Ra5pu7in's Journal: The cryptic beauty of unanswered questions

I had a realization in reading through some of the responses to my last JE - not everyone is as fascinated with questions as I am. For some a question is just something that needs to be answered. The question has little or no importance; only the answer is valued. For some a question is part of some test or quiz to determine if they are smart enough. The question is a challenge or even a chance to show off. For some a question is either a disguise or a vehicle for the true motives or bias of the asker. For some a question is an assault, an attack on their own ideas and beliefs. For some questions are an annoyance. There are so many ways to hear and ask and view questions.

For me questions are my primary means of exploring the universe. There is a cryptic beauty to a question for which I do not have an answer. My pleasure comes in the journey, twisting and turning along the trails created by the whys and what ifs and woulds and coulds in my mind. To simply look up an answer without the journey is to deny myself all the questions I might have asked along the way.

What is the newest musical instrument? Asking this question I find it necessary to wonder whether a synthesizer counts as a new instrument in its own right. Later an odd thought pops into my head as to whether the lack of real innovation in musical instruments is a sign of cultural stagnation. So now I have to wonder what would be a real innovation, and that takes me off into trying to remember what classes of instruments there are besides wind, string, and percussion. I may never actually find the answer to my original question, but I will have learned an astonishing number of things and will have many different directions of thought to continue wandering.

The 808 Handclap

[sielwolf]

The TR-808 makes sounds that don't sound anything like their labeling. The best is the "Hand Clap" which sounds like a recording of velcro being torn apart and then reversed. While used by some in place of actual clapping hands the "Hand Clap" has now become a familiar piece of percussion to anyone who likes 80's new wave, electro, goth or hip-hop. It has become a widely recognized original instrument.

So much so that companies have actually rebuilt the 808 within their software so people could use the so

instruments

[subgeek]

now i'm going to spoil this by talking about a question you asked instead of talking about questions.

it's not the newest, but people have changed turntables and tape decks into musical intstruments. people haven't so much made new instruments as found things that weren't and adapted them. electronics and synthesizers are ways of making new sounds. so yeah, i'd say the synthesizer is an instrument. it's name is because it synthesizes sound, not because it can emulate other instruments. to me a large par

I don't suppose you have read

[Degrees]

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance [amazon.com]?

On the one hand, I read it when I was young and impressionable - and boy did it make an impression on me. On the other hand, it pushes a philosophy that leans toward self-centered-ness. (I'm a Christian, so now-a-days I am a little wary of philosophies that don't even recognize the spiritual component of our makeup.)

All in all, way back when, I thought it was the best book I had ever read. Today, it is still astounding - but not the ultimate.

I've talked with othe