for what it's worth

the silence is deafening

Has anybody heard from Iocus Severus or Oulios Iatromantis lately? Even Robin seems to have gone underground.

Anybody?

Anybody?

polymus films

I still haven't heard back from Robin about the latest update to his site. But something's been gnawing at me all day, and I just remembered what it is: Hely's already written online about his Traverse project.

I checked my folder of Hely bookmarks, and sure enough, there was one named "traverse." Of course, the text of the page has been taken down. Thank you, Google cache.

My intention for this project  was to spend as much time as possible over the last 3 weeks recording  with the hidden spycamera unit.  The process of editing the footage  began to suggest the possibility for narratives within what seemed to be exceedingly banal material. Perhaps it was just my imagination.  Exploring combinations of filters, quick cuts and a soundtrack/voice-over made the work into something I found kinda funny.  I guess if I had to state this in a more intellectual way I would start wanking on about "explorations of narratives found all around us" and "the banal becoming sublime" and all that crappola, but that's not really my thing...

Though I doubt the finished product was racy enough to merit a 25+ rating (does such a thing even exist?), it has been shown publicly, at the Sydney Film Festival, Art in General's Annual Video Marathon, Old Habits Die Hard, and possibly other venues.

Is this new Traverse the same movie? Doesn't seem to be, but only Robin can say for sure. (Ahem.)
 

you don't send me flowers anymore

Well. Where do we go from here?

For various reasons (possibly all of them engineered by Neurocam), the blogging operatives -- myself included -- have gone from babble to mumble to mute. Why? There seems to be this notion circulating that Neurocam operatives who operate under a strict policy of non-disclosure enjoy a "different" (implication: better) Cam experience.

Is this true? I don't know. Neurocam has gone on the record as preferring discretion from its operatives, and has progressively clarified its definition of "discretion" as leaks occur. I agree with others who have mused that these most recent assignments have been a test of the gaskets; a culling game. But was this strategy also intended to stifle all other manner of disclosure about the Cam?

Based on past conversation with Bridget Fischer, my guess is no. So I asked her. This is what she says:

I hereby inform you that your supposition that Neurocam does
not intend to fully suppress all discussion on operational matters is
correct.

Do operatives who maintain a verbal and written “silence” regarding their
Neurocam activities enjoy a different Neurocam experience?  They certainly
do. Does “different”, however, equal “better”?  Not necessarily.

I feel that Neurocam has been quite consistent in informing operatives as
to when and how operational matters may be discussed.  The varying secrecy
clauses contained within assignment briefs are written in a concise and
clear manner, but, it should be noted, refer only to the discussion of
that particular assignment.  Discussion on other matters is permitted and
encouraged, except in the instance where Neurocam has clearly expressed a
desire to the contrary.

Whilst on the matter of assignment secrecy, however, I would like to make
a point – Those operatives who claim to enjoy the Neurocam experience, but
then publish materials which the organization has requested be kept
confidential, only ruin the experience for other operatives and
themselves.

Despite some speculation to the contrary, Neurocam’s operations are, due
to necessity, increasing in complexity.  Whilst there is little harm in
the “leaks” which have occurred thus far, similar displays of indiscretion
could, during future assignments, have catastrophic repercussions.

I must stress, once again, that I refer only to materials which Neurocam
has expressly delineated as “classified”.

So there you have it. Next up: What the hell is Traverse? Still waiting for an answer to that one.

robin updates

with a lovely brown background and a link to a not-yet-created Wikipedia page: "Neurocam is a complete fabrication."

[I am a dumbass. See comments section.]

Given the collaborative nature of Wikipedia and Hely's on artistic take on Neurocam, perhaps this is an invitation to participate in some Xul Solar-style myth creation? ;)

hunter s. thompson is dead

I think I'm going to be sick.

Or cry.

Or both, possibly at the same time.

more drunk blogging

Alas, of a more benign nature this evening. And unrelated to Neurocam, but in the made-me-think-of-you vein.

1. When I stopped in at the sandwich shop next door to my building to get a cup of coffee the other day, the oldies station was on and Presley was crooning. Walking to work with my coffee in hand I found myself humming along: "We can't go on together, with suspicious minds. And we can't build our dreams, on suspicious minds." I smiled, thought of the Cam, and the damn song was stuck in my head ALL DAY.

2.  There's someone at the door. He says he's from the future. (Ninth entry down). More and more.

oh yeah

And another new operative blog: Harlen M Quint. Welcome, yo.

henley was my homeboy

More mail by proxy from my mystery informant, who has given me permission to identify him by an alias some of you may recognize: Aphex's Twin.

Dear Bridget Fischer,

I write to enquire about the structure of Neurocam International but also how operatives and other employees gain position.

Are operatives promoted solely on whether they complete assignments or are there other factors that also play a role?

Regards,
xxxx xxxx

Reply from Charles Hastings:

Dear xxxx xxxx,

A diagram of Neurocam International's organizational structure can be found
in Neurocam's annual stakeholders report.  The stakeholders report is
available to any operative whom has completed more than 12 months service
with the organization.

Until that point, however, the combination of a myriad of Memorandums of
Understanding, Commercial-in-confidence agreements, Neurocam
International's Operational Security Guidelines and Proprietary Practice
Protocols prohibit me from discussing this issue.

Operational Security Guidelines also prohibit me from discussing Neurocam's
advancement protocols.

Sincerely,

Charles Hastings
Head, Operations Division
Neurocam International
[email protected]

>Delivered-To: [email protected]
>To: Charles Hastings <[email protected]>
>From: Bridget Fischer <[email protected]>
>Subject: Fwd: Climbing the ranks
>Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2005 15:29:09 +1100
>X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.619.2)
>
>Can you please answer this one

Mr Hasting's response is straight forward enough. Of interest is what
Ms Fischer wrote to Mr Hastings. She seemed quite casual in this
request and not business like in my opinion. Could this show a more
personal association or simply a need for haste?

Regards,
Aphex'sTwin

Paging Graham. I believe there's a report you're entitled to see?

(Of course, that doesn't mean the rest of us are entitled to see it. Goatse-postcard threats to Graham: Share! ;)

another post that has absolutely nothing to do with the Cam

And then, I promise, a big fat Cam post.

You're Siddhartha!
by Hermann Hesse
You simply don't know what to believe, but you're willing to try anything once. Western values, Eastern values, hedonism and minimalism, you've spent some time in every camp. But you still don't have any idea what camp you belong in. This makes you an individualist of the highest order, but also really lonely. It's time to chill out under a tree. And realize that at least you believe in ferries.
Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid.

terrapin station

I was inspired by the coolest turtle i have ever seen to go digging for my own turtle photography. Alas, unscanned is a roll from a camping trip in New Hampshire several years ago (pre-digicam), during which my friends and I encountered a mama turtle laboriously (pun intended) digging a hole with her hind legs during a torrential rainstorm -- we assumed so she could lay her eggs.

So I only have one photo to offer, of a giant sea turtle we watched make its way out of the Pacific on a remote, windswept beach on the Big Island. (Okay, so it was actually the touristy A-Bay, but we hiked way out beyond where the tourists venture.)

A-Bay beyond the fray (click to enlarge):

There would be more than one shot of this lovely creature, except I ran out film. Grrr.


Oh Hawaii, how I (sometimes) miss you.