Tech Whore
Hell, No, We Won't Go
Digital Political Protest
In this topsy-turvy world, up can sometimes be down, good can sometimes be evil, and non-action can sometimes be action. Out of this gray mist, there emerges digital artist and philosopher Jack Gasoline.
Jack Gasoline is the creator of a website called Don't Go There. He purposefully programmed the website to automatically shut down after only 100 people clicked on a specific link, a clearly labeled Don't Go There page. It was up to the visitor to either extend the life of the website or to shut it down. The site was launched at noon, Wednesday, March 5, and a mere 57 minutes later, the fatal 100th click was made.
One concept Gasoline is interested in is the idea that digital art and digital products don't degrade in the same way as analog media. He wanted to try to create a website that would decompose. Generally, I agree with Gasoline's idea of digital entropy. I must emphasize that there is a common misconception that digital products are less vulnerable to the influences of decomposition. Okay, sure, paper, vinyl records, and photographs are all susceptible to such things as fire, water, chemicals, and even a sledgehammer. But not only are digital products vulnerable to these elements, especially the sledgehammer, but they are also affected by other forces like magnets, electricity, and viruses. When the aforementioned preconception of digital invulnerability is added into the equation, the risk increases exponentially. What it comes down to is that digital media can suffer more severely from a wider range of influences, including the human element.
The other concept Gasoline is trying to convey lends itself very well to protest of the war on Iraq. He is interested in the idea that we can sometimes accomplish more by not (emphasis) doing something rather than by doing something. By creating this website he was trying to suggest other "non-acts," like not paying your taxes, not destroying the rainforests, or not driving a car to work. Gasoline prefers to work his acts of protest into his daily life. Instead of joining the protest lines, he would rather not buy those great looking Nike shoes or not buy paper that isn't recycled. I tend to agree with him on the matter of political protest. Not to slight the mass protests that are being done at all, but I think it's just as important to protest the government in our individual everyday life, not just at some mass event that happens every once in a while. My non-acts of political protest have become so ingrained in my way of thinking and way of life that they have become a habit for me. I do them with intention and with ease because they feel natural to me, both philosophically and physically.
If you didn't get to see Jack Gasoline's website because you didn't know about it, that's okay. According to Gasoline, you're just as much as a hero as the people who went to the website and contributed to its longevity by not clicking on the Don't Go There link. Logo by Rebecca Kramer
HIRED:
> Omnifi Digital Audio Listening System: This new system includes a module so that you can listen to your MP3s on your computer, your home audio system, or even in your automobile. Most notably, there is a wireless option so that you can beam your audio files directly to your car stereo from your computer. Mp3s-a-go-go.
> Senator Dick Durbin: I normally wouldn't put a person in this section, but he replied to my letter concerning the Total Information Awareness program and he is against it as I am. "As we take steps to protect our nation from future terrorist attacks, we must ensure that those measures do not erode the very freedoms we seek to defend." Preach it!
> Apple's 3.8 percent market share: Apple's market share has gone up from 3 percent to 3.8 percent, putting Apple among the top five desktop computer makers. Reach for the stars.
> Al Gore: Okay, so I lied. I'm putting Mr. Gore in this section, too. Just in case you were wondering what he's up to, he's been voted on to Apple's Board of Directors. Hopefully this election won't have to recounted, too.
FIRED:
> Original iMac: The groundbreaking product that started a revolution in the computer industry has been dropped from Apple's product lineup. It is still available to education customers. We will miss you.
> 17" Powerbook delay: Appar-ently there are problems on the Apple assembly line. They probably aren't getting enough parts in or something like that. They were supposed to be out a month ago, but as of yet, there are only rumors that they are shipping. Boo hoo.