mech-electric.
so many things excite me these days. mostly, machines. also, electronics (of course).
right now i'm sitting on my bedroom floor surrounded by:
- several dismantled electronic devices: musical keyboard, computer keyboard, handheld videogame - i wanted to take these things apart to understand how they were put together - such small circuits can do so many things! (this makes me feel like i can start designing my own circuits eventually. i was in active surplus today and wanted to load up on capacitors and resistors!)
- my typewriter - the ribbon fell off about a year ago and won't stay put - i think a part is missing, but i can't really figure it out. but what an ingenious machine. it's certainly smarter than me.
- an old-school slide projector i bought today at value village - i couldn't say no, considering it's something i've wanted for some time (i actually wanted an overhead projector more, but...). it looks so beautiful. now i just need some slides...
- this all inspired me to click around the early office museum and virtual typewriter museum websites!
this is the hottest saturday night i can imagine! i was supposed to go out, but i got so caught up with this.
- the hansen writing ball: that's some sexy shit.
===
recent history leading up to this moment:
- my history of radio research last year, seeking out all of those radio ads from the 1930s, increased my appreciation of radio. there's still so much more i need to know. i don't even understand what a tube radio is!
- long-standing love of printing presses. the coach house books open house months ago only reaffirmed this affection with my excited demonstration of wonder and glee.
- since then, i've been thinking a lot about machinery. about moving parts, physical things you can actually see.
- also, electronics: i built an awesome sound robot a couple of months ago (learned how to solder) to teach me a little bit about synthesizers. still learning!
++ this past week!:
- (often & again) fondly looking back upon the days of the incredible machine (computer game), introduced to my/the world during some of my very formative years, which completely shaped and changed my way of thinking. (where to put the cat? where to put the fishbowl? where to put the balloon? the plank?)
- RC described to me THE most incredible machine he made. this person blows my fucking mind. wooden skewers and marbles - they get larger and larger (one exchanges for another), through 'life stages': go to work (flip the switches), fall in love (roll side by side with another one), and settle in a home at the end.
- RC, AAM and i (after an astronomy lecture!) went into a building at u of t (i think it was a phsyical sciences building) and it has the most beautiful wonderful musical machinery in the lobby! my day was already made, but this made it all over again. the simple amazing things like tuning forks and wooden whistles - but also these complex machines with cranks and parts that would ding and ring and do all kinds of things. i need to go back here and explore more!
- RC's wooden marble contraption made me remember this amazing video i watched a couple of months ago (but don't remember how i happened upon it -- watch it!):
- i've also been thinking a lot about utopian flying machines! (frequent, but not deep thoughts. my current state of mind is build around this general idea.)
- also, gosh, gush, RC is such an appropriate component for my life machinery. (but we might actually be the same part, maybe?)
right now i'm sitting on my bedroom floor surrounded by:
- several dismantled electronic devices: musical keyboard, computer keyboard, handheld videogame - i wanted to take these things apart to understand how they were put together - such small circuits can do so many things! (this makes me feel like i can start designing my own circuits eventually. i was in active surplus today and wanted to load up on capacitors and resistors!)
- my typewriter - the ribbon fell off about a year ago and won't stay put - i think a part is missing, but i can't really figure it out. but what an ingenious machine. it's certainly smarter than me.
- an old-school slide projector i bought today at value village - i couldn't say no, considering it's something i've wanted for some time (i actually wanted an overhead projector more, but...). it looks so beautiful. now i just need some slides...
- this all inspired me to click around the early office museum and virtual typewriter museum websites!
this is the hottest saturday night i can imagine! i was supposed to go out, but i got so caught up with this.
- the hansen writing ball: that's some sexy shit.
===
recent history leading up to this moment:
- my history of radio research last year, seeking out all of those radio ads from the 1930s, increased my appreciation of radio. there's still so much more i need to know. i don't even understand what a tube radio is!
- long-standing love of printing presses. the coach house books open house months ago only reaffirmed this affection with my excited demonstration of wonder and glee.
- since then, i've been thinking a lot about machinery. about moving parts, physical things you can actually see.
- also, electronics: i built an awesome sound robot a couple of months ago (learned how to solder) to teach me a little bit about synthesizers. still learning!
++ this past week!:
- (often & again) fondly looking back upon the days of the incredible machine (computer game), introduced to my/the world during some of my very formative years, which completely shaped and changed my way of thinking. (where to put the cat? where to put the fishbowl? where to put the balloon? the plank?)
- RC described to me THE most incredible machine he made. this person blows my fucking mind. wooden skewers and marbles - they get larger and larger (one exchanges for another), through 'life stages': go to work (flip the switches), fall in love (roll side by side with another one), and settle in a home at the end.
- RC, AAM and i (after an astronomy lecture!) went into a building at u of t (i think it was a phsyical sciences building) and it has the most beautiful wonderful musical machinery in the lobby! my day was already made, but this made it all over again. the simple amazing things like tuning forks and wooden whistles - but also these complex machines with cranks and parts that would ding and ring and do all kinds of things. i need to go back here and explore more!
- RC's wooden marble contraption made me remember this amazing video i watched a couple of months ago (but don't remember how i happened upon it -- watch it!):
Click to view- i've also been thinking a lot about utopian flying machines! (frequent, but not deep thoughts. my current state of mind is build around this general idea.)
- also, gosh, gush, RC is such an appropriate component for my life machinery. (but we might actually be the same part, maybe?)