From Doodle to Design: Almost Wordless Wednesday

Given that I am an obsessive doodler, it's no surprise that when cleaning my office I would find scraps of paper with little pen and ink doodles on them. A couple evenings ago I fed these to Google's Gemini (AI Flash 2.5) to be "converted" into watercolors. Here's what I received in return.

Be curious.

You never know what you will find next.

The world is your oyster.

Just Doodlin'

As most people who know me know, I am a doodler. What is Doodling? Doodling is the act of drawing, sketching, or scribbling absentmindedly, often while engaged in another activity like listening, thinking, talking on the phone or daydreaming. These spontaneous creations can take many forms—simple shapes, patterns, abstract designs, or even small illustrations. They're typically done with pen or pencil on paper, though digital doodling has also become common. It is usually unplanned and lacks a specific artistic goal, distinguishing it from deliberate drawing or illustration. Here are some examples of my own doodles.

Why Do People Doodle?

People doodle for a variety of reasons, often without consciously intending to. I might be considered a compusively doodler by some, but years ago when I was asked about my doodling in a meeting, I'd just read some research stating that doodling can help maintain attention and improve concentration. I'm not sure if it was this one, but a 2009 study by psychologist Jackie Andrade found that doodlers recalled 29% more information than non-doodlers when listening to a monotonous recording. By engaging the brain’s default mode network lightly, doodling prevents daydreaming and keeps the mind anchored to the present task, such as during meetings or lectures.

For some folks, doodling serves as a calming mechanism, reducing stress and anxiety. The repetitive, rhythmic motions of drawing simple patterns can have a meditative effect, similar to mindfulness practices. Art therapy research suggests that doodling allows individuals to express emotions nonverbally, providing a safe outlet for feelings that might be hard to articulate. I also suspect that some people doodle because they are bored. For those I recommend taking up art. It can also be theraputic and even rewarding.

I just looked it up and learned that the word "doodle" dates back to the 17th century. It originally meant "foolish person." In the 20th century it referred to casual scribbling. In my journals from the past 45 years you'll find all kinds of doodles, patterns, marginalia and designs. If I were someone famous, I suppose there would be an effort made to analyze them and make pronouncements about what they mean. Since I'm not (famous) it means that most of these forty volumes of journal writing will likely become landfill or recycled paper. What do you think?

Why I Moderate Comments (With Examples of Comments Unshared)

Nearly anyone who has ever had a blog, or published articles online where the door is open for comments, has had to wrestle with the issue of comment moderation. The most common kind of deleted comments are those submitted by trolls whose only aim is to link to their website or some other site they were no doubt paid to promote. Here are some examples.

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Hey there! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to look it over. I'm definitely loving the information. Guess what the secret is on my page LINK REDACTED

Hi would you mind letting me know which web host you're using? I've loaded your blog in 3 different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Looking forward to special sharing at LINK REDACTED

Sometimes the comment is not relevant to the blog post. For example, this comment was in response to my review of Bob Dylan's Malibu:

FROM THE GAZA of Goyathlay The great American resistance fighter of Sinai southwest Arizona and Mexico North America had an American name spelled in English of "Goyathlay" or "Goyathle". His humanly popular name Geronimo or Jeronimo was a Kathlick translation to Saint Jerome and was often assigned to Americans of both South and North America under Spanish Kathlick tyranny. He was stuck in captivity within a certain portion of the GAZA of North America OKLAHOMA (Red People Home) by Federal Union military forces. It was in this area, near what is now called Lawton OK and Fort Sill OK, that 911 Chernobyl Space Shuttle Explosion Current COVID World Plague were witnessed in September 1973 in a simultaneous Vision given by a UFO Intelligence over a 2-3 hour period. It accompanied a massive UFO flap in this area. Was unable to reveal this at time because American medicine ceremonies are VERBOTEN by the Invasion Government Over America. There is a Law of Nature. Human Deviationi$m is ALWAYS within the Borders of the Law of Nature Under $urveillance by $CIA$KGB$ $FBI$FSB$ $NSA$NKVD$ $MI6$MIB$ STASIO (STASI ASIO) the past 49 years for Pro Peace Anti War Pro Environment Anti Nuclear sentiments and activities. vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv intelligence.atspace.com ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Americans are a COMPLETELY SEPARATE Race, a COMPLETELY SEPARATE Culture from those who invaded and destroyed America.

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A LOT of comments are left by trolls who say "Great Post" and then post a link to some site they are getting paid to promote. Here are examples.

--Great post I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this interesting and knowledgeable article. Timelie Crack Resident Evil    LINK REDACTED

--Hi, love this post and this sites stories!, I like the ideas and creativity! I also have my own blog and portfolio! It would help me out a lot if you would take a look! thank you! LINK REDACTED

Some anonymous person seems to leave a lot of messages with all caps. Sometimes it's one word, and sometimes a whole sentence. Not sure who he or she is, but my heart goes out to this troubled individual.

--you are UNCARING

--people are FAKE and UNCARING

--everybody is LYING to me

--my parents are LYING TO ME about my lung disease

--i wish my mother was DEAD

--none of you care none of you care none of you care none of you care

--EVERYBIODY IS LYING TO ME

--you are UNCARING

--I DISPISE (Sic) BEING TOLD TO BE GRATEFUL BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE TELLING ME I DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING

The last statement above was in response to my blog post last week about The Broken Windows Theory.

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The following is evidently from a disciple of Lord Bubuza... if not from Bubuza himself.

Lord Bubuza has done it for me, His predictions are 100% correct, He is real and can perform miracles with his spell. I am overwhelmed because I just won 336,000, 000 million Euro from a lottery jackpot game with the lottery number lord Bubuza gave me. I contacted lord Bubuza for help to win a lottery via WhatsApp: +phone number redacted, he told me that a spell was required to be casted so that he can predict my winning, I provided his requirements for casting the spell and after casting the spell he gave the lottery numbers and a website where I played and won 336,000,00 euros. How can I thank this man enough? His spell is real and like a God on Earth. Thank you for changing my life with your lottery winning numbers. Do you need help to win a lottery too? contact lord Bubuza 

* * * 

You have given very good information, I thank you very much, this information is very helpful for me, that is why I have created this kind of information which is almost the same if you also want this kind of information. If someone reads, you can visit the LINK REDACTED for this and can read very easily through them.

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--Good post, and thanks for sharing such an adorable post. I would love to see more articles / blogs. I am also writing about LINK REDACTED you can read this article.

--Unknown commented on "Did a Post-Modernist Philosopher Write Songs for the Beatles?"

This is absurd! How shallow! It's all over your head. I followed them to the end and I served my country and brought up a family. You are Evil!

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REDACTED commented on "Roz Warren Writes for Everyone from the New York Times to the Funny Times"

Thanks for posting this info. I just want to let you know that I just check out your site and I find it very interesting and informative. Now sharing some information about How to download LINK REDACTED

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I suspect that a lot of these comments are from people who were paid on Fiverr to promote something on ten websites or blogs. Here's a typical comment example, posted on my blog post titled Juarez: City of Blood

--To write a beautiful post it is very important to write a beautiful container and have prepared a very good design and I got a lot of inspiration from your post and I would also like to post like you in my life. (REDACTED then lists a bunch of links to bhiwadi escorts, sector 20 escorts, gurugram call girls etc.)

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Let's close with these:

GG commented on "In Defense of the 1%"
HI BEEN ALONG TIME SINCE ANYONE COMMENT OF THIS BLOG~ SO HOWDY  

And one more:

You are very articulate and explain your ideas and opinions clearly leaving no room for miscommunication. Please kindly check My web:  LINK REDACTED

 * * * 

Meantime, life goes on... 

Don't be a stranger. 
Feel free to leave a comment.

Doodles, Wasted Hours Stretching

What is it that so fascinates up about faces? Even before we can talk, we seek out our mothers' faces, recognize our fathers, are drawn to the eyes and various expressions people wear. Social scientists and psychologists have studied this fascination with faces for decades. Darwin even wrote a book about it. (The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals.)

Over the course of a lifetime I've observed it as a recurring theme in my doodles and drawings. What fascinates me when drawing lines on paper is how even with a minimal amount of detail one can create such a range of expressions. 

Last night I was looking through my old journals and came across a few sketchbooks as well. Here are some of the drawings I found there. 

When I think of doodling, this poem from 1983 comes to mind. Susie and I had gone to a cabin in Portage, Wisconsin for a week. It was a time of soul searching with regards to my future. During that week I had something of an epiphany at dusk during a lightning storm and heavy rain, and felt a sense of calling to be a writer. What follows is a poem I wrote early one morning during that week. The poem always brings to mind this critical moment in which my life took on a new direction with definite purposefulness.

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Wisconsin Misty Morning

Wisconsin misty morning come

redeem me from this drifting

like the fog that here is lifting

in the blazing light of day.

Captivated by this wonder

song of silence, stillness thunders

to awaken life within me

streaming passion golden ray.

Doodles, wasted hours spending

drafting nonsense, making etchings

with the timeless vacant stretching

of the spaces in between.

Mindless wandering and gazing

useless energy dispelling,

with no story worth the telling

and my mood turned blue from green. 

Portage, Wisconsin 1983

Doodles of the Rich and Famous (A Baker's Dozen)

 This is a continuation of the blog post Doodles on the Half Shell.

Just Thinking About It

Smiley on a Post-It Note

Mixed Up Messages

A Snake That's Been Charmed

A Tight End for the Giants

Just a Crazy Guy on the Island

Watson

Suspicious

The Boy Scout (Doin' His Version of the Funny Walk)

Stepping Out (Also Doin' the Funny Walk)

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This last doodle brought to mind some lyrics 

from a song on Dylan's Modern Times.

As I walked out tonight in the mystic garden
The wounded flowers were dangling from the vine
I was passing by yon cool crystal fountain
Someone hit me from behind

Ain't talkin', just walkin'
Through this weary world of woe
Heart burnin', still yearnin'
No one on earth would ever know

Full lyrics Here.

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Welcome to 2021

Make the most of it.

Doodles on the Half Shell

In the lonely night In the blinking stardust of a pale blue light You’re comin’ thru to me in black and white When we were made of dreams --Bob Dylan, Born In Time 

Out of the Blue 

Miss Handled

Presto Change-O

Drama King

The Happy Prince

The Philosopher

The Sports Fan

A Little Poon-Buddy

The Night Crawler

The beginning of a new year is a good time to sort through files and get organized. I came across four folders filled with three decades of doodles. It stimulated ideas for an upcoming project. Hope you enjoyed these. Have a super meaningful 2021. 

Related Link

Does Doodling Improve Memory?