Start to Notice

'I have heard my great-grandfather say that it is mostly in periods of turmoil and strife and confusion that people care much about history; and you know,' said my friend, with an amiable smile, 'we are not like that now. No; many people study facts about the make of things and the matter of cause and effect, so that knowledge increases on us, if that be good; and some, as you heard about friend Bob yonder, will spend time over mathematics. 'Tis no use forcing people's tastes.'

That's from News from Nowhere, a utopian novel by William Morris. Morris seems like an interesting guy. He was born into a lot of money in the mid 1800's in England, and became very active in the Socialist movement at the time. From what I can tell of this novel, it paints a mythic picture of what he felt human beings could be, were we to collectively make the right decisions. I'm finding the book a bit interesting, though sometimes my gut reaction is to treat a lot of his Socialist idealism with the jaundiced eye of someone living at the other end of the Twentieth Century, who has seen the absolute impossibility of this book. But then I think, that was just the point: to create something that at the same time seems so unattainable, so far off and idyllic, yet sensical, and worthy of praise. I know I would love to live in a society in which I could focus on building a life that was good, that was beneficial to others, in which I could see a definite personal importance.

Also, not having to adhere to a specific way of life determined by a capitalist economic system, that would make things so much better, too.

I should note here that I had a rough day today. I don't think this way when things go well. Obviously.

But anyway, one final note: William Morris was also an artist. Well, not so much an artist as a designer. He made a lot of pattern work (some of which is actually photographed on the copy of my book). A lot of it's really quite beautiful, even if it is a bit too busy for desktop wallpaper.

A quick Google search turned up this: The William Morris Gallery. Maybe I should consider going there if I'm ever in England?

Also, to talk for a moment about something completely unrelated: I'm growing my hair out. Well, not really conciously, though. More like by default (for those who don't know, I'm the laziest person in the world when it comes to getting haircuts). I hope people at work start to notice soon.

The thing is though, that it kind of sucks in the heat, having this mop on my head, under which I get pretty hot when standing directly in the sun. But then, the curls that sprout up can be pretty cool, too.

But enough with this. I have to go see Pele.