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archives push me to post webmail :: xenii mail the hive :: for trading and raiding polymorph :: a cosmographia universalis chrisnelson.ca :: chiefwagonburner has a blog fortune cookie distro :: x's distro
Yes, Canada is sounding really nice right about now. Anyway. Jimmy, I'm starting to write this paper for a class I'm taking, it's a class that talks about music in relation to Nietzsche's Birth of Tragedy, Attali's Noise, the Political Economy of Music, and stuff like that. Basically, it's all about how music could be used as a method of moving ideas out of the realm of reason. I'm writing about the Oblique Strategies and Eno's ambient music. I'm doing some reading online about it, so I've got the basic understanding of his influences and where ambient music was apparent but not named as such. But I'm curious if you have any insight into it yourself, since I know you love this stuff and might have some thoughts on it. I'm finding my lack of musical knowledge is really making it hard to write the paper. Some things that our readings are expressing: dialectical understandings of music, as in the apollonian and dionysian expressions. Nietzsche's wanting to revel in the Dionysian in order to EXPLODE the symbolic system, find a way out of the trap that is language. For him the word has no connection to the Real. He wants art to avoid illusion and attempts at mimickry. Rupture is really important in this analysis, and the chorus of greek tragedy becomes an example of how to locate meaning in a rupture (the chorus sits at the seam between illusion and the actual, the stage and the audience). My teacher spoke of deteritorialization of discourse, and I think there's definitely something about ambient music that does this: the music isn't necessarily in the background or foreground, but is allowed to drift every which way. Repetition is also important in ambient music, although in Eno's work it often manifests with slight variation as the repeated elements progress. In one of the texts (were they talking about Schoenberg?) there is mention of 12 tones subjected to a series of permutations. In a way this parodies rationalism (where things are numbered and ordered), yet the basis is so arbitrary that it's actually quite irrational. Sorry about all of that theoretical BS...but it's the vocabulary I'm being subjected to right now, so it's the only way I can navigate at the moment. Does any of it make sense? And does it really relate to my topic?
Anna  Things are as they are because we are as we are. Where can I take Religious Tolerance for Atheists 101? I think I like the textbook.
jimmy I like your textbook, Jeffron. Its the same situation in Gaza - hamas and the rest of them use US made m16s (sold/given to Isreal), which they buy from Isreal's black market. I saw a very good BBC documentary a while back with some guys that stayed with the Israeli army for a month and some Hamas fighters for a month. You need to buy condoms online/in bulk. You would spend a fortune if you were buying them at drugstores.
chiefwagonburner Heh, I remember that conversation jimmy, but I thought it was with dylan in pdx. Maybe we were talking about him. Those old posts are interesting to look at (if nerve-wracking due to the incessant pop-ups and yahoos butchering of the formatting). Posts like this, possibly the first inkling of defection? As for condoms, all I know is they are too damn expensive. A box of 12 is like 15 dollars. A condom is like, 4 times more expensive than a cigarette. As for the church, I have no sympathy for it, but I do feel sorry for the pope, because he looks very old and shakes a lot. But it is no doubt all part of The Great Mystery. The Iraqi thing sounds like the Russians in Chechnya. The Russians haven't been able to stop the rebels from getting arms because the rebels buy the arms on the black market from, yes, the nearest Russian military base, and use the arms to fight the Russians, who get killed with their own weapons. Our modern times. Here's a poem I wrote recently about, I don't know, religious matters I guess. Make of it what you will. If anyone has friends at The Vatican, feel free to forward it on to them. Textbook Instructions: Religious Tolerance for Atheists 101 Step 1. Recognize that the awe of understanding, while infinitely richer than the awe of ignorance, is historically new. Don’t expect your view to garner much sympathy or recognition. Instead, when in a religious service, focus on the immediate. Meditate on architecture and iconography. Participate in celebratory song; consider writing an essay on the Hymn as Proto-Karaoke. Appreciate how polished wood and gold leaf catches light, and the impact of elevated platforms on verbal projection. Step 2. Realize the idiocy of the currently fashionable assertion that any view, by nature of existing, is automatically as worthy of respect as any equal and opposite view. Compare with similar absurdities in modern culture. These will multiply in your mind like sheep leaping over an insomniac’s mental fence. When you’ve reached a number greater than dogma and equal to your conviction, you are ready to proceed to Step 3. Step 3. Having completed Step 2, you are ready to illuminate the line between conviction and belief. Bravely assert your opinions, or leave anonymous pamphlets on buses. When confronted with accusations of arrogance, as is inevitable, explain to your conversant that you have no belief-that-there-is-no-god – you are convinced there is no god. Use the analogy of the uselessness yet persistence of the penny as a form of monetary currency. Sprinkle dialogue with examples from physics and evolutionary biology as needed. Step 4. The desire not to think about things too much being a pervasive aspect of human nature, keep your expectations low. Build a castle with your thoughts. Name it The Future. Does it have steeples? Does it resemble a church? If so, repeat Steps 1 through 3.
jeffron x Ahrnold today. Tells davis to stop working, appoints a supply side economist, calls his groping old news and wont answer questions he said he would. Looks like we are in for a fun ride. Ironic and scary - We dont really know where Iraq army weapons (like shoulder fired anti air missiles) are now. So instead of making it harder for Iraq to deal in arms, the US has actually built a black market with porous borders.
chiefwagonburner Lesson number 85,923 on why DMCA is bad. A computer science grad student at Princeton wrote a report showing the CD DRM (digital rights management, in other words, you can not backup or rip the CD to mp3s) was ineffective - it could easily be defeated by use of the 'shift' key. The stock of the DRM company (SunnComm) has since fallen by 20%. Now, SunnComm plans to sue the student under the DMCA and claim that SunnComm's reputation has been falsely damaged. /lame
chiefwagonburner Sad thing is that in the long run, it is probably cheaper to let people die. Why not just have condoms on every street corner and be done with it. Helps with 2 huge problems - 1) STD's 2) Overpopulation
chiefwagonburner It would be interesting to find out who's getting the better deal. Bush in human lives per barrel of oil, or Haddad in droplets of Neverapine? I guess on the one hand, Bush's lives per barrel are people dying, and Haddad's are people living, but I'm sure you could interesting comparisons. One of the biggest crimes of humanity has been the mixture of science and industry. All sciences should be considered extensions of moral philosophy. Scientific ideas and information should be free, as though they were floating in the ether...there is always some objection to that..."but how would we..?" I say FUCK OFF. All the "but how would we" people are begging the question. I think every precondition to a world like this would be a good one. The problem is that no one ever takes the orthogonal approach. If you think within the confines of the current state of affairs you'll never find a good answer. It would be a totally different world. COMPLETELY different. Meds for everyone. No bombs. No mustard gas. I know that early in the morning on September 11th, 2001, I apologized for telling jeffron several days earlier that if there were a button to erase the world economic system and make everything come to a halt (I actually said "make planes fall from the sky"), yes, I would still do it. ARRRrrrrrrgggghh. I'm pissed.
jimmy Thats a damned good return on investment - Aprox 180 lives for 40 cents.
chiefwagonburner Ok...the AIDS thing has prompted me to post a rant I had initially spared you from. : A recent article in Progressive magazine details a fellow's struggles (Bill Haddad, cofounder of the Peace Corps) with the pharmaceutical companies. He's a doctor and he travels around Africa for various reasons, and he carries with him a tiny vial filled with Neverapine which greatly and significantly diminishes the chances that a mother will infect her child with HIV during childbirth (and costs about 40 cents per vial to produce, containing about 200 doses or so). The chances of HIV infection from mother to child when the child is born by Caesarian section was reported as diminished by 90% through use of this drug. Only two drops total are necessary for the complete treatment. He became known for having this vial with him, and has apparently saved many lives. He started getting cease orders from companies who did not like what he was doing. He distributes the drugs for free, and they're legally manufactured. When they're distributed, some US company sends him a piece of paper informing him of an injunction by a US pharm co. that claims a violation of intellectual property laws and orders him to cease use and distribution. The only thing that is preventing thousands of lives from being saved is some company's grip on intellectual property. 40 cents per bottle. 200 doses. Let's go to Africa.
jimmy This was released yesterday: HIV catastrophe
chiefwagonburner Historically the United States has never been in a more precarious position than now as far as "falling", suffering a "coup" or being taken over. We passed Rome's unemployment threshold awhile ago. I guess though, we're also dealing with a historically unique people under historically unique conditions, so I'm sure we can't expect that to happen. I mean...a people that is too fucking lazy to vote is not going to try to get off the couch until their shackled to it. Oregon has some new law in the works. I don't have direct access to the document anymore, but it' s an "anti-terrorism" bill that would jail street-blocking protesters for at least 25 years (so watch out, Speck). Why? Because protesting in that manner is defined by the bill as a form of 'terrorism'. This is clearly an anti-war protestor bill, and it just seems so bizarre that in many cases you can get fewer years for murder. And in a world where family ties and favors owed by your administration determine and recast the image of the enemy on any given day, I'm beginning to believe that America is Oceania and everyone else is Ingsoc (except Ingoc isn't English Socialism but anything that isn't American Capitalism. Heh, Amcap.) What always gets me, and everyone is saying this regardless of how kooky it sounds (especially the Students for an Orwellian Society, a great site but I wish they'd learn to spell), we're living out the exact preconditions to almost every imaginable literary distopia ever written. I mean, look at PNAC. I mean what the fuck is that?? Science Fiction, right? Then you see that members of the current administration are involved, and assholes like Forbes. Ethnic bombs? Are you fucking shitting me? The ethnic bomb fiasco reminds me of the bill that someone tried to pass in California sometime ago. "Mandatory Sterilization of all African American males under 18." "Haha", I used to joke. "But who's gonna work at Mc Donalds? And what's going to happen when the majority of the population is carrying a University degree? It'll be like the 'leaf-economy' of the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy." (I know, big tangent, and borderline racist...but that's the point.) The biggest shock to me recently about the fictional-quality of the last 2 years has been the insider trading in United Airlines on September 10th. Someone made a fucking mint, and they don't know who. Goddamnit, the more you talk about things like this, the more crazy you sound. If I were to travel back in time to 1998 and tell myself this stuff on a city bus, I'd think I was crazy. Hi-ho.
jimmy I can't believe how totally irresponsible the Vatican is for saying that. We're in the midst of a pandemic here! There ought to be a gag order issued against them. I really wonder about people's convictions and motivations sometimes. I feel like America and the catholic church are about to take a big tumble because they've just become too ridiculous to continue on like this much longer.
Miss Speck and the Giant Librarians Chief, re: Leaf Beatles, that type of "warfare" is what kept me reading evolution theory for so long. I think I went like 5 years reading nothing but books on evolution theory (essays). It's so amazing, the stuff, because it can be applied to so many other things, from computer science to politics and economics, even chess. Fascinating. As for the Vatican...that's just awful. Apparently their battle with science is quickening. I wonder how many people will die as a direct result? As with other things, I'm sure we can expect the Vatican's formal apology for this event in about 300 years. Of course by that time, the Vatican-Microsoft merger will allow them to simply send the apology in a mass email. The first modern weird Vatican vs. Science fact I ever read was when they declared that groundhog-type thing (some type of rodent) a fish. I guess they wanted to have their meatses during lent. "Gives it to us raw...and wriiiigggggling!!"
jimmy Nice one Vatican. *shakes head* Its war!
chiefwagonburner True speck. Sad that the public is more 'interested' in politics, but still didn't seem to know any more about it. Surprising, but there could have been worse choices for Caulifornia. At least ahnold is pro choice, pro gun control, pro gay rights [at least by repub standards], and pro grope. Oh wait, that last ones not good. I want people to see this as the farce that it is, but I don't want our situation to be any worse. Sigh.
chiefwagonburner it is a slap in the face, but hopefully this will be the first step for some of the never vote people. (like Arnold. He's only voted in a couple of the last 20 elections? something like that. It's something shocking. How could we elect someone who doesn't even care enough about politics or the state to bother voting? ah, well.) Anyhoo, so the dorito eaters got out to vote, and did it in an uniformed way. But since they've just let loose a new evil upon their/our state, and they will now have to live with the havoc that is going to ensue from their bad choices, well maybe they'll actually CARE next time and vote for someone who is qualified. Voting should be compulsory. Things like this wouldn't happen if it were. hopefully...
Miss Speck and the Giant Librarians Today I heard an objective NPR journalist casually refer to Arnold as the "govenator" while discussing serious issues. Without skipping a beat. I have a feeling that this is going to become his official nickname, like "Dubbya", reminding me everyday that I should look into Vancouver. I suppose that's better than "the gropenator". To quote my roommate's livejournal (all italics are his): "Ahhnold's cool! I'll totally vote for him!" or "How can I pass up a chance to vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger? Or at least Gary Coleman." Every single person I've spoken to who said they would vote for Arnold gave one of those two reasons. These people should have their voting rights rescinded. The governor is someone who has the power of life and death over certain prisoners. The governor's views on things like abortion, three strikes, homosexuality, the environment, etc. are extremely important and influential, especially if you take into account the judges he/she appoints. To actually slide your dorito-eating ass off the couch and into your flag-festooned F-250 to go cast a vote for the first time in 12 years because you think the candidate is "cool" is a slap in the face to every citizen who spends their lives trying to make life better for everyone else in the state.
jimmy "I'm sick of politicians running our state", "he will change Sacramento" Somehow people forget that gov is not king, his only real power is to veto stuff. I think this was more about Dave Grayvis being a scapegoat for the energy crisis/debt. Ahrnold gets voted in to fight a debt. Bush runs a massive debt and its 'good economics'.
chiefwagonburner California sucks. If I wasn't tearing out my hair while I slept before, Speck, I'll certainly be doing it now. My girlfriend overheard this at work (the same cafe you worked at, Speck): "I'm voting for Arnold because I'm sick of politicians running our state, and as a fellow entertainer I feel like I should support him." He said it would be real "kooky, and a lot of fun". This isn't even a joke! She really heard him, and told him his reasoning was "sad and pathetic". There are SO many things wrong with the people of this country. God, I want to hunt this dumb voter down and terminate him. I think terminating him would be real kooky and a lot of fun.
jimmy Hi all! Thank you so much. Charlotte and I are doing great. We have lots more pictures, but I haven't uploaded them yet. I have been giggling at all the comments about her hair. The first time her hair was washed, the night she was born, she looked like Buddy Cianci when the nurses brought her back. I washed it again today - and thankfully - no more Buddy vibes. That would be way too much, heh. She hardly ever crosses her eyes anymore, she's getting more muscle control in that way. I can't believe how much she changes every day, it's like watching one of those fast-forward movies of a flower opening. Spending most of my time nursing, changing diapers, and watching baseball. Yeah. More soon :)
coop she certainly does have a lot of hair, but she'll need it living in the cold climes of upper eastern new england or whatever that area is called. cold. that's what it's called. Not every baby is born with a fine head of hair like that. I was bald, and even when I grew some hair I used to pull it out in my sleep. I would suck my thumb and pull the hair out of the back of my head while snoozin'. I used to have a bald spot. Luckily that fixed itself. Hey, jaime. maybe you've been pulling your hair out while you've been sleeping.... hee hee hee...
Miss Speck and the Giant Librarians Jeez, I leave for one week and suddenly it's a blog with a newborn. Coop, I am so happy for you and Mr. Cooper. Just....HAPPY. With a lot of other stuff, relief, etc. Speaking of haircuts, that 'lil girl has some hair. I was like that too, I practically had dreads in my newborn pictures. Sturdy Northern European genes preparing for wintering in the cave, I suppose. I don't know much about babies. Are they all born with hair? I'm glad it all worked out with the mechanics. I don't know much about childbirth either. Is an hour and a half a long time? I bet it seemed like a long time. Ok, I am going to go back to my lame, uncyber life. Working on a fix for that. I'll be sending lullabys out into the ether, hoping they'll reach a certain little one and give her (and by extension her mum and dad) peaceful sleep.
jeffron x Haircut, schmaircut. Best part is the shampoo. I could lay with my head in that bowl for hours.
jimmy Is it just me, or is getting a haircut sort of relaxing? You can't really do anything but sit there and zone out. It is like forced meditation or something. Zen and the hair clippers. Info from wired about the evoting machines. It would not be hard to mess with them.
chiefwagonburner Congratulations!! She's quite a peanut. I'm glad everything went well and you have a BIG healthy girl!
Miss Speck and the Giant Librarians Congratulations, Coop and Mr Coop! She's got a beautiful little buddha face. I'm so happy for your family. :)
Anna Congratulations, Coop! She's wonderful.
jimmy Fox leads the way!
chiefwagonburner 
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