Boxes and Arrows: Comments by Matt Titchener

Matt Titchener — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:52:30 GMT

So to clarity, it is not possible to assign a file asset to a story? If this is the case, I think the ability to link non-image files to a story would be excellent.

Would certainly improve the authors ability to provide the reader with all materials required. There are some potentially (small) security problems to overcome, but of course, otherwise a nice idea – something worth trying out.

Matt Titchener — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:53:43 GMT

Totally would like too see something on this. I personally call this experience “the zone”, much like the zone that athletes end up in before a demanding race/performance. Hours fly by, your ability seems somewhat endless and productivity just sky-rockets. But what is it that allows our brains to get into this state – environmental, physiological, psychological? I’d love to see some insight into this…

Matt Titchener — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:53:46 GMT

I would like to second Jorge Arango choice of “Godel, Escher and Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid”. No joke, this is quite simply one of the best books ever written. The genius not only of the people Hofstadter describes, but of Hofstadter himself is quite breath-taking (I don’t use the word ‘genius’ here lightly either – it really is a masterpiece of the modern age).

In essence this book is about explaining ‘the self’ – all be it in a rather round-about way – no pseudo-science around here. The patterns Hofstadter analyses, the recurrance relations, recursion and feedback loops are not only talked about but *present* in the book (you will notice even the title, Godel, Escher and Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid has the letters EGB throughout – and the design on the front cover is simply outstanding when you recognise what he’s trying to get at).

Each chapter is seperated by a fictional dialogue designed to reinforce the points he has been making.

Anyway… I can’t say too much about this book! Read! Have you mind twiddled, your eyes twoddled (yes, it’s that confusing at times), and your breath (quite literally) taken away.