Friday, 16. October 2009, 19:22:59
joy, loss, profit, hate
...
"What have I gained from this?"
This is a question that has come into fashion at some point or another in time, as a rationale for justifying one's actions or participations. But 'gain'? Really? Gain is what you have when turnover beats expenditure: profit. I've chosen not to see my life this way.
Life is about love, joy, exploration and discovery.
It is also about hate, despair, isolation and public toilets.
It is not about profit and loss spreadsheets. At least not for me, and I'm glad of that.
Tuesday, 13. October 2009, 19:57:08
moth, symmetry, evolution, elevator music
I took this photo of a moth in a cave over the weekend, and ever since it has been puzzling me:
photoI can just about get to grips with the idea that the better camouflaged moths are more likely to survive longer than the less well camouflaged ones, thus allowing them a greater chance of mating with another: the result being moths which are better camouflaged to their environment over time. And I assume this is the mechanism at work here.
What has been occupying my mind is the fact that the camouflage is symmetrical. Why?
Is it simply the 'average camouflage'? Or is it that, like elevator music, it can't please every background (which inevitably are all naturally chaotic in appearance) so it eventually finds a pattern which will suit no background perfectly and not favour any particular pattern, which would look very obvious against another very different background pattern?
In summary, is it symmetrical because no background it ever encounters is?
Elevator music is designed not only to please no one, but to irritate everyone, so perhaps it isn't the perfect analogy, as I'm sure you'll agree this moth is admirably disguised.
Wednesday, 7. October 2009, 21:30:22
blog, sleep, woodcarving
Well, gaining inspiration from one of my new my.opera friends, I decided to write something here despite not knowing what. The reason? I like writing but, as you'll know by now, never know what to write abo... is this deja vu?
It's my first blog, let alone post, so be patient.
I'll start with what I've been doing lately. I am attempting to start selling what I make. You see, I have a passion for wood (not so much of the comic variety) and have been carving things from it for as long as I've had my own knife, and even before that. It's one of those wonderful things you can't explain, the reason I love to do this.
What I've been playing at this evening:
My day job is teaching English, but classroom teaching is something I'm not so passionate about... My goal here is to get a good balance between the two: work and workplay. My dream is to work doing what I love. What I don't know is how much I'll love it when it becomes work, so then the reason for making workplay, and finding that balance.
I haven't the faintest idea why any of this may interest anyone else, but it is my intention to remove some of these thoughts from my head in preparation for sleep...
Goodnight.
WIDGETIZE