Psybertron Asks

You live and learn. Today visited The Blue Ridge Inn, famed for its view ovelooking a certain Hanging Rock. Factual location, fictional mystery.

(Business, not pleasure; Honest.)

Is the medium really the message ? Need to separate the politics and content of “free” publishing from the technology used.

This might show two things – (a) this kind of censorship and repressive punishment happens, and the blogosphere simply helps make it more publicly apparent. (b) Repressive authorities may choose to repress the freedom of the blogging medium irrespective of the actual message.

I’ve not read the “offending” blog (see here too), so I have no new opinion on the politics of the content. We already know authoritarian cleric regimes suppress anti-authoritarian criticism – that’s why they’re authoritarian, that’s what Amnesty International has always been about isn’t it.

Yes, condemn repression, but let’s not confuse blogging with a cause, the subject, the target. (Too late of course, just another toxic meme out there.)

I suspected such might be the case ?

Some of you will have spotted I did some research on live music before coming to Oz. Both Perth (where I’m headed) and Melbourne (where I am now).

But neither “The Green Room” (Elizabeth and Flinders) nor “Australianmusicweek” hit my radar. The final event is not until Saturday, and I didn’t even see the band (“The High Stakes”) that won tonight’s heat. Nor, by all accounts, did I even see the band with the best musician (Guitarist, Jeb, of “Animal Simpson”) [Saw these and more bands on the finals night.]

I did see “Sin City” and “Sojourn”. Chalk and Cheese. My white sneakers were the only non-black attire in the place, apart from Sojourn lead’s boy-scout neck-chief. If I had a pound for each Lou Reed inspired T-shirt. You get the idea. (Reminds me of Keith Allen doing “Perfect Day” every time.)

Last first. Sojourn’s complexity of structure (and hair cuts) reminded me of The Cooper Temple Clause. Worthy, clever, accomplished rock, and very good entertainment, Sojourn are local Melbourne boys apparently.

Sin City on the other hand – were 100% cliche, but also 110% professional at their RnR craft. Goth hair, facials – eyes, lips & teeth, identikit fans, skull’n’crossbones motifs, bare-chested bassist (you know who), the most contrived stage monikers ever, lead guitar who needn’t have exerted himself beyond the crash riffs, lead chick (goth, natch, loved the leopard-skin handbag atop the Marshall, nice touch), almost-thirty-something, finger-less lace gloves, external corset & suspender-belt, simulated mike and stand sex, audience-participation-with-tongues, the works – married to the absolutely truly amazing drummer that is Tommy Gunn (one of those monikers). All four ex-Perth apparently, where I’m headed next. Add 5% humour and they could be …. As the pomme organiser said – “you may not have won, but don’t take it too seriously and don’t ever stop what you’re doing“. [Saw Sin City several more times.]

It’s only rock and roll, but it’s vital.
It’s such a perfect day.
I’m glad I spent it with you.

Anyway, as you can see … broadband connection in the Duxton Hotel in Melbourne, means blogging OK from Oz today …

Finished Searle’s “Mind” and started “Bennett & Hacker” on the plane – see coupla blogs ago. Early days – first principles from Aristotle – a bit too destructively analytic so far. Dualism goes away if we stop referring to brain or mind and simply say “people” – no, sorry, doesn’t do it for me, yet. Word games so far.

Lovely leaf / tree / water / reflection image from qB at Frizzy Logic.
(Ditto the sunset on Lake Malawi – cliche or no.)

Robot Wisdom has fresh posts 22nd Feb 2005 !!!

What prompted the return ? Hunter S Thomson’s demise ? International Blog Action Day ? This amazing space-pic of Central Park ? Who knows, but it’s the usual mix and sources. Welcome back Jorn – after more than a year off-line.

Actually, the clue must be in his first new link, to “Rigorous Intuition” … what must be the ultimate conspiracy theory blog – everything from state sponsored terrorism to JFK theories – all the more scary for being well written by Canadian Jeff Wells. Perspicuous Jorn calls it. Unlike cock-up, conspiracy requires competence, I find. Makes Michael Moore look tame. Great collection of links to other writers too, but you have been warned – go there at your peril.

(Notice several other blogs spotted Jorn’s reposting within minutes, took me a day to spot it, though I did stumble into it first hand, it has to be said.)

Just in time for a little light reading on the long flight Amazon UK delivered this morning two books I ordered only on Saturday morning – ordinary letter post delivery too.

Susan Blackmore’s “Consciousness – An Introduction”, plus Bennett & Hacker’s “Philosophical Foundations of Neuroscience”. The former from the author of “Meme Machine”, the latter got rave UK reviews – has an intriguing reversed title in the current climate of neuroscience claims for theories of consciousness – hope it’s not too heavy going.

Off to Oz this evening UK time, to Melbourne initially, then Perth. No idea when I’ll next get a connection – hopefully in one of the hotels.

Actually tomorrow is the “Free Mojtaba and Arash Day“. Don’t know enough about the circumstances of the individual Iranian bloggers to comment, but I guess I support blogging in principle, so happy to lend a voice.

What I don’t need is a “Bloggers Bill of Rights” or a “Committee to Protect Bloggers”. Free speech is always done in the context of prevailing governmental and business organisations – bloggers deserve no special priviledges.

Link from Christian Hauk to a Grauniad article, in response to my previous post about the blind guy hearing in colour.

(BTW, you need to link all your non-blog stuff to your new blog site, Christian)

I’ve been following a thread of many posts based on reading about what neurological and psychological abnormalities tell us about the reality of normal perception and consciousness. This Richard Johnson article about an autistic / epileptic savant adds to that thread. Unlike Kim Peak, the original Rain Man, Daniel Tammet can explain how he (believes he) executes his mental feats. Very interesting.