Funny, the primal cells that brains contain:
"Every fish has two Mauthner cells, located in the bottom part of the brainstem, one on the left side and one on the right.... The synapses generated by a Mauthner cell are so powerful that a single action potential gives rise to a major behavioral response: within milliseconds the fish curves its body into a C-shape, then straightens, thereby propelling itself rapidly forward. Functionally this is a fast escape response, triggered most easily by a strong sound wave or pressure wave impinging on the lateral line organ of the fish."
via. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervous_system
May 31, 2011
May 30, 2011
May 29, 2011
Ryno - Future Transport?
Seems pretty reasonable:
Longer/annoying brit show... good footage of it's first time use:
Longer/annoying brit show... good footage of it's first time use:
to fascinating places
Walking along the paths of others to fascinating places:
Standing on places that people have trodden, snaking their way to the most beautiful waterfalls that you have ever seen.
The path upon which you stand there is worn by the feet of others, and it is wider here, were groups of people have stood for a period of time: and they all, as you, stopped at this place before this waterfall to watch it too.
May 28, 2011
Genetic Shapes
Premise: Start with the most simple relationship: a doubling, from that thought, a massive polar iteration seeking to arrive at a sphere through a multiplicity: to arrive at an approximation of a perfect point, a black dot via a process of infinite complexity, as opposed to unity. This is sphere as the most complex shape: through intense iteration and inextricable interaction.
Eventually, as I have over 6000 lines, strange optical effects reminiscent of the corona's of the sun begin to appear. At further iteration the blackened centers continues to grow larger.
The first image is how I began. The rest of the images are out-of-order, but the hierarchy of complex vs. non.complex should be seen. I started with an exponentially decreasing fractal.
May 25, 2011
prius 2011
I believe that an ancient Athenian would drive a 2011 Prius: It's aesthetics seems to beg for a be-toga'ed greek to step out and gossip to you about how friggin' Chrysippus was horseing around.
The design of the body seems to be very much an attempt at what might be termed the "Platonic Aesthetic" (eugh how pretentious!) the seeking of perfect form.
That the prius is built by the largest auto manufacturer in the world, by complex assemblies lines of giant sparking and moving robot arms working together is among the reasons is it so beautiful, but it is also the evident intention of the designers.
They are not deceiving you about this car: they are not trying to convince you that it is cool, or goes fast, or is a sport's car: they are trying to you convince you that it is the in some way "electric": in some way a dew-dropped covered metal-electric "prius".
The design of the body seems to be very much an attempt at what might be termed the "Platonic Aesthetic" (eugh how pretentious!) the seeking of perfect form.
That the prius is built by the largest auto manufacturer in the world, by complex assemblies lines of giant sparking and moving robot arms working together is among the reasons is it so beautiful, but it is also the evident intention of the designers.
They are not deceiving you about this car: they are not trying to convince you that it is cool, or goes fast, or is a sport's car: they are trying to you convince you that it is the in some way "electric": in some way a dew-dropped covered metal-electric "prius".
The Toyota logo, blue, silver and covered in a clear coating: sign of manufacturing prowess: of efficient complex systems.
Hail, well met.
Hail, well met.
May 24, 2011
Flash Bio - Pericles
Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BC) was a prominent and influential statesman, orator, and general ofAthens during the city's Golden Age—specifically, the time between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars.
"Pericles promoted the arts and literature; this was a chief reason Athens holds the reputation of being the educational and cultural centre of theancient Greek world. He started an ambitious project that built most of the surviving structures on the Acropolis (including the Parthenon). This project beautified the city, exhibited its glory, and gave work to the people.[1] Furthermore, Pericles fostered Athenian democracy to such an extent that critics call him a populist"
From his Funeral Oration:
"Rather, the admiration of the present and succeeding ages will be ours, since we have not left our power without witness, but have shown it by mighty proofs; and far from needing a Homer for our panegyrist... we have forced every sea and land to be the highway of our daring, and everywhere, whether for evil or for good, have left imperishable monuments behind us"
"We throw open our city to the world, and never by alien acts exclude foreigners from any opportunity of learning or observing, although the eyes of an enemy may occasionally profit by our liberality"
"Therefore, having judged that to be happy means to be free, and to be free means to be brave, do not shy away from the risks of war"
c/o wiki
"Pericles promoted the arts and literature; this was a chief reason Athens holds the reputation of being the educational and cultural centre of theancient Greek world. He started an ambitious project that built most of the surviving structures on the Acropolis (including the Parthenon). This project beautified the city, exhibited its glory, and gave work to the people.[1] Furthermore, Pericles fostered Athenian democracy to such an extent that critics call him a populist"
From his Funeral Oration:
"Rather, the admiration of the present and succeeding ages will be ours, since we have not left our power without witness, but have shown it by mighty proofs; and far from needing a Homer for our panegyrist... we have forced every sea and land to be the highway of our daring, and everywhere, whether for evil or for good, have left imperishable monuments behind us"
"We throw open our city to the world, and never by alien acts exclude foreigners from any opportunity of learning or observing, although the eyes of an enemy may occasionally profit by our liberality"
"Therefore, having judged that to be happy means to be free, and to be free means to be brave, do not shy away from the risks of war"
c/o wiki
May 19, 2011
Different Dating Systems
1.) BC/AD - Before Christ/Anno Domini - based on traditional date of birth of Jesus, i.e 2010 AD
2.) BCE/CE - Before Common Era/Common Era - used by soft treading people who are as yet still attached to Jesus birth as being something worth reckoning epoch's by. i.e. 2010 CE
3.) Holocene Calendar - Holocene Era (or Human Era) abbreviated as HE. Add's 10,000 years to BC/AD, i.e 12011 HE. Used by people who like long ungainly numbers
4a.) Before Present - BP or ybp (years before present) takes the beginning of carbon dating (1950) as basis for "present" i.e Jesus was born 1950 ybp.
4b.) Ka, Ma, Ga - Thousand Years Ago (Ka), Million Years Ago (Ma), Billion Years Ago (Ga). i.e Sumerian arose 8 Ka, Dinosaurs died 65 Ma, The Universe was born 13.8 Ga.
I intend on dating everything from this date forward by using The Current Present system.
1.) refer to everything as ya (years ago), i.e Jesus was Born 2011 ya. Stratigraphy was born 61 ya. I was born 23 ya. The French Revolution occurred 222 ya. A year from now Jesus will have been born 2012 ya, I will have been born 24 ya, etc. We can reference time at any time scale by any event we choose, because the present always is a clear point of reference.
2.) Include a date stamp to establish in what year the "present was" for the author of the dating. For instance most online data, and books contain date stamps.
3.) When a piece is being republished, the dates can be freely amended by the editors saying "this was written 50 ya, we have therefore updated the dates within the tract to reflect the passing of the years".
4.) Time will be measured "in relation to the measurer" instead of "in relation to a particular event", in this way we overcome the constant iteration of cultural value systems and the conflicts that arises when different value systems collide. If you choose to say it is the year 2011, that is fine, it is 2011 ya since Jesus died. If you choose to say it is 23 ya, that is fine: that is when I was born. The passing of the years are being measured in a way that provides the most context to the content which is currently being communicated.
5.) The Current Present can further incorporate Ka, or Ma, or Ga. In this way the necessity of detail varies at different scales (for Ga, it won't matter, for we are a flash of light at the scale), and so you can easily and seamlessly refer to epochs without invoking cultural biases related to the relative import of historical epochs. I.e we are all 13.8 Ga old.
Using the Current Present I do not need to invoke any cults beliefs or set-in-stone arbitrary dates of historical import when I attempt to give chronological context to my day-to-day.
Thoughts?
2.) BCE/CE - Before Common Era/Common Era - used by soft treading people who are as yet still attached to Jesus birth as being something worth reckoning epoch's by. i.e. 2010 CE
3.) Holocene Calendar - Holocene Era (or Human Era) abbreviated as HE. Add's 10,000 years to BC/AD, i.e 12011 HE. Used by people who like long ungainly numbers
4a.) Before Present - BP or ybp (years before present) takes the beginning of carbon dating (1950) as basis for "present" i.e Jesus was born 1950 ybp.
4b.) Ka, Ma, Ga - Thousand Years Ago (Ka), Million Years Ago (Ma), Billion Years Ago (Ga). i.e Sumerian arose 8 Ka, Dinosaurs died 65 Ma, The Universe was born 13.8 Ga.
I intend on dating everything from this date forward by using The Current Present system.
1.) refer to everything as ya (years ago), i.e Jesus was Born 2011 ya. Stratigraphy was born 61 ya. I was born 23 ya. The French Revolution occurred 222 ya. A year from now Jesus will have been born 2012 ya, I will have been born 24 ya, etc. We can reference time at any time scale by any event we choose, because the present always is a clear point of reference.
2.) Include a date stamp to establish in what year the "present was" for the author of the dating. For instance most online data, and books contain date stamps.
3.) When a piece is being republished, the dates can be freely amended by the editors saying "this was written 50 ya, we have therefore updated the dates within the tract to reflect the passing of the years".
4.) Time will be measured "in relation to the measurer" instead of "in relation to a particular event", in this way we overcome the constant iteration of cultural value systems and the conflicts that arises when different value systems collide. If you choose to say it is the year 2011, that is fine, it is 2011 ya since Jesus died. If you choose to say it is 23 ya, that is fine: that is when I was born. The passing of the years are being measured in a way that provides the most context to the content which is currently being communicated.
5.) The Current Present can further incorporate Ka, or Ma, or Ga. In this way the necessity of detail varies at different scales (for Ga, it won't matter, for we are a flash of light at the scale), and so you can easily and seamlessly refer to epochs without invoking cultural biases related to the relative import of historical epochs. I.e we are all 13.8 Ga old.
Using the Current Present I do not need to invoke any cults beliefs or set-in-stone arbitrary dates of historical import when I attempt to give chronological context to my day-to-day.
Thoughts?
Intellectual Property- Ancient Greece
Via Wikipedia:
It is at Sybaris that the concept of intellectual property first appeard in the History... described by Athenaeus of Naucratis... "If any confectioner or cook invented any peculiar and excellent dish, no other artist was allowed to make this for a year ; but he alone who invented it was entitled to all the profit to be derived from the manufacture of it for that time ; in order that others might be induced to labour at excelling in such pursuits."
Further:
"A Sybarite sleeping on a bed of rose petals was unable to get to sleep because one of the petals was folded over."
"To amuse themselves the Sybarite cavalrymen trained their horses to dance to pipe music. Armed with pipes, an invading army from nearby Crotonia assailed the Sybarite cavalry with music. The attacking forces easily passed through the dancing horses and their helpless riders, and conquered the city."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sybaris
It is at Sybaris that the concept of intellectual property first appeard in the History... described by Athenaeus of Naucratis... "If any confectioner or cook invented any peculiar and excellent dish, no other artist was allowed to make this for a year ; but he alone who invented it was entitled to all the profit to be derived from the manufacture of it for that time ; in order that others might be induced to labour at excelling in such pursuits."
Further:
"A Sybarite sleeping on a bed of rose petals was unable to get to sleep because one of the petals was folded over."
"To amuse themselves the Sybarite cavalrymen trained their horses to dance to pipe music. Armed with pipes, an invading army from nearby Crotonia assailed the Sybarite cavalry with music. The attacking forces easily passed through the dancing horses and their helpless riders, and conquered the city."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sybaris
May 17, 2011
Human Migration 200-5 Ka
Made this map of the Migration of Homo Sapiens over the last 200,000 years (200 Ka) on a dymaxion projection:
I hope to eventually add the data from the last 5000 years, showing major migrations within that time period (Spanish Empire, British Empire, Hun's pushing West, etc)... but need to find a clear way of representing that.
May 16, 2011
May 13, 2011
May 10, 2011
Laetoli
From Wiki:
3.5 Million Year old Hominid Footprints in Tanzania
"A line of hominid fossil footprints, discovered in 1976 by Mary Leakey, is preserved in powdery volcanic ash...he hominid prints were produced by three individuals, one walking in the footprints of the other, making the original tracks difficult to discover. As the tracks lead in the same direction, they might have been produced by a group—but there is nothing else to support the common reconstruction of a nuclear family visiting the waterhole together.
I would suggest that "one walking in the footprints of the other, making the original tracks difficult to discover. " is an imperative part of the birth of Culture, before we could write we needed to walk on paths.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trace_fossil
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laetoli
3.5 Million Year old Hominid Footprints in Tanzania
"A line of hominid fossil footprints, discovered in 1976 by Mary Leakey, is preserved in powdery volcanic ash...he hominid prints were produced by three individuals, one walking in the footprints of the other, making the original tracks difficult to discover. As the tracks lead in the same direction, they might have been produced by a group—but there is nothing else to support the common reconstruction of a nuclear family visiting the waterhole together.
I would suggest that "one walking in the footprints of the other, making the original tracks difficult to discover. " is an imperative part of the birth of Culture, before we could write we needed to walk on paths.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trace_fossil
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laetoli
May 8, 2011
May 6, 2011
May 5, 2011
Earth Drags Space Time
From a CBC article:
"Imagine the Earth as if it were immersed in honey. As the planet rotates, the honey around it would swirl, and it's the same with space and time," Francis Everitt, the Stanford University physicist who led the mission, said in a statement.
Gravity Probe B was designed to test the predictions by taking measurements from four ultra-precise gyroscopes. Those instruments contain rotors that NASA bills as the "most perfect spheres ever made by humans," allowing them to spin indefinitely without drifting from the alignment of their rotation.
The gyroscopes were aboard a spacecraft circling the Earth in a polar orbit — that is, it travelled perpendicular to the Earth's rotation, passing over both poles during each orbit.
The experiment was set up so the gyroscopes' axes of rotation should always point in the same direction — toward the "guide" star IM Pegasi — provided the Earth's gravity did not affect space and time.
However, the researchers detected tiny, measurable changes in the direction of the gyroscopes' spins, confirming that the Earth's gravity does:
- Warp space and time around it, which is called the geodetic effect.
- Pull space and time with it as it rotates, an effect called frame dragging.
NASA began planning the mission in 1963, making it one of the longest-running projects in the U.S. space agency's history. The satellite was decommissioned in December 2010, after the final parcels of data were collected.
May 4, 2011
Vinča script
In regards to Vinča script, a form of proto-writing from 7-8 Kya (Kya= Thousand years ago):
"The prevailing theory is that the symbols were used for religious purposes in a traditional agricultural society. If so, the fact that the same symbols were used for centuries with little change suggests that the ritual meaning and culture represented by the symbols likewise remained constant for a very long time, with no need for further development. The use of the symbols appears to have been abandoned (along with the objects on which they appear) at the start of the Bronze Age, suggesting that the new technology brought with it significant changes in social organization and beliefs."
c.o Wiki
"The prevailing theory is that the symbols were used for religious purposes in a traditional agricultural society. If so, the fact that the same symbols were used for centuries with little change suggests that the ritual meaning and culture represented by the symbols likewise remained constant for a very long time, with no need for further development. The use of the symbols appears to have been abandoned (along with the objects on which they appear) at the start of the Bronze Age, suggesting that the new technology brought with it significant changes in social organization and beliefs."
c.o Wiki
May 3, 2011
The Word "a"
The word “a” in the english Language is defined by dictionary.com:
1. not any particular or certain one of a class or group: a man;a chemical; a house.
2. a certain; a particular: one at a time; two of a kind; A MissJohnson called.
3. another; one typically resembling: a Cicero in eloquence; aJonah.
4.one (used before plural nouns that are preceded by aquantifier singular in form): a hundred men (comparehundreds of men ); a dozen times (compare dozens of times).
5. indefinitely or nonspecifically (used with adjectives expressingnumber): a great many years; a few stars.
6. one (used before a noun expressing quantity): a yard ofribbon; a score of times.
7. any; a single: not a one.
1. not any particular or certain one of a class or group: a man;a chemical; a house.
2. a certain; a particular: one at a time; two of a kind; A MissJohnson called.
3. another; one typically resembling: a Cicero in eloquence; aJonah.
4.one (used before plural nouns that are preceded by aquantifier singular in form): a hundred men (comparehundreds of men ); a dozen times (compare dozens of times).
5. indefinitely or nonspecifically (used with adjectives expressingnumber): a great many years; a few stars.
6. one (used before a noun expressing quantity): a yard ofribbon; a score of times.
7. any; a single: not a one.
May 2, 2011
Osama,
This is unrestricted warfare: to fight assymetrically: to always fight to your strengths: to be David at all times: handy with what tools you have at hand, be it a pebble or a twig.
"But perhaps the most revealing thing about the compound is where it’s located: deep in the heart of Pakistan, inside a sizable city and right near a military facility. The location made bin Laden’s compound virtually drone-proof. While his minions dodged Predators in the Pakistani wild lands, al-Qaida’s chief remained for months, maybe years, in relative safety in his sprawling urban hideout."
via Wired
"But perhaps the most revealing thing about the compound is where it’s located: deep in the heart of Pakistan, inside a sizable city and right near a military facility. The location made bin Laden’s compound virtually drone-proof. While his minions dodged Predators in the Pakistani wild lands, al-Qaida’s chief remained for months, maybe years, in relative safety in his sprawling urban hideout."
via Wired
May 1, 2011
Trilliums
On the trilliums which burst from the forests floors of Ontario in Spring.
"Trillium is one of many plants whose seeds are spread by ants. At maturity, the base and core of the trillium ovaryturns soft and spongy. Trillium seeds have a fleshy organ called an elaiosome that attracts ants. The ants extract the seeds from the decaying ovary and take them to their nest, where they eat the elaiosomes and put the seeds in their garbage, where they germinate in a rich growing medium... Picking a trillium seriously injures the plant by preventing the leaf-like bracts from producing food for the next year. A plant takes many years to recover."
c/o wiki
It's on!
Obama threw down the gauntlet.
[Update: For context, while Obama gave this speech he was in the midst of the attempt to kill Osama. The assasination was to occur 4 hours before the Correspondents' Dinner, but due to weather concerns in Pakistan, it was delayed by 24 hours, and occurred the next evening.]
[Update: For context, while Obama gave this speech he was in the midst of the attempt to kill Osama. The assasination was to occur 4 hours before the Correspondents' Dinner, but due to weather concerns in Pakistan, it was delayed by 24 hours, and occurred the next evening.]
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