Monday, March 24, 2008

To smell or to stink, that is the question.

I never really got into cologne, perfume, or fragrance of any sort for that matter, until I discovered incense and essential oils in college. Nag Champa was a real turning point in my sensory education and even candles are now appreciated for the depth they give decor, intentional or accidental, planned or spontaneous. I cannot say why I neglected smell, but to some extent it must be that I grew up in the woods where the smell of nature is constantly shifting through a range of muted hues and textures from slight to insignificant. Smell was ever-present but somewhat subdued and noticed only for its absence or intrusion until my education had truly begun. I am exploring this parallel only because of a recent coincidence.
Weeks ago I was asked to participate in a survey run by anonymous Marketeers (the Musketeers have been replaced in contemporary society by these new heroes of the republic, defenders of our ideals). These Marketeers asked me to try a fragrance and evaluate its efficacy and value and fill out a form at the end of the trial to inform their efforts to reach the right market with their advertising. I went along out of curiosity and to get free cologne. At or around the same time I began reading two books that had been on my list of "Fiction you really must read" as suggested by persons whose opinions I trust. As we have recently been discussing the holographic nature of human experience (see Wikkying below) you may understand my astonishment at the content of one of the titles, the one I read second, coincidentally; "Jitterbug Perfume". This is to recommend the book and the author Tom Robbins to all readers and to ascertain the commonality of this kind of experience. I think this happens to all of us all the time but I don't know, perhaps I am an anomaly. The book also addresses this topic for any who are interested.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Wikkying?

Is there a verb for what I do when I look up one thing on Wikipedia and end up following an internal link to another wiki-page and another and another...... and are there any academics studying the six degrees of wikipedia separation? I went from ELO to Fretonia today in 9 pages and learned a lot along the way. Actually, I believe there were more like 15 separate pages involved, but one thread of them was a brief exploration of Dhani Harrisson's existence, about which, I ascertained very little in all honesty. I would be very interested in hearing more about this if anyone is studying it. I have long been interested in phenomenon like this and I am certain I'm not alone. Is it possible to write a Wikipedia page about "Wikkying" and subsequently enjoy the amazement of people who come across it while "Wikkying" and are elevated to a transcendent state of consciousness as a result? That is sort of like taking pictures of prominent architectural elements in your apartment, framing them, and then hanging them near that particular element, preferably in a variety of distinct frames. I have only seen this done well once but the effect was astonishing. Anyway, keep a peeled eye and an open mind and let me know if you need assistance. Hollis.