Comments on: The Cult of the Clock http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/ public domain playground. friendly entities welcome. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:14:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: scott rassbach http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-18936 scott rassbach Tue, 08 Aug 2006 14:12:35 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/#comment-18936 In "Island in the Sea of Time" by S. M. Stirling, the island of Nantucket from the 20th century is sent back in time to 10,000 BC. The natives are fascinated and horrified at the way the Americans chop up and number their lives. It unnerves them. The series is interesting to read, simply for that observation. I was talking with my friend the Rocket Scientist, about black holes, and how as you work in the normal universe, there are 4 dimensions: x, y, z, and t<i>i</i>, where <i>i</i> is the imaginary number forcing t to move in only one direction. As you approach the event horizon, the possible dimensions change to r<i>i</i> and t, where you're always moving physically toward the event horizon, but it's apparently possible to move any direction in time. Interesting stuff. Those of us who are perceptually focused regard time as simply another factor in perception. Those of us who are objectively focused see time as a literal dimension, capable of movement along an axis. In “Island in the Sea of Time” by S. M. Stirling, the island of Nantucket from the 20th century is sent back in time to 10,000 BC. The natives are fascinated and horrified at the way the Americans chop up and number their lives. It unnerves them. The series is interesting to read, simply for that observation.

I was talking with my friend the Rocket Scientist, about black holes, and how as you work in the normal universe, there are 4 dimensions: x, y, z, and ti, where i is the imaginary number forcing t to move in only one direction. As you approach the event horizon, the possible dimensions change to ri and t, where you’re always moving physically toward the event horizon, but it’s apparently possible to move any direction in time.

Interesting stuff. Those of us who are perceptually focused regard time as simply another factor in perception. Those of us who are objectively focused see time as a literal dimension, capable of movement along an axis.

]]> By: pmp http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-18921 pmp Mon, 07 Aug 2006 15:41:12 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/#comment-18921 <blockquote>We just had the misfortune of the Blue Angels practicing and performing over our fair city all week.</blockquote> What did you say? I can't hear you! LOL

We just had the misfortune of the Blue Angels practicing and performing over our fair city all week.

What did you say? I can’t hear you! LOL

]]> By: alistair http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-18912 alistair Mon, 07 Aug 2006 05:31:34 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/#comment-18912 i get you. the adult reality of war........... in that sense every tool, toy and gadget was once developed by the military for killing. we are eating, sleeping and playing with death. i guess in many ways i`ve reconciled that. more of the deep ironic pain of being alive. guilty? no. we`re all going to die one day. it`s the great denial. humans are good at it. we have to be or we`d go crazy from the thought. i get you. the adult reality of war………..
in that sense every tool, toy and gadget was once developed by the military for killing. we are eating, sleeping and playing with death. i guess in many ways i`ve reconciled that. more of the deep ironic pain of being alive.
guilty? no. we`re all going to die one day. it`s the great denial. humans are good at it. we have to be or we`d go crazy from the thought.

]]> By: Tim Boucher http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-18909 Tim Boucher Mon, 07 Aug 2006 02:22:56 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/#comment-18909 <blockquote>i get like a little kid about fighter jets. my dad used to take me to the air show in england</blockquote> I think the point is that you're <em>supposed</em> to get like a little kid about fighter jets. We just had the misfortune of the Blue Angels practicing and performing over our fair city all week. I will write about that later on though...

i get like a little kid about fighter jets. my dad used to take me to the air show in england

I think the point is that you’re supposed to get like a little kid about fighter jets. We just had the misfortune of the Blue Angels practicing and performing over our fair city all week. I will write about that later on though…

]]> By: alistair http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-18907 alistair Mon, 07 Aug 2006 02:04:49 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/#comment-18907 the root of the joy? i am staggered by how such a complicated series of mechanisms are collected inside a small case and provide such precision. the earliest chronometers of the modern age were the very hieght of military technology. they were cabinet sized clocks that were used on ships to navigate. as they became more accurate so did the navigation. the fighter jet thing? i was sitting with my boys and we were watching the top ten jets of all time and they had the sr-71 blackbird on and i remarked that it was made of titanium like my watch and they just thought that was amazing. and i get like a little kid about fighter jets. my dad used to take me to the air show in england in the sixties when the jets would come 50 feet above the crowd and hit the afterburners.............. or maybe i feel like the terminator standing beside the boy in t2 when the female character is saying "it was then that i realised that the machine would never leave the boy.............." and the feminists want to take the boys from thier fathers. i like the subtle message that t2 gives in that scene to all the fems...... all that in a watch? who knew. the root of the joy? i am staggered by how such a complicated series of mechanisms are collected inside a small case and provide such precision. the earliest chronometers of the modern age were the very hieght of military technology. they were cabinet sized clocks that were used on ships to navigate. as they became more accurate so did the navigation.
the fighter jet thing? i was sitting with my boys and we were watching the top ten jets of all time and they had the sr-71 blackbird on and i remarked that it was made of titanium like my watch and they just thought that was amazing. and i get like a little kid about fighter jets. my dad used to take me to the air show in england in the sixties when the jets would come 50 feet above the crowd and hit the afterburners…………..
or maybe i feel like the terminator standing beside the boy in t2 when the female character is saying “it was then that i realised that the machine would never leave the boy…………..”
and the feminists want to take the boys from thier fathers. i like the subtle message that t2 gives in that scene to all the fems……
all that in a watch? who knew.

]]> By: Tim Boucher http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-18900 Tim Boucher Mon, 07 Aug 2006 01:33:46 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/#comment-18900 <blockquote>sheer joy of looking at such amazing tickers.</blockquote> That doesn't explain what's at the root of that joy. <blockquote>i feel like a real tough guy wearing it. it`s made of the same stuff as fighter jets</blockquote> That one we don't even need to pick apart!

sheer joy of looking at such amazing tickers.

That doesn’t explain what’s at the root of that joy.

i feel like a real tough guy wearing it. it`s made of the same stuff as fighter jets

That one we don’t even need to pick apart!

]]> By: Tim Boucher http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-18893 Tim Boucher Sun, 06 Aug 2006 22:44:38 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/#comment-18893 A great Lewis Mumford quote which has a bit about clocks in it. From the Pentagon of Power, p. 30. He is talking about how the Sun became God again: <blockquote>This took place not merely because the sun was the chief source of power on earth, as it actually is, but because the sun was the central point of reference in the motions of the planets, including the earth; the mechanical regularity, already achieved in machines, above all, <strong>in clockwork, provided the miniature replicas of absolute cosmic order.</strong></blockquote> A great Lewis Mumford quote which has a bit about clocks in it. From the Pentagon of Power, p. 30. He is talking about how the Sun became God again:

This took place not merely because the sun was the chief source of power on earth, as it actually is, but because the sun was the central point of reference in the motions of the planets, including the earth; the mechanical regularity, already achieved in machines, above all, in clockwork, provided the miniature replicas of absolute cosmic order.

]]> By: Ronin http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-18891 Ronin Sun, 06 Aug 2006 22:20:28 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/#comment-18891 My buddies and I were talking about this one drunk'n night and we figured that the only jewelry that is really "acceptable" for a man to wear (though its different with some subcultures, like hip-hop) is a watch. So guys, being just as vain as the other half of humanity, go buck wild with it. Personally I like a nice watch. I've also never really had a problem with being "chained to time," maybe a little because its a way of being connected to everyone else (as you mentioned). Funny story, there's one of those sayings that you can tell who a man really is by looking at his watch and his shoes. Some girl mentioned this to my brother one time, so he looked down to see what he was wearing...which turned out to be flip-flops and a rubberband around his wrist. I laughed my ass off... Ronin My buddies and I were talking about this one drunk’n night and we figured that the only jewelry that is really “acceptable” for a man to wear (though its different with some subcultures, like hip-hop) is a watch. So guys, being just as vain as the other half of humanity, go buck wild with it. Personally I like a nice watch. I’ve also never really had a problem with being “chained to time,” maybe a little because its a way of being connected to everyone else (as you mentioned).

Funny story, there’s one of those sayings that you can tell who a man really is by looking at his watch and his shoes. Some girl mentioned this to my brother one time, so he looked down to see what he was wearing…which turned out to be flip-flops and a rubberband around his wrist. I laughed my ass off…

Ronin

]]> By: alistair http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-18889 alistair Sun, 06 Aug 2006 21:25:39 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/#comment-18889 i have a few pricey watches and they aren`t for status so much as the simple sheer joy of looking at such amazing tickers. i have a submariner that i rarely wear, a daytona which i`m afraid to wear and a couple of orises and a chunky sieko diver that wear biking, working and playng with the kids because it`s tougher that they are. my daily wearer is a titanium breitling avenger which, to me is the watch of all watches. i feel like a real tough guy wearing it. it`s made of the same stuff as fighter jets.............. i recently sold a couple of my other watches to pay for my lawyer`s bills. regarding status........i really don`t think people are that impressed by watches or cars or whatever. they more likely resent it. status is a game that slaves get drawn into so we work harder. the friends of mine that like my watches share my love for what they are. masterpieces of the horological art. i have a few pricey watches and they aren`t for status so much as the simple sheer joy of looking at such amazing tickers. i have a submariner that i rarely wear, a daytona which i`m afraid to wear and a couple of orises and a chunky sieko diver that wear biking, working and playng with the kids because it`s tougher that they are. my daily wearer is a titanium breitling avenger which, to me is the watch of all watches. i feel like a real tough guy wearing it. it`s made of the same stuff as fighter jets…………..
i recently sold a couple of my other watches to pay for my lawyer`s bills.
regarding status……..i really don`t think people are that impressed by watches or cars or whatever. they more likely resent it.
status is a game that slaves get drawn into so we work harder.
the friends of mine that like my watches share my love for what they are. masterpieces of the horological art.

]]> By: Grouchogandhi http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-18885 Grouchogandhi Sun, 06 Aug 2006 08:40:16 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/#comment-18885 Okay, maybe you don't have a concept of time, but I bet you're pretty clear on gravity. :-) Okay, maybe you don’t have a concept of time, but I bet you’re pretty clear on gravity. :-)

]]> By: Darkshadow http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-18884 Darkshadow Sun, 06 Aug 2006 07:32:08 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/#comment-18884 I think mostly those overpriced watches are for people to show that they're Important People. They don't really get them to keep track of the time; they're just for status. I have 3 clocks at home - the one on my desktop computer, the one on my laptop, and an alarm clock. I rarely look at any of them. I don't even really use the alarm clock to wake me up, unless I've stayed up later than I should and I need to make certain I'm awake at a certain time (like to get to work on time, that sort of thing). I look at the clock at work only to see if it's close to break time or lunch time. I don't wear a watch. Or truthfully, I can't wear a watch. Any time I have tried to do so, the watch has broken in some way not that long after I've put it on. I don't really have a concept of time, to tell the truth. I perceive things as a progression of events rather than a progression of time. For me, an hour ago and a year ago are basically the same - the only difference being the number of events that's happened between the two. If you ask me what time something occurred, I really have to stop and actually calculate it out. I tend to drive people crazy, especially if I say I'll do something "soon." They expect it to happen within some time frame, but I really don't have a time frame. Soon for me really doesn't mean the same as soon does for most people. Oh, and apologies, Tim. I've been away from the site for a long while (again). Life and such. Are you still interested in those stories of mine for the experience site? I think mostly those overpriced watches are for people to show that they’re Important People. They don’t really get them to keep track of the time; they’re just for status.

I have 3 clocks at home - the one on my desktop computer, the one on my laptop, and an alarm clock. I rarely look at any of them. I don’t even really use the alarm clock to wake me up, unless I’ve stayed up later than I should and I need to make certain I’m awake at a certain time (like to get to work on time, that sort of thing). I look at the clock at work only to see if it’s close to break time or lunch time. I don’t wear a watch. Or truthfully, I can’t wear a watch. Any time I have tried to do so, the watch has broken in some way not that long after I’ve put it on.

I don’t really have a concept of time, to tell the truth. I perceive things as a progression of events rather than a progression of time. For me, an hour ago and a year ago are basically the same - the only difference being the number of events that’s happened between the two. If you ask me what time something occurred, I really have to stop and actually calculate it out. I tend to drive people crazy, especially if I say I’ll do something “soon.” They expect it to happen within some time frame, but I really don’t have a time frame. Soon for me really doesn’t mean the same as soon does for most people.

Oh, and apologies, Tim. I’ve been away from the site for a long while (again). Life and such. Are you still interested in those stories of mine for the experience site?

]]> By: Gnomely http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-18878 Gnomely Sun, 06 Aug 2006 02:33:08 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/#comment-18878 You were looking through GQ! I think my pinko friend would call that magazine bourgeois. The space age luddite (named Deman) and Zen people are always saying time is an illusion. So in conclusion I love watching movies and i just adore illusions! You were looking through GQ! I think my pinko friend would call that magazine bourgeois.

The space age luddite (named Deman) and Zen people are always saying time is an illusion. So in conclusion I love watching movies and i just adore illusions!

]]> By: Grouchogandhi http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/comment-page-1/#comment-18873 Grouchogandhi Sun, 06 Aug 2006 01:32:09 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/08/05/the-cult-of-the-clock/#comment-18873 <a href="http://home.san.rr.com/dyamasaki/celebritywatch/celebritywatch.htm" rel="nofollow">Check out this collection</a> of movie watches. Check out this collection of movie watches.

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