No Snark Sunday: An Appeal for the Weird

We’re at a weird point in history.

Today all the exciting stuff, the ideas leading to real change, is happening at the margins. In garages, workshops, kitchens, in people’s laptops and heads. We’ve heard a lot of talk about the “creative economy” on Cape Ann, and have to say that we wholeheartedly agree when it comes to the need to focus on creativity.

PS Snot Collection

Creative Economy: What can we get for this on Ebay?

But we disagree on the scope. It seems like the focus is on what we usually think of as “artists.” Painters, sculptors, musicians, dancers, poets and writers. Yes, those people are obviously creatives, but the most creative thing that’s happened in Gloucester in a long time- Chief Campanenello’s new opiate policy.  A long-term problem, a seemingly intractable one. A new approach, one with some risks and very real objections (“are we just letting people go for breaking the law?”).

Creativity is about solving old problems new ways. New visions, breaking down old barriers. We’re at a time when people have unprecedented power to get incredible things done both as individuals and groups, probably more than in the entire history of human civilization. We have communication and collaboration networks, open-source tools and limitless access to information.

We have whatever internet genius did this. Bravo sir. Bravo.

We have whatever internet genius did this. Bravo sir. Bravo.

But we actually have to get over ourselves and do shit. It’s hard. And we have to support new approaches. But this is what Gloucester desperately needs right now. Everything is changing. Whatever the fishing industry becomes it will never be like what it was in the 70’s and 80s. Again. Ever. It will need to change. Our education system needs to change (And we see so much evidence of that in our schools, in the STEM labs and with the truly creative teachers in all disciplines).

But there is so much incredible happening out at the margins. In a building in the  industrial park on Kodelin road they are making pipe organs, huge beautiful pipe organs, for churches and cathedrals all over the world. The process is jaw dropping, forging their own pipes out of molten lead. That, folks, is the creative economy. Applied Materials up in the Blackburn and pushing the limits of technology. Creative economy?

Here is the thing: If you are creating new ideas, new approaches and actively implementing them, you are creative economy. We have to push the boundaries of what “creative” represents. And even what “economy” represents. New ways of funding, paying, trading and buying are coming along all the time.

So, here I’ll I’ll include Snotbot. It’s a huge risk. It’s something a lot of good people have worked their asses of on, and it’s something that can literally make a positive impact. Of all the things we do in a day to try and help the environment: turning off lights when we leave the room, riding our bikes or taking public transportation, recycling and composting, of all those things we try and do- this has the potential to have a direct impact on a threatened species: whales.

When we study them, currently, we harass them In so doing we also are very likely getting bad data. To get better data we have to sample them from a distance. It’s the difference between watching birds with binoculars or chasing them around your yard screaming, “BIRDY BIRDY BIRDY BIRDY!!!!” And that data ties in to toxicology, to the health of our oceans. It’s stuff we need to know for not only the survival of whales, but for the survival of PEOPLE.

So we, your beloved Clam, are asking you to support this thing. Because you’re weirdos and you like the weird and this thing is weird in all the right ways. Because whales. Because we’re fairly certain at least 47% of you are actual drone fetishists and probably also contribute at drone/sex/slash/fic over on reddit. Drop a couple of bucks, be sure to send it, remind your friends and family and hassle some people for us. Say you knew us before we flew to LA and drove to Patrick Stewart’s house and shot him with a crossbow.

Or do it because Patrick Stewart asked you to. I mean, it’s Patrick fucking Stewart.

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3 Comments

  1. I’m trying to figure out what the Kickstarter campaign is about. Is it to move The Clam forward or is it for whale research? I’m all for whale research and protection, but I also think the Clam is one of the best, and most clever and fresh, sites out there. I would not want that to change and am not sure if that’s what the fundraising is for.

    • I’m trying to figure out what the Kickstarter campaign is about. Is it to move The Clam forward or is it for whale research? I’m all for whale research and protection, but I also think the Clam is one of the best, and most clever and fresh, sites out there. I would not want that to change and am not sure if that’s what the fundraising is for.

      • It’s for whale research – the Clam’s day job, if you will.

        The Clam isn’t over – but this is taking up a ton of our time. We’ll be back to normal after it ends.

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