The Flowfield Unity

My previous nemesis left me in the lurch. They turned out to be no match for my powers of sleuth.

They handed over a letter of resignation last night, and today I watched as the removal vans came and picked up the equipment from their lab.

There was no revelation that they were my brother, my father, my sister or me from an alternate universe (or just me in a Fight Club style twist)… there was no duel to the death, no falling from waterfalls entwined in each other’s destiny.

If they were supposed to be an equal but opposite me, a worthy opponent, then I’m left wondering if I too am so feeble. You see, my ego is wrapped up in the idea that my nemesis reflects my ability…

And so a position has become available… do you think you can fill it? You don’t have to be evil, indeed, I’m thinking of giving that side a whirl for now. I have the right credentials and a laboratory that can only be described as ‘dubious’.

You should also understand that I consider this a life-long post, that is one that you may die by holding (mwah, mwah, mwah… sorry… no resignation letters, no crying about ‘the pressure of it all’ like the last one.

Leave your name, and your intentions for saving/dominating the world below.

I really like the older generation.

I have a lot in common with them. A slight bemusement with technology, dodgy knees, a love of old-fashioned, coronary inducing Sunday dinners.

The thing is, I don’t really have that many older people in my life. My parents are at the youngest end of quite large families, and so my grandparents had passed long before I was old enough to appreciate them.

I did, for a brief period in my life, have some adoptive grandparents. They belonged to my girlfriend at the time. Everyone else would whine about them… boring, interfering… but I never saw that. I was just so happy to have people in my life that had lived one. I don’t see them any more. I guess I could have gone through a long custody battle, but that would have been just odd.

Which takes me to my point. Vonnegut was my media grandfather.

Media relations (not that type of media relations) are people who you are only related to through a desire to fill a gap in your family, and the ability to put reality towards the back of your mind.

I’m aware of the similarities between having a media relation and just being a stalker. It’s a fine line.

Anyway, Vonnegut fitted the criteria for my surrogate relation. He was a gentleman of a certain age, and had lived a life not unlike some of my real grandparents. Furthermore he was witty and always available for advice. A role model, as such.

Sure, he would tell stories that wouldn’t really go anywhere, and he had a tendency to repeat himself in his later years… Go on, Grandpa, tell us again that story about the Asimov joke at the Humanist Association… But that’s exactly what I was after.

The problem is, even media relations are mortal. And now we’re approaching the third anniversary of his death… And I do miss him, terribly. The world is a little less interesting without him in it.

It makes me wonder if it’s time for me to find a new media grandparent…

Happy New Year, and welcome to the future.

Let’s start the year off as I mean it to continue… by me asking you to put your collective brains together to create one large, fleshy supercomputer.

That didn’t sound as icky in my head.

I’m embarking on a project this year, looking at the ways in which people relate, emotionally, to technology… and I wondered if you could help. In return, I want to get you involved, so that in October, when I have to show the results of my research, I can give you all some credit.

I know, not much of a prize.

Anyway, the first thing I need might take a little effort. I’m trying to find the first people to find love through the internet. You see, I’m fascinated that something military in origin could have been usurped by basic human desires. I figure this is a six degrees thing, like Kevin Bacon, but without the poor track record (resolution number one… stop kicking Bacon when he’s obviously down). So, do you know a couple that met through the internet, do you know someone who does? I’m presuming this must have happened in the early 90s.

Similarly, any information you can give me to help me track down any of those digital love pioneers, websites etc., will also be useful.

The second thing is that throughout the year I’m going to be collecting photographs of people with their favourite piece of technology. All I need is a photograph of the two of you, with both of your names attached. I’m being presumptuous and guessing that you give your technology names, but we covered this last year when I asked about it.

Again, get involved and you’ll get credit and a shout out in the final project, not as contributors, but as collaborators.

Finally, if anyone has any ideas on how to explore the relationship between people and technolgy… is there something you’ve noticed that you think I haven’t? Do you have any thoughts on the subject? Let me know.