Comments for bioephemera

Comment on Art vs. Science, Part Three: A little mystery is a good thing by Julia Rymer Brucker

Julia Rymer Brucker — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 02:30:13 +0000

I find it very interesting to read the perspective of scientists interacting with art based off of/inspired by science. From the perspective of an artist, I would like to point out that art has its own context separate from that of science, and therefore needs to be interpreted within its own intention. Many artists working with science as an influence on their work are not making illustrations, they are making art. In that sense, the idea that the art be “accurate” to science must be suspended on the part of the viewer so that the art is regarded for what it is– for its formal aspects like design and color, its sense of craft and completion, and/or its commentary and interaction with the viewer. Few ask that Matisse’s “Red Studio” be more accurate in his depiction of the perspective of the room, as the piece is looked at for the intense color and challenging of artistic convention of the time. The same can be said for Van Gogh’s night sky, or Picasso’s Cubist forms. Though based on reality, these artists’ works are structured in such a way as to explore the idea of the room, the sky, or the body, but not to depict them literally. Realism was not their intention.

So in that sense, the viewer, scientist and non-scientist alike, must consider the artist’s intention. If accuracy is not the intention, that is part of the interpretation and experience of the work.

The other consideration is that of post-modernism, which has allowed art to now become a method of commentary and interaction with culture and society at large, including the scientific community and its discoveries. This is not well-understand, however, by those outside the artistic, film, and literary communities who have daily interaction with post-modern concepts and approaches to art and writing.

My brother, a biochemist, has a very hard time when looking at my work, as he is used to being quite literal in his own work and has little experience with art outside of what I show him of my own. He has to work to allow himself to just look and let the work be what it is. Once he does, he has a lot of fun, and that non-linear right brain of his gets a bit of a workout.

Comment on Shaming in the Marketplace: who polices online sellers scammers? by Albert

Albert — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:19:18 +0000

I hardly know where to begin as you have covered many points in your posting and then all of the comments prior to mine to boot. My company is new to selling on Amazon and pretty much the internet. We have our own site but also decided to utilize Amazon to help with branding of our name. I want to try to cover all the points made but please forgive me if I dont or if my written English is a little(or perhaps greatly) atrocious.
1. Feedback – As a consumer no feedback should ever be removed as this is a sign to the next customer of what to expect.(at least the % that they will be next) Therefore allowing them to make an informed decision.
2. Always Always Always Google the name of the seller as this will give you an idea of their past dealings and history of complaints. For better results try “S7 Computer Solutions”(using quotes and all) then add scams or complaints then press search or enter.(used my company name as an example, use the sellers ID in place).
3. If a price is too good IT IS TOO GOOD. For a clearer price picture type the product name in google and click on shopping.
4. The true measure of an online company will be these few items:
a. The companies contact information is easy to obtain.
b. The company has shown response to negative feedback but not utilizing bribery or muscle to retort the feedback. Just open and honest lines of communication.
c. The company openly lists any and all policies and does not try to hide them in clutter or unreasonbly hard to find places.
d. And lastly the company treats every customer with the respect online that they would treat a customer in a B&M store.
5. As for A to Z claims- these are in place to make a customer feel safe in knowing that their purchase is protected and any reputable company would match this or exceed(we exceed). The probably of a customer aabusing this ability is not as great as most online sellers think. It is far easier to comply and just ensure you have well planned customer service metrics in place. With well defined metrics you can and will retain customers, gain new ones and reduce the “bad seeds”. Amazon has to protect their image and if yours must be scarred to protect theirs…you lose everytime. It is their site, servers and name not ours. Be good, do well and brand your name so customers can find you.
6. Community – I only disagree with the no longer having the ability to “shame” a company. If you do not allow the seller to haggle a feedback away then you can shame them(Merchant Circle perhaps). The more our society utilizes the internet the faster we will become a community of billions and the faster we can shame on larger levels. A name can be tarnished forever with a bad review placed in the right places(rip off report, comsumer report).

Now a little about my companies policies on Amazon. They are no different than they are on our own website. If you receive the wrong product we make it right(NO EXCEPTIONS). Everything ships within 1-8 days(we sell electronics and some are very big and take longer to package). If the customer leaves bad feedback(even if they do not) because we did something wrong then we fix it(no need to haggle the feedback, we want the customer to know we care about them and their purchase not future purchases. We are who we are and we do not hide it. Go ahead and google these terms
Albert L Robbins III (that is my name and I will be on the first page)
S7 Computer Solutions (will show everywhere we are listed)
“S7 Computer Solutions” Scams (will show if we have any-NONE)
“S7 Computer Solutions” Complaints (will show if we have any-NONE as of this comment)

To end I would like to thank you for your article and hope that many a consumer and seller can hopefully learn from this and make our online Community better for it.

Comment on Jeweled blisters, gold needles: jewelry as disease by Glass Of Venice

Glass Of Venice — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 05:44:32 +0000

I am confused, as I often am by articles these days. The lead in to this matter implies that real, diseased people are being “decorated” in some fusion of art, skin transmission, and acupuncture. Apparently not.

And yeah, the piercing thing is hard to avoid nowadays.

Comment on The Secret Museum by rosy

rosy — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 04:50:00 +0000

It’s so horrible…I don’t like skull bodies..I really get scared..

Comment on Nikki Graziano: math as art by Casey Rentz

Casey Rentz — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:38:12 +0000

Love this! The found functions series is great–I always encourage my friends to find science all around them.

Comment on Not again with the sekrit Renaissance brain anatomy! by Joe Leasure

Joe Leasure — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:14:03 +0000

I heard….obviously. Caught that type just as I clicked the button.

Comment on Not again with the sekrit Renaissance brain anatomy! by Joe Leasure

Joe Leasure — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:08:49 +0000

I heared about this recently (npr I think) and remembering your post could happily dsimiss it. And what a great word pareidolia is! I think you could similarly apply it to those scholars who look for ‘complex’ codes in the bible.

Comment on Missing BioE? by Patricia

Patricia — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 06:05:48 +0000

Thanks for thinking of us

Comment on Not again with the sekrit Renaissance brain anatomy! by Rob Monkey

Rob Monkey — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:12:19 +0000

Wow, this seemed appropriate when I read it on Cracked.com, but Neurosurgery? Seems a little below their pay grade. I tend to be with you on the whole "finding shitloads of hidden stuff that may not have been intended at all," it reminds me of how in high school English we learned that EVERY character in a book who had the initials J.C. was a Jesus figure. Every single one. Here's the Cracked article, pretty interesting nonetheless: Easter Eggs in Famous Art

Comment on God is more than a flying brain by Elaine Schattner, M.D.

Elaine Schattner, M.D. — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:52:04 +0000

Very interesting; I wasn’t aware of the oldness of this interesting story. (Thanks!)

To my eye the Sistine Chapel work seems close to the anatomy, and it’s plausible that Michelangelo was familiar with that. I agree that the Rafael and David images are less convincing.

Maybe the answer’s not uniform: perhaps Michelangelo’s painting really does draw on knowledge of neuro-anatomy, but the other artists’ works don’t.