most people hate these things.  i can understand why, since they are deemed an "eyesore" when one wants to get out of the city and see "untouched" nature.  this is a very easy reactionary observation.  in line with my thoughts about how there is no separation between humanity and nature, ergo no difference between technology and nature (i believe technology is the culmination of nature becoming self conscious), i find these things extremely beautiful.  i also got to thinking on these long drives out to desert parties (TAZ), that you simply cannot escape them.  i go to the Grand Canyon, and there they are.  i go to a secret party location and they are right there.  in fact, they are sometimes used for road guidelines to get to the site.  so why the fascination?  well, if you take an approach analyzing forms, they are quite intriguing.  they remind me of totems.  i haven't even begun to dissect what the geometry can represent.  you can hear the crackling of the power, esp. out in remote places.  i have yet to witness  legendary "plasma ball lightning" that pass along the wires from electrical storms.  these towers are nodes within the noosphere.  the computer is often thought of as "the network", but the foundations are the ubiquitoustelephone, and even the more basic power lines.  now that there appears to be technology coming our way to access the net through power lines, these things take on an even more ominous symbolism.  there is something to these things, and because they are so common, they are ignored.  most people don't realize that these things connect and feed the juice that runs this era. - @Om* 6/28/00

film _Crop Circles: The Quest For Truth_ directed by William Gazecki - shown August 23, 2002 at the Nuart Theater, Santa Monica.

• the most important new idea gleamed from the movie: formations in europe tend to pattern themselves around underground waterways and the physics related to them.  the ones found in north america tend to pattern themselves around electrical power lines.   - @Om* 2/24/2002

• film _Among Giants_ - witnessed in Wellington, New Zealand
  • the film features plenty of towers, as the plot is set  around a crew working to paint a record number of these things in a short time....
• Anomalog:
  • Broadband Over Power Lines In Canada
  • Ontario Steel Town - High Speed Over Power Lines
• Telekom ad - playing power lines like a guitar (mpeg)

In Seattle, a 37-year-old woman climbed up an electrical tower, carrying electrical lines next to an interstate bridge over the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Wearing only shorts, she danced, drank vodka, and spat the liquor out of her mouth while lighting it on fire. Seattle City Light cut power off to protect the woman, and stopped traffic for an hour. At the urging of police shortly before 9 a.m. she donned a halter top and descended. She was arrested for criminal trespass and indecent exposure. (AP)

• video (vhs/ntsc) for track _Im Nin Alu_ MP3 by Ofra Haza features electrical transmission towers.   vocals from track sampled in _Paid In Full (Coldcut Remix)_ MP3 by Eric B.  & Rakim

• 604 track _Electrical Distribution_ MP3 (192k) by Neural Rectifier Syndrome off of _Creeping Ambivalent Tendencies_ compilation CD on Cosmophilia (2002)

• techno track _Power Tower_ MP3 by Mr. Sliff

• neo psychedelia pop track _There's Been A Change In The Electric Industry_ MP3 by Shimmer Kids Underpop Association off of _Bury My Heart At Makeout Point_ on Underpop (2000)
  • video (quicktime)(14megs)
• IDM release _Pylonesque ep_ 12" by Christ on Benbecula #016 (2002)
• cover depicts electrical transmission towers
• a1 _Dream Of The Endless_
• b1 _Fantastic Light_ MP3 (192k)
• downtempo ambient release _Passion_ CD by Quantum Leap on Elektrolux (2001)
• cover depicts electrical transmission towers
• electro track _High Tension Wires_ MP3 (160k) by Artificial Material/Third Electric off of _Plus Bonus Track_ 12" on World Electric #001
• lo-fi track _When The Power Goes Out_ MP3 by Smog off of _Julius Caesar_ on Drag City (1993)
• track _Powerline_ by Hüsker Dü off of _New Day Rising_ 12" on SST (1985)

what's this humming in my head
was it something that someone said
it's connecting us with them
electric wires turned on again

it aggravates and it pacifies
hear the power in the lines
strung high on every pole
how can this power be bought and sold?
trying to harness solar rays
making minutes seem like days
it captivates and it hypnotizes
hear the power in the lines
powerline

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