Weekend Braindump
Jun. 12th, 2005 01:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
forsythSelections from things I write down at work when bored.
False Dichotomies: Mind and Body, Reason and Wonder.
Mind and Body's gonna have to be a long one, since it's gonna veer into "what is mind?" and other questions of metaphysics, neuropsychology, and bullshit, but the basic point is simply that your mind is tied to your body, specifically the brain, so it runs best when the body's taken care of well, as in well fed, good health, etc. You CAN just sit around and think, but you can do it better if your body's not all screwed up. Also, processed sugar bad, derails my thought processes. Except in pure chocolate, or chocolate chip cookies, for some reason. Must be the seductive mix of other chemicals in chocolate.
Reason and Wonder, short version: Which is more wonder and awe inspiring, the sun as a giant flaming ball of nuclear fusing gas, millions of miles across, or the glowing ass of some beetle crawling across the sky?
Do we need music playing everywhere, on radios, headphones, in stores, at work, and so on, or is it just what we're used to from movies that have soundtracks to heighten the experience? What would a day be like if nobody played any music from random things? Besides quieter.
In theory, corporations are held accountable by the "invisible hand" of social pressure and fearing that people are going to stop giving them money. This is often a good thing, but taken too far, it makes companies utterly chickenshit and afraid to say anything that might offend anyone. Which is a problem, because things that most need to be said will often offend somebody, and so they won't take any chances. And you know how they say you know a man by his enemies? You can know him by who he offends, too. Like so. "LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The rock band Nine Inch Nails said on Friday it canceled plans to appear on next week's MTV Movie Awards after the network questioned the band's plans to perform in front of an image of President Bush" Who needs mandated censorship in times like these?
I work around ephemera all day. Half the stuff we sell is music or movies that've stood the test of at least 30 years, and proved interesting, educational, important, or just fun. And the other half is new stuff, most of which is fated to fade away into obscurity within a decade, no matter how much hype they have. Except for ones that're good, or lucky, or manage to embed part of their memetic DNA in the culture at large.
Ever since the 50s, every artist really wants to be a rock star. Writers, artists, poets, musicians, etc. Not just for the money and groupies, though those are big parts, I'm sure, but for the feel of being on stage, in front of thousands of people, all of whom are there, just to listen to YOU.
More another time.
Tags: Mindscribbles, Me, Work, Life, The Universe, and Everything
False Dichotomies: Mind and Body, Reason and Wonder.
Mind and Body's gonna have to be a long one, since it's gonna veer into "what is mind?" and other questions of metaphysics, neuropsychology, and bullshit, but the basic point is simply that your mind is tied to your body, specifically the brain, so it runs best when the body's taken care of well, as in well fed, good health, etc. You CAN just sit around and think, but you can do it better if your body's not all screwed up. Also, processed sugar bad, derails my thought processes. Except in pure chocolate, or chocolate chip cookies, for some reason. Must be the seductive mix of other chemicals in chocolate.
Reason and Wonder, short version: Which is more wonder and awe inspiring, the sun as a giant flaming ball of nuclear fusing gas, millions of miles across, or the glowing ass of some beetle crawling across the sky?
Do we need music playing everywhere, on radios, headphones, in stores, at work, and so on, or is it just what we're used to from movies that have soundtracks to heighten the experience? What would a day be like if nobody played any music from random things? Besides quieter.
In theory, corporations are held accountable by the "invisible hand" of social pressure and fearing that people are going to stop giving them money. This is often a good thing, but taken too far, it makes companies utterly chickenshit and afraid to say anything that might offend anyone. Which is a problem, because things that most need to be said will often offend somebody, and so they won't take any chances. And you know how they say you know a man by his enemies? You can know him by who he offends, too. Like so. "LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The rock band Nine Inch Nails said on Friday it canceled plans to appear on next week's MTV Movie Awards after the network questioned the band's plans to perform in front of an image of President Bush" Who needs mandated censorship in times like these?
I work around ephemera all day. Half the stuff we sell is music or movies that've stood the test of at least 30 years, and proved interesting, educational, important, or just fun. And the other half is new stuff, most of which is fated to fade away into obscurity within a decade, no matter how much hype they have. Except for ones that're good, or lucky, or manage to embed part of their memetic DNA in the culture at large.
Ever since the 50s, every artist really wants to be a rock star. Writers, artists, poets, musicians, etc. Not just for the money and groupies, though those are big parts, I'm sure, but for the feel of being on stage, in front of thousands of people, all of whom are there, just to listen to YOU.
More another time.
Tags: Mindscribbles, Me, Work, Life, The Universe, and Everything
