Archive for September 23rd, 2008
Mememememe
I hadn’t noticed before that the Internet phenomenon known as a “meme” is two “me’s” put together. In my last post, I talked about how I’m selfish like a cat; that one was all about “Me”. The word meme, though, (as defined by Wikipedia) doesn’t mean “double me” or anything remotely like that. Here’s what they have to say:
Meme, or MEME, may mean:
- Meme, a term coined by Richard Dawkins, referring to a unit of cultural information transferable from one mind to another. A derivation of either French même (lit. “same”), or Greek mimeme (something imitated). See also Mimesis.
- An Internet meme, a meme or fad that spreads quickly through the Internet.
- An abbreviation for Multiple EM for Motif Elicitation, a motif discovery and search system in Bioinformatics.
- Meme, a 2006 album by Milosh
- “Meme”, episode six of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
I was only familiar with the first of these four definitions. I had not heard of Bioninformatics, which, in my brief skimming of the article I feel deserves further investigation. I find most kinds of science interesting, except for the boring kinds of science, of course. If Bioinformatics isn’t boring, it has the potential to be fascinating indeed! Computer models of the genome! Machine modeling the process of evolution!
I also had not heard of Milosh, who I find is a Canadian electronic musician whose training was started on ‘cello. Nice music. His Meme album has a track called “Playing with Yen”. What does that mean?
And then there’s the Japanese animated series called Ghost in the Shell. Have you heard of that one? I want to watch it now; it seems kind of science-fictiony/graphic novely; compelling and unique. The episode “Meme” appears to use that word in the “virus” sense of the meaning.
After writing last time about how I work mostly at home, I’ve been out for a couple of 14-hour days in a row, and I’m just settling back into my routine, such as it is. I guess I ought to be careful what I write about! So, I just planned to briefly address a meme sent me by the lovely Apar. In pondering once again why these Internet thingys are called “memes” though, I came across all of the above.
Just looking up the meaning of a word, I’m introduced to different worlds. Isn’t life just the most interesting thing?
So, without further digressions, I post the meme from Apar, as well as my disclaimers and equivocations:
The rules of the game:
RULE #1 : People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blogs and replace any question that they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves.
RULE #2 : Tag 6 people to do this quiz and they cannot refuse. These people must state who they were tagged by and cannot tag the person whom they were tagged by continue this game by sending it to other people.
(I have not replaced any questions, because it’s hard to imagine not liking a question. After all, it’s just a question, right? However, seeing the “rules” above causes me to bristle, a bit. I don’t react well to rules, but have made an effort to at least…try to play nice! Also, some of these questions are rather personal, and do not necessarily evoke in me a direct answer. Nevertheless, if you’ve read this far, thank you!)
Apar says this: “Would love to know their answers (esp the answer to q.13 🙂 ).” So, even though I don’t play fair, by the rules, or nicely, I have, at least, answered question 13, sincerely! 😀
Finally, to end this rather odd post (if I do say so myself) I acknowledge this, awarded me by the sultry sulz:
Thank you, sulz! 🙂 Interestingly enough, in the same post she rewards my honesty, she also responds to the above meme, for which she was also tagged! I can certify my answers were, actually, honest, just, perhaps not as…complete as they might be. (On the other hand, look at hers, if you think mine were succinct.)
Good day everyone, from the honest muse. 🙂
