Before the universe was,

I am.

I made the suns.

I made the worlds.

I created the lives

and the places they inhabit;

I move them here, I put them there.

They go as I say, they do as I tell them.

I am the word and my name is

never spoken, the name which no one knows.

I am called

Ubik, but that is not my name.

I am.

I shall always be.

Remember: Ubik is only seconds away.

Ubik puts zing into your thing!

Brings you back where the happening is.

You awaken fresh, ready to tackle all those little annoying problems facing you.

So try Ubik. And be loved.

Made only in Cleveland

Ubik Remix Explanation & Explanation:

I tried to post the file, but was unable to, and I'm now stuck on how to actually get the file on the PSU webspace to link up to this wiki. So. I am somewhat at a loss. Anyways. I'll post the paper below, and hopefully it will make more sense.

Ubik Remixed

Sophia Drago

Engl 473

Remix Analysis Essay

For my remix of Ubik, I decided to look at what, exactly, Ubik is. At first, I was under the impression that Ubik was just the spray that Joe Chip uses to prevent himself from aging (or dying even faster). However, after reading more closely, I discovered that Dick was using Ubik as a way to explain an overarching theme of the book, which is that of consumerism and materialism. Dick focuses on how people in the book relate to material things, such as cigarettes and cream, as well as how they respond to the physical space around them, which is, in itself, material.

Ubik is chock full of symbolic links throughout the book, and the attention to cions is one of them. The image found on coins not-so-clearly allows readers to follow the varying paths of different characters, and it is a point of reference once time starts shifting and the world starts regressing. Joe Chip definitely has a strained relationship with money, something that almost sets him apart from other characters. Everyone else seems to always have poscreds on hand, whereas Joe rarely has any. It seems as though Dick puts Joe in this specific situation as a way for readers to understand both his humility and to measure his apparent ability to get by in a difficult world that is constantly changing.

Ubik plays a somewhat important role in the book, since it does serve to keep people alive who are in danger of dying. Also, it ultimately allows Joe chip to uncover the truth about Jory and Ella Runciter. It is significant as a measure of regression once Joe’s world begins to change. Even though Joe isn’t completely sure of what it is or how exactly to use it, he seems to catch on fairly quickly that it should be handled with caution. It’s interesting that once he gets the card entitling him to a free, life-time supply of Ubik, it suddenly shifts and regresses along with him so it’s no longer useful. Poor Joe Chip has never been entitled to a free anything for what seem to be a very long time. When he is finally given something of this nature, it is quickly stripped of all use. This speaks to the temporality of material things. Some may last a long time, while others may last for only one day.

However, it is how we use these things in the time that we have them that define the things in the first place. It is our own interaction with the material things that give them cause to exist. This is not to say that there aren’t beautiful places in the world untouched by human hands that are of great value. This is not what I mean to say at all. The material things that I speak of are more in the group of man-made conveniences that can be bought at shopping malls and grocery stores, items small and large that consist of more packaging than anything else. These material things are only temporary to begin with, but we humans have such a strange attraction to them that it’s impossible not to comment.

In the poem that I remixed from the chapter notes below the chapter numbers, I used chunks of text from all fifteen of the chapters to create more of a commentary on Ubik as commercialism and materialism. The poem is intended to create the feeling of a sales pitch, since all of the chapter notes were forms of commercials for Ubik. The poem begins with idle chatter, and then the salesman or woman takes the floor and starts with their pitch. They different forms of Ubik are listed with Ubik being central to the list, since it’s the only thing the different lines have in common. Ubik has many different forms, but the same concept of consumerism still applies.

This is then followed by a brief simulated test of Ubik. It’s interesting that the test would only be simulated if the product actually worked (says the skeptical buyer). However, the fact that they have a test at all speaks to their credibility. We are more willing to trust things if we see them with our own eyes, even if we consciously know that what is happening is only a simulation.

There is then a long list of warnings associated with the use of Ubik. It is said repeatedly that the product must be used as directed if it is to be safe. However, in the book, Joe Chip uses it without reading a large set of manuals on what Ubik is and how it is supposed to be used. This speaks to the nature of our relationship with material things in a different way. Many times, objects don’t come with instruction books, but it is part of our human nature to study the object, test it out, and then use it as we see fit. Joe Chip shows us how this happens, and why.

Then, I inserted the note of the final chapter. This reeks of the Book of Genesis, and apparently, Ubik is God. Things are gods. Whatever form the object may take, it has power and control over the world, much more power, in fact, than any single person. However, Dick makes it a point to put Joe Chip’s picture on the coin in the final chapter. This is very fitting for the entire theme of commercialism. In the final chapter, it seems like things have finally turned in favor of Joe Chip, though the fate of the reader may still be uncertain. The true nature of what has been advertised in all of the previous chapters is finally revealed in the final note. Ubik is everything to us, as it is ubiquitous. However, it is still our choice how to respond to it.

I felt that it was important to end the “sales pitch” with a return to the product itself and a few lines on how wonderful the product is. I used this space to include a few of my own favorite lines, especially the one that says “so try Ubik. And be loved.” This speaks to the notion that people feel like they need things in order to be loved, which is possibly the most dangerous aspect of materialism. When people start to feel like they need certain possessions or things in order to fit in or be accepted in a society, then the problem of commercialism must be addressed.

I decided to end the poem on a more humorous note “Made only in Cleveland” because I believe it provides contrast to the very serious stanza found before it beginning with “I am Ubik.” Everything has to be made somewhere, and it might as well be Cleveland. Cleveland is an industry-based city, and thrives on advertisements like the ones found in the chapter notes. Overall, I think that by remixing Ubik into a poem, I have succeeded in drawing attention to a portion of the book that I feel is not only entertaining but very thought-provoking as well.]

3/25/07

This has been a disappointingly long break from wiki entries. I told myself that I would try to keep up with them, even when I was feeling sick or stressed or busy or anything like that, and instead, I just dropped off entirely. Anyways, I'm back for the final six more weeks, and maybe even longer, depending on life and other uncontrollable things.

I was reading through people's ideas on the SOC Film Festival, and it reminded me of Cube, this crazy movie I just watched two nights ago. It was interesting, sort of like an earlier version of Saw, without any hint of a real plot or driving force behind the actions of the characters other than their need to escape and survive. The film definitely reminded me of the class because there are a total of six (I believe) people who wake up inside this "cube" with a bunch of different rooms, some of which are booby-trapped, and some of which are safe. There is the angry young-ish man who is pissed off at everyone and always gets angry even though that doesn't solve anything, the somewhat attractive super smart young girl who discovers that self confidence she had always lacked in social settings, the older woman who is somewhat wise but who also has major problems in her life that make her almost insignificant, there's the very secretive man whose purpose is never really known until close to the end, possibly right before he dies, and then there's the mentally handicapped semi-genius who actually makes it through the whole ordeal. This seems like a fairly typical set up for movies with very little plot or action. While it may be true that they are all stuck in the cube for a reason (each person needs an excuse to discover his or her most important and useful talents right before they die) it would seem that there is no real reason for these people top be put int he cube, no real reason for the cube to exist, or even what the cube really is. I'm not sure if the problem arises from my higher expectations as a modern movie viewer or the shorter possible answers the film provides.

However, I think that's what I really actually enjoyed about the film. There was no reason for the people to be in the cube. There was no reason for the cube to exist, therefore, their time spent in the cube was meaningless. However, this is definitely a plausible view of life and the world we live in (albeit a fairly depressing one). We are trapped in unfamiliar territory that is constantly changing and shifting, and while there are decidedly dangerous paths that we could take, it is our responsibility to find these safe paths for ourselves and others in order to survive. Is survival the onyl thing driving us? Would it be a shame if that was the case? If art and beauty really had no significance? If music was just a noise to distract us as we keep searching through empty rooms for answers to questions that don't even exist?

I need to go for a hike, I can hardly breathe I'm so stuffed up. But up there the air is clear...

2/27/07

How is our generation going to be defined? I read this article on msn.com and what I read was actually pretty disturbing. Are we all burgeoning megalomaniacs? Or have we simply been convinced that we are all so unique and special that we deserve to be treated that way? And what about the growing numbers of girls with eating disorders? Where do they fit in? Do they think that they are the coolest kids in town because they harm themselves? Or do they actually have low self-esteem? I think it's a combination of both, but I'll have to wait until later to expand on the topic...

2/25/07

Whew! I just made it back from Harrisburg, and the roads are awful. They got about an inch of snow, but just that one little inch caused so much damage. I saw at least two major wrecks involving at least three cars in each. The first was just outside of Harrisburg and had slowed traffic on the other side of the highway to a standstill. The second was about half-way between Harrisburg and State College, and looked even worse than the first. After we had passed the second accident, my friend who was driving tried to brake and failed miserably. The tires locked up and we fish-tailed all over the road. First we went to the left, then back to the right, and all I could do was clutch the door handle and watch. Luckily, the driver handled the car very well and managed to wiggle us out of it, but we were both completely unnerved. I was reminded of a George Carlin special I watched last week. He said something to the effect of for the amount of awful things we do to the earth, like drilling, strip mining, logging, draining lakes, overfishing, etc., sometimes it's nice to see nature fight back. I wish that I could fidn the exact quote, if I ever do I'll put it in here instead of my brief and loose interpretation. Anyways, I thinkt hat sometimes, nature does fight back, and maybe sometimes, she's telling us to stop driving and take a hike.

Oh, and a post script on Wiki policy and problems being experinced by Wikipedia.

2/23/07

Something is wrong here. The fact that there is currently no space for graffiti and stencil artists to display their work is absurd. I believe that State College is a very artistically-oriented town, for example they have the biggest arts festival in the state over the summer on both borough and university property. The arts festival is probably the busiest time of year for State College, save for the congestion of football weekends. One would assume that since the community is obviously interested in art, they would do as much as possible to foster creativity in a variety of mediums. Simon is fighting for a space, but the town wants to push it aside, under some rock. There is already graffiti in State College, located most densely on the west end of downtown. One of my friends(no names) used to stencil all over campus. His work was funny, smart, and actually made some people think (I would hope). I went with him on a mission or two, and there was one trip out that I'll never forget. They were constructing the new "mall" between Thomas and Ritenour, and there were walkways constructed with big wooden boards. My friend and I decided to post flyers up there with a distorted image of Bush on them. We snuck out of our dorm in the middle of the night in our black masks and hoodies and got to gluing. By the time a week had passed, the walls were covered in flyers, graffiti, and stencils. I thought it was fantastic that this underground community finally had a "safe" space to work in. I hope that the borough can recognize this need and respond accordingly.

All I have to say is that

2/21/07

I was watching a brief bit of American Idol last night for the first time ever because of my great interest in American popular culture. During a commercial break, there was an ad for a new television show that will be hitting the small screen in just a few weeks. The title of the show is Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?. I think the name says it all. Americans are now going to be entertained by grown members of society who are not sure whether they would be able to pass out of elementary school or not. Oh. My. God. Are these people serious? Has a more degrading show ever been made? Even Blind Date's shortcomings only extend as far as the dating scene. If this means that we have now set our standard of how much a person should know by the time they reach middle age according to a fifth grade text book. Is the show saying that fifth graders are learning a lot of useless information that they'll never need to use again over the course of their adult life? Or are we saying that adults today are stupider than their own children? Either way, something is clearly wrong with the picture, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to reconcile my problem with the show and the desire to find out exactly what these fifthgraders know that their parents don't. The show, to be aired on FOX and hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, sounds like a shame to be. It's a rip-off of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, but instead of being rewarded for actually knowing some grown-up trivia, these people have the opportunity to win a million dollars simply for being as smart as a fifth grader.

I would say I'm moving to Australia, but they just signed a deal to pick up their own version. Kangaroos will cry...

2/19/07

I found this stencil on the streets of Melbourne. They are known for having the biggest community of stencil artists in the world, and I would like to join them.

What makes us happy? Is it money? Superiority? Intellectual stimulation? Beauty? Maybe we all just need to float a little bit more.

Also, I was watching South Park last night, and it turned out to be the episode where the parents in South Park become afraid that the children are going to be abducted. Because of this fear, they decide to put tracking devices on all of the children. The tracking devices are ridiculously huge helmets that the kids wear. The children hate it, but this has nothing to do with the plot. The parents eventually become so afraid(due to the tv reports that kids are abducted all the time) that they send the children away. However, the point that I found pertinent to the class discussion on blowdarts and tracking devices was that in reality, they served no real purpose. Tracking children is not the solution to the problems that we may or may not actually be facing as a society. Tracking children is like saying that we don't trust them, which could lead to furthering this society of dis-trust.

I find it similar to the new disney phones that let parents track children. Creepy, but true. The phones have a gps system that allows parents to locate their children. The plan also allows parents to set spending limits, block numbers, etc. this link is to their website http://disneymobile.go.com/disneymobile/landingPage_ServicesFeatures.do because this is a real-world example of something similar to RFID technology that is already being used. They have controls on who can access the site that lets you locate children, but I can't imagine that it's very difficult to figure out a way in. Are child molesters already using this technology? I doubt it. But I guess we'll have to wait and see how big it gets.

February 2, 2006

What could RFID technology possibly be used for? There are probably a million different uses, but the one that I think would be the most useful to the largest number of people is to use it on people in position of political power, such as the president. I know that they would never go for this because of all the dangers, such as assassins or terrorists, etc, but I believe that the general US population would be interested in knowing exactly what our elected leaders are up to on any given day. We could set up a website that tracked the president and other important people. also, it would benefit historians who would be able to very accurately record the activities of these important people.

I was also considering ways in which RFID techonology could be heplful with airport security. If people who travelled often had RFID chips implanted in their skin, and were then scanned when they entered the airport, they wouldn't have to go through security and the lines would be much shorter. I have travelled a lot during the past year, and I think that airports succeed only in giving people a false sense of security. However, if we knew exactly who was getting on certain flights, I think that people would feel much safer, and it would save everyone time waiting in thsoe silly lines.

January 30, 2006

I am still confused, but hopeful. I was exploring the Creative Commons website, found this nifty little license

This wiki is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 License.

Hopefully, all of this huge chunk of text that I have just copied and pasted will look a bit more coherent when I finally update this thing. Regarding the Creative Commons licensing, there are three things I love and only one thing I do not.

In order:

The Idea of allowing artists to control their own licensing rather than people with very little truly vested interest in the art itself deciding what's alright for people to do with the material makes so much sense. I didn't realize that as soon as something is created, it is copyrighted. I feel much better now knowing that this web material is not fully copyrighted, though I don't see how it makes much of a practical difference as long as I don't have a problem with it. I'm sure there are a variety of circumstances under which people might care about their material being used, but this is not one of them. The four main groups that CC claims to represent are artists, musicians, educators, and one other group that is slipping my mind at the moment. I belive that I would fall into the loosely-defined education category, though I am not an educator. I was, however, excited to see voice lessons offered by bucknell on their website. I wish more schools would do that, because although a digital classroom is clearly very different than a physical classroom, it seems that cyberspace can hold some degree of educational content. I'm not sure though, since both the student and the teacher would have to record all fo their dialogue, and without direct streaming onto the web, it could be somewhat tedious.

I'm rambling. Thing # 2 that I was excited to see on the site was a link to this Owl Multimedia program. It claims to be able to play a part of a song and then find similar songs in it's database of over 30,000 songs.

Now, here I am inserting the one major problem I experienced: when I tried to actually use to program, the computer froze up. Any time I clicked on the screen, there was this painful "dinging" noise, painful because it was not accomplishing anything. I'm not sure if it was because I had six tabs open, the limewire was on, the Norton Antivirus was off, or maybe because sometimes, I think God may hate me. For any reason, it stopped working, and a marge chunk of a previous entry was lost. In fact, when I signed back onto this wiki, it told me that I was stealing a lock from someone who had been editing the article but stopped (actually 21 minutes) ago. Does that make me a cyberthief? Was I stealing the edit lock from myself, or is there someone out there who is very upest that this page won't show their changes. If there is, I apologize for "technical difficulties."

Going on to the final thing I found on the Creative Commons website that I really liked is Wikitravel, which can be found at http://wikitravel.org/en/Main_Page. It's a wiki modeled after wikipedia that focuses on travel, which is probably my favorite thing. Ever. I think it's really interesting because it's like a huge world-wide travel log that anyone can write in. Anyways, there's more out there to explore.

P.S. You can edit the State College page on this travelwiki, hooray!

January 26, 2006

Alright, I notice now that I have failed to work up to my blogging rhythm, but blogging appears to be something that becomes a habit rather than something innate. I was wondering earlier today how much of our relationship with technology is remotely organic. It seems like it goes both ways. The relationship is organic in that human communication is one of the most natural things, one of the things that actually makes us human. The wildwildweb allows us to cross communication borders that would have been considered impossible only twenty years ago, creating the largest collection of conversations ever. On the other hand, computers lack anything human except for the ability to compute. It's human actions that give the computer meaning, which leads me to the conclusion that insofar as we absorb technology, it absorbs us. How far removed from the first stone tools is the computer? Is the computer really just a complicated arrowhead?

This is a pretty massive achievement for me, considering that I have only used a computer as a word processor for the past ten-odd years. That may be stretching the truth a bit, but this is absolutely my first wiki, and I plan to use it to its fullest extent. I want to pull it and push it and figure out exactly what it is so that I can be completely comfortable using it. After all, the wiki is the medium is the message of the future? Or is it already the way the world works? Do we all just put ourselves out there for everyone to read, open to editing and change? Maybe we do. Maybe life is one big wiki. I belive I'll have more to base a response on after this semester.