Help Wanted

June 2003 Archive

What technology wants

Who else rejects technology?

Everybody knows about the Amish, and their rejection of certain technologies. Not so well known are the Hutterites, another Christian group who have put a distance between themselves and modern life. We should also count in the Christian Scientists who reject a lot of contemporary medicine practice. My question is, does anyone know of other groups in the world, particularly in other religions, who have explicit selected rejections of some technologies?

Posted on June 12, 2003 at 7:45 PM
What technology wants

Which Star Trek episode?

I was told there is an episode from the early days of Star Trek about the Enterprise encountering another planet with their own messiah. Can someone point me to the correct show?

Posted on June 10, 2003 at 5:42 PM
Cool tools

What's your favorite catalog?

Catalogs never cease to inspire dreams because they are doors to possibilities. Browsing them unleashes ideas and ambitions we would never get otherwise. Do you have a favorite catalog -- either online or in paper -- that you look forward to immersing yourself in? I'm collecting suggestions.

Posted on June 7, 2003 at 8:12 AM
What technology wants

How many objects?

Curiously, there is no data (that I could find) on the number of "species" of objects that fill our lives. So I've been counting the number of technological species in my home. I'm interested in having a large data set than one, so if you'd be willing to count the full variety of things in your home (every object), I'd be thrilled. I can lend you my hand tally machine, and give you my guidelines.

At the same time, if anyone is aware of existing research on the number of manufactured "species" then please point me to it.

Posted on June 7, 2003 at 8:12 AM
Cool tools

Best songwriting how-to?

Can anyone tell me, from experience, what the best book on songwriting and how to write lyrics is?

Posted on June 7, 2003 at 8:05 AM
What technology wants

Other big bang creation stories?

The parallels between the book of Genesis and the story of the Big Bang are fairly obvious. I'm wondering if anyone is familiar with other traditional creation stories that also have parallels with the Big Bang. So far I am aware of "Enuma Elish" and related Sumerian tales. Does anyone know of others from separate cultures?

Posted on June 6, 2003 at 8:11 AM