Two Hours, Forty-Seven Minutes

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Archibald Katz

**timeline break**

It’s just another day up here. No one seems to care. Just another reminder that I’m an Other (more on that later). Seriously, how can you not care about something that is humbling and awe-inspiring? Do you stand at the ocean’s edge and go, “eh. just a big bowla watta.” Do you not Science? Do you not think about the relative rarity and what effects something like this will have on light, on wildlife and nature, on weather? I get it, on social media, it’s overwhelming and overdone, but goddamn. Take a couple hours and appreciate the enormity of two enormous celestial bodies moving around us, something bigger than all of us.

I’ve procured glasses (thanks to a kind friend back in KS), and convinced my new friends K & D to come watch with me. Somewhere else, somewhere outside of the place we work, so we don’t have to hear constant radio chatter, requests for toilet paper, propane tanks, moving reservations from one site to another. Two and a half hours. Just two and a half friggin’ hours of maybe being in wonder of the world rather than annoyed, angry, frustrated, sad, justifiably pissed off (are you paying attention? yes, I see you). We can, and should, go back to that later. So please don’t poo-poo anyone who is excited about this. I understand. I do. I haven’t forgotten. Everything is still there.

It’s just smaller.

For two hours, forty-seven minutes.

Glaciers did that. BOR-ING.

The Museum of Jurassic Technology Is A Dark And Wonderous Place

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Archibald Katz

Way back in the early, early 2000’s, I worked for an adult entertainment company in the wilds of Culver City (Los Angeles), CA. That’s another story for another time, but no, I was not a performer. It was much more mundane than that.

HOWEVER, I did work nearly across the street from the Museum of Jurassic Technology. I passed it at least twice a week on my lunchtime walks and never actually went in. I was always curious, but for some reason there always seemed to be “time to do that later” Well, later came in 2010 on a return trip to visit friends and remind myself (once again) why I do not live in Los Angeles anymore (again, another story). I’m a little mad at myself for passing it by all those years, but am very glad I have friends that made me finally go.

I’ve heard it described as “if David Lynch had a museum” and that seems pretty accurate. It’s full of antiquated bits of “technology” (though not in the modern sense of the word), meshed with folklore, mythology, a tinge of religious zealotry, and the absolute mysterious. You’re never quite sure what is truth and what is fiction. Glimmers of facts shine through the descriptions and exhibits on occasion, only to leave you confounded by the next installation. It’s a healthy mixture of art, science, myth, and history, sometimes all at once.

We missed having tea in the tea room, as we went just before closing, but I vow to go back next time and spend more time perusing and taking it all in.

**I have also just noticed that they do not want photos to be taken in the museum. I was honestly not aware of this and a quick web search reveals I am not the only one. In sharing these, my only intention is to spark interest and share some interesting visual images that I have let linger on a hard drive for far too long.

Image

After another day of tragedy and strife, it’s nice to end this 24 hours on a high note. I teared up watching the people of NASA celebrate. Amazing & uplifting. So, good night, World. We are capable of horrible things, but also great, awe-inspiring things (and some silly ones as well.)

(Source: http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/mars/curiosity_news3.html)