jefield's recent activity

  1. Comment on I don't like fate because I am not in control of my life in ~talk

    jefield
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    Spinoza wrote something very interesting about "free will" in his Ethics. The gist of his argument at this point is that a stone (if conscious), having been thrown towards a pool, would think...

    Spinoza wrote something very interesting about "free will" in his Ethics. The gist of his argument at this point is that a stone (if conscious), having been thrown towards a pool, would think "Look at how well I am throwing myself towards this pool" in a manner similar to how many think of free will. The exact phrasing is a little more precise and complex:

    Further conceive, I beg, that a stone, while continuing in motion, should be capable of thinking and knowing, that it is endeavoring, as far as it can, to continue to move. Such a stone, being conscious merely of its own endeavor and not at all indifferent, would believe itself to be completely free, and would think that it continued in motion solely because of its own wish. This is that human freedom, which all boast that they possess, and which consists solely in the fact, that men are conscious of their own desire, but are ignorant of the causes whereby that desire has been determined.

    BTW, if you love really complex, recursive philosophy, I highly recommend the Ethics. It is a largely infinitely recursive geometrical argument the likes of which the world had never seen and will likely never see again.

  2. Comment on Any concerts? in ~music

    jefield
    Link
    I'm very excited because my partner and I are going to see Radiohead in Toronto this summer. It has been far too long since I went to a big show and I really love A Moon Shaped Pool, so I suspect...

    I'm very excited because my partner and I are going to see Radiohead in Toronto this summer. It has been far too long since I went to a big show and I really love A Moon Shaped Pool, so I suspect it will be a great experience. The last time I saw them was in Vancouver during their Paranoid Android tour. That was an incredible experience in my much younger life.

    1 vote

  3. Comment on Let's generate a list of fantastic jazz albums in ~music

    jefield
    Link Parent
    I am unfamiliar with this album, going to check it out today.

    I am unfamiliar with this album, going to check it out today.

    1 vote

  4. Comment on What do you guys use to listen to your music? in ~music

    jefield
    Link
    Well, here comes my insanity. I've got five speaker systems in my house. Probably a little overkill, but I enjoy the variety. When I use headphones (which is rare), I'll go from my Squeezebox...

    Well, here comes my insanity. I've got five speaker systems in my house. Probably a little overkill, but I enjoy the variety. When I use headphones (which is rare), I'll go from my Squeezebox Classic to my Grant Fidelity TubeDac 11 headphone output to a set of Sennheiser HD 600s. My main set-up has two sources. For vinyl, I use a Lenco L78 dropped into a Jean Nantais-style plinth with a Jelco 750D tonearm. As cartridge, I use either a Zu Denon 103 (Grade 1) or a Charisma Audio MC-1. This signal passes through Altec Lansing passive step-up transformers to my Triode Labs Au Pre Grand Preamplifier's phono section. From here the signal goes to two Triode Labs 2A3M Monoblocks and then onto a set of Tyler Acoustic PD15s. My digital set-up is served through a Squeezebox Classic into a Grant Fidelity TubeDAC 11, then the Triode Lab preamp, monoblocks, and finally speakers. Here is a link to some pictures. The pictures are from a long time ago and I know I should take pictures that highlight the beauty of this gear, but these will give you a sense of what I've described.

    1 vote

  5. Comment on Music to listen to while reading? in ~music

    jefield
    Link Parent
    I've got a bunch of suggestions, but first, why don't you come over here. You can check out what is being offered up for consumption. I can send a list of my favourite albums to your inbox.

    I've got a bunch of suggestions, but first, why don't you come over here. You can check out what is being offered up for consumption. I can send a list of my favourite albums to your inbox.

    1 vote

  6. Comment on Let's generate a list of fantastic jazz albums in ~music

    jefield
    Link Parent
    But if you could only pick one, which one would it be? I think Kind of Blue has already been chosen.

    But if you could only pick one, which one would it be? I think Kind of Blue has already been chosen.

    1 vote

  7. Comment on Let's generate a list of fantastic jazz albums in ~music

    jefield
    Link Parent
    If you had to pick one, though...

    If you had to pick one, though...

  8. Comment on Let's generate a list of fantastic jazz albums in ~music

    jefield
    Link Parent
    I agree with you re: Bags and Trane. It will be interesting to see if either of your runner-ups is chosen.

    I agree with you re: Bags and Trane. It will be interesting to see if either of your runner-ups is chosen.

    1 vote

  9. Comment on Let's generate a list of fantastic jazz albums in ~music

    jefield
    Link Parent
    Great choice. I agree, one is difficult. Please see my comment above to understand my rationale.

    Great choice. I agree, one is difficult. Please see my comment above to understand my rationale.

  10. Comment on Let's generate a list of fantastic jazz albums in ~music

    jefield
    Link Parent
    Hi there. I want to address the one and one only component of this exercise. First, I want to see how our community deals with a constraint like this because it's extraordinarily constraining....

    Hi there. I want to address the one and one only component of this exercise. First, I want to see how our community deals with a constraint like this because it's extraordinarily constraining. Second, I want many people to have a chance to submit and contribute to the list. It seems to me that the first part allows the second to occur more readily. If we got to list our top three, five, ten albums, then I think we would have a lot of duplication and also many people may feel like there is no way they could ever find an album that was both worthy and more importantly not already listed. This has certainly happened to me in the past on other sites.

    • Oh look, I'd love to list my favourite album...
    • Uh-oh, the first three posts already list a comprehensive guide to the genre by instrument.

    The other part of the constraint is that it will allow us to gain a sense of how quickly people are joining, reading, and responding to this particular list-building exercise.

    2 votes

  11. Comment on Let's generate a list of fantastic jazz albums in ~music

    jefield
    Link
    Thelonious Monk - Straight, No Chaser (1967)

    Thelonious Monk - Straight, No Chaser (1967)

    9 votes

  12. Let's generate a list of fantastic jazz albums

    ~music Text 110 words
    Hi, I am interested in creating a list of essential jazz albums for people who may be beginning to listen to the genre. My basic idea is that each person can contribute one album to the list. This...

    Hi, I am interested in creating a list of essential jazz albums for people who may be beginning to listen to the genre. My basic idea is that each person can contribute one album to the list. This has two caveats: one, you can only contribute once, and two, the album that you contribute cannot already be listed in the previous comments. If we can make this work, I will compile the results after one month based on the ranking of the albums by votes. Let's see what a bunch of ~s can do. Also, if you have suggestions for how this may be better organized, do let me know.

    26 votes

  13. Comment on Music to listen to while reading? in ~music

    jefield
    Link
    Thanks for asking this question. I have given considerable thought to this topic. As I was growing up, I always assumed others could listen to music and concentrate on reading at the same time....

    Thanks for asking this question. I have given considerable thought to this topic. As I was growing up, I always assumed others could listen to music and concentrate on reading at the same time. This was because I could do so effortlessly. For some reason, my mind could simultaneously process the two streams of information. Sometimes, certain songs or types of music will actually, when heard later, remind me of a particular book or section of it. As I grew older and spoke with others, I realized that very few of my friends had the same experience. When I met my partner, I learned how different things can be. She cannot have any form of music on when she is reading or she is completely unable to concentrate.

    I suppose this is a roundabout way of saying that I can listen to many different types of music while reading. Typically, I listen to jazz, blues, electronica, ambient, folk/roots/Americana, rock (typically more indie-flavored) and some classical.

    If you are looking for specific recommendations in any of these genres, I can easily provide them, but will let this response stand for now.

    2 votes

  14. Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music

    jefield
    Link
    Hey, just checking this place out. My family has been on vacation for two weeks and my kids and I have really been grooving on Superorganism. They have a very interesting Tiny Desk concert on NPR....

    Hey, just checking this place out. My family has been on vacation for two weeks and my kids and I have really been grooving on Superorganism. They have a very interesting Tiny Desk concert on NPR. Plus, their lyrics and sound are very complex, without being too serious.

    Needless to say, my kids love their wackiness, while I enjoy their subtle irony.