MUDGE’s Musings
Ever have one of those moments? You know, the ones where you read or see something that just simply closes a loop in your mind that you didn’t know was open? Where you (one hopes, figuratively) slap yourself on the face and say (one fervently hopes, subvocally): Wow, I wish I thought of that?
Had one of those today.
I’m a history of technology guy; I even alluded very briefly to that a couple of posts ago (featuring one of yr (justifiably) humble svt‘s favorite headlines, if I may be so unhumble to say so!).
So, I enjoy taking a global, macro view of technology, and how it shaped the story of civilization (technology = civilization — can’t have the latter without the former). And I also enjoy making connections.
So, my attention was captured today by the first paragraph of this post, found during typical stream-of-consciousness blogging today.
So, I read on, and the connections and insights about technology and where it’s taking us, and why it’s taking us there, were jaw-dropping.
See, I’ve often said (once, here) that one of the things I really like about this blogging mania obsession habit of mine is that after more than 15 years of consuming the Internet, now, in my infinitesimal, nanocorner of the ‘Sphere© way, I’m now contributing.
And, that’s the point:
Gin, Television, and Social Surplus
By Clay Shirky on April 26, 2008 10:48 AM
I was recently reminded of some reading I did in college, way back in the last century, by a British historian arguing that the critical technology, for the early phase of the industrial revolution, was gin.
Posted by mudge 
Left-handed Complement 