highlight from tomorrow*s futurecast:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-mU-YSk32I
*dear murphy: I call no jinxies
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
like comparing
Do you know the idiom about "comparing apples and oranges"? I think it generally means "things that are different shouldn't be directly compared," in a marketplace, bartering sense. Because apples and oranges are different, and it quickly becomes complicated because one person will slightly prefer apples over oranges, or vice-versa, while another will have a strong preference one way or the other, and yet a third person might value them equally. And this usage is correct, accurate, and true: it IS important to compare "apples to apples," ...which, you know what, is pretty much WHY 'money' was even invented in the first place: as a (non-perishable!) medium of exchange.
The thing I keep thinking about, though, is how -which now that I'm reflecting for communication's sake, I realize is obviously the reason these two items, an apple and an orange, were "picked" (GET IT!?! HAW HAW*) for the expression in the first place- in many ways (very nearly EVERY WAY!) apples and oranges are the same. So I have thought up different categories ~with examples~ of things it is difficult and problematic to compare:
∙apples and pizza
this is the first step away; an apple and a pizza -or a SLICE of pizza? hmm- are vastly more different than an apple and an orange; but importantly, they are both foodstuffs, i.e. intended for human consumption. [without getting into philosophic/religious debate, I think the question "is an apple, after it has been picked, washed, and delivered here (onto this rhetorical table), accurately described as 'intended for human consumption'?" may be a good way to distinguish between people who are capable of engaging in worthwhile dialogue, and people who are not.]
∙apples and orange: [can for clarity be called apples and purple]
An apple and a color are pretty different; an apple is a thing you can see and touch, whereas a color is something you can see but which, in its broadest [and simultaneously, narrowest?!?] sense, only exists as a quality of other, very diverse, things. Importantly though, orange can be experienced by the senses, in the physical world.
∙apples and music
I haven't thought about this one much; I think it is only different from the previous category in that 1)music generally enters the perception via the ears, unlike "orange" whose vector is usually the eyes, and perhaps more importantly 2)"music" is a one-step-broader category than just any single color.... I think, therefor, that the difference between this category and the previous one is (are you ready:) apples and oranges! i.e. significant enough to consider different and merit sober consideration.
∙apples and quantity
An apple is a physical object, whereas quantity is a narrow, concrete, and specific trait[is quantity a quality? I think it is!] of physical things. Note that the important feature of this type of difference is its utility in spite of requisite intellectual gymnastics; for this reason I have tagged this category with a semi-abstract concept pertinent to the original discussion, which was occurring for a reason. "So different that it takes some real brainstorming to think of a scenario when you might even ever need to compare the two things"... note however that I think such a scenario might possibly actually arise. (Which to my mind is slightly different from saying "I think a person might be able to imagine such a scenario"... I think that very difference is a great example of the next category!)
∙apples and causation
In some circumstances it is useful to compare a physical thing and an abstract concept or intellectual activity... this category refers to THE OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, when not only is it difficult to even IMAGINE, let alone PERFORM the comparison, but the very fact that the diverse elements find themselves in the same discussion should be read as a signpost: WELCOME TO POINTLESS‼ ↑ REALITY X MILES BACK ↑ (the existence of a pointer in pointlessville being itself a prime example of "theoretically interesting on some level but without relevance on the physical ground")
*no, "haw" is different....the fruit of the hawthorn, it is more like an apple...
The thing I keep thinking about, though, is how -which now that I'm reflecting for communication's sake, I realize is obviously the reason these two items, an apple and an orange, were "picked" (GET IT!?! HAW HAW*) for the expression in the first place- in many ways (very nearly EVERY WAY!) apples and oranges are the same. So I have thought up different categories ~with examples~ of things it is difficult and problematic to compare:
∙apples and pizza
this is the first step away; an apple and a pizza -or a SLICE of pizza? hmm- are vastly more different than an apple and an orange; but importantly, they are both foodstuffs, i.e. intended for human consumption. [without getting into philosophic/religious debate, I think the question "is an apple, after it has been picked, washed, and delivered here (onto this rhetorical table), accurately described as 'intended for human consumption'?" may be a good way to distinguish between people who are capable of engaging in worthwhile dialogue, and people who are not.]
∙apples and orange: [can for clarity be called apples and purple]
An apple and a color are pretty different; an apple is a thing you can see and touch, whereas a color is something you can see but which, in its broadest [and simultaneously, narrowest?!?] sense, only exists as a quality of other, very diverse, things. Importantly though, orange can be experienced by the senses, in the physical world.
∙apples and music
I haven't thought about this one much; I think it is only different from the previous category in that 1)music generally enters the perception via the ears, unlike "orange" whose vector is usually the eyes, and perhaps more importantly 2)"music" is a one-step-broader category than just any single color.... I think, therefor, that the difference between this category and the previous one is (are you ready:) apples and oranges! i.e. significant enough to consider different and merit sober consideration.
∙apples and quantity
An apple is a physical object, whereas quantity is a narrow, concrete, and specific trait[is quantity a quality? I think it is!] of physical things. Note that the important feature of this type of difference is its utility in spite of requisite intellectual gymnastics; for this reason I have tagged this category with a semi-abstract concept pertinent to the original discussion, which was occurring for a reason. "So different that it takes some real brainstorming to think of a scenario when you might even ever need to compare the two things"... note however that I think such a scenario might possibly actually arise. (Which to my mind is slightly different from saying "I think a person might be able to imagine such a scenario"... I think that very difference is a great example of the next category!)
∙apples and causation
In some circumstances it is useful to compare a physical thing and an abstract concept or intellectual activity... this category refers to THE OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, when not only is it difficult to even IMAGINE, let alone PERFORM the comparison, but the very fact that the diverse elements find themselves in the same discussion should be read as a signpost: WELCOME TO POINTLESS‼ ↑ REALITY X MILES BACK ↑ (the existence of a pointer in pointlessville being itself a prime example of "theoretically interesting on some level but without relevance on the physical ground")
*no, "haw" is different....the fruit of the hawthorn, it is more like an apple...
Monday, September 28, 2009
last swimming
I should tell you more about the other day's swimming. Have I already mentioned that I have in the past few years crossed the magical body-fat-percentage threshold such that I no longer sink slowly to the bottom when I hold still in fresh water? Well, in a doubtless related development, I am now able to enjoy swimming in water that is cooler than ever previously! Generally I think of 'being immersed in cold water' as literally Tortuous, the other day as I was getting into the water I thought to myself "this water could definitely be warmer and that would be extremely OK" but I got in anyway.
I felt a little cold while on the return swim from the island, such that I swam part of the way with my arms still and tightly at my sides in a (laughable*) attempt to conserve heat (I generally use a modified elementary backstroke, with alternating-sides scissor kicks; this is similar to a back double trudgeon except for the arms, and with swim-fins on, as I had, is reasonably effective with no arm motion at all!), but after I got out of the water, I first got a terrible terrible headache and had to lie down to keep from fainting, then several minutes later felt very very cold and started to shiver a lot!
So this is why I had said earlier " note to self: next time bring wetsuit " in case you were wondering.
Or, even if you weren't!
*being immersed in cool liquid is an extremely effective way to lose heat
I felt a little cold while on the return swim from the island, such that I swam part of the way with my arms still and tightly at my sides in a (laughable*) attempt to conserve heat (I generally use a modified elementary backstroke, with alternating-sides scissor kicks; this is similar to a back double trudgeon except for the arms, and with swim-fins on, as I had, is reasonably effective with no arm motion at all!), but after I got out of the water, I first got a terrible terrible headache and had to lie down to keep from fainting, then several minutes later felt very very cold and started to shiver a lot!
So this is why I had said earlier " note to self: next time bring wetsuit " in case you were wondering.
Or, even if you weren't!
*being immersed in cool liquid is an extremely effective way to lose heat
Friday, September 18, 2009
oh, people.
OK so.
On the 'good things that happened this week' side, I finally finished my 'how to build your own SODA CAN STOVE' write-up for my friends Erin and Lief's flowing well zine project! I designed a brand new build just for this- it is extra easy to build because instead of custom making the inner cylinder out of a section of a regular sized can and gluing it into a smaller tube, this one uses a prefab SMALLER CAN (red bull etc) as the inner ring. Also it will hold more fuel than regular soda can stoves do, as it is larger due to being built from 23oz Arizona "Iced Tea" cans... so now I can cook a whole pot of mac & cheese out in the wild without needing to pause in the middle to refuel the stove.
Also epic solo swimming journey out to Blueberry Goose Island on Friday after work... note to self: next time bring wetsuit? Only the second time I've swum all the way out there!
On however the 'colossally bad things that happened this week' side, someone with whom I was slightly acquainted through a coworker had overdosed on heroin and died at a house where I was working, and my coworker (and friend) found his body. Not knowing how long he had been sitting there, he called 911, then came and got me and told me the situation. Neither of us knew that the person was dead, so we were trying to revive them, and I said that we should do CPR while waiting for the paramedics; upon trying to move him to the floor to do this I discovered that his legs were stone cold and his body was stiff (my coworker had touched his face and neck, which had been in the sun so were warm), so we knew then that he was dead.
may this never, ever, EVER happen to you.
On the 'good things that happened this week' side, I finally finished my 'how to build your own SODA CAN STOVE' write-up for my friends Erin and Lief's flowing well zine project! I designed a brand new build just for this- it is extra easy to build because instead of custom making the inner cylinder out of a section of a regular sized can and gluing it into a smaller tube, this one uses a prefab SMALLER CAN (red bull etc) as the inner ring. Also it will hold more fuel than regular soda can stoves do, as it is larger due to being built from 23oz Arizona "Iced Tea" cans... so now I can cook a whole pot of mac & cheese out in the wild without needing to pause in the middle to refuel the stove.
Also epic solo swimming journey out to Blueberry Goose Island on Friday after work... note to self: next time bring wetsuit? Only the second time I've swum all the way out there!
On however the 'colossally bad things that happened this week' side, someone with whom I was slightly acquainted through a coworker had overdosed on heroin and died at a house where I was working, and my coworker (and friend) found his body. Not knowing how long he had been sitting there, he called 911, then came and got me and told me the situation. Neither of us knew that the person was dead, so we were trying to revive them, and I said that we should do CPR while waiting for the paramedics; upon trying to move him to the floor to do this I discovered that his legs were stone cold and his body was stiff (my coworker had touched his face and neck, which had been in the sun so were warm), so we knew then that he was dead.
may this never, ever, EVER happen to you.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
how not to blog 101 : "what I am eating for dinner"
Q: who was it that said "if you are going to be cooking (sic) up some uncured poultry-based hot dogs shockingly reminiscent of tofu-pups, in a pan with some water so's they don't burn, you might as well put the steamer-top from the rice-cooker over said pan and steam some kale too!" ?
A: That would be the poorly known Anglo-American author and culinary wunderkind Eeyore Strewly.
A: That would be the poorly known Anglo-American author and culinary wunderkind Eeyore Strewly.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
I went back a gain
some of you may have heard or read my story about that fateful night when my eyes, roaming over the flavor selection on the Ben & Jerry's shelf in the ice-cream section of the local convenience mart, landed just wrong upon the words chubby hubby, "my heart broke a little bit, and I just walked out."
well, tonight I realized -or, 'registered' is probably more applicable since really I had already known on some level- that it isn't as though I can't or shouldn't eat ice cream, even delicious & wonderful ice cream. the thing is, THE THING, right, IS: I just shouldn't eat a whole pint in one sitting!!
DER¹, not much of a break-through, I know. But still; it takes all kinds [of realizations²].
So, tonight I went and bought the old stand-by, my first ever favorite: coffee heathbar crunch. AND, ate a small bowl of it.
¹ "uh-DOY", if you prefer. see duh
² note that this word simply means 'cause to be made real'. Note further that, or HOW, this is the case: you think of something..... which then IS real.
well, tonight I realized -or, 'registered' is probably more applicable since really I had already known on some level- that it isn't as though I can't or shouldn't eat ice cream, even delicious & wonderful ice cream. the thing is, THE THING, right, IS: I just shouldn't eat a whole pint in one sitting!!
DER¹, not much of a break-through, I know. But still; it takes all kinds [of realizations²].
So, tonight I went and bought the old stand-by, my first ever favorite: coffee heathbar crunch. AND, ate a small bowl of it.
¹ "uh-DOY", if you prefer. see duh
² note that this word simply means 'cause to be made real'. Note further that, or HOW, this is the case: you think of something..... which then IS real.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
ant vs bee
ant vs bee
Originally uploaded by ro6ot
.
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