Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #03967



To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: "Ed Jones Jr." sargon@gte.net
Date: Sat, 29 May 1999 23:19:44 -0400
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Unicore BeamAnt schematic!


Dear Sean ,

Usually this list doesn't agree with what I have to say and I have a strong
feeling this is going to be one of those times . Reading this reply and
others regarding MarkT seems to imply that the collective " we " just can't
make it without MarkT's assistance and "god-like " input to this list . I
dissagree with this attitude and the limitations this puts on those of you
that truly beleive this hype . Thats like saying that , god forbid , if
something happened to MarkT , car accident , heart problems , etc ., this
list would come to a grinding halt !! I don't think so . If you read some
of the earlier circuit books , these circuits have been around for some
time . MarkT DID come up with new ideas about how to impliment , refine ,
and use these circuits in his particular area of research , namely , in the
beginning , solar powered bots . We now have , thankfully , others adding
to this knoweledge base , Dave , Steven Bolt ,Wilf and many others . ( I
once asked Steven Bolt if he would adopt me , he has such neat ideas and an
easy way of explaining some of my newbe questions ) You also remarked about
not re-inventing the wheel ( been there , done that ) . Maybe you are right
, but I have learned much going back and taking a fresh look at some of the
"old" circuits , usually finding ways to upgrade or refine them . Its like
re-reading an old book , I usually see something I missed the first time
around . I think you give this list , and the people on it , to little
credit . I , for one , will continue on at my work bench , with or without
any of these "gods" you so fondly talk about .

Ed Jones
sargon@gte.net


----------
> From: Sean Rigter
> To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
> Subject: Re: Unicore BeamAnt schematic!
> Date: Saturday, May 29, 1999 9:50 PM
>
> 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.

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