Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
An artist must regulate his life.
Here is a time-table of my daily acts. I rise at 7.18; am inspired from 10.23 to 11.47. I lunch at 12.11 and leave the table at 12.14. A healthy ride on horse-back round my domain follows from 1.19 pm to 2.53 pm. Another bout of inspiration from 3.12 to 4.7 pm. From 5 to 6.47 pm various occupations (fencing, reflection, immobility, visits, contemplation, dexterity, natation, etc.)
Dinner is served at 7.16 and finished at 7.20 pm. From 8.9 to 9.59 pm symphonic readings (out loud). I go to bed regularly at 10.37 pm. Once a week (on Tuesdays) I awake with a start at 3.14 am.
My only nourishment consists of food that is white: eggs, sugar, shredded bones, the fat of dead animals, veal, salt, coco-nuts, chicken cooked in white water, mouldy fruit, rice, turnips, sausages in camphor, pastry, cheese (white varieties), cotton salad, and certain kinds of fish (without their skin). I boil my wine and drink it cold mixed with the juice of the Fuschia. I have a good appetite but never talk when eating for fear of strangling myself.
I breathe carefully (a little at a time) and dance very rarely. When walking I hold my ribs and look steadily behind me.
My expression is very serious; when I laugh it is unintentional, and I always apologise very politely.
I sleep with only one eye closed, very profoundly. My bed is round with a hole in it for my head to go through. Every hour a servant takes my temperature and gives me another.
- Erik Satie "A day in the life of a musician"
Dinner is served at 7.16 and finished at 7.20 pm. From 8.9 to 9.59 pm symphonic readings (out loud). I go to bed regularly at 10.37 pm. Once a week (on Tuesdays) I awake with a start at 3.14 am.
My only nourishment consists of food that is white: eggs, sugar, shredded bones, the fat of dead animals, veal, salt, coco-nuts, chicken cooked in white water, mouldy fruit, rice, turnips, sausages in camphor, pastry, cheese (white varieties), cotton salad, and certain kinds of fish (without their skin). I boil my wine and drink it cold mixed with the juice of the Fuschia. I have a good appetite but never talk when eating for fear of strangling myself.
I breathe carefully (a little at a time) and dance very rarely. When walking I hold my ribs and look steadily behind me.
My expression is very serious; when I laugh it is unintentional, and I always apologise very politely.
I sleep with only one eye closed, very profoundly. My bed is round with a hole in it for my head to go through. Every hour a servant takes my temperature and gives me another.
- Erik Satie "A day in the life of a musician"
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Kinetic fashion
Today I read a CNN.com article about "futuristic fashion" in which they describe the motion of fashion items to incorporate more practical electronic devices. This has largely been limited to the domain of specialty, athletic apparel. Now, however, it is apparently crossing over into the fashion world with the likes of CuteCircuit's M-dress (a silk dress that can function as a cellular phone - described in the CNN.com article).
What I found most interesting is where the article glossed over "Montreal's XS Labs has used a shape-memory alloy called Nitinol to produce extraordinary dresses that change shape while you wear them." Nitinol is a common name for nickel titanium, which as the article indicates, has shape-memory characteristics. This is a function of the crystalline molecular structure of the alloy which has the ability to change that crystal structure under applied heat or pressure.
How can do they use this to effect fashion apparel? I found that it is done from the use of nickel titanium wire threaded through a garment which must be given an electrical charge to heat the wire. As the wire contorts and contracts, the garment along with it is set into motion. It isn't far fetched to incorporate solar panels or magnets to charge the wires.
I hope they do scarves... for children!
Seriously though, I give them credit for their using this within the realm of fashion, but on the technology front, I am surprised to not hear more about alternative electro-mechanical devices. Why not build motors utilizing thermokinetic materials?
What I found most interesting is where the article glossed over "Montreal's XS Labs has used a shape-memory alloy called Nitinol to produce extraordinary dresses that change shape while you wear them." Nitinol is a common name for nickel titanium, which as the article indicates, has shape-memory characteristics. This is a function of the crystalline molecular structure of the alloy which has the ability to change that crystal structure under applied heat or pressure.
How can do they use this to effect fashion apparel? I found that it is done from the use of nickel titanium wire threaded through a garment which must be given an electrical charge to heat the wire. As the wire contorts and contracts, the garment along with it is set into motion. It isn't far fetched to incorporate solar panels or magnets to charge the wires.
I hope they do scarves... for children!
Seriously though, I give them credit for their using this within the realm of fashion, but on the technology front, I am surprised to not hear more about alternative electro-mechanical devices. Why not build motors utilizing thermokinetic materials?
Friday, October 17, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
La dolce vita
In his book The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz offers a critique on what he describes as a fundamental dogma of the Western industrialized world. He asserts this fundamental dogma as: maximizing the welfare of citizens through maximizing the individual freedoms of those citizens. On the question of facilitating this freedom, it is assumed that freedom is a function of choice. Increased choice means increased freedom, increased freedom means increased welfare. This, Schwartz suggests, arrives at a paradox. To summarize his argument:
1. If we maximize freedom, then we maximize welfare.
2. If we maximize choice, then we maximize freedom.
3. Maximized choice is excessive choice.
4. Excessive choice is overwhelming.
5. It then follows that being overwhelmed is maximized welfare???
6. Conclusion: some choice is better than no choice, but it does not follow that more choice is better than some choice.
There are psychological repercussions of maximal choice; maximal becomes excessive. A fundamental revolution in view not of potential, but missed opportunities results from this phenomenon. It can be said that from the sheer number of choices available in the industrialized world, the odds of making the most choiceworthy decision are never in our favor. There is no room for surprise; our levels of expectation and standards are impossibly high to the point that it impedes the satisfaction from the choices we make. Fundamental attribution error -- the tendency for an individual to place blame on situational circumstances rather than oneself -- fails to come to aid our self-efficacy. An elementary shift in culpability results from this self-determinism as the decision rest entirely on the decision-maker. The increase in choices for a given decision invariably increases the need to justify the decision. Thus, a culture of consumer escapism undermines itself, resulting in considerably lesser satisfaction with the freedoms it implemented to enjoy.
1. If we maximize freedom, then we maximize welfare.
2. If we maximize choice, then we maximize freedom.
3. Maximized choice is excessive choice.
4. Excessive choice is overwhelming.
5. It then follows that being overwhelmed is maximized welfare???
6. Conclusion: some choice is better than no choice, but it does not follow that more choice is better than some choice.
There are psychological repercussions of maximal choice; maximal becomes excessive. A fundamental revolution in view not of potential, but missed opportunities results from this phenomenon. It can be said that from the sheer number of choices available in the industrialized world, the odds of making the most choiceworthy decision are never in our favor. There is no room for surprise; our levels of expectation and standards are impossibly high to the point that it impedes the satisfaction from the choices we make. Fundamental attribution error -- the tendency for an individual to place blame on situational circumstances rather than oneself -- fails to come to aid our self-efficacy. An elementary shift in culpability results from this self-determinism as the decision rest entirely on the decision-maker. The increase in choices for a given decision invariably increases the need to justify the decision. Thus, a culture of consumer escapism undermines itself, resulting in considerably lesser satisfaction with the freedoms it implemented to enjoy.
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