+ Wed, July 21
OKGO
Hi, I’m Dokas McClure and you might remember me from such entertaining websites as stereoboy.org and, uh… actually that’s it and you very well might not remember me from that one at all.
Crap. I’m two sentences in and I’ve already screwed up. Let me try that again.
Hi. My name is Phil and I used to run a site somewhere else at some other time. A few hiccups and server troubles later, here I am beginning anew at jetless.org. In the time off, I’ve missed writing in a public format more than you’d believe and I’ve sorely missed hearing from you all. You may look at this site as a one way thing where I talk to you, but let me tell you plainly: your comments and emails are the most exciting piece of this whole publishing deal.
Alongside everything you’d expect to read from me, I’m going to post quite a bit over the next few days on some aspects of the work here, both past and future. Design notes and explanations, goals and plans. The nitty gritty.
So in the words of Sloan, c’mon c’mon, we’re gonna get it started.
1 → Kelly – (Jul 21 2004, 10:05 PM)
So relieved to have you back and so excited to be the first visitor! I’m in desperate need of some Dokas wit and charm - let it flow. Welcome back Phil, welcome back.
2 → p. burke – (Jul 22 2004, 1:04 AM)
nice to have you back, phil. i’ve been reloading the “let us put our face on” page all night.
3 → Evan – (Jul 22 2004, 1:05 AM)
Nice to see that you’re back Phil!
I look forward to the many wonderful posts that you will share with us all.
As a side note, on your recommendation, I am almost finished reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance… fantastic book
4 → pd – (Jul 22 2004, 1:08 AM)
> I am almost finished reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Good! Everyone should read that book! I’m sure there’s a whole series of books along a related line that would have a similar effect for me, but that book quite literally opened my eyes to everything. Everyone from the most technical of engineers to the arsty-farsiest of design junkies should read that book yesterday.
Quality and appreciation — probably the two most important things out there if you ask me.
6 → Marty – (Jul 22 2004, 6:36 AM)
And the Dokanator does it again. Now my pretty redesign looks like trash. Thanks a lot Phil. Now the only thing that’s left to do is kill the broken hearted.
7 → Emily – (Jul 22 2004, 8:08 AM)
Phil! It’s LOVELY! Absolutely wonderful. Nice job, kiddo. Can’t wait to read all about your life, because this is the only way that I know what’s going on with you. :). Just kidding…can’t wait to read your beautiful thoughts on a computer screen. Later, bud.
8 → Debashis – (Jul 22 2004, 8:24 AM)
Congratulations on your triumphant return…I wish I was home to go pat you on the back but I’m working in Germany filming videos for a laser-aided manufacturing company….1 step closer to Hollywood…maybe. I guess if Hollywood doesn’t want me, I can just go write and film porn musicals…
9 → Mike – (Jul 22 2004, 8:42 AM)
I’m in love with your site, Phil…you know how to make a 20-year-old man cry.
10 → Holly – (Jul 22 2004, 9:03 AM)
Magnifique! Fantastic! Formidable! Genial! Extraordinaire!
and now i’ve run out of nice french superlatives to describe the site. it does look awesome, bravo.
11 → Phil – (Jul 22 2004, 9:12 AM)
Very nice, phil. Functional, cute, and full of little flourish-y things.
12 → Dan – (Jul 22 2004, 10:45 AM)
Saints be praised! Glad to have you back, I’ve been curious to hear your thoughts about various goings-on, and the hidden mics I put in your bedroom and kitchen just died on me the other day, so your return comes at just the right time.
13 → will – (Jul 22 2004, 10:56 AM)
THANKYOU for coming back. All I was doing was crying and writing poetry while you were gone. I mean… WOO COMPUTERS.
15 → Forgo – (Jul 22 2004, 11:53 AM)
Phil, damn it, you don’t call me. Congrats on a job well done. It’s nice to have someone (other than Niz, who neither calls nor responds to emails, btw), in the BARN with computer skills. I hope you’re able to help me because, well, I’m tech-poor. So, catch ya soon.
Oh, wait!, will someone else please read Hollis’ post. I don’t see much French there. I mean, come on. Raskis.
20 → pd – (Jul 22 2004, 12:19 PM)
> Now the only thing that’s left to do is kill the broken hearted.
But Marty, why would we kill the broken-hearted when we can cure the broken-hearted? Music snobs, ho!
Schiano — I got my site up, now how about you? What I wouldn’t do for a quality lyrics site… <nudge nudge>
Forgo — Normally I delete duplicate posts and such, but well, that’s just too damn good. So apt! So ironic! So terrific! I salute you, good sir!
Thanks for the kind words everyone, good to see many old faces pop back up.
21 → Gabe – (Jul 22 2004, 1:25 PM)
Buon giorno principessa!
Phildo, sweet site. I am also reading your many a time recommended book. Although I cringe at bad philosophy and science bashing, it still opens up a lot of ideas. Makes me want to reject society and find inner peace… See ya round
P.S. Perhaps we could go run… for the good old days… if you can get away from the disc tossing.
22 → Mike – (Jul 22 2004, 2:00 PM)
Es muy Increible! So does this mean you can finally come out and start partying again?
23 → pd – (Jul 22 2004, 2:13 PM)
> bad philosophy and science bashing
From the mouth of Pirsig? Are you sure you’re not reading the Bizarro Zen And The Art? Pirsig clearly personally engaged in the classically-oriented hierarchical structuring of the world. Through the narration, it becomes clear as day that he personally operated in that mode natively. Through the early episodes with John & Silvia, you see how he personally felt about those who truly did “science bashing”. Needless to say it’s none too positive.
And bad philosophy? I think the marriage of aesthetics and structure in order to elucidate the beauty of both the whole and the parts simultaneously in any conceivable venue is a beautiful concept. I personally can’t think of much that doesn’t apply to.
Also, for anyone interested, there are original pictures from the trip in 1968 which Pirsig writes about here. Putting faces to those characters was an eye-opener for me.
24 → Yaniv – (Jul 22 2004, 2:32 PM)
congratulations on your new site. I’m happy you finally got it up and going.
-Yaniv
25 → Scott – (Jul 22 2004, 2:39 PM)
Go to hell Forgo. i was getting around to it. Raskis.
And, oh yeah, good work Phil.
26 → pd – (Jul 22 2004, 3:00 PM)
(ed note: Sorry kids, but the comment Al originally had here was about a subject that I’m just not going to let happen again. It was an inside-joke turned outside years ago, funny then but it got way, way out of hand. In the future, comments mentioning the subject [and I assure you, this is the only taboo subject] will be deleted as the Google traffic it attracts is simply out of control.)
28 → Gabe – (Jul 22 2004, 3:32 PM)
I agree that the blending of both romantic and classical viewpoints is a beautiful and very important concept. That is really the main thing that I got out of the book.
However, many of his early arguments, many based around this hierarchical structuring of the world and his raping of scientific method, incorporate some of the most basic philosophical errors. Reality really does exist outside of one’s own mind…
29 → dags – (Jul 22 2004, 8:18 PM)
i’m digging the new site phil, it reminds me of a beach, or somewhere peaceful.
30 → skippy – (Jul 22 2004, 11:11 PM)
well youve kept us waiting long enough, but the wait was worth it!!!. glad to have you back phil! those censorship comments do make me wonder what was censored. you gonna be in ace deuce again with uofm this year? cuz then maybe i will see you aruodn.
31 → Marty – (Jul 23 2004, 10:22 AM)
But Marty, why would we kill the broken-hearted when we can cure the broken-hearted? Music snobs, ho!
Juxtaposition! Humor! What will I think of next?
36 → jessi – (Jul 25 2004, 1:54 PM)
fantabulous-o. (could be french) no, phil, i really like the site… that green really compliments your eyes. :)
scott needs a site. i need to keep looking at his bday party pictures to remember what flip cup is…
and forgo baby it’s ok if you’re bad with computers… at least you can’t drop them :D
raskis.
37 → Sean – (Jul 26 2004, 2:43 PM)
Your site is awsome and has changed my life in a new way, by the way I am still alive and have not been eaten by bears. “I’m alive, I was just foolin’ you ……..”
39 → Laura – (Jul 28 2004, 6:50 AM)
Sean, we miss you! Playing Thunderstruck to thunderstorms just isn’t the same anymore.
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: http://jetless.org/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1The links below are pages on other sites that reference the current post you're reading here. They make for good further reading.
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On July 22, 2004 at insanity thru insomnia, they said:
“Wafer-friend and all around cool guy Phil Dokas has launched his new weblog, Jetless Heights. His design is sleek, functional to the 9s, and has lots of little things that will make you smile. Go say hello….”
→ Add your 2¢ by reading through and commenting at the end.