This week’s content, and especially the lecture, made me think of the relationship between tradition and technology. Another professor, whose class I am taking on preservation seems to posit the idea that technology will eventually obliterate tradition, i.e. writing replaced oral practice. I think Doctor Main’s ideas on this topic are more ambiguous – she reminds us of a strong oral tradition in several cultures, to say nothing of her own, that have flourished to outlast mere technological shifts. All of this reminds me of my studies of Herodotus, a figure who came into his own during the apex of Athenian cultural flourishing and the production of letters. Herodotus wrote down his histories using a new technology but nonetheless simply referred to them as tools to jog his memory in the working of the old oral tradition. Verily the histories of Herodotus were not read by anyone (besides the contemporary reader) but rather heard as oral lectures. Herodotus made his living by traveling from place to place giving lively lectures on his materials, in the epic tradition of Homer and Hesiod. In this case tradition and technology combine and do not obliterate one another. If anyone is interested in this topic – here’s a link to a paper I wrote about Herodotus in my ultimate semester as an undergraduate: http://www.krauselabs.net/?page_id=331
My next point is a meditation on the virtues of technology versus tradition. Are computers and writing clearly superior to the oral methods of our ancestors? I’m not so sure, as history shows us that oral societies had a greater deal of stability and fidelity as far as information retrieval are concerned. In pre-literate cultures a story was known by everyone in a society, and fidelity was checked by the memories of others. Myths and stories were considered important aspects of life, and so people carefully memorized what was being said. In this fashion if an error was recited it was quickly corrected by the collective memory of others. This cannot be said of modern times, in which what is known is a muddle, and modern day sophists (calling themselves “pundits”) spin lies around truths. The fidelity of knowledge is momentary and the whole idea of information retrieval is often based upon accident.
The memory-correction notion, if I may call it that, seems to me to have been reincarnated in such works as A People’s History of the United States, amongst others. Howard Zinn, who recently passed away (may he rest in peace), attempted to introduce the collective memory of people in order to reapply history. Although put to paper by one man, it is a consideration of the vast cultural heritage which has until recently been marginalized by “official” channels. All of this straddles fundamental philosophical questions including what is true and what is the way in which to report to others what is true.
A notable library science author once said, and I paraphrase, that in our current day and age it is possible for important records to become “lost in abundance.” This implies that as the whole sum of human knowledge, to mime Jimmy Wales, is digitized, the minutia and tedious everyday archives begin to drown out the otherwise noteworthy records which were re-recorded for generations due to their importance. These latter works are important, culturally, legally, economically, but are lost in an ocean of increasingly irrelevant records. What pains our ancestors took by hand copying ancient manuscripts of hundreds of leaves across generations to engender that information to us only to have it fall on obscurity because such stuff fails to break into the “trending topics” of Twitter. This topic came to mind upon reading Blossom and remains fresh at my attention even after musing through the other readings, which while informative, do not speak to the implications of endemic digital preservation.
On the topic of digitizing books a la Coyle. It’s great that we are slowly digitizing all books, but we must recall the harsh facts (summarized by Conway 2000) before throwing caution to the wind:
We must realize that digital data’s longevity is extremely unreliable, hard-drives die within a decade, and files themselves will degrade and become corrupt. Accordingly, if everything is to be digitized, we must consider the economy of constantly replacing devices which are created using plastics and other rare materials. Fail to replace such hardware, and the information contained upon them will be lost forever as hard copies are consumed by inherent vice and the slow corrosion of time. In order for this digital shift to be truly ethical, we must ensure that national data centers be established on the principles of redundant preservation: online, offline and offsite. Simply throwing a file onto a storage hard-drive is not enough, considering what is at stake. Mechanical failure means the obliteration of information, and without substantial effort given to making such information redundant, knowledge may be lost forever.
It also makes one think of the dangers of nuclear wars and/or catastrophic environmental phenomena which would have little effect on hard copies but devastating effects on digital collections. Indeed, the greatest destruction caused by a nuclear attack may not lie in the fallout or explosive effect, but rather the powerful electromagnetic pulse created by it:
Such a phenomenon, nuclear or natural, might mean the end of all knowledge as we know it in a completely digital world. In the end it may be wiser to continue to print hard copies while offering digital resources as options for access.
Some ember burns inside. Cato clutched his side on the slope leading up the forested path. Oceans of rock loomed over by sylvan sentries. The boys lie ahead, looking back at the knight. They are steeled. Dirt coats their faces and tunics. They are panting and holding themselves up on shaking hilts. The sky is darkening but cheeks and eyeballs pierce the shadows. Something is coming. His neck atrophied. He looks back but his eyes close like a man woke from a deep sleep by a shut door. Cato thought of the fox’s face before the hounds got to it so many years ago when his father brought him to the country. Cato reasoned then, this was not a foe to which he could contest. The path grew darker and like sweeping volcanic waves shadows made embrace of the stranded company. It was then seen.
The Shakyas have it right. It all begins with the root of desire, made naked and absurd. Toss it away. Spit it out. Scorn it. Serenity and wisdom is the product.
The drink does not leave you. It drowns you.
Niccolo Machiavelli
January 1st, 2010
When evening comes I return to the house and go into my study. Before I enter I take off my rough mud-stained country dress. I put on my royal and curial robes and thus fittingly attired I enter into the assembly of men of old times. Welcomed by them I feed upon that food which is my true nourishment, and which has made me what I am. I dare to talk with them, and ask them the reason for their actions. Of their kindness they answer me. I no longer fear poverty or death.
And they call it a mine!
December 23rd, 2009
Dwarf Fortress - Ibrukmatul “Ashendance,” 24th Malachite 210 Mid-Summer
This is my second settlement or “fortress” built from the ground up in the free game Dwarf Fortress. My first fortress “The Abbey of Death” had various fundamental design flaws which I hoped to rectify and improve this time around. This is my first “complete” fortress, having no foreseeable future problems to overcome, with a massive stockpile of raw materials, food, drink, as well as complete security from external and internal threats. Furthermore, my fortress has turned into a “Mountainhome” upon arrival of a queen, and as I can set no creative goals for myself I deem this particular settlement “done.” I even delved to the deepest levels in hopes of unlocking a Balrog-esque horror of the mountain, but this land is blessed in Armok’s gaze, and no such vile fiends were stumbled upon. Ibrukmatul, known as Ashendance in the common tongue, will serve as a bastion for all of dwarfkind for hundreds of years to come!
The Fortress:
3. Z-Level +2 – Main Battlements
4. Z-Level 1/0 – Main Entrance
5. Z-Level -1 – Main Social Area
7. Z-Level -3 and Below – Mines
8. Fairly recent complete map on Dwarf Fortress Map Archive
Random Screenshots:
1. A siege in 206-207 by Goblins
2. What the entrance area looked like when I arrived with the 7 legendary founders. Also: another view.
4. The aftermath of another goblin siege in 209
6. Engineering disaster – When channeling the river toward my fort in constructing my wells and reservoir I accidentally left a gap next to the main intake floodgate which caused uncontrolled flooding. Luckily the water did not have enough pressure to blast into the main social area of the fort (Z-Level -1) as I suspected it to, but it did cause a panic when I realized I had made the mistake. In an attempt to save my fort two heroic dwarfs barricaded themselves behind a hastily constructed wall in order to stop the flood. Luckily, as the water did not rise into the fort, I was able to safely dig them out.
7. Prepping for a goblin siege, note the full sized bull “pet” chilling in the tower
8. My first megabeast encounter – As I saw it approaching I ordered everyone inside and put my my marksdwarves and champions on alert. Man the battlements! Unfortunately one guy was still left outside and before I could pull the lever to get the bridge back down the Titan chased him. Still was able to kill the titan with fire from the battlements though.
Thanks:
The helpful dudes at #DwarfFortress on Quakenet for answering my numerous noob questions.
Mayday for his graphical mod
The Future:
I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the next incarnation of this amazing game, which will among other things add massive underworld civilizations and cave systems to interact with. Myconid holocaust by magma anyone? I may start another fortress before then, but if I do it will surely be something unconventional and I will go out of my way to seek trouble including the infamous “HFS” (hidden fun stuff), magma vents, underground chasms, Balrogs etc. I have had little experience with any of these things yet, and I am loathe to embark on an area which does not have underground soil for plump helmet farming: early irrigation of crops sounds troublesome for a modest company of 7 dwarfs! Nevertheless, I want to experiment with magma, pumps, machinery and other infernal combinations!
Also considering writing a review of this game, or a “Top 10 games” review. Games like this need more exposure, for they represent a little glimmer of light in the vast ocean of mediocrity which surrounds us in the gaming world.
Julius Evola
December 8th, 2009
This restriction must be kept in mind. What I am about to say does not concern the ordinary man of our day. On the contrary, I have in mind the man who finds himself involved in today’s world, even at its most problematic and paroxysmal points; yet he does not belong inwardly to such a world, nor will he give in to it. He feels himself, in essence, as belonging to a different race from that of the overwhelming majority of his contemporaries.
Odd Dream thought
November 27th, 2009
MIT scientist Matt Wilson claims that NREM sleep is “taking the past and trying to figure out how that might relate to the future and in REM actually trying to experience the future, move into the future.”
Proof for the existence of astral divinities and the pillar of singularity? That’s what I dream about. Very strange.
Dwarf Fortress – The Abbey of Death
November 25th, 2009
5 years with Dwarf Fortress and my first fortress is doing OK. The “Abbey of Death” is built into a muddy hill.
Level 0 – The surface, with fortifications for fighting off Goblin attacks. I thought the ballista would be able to shoot down a Z-level, but I have been informed that it cannot. Built about 4 years after settlement.
Level 1 – The main fortress and surrounding countryside, industries on the right. Channels and bridges made this year.
Level 2- The Dwarf social level. The first place where I struck stone, hence the stone industries and first quarry on the right. On the top left of this zone you can see my emergency water system, which runs down 5 levels (to below where water can freeze) and is controlled by a set of three fail-safe floodgates.
Assorted Screenshots:
Ground Hog Slaughter – Ground hogs kept coming out of the ground and disrupting my cowardly wood cutters. I dispatched a squad of soldiers to slaughter them, who surrounded the hole with dogs and then shot the groundhogs from the surface. There was so much blood it pooled upward.
Blooper! – Female dwarf miner has her baby while mining, and loses the baby in the rocks.
Diagram – Brainstorming diagram for the emergency water system.
Status – Overview of the fortress.
Seneca’s Epistles (Letters)
November 19th, 2009
Based upon the Richard M. Gummere translation, a reading.
Epistles 1-5:
YouTube | Download mp4
Epistles 6-10:
YouTube | Download mp4
Epistles 11-15:
YouTube | Download mp4
Epistles 16-20:
YouTube | Download mp4