AXIS OF EXCESS: Totally random thought sparked by Wendell Berry’s essays (scroll down…)–excess is the mother of invention at least as often as necessity is. That is, inventors, scientists, and assorted pokers-at-things futz around, not really knowing where their futzing might lead them, and we end up with antibiotics, halogen lamps, and Cheetos. Obviously this isn’t the only way technology develops, but it is one way. And note that this kind of excess is productive–we’re not talking about covering your floor with leather and your ceiling with silk. (Not sure where the link is from, but the article posted there is from the Wall Street Journal some time in 2000 or 2001.) So this is not really a complaint about Berry’s writing (it’s more-or-less clear that he means the leather-‘n’-silk excess, not the experimental excess–at least I think it is); it’s just a thought spurred by him. Polemics against “excess” should probably distinguish between productive and luxuriant excess.

And speaking of excess, I know posting has been sparse today, and it’s almost 6 p.m. here so I want to leave the office. But I have not forgotten my promise to post about Einstein’s Dreams and Creepy Horror Children of the Enlightenment. You should get those tomorrow. I will also add a best-of list along the left-hand side, fairly soon. (Maybe tomorrow, maybe Friday.)