

Dr. Strange #182 page 17

Dr. Strange #182 page 19

Gene Colan often broke free from the traditional panel layouts, using angled and/or overlapping shapes to creatively frame and direct the moment or action, with characters and energies often cascading from frame-to-frame.  Gene was a huge fan of cinema, and he wonderfully depicted the essence of cinematic perspective and movement through the structured artform of comics illustration.

I was fortunate to obtain an original drawing from Gene Colan that he made in 2000, “Spellbound”, recreating a scene from a Dr. Strange comic.  His mastery of line and shape were still very much evident even in his later years.  (I’ve posted a slice of the drawing below, as the whole drawing would not fit on my scanner.)

Spellbound, by Gene Colan

For an insightful retrospective on Gene Colan’s work, I recommend Secrets in the Shadows: The Art & life of Gene Colan, by Tom Field.

Gene Colan’s artwork has entranced me for many years, and his vision, skill, productivity and creativity will continue to inspire for many years to come.

Thank you Gene, and Shine On!

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Dr. Strange © Marvel Characters, Inc.

Hermann Obrist by Zurich Museum Bellerive

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fascinating glimpses into the creative work and life of Hermann Obrist (1862-1927) a unique artist from Belgium who combined organic, fluid and abstract themes into expressive works. This volume includes rare photographs of his sculptures, models, and sketches, many of which no longer exist. He specialized in fountains, grave monuments, and textiles.

Also included is Obrist’s own autobiographical text, “A Happy Life”, which is an odd, idyllic reminiscence on key points in his life.

Here are some examples of Obrist’s creative works:

Fantasy Shell (1895)	Smoldering Plant
Grotto with Raging River II	Fantasy Flower (1896)

Several of Obrist’s grave monuments feature womb-like recesses, perhaps representing a return to the source.   In contrast, several of his sculptures and fountains feature towers and spires, which makes for some dynamic juxtapositions.

Carl von Faber Monument (1908)	Herter Monument (1905)
Movement (1914)	Monument Model