Time Machine Ballistics
On the other hand, things that take next to no time at all can be powerfully revealed with a still photograph. This site features the work of Harold Edgerton. He was a pioneer in high speed photography. If you're ever in Boston, stop by the museum at MIT: The Edgerton Center
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Noah K Everyday
Noah K Everyday
I'm interested in things that are elemental. Things that come from first principles. Basic measurements of physical quantities that can not be distilled down into anything more real are interesting to me.
Running marathons teaches you a lot about distance. You learn a lot about time as well as more complicated qualities such as power and energy. The funny thing is, I'm more awed by the distance when we're driving back to the hotel room after the marathon. During the event, I'm experiencing the thing, and it's going by too slowly to really understand, especially at the paces I usually run (~10 or 11 minute miles.) But having to drive for half an hour or so to get back to the start of where you ran from... well, that's pretty sobering. "Hell, I ran this biatch," I usually say, or something to that effect. Everybody in the car agrees that it is a long way, but only those who ran it really feel that distance. We usually feel the distance even more in the next couple of days, then it fades and the mind glosses over and saves the good memories and blots out the pain. You don't remember what it means until about the 22nd mile of the next marathon you run. That last three or four miles is a beautiful hell. It's drug-like. Your life will never be simpler than when you're done with the preparation and the running of the first 4/5ths of the marathon. You only have one thing to do, and two physical quantities to think about: time and distance. Sure, you might be concerned about your energy level or your heart rate or the temperature or wondering where your friends are or something else... but ultimately it boils down to "how far is it, and how long do I have to get there?"
This photography project shows time in a completely different light. While not on a geological timescale, it's definitely closer when compared to the usual time-lapses we see (see my earlier posting about the movie Baraka.)
I'm interested in things that are elemental. Things that come from first principles. Basic measurements of physical quantities that can not be distilled down into anything more real are interesting to me.
Running marathons teaches you a lot about distance. You learn a lot about time as well as more complicated qualities such as power and energy. The funny thing is, I'm more awed by the distance when we're driving back to the hotel room after the marathon. During the event, I'm experiencing the thing, and it's going by too slowly to really understand, especially at the paces I usually run (~10 or 11 minute miles.) But having to drive for half an hour or so to get back to the start of where you ran from... well, that's pretty sobering. "Hell, I ran this biatch," I usually say, or something to that effect. Everybody in the car agrees that it is a long way, but only those who ran it really feel that distance. We usually feel the distance even more in the next couple of days, then it fades and the mind glosses over and saves the good memories and blots out the pain. You don't remember what it means until about the 22nd mile of the next marathon you run. That last three or four miles is a beautiful hell. It's drug-like. Your life will never be simpler than when you're done with the preparation and the running of the first 4/5ths of the marathon. You only have one thing to do, and two physical quantities to think about: time and distance. Sure, you might be concerned about your energy level or your heart rate or the temperature or wondering where your friends are or something else... but ultimately it boils down to "how far is it, and how long do I have to get there?"
This photography project shows time in a completely different light. While not on a geological timescale, it's definitely closer when compared to the usual time-lapses we see (see my earlier posting about the movie Baraka.)
Brave New Workshop's Christmas Show
The fetal support unit and I went to see the opening night of BNW's "Christmas- The Other White Holiday" last night.
More on the show in a bit. We got there a little late, as I had to get in my workout. I'm closing in on a year of Crossfit, so I'll post my thoughts in a couple of weeks.
Back to BNW. They had food, which was good, because I was starving. So I found some munchies and commenced munching. An older gentlemen walked up, picked up a bag of tortilla chips, then inspected one of the small round tubs on the table. It was full of green avocado-ey goodness. He asks, to nobody in particular, "What's this stuff?"
You know you're in Minnesota when people don't know what Guacamole is. "Put it down sir, you wouldn't like it. It's probably too spicy for you, and it's never been near a cow, it's not made from fish, it's never been fermented, and there's no way you can make it into a hot dish. It's not for you."
Mind you, we weren't out-state... we were in Uptown. I could tell because everybody that was good looking was dressed in black, ill-fitting, frumpy clothes. Yup, these clothes said "I'm so good looking, I have to dress badly and wear clunky glasses."
I mean, I could understand if we were just west of Cowfuck, WI. Not knowing what guacamole is could be something of a badge of cheesehead/outstate pride in some areas. But in Uptown? Wow.
After that, I waited in line for the bathroom. BNW is strangely egalitarian. There are two one-holers, and one line forms for both of them. I was standing behind a black guy, who clearly needed to go because he was dancing around. He asked me "is there just the one bathroom?"
"No, there's two, but there's just one line. I guess it's fairer that way."
"What? Since when is this country fair? Since the election we're all into equal rights? Man, if this was the 1940's, I'd be finished by now!"
I couldn't much argue with him there. Given the demographic makeup of the crowd, he'd have had time to read the paper and catch up on the news, and nobody would have much cared.
The show itself was great. There was a lot of swearing, pretty much nothing was sacred, and even the Muslims got a few friendly pokes, along with the Jews, the whites, the Lutherans, the Catholics, politicians, UPS, and all of our standard Christmas stereotypes.
I laughed so much my cheeks (the ones on my face) hurt today. If you get the chance, go see the show. Last year's effort was good, but this year it's obvious the cast has matured and grown.
More on the show in a bit. We got there a little late, as I had to get in my workout. I'm closing in on a year of Crossfit, so I'll post my thoughts in a couple of weeks.
Back to BNW. They had food, which was good, because I was starving. So I found some munchies and commenced munching. An older gentlemen walked up, picked up a bag of tortilla chips, then inspected one of the small round tubs on the table. It was full of green avocado-ey goodness. He asks, to nobody in particular, "What's this stuff?"
You know you're in Minnesota when people don't know what Guacamole is. "Put it down sir, you wouldn't like it. It's probably too spicy for you, and it's never been near a cow, it's not made from fish, it's never been fermented, and there's no way you can make it into a hot dish. It's not for you."
Mind you, we weren't out-state... we were in Uptown. I could tell because everybody that was good looking was dressed in black, ill-fitting, frumpy clothes. Yup, these clothes said "I'm so good looking, I have to dress badly and wear clunky glasses."
I mean, I could understand if we were just west of Cowfuck, WI. Not knowing what guacamole is could be something of a badge of cheesehead/outstate pride in some areas. But in Uptown? Wow.
After that, I waited in line for the bathroom. BNW is strangely egalitarian. There are two one-holers, and one line forms for both of them. I was standing behind a black guy, who clearly needed to go because he was dancing around. He asked me "is there just the one bathroom?"
"No, there's two, but there's just one line. I guess it's fairer that way."
"What? Since when is this country fair? Since the election we're all into equal rights? Man, if this was the 1940's, I'd be finished by now!"
I couldn't much argue with him there. Given the demographic makeup of the crowd, he'd have had time to read the paper and catch up on the news, and nobody would have much cared.
The show itself was great. There was a lot of swearing, pretty much nothing was sacred, and even the Muslims got a few friendly pokes, along with the Jews, the whites, the Lutherans, the Catholics, politicians, UPS, and all of our standard Christmas stereotypes.
I laughed so much my cheeks (the ones on my face) hurt today. If you get the chance, go see the show. Last year's effort was good, but this year it's obvious the cast has matured and grown.
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