Today I Awake

Today I Awake with a sense of continuous creation. There is a profound vulnerability in sharing something before it is "done," but I have come to realize that the process itself is the art. With that in mind, I am excited to share my experimental website I’ve been building, which you are on right now. This site is a living expression of the path I’ve been weaving across creative technology, immersive art, and regenerative systems—from broadcast studios to Burning Man temples, XR environments, and now regenerative campus design. It is still evolving, but that is entirely the point. I am releasing it now, in its unfinished state, because I want to share how it all unfolds. Watching it grow feels very much like raising a child; I wanted to create something that functions more as an active field of inquiry than a static resume. It is a place where light, code, form, and community resilience can meet. Building this has been an initiation into new ways of creating. I have been "vibe coding" the framework, design, and story—feeding raw, heavy information about my life and journey to Gemini 3.1 through Perplexity, while building out the architecture in Visual Studio Code using Gemini Code Assist, and hosting it on GitHub. My goal has been to push my own boundaries and truly learn the intricacies of these platforms by getting my hands directly into the architecture. Visually, the design is a heartfelt homage to the cinematic memories that first shaped my imagination. The opening portal draws direct inspiration from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey and Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. As you move into the portfolio, the aesthetic shifts into a synthesis of Tron and Max Headroom. My TV Career section leans heavily into that glitchy Max Headroom vibe, designed to capture the visceral feeling of sitting right inside a TV Master Control room. Looking ahead, there is much more to come. I am looking forward to integrating the extensive regenerative work I’ve been doing over the past several years, along with photography, a blog, and my broader life story. Take a look around. I’d love to hear what resonates, what questions it sparks, and who you think should see it.

Today I Awake with a sense of coherence. There is a fine line between a random event and a reconnecting
path that began ten years ago. Excitement would be an understatement. What started as a chance meeting at
American Steel Studios—one of the largest industrial arts collectives in the world, in West Oakland—during an
art show we both participated in, has now come full circle.
Through another seemingly random state, and an unsuspecting visit, I now find myself as creative co-director
on H.A.L.O QI, in partnership with HeartMath Inc. and Dynex Moonshots, competing, and currently heading to
the semifinals this fall for the $5,000,000 XPRIZE Quantum Applications.
After a year in stealth mode, we're ready to announce something momentous: a last-minute entry to exhibit at
Human Tech Week—a major event in San Francisco next week that showcases the convergence of humanity
and technology.
You are invited to support the team financially with a tax-deductible donation made directly to HeartMath and
earmark your contribution for XPRIZE H.A.L.O. This covers GCP-2 data and equipment costs only and is not
distributed directly to the team. You can support our global network of team members directly by helping to
cover travel, equipment, and development costs with Patreon subscriptions starting at $1 or a direct
contribution. Higher levels of access include being a member of our Prototype and Beta testers program.
Select 'Support XPRIZE Team' at www.haloai.me or Patreon.com/c/HALOqi.

🚀 The Story of the Path to Masterminding EDEN , as told by The Hebrew Hammer and my trusty assistant, Nova (ChatGPT): Part 1 The Beginning: A Late-Night Meetup That Changed Everything It all started in September 2020, during the pandemic. My wife Tina Liu shared a link to a Singularity University Australia meetup. It was late—around 1 or 2 AM—and I was exhausted. The event was about the future of Human Connection and Technology, a subject I had been working on for almost 10 years as a personal passion project. Tina thought it would be a great opportunity for me, especially since her friend Richard Hsu was presenting. Despite my tiredness, I felt a strange sense of anticipation, as if something important was about to happen. I clicked the link and tuned in, unaware that this moment would play a significant role in shaping the journey ahead. The presentations were beautiful, and I remember feeling so inspired. What made it even more special was that there weren’t as many people on the Zoom as I’d expected, so it felt less formal and much more personal. I was wide awake, excited, and ready to engage. The true magic happened in the breakout sessions. There were about five people per room, and we had open discussions about our thoughts, as well as anything else that seemed interesting or relevant. Of course, being a Jew from NY, my gift of gab took the lead, and I couldn’t help but dive right in! I shared the story of what brought me to the meeting and some interesting Virtual Reality development I had been working on for one of the eight Burning Man Multiverses called BRCvr. It was based on a world I created called Unity Sanctuary, inspired by my wife’s dream of a Burning Man camp for the collective she founded, Chinese Beyond Borders. At the time, Unity Sanctuary was in Altspace, and to my surprise, at least one person in the room knew about it! Then, the conversation shifted to physical Burning Man, and I shared about a sculpture I was one of the lead designers on in 2013, called Mens Amplio (Latin for "expanding the mind"). My dear friend Don Cain was the lead artist and ideator. The sculpture was a large head and brain, 20 feet tall, made of steel tubing. Don brought me onto the team to design the Brain Tree, which was made from EndLighten acrylic rods, custom acrylic modules, and a light sequence activated by EEG, using a MindWave from NeuroSky and a Raspberry Pi microcomputer. Then there was a pause. That same person who knew about Altspace, Anuraj Gambhir, had something much more profound to share. He said: “I was on the Board of NeuroSky, I remember this sculpture. We loved it!” It was one of those epic synchronicities. We had actually created a live experience based on the convergence of Human Connection and Technology, and that’s where the magic truly began. The Next Chapter: Two Major Surprises & A Pivotal Spark That early morning set the stage for two life-changing encounters: 1️⃣ Anuraj Gambhir invited me to meet his team at Wise Mirror (formerly White Mirror), a project I would later join. 2️⃣ I met Johnny Browaeys, whose vision for sharing ancient Chinese wisdom virtually would ignite my next Virtual Reality-meets-Physical Reality experiment: The Connected Experience (TCE). As I embarked on the next chapter of my creative journey, I found myself shifting between VR development and my role as a Community Instigator, hosting the Virtual Conversations for Content Creators meetup, which grew to nearly 200 members. ⚡ The Spark for TCE: A Fusion of Wisdom & Technology Soon after that fateful morning, Johnny shared his vision of bringing ancient Chinese wisdom into virtual spaces. However, he had deep concerns—such profound knowledge could easily be misused in the wrong hands. I looked at him and said, “Dude, let’s create The Connected Experience.” This was the culmination of years of exploration—from my deep engagement with Burning Man, both on the playa and in digital realms, to my work designing spaces that blended physical and virtual interaction seamlessly. The Connected Experience (TCE) became an idea of a fusion of bio-feedback technology, Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and Electroencephalogram (EEG), creating a new language—one of the heart and mind. 🚀 Simultaneous Cohorts and Wise Mirror at Singularity University Australia Summit 2021 Fast forward, as multiple pieces converge, and The Connected Experience becomes a passion project, I take a chance and apply for two programs with this concept: 1️⃣ Oculus Launchpad Program (now Meta) – A prestigious fellowship designed to support diverse VR content creators, providing mentorship and resources to help bring innovative projects to market. 2️⃣ Design Science Studio (DSS) – A (r)Evolutionary incubator and global creative ecosystem for artists and designers catalyzing a regenerative future. Led by habRitual and fiscally sponsored by the Buckminster Fuller Institute (BFI), DSS empowers creators to envision and build a more equitable, just, and thriving world, because the future is always first an idea. Of course, as life would have it, I got into both programs simultaneously—both on scholarship. I had to choose one to focus on more, and of course, it was DSS. Ironically, at the time, I did not fully understand the connection between BFI and regeneration. I didn’t even fully grasp what regeneration truly meant, but I felt something on the horizon—a premonition of things to come. In hindsight, I get chills just writing this story, as so many memories surface. 🌱 Expanding Connections: The Wisdom Path Project At this stage, I was connecting with a plethora of impactful communities, each bringing new layers of meaning to my journey. One of these was The Wisdom Path Project, a community deeply aligned with my values of regeneration, consciousness, and human connection. The serendipity here was undeniable. Through this project, I met the amazing Debra Stack —and here’s where it gets interesting: Debra was actually the person who introduced me to DSS before I even applied! At the Singularity University Australia Summit 2021, we had the opportunity to showcase how The Connected Experience, Wise Mirror, and VR ecosystems were converging into something greater. 🌟 Conclusion of Part One This concludes Part One of the story. Stay tuned for Part Two to learn more about how the Regeneration Movement came into my life and how I fully immersed myself in it, leading me down the path to Masterminding Eden…

Today I awake with thoughts of kindness, compassion, and awareness—which does not necessarily mean I
won’t lay the hammer down if need be. There is most definitely a fine line between what one may think is doing
good and one taking advantage of it at the same time. Sometimes this line is not clear, as one may not even be
aware.
There are so many injustices in the world—those that have happened, are happening, and will come to pass.
And although most people are unable to dedicate substantial time to help these causes, even just one
statement can make a huge impact. One’s voice is one of the most powerful gifts in the world.
To anyone reading this blog who is aware of the current conflict happening in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC), which has escalated drastically within the past week, you are part of a small audience. I didn’t
understand the full context myself, and I’ve been working closely with communities in other African countries,
including Uganda, which is right next door. I was made aware of the current status by a plea from
someone—who will remain anonymous for his own protection—shared through a movement started by my
dear friend Elizabeth Herald , called the Water Unity Network (WUN).
His words hit me hard:
"Please pray for us. We are now surrounded by the M23 and AFC rebels, and our lives are in danger. The city
of Goma is becoming a humanitarian disaster. More than 400,000 displaced people are homeless and at high
risk of waterborne diseases. Now, the airport is under rebel control, according to some sources, but there are
United Nations personnel who were supposed to be evacuated—yet the second flight was canceled. So they
are at the airport. I am locked in the house, but I know that tomorrow there will be a lot of damage again."
These words fell heavy on my heart. I do not directly know him, but I am part of of the WUN platform, and in
some way, I feel responsible to help however I can—even if it’s just to share the words of the people and my
own viewpoints to bring awareness and help save lives.
One might think: Conflicts are everywhere—what can I actually do about it?
For instance, the war between Israel and Gaza—I am completely opposed to what the government of Israel is
doing, as I believe they do not speak as the people or for the people. In retrospect, this relates to the current
situation I personally face living in the divided states of America, It is shameful, globally. Many people I know
agree and have been very vocal about it, but why do I not hear anything about the DRC and the M23 rebels
from Rwanda—who have infiltrated with the intention of overrunning the city of Goma, right across the border?
Why don’t I see more media coverage on this?
Well, one thought—thank you, AI, for helping me research and bullet point it—is that money and greed fuel
silence.
Why the DRC Is in This Position
1. Critical Minerals & Metals
🔹 Battery & Electronics Industry
Cobalt – The DRC supplies over 70% of the world’s cobalt, crucial for lithium-ion batteries in EVs,
smartphones, and renewable energy storage.
Copper – One of the world's top producers of high-grade copper, essential for electrical wiring, renewable
energy, and construction.
🔹 Technology & Aerospace
Coltan (Columbite-Tantalite) – The DRC produces a significant share of the world’s tantalum, extracted from
coltan. Tantalum is vital for capacitors in smartphones, laptops, and military hardware.
Tin (Cassiterite) – Used in soldering for electronics, tin from the DRC plays a crucial role in semiconductors
and circuit boards.
Tungsten – Extracted from wolframite, tungsten is used in aerospace tech, industrial machinery, and
high-strength alloys.
🔹 Jewelry & High-Value Minerals
Diamonds – The DRC is one of the largest producers of industrial diamonds, used for cutting, drilling, and
grinding.
Gold – While much is mined illegally and smuggled, DRC gold is highly sought after in global markets.
2. Agricultural Commodities
Palm Oil – Used in food, cosmetics, and biofuels.
Coffee & Cocoa – A growing supplier of high-quality Arabica coffee and cocoa beans.
Timber – The country’s rainforests provide hardwood and softwood, though deforestation is a concern.
3. Energy Resources
Hydropower Potential – The DRC has some of the world’s most significant untapped hydroelectric power,
particularly the Inga Dam, which could supply power across Africa.
4. Conflict Minerals & Strategic Importance
Many of these resources—particularly cobalt, coltan, tin, and gold—are classified as "conflict minerals," as they
are often mined under exploitative conditions and used to finance armed groups.
This means people won’t see what they need to about what’s happening there right now—because powerful
interests are suppressing the truth.
It is also a historical cycle of trauma. The M23 rebel group includes a small faction of Tutsi individuals, some of
whom may have been affected by the events of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. That genocide was also widely
ignored at the time—until the release of Hotel Rwanda, a movie about an iconic hotel that saved 1,000
refugees during the conflict.
Why Am I Writing This?
My hope is that I have depicted this accurately and effectively. Please forgive me if I have not. I welcome
comments and suggestions to improve this post—especially if they help bring more awareness to this crisis.
At the same time, use your voice—even if it’s to yell at me. Stand up for what you believe in. Be your genuine
self. Together, we can get through this.
Also, please share any reliable sources for donations to help as this tragedy unfolds. Do something, or this
may become another genocide.

Final Note: I’ve written most of this myself, but I did use AI to help with grammar and formatting, as well as to
gather details to list the resources that put the DRC in this position. The cover photo is part of an album of
street art I started, inspired to show how a community tells a story, including the trauma of events following the
murder of George Floyd. 👉 A Walk Through Oakland

#DemocraticRepublicOfCongo #DRC #ConflictMinerals #HumanRights #Cobalt #SustainableDevelopment #GlobalAwareness #WaterUnityNetwork #SocialJustice #HumanitarianCrisis #ConflictResolution #StandUpForChange #GlobalSolidarity #SaveLives #EnvironmentalJustice #Africa #StopTheConflict #PowerOfVoice #MakeADifference #PeaceForAll

It's been quite some time that I have shared my thoughts, so I figured today would be perfect :)
Today, as I do with every day, I awake with thoughts of hope. Some days are most definitely better than others,
but the constant is always at least a glimmer of hope.
As we ring in the new year, I want to reflect on a very interesting question I have been asked multiple times
over the past week, which is 'What is something you look forward to in the new year?' and my answer is very
simple: 'I look forward to tomorrow'. I am not looking for an extravagant lifestyle, but most importantly for a
world where the beauty of the energy that is created is based on Human Value, and not on monetary value.
There have been too many times I have seen success measured by monetary valuation, yet there are so many
critical jobs out there, in my opinion, that do not get the recognition they deserve, like mentors, community
workers, teachers and artists. Without these compassionate individuals, we would have no world to measure
anything in, yet it seems as though for the most part this type of life is considered to be a work of passion and
not of profit. My thought on that mindset is 'Fuck That Shit!'
We definitely need to pull it together as a world, or else we will slowly fall apart as we have been. This is why I
have personally devoted my life to help figure this out, for the good of everyone's happiness, and the greatest
thing to look forward to is tomorrow, as tomorrow is a world I still want to live in.
We are now in the first day of 2025, let's stop fucking around and do something for the world and not just for
self-righteous, self-entitled ego. (Said with Hebrew Hammer love, motivation and inspiration)
#live #genuine #life

Today I Awake with concern, it's been quite sometime since I have reflected on my thoughts, of course life
happens, but that does not mean I have not had a number of things on my mind, especially since I have not
stopped drinking coffee, LMFAO!
I saw a post on Facebook today from my friend Roy Sherfan , that inspired this more complex thought, thank
you Roy, I do miss our conversations.
We are most definitely at an interesting point in human history, where the exponential development of
technology is visible in months, even days, in lieu of what I remember from when I was younger, which was
that of years in comparison. What comes to mind for me right now and the purpose of this post, is the
development of ai.
A strong thought I have been having, for quite a while now is that ai is taking over creativity, but will we let it.
What better way for the 'powers that be' to enslave humanity, than by diluting the magic of creative expression.
It also diverts the thought that all human beings are important, regardless of their occupation. 'Without the
Janitor, the work of a Surgeon can turn into sepsis.'
Everyone has a purpose in life, that should be revered, and not looked down on, including what we do for a
living. That being said, and in my opinion, ai has the potential to destroy the creative industry as we know it,
and many other industries, and from what I see historically, the fruitful abundance will not be shared amongst
everyone, but only those creating this new world order.
Am I against the concept of ai, not so much, as it's only a tool, and when used with good intention, it's very
powerful. What I am truly worried about is have we opened Pandora's box, and has someone like #samaltman
CEO of OpenAI , helped develop one of the most profound technologies of the 21st century or is he the 21st
century Robert Oppenheimer. Only time will tell, and it is up to every individual to voice their opinion, vs. the
majority of people not expressing how they truly feel.
"It just takes one person to change the world, (every)one. Freedom of expression is a gift, USE IT!!!" ~The
Hebrew Hammer
#creativity #voice #humanity #expression

Today I Awake with thoughts of hope. There is something to be said about being a visionary versus having a
vision. I have been following the advancement of technology ever since I can remember, but even at 7 years
old, regardless of how much advancement there was/is, the utilization and creative story that is told, in so
many cases, does not reach the full potential of what it could be. We are at the crux now of one of the most
powerful times of human connection to date, yet at the same time I see such a bitter-sweet disconnect globally,
but it's not too late to help heal humanity as a whole, its never too late, but as time goes on it gets more
challenging. So I now bring a call to action to anyone reading this post, to put on your visionary hat, and
manifest something close to your heart, even if it is very simple, with the realization that many simple things
that fall in line together, create a very powerful energy, that will help the world heal, where everyone has value,
respected and in the end a global symbiotic connection of the heart, mind, and soul <3 I just took the photo
above, here in the Vortex, and added a little artistic expression to it. Even something as simple as your view of
the world, through your eyes, transformed into a photo, can spark the imagination. Get on it peeps :)

Today I awake with thoughts of fragility, as life is so precious, yet we live in a world where many feel the need
to end theirs by their own hand. I would be lying if I said I did not know why, as I myself have been down this
dark path, even recently, and have at times found solace with thoughts that the next day I may not awake, a
very cold sense of peace. I sometime's don't know what gives me strength, other than the fact that I am
surrounded by many circles of friends and family, who in my heart, I know are there for me if I need them, but
it's still very hard for me to comprehend. A few weeks back, I received the news that one does not want to
receive, and that was the passing of a dear friend of mine, June Sophie, whom I connected with more than 12
years ago, on my monumental first Burn brought to the world by the Burning Man Project where I had the
honor of working on the Temple, with June, one of the most real and genuine people I know. We always joked
about how I was from New York and she was from New Jersey (east coast thing) but all kidding aside June
was a very beautiful person, with a very unique personality, who will be missed dearly by so many. I
contemplated keeping these thoughts close to my friends and not public, but the other day, I received news of
another Burning Man artist passing, Tigre Mashaal-Lively, whom I did not know, but by the outpour of posts,
see how loved this pure soul was, and I felt compelled to post something, as we are in a world where so many
need our help. They need compassion, and a nurturing environment, which everyone deserves, and as a
testament that I am writing this post now, even having gone through these dark moments myself, I know things
can change for the better, and it all starts with just reaching out to someone and telling them you love them,
even if not in words, but being physically or digitally present. For those whom we have lost, your memory lives
inside of us and will give us all the strength to build a better tomorrow. The photo above is the June I know and
love, who had such tenacity, and also such compassion. I will miss you Sister and I hope your soul is at rest in
the beyond, where I am sure you are partaking in shenanigans, probably with Tigre, but that's how us Burners
roll. On a final note, know that whatever state I am in if you need a voice, please reach out, as the world does
not need to loose more souls before their time.

Today I Awake with thoughts of hope. Once in a while, we receive a message from the beyond, that guides our
path to our destiny. There is a Japanese concept called Ikigai, which translates to ‘a reason for being'. I looked
to the universe and I was presented with a gift, the honor, and privilege of becoming part of dSTUDIO.earth,
whose noble purpose is driven by global impact initiative, on a humanitarian level, helping creators,
organizations, and businesses, guided by purpose, amplify their story to amplify the growth of impact and
profits. To boldly carve a new path for now and future generations of creatives. I have been given the
opportunity to be a voice of creative direction as their Creative Technology Evangelist. Those who know me
know that when I pour my soul into a purpose-driven cause, in which I truly believe, my output is pure of heart.
Now I call to action anyone looking to have their vision encapsulated into transmedia storytelling, to help
transform your voice, your message, your reason for being, guided by who you are, what you do, and why you
do it, reach out to me now and we will take the powerful energy of creative expression, to help you manifest
your destiny and help heal the world.

Today I awake on the thoughts of who I am, what I do and why I do it, in other words, my noble purpose. I
created a new role, but not just for me, but to define, what I feel as one of the most critical things needed to
help guide the world to a positive direction. This is the role of Creative Technology Evangelist. It’s main focus is
too not only be an advocate for the evolution and exponential development of technology and importance of it,
but to also express the importance of artistic expression and how the two come together in a vessel of positive
energy. There are so many people who think they know the power of Web3 and the Metaverse, but yet I see a
dramatic disconnect, in the most important thing, and that is we are losing touch with our own humanity,
allowing advancement to create a safety net that should not exist. I see this with NFTs and AI generated art.
Although it might sound like I am against it, on the contrary, I personally believe it’s a beautiful evolution of
creative expression, but we do have a responsibility of making sure that we don’t lose sight of the craft. It’s ok if
you cannot do what the conventional mindset tells you is art, and it also means you cannot just take the short
path, to create something, that so many people put all of their hearts energy into. Artistic expression is an
output of one’s emotions and in creative technology, the hybrid is to create a child of two different modalities,
that may have never been able to exist before. This is where the evangelism aspect comes in, believe in what
you do and not what you think every one else wants to see. I would much rather witness something simple,
without much detail, that comes from the heart, verses something that appears beautiful , but in actuality, has
no soul. Today photo, is that of a piece I originally created for the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Brain waves
created a light sequence, in a wonderful exhibit I did with the UC Berkeley Cognitive Technology students, but
what I was not expecting, was for it to become the altar ‘The Fountain of Pon Lai: The Path of Flow’ now part of
my VR world Unity Sanctuary and beacon of hope, that not only does my art speak to me, I have an open heart
to listen.

Today I awake with thoughts of hope, and I know that may sound a little cliche, but hope is what gives us the
strength to move forward, so for those of you reading this, who have a little extra, I encourage you to help
inspires those who need some. You might be surprised what a few words of encouragement can do when
looking at the path it creates, years into the future, you might even save a life that might have ended earlier
than it should. As for my own definition of hope, remember we always do the best we can, but that statement is
created by a complex equation of whom we are surrounded by, whom our ideals came from, and very
challenging decisions we may need to make on a daily basis of our current life, to be able to see tomorrow. It's
why understanding is so important, and the ability to learn from everything, including failure, as it helps us grow
and become better humans. It's why I can always see a positive in everything because positive energy is very
powerful, even in tiny amounts, like kindling or the butterfly effect, so it does not need to start off very big at all,
but it always has the potential to grow on a global scale. In today's photo, I see hope represented in the bond
of my marriage, back in 2016, at the Temple of Burning Man Project, filled with wearable creative expression
Tina helped bring to the world. As I said, the original spark does not have to be very big, but its effect down the
road can be monumental.
#hope #live #life #believe

Today I awake with thoughts of direction. This one may not be what you think as it has to do with my artistic
process :) I have often said that my creations sometimes direct me, by creating change I was not expecting,
and adding a different outcome from my original idea. For me, this is the most beautiful process of artistic
expression, as it is an organic process. Over the years, I have learned to listen to what I create and allow it to
flow naturally, and not to put too much constraint on it. This is also true after I create something, as I always
seem to see something new, every time I tell the story of its ideation to actualization and meaning behind
everything. The one thing I will miss not being at Burning Man this year is talking with people about the artistic
process, one of my favorite things to share. In this photo, take a look at the building process of my memorial
sculpture, Life Within Itself, my first solo wood, metal, and acrylic lighting sculpture. Although Mr. Cheese (the
cat in the photo) seems preoccupied, he is always curious to see what I will create next :)

Today I awake with thoughts of sustainability and respect for creativity, as artistic expression is critical and
supports the development of everything. I find that too many times when a person is asked what they do and
when the answer is 'Artist' a common follow-up response is, but what do you do for money? Truth be told this
mentality really pisses me off, as a world without art in any form, would be a very sad place. Being creative
takes a lot of human time and energy, so if you can afford to help support you should, even if that support is to
help raise awareness. Let's help create a world where everyone can flourish, including those who add so much
beauty, yet are sometimes under appreciated. In this photo I have sculptures that I brought to Burning Man, but
this photo is from the 2018 Autumn Lights festival, and I brought them to help support the gardens of Lake
Merritt as well as an appreciation for my friend @torarocha, who invites so many talented people and is the
Rockstar who organizes this event every year :)

Today I awake with thoughts of who I am as a human. In my mind, one of the most important things everyone
should be able to feel comfortable with is to be open and accepting of their feelings. Recent posts over the past
year about tragic life choices, remind me of a very important documentary called 'The Mask You Live In' which
brings to light a very serious problem young boys are up against, and that's a very skewed version of what
masculinity is. A direct quote from the trailer 'The 3 most destructive words that every man receives when he
was a boy, is when he is told to be a man' which can lead to a sad statistic, also from this documentary, that
every day 3 or more boys commit suicide in the united states. We are in a critical time, where connections
through social media and the growing concept of the metaverse, will create an extraordinary global impact and
I really hope that messages of love, compassion, understanding, and peace will resonate and that everyone
can love who they are, and not traumatized by a skewed version that is perceived. It's why I write this blog, as
this is my example that it is ok to be yourself :) This photo is my 2nd Burning Man with Tina, taken at sunrise,
and for me represents the power of an open heart and to always remain true to yourself.

Today I awake with thoughts of the universe and beyond as well as my 18th post on this blog, which holds
significance on many different levels. The number 18 is a very auspicious number in many cultures and
religions. I have found some interesting facts, during my coffee time internet exploration. For us Jews, 18
means 'life', in Chinese numerology, it means 'going to prosper', and the angel number 1818 means 'the
courage to move forward' The commonalities and connections of numbers or even mathematical equations,
originating from the divine or the vast cosmos of the unknown, resonate solace within me. It was this modality
of thinking, from which I manifested the idea of The Connected Experience, based on sacred geometry, as well
as inspired the architectural genius of Buckminster Fuller, to build a bridge between the physical and virtual, to
help connect people, with biofeedback creating a universal language of the heart and mind. My birthday falls
on the 9th day of November, and double that, the 18th of November is the birthday of my brother Michael
Krawitz. Michael is also the inspiration for the leader of the sacred 6 superhero origin stories I am slowly
developing, as a mythical story based within The Connected Experience (6x3=18). Of course, I am grounded in
reality, but inspired by the magic of the unknown, as this is my creative process. In my heart, one of the
greatest things we can share, is the way we think, so I challenge the people of LinkedIn, as a response to my
18th posting of 'Today I Awake', to speak their minds as well. Not only would I love to hear what you have to
say, but I am also sure many other people would love to hear it as well :) Today's photo is the Dodecahedron
from The Connected Experience, and although it only has 12 sides, it is one of the 5 platonic solids and
represents 'Universe' Welcome to my heart+mind+soul=imagination <3

Today I awake, inspired by the thoughts of the power of one's voice. If you know me well, you know my
nickname, The Hebrew Hammer, has a lot to do with one of my favorites skills, basically something a Jew from
New York can do without too much thought, and that's to hold a conversation :) I tell you one thing that's pretty
clear, no one knows what's on your mind unless you say it in some format. We live in a unique time with social
media in so many flavors and the potential the metaverse brings, which is the power to create the butterfly
effect with your voice. This is also a big part of why I write these daily posts, hoping more people resonate with
what I say and speak their minds. I saw a response to a post on here that said this space should not be a
social space and only be a professional network, due to propaganda on social networks and people rely on LI
to advance their careers and learn about innovations. My first thought on that was WTF, LMFAO! Of course, I
was professional and responded with I agree to disagree. I most definitely believe we all need to inject
personality into this space, in lieu of being boring as fuck jibba jabba. Speaking of voice here's me at the Burn
in 2015, the first one with Tina, with the most appropriate message in the background, 'Fuck Yeah' let's try and
vocalize more like that!

Today I awake with thoughts of concern. On July 31st I posted a picture of a shanty house, occupied by
homeless people, on Lake Merritt, just down the road from the Grand Lake Theater. It's a very affluent
neighborhood and the week after I posted, the homeless were removed from the site. I am reminded of this
today, as I walked to my favorite farmers market and see the view of this new photo. The folks in the shanty
house always looked in good spirits, always with a smile, and even sold odds and ends to get whatever money
they could, but even the city with the strongest eviction protection in the country, including homeless
encampments, did not bode well for this particular dwelling. I do have hope and positive thoughts that they
have moved to something better, but something tells my heart that is not true. Human beings deserve more
dignity than this, and folks with more then they need to live a happy life should not see a homeless dwelling as
a blight, to be swept away, but as a need for change. We live in a world, and specifically here in Oakland with
so much wealth, as well as empty buildings, I can't see what see why anyone would be homeless. Just
remember when walking by and seeing someone down on their luck, that there is a chance it could be you and
how would you feel if society threw you out with the trash. There is hope like I said before, but change won't
happen until more people recognize there is a problem and do whatever they have the power to do, to help. My
good friend, and Design Science Studio CoheART member Jon Van Meter, has a wonderful project to design
modular housing for the homeless, that I helped 3D model and put in VR in Altspace. My heart pushes energy
to his project, for it to get the funding it needs, as this one means a lot and would honor me to put more effort
into it. As I said, we all do our part, I use the power of my voice, my imagination, design, and building skills to
make a difference with this specific challenge, in support of SDG 11, Make cities and human settlements
inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. What will you do? Make me proud peeps, we can all do this together
:)
One person can change the world, every(one)
#community #SDG11 #unity

Today I awake with thoughts of influence, in specific terms, influencers. The first thing that comes to my mind
when I think of influencers is WTF has this world come to? It's one thing to promote an idea if you at least kind
of believe in it, but to put a face next to something of no relevance, really dilutes the meaning, as we move in
the direction where profit means more than people. Of course, don't get me wrong, I understand that the Star
Trek mentality of no more money is quite far away, if at all possible, but I think if anything needs to change with
immediacy, it would be our value system. In an age of such advancement and wealth, no one should live in
poverty, let alone the millions that currently suffer. Attention influencers, if you want to do something positive
with your face, promote the United Nations Sustainable Development goal, especially the first one, which
needs immediate attention, due to the dire state of the world, SDG1 End Poverty In All Forms Everywhere. In
this photo, I took at the Oakland Museum, only blocks from where we live, the Red Lantern Girl, reaches
toward hope, connecting with Truth is Beauty, by Marco Cochrane, who also encapsulates purpose into his
beautiful creations, including being an advocate for holding safe space for Women. These are the influences
we need people, and many more.
One person can change the world, Every(one)
#purpose #humanity #vision #unity #hope

Today I awake on thoughts of the bright road ahead. I am reminded of this as we watch the sunset, after nom
nom nom on some of my wife and my favorite Bay Area foods, before the journey ahead. It’s always important
to appreciate the simple things in life, like the best pizza in Berkey at Gioia’s, Organic Momo from Nomad on
Solano and a Masala Dosa from Vic’s in Berkeley. It’s amazing how many memories surface as Tina and I sit
here in a food coma lol. One powerful memory, not food related is this photo of mine, probably one of my most
favorite Burning Man sunsets, of my favorite lantern Girl…

Today I awake with Hope, and a vision of a bright future. In life we sometimes need to make decisions that are
not necessarily how we saw our ypath, a detour is how I see it, which will always lead to a destination of a
good life, if you hold that mindset. In hindsight, one thing I have learned over the years is to never give up on a
dream, but step away for a breather if you feel it is overwhelming, even if that means for years, but always hold
on to the vision and pick it back up when it calls to you and you are ready. This is how I have lived my entire
life. There was a 10 year gap from first inception of my idea for The Connected Experience, to the first stages
of the digital environment. I now meditate on how to bring this forward to its next stage, but will allow it space to
grow, to develop into what it’s meant to be vs force it into something out of urgency. Even this blog resonates
with the heart of what TCE is, to connect people globally, to help build a better world. I bring you to my deepest
thoughts, to help encourage more to do the same, and when we have more unity, the next stage will be to get
some fantastical shit done ❤ Tina took this photo of me, from the last Burning Man I went to back in 2018, 10
days in the dust, look of exhaustion and motivation to drive to Tahoe, after I broke down camp and loaded an
entire U-Haul van myself, as Tina had an injured foot. Same burn as the photo in my first article of this blog!
This is the person I will be, till my last breath, always holding on to a dream and never letting go.

Today I awake on the Jungle Bus, catching some rest in the woods during the epic 3 day load and journey to
our storage in Reno. Oh how I love packing and moving things lmfao! Although it was just a few things, it filled
a U-Haul van and I live in a 3 flight walk up. Hay Dios Mio! Just wanted to say hi, as I just figured out how to
post an article on the mobile version of LinkedIn, you would have thought it would have been easy (massive
sarcasm) hahahaha

Today I awake, with the thought of creativity and what it means to me. This morning's synchronicity brought me
to Jason Silva FB page, where I saw a short video he did on creativity, which inspired me to share my own
thoughts. I worked with Jason back in the day at Current TV, which was a ground-breaking time, and some of
the most amazing and creative people I know. I am always humbled and blown away, by the people I have
shared space with.
So... Back to the thought of what is creativity??? In my mind creativity is the fundamental structure of
everything, a pure emotional and logical output of everyone, freedom of thought, manifesting into something
that does not exist and into a tangible form, physical, digital, or in the beyond. Close your eyes think deep into
your heart, and your creative medium will surface. Don't be afraid to voice what you discover, as I also find
what some think might be mundane, is in fact what many see as fantastical, but there is only one way to find
out :) It's such an amazing gift we all have... Yes indeed, all of us. I have found many times, that so many
people don't even understand that they are creative, but being a mentor, I can see the magic in everything and
help guide those believe in their own creative potential. I am most definitely an advocate for the redefining of
the antique meaning so many mindsets still have, and ready to be part of a world where everyone has the
chance to really understand what this means, under the guidance of a positive and nurturing community. Let's
Art everything people.
This photo is probably one of my favorites I have taken of my very favorite model, #lanterngirl, and wife Tina
Liu, strutting in the #electricgeisha and is such a beautiful example of many different modalities and magic of
creativity.
#creativity #community #mentorship #onelove

Today I awake, although it's now 9:30 pm LOL. Today's thought is about a passion of mine many people don't
know I have, cooking. Throughout the past, almost 3 years, being in our apartment most of the time, due to the
pandemic, I have taken on daily cooking detail :) I do this for many reasons including the necessity of hard
financial times and just the fact that cooking for me is an art form and a way for me to share that joy with Tina,
to help keep us in good health and spirits. The apartment, as per Tina Liu, always smells divine, and this from
someone who lived in the south of France for 10 years, and worked on yachts, where the chefs were first class
and money was no object. Being on a strict budget is always putting my skills to the test, but in the end, is
always worth it as Tina always has a smile on her face, which means the world to me. In this picture, you can
see her 'Nom, Nom, Nom, on Christmas dinner, which is of course my homemade 100% organic Matzo Ball
soup, with chicken we cooked for 2 days, where even the bones melt in your mouth :) One might say it rivals
Katz's Delicatessen, but you didn't hear that from me ;) It humbles me to see that this simple gesture, done
with love, has such a powerful effect, which really goes to show how much positive impact we can all have.
#jewishmedicine #food #artisticexpression

Today I awake with the thoughts of identity. One of the most fundamental choices we should all have is the
right to identify with what our heart tells us, regardless of the body we were born into, as well as feel safe,
accepted, and loved for that choice we make. I was reminded of this today, through a positive thread on
Facebook, and a comment of affirmation I wrote. My comment was in regards to pronouns, and why they are
so important. Part of my comment was 'Pronouns are about how people identify, specifically for the brave
individuals who openly identify, even in the wake of hate crime and archaic thinking' and now to add 'This is
how we can all support equality and acceptance in professional and personal environments.' I have updated
my profile with (He/Him) as not only how I identify, but that I also stand proud and tall with everyone's precious
gift to be open to identify with who they are. This picture is the first VR environment I created in Altspace,
called Unity Sanctuary. Not only was it inspired by my wife Tina Liu Burning Man collective, but also an idea I
have for a physical environment place of sound and light healing, where everyone is accepted, as seen in the
glowing lights of energy, in the colors of the rainbow…

Today I awake with thoughts of persistency. Throughout my life, I have always made time for my passion
projects, Burning Man and beyond. The one thing for me that has always been challenging is balancing my
time to prevent burnout and also the understanding that sometimes less is more and even making just the
smallest space to do the things you love is very relevant, and most importantly, never stop. Even if it's just a
little here and there, tiny things can become giant outcomes, when practicing patience. This photo, taken by
my wife Tina Liu, in 2015, just a few months after we first met, was me creating what would become, The
Fountain of Pon Lai: The Path of Flow, first making an appearance at the Exploratorium in San Francisco,
when I helped wrangle the University of California, Berkeley CogTech 2 month exhibit, focusing on brain wave
interaction. Yes, folks, the LED sequence of this sculpture was controlled by your brain waves :)

Today I awake with the thought of 'explanation', as in for those who don't know me and are reading this
newsletter, to answer the question of why I am writing this daily and why on LinkedIn. Well, my dear friend
Stephen Altair (Skelton), whom I met through the metaverse of zoom, which in itself is a truly magical story,
introduced me to a term that defines how I have been living my life. It's called a 'Noble Purpose' or who you
are, what you do, and why you do it, towards a goal of a better future for humanity. A big part of my Noble
Purpose is to be as vocal as on can on my thoughts, as I believe the more vocal we are, the more
commonalities we find. This answers the first part, but why on LinkedIn? Well, if we move towards a direction
of building conscious teams, we truly need to know each other and throughout my entire professional career, I
have more or less been myself in the work environment and have built tight bonds with the people I share
space with. Although many feel there needs to be a separation between personal and professional lives, I
challenge that thought to not be true, as we spend a considerable amount of our adult life at work. I have been
lucky to have had genuine relationships with the people I work with, and do not see them as coworkers, but
more like my second family. With all of that said, I share my hybrid personal and professional thoughts here, to
hopefully inspire anyone who reads my words, to do the same...
~The Hebrew Hammer
#noble #purpose #community #conscious #teams

Today I awake to the very tragic news, that 2 of my dear friends Roxanna Shohadaee and Nicolás Alcalá
Schächter along with Amanda Joy Gilbert were in a terrible car accident in Spain, and need help urgently. To
say Roxi and Nico are pillars of the community would be an understatement, they are 2 of the most genuine
human beings I know, as well as the co-founders of the Design Science Studio, which I was blessed to be a
part of on a full scholarship. The coheART shared 7 months together, traversing the metaverse through zoom,
where we all connected on a sacred level of the heart, mind, and soul. Although I do not know Amanda as well,
I do know that she is and will continue to bring joy to the world through global impact initiative. Their road
ahead will be challenging, but my heart tells me it will be triumphant. If you are able to do so, please help
support these beautiful human beings. https://gofund.me/7557acbc

Today I awake with a feeling of deep sadness for where I live. Investopedia rates Oakland, CA, as #6 most
expensive city in the United States to live in, yet the amount of homelessness is tragic. I am reminded of this
daily, just walking down the street from my apartment. I took this photo 2 weeks ago, only a few blocks away
from one of the most flourishing farmer's markets in the Bay Area, where I go every Saturday. Times are very
hard, especially during this pandemic, but regardless human beings deserve so much more than having to live
in the park, especially in the 21st century when we have the ability to eradicate this globally, by even the
slightest redistribution of wealth. I myself am going through one of the most challenging times of my life, yet
humbled by knowing that at any moment this could be my life, which is why I cherish the fact my wife and I still
have a roof over our heads and food to eat. I ask anyone who reads this post the question, how much do you
really need in life to be happy, and would you give back anything in excess to people who really needed help? I
believe it's just that simple, but in the end, we need to believe in people as well as the belief that we can all
make a difference. Speak your mind and things can change, the power of your voice is a gift, now is the time to
use it. <3

Today I awake with thoughts of what #success really means. I have had a pretty interesting life so far, including
many modalities of experience, but in the end, it's whom I surround myself with. Money, although important in
today's society, is by no means a measure of success, at least in my mind. For me, a true measure of success
is being #happy and to #inspire at least one person in my lifetime. I took this photo on the last day of Burning
Man 2017, of the memorial sculpture I created for my father who passed away that year and to see the
message '<3 My Favorite' written on the base, brought me tears of joy. I spent every night with that sculpture
and talked to hundreds of people about my lifes journey, my artistic process, and general spirituality. I spoke
with people going through similar hardships I have had, not having that great of a relationship with my own
father gave me insight on how to help both sides of the story. That day was an affirmation that the true
meaning of success was that I was there for the community and they were there for me.

Today I awake knowing I can become anything I want and it's never too late, even until my last breath. All you
need to do is say these words to yourself, say them out loud, as loud as you can 'THIS IS WHO I AM'
Meet 6-year-old Brian, even at this age, I had a firm grasp of the fantastical, as well as a risk taker, as seen by
that big bandage on my finger, LMFAO. All kidding aside, be yourself, and you can become what you want, but
always remember to give back in whatever capacity you can, as together we can all achieve greatness, where
every role is important, every human is important, and every human is EQUAL.

Today I Awake with a sense of urgency, and a mindset to get shit done. As with many other people, besides
myself, we live in a world of uncertainty. The pandemic has and still is leaving its mark, but we can't give up or
give in, we need to get through it, including changing the corporate mindset to start developing conscious
teams as its more than just work, we should ALL be appreciated as well as care about what we do
professionally. In this picture at Burning Man 2018 taken by my wife, I am the solo assembler of this 20'
carport, along with the custom 20'x30' solar reflective tarp that I made. Tina was injured that year, but I really
needed to step it up, as Burning Man is also our wedding anniversary and it means the world to her. The
creative mind will come up with perfect solutions, we just need to believe in them.

Today I awake with the thought of my path. This photo I took back in March 2018, titled 'I stand alone with only my reflection to guide me' is how I have lived my whole life. Before you think it sounds sad, ultimately I feel it's the truth for everyone in some way. I look to the community to be inspired, but in the end, it's up to each and every one of us to look in the mirror and decide, who we are, what we do, and why we do it, also defined as your Noble Purpose. Of course, The Hebrew Hammer will be there (to his best ability lol), if you need someone to talk to.

Today I awake knowing that everyone has the potential to create a positive global impact, but truth be told, there needs to be a want so deep in their heart, that it drives them to verbalize it. Growing up, I have always been the type to take chances, to do what I believe in, but find so many times that so many people are unable to move past a thought. It can be scary, to wear your heart on your shoulder, as society sometimes stifles open thinking and radical ideas. Being a mentor has its responsibility to lead by example, and I do this by sharing my courage, through the inspiration of what I have done in the past, to help inspire others to do the same. #inspiration #people #mentor

Today I awake with hope. For me, every day it's more clear how connected we all really are. I wrote this message in the picture below in 2015, on a chalkboard wall in East Oakland, in a little artist neighborhood called Jingletown 'It just takes one person to change the world, (every)one. Freedom of expression is a gift, USE IT!!!' That woman with the look of tenacity is my wife, Tina Liu, who at that time we had only recently met, yet connected almost instantly. I post this on LinkedIn specifically, because I believe the myth that there needs to be a separation between personal life and professional life, is only fueled by people who are forced to make a living, by doing things they don't have a passion for and they do it only to survive. I know, that if more people started speaking their minds, in a positive and productive way, the world would change in a fundamental way. The past is gone, the future is never here and we only have today. I have two asks from anyone who sees this post, share it if it resonates with you, and also write something from your heart, that you know will bring a better tomorrow. #people #artist #change #hope #unity