Omega Point

Readers, I ask you: how many times have each of us stared wistfully out into space, lost in thought, hoping against hope that one day, somehow, there would be a local exhibition of pen-and-ink LOLcat-inspired art? I know that I myself have lost too many hours to count. Finally, just when things seemed at their bleakest, with moralist crackdowns on LOLcat macro images taking place across the globe, the day has come at last!

Vancouverites, LOLcat connoisseurs and art enthusiasts rejoice!

This Monday, July 21st, ClackClack Empire in Vancouver’s Chinatown hosts the opening reception for I can’t believe we both got cats: LOLcat art, featuring works by Seattle-based artist Marianne Goldin! Sweet!

For details, check out the listing on Upcoming, or consult the artist’s statement. I liked this part:

LOLcats can take on a meritocratic tone, since not all cats are made equal — an ideal model oozes with pathos and photogeneity. There are even Weberian “ideal types” to be found — styles and families of LOLcat: the terse Zen koan, the Invisible (fill in the blank), and the various motifs of Ceiling Cat. Many instances use cats to allegorize human frustrations with technology.

You should definitely come. It’s free! Also, LOLcat art.

The CBC is running a story on enterprising young hooligans making good entertaining use of readily-available giant capacitors. Oh no, homemade tasers! Well, no, not exactly. They sure hurt and make you pee yourself though!

This actually reminded me of things I did in high school, so maybe this is something we want to encourage! (”Hi, Catherine? About dinner next week? Yeah, I’m not sure we’re totally comfortable with you having any opportunity to tell our kids anything at all, actually…”)

Look, part of living in a technologically sophisticated society is understanding that there are things people will do with technology that doesn’t mesh up with what its designers intended. Further, we can’t stop that from happening, except through further education. (”…and that’s why we don’t lick electrical sockets, class.” “Ohhhhh!”)

The problem is that people all too often want a quick fix for runaway knowledge, and that usually takes the form of legislation, or of ceasing the distribution of documents containing Iraqi nuclear “secrets”.

So in this case, what’s the legislation we’re supposed to support? Internet hackers must be stopped from threatening children? Cameras must be licensed to prohibit the extraction of their internal components? Cameras should not contain flashes? No energy weapons at school? Oh wait. That last one is actually pretty smart.

Upon reading the CBC article, one notes that there’s definitely a “oh no, internet!” vibe to it, but nobody quoted in it is actually suggesting that the current “leave your knives and things at home, please” laws and school policies aren’t enough. Truly a refreshing change.