ruminations

Research in Brazil

1nfinitezer0 — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 19:08:41 GMT

Ola, I am working in Brazil this summer for two months as a precursor to my master's program in the fall. I am interested in looking at spectral properties of the functional groups in the Cerrado ecosystems. It is similar to an African savannah. The park I am staying in is called Serra do Cipo. It has a river running through the valley, and the plant diversity is incredible. I will be posting more pictures and updates as I go in my wiki: http://raballgalleries.pbwiki.com/Brazil%202007

and so it all comes crashing down

1nfinitezer0 — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 04:40:31 GMT

I've always been a fan of dystopias and apocalyptic scenarios. One of the thing in fiction that has always appealed to me was seeing humanity expressed in dire circumstances, where it's make or break. I believe that we are inherently good as a species and we'll pull through, but not without a change of how we interact with each other and the world. A lecture this past weekend at a retreat brought these thoughts to the fore front of my mind, though they'd been bubbling more due to my corporate employment as of late. (Don't worry, I'm taking their money only to funnel it into causes which do not support their system ~; ) So... with any luck these thoughts will take form in my own fiction shortly, but for now I am just reading and day dreaming. Here is a series of post-apocalyptic scenarios by a self-proclaimed drop out, pretty good site really http://www.ranprieur.com/essays/fallsix.html ""In spring of 2006, the Bush Gang attacks Iran, a mountainous nation almost four times the size of Iraq with a much stronger military. No problem -- they use nukes, and they don't have to cover it up for the people at home, because Americans know "we" would never do that, so we didn't. The rest of the world, though, is appalled. The EU imposes trivial sanctions. Tony Blair calls it "regrettable." Venezuela threatens to cut off our oil again, and one or two countries start trading oil in Euros. Ordinary Americans see this as "rabid anti-Americanism," and are horrified by Iran's relatively tame counter-attack. Bush's approval rating goes back up to 60%, and because our enemies are now attacking us, he dissolves congress and cancels the 2008 elections. The Democrats, afraid of seeming weak in a time of war, make mild objections."" """The near future looks like a giant Burning Man or Rainbow Gathering or Renaissance Faire in which everyone is preoccupied with getting food. The people who can't take it find a lot of ways to die, including deadly fighting. But people who like this world, and want to live in it, have a great survival advantage. By 2030 no one can count the number of independent city states, tribes, permaculture villages, cults, techno-communes, bandit gangs, or enclaves of surviving elites (actually, the last one can be counted). Computers are gone but pre-industrial and post-industrial machinery is growing wildly. By 2040, every town has windmills and water mills mechanically connected to machinery for grinding or weaving or cutting or light manufacturing. New gyroscope-stabilized rail-bicycles ride the old train tracks, with the infrastructure locally maintained in better condition than ever. Innovations in materials engineering enable cheap ultralight pedal airplanes. There are plenty of ways to move people around, but no efficient way to move heavy freight. This creates a global culture that is both cosmopolitan and locally autonomous.""" And, on a tangential note, the Long Now Foundation is still going, yay!! And they finished their second 10 000yr clock prototype and I didn't hear about it till now!!! oh well, my perception of the present is a bit out of scale. ~; ) http://www.longnow.org/press/articles/ArtDiscover02005.php

welcome to the jungle

1nfinitezer0 — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:56:06 GMT

so, i've been really excited about South America lately, reading books, watching movies, trying to absorb as much of it into my daily life as I can. Why? There is a reason for this. I have recently started working for a professor who does tropical forest work with remote sensing & GIS and I hope to enter a grad program with him. So I'm happily obsessed. One thing I have discovered that has shocked me is the deforestation. Remember how it was such a huge deal in the 80s? Well, it hasn't stopped. Country-sized chunks of land are still be converted to agriculture annually. And it is debatable whether or not these practices are sustainable, being that most of them are large-scale, industrial processes heavy on soil modification and not managed for the long term. Although tropical rainforests appear to have rapid rates of regeneration the soils never really build up in nutrients or organic matter. It is uncertain what their future will be. I am hoping to study the factors which influence forest succession in tropical dry forests. Ideally I'd like to find techniques which foster long-term sustainable use of the landscape, but being that I'm still a naive gringo, I'm interested in just learning how it all works for now ~; ) --- http://www.amazonswim.com/ There is currently a marathon swimmer undertaking the incredible task of swimming the Amazon river from Peru to the Ocean. --- and, just for some more tropical forest fun, lyrebirds! http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=3433507052114896375

cotton candy sunrises

1nfinitezer0 — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:42:55 GMT

One of my favourite things about winter is when the sun begins to rise and spreads a pink glow over fresh snow, crystals glinting with magic light and alternating with the blue shadows of our latitude. This winter has been both good and bad for me. The external factors mostly good, I've been focusing more on my goals and productive behaviour. Internally I drift again to loneliness... but, the kiss of slight sadness is in most music I love and I guess it's just a part of me. Anyways, this is more of an update than and emo-spouting so I'll continue ~; ) I'm house and animal sitting for my parents while they and my brother frolic in the tropical sun. It's been snowing nonstop which lead to some adventurous tromping which was far more enjoyable with the snowshoes than without. I've seen deer, rabbits, had a close encounter with a porcupine, whistled/sang with the chickadees while they fed from my motionless frame... The lure of TV at their house was a temptation I could not avoid completely. Having not had one in my home since 99, I still find myself drawn to it. Luckily the nature programs and movies available were not a complete waste of time. I am glad that I got to see the Serpent and the Rainbow, a film directed by Wes Craven based upon a book by Wade Davis. The more I learn about Wade Davis the more I think I like him. Pretty much all ethnobotanists get four stars in my books, but his speaking and thoughts particularly resonate with me. I recommend that you search for one of his many presentations on the internet if that sort of thing rings your bell. The movie itself was captivating, you could consider it a horror for all the fear and twisted violence in it. The amount of voodou in the film necessitated it really. I was impressed with how they presented his psychotropic induced madness and fighting with hallucinations. Dealing with fear in dreams has been a subject I've been thinking a lot on lately. I've always been one for nightmares or feelings of pursuit, but they haven't bothered me in years. However, I think I am at a point where I can face more challenges in life and would like this to reflect in my subconscious intentions. Incidentally, the theme of hallucinations with spiritual connections also occurred in two other shows on the weekend. Synchronicity or a sign? heh, more like the surfacing of interpretations already seeded in the mind. Hope you are all doing well, much love

Passing of a loyal companion

1nfinitezer0 — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:04:47 GMT

She was a sweetheart of a dog and passed through the hands of our family from puppy till now. No matter how age attacked her body, she would still bound through the bush and act like a puppy when we were out walking. My mother had the following words I think should be shared: ""I'm sorry to report that Bender passed away on December 4th. The degeneration of her hips was such that she was in constant pain. She was no longer able to enjoy her walks, nor even lie down comfortably. In her memory, I share the following thoughts about life. Goodbye to a good friend. <b>Things We can Learn from a Dog</b> Delight in the simple joy of a long walk. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. When it is in your best interest, practise obedience. Let others know when they have invaded your territory. Take naps and stretch before rising. Run, romp and play daily. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not. If what you want is buried, dig 'til you find it. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. Thrive on attention and let people touch you. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout ... run right back and make friends. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy""

techno purists suck on this!

1nfinitezer0 — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 19:31:38 GMT

fuck, i love techno. to the point of using expletives even ~; ) that's the 2nd night within a month that i've been able to go hard to techno. and it was a nice introduction to the new club. it smelled of insulation, heavy metals, and people. the concrete walls relatively bare, -30 degrees outside but sweaty inside. full of rowdy beer drinking techno hooligans and hot women. neal started it out with minimal, worked through funky and some danilo vigorito tracks. finished his set by playing some acid stuff, and everything got harder from the rowland the bastard track he dropped. from there rob and lego went three for three, banging out some classics and some new stuff. relentless beats, pounding bass. i just kept bouncing around with a giant grin on my face, yelling at the djs and the crowd, joining in the calling out chant of TECH-NOOO! yar, edmonton is awesome. --- photo credit: cameron sound

copy/paste profile from another site

1nfinitezer0 — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 14:45:38 GMT

it is interesting how as time passes, so do people. we can be born anew with in a single life. i feel like i'm lost in the clouds... ~:o . . . i am ever a student of life and evolutionary biology. i like to think of the universe being some abstract mathematical prediction but governed by an inner spiritual essence. essentially i'm a pantheist, but also a existentialist and a weird cross of a fatalist and determinist. I fell in love with Nature as a child: running through forests, playing in streams and chasing bugs, amphibs and reptiles. The more I learn, the more I respect and love the complexity of our natural environment. To me, Evolution is such an inuitively correct theory. The idea of change with modification and suitable refinement can be extended to nearly any system. In fact, I would say that I found my faith through Evolution. Before the phlegm of retort clogs your throat, let me explain ~;) I am not a biologist who takes Evolution as some sort of secular religion, such as some would suggest that E. O. Wilson is purporting. Nor do I believe that Evolution is the mechanism of Intelligent Design, guided by some conscious, anthropomorphic super-being. I see Evolution as an expression of Chaos, Entropy, Infinite chance and lots of time. We are here because of dumb luck. We are insignificant in this incredibly huge universe. I try to rejoice in the a priori knowledge that I exist within the depths of infinite insignificance (which is hard on Mondays). nature is at the core of my inspiration. i am happiest when alone in the middle of a forest, listening to the chatter of life, taking in the sight of the exultant green plants reaching for the sun, smelling the fragrances on the wind, being chill... i am also a fledgling DJ, playing techno...mostly just for myself i have quite a bit of tribal, trancy and detroit influences in my selections. Lately I've been into the new york basslines, nuskool influences and spanish techno or tribal drumming. My obsessions include: *.. techno: detroit, minimal, experimental, swedish, spanish tekhouse, techtrance *.. other electronic music: we have left the 90s, imho techno is a genre, not a global term *.. Evolution: theory, math, history, trivia and binomial nomenclature make me giggle *.. Nature: beauty unparalleled *.. the concepts of nothing and everything: zero and infinity, my favourite asymptotes *.. the internet: it's effects upon our social interactions, perceptions and information flow. *.. your mom: cause she's hot. no, seriously, think about it. ok n/m, but i do enjoy being silly My goals: *.. save the planet: cause I respect that which has come before us and I am a happy little tree hugger *.. make a positive contribution to society: to give is more noble than to receive Yeah, I'm idealistic and naïve, but it's kinda fun. . . . techno, electronic music, microhouse, dub, ambient, acid jazz, experimental, post rock and stuff i am also known as dj forage. i love to spin records, i find that each gem i use is a reflection of my emotions, and weaving them together can create stories of thoughts, feelings and ideas... as well as giving you means to shake your ass. http://www.gomp.ca/DJ_Forage_-_Airy_Techno_Side_1.mp3 - a short mix of dreamy techno http://www.jeffmarvin.com/dj_forage/dj_forage_equinox_sunrise_set.mp3 - a two hour meandering through my favourite downtempo genres. . they are patterns for my soul to dance to... i am always interested in discovering new music. i'd love to hear of your favourites. i have admired: Adam Bayer, Swayzak, com.munikation, monolake, mhonolink, tryptomene, spilt milk, dj nyala, sasha, Richie Hawtin, plastikman etc, umek, danillo vigorito, crisitan varela, marco bailey, amon tobin, massive attack, esthero, the alan parsons project, pat metheny, tea party, thinnerism.com, psychadelic dub, generative and ambience projects, skinny puppy, the mechanical sweetness of detroit, sweden and goa and a human history of drums. i love to dance. i would consider myself a raver, a hippy-in-training (maybe more of a granola) i also like :dreaming, sleeping, love, good food (veggies), nature, biology, evolution, minimalism and balance :good conversation, pretending i'm smart, girls who make the first move, the internet as a method of communication and unity :designing, creating. :digital theology i believe in infinity :i admire photography. the essence of things is difficult to capture in 2D, but it can be done so well. i especially like nature shots. :i love surrealism. lots and lots. especially zdzislaw beksinski http://www.gnosis.art.pl/iluminatornia/sztuka_o_inspiracji/zdzislaw_beksinski/zdzislaw_beksinski.htm :i like books about evolution, natural history, science fiction (mostly the golden age stuff) and weird fiction (especially HP Lovecraft and other Mythos writers) :i am fascinated by Artificial Intelligence, generative music and genetic algorithms. I have been working on customizing a chatterbot AI, contact her here: http://www.pandorabots.com/pandora/talk?botid=e5b200a3de35947d and i will reprogram her meager responses in an effort to please you. ~; )

thank you

1nfinitezer0 — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 04:08:47 GMT

so, i am walking through dreamy forests and epic thoughts lately. it feels great to be. i've walked through the forest as it is changing, saw a pileated woodpecker up close, investigated mosses, seen glistening wires of silk between lush green grass, overlayed with bright yellow elm leaves... smiled, danced, and played with friends. had hugs, good questions, and lasting conversations.