Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #03958



To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: Sean Rigter rigter@cafe.net
Date: Sat, 29 May 1999 18:50:17 -0700
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Unicore BeamAnt schematic!


Dear Jean,

You are not alone!

There have been a few instances when after spending time to
independently design, test and post Beam like circuits, I am reminded by
one of the inner circle that Mark's been there, done that ie. the XOR
design recently discussed here in the context of the BeamAnt. In some
respect the Beam genome project was an attempt to build up the
foundation of the known Beam universe to speed up future developments,
to promote learning but avoid wasteful spinning wheels caused by
re-inventing them over and over. There appears to be a significant
firewall to keep information on current Beam developments locked in.

I was however somewhat prepared for this as I explained to Mark in my
first email to him (attached) back in Dec 98. In retrospect, some of my
early expectations have not been not realized. It is perhaps not for the
lack of the masters guiding hand as much as the vacuum that has taken
it's place. My own reaction has been to fill it with creative ideas,
circuits, background links, and philosophy. I enjoy the technical and
communication challenge of doing this and my reward is the appreciation
expressed by others. Despite my somewhat abrasive humour, I very much
respect the work of Mark and others too numerous to name. I closely
identify with and share the common goals and interests, creativity,
excitement, surprise, "sky is the limit" and if necessary, a healthy
dose of scepticism, of Beam ideas on this list providing useful tools
for any future endeavours.

In some sense the Beam list, which is after all dedicated to the art and
technology of Mark Tilden (as we are often reminded), would seem to be
at times somewhat distorted and arrested in it's development. It's a
complicated matter obviously loaded with events from the past. I would
have liked to have been there for the long and interesting discussions
with early Mark Tilden.

I would recommend that Mark makes a regular appearance on this list to
help us "interpret" his words of wisdom.

So friend jab, no deadly silence from me, I hope you don't get flamed ,
and most of all I hope you don't get in trouble over this request to
clarify communication between Mark and his most ardent supporters in
this group.

So here to fill a bit of the vacuum is an old (my first) email to markt.

Dear Mark,

I am delighted to hear from you and thank you for your note of
appreciation!

I am quite excited about making some more contributions to BEAM
technology (and perhaps philosophy). Forgive me if I frequently cover
old ground as I am partially avoiding contact with prior literature. I
like to think it was Marshall McLuhan's suggestion of only reading every
other page to extrapolate or synthesize the missing information to
uncover new connections or at least show existing ideas from a new
perspective. In truth, I am a walking "solution looking for a problem"
by nature and I enjoy the moment when I can compare my ideas with those
of others (whether I get blown out of the water or not 8^).

In contrast with taming uA leakage currents , I also apply my talents in
research and testing of electrical equipment under high power conditions
(ie 100,000A @ 10,000V for seconds). Talk about the scale invariance of
ideas! Speaking of which, how well does circuit modelling software
predict the behaviour of these circuits? Of course software simulations
are only metaphors for reality and as much as I enjoyed seeing the web
videos of photovores (from Greg Benford's Great Sky River I presume), I
was not prepared for the small and delicate thing I held in my hands
yesterday and immediately fell in love with. There is a quality about
objects on this scale reminiscent of "tribbles" that conjures up ideas
of self replication, and emergent behaviour without the
feeling of threat, unlike the common reaction to the same ideas at
macro and nano scales.

Anyway thanks again and I will keep in touch!

regards

wilf

Mark W. Tilden wrote:

> > Speaking of feedback : is this information and/or format, useful to
> this group?
>
> Can't speak for others but I think it's very valuable, and the ascii artwork
> is appreciated especially.
>
> markt.


Jean auBois wrote:
>
> At 03:48 PM 5/28/99 , you wrote:
> >I bet you can't guess what I have. If you guessed that I have the
> >schematic for a Unicore BeamAnt you get the grand prize!
>
> In fact, this is one of my major BEAM sadnesses just now.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/alt-beam
http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications



Home