Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #03977
To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: Les Davis upnrunin@home.com
Date: Sat, 29 May 1999 22:39:34 -0700
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Unicore BeamAnt schematic!
Just a little sidebar there, Ed Jr., Sean is Wilf's son. When you send an
email to Sean, you are sending it to Wilf at home. Wilf has an e-mail address
at his place of work, but not at home, he uses his sons account. Kinda like
the "Rob/George Rix" deal.
No flames here, just something for your edification.
Les
"Ed Jones Jr." wrote:
> 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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