Mark Higginson
staccato signals of constant information
Photo round-up: Allevol first wash
I thought my first wash of my Allevol 002 jeans should be in the bath. They are a perfect fit.
Mind as system
"The phenomenon of mind is neither an intrusion into the cosmos from some outside agency, nor the emergence of something out of nothing. Mind is but the internal aspect of the connectivity of systems within the matrix. It is there as a possibility within the undifferentiated continuum and evolves into more explicit forms as the matrix differentiates into relatively discrete, self-maintaining systems. The mind as knower is continuous with the rest of the universe as known. Hence in this metaphysics there is no gap between subject and object... these terms refer to arbitrarily abstracted entities."
from 'Introduction to Systems Philosophy' by Ervin Laszlo quoted in 'Mutual Causality in Buddhism and General Systems Theory' by Joanna Macy
See also my favourite quote by Nikola Tesla I've mentioned before:
"Really, we are something different, like waves in subjective time and space and when these waves disappear, nothing remains of us. There is no personality. We cannot see that waves in the ocean have individuality. There is only an illusionary sequence of waves, which go one after another. We are not the same as that which was yesterday; I am only a sequence of relative existences, which are not similar. This sequence is the thing which creates an effect of continuity, not my subjective and mistaken understanding of my real life."
Tidy Street electricity use data visualisation
The residents of Tidy Street in Brighton's North Laine area have come up with an interesting way of displaying their electricity use compared to the rest of Brighton. They're visualising the data week-by-week as a chart chalked onto the road outside all of their houses, visible for both residents and the public to see.
The sun never sets
The labels on Samuel Smith's beer bottles are examples of how design can evoke all sorts of associations. They all conjure a collective sense of an England from history; a past that may not have actually existed but one we collectively understand.
On another note most of their beers are vegan. Recommended.
Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace: action and inaction
Good news. Sea Shepherd have reported they’ve intercepted the Japanese whaling fleet before they’ve had a chance to start their murderous activity.
I urge you to contribute to Sea Shepherd so they can continue their vital campaigning until whaling is brought to an end. They are currently opposing this barbarity by sailing to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and physically interposing themselves between the whales and the harpoon ships, at risk to their own lives.
I also commend to you this great post: Should we Save Paper Whales, Virtual Whales or Real Whales? by Captain Paul Watson in which his anger and sadness towards Greenpeace’s inaction on whaling comes across clearly. It caused me to think again on the difference between the two organisations and how the Greenpeace of today is really just a marketing agency with itself as the only client.
It saddens me that an organisation that pulls in millions will restrict its anti-whaling activity to a letter-writing campaign while pan-handling for further donations. As the comments on this page of the Greenpeace site make clear the money would be better spent on action in support of Sea Shepherd, an organisation Greenpeace refuses to co-operate with. One suspects this has less to do with the tactics Sea Shepherd employs and more to do with the fact that they see them as competition on a subject which Greenpeace used to make great capital out of ‘bearing witness’. I can’t speak on behalf of the whales but if I was them I’d favour intervention of the kind Sea Shepherd brings over observation and origami any day.
Back when Greenpeace did actually send a ship south I remember seeing a documentary, one detail of which stuck in my mind. The food on-board the Sea Shepherd vessel was strictly vegan; the Greenpeace kitchen was busy preparing a meat dish. That really struck me as summing up the difference between the two, trivial in the wider context, but a moment that stood out nonetheless.
Greenpeace can only exist in a late-capitalist society, thriving on the paid deferment of responsibility for one’s actions, while simultaneously playing along with our democracy theatre. Whaling in the Antarctic will be stopped one day due to Sea Shepherd making it economically unviable through their continuing direct action. I’m sad to say I expect Greenpeace will trumpet this success as their own. No matter, as long as the whales are safe.
Related posts: Sea Shepherd boat rammed by illegal Japanese Whalers and Donations to worthy causes.
At the close of the year
At least one co-habitee is starting as she means to go on. Happy day.
Firle snow
With temperatures dipping to freezing again and snow thick on the ground we haven't risked venturing out of our lane. Another nice thing about living where we do is that when things are grim we can walk over the fields to the farm to get provisions. Shortly after three o'clock in the afternoon; a cold blue light before dark.
One more thing
Tombow MONO 100
I've never been quite satisfied writing with a pen. The black lines of fresh ink are a pleasure but I invariably ruin nibs by dropping them during idle moments when my attention wanders. A biro is simply a make-do gesture toward satisfying the immediate need of making a note. Recently I've switched to using a pencil. It takes me back to primary school; I remember the leads being too hard, the paper too thin. Today I have the luxury of writing with an implement of my choosing so am trying out both a 2B and 3B Tombow MONO 100. It makes handwriting a joy.
