Ineffable Idiosyncrasy
This post documents the performance “Ineffable Idiosyncrasy”, performed August 1 2026 at an IEEE Conference workshop on “Co-designing Bio-Robotics with Smart Textiles, Social Justice, and Arts”.1 What don’t our models contain? What can’t be contained by any model? What gut feelings do you trust, but can’t put into words? There are many forms of knowledge…
Responsible Use of Intentional, Plastic Tools
Why AI agents are a significantly new kind of tool, and how that changes the way we should use them. Any system whose behaviour is well predicted by this [the intentional] strategy is in the fullest sense of the word a believer. – Daniel Dennett, The Intentional Stance The coming into being of something unexpected,…
First Outings
Historically, I have believed and argued that anthropomorphizing a machine is at best incorrect and at worst deceitful. Even now that I believe that stance to be misguided1 I have a hard time shaking a feeling of embarrassment when I admit to saying, “You did a good job today, little buddy,” while patting ORBiE on…
Mentogeny
To-day before my mind did sproutIn tender, whitish greenA vision of the grandest pumpkinI had ever seen. Before too long that sprout did growAnd change into a vineA-curling all around my thoughtsAnd running through my mind. Compelled to act, I planted seeds,And made a pact: to conquer weedsAnd tend to all the varied needsOf gourds…
Alarm Clock Kintsugi
In the dark months of winter, when even the sun has a difficult time getting out of bed, Alex and I typically find ourselves groggily hitting the snooze button more times than good sense would permit. One possible solution: an alarm clock that offers “a unique combination of light and sound so you can wake…
Livestream Painting | Peinture en Direct
Note: This article describes an event that is now passed. To view the painting that resulted from this performance, click here. I have the opportunity to perform a live painting, grâce à la galerie CAVA! The River City Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Armand Birk, will provide “exciting and emotionally satisfying” sounds from Rameau, Vivaldi, Finzi…
DIY Mölkky Set
Step 1: The plan. Always a good place to start. I looked up the rules and regulations, and poured a little bit of brain-juice out through my pen onto some paper. With that bit of compulsive engineering out of the way, I was ready to start pulling materials together. Step 2: Procure materials. The cut list…
DIY PickleBall Paddle
Here’s a quick how-to recipe for making your own pickleball paddle! Bear in mind that, as much as I strive to stay within regulations, homemade paddles are not permitted for “official” play. But we’re just building and playing for fun anyway. Step 1: Cut out paddle Using a scroll saw, I cut out the main…
Hammock Philosophy
I was doing some thinking. Thought I’d jot down some thoughts here in an unstructured and largely unedited way, mostly just so that I wouldn’t forget them. Perhaps best to not put too much stock into anything. Philosophy is best done from a hammock in the shade of an apple tree. Ideally with a cool…
Splatter Painting
I’ve been working hard at loosening up recently, and let me tell you: there’s nothing quite so therapeutic as taking a piece of cardboard out behind the barn and giving it a good swift beating—with a paintbrush, of course. I’m starting to play around with ideas about the tension between chaos and order, and between…
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Dylan Brenneis 