While peering through an old sketch book, I stumbled crossed a page that had written on it "Nature's economy, increasing simplicities." Only thing is, I cannot remember what my point was, at the time that I wrote it. And so I find myself here, trying to make sense of it, filtering it through the now. Old thoughts. Recycled philosophy. Time to pour myself a drink, kick back, and have a think.
The more I explore this idea, the more I have to disagree with what it implies. The disconnect comes at the juncture in which it is only logical to acknowledge that we humans are an integral component of nature, irrevocably tied to her, and so nature is us. I ask myself, what within nature brings disharmony, disrupts the balance, interrupts the cycles? Mankind. Through our evolution, nature complicates herself. Why is this? Why would such a brilliant system muddy itself with such drama?
The simplicity is in the answer to that question. It wouldn't. We are not acting as we were designed to.
Come to think of it, I have wrestled with this question a long time now. Rationalizing my own behavior, defending the actions of, us. 'Everything is from here man, there isn't anything "unnatural," even chemicals and plastic are composed of elements found on Earth...' 'Hey, I don't care if it is synthesized in a lab, the crap they use to make it is indigenous to this reality, it's all meant to be..'
Is it though?
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Nature's Increasing Complexity.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Music In My Life
My friend Plez, over at plezWorld has tagged me as part of a meme going around that asks what are your top 7 favorite tracks of all time. Like Plez, it is difficult for me to answer this question. The way I see it, our musical tastes evolve over time. Songs that used to be my favorites 15 years ago, are not all that great to me now. That being said, hmm, this is going to require some serious, and most likely embarrassing thought. Guess the best way to go about this would be to weigh my love for the song based on how big of an impact it has had on my life. **Ok, I need to change this up a bit because single songs are way too refined, so instead I am going to list the albums that I wore a hole in, at different points in my life. I've added in some sample tracks where possible.
1.) Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here //tied// Darkside of the Moon
It was not until I left home at 17, and was basically living on the streets that I discovered Pink Floyd. Aside from the Beatles, I cannot think of another group that had a more profound effect on rock music, or on my life.
2.) Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses //tied// The Cure -Standing On the Beach
I was introduced to both these albums at the same time, by the same person, and they are both equally important in my growing up. Though they had been out a while before I was exposed to them, I started listening to them in the 9th grade.
3.) INXS - The Swing
I will always love this album. It is difficult for me to put into words that do it justice.
4.) Eric B. & Rakim - Follow the Leader
At a time when groups like Run DMC and Public Enemy were getting a lot of attention, in my mind, it was Eric Barrier that stood out as the poet laureate, and Rakim was quite possibly the best DJ out there at that time.
5.) Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Though Licence to Ill was a fundamental album for these guys, it was Paul's Boutique in 1989 that "gained a cult following in the years after its release and became known as their artistic breakthrough. Highly varied lyrically and sonically, the album secured the Beastie Boys' place as critical favorites in the then still-dormant field of popular hip hop." - Wikipedia
6.) Michael Jackson - Thriller
This was the first record that I actually owned, aka, not a dubbed cassette tape, actual vinyl. This debuted in 1982, but I don't think I was listening to it until '83. I did have a few MJ buttons, but my folks wouldn't spring for a jacket or parachute pants. In hindsight... probably good they didn't.
7.) Fat Boys - Debut Album
This was my first exposure to hip-hop. I had this record memorized inside and out. This was 1984... so I must have been around 10 yrs old. 'Brlbrlbrlbrlbrl *stick 'em* ah haha *stick 'em*
Many things have changed for me in the last .. 17? years. Although I will always consider those albums valuable in shaping who I am, I don't listen to any of them much anymore.
About a month ago, I started using a program called Last.fm. You tell it what your preferred media player is, and it keeps tabs on what you listen to. You can even sync your Ipod to it. Over time it forms a picture of your listening patterns, and creates personal billboard type charts showing you your listening habits, which tracks you listen to most often, and so on. According to that, The Boards of Canada is what I listen to most now.
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