Encoding

I'm looking at you

Slicing the blade of time along the disappearing edge, we begin to approach the sharpest point where the event horizon distorts: we are about to collapse into an alternative universe. This current space we inhabit is another launchpad for extra-dimensional exploration. Our minds have been packed with the tools of interpretation that will allow us perspective shifts upon cultures not yet experienced.

The influence of previous proximity is largely negated by the time delta. Nearness can be enhanced momentarily for those best prepared for newness. How does one become equipped for such encounters? We tune in to being wakeful. Brevity demands we act now and embrace what we may have otherwise not known.

Are we headed somewhere without? Is that even possible? Regardless of where we are on the physical plain, we are still within. No matter where we embark or where we land, we will still be inside the entity only known to us. Should we decide to expand the universe, the plasticity of our conditioned mental environments will dictate and limit the breadth of our ability and discovery. Malleability is not a desired trait aside from those who have managed to cultivate themselves as creators and leaders; even there, we enforce hard limits.

With conditions ripe, we manifest a reality alteration. Automated systems of support are aligned for the occasion, and all that is left is to act and be present. What patterns emerge and sequences coded will be largely dependent upon all that preceded these days. A record of this journey will be forthcoming.

The Fiber Guild

Arizona Desert Weavers and Spinners Guild in Phoenix, Arizona with Caroline Wise

This is the outgoing board of the Arizona Desert Weavers and Spinners Guild in Phoenix, Arizona, with my wife Caroline Wise on her last day as president. For the past two years Caroline, at many times quite nervous about her role, held the gavel and directed proceedings at the monthly meetings. Today also marks the end of her obligation to produce and edit the guild’s newsletter which she has done for the past five years. With this, she will no longer be a board member which is a bitter-sweet reality, but a break is needed and well deserved.

138 Countries

world-2169041_1280

I was just looking at my stats of who visits my blog and found that over the course of the last year people from 138 countries of Earth’s 195 recognized countries have stopped for one reason or other right here. I guess it’s appropriate seeing how America-centric my blog is that the largest group of visitors is from the United States. Filling out the top 10 are China, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Germany, France, Netherlands, South Korea, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Taking me up to 100 is Myanmar, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Montenegro, Haiti, and Mozambique. Down bottom closing it out are Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Belize, and Guam. In between those are nearly 120 other countries where a search engine suggested that they should visit www.johnwise.com. For whatever reason, I’m happy that so many people on Earth find my site and catch a glimpse of how I see things.

Bach Didn’t Have Patch Cables

Kermit and Sloths

Industrial Music Electronics (IME) Piston Honda MK3 (untreated sound at end of the piece) with no modulation, being fed into Mutable Instruments Clouds with the following modulation: Position by IME Kermit, Size and Blend by Non-Linear Circuits Sloths, 1V/Oct by IME Stillson Hammer MK2. No other effects or modulation.

Second Stage

Remote Desk

The first stage of my day begins at home with about 90 minutes for showering, breakfast, getting caught up with a quick pass on news, email, the social universe, and occasionally a few small chores such as cleaning the kitchen, laundry, or putting a quick clean on the bathroom.

The second stage typically begins at a coffee shop where my first imperative is an attempt to write. This can easily be derailed if a conversation is struck up or I meet someone else for coffee. My computer is still the Microsoft Surfacebook I bought two-and-a-half years ago, my first notebook, and my current interface to the larger world.

I believe it was back in 1985 that I started the habit of joining a public space where back then in the main train stations from Frankfurt to Wiesbaden and various other points around the German state of Hessen I would grab a copy of the International Herald Tribune, a hard roll (brötchen), and a cup of tea to people watch and catch up with current events. Back then I didn’t know I had to start writing to learn how to write, I do wish I’d started practicing that well before I hit my 40’s.

Fast forward thirty-three years and I no longer eat bread, I learned to enjoy coffee, I’ve not touched a newspaper in more than a decade, but I still enjoy people watching and getting caught up with international affairs. One other major difference between now and then, while in Europe I didn’t speak any language fluently (though I did attempt American English), and consequently the conversation of others was not translated into anything meaningful. Sitting in coffee shops across the United States from New York City to Los Angeles and a hundred points in between it is a curse to listen to the inanity of a population fixated on media and sports personalities, workplace dramas, and real estate decisions.

So maybe this blog entry should have had the theme that if a lifetime lasted more than about 75 years the burden of witnessing the stupidity of the masses would be too much to bear.

Is there a point again where I can sit happily in a public space and no longer care about the news, conversations, and lack of curiosity from the cross-section of humanity I’ve been in the presence of? I’ve got the feeling that a content and peaceful future for me will be a portion of my ashes sitting in a box unable to hear, see, think, and complain like the grumpy old man I never wanted to be.

Quadruple the Fun

Piston Honda MK3 from Industrial Music Electronics out of Seattle, Washington

For a moment I have two Piston Honda MK3’s from Industrial Music Electronics out of Washington. These dual oscillator sonic oddities are amazing, though the new one that arrived today with a proper faceplate and correctly wired guts is yet another magnitude better than the unit I was beta testing for about a month. The unit on the right will have to be sent back to Scott Jaeger in a couple of days, but until then I’m going to try and get some recordings from the two units while I can take advantage of their four crazy oscillators that are sitting in my case.

First recording with the new PH3: