Technology
On “e”
e-cigarette
There’s something very strange and non-ironic about the Electronic Cigarette, a cigarette shaped device which mimics an actual cigarette using electronically vaporized liquid nicotine, rechargeable battery, and pressure sensors. (Check out these companies here, here, and here.) I can’t figure out if E-Cigarettes are supposed to help you quit smoking, or to exploit the gestural and oral flourishes of smoking, or simply to deliver nicotine without the other harsh elements to your body and/or environment. I won’t get into the culture of smoking — its hegemony of rebellion and corporately endorsed counter-culturalism — but rather, investigate the prevalence of this “e” prefix.
The capital “E” stood, and still does, for “Electronic,” though it’s been dropped to lowercase in the same “easy going” approachable rhetoric of Apple’s lowercase “i,” which in my mind is aimed at the narcissism of consumerism. I’m not complaining; I think e-mail, e-harmony, e-vite, and e-bay all serve us more e-ffeciently (as for e-gypt, I’m still looking forward to when I can charge my cell in those pyramids). Jokes aside, the “e” has come to mean “efficient” more than “electronic.” I always love it when I drive past some ghetto-ass internet cafe or electronic store with either an “e” or “i” in front of their name. It’s become the default vernacular of this internet age.
And this all brings us to the eBook, our little corner’s contribution to this e-nterprise. It’s like the internet version of a chapbook — hopeful, conceptual, and done with tiny and loving hands. Issuu is ostentatiously messy, the Kindle is absurd, and there’s something administratively disappointing about a pdf you need to print out. We need more eBooks; Bear Parade (oh the nepotism!) rules, FriGG kinda gives each writer their own front page, elimae’s are longer in content but not designed, Lamination Colony’s (oh the nepotism!) eBooks are stunning, at times almost “directed” in a cinemagraphic sense; and it’s exciting to see Pangur Ban Party’s nod and influences. Yet I’m surprised there aren’t more eBooks out there. They’re better for the environment and only take up, what, 300KB? I recently saw a woman pensively cupping her Kindle like some incomplete prayer and thought “If you really have that much money to waste, meet me at the bar in 10 minutes.”
Georges Perec could’ve chosen any vowel to e-liminate and he chose the “e” in the mind-blowing A Void (just realized that might be a pun on “avoid”). Thanks to Vanna White, we know how important those vowels are. In no way am I suggesting any grim prophecy on Perec’s part to rid us of the “e”; I’m just sayin’ it’s kind of fun-e, how memor-e is the new currenc-e, and how some words just don’t look the same anymore.
first
ill post
i missed you jimmy
first
ill post
i missed you jimmy
would it be cool to buy an e-cig and not use it for nicotine? just kind of chew on it and put it behind my ear
would it be cool to buy an e-cig and not use it for nicotine? just kind of chew on it and put it behind my ear
there’s also bearcreekfeed’s poetry books.
(http://poetry.bearcreekfeed.com)
which has a new book up now actually.
there’s also bearcreekfeed’s poetry books.
(http://poetry.bearcreekfeed.com)
which has a new book up now actually.
feeling the love man
feeling the love man
crap, was afraid i would forget something. bearcreekfeed rocks.
crap, was afraid i would forget something. bearcreekfeed rocks.
jimmy chen we are none of us perfect
jimmy chen we are none of us perfect
someday, there will be a used e-book store…
someday, there will be a used e-book store…
Perec did a nice job of using e exclusively in “The Exeter Text.” It would be cool if you build up a physiological e-craving from e-deprivation in reading A Void and needed to glut on an e-heavy text in a sort of reverse binge/purge.
Of course, now Apple’s trying to bring it with the “i” and Google with the “g”–gmail, gchat, and so forth. I’d like to see “i,” “e,” and “g” battle it out for the heavyweight crown. I think g would have some serious dropkick skills, but “i”‘ looks pretty resilient and “e” could roll over and wait patiently with schwa-like powers.
Perec did a nice job of using e exclusively in “The Exeter Text.” It would be cool if you build up a physiological e-craving from e-deprivation in reading A Void and needed to glut on an e-heavy text in a sort of reverse binge/purge.
Of course, now Apple’s trying to bring it with the “i” and Google with the “g”–gmail, gchat, and so forth. I’d like to see “i,” “e,” and “g” battle it out for the heavyweight crown. I think g would have some serious dropkick skills, but “i”‘ looks pretty resilient and “e” could roll over and wait patiently with schwa-like powers.
i will like this post
e-ternal-e
tim, what about the government’s “g-men”
i will like this post
e-ternal-e
tim, what about the government’s “g-men”
B-eautiful, Tim.
B-eautiful, Tim.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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someone should invent an e-e which will deliver a powerful dose of mdma straight to your brain without having to bother taking a pill.
someone should invent an e-e which will deliver a powerful dose of mdma straight to your brain without having to bother taking a pill.
Sebastian Horsley.
Sebastian Horsley.
HILARIOUS!
HILARIOUS!
Christian Bok’s ‘Eunoia’ does the ‘Exeter Text’ thing with one chapter for each vowel. It’s pretty amazing.
Also, the other amazing thing about A Void is that it is translated with such a rigorous constraint intact.
Sorry to get pedantic. I’m a little over-invested in the Oulipo
Christian Bok’s ‘Eunoia’ does the ‘Exeter Text’ thing with one chapter for each vowel. It’s pretty amazing.
Also, the other amazing thing about A Void is that it is translated with such a rigorous constraint intact.
Sorry to get pedantic. I’m a little over-invested in the Oulipo
I love freakin’ Euonia. The most incredible thing about it is how long he pushes each chapter. He’s like a literary Survivorman–you get the sense that he could hack his way out of a jungle using only the letter “i” or something.
And yes, props to Gilbert Adair, translator extraordinaire (sorry about the cheesy rhyme).
I love freakin’ Euonia. The most incredible thing about it is how long he pushes each chapter. He’s like a literary Survivorman–you get the sense that he could hack his way out of a jungle using only the letter “i” or something.
And yes, props to Gilbert Adair, translator extraordinaire (sorry about the cheesy rhyme).
Whatsamatta Tony, getting itchy?
Whatsamatta Tony, getting itchy?