Re: [-empyre-] the promise

[Brendan Howell <mute@netaxs.com>]

On Mon, 18 Feb 2002, Auriea Harvey wrote:

> >  Technology is not a philosophy or a way of life,
> 
> sure it is.

Well... I'm not so sure but I was getting at is that I don't like being
dependent on any one technology.  I hate having to rely on my car or phone
or hard drive.  It's a limit to my flexibility.

> >it's just tools that make certain tasks easier.
> 
> Why should artists be the ones to not care about their tools?
> Why are artists always so ready to lie down and take what they are given?
> Why not care about it ? It is a "new medium" "new tools." I say, 
> obssess over it dammit ! Grow your own...

I didn't mean to suggest that artists shouldn't care about their tools,
only that in this era of so many options that one be more pragmatic.  Roll
your own indeed or steal a bunch of stuff of the shelf and make crazy
concoctions.  But to become reliant upon or obsessed with any one
technology is to stop moving. 

> >   I'd say the 'axis of evil' on the internet is from commercial forces
> >that are attempting to dominate the digital real estate and threaten the
> >inherent democracy.
> 
> are you trying to say by this that the ibook is not a part of this ??

No not at all.  Apple certainly has the tech-cult thing going as well.

> >I'd say the military influence is not so relevant any more.
> 
> the military influence is built in. the commercialization is just one 
> more form of warfare.

Yes, but I think the violence comes from an amoral market force rather
than from some sort legacy of national/colonial/racial militancy.

> One nation, Many fronts.

Exactly.
Infinite small conflicts...

> Auriea.
>