146 | July 10, 2008 | comments: 2

Become a Loving Resitance Fighter

Every once in a while I come across something that completely changes my way of thinking. This happened recently after reading Niel Postman’s 1992 book: Technopoly:The Surrender of Culture to Technology. I learned about the book from Paul Rand’s book Design, Form and Chaos. Rand refernces the book while discusses the potential problems that computers and technology are bringing to the design profession.

The basic premise of Technopoly is that technologies are not always good. Any technology, not matter what the perceived benefits are, bring with them negative aspects, and can change the way that society and culture function at a very deep level. He argues that we often ignore the negative aspects because we are so enamored with what appears to positive.

I’ve always been a technologist, and have been a quick adopter of technologies, but this book has made me think differently. As someone who makes a living from technology, I now feel the need to really evaluate deeply the products and solutions that I might be responsible for introducing. It seems very possible to design something (even a web page or application) that can negatively change the way that people interact with other human beings. Am I taking essential and beautiful human behaviors and giving them to the computer? or am I designing things that enhance and amplify humanity?

Postman provides some advice for us, and encourages us to become a “Loving Resistance Fighter.” His tips are sound advice, and a good start for anyone who feels that technology’s grip on your life might be getting a little bit too tight.

• Pay no attention to a poll unless you know what questions were asked and why.
• Refuse to accept efficiency as the pre-eminent goal of human relations.
• Free yourself from the belief in the magical power of numbers, do not regard calculation as an adequate substitute for judgement, or precision as a synonym for truth.
• Refuse to allow psychology or any “social science” to pre-empt the language and thought of common sense.
• Be suspicious of the idea of “Progress.”
• Do not confuse “information” with “understanding”
• Do not regard the “aged” as “irrelevant”
• Take seriously the meaning of family loyalty and honor.
• When you “reach out and touch someone” expect that person to be in the same room.
• Take the great narratives of religion seriously
• Do not believe that science is the only system of thought capable of producing truth.
• Know the difference between the sacred and the profane.
• Do not wink at tradition for modernity’s sake
• Admire technology, but do not think that it represents the highest form of human achievement
• Never accept technology as part of the natural order of things.

Viva la resistance!

137 | May 04, 2008 | comments: 3

Horse Trailers

A few weeks ago on the bus ride home, we passed a horse trailer. As we moved by, we were at eye level with the horses, and happened to catch the gaze of one the horses. He was obviously peering into our bus. I wonder what his perceptions were?

129 | April 20, 2008

“Mysticism is just tomorrow’s science dreamed today.”

—Marshall McLuhan

127 | April 17, 2008 | comments: 0

Another gem from my current favorite book of poetry, “Doubt and Other Things” by Elihu Vedder.

The Optimist

The Optimist asserts that Life
Is like a Persian rug unrolled,
Where all the rainbow hues he sees
Are lovely flowers picked out in gold.

The Pessimist in Life beholds
A poor rag-carpet Fate unfolds
Worn and soiled by the constant tread
Of those who sadly earn their bread.

Truth finds the vaunted Persian rug
Is a mere modern imitation,
And the rag-carpet not so bad,
Needing a little reparation.

—Elihu Vedder

I used to believe that the pessimistic viewpoint was always best, simply for the fact that I really think that the pessimist is disappointed less frequently than the optimist. However, pessimism which is void of hope, is not a good strategy for your overall well being.

This poem contains an important principle—that truth often lies somewhere in-between the pessimistic and optimistic viewpoint.

124 | April 13, 2008 | comments: 1

Space and Time

Klaire and Paxton head towards the horizon. The water level is pretty low this year, making the beach a little more than 1/2 a mile wide.

Antelope Island is a State Park located on the Great Salt Lake. It is one of my favorite places, simply because when I’m there, I literally feel like I am in another world. There’s also a strange combination of death and life. The island is filled with lots of wildlife, antelope, bison, coyotes, etc, yet the water of the Great Salt Lake which surrounds the island is so salty that hardly anything can live in it.

121 | April 09, 2008 | comments: 0

Kevin points me to White Gold, and now I’m headed for a glass of milk. Unbelievable.

120 | April 09, 2008 | comments: 0

Elihu Vedder’s Doubt and Other Things

Recently I’ve become a fan of the American Symbolist painter and poet Elihu Vedder (1836 – 1923). His artwork is fascinating––he is illustrating philosophical and spiritual themes which seemed to have been avoided by most artists during that era. I found a beautiful orignial copy his book “Doubt and Other Things,” (available as a PDF from Google Books) in the special collections section of the library several months ago and read through it.

His poems are smart, witty and clever, and really make you think about “doubt” differently. Months later, one verse has stood out strongly to me, and I’ve searched it out on several occasions to remember correctly the wording and message that it communicates.

I’ve wanted to share this one, as I think it shines a positive light, and presents a message that encourages me to look at life in a different way. For Truth is abundant in every form, and life really is beautiful, as long as you are willing to look at it that way.

Truth

See how the wily Doubter tries
To prove the world is full of Lies,
Ignoring the overwhelming proof
That it is also full of Truth.
So really we need not despair.
If things look dark, they’ll soon be fair,
Nor yet on pessimism sup
For Truth, though slow, ‘is creeping up’.

—Elihu Vedder

116 | March 16, 2008 | comments: 0

For one reason or another, the Creepy Gnome Video strikes me as hilarious, and scares the crap out of me at the same time. Supposedly, the “gnome” is terrorizing the town of General Guemes in Argentina. You’ve got to love the scream at the end – I’m still wondering why the video gets cut off right there. Check it out on Snopes

96 | October 28, 2007 | comments: 0

Backpacking in Zion National Park

I had a great opportunity to get one last outdoor trek in before the onslaught of winter. A group from work went down to Kolob Canyon in Zion National Park. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, or for more beautiful scenery.

On Saturday morning during the hike out, everything was absolutely stunning – the weather, the light, the scenery – I was sad to have to leave.

I’ve posted a few photos on Flickr: Fall Backpacking in Kolob Canyon

94 | October 08, 2007 | comments: 3

Work in Progress

I’ve been working on the 2nd of the Cosmic Knot series. I’ve somehow moved from “The Creation” to “The Garden”. This one isn’t finished yet, but I wanted to get it out there for some feedback, and to give myself some time to reflect on it, and see if I’m taking in the right directions.

original version

modified version (after minor updates

I’d be interested in any impressions that you have, especially in regard to how it works with The Creation Knot which I posted earlier. I hope to have a full write about about this one soon also.