“The Analytical Engine might act upon other things besides number, were objects found whose mutual fundamental relations could be expressed by those of the abstract science of operations, and which should be also susceptible of adaptations to the action of the operating notation and mechanism of the engine… Supposing, for instance, that the fundamental relations of pitched sounds in the science of harmony and of musical composition were susceptible of such expression and adaptations, the engine might compose elaborate and scientific pieces of music of any degree of complexity or extent.” ShouldMightActionFoundSoundNumbersPiecesObjectsExpressionDegreesRelationHarmonyFundamentalsMusicalInstanceOperationsAbstractComplexityMutualEnginesMechanismCompositionAdaptationSusceptibleSupposingMutual FundMusical Composition Author:Ada Lovelace
“Below -60° cold will find the last microscopic touch of oil in an instrument and stop it dead. If there is the slightest breeze, you can hear your breath freeze as it floats away, making a sound like that of Chinese firecrackers. As does the morning dew, rime coats every exposed object. And if you work too hard and breathe too deeply, your lungs will sometimes feel as if they were on fire.” IfsFeelsDoeSometimesHardLastsSoundMorningFireObjectsColdBreathsInstrumentsBreatheOilChineseExposedCoatsBreezeLungsFloatsDewFreezeMorning DewFirecracker Book:Alone: The Classic Polar Adventure Source: Alone: The Classic Polar Adventure
“As, in Sense, that which is really within us, is (as I have said before) only Motion, caused by the action of external objects, but in appearance; to the Sight, Light and Color; to the Ear, Sound; to the Nostril, Odor, &c.” SaidLightActionSoundObjectsColorEarsSightAppearanceOdorLight And Color Book:The Ethics of Hobbes: As Contained in Selections from His Works Source: The Ethics of Hobbes: As Contained in Selections from His Works
“Our ancestors, when about to build a town or an army post, sacrificed some of the cattle that were wont to feed on the site proposed and examined their livers. If the livers of the first victims were dark-coloured or abnormal, they sacrificed others, to see whether the fault was due to disease or their food. They never began to build defensive works in a place until after they had made many such trials and satisfied themselves that good water and food had made the liver sound and firm, healthfulness being their chief object.” IfsFirstsMadeSoundWaterDarkObjectsDiseaseArmyTownsVictimFaultsDuesTrialsSatisfiedChiefsPostsFirmAncestorSiteCattleLiverAbnormal Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
“I like the idea of the object, the relic. And I see it as a time machine too or a device you plug into a socket that activates a sound and light show.” IdeasShowsLightSoundObjectsMachinesDevicesPlugsRelicsActivateTime Machine Author:Anne Waldman