In the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution was one of several revolutions that overturned society. Mechanical creatures intruded into farms and homes, but still this invasion had no name. Finally, in 1802, Johann Beckmann, an economics professor at Gottingen University gave this ascending force its name [technology] . . . He hoped his outline [a textbook titled Guide to Technology] would become the first course in the subject. It did that and more. It also gave a name to what we do. Once named, we could now see it. Having seen it, we wondered how anyone could not have seen it.
Source: Kevin Kelly, What Technology Wants
Posted: 2025 Oct 18
Or check out this TEDxSF by Kelly.
Isabel
That’s really neat.
You sure you weren’t into the wine here too?
Reminds me of Wilson Bryan Key’s book “Subliminal Seduction.”
And it reminds me of the farmer who went to a church committee to say that he felt called to be a Minister. They asked why. “Because God sent me a sign,” he replied.
“What sign?”
“Well, I was out there in the field plowing and there appeared three letters in the sky: GPC.”
“Yes, and…?”
“It’s very clear,” said the farmer. “Go Preach Christ.”
One person on the committee asked, “You sure it didn’t mean Go Plant Corn?”
Tom
Tom – No wine in this mix, I swear! As for interpreting signs – not so obvious.
Yep. And palm tress can be more than one thing — tall and silly.
I grew up with them so I can say that.
Did you know that those top leaves have to be individually trimmed in cities — they are rat nests otherwise.
Barbara – I had heard that, and untrimmed palm trees now make me very nervous.
Sorry, now I see it’s a lamp post. Oh well.
So often the camera sees things you don’t. Usually clutter etc, in this case a neat happenstance (if that is the right word)
Jim R – Yes, I am often Not Impressed with how well my eye screens out clutter but my camera puts it back in . . .
Since you partially explain what we are seeing, you have removed part of the puzzle of point-of-view. At first, I thought of intrepid Isabel walking along the street until she spotted this entrancing image. Then, I thought, Isabel would have to be as tall as a professional basketball player with arms like Mr. Gadget to capture the shot. But, no; on closer study I see the view is claustrophobic, taken from inside the vehicle looking skyward. The inversion of the lamppost is like the inversion of all images on the retina, which are reversed by the brain — an explanation that leaves me wondering perpetually what is meant by “up” and “down” visually, if not gravitationally. Or, perhaps gyroscopically, too. Another captivating image, Isabel!
Laurna – Many thanks! Optics (the little I studied) baffled me totally, so I am content to see what happens without truly understanding it.
I took one like that through a window in Prince Rupert, years ago. Yours is better. I didn’t manage to get any inverted images.
Jim T
Jim – Not yet, eh?