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It has been a long, gritty and grimy week Millipore. I don't think I've pout in less than 9 hours a day, and I pulled an 11.5hr bit. So much for avoiding the pains of a production schedule by going R&D. Instead, I find myself working long hours on poorly organized or sequenced experiments. Hopefully we'll find a way to steady our course and avoid the catastrophe that we've flirted. Danger and risk are seductive ladies, with charms and wonders that I will not deny. However, mixing combining them quick urgent deadlines can only result in a writhing orgy of disappointment.
posted by Ben at (30) comments 9:50 PM

 
"Iran Resumes Nuclear Weapons Program.... Or At least Resumes Trying to Tick Off the UN"

Axis of Evil..... Check! You'd think Iran would have learned by now that it is best not to act up during an election year. That only supports the republicans who might take decisive action against a country that is being shackled by an obnoxiously fundamentalist regime. Iran was not a backwards nation when the Ayatollah's came to power. It was a vibrant, social and technological leader in the middle east. Now, it is an intransigent nation that supports and harbors terrorists. It's getting so obnoxious, that I can almost see Kerry deciding to invade - striking to preempt nuclear aggression, and penalize it for supporting al Qaeda.
posted by Ben at (1) comments 9:52 PM

 
"the context was twisted, so everyone missed it except for the obvious sign"

I'm finally listening to UM 6/8/04 in it's entirety. The acoustic first set was quite enjoyable with the Divisions and the Syncopated being the clear highlights. The band's approach to the second set is quite different from normal. There are a lot more notes - lost of short repeated notes. The accousticness got into their brains. I'm looking forward to seeing them again.

Also, apparently, Mandy Moore was born in Nashua. That doesn’t make me more fond of her, but it’s an interesting tidbits. If only she’d resemble her roots… I’d like some songs about closing mills, shattered windows, and an eventual redemption of the Main street while the edges of town succumb to sprawl.

Indians on dawns highway bleeding – ghosts in the child’s fragile eggshell mind – bleeding on main street and I’m in a hurry to get somewhere unimportant. It’s probably depraved or beer related – but there’s the blood the people the shame. Ghosts on main street. Blood in my town.
posted by Ben at (1) comments 9:54 PM

 
I've been thinking about various paths to enlightenment, and how there is strength in understanding that concepts and ideas may be wrong but still illustrate valuable points. Yesterday, at work we had a group meeting discussing some abstract modeling, bizarre results and evidence that the classically accepted theory may not hold water. All in all that was very exciting, but the things that most interestedly me was the presenter's general unassailable style, and his allusion to recreational drug use (knowing him, I'd guess buckets of psychedelics in the 60s and 70s).

While recreational chemistry isn’t part of the 8-fold path, I wonder if it doesn’t provide a treacherous path to enlightenment. Certainly, many who try that path end up wasted sand derail their own plans. Yet I know too many children of the 60s who not only lead successful lives but make valuable and insightful contributions. Are there other paths? Will listening to hours of Phish and Umphrey’s McGee open my doors of perception?

Jack began his talk discussing experimental results and very general theories. Then launched into some modeling results with the preface that all models were wrong.. The layers of assumptions decrease validity, but allow the math to simplify and illustrate key points. He shifted through realities of fact fiction and possibilities with an ease and comfort I'd associate with someone who’s had a very productive relationship with LSD. He was coming at his problem with a different perspective and different approach, and reminded me of a mathematical Trey: relaxed and at ease as he turned the world around.

The meeting has made me wonder if enlightenment not only includes accepting the impermanence of the material world, but also includes a lack of attachment to specific intellectual construct and schools of thought. Jack's multiple thought spaces (he used the word space to define his conceptual approach to relating membrane porosity to performance) seemed reminiscent of vector spaces. When it's easier to solve a problem in cylindrical coordinates, simply shift out of Cartesian and calculate the volume in two simple steps. Of course, these thought spaces were much broader in their application - but no less utilitarian.


What other thought spaces provide interesting tools for solving problems? I've been known to apply my capital design economics to evaluate various situations. I've used a Marxist thought space to interpret the song peaches. That may have created more problems than it solved. Perhaps the answers top many social problems would reveal themselves if we shifted our perspective. What secrets could science hold if we inverted our thought processes? Can AIDS be made to cure itself?
posted by Ben at (0) comments 7:05 AM

 
A couple simple, and seemingly insignificant things have really brightened my day today.

1) Phish is going to broadcast their final concert live on Satellite radio, and have video simulcasts at regal cinemas. This will seriously decrease the hordes of ticketless flocking to Coventry.

2). I'm very excited by rumors coming out of the Star trek Enterprise camp regarding upcoming story lines. The shift from a massive season long arc, to a bunch of 2-3 episode mini-arcs without much interdependency is interesting enough, but it seems like they actually have ideas that will capitalize on Enterprises prequel status to do cool things for the geeks, which may have some cultural relevance. I hope that they can pull it off...

Rumor A: They'll wrap up the temporal cold war in the seasons first two episodes. Thank god. The only interesting thing to come of it has been hinst that this show will show us how the federation was founded. I don't just want hints. I want to see that faithful day.

Rumor B: Brent Spiner (Data) will be playing his creators great grandfather in an episode that will somehow discuss the Eugenics wars and bring us to the Orions. Orions! Green slave girls for everyone!!!! These quintessential Star Trek clichés have only appeared in one, maybe two episodes - both in the original series... Green slave girls, and genetically engineered super people - what could possibly be better?

Rumor C: A Vulcan Civil War! There's no arguing taht Enterprises Vulcans are jerks - almost Romulan in their duplicity. This civil war has been proposed as a way to rectify this inconsistency. Rectifying the inconsistency makes sense. Calling it a war is highly illogical. I'm hoping that we'll run into Spock's father, but i'm not sure that the chronology would work out for Sarek to be a force in 3 series.

There are no rumors that involve the Andorians, but I'm sure that my favorite recurring character, Shran, will be back to wiggle his antanae for some interesting purpose. We know that the Andorians are key....
posted by Ben at (0) comments 7:41 PM

 
Here are some additional reflections on Philadelphia focusing mostly on the non-Umphrey's portion of the events.... Lets face it, work sin't exciting enough to inspire meaningful self reflection. Of course, I’m perplexed that with increasing responsibility I can find increasing idle time and begin to leave work after my basic 8. That’s not deep or profound, but it’s what I have. There’s nothing too meaningful that isn't company confidential. Membrane is not made from squishing Blue cheese. There you go, it's a Millipore secret.

Anyway, one of the more interesting aspects of our Philadelphia expedition was the way that different concepts of experiencing city life pushed and pulled our little group. Mark showed up with a list of sites that he'd like to see. Keith may not have even made a list of songs. I expected some history, and maybe some Rocky-esque museum steps running but nothing worked out.

Who would have thought that "security" and the like would impede our enjoyment of Philly's historic district. No walking on this sidewalk. the history closed at 5, and its doors closed well before. I guess it was foolish of me to expect the accessibility and omni presence of historic sights, a la Boston. Didn't Phgilly burn down? 1812? Google.... Nope. It was the Barbary Pirates and just a boat.... XYZ, Yeah you know me.

There's really no excuse for the polish and modernity of the history. It was as if the great relics of our past were unable to stand in their own right. Perhaps Boston is so accessible because it lacks relics. instead the specters of revolution reside in the ancient walls of churches and meeting halls.

Philadelphia has a bell, and a building whose divisive politics gave birth to such wonders of liberty as the 3/5ths compromise.

Of course, I love and respect the constitution. It's a noble document born of a noble time when Slavery was to run its course well before the ban on the importation. It was an innocent time, before the rising industrial revolution forever changed the south. Eli Whitney was at Yale, with no interest in Theology. Who would have thought that he'd invent a machine to enslave generations.

How can Philadelphia support two Belgian bars, and I visit neither of them despite walking by one.... Could it be a peculiarly direct liquor tax? Could there actually be a beer culture in PA?

What magic allowed the creation of South Street, and why is it that Boston lacks such a neighborhood with the audacity of one of new York's villages and the charm of a smaller east coast city. With streets lined with sex shops, head shops, record stores, cheese steak diners and bars, I could have been entertained for hours. Of course with no history, and no sites to see, our party kept walking - only eating chesse steak and hitting a local cafe (where I had a most delectable, and quite intense mocha freeze that was textured with crushed beans).

Oh for south street where heads, freaks, and squares can cross paths in harmony. Oh for greasy diner windows and gaudy plastic motor bikes. Mark's youthful infatuation with machine and plastic and leggy women pulling him downward. Oh for the dashed hopes of transcendence being rekindled by a band on some twisted mission to shake asses until they're inspired.

Thats the awkward beat poetry of a tired, sweet deprived mind. There’s no rhythm in these fingers. and les in my abandoned ware house ani difranco music. All to reminiscent of crumbling rust built industry. Its the music of Chester Ave in Cleveland, dimly lit at about 24th st. It music of Buffalo, and not Philadelphia - a city that has well escaped decay and in some ways the detrerments of sprawl - despite giving birth to Levittowns.





posted by Ben at (0) comments 7:37 PM

 
I was quite impressed with this show, not having seen the boys since the Redman tour. I was almost shocked by the intensity of the first set which shifted from rocking dissonance to thoughtful and introspective melody and back to the chaos.

The show opened with Kris walking to the front of the stage and saluting. Jake then started a wireless glory while Kris held his pose and the band walked it. It was absurdly beautiful. The opening triplet of songs were slow building and mellow with some enchanting noodling, approaching transcendence but not quite reaching it until the dissonance started to appear with an extended Syncopated intro. Thus begin the set's theme of exploring the transitions between dissonance and consonance.

The Stewart sandwiched into the Syncopated was quite a treat, and also very eye opening beginning starting out with simple melody's and turning evil before making the lightning quick transition to the songs composed conclusion. Mitten and Plunger were solid, but not didn't offer unusual improv. The 3x->Ocean Billy segue was another show stopper. The segue covered a lot of ground using a couple concise sections

Party Peeps was an intersting second set opener. It has a Police/reggae ish vibe with lyrics about finding a second wind and touring the country in a green van. It seems to be less of a joke than nopener, buts till strongly tied into the rock show experience. It signaled a departure from the distortion of the first set, and began a more laid back and smooth set. The seques were excellent from Prowler through the August JO. The Walrus was espescially dark and psychedelic while the appropriately placed Ringo seemed soft and gentle. OoO was nice to hear. The Magner jam was a solid groove with some fun synth work. Joel demonstrated some polite restraint, but I found his accompaniement to be more interesting than the guests contributions. The jam didn't become anything special but it made me wish that I could see Nate Wilson sit in with UM.

As great as the mid set seques were, the second set hightlight was the JaJunk. I'm not a huge fan of the tune but both jam segments were excellent, and pushed the song to an intense and spiritually moving peak. Jake incorporated some of the second jam segment into the composed conclusion pusing casuing the energy on stage and off to soar. It was just awesome.

I wasn't sure what would make an appropriate encore for an excelent show with sets that had such distinctive sounds. I was guessing a ballad, but teasing Eye of the Tiger until 90% of the room bought it and dropping into another 80s cover was more perfect.


I: Glory > 40's, Uncle Wally > Synchopated Strangers > "Jimmy Stewart" >
Synchopated Strangers, Smell the Mitten, Plunger, Triple Wide > Ocean
Billy

II: Party Peeps, Prowler > I am the Walrus > Ringo > Out of Order >
Ringo* > August > J O, White Man's Moccasins, (L)opener, JaJunk

E: Eye of the Tiger tease > I Ran

*w/ Aaron Manger of the Disco Biscuits

posted by Ben at (0) comments 10:19 PM

 
The vulgar images of my hormonal, youthful brain are called up in the repetitive strokes of creative exercise. It is my enterprise to find the blinding, white of truthful self expression. The guides laid out by Whitman, Kerouac, an Snyder encourage rough hewn, passages of details, timidly personal and boldly intellectual. Perhaps there is a bizarre mating of the two notions. That’s one for my muse to ponder. How can words of literary value be wrought in masturbatory stream of consciousness? The moment of creation, and it’s timing is crucial for music, which never ceases rhythmic gyration. Upon completion, prose lays limp, no longer calling for attention.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 9:56 PM

 
With a brain dead from exhaustion, I pound out bitter reflections of a mind barley able to pull itself away from wave upon wave of internet pin-ups and pornography. Look at the dried-up teen starlet slutting herself up to connect with her aging fans, now well set in the maxim crowd. Who am I to complain, or citize, as I numbly fill my hard drive with wasted time and wasted moments. Damn this separation. Damn this empty house. At least there's a hope for Philadelphia. At least, the Umphrey's dream is taking off and people are hopping on board the bus. There is virtue in some im moments.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 8:50 PM

 
My mouth tastes like burning. Or at least it feels burnt. Yet again, i demonstrated my incredible intelligence by burning myself trying to eat an over cooked pork chop. Why am I so silly. ASfter 23 years, I ought to know that my mother serves everything at or above the oven temperature. I should know not to slice off a full sized bite and shove it into my unwitting mouth. It's amazing that I can taste anything at all. Hopefully, my palate heals for the Hop Head throw down, where I will kill it with delicious and intense beer.

I'd also like to rant a bit about Maxim's Home Town Hotties. now, I tend not to pay the lesser mens magazines undue attention but this little contest/attention deficient disorder caught my eye (via Fark). Aside from the strippers, and amateur models, there are a number of women who actually seem to be real people (they may not all have made the top 100, but they are there). It begs the question, how on earth do guys manage to convince friends/acquaintances to pose in little or no clothing? Does maximum have that much allure? Don't these women know that their pics could end up on the internet, even those which might offer a bit more exposure than the "safe for work" entries on the maxim website. The clandestine click-clubs of the 50s made a lot more sense to me. Really, if you weren't Betty Page, there's no way the photos would get around. Today, hot or not is just a heart beat away... and lets not talk about usenet.

posted by Ben at (3) comments 9:46 PM

 
This long neglected journal, shall begin to receive a bit more of the attention that it is due. I'm reaching an equilibrium state at my new job, after putting in a bit too much time last week. On top of the additional time, I spent a good many evenings out with Kate, Steve, or otherwise on the road. I just stopped making time for documenting self reflection -and maybe even time away from healthy introspection. No longer, my weekend reading at the lake has inspired me to continue this activity.

This past weekend I had the joy of reading Poets on the Peaks, a study of the influence of experiences in the North Cascades on the writings of Gary Snyder, Philip Whalen, and Jack Kerouac. Taken from journals, published poetry, and first hand accounts this book provides an interesting outline for a course on Beat nature writings. Unfortunately, I didn't take a course with it. I pretended it was a course, and muddled through as best I could with the selections in The New American Poetry 1945-1960. That didn't work well, but I did get an appreciation for the solitary wilderness experience, and the way the poets used their journals to capture revelations, contemplations, and to record their developing thoughts of the world.

While I can’t promise to capture a mountain tap satori, again I am moved by the concept of recording my thoughts and opinions. I wrote an interesting, but illegible piece in the camp journal about my thoughts of the books retelling of the Gallery 6 poetry reading (the debut of Howl, and the meeting of the minds between east and west coast Beat poets). Most of what I know of the event is drawn from Kerouac's fictionalized account in The Dharma Bums. While Jack's account of his own drunkenness is lively, and captures some the evenings intensity. John Suiter's more factual account some how paints the event as an evening of singular importance, which rippled through time and space as any great meeting of history. It was if it was a poetic Yalta. The most interesting thing, was the way it seemed that Kerouac's drunken chants of "go" and other jazz ejaculations to punctuate Howl’s every line pushed Ginsberg and the crowd to an emotional peak. Would the evening have been as memorable if Kerouac was not in attendance? He didn't read, so that wouldn't have changed the weight of the poetic content. how is it that one man can so quickly electrify a room? What does it mean for the trip masters, event planners and the like. How can I work to make events, road trips to Philadelphia, etc transcendental and spiritually moving expeditions? Is the secret in large jugs of cheap wine? While intoxicants may help, I don't believe taht they provide the answer to the questions I ponder.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 7:30 PM