The Aesthetics and Beauty of Knowledge
Shih was the opposite of facts and raw information; shih was the elegance of knowledge, the insight and skill to organize knowledge into meaningful patterns. As an artist chooses colours or light to make her pictures, a master of shih chooses textures of knowledge – various ideas, myths, abstractions, and theories – to create a way of seeing the world. The aesthetics and beauty of knowledge – this was shih.
– David Zindell, The Broken God, 1993
Geek Attitude
The attitude thing is about flexibility, portability, creativity, sociability and jamming (ran out of suitable “ity” words!). It’s about improvising – in the practical and musical senses of the word; not getting tangled in boundaries and the “right” way to do things.
Definitely the only way to travel.
– Martin Delaney – “Laptop Music”.
Kuehleborn's Unfathomable Thoughts
Downgrading Second Life
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Here is my alter ego Kuehleborn Spengler, saying goodbye to his home “Undine” and the land he just abandoned. Last week I downgraded my SL-account to the free basic account.
It took some time before I made up my mind. Why? I don’t know! Be honest: there is nothing left in Second Life now, fascinating as it was when it all began. I never meet any of my friends online anymore, I think they’ve all moved on a long time ago. And, worst of all, SL has become soooo sloooow.
So, I downgraded; I only kept my avatar – after all he is still a part of me.
No home, no land, no costs. Without any luggage I’ll never feel obliged again to log in to the grid. And, being free to choose, I’m not sure if I’ll ever return voluntarily.