Erik Benson is saying some very interesting things about self-explanatory objects and context, by extension.

Is it possible to remove an item from context, away from social convention and understanding? To truly understand something you have to be able to contextualise it. The untrained ear might be forgiven for thinking that heavy music is just noise. Those more familiar with a band’s influences find it easier to pick out melody, inflection, and more significant technical achievements (tapping a cow bell every 16 beats, while still hammering away elsewhere, say).

Context is key to all understanding and enjoyment. There was a study many years ago to do with the influence of music on film. They played a really serious scene (violently so) and showed audiences it with dramatic music and then more comical music over the top. From the context of the music, audiences were either highly uncomfortable or laughing heavily. What does that say to you?

Tags in markup languages give text a predefined semantic meaning; whether it be a simple P tag to indicate a paragraph, or an H1 tag to indicate headers. These tags clearly delimit the text and provide meaning to certain areas.

There are people who say, with good reason, that a markup language should be purely about semantics; that there is no place for other elements.

A question: do hyperlinks really have any semantic value?

Consider that hyperlinks are used to create links from one page to another, thus providing a layer of functionality in the markup language. Where are the semantics in that?

Well, most people would argue that the link location gives the link text more meaning by being related; providing further details in another document. That makes sense. It also means that the semantic value of the the markup is intrinsically connected to the relationship between link location and link text. If the link location is unrelated to the link text, then there is no value added.

Generally, the semantic value of a hyperlink is disputable.

From the moment certain people started shouting about how blogs are killing Google, it was inevitable that the company itself would start an official blog.

The fresh Google Blog is only 2 posts old, but one worth watching. I just wonder if the backlash will start against this particular blog.

Charlie Kaufman has done it again. After the odd genius that was Adaptation and the reality-blurring screenplay of Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, Kaufman is focussing on the idea of removing painful memories using whimsical procedures.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is the tale of a couple who share a year of memories together, only to have them erased separately out of spite. As the procedure begins, our hero, Joel, starts to see the big picture instead of the acrimony left at the end of the relationship.

Bringing out some real issues in a beautifully styled, excellently directed film, utilising some quirky humour; this movie is another must see from Charlie. Easily the best screenwriter of modern times.

Let me thoroughly recommend that everyone sees Derren Brown on his tour.

Surprising, funny, frightening, and entertaining; the man is a legend. You’ll never see anything quite like it.