So yes, encoded audio on vinyl: laser targeted to the confluence of my interests. I’ll bite. With full knowledge that I may well be indulging a wild goose chase dressed up in an attempt to “go viral,” I tracked down a copy via a friend, and have since spent a fair amount of time digesting it.

An ongoing story wherein Adam Kempa decodes a audio message on vinyl into GPS coordinates. What's at the encoded location? Who's waiting there? Will there be cake?

MIND = BLOWN

You probably think the 1.2 GB package of the default MacTeX-Distribution is overkill. In my opinion, that is really a bit of a problem on mobile devices such as Macbooks, especially if you're using several operating systems. I show you a simple and effective way to install a basic MacTeX-Distribution on Mac OS X and how you can organize and add your individual necessary packages you need extra. I'm personally in a way a minimalist and don't use so many packages, maybe you too?

Amen. Saved me a gigabyte or so.

PERFUME #1:

Butanoic acid, 1,1-dimethyl-2-phenylethyl ester
Benzeneacetic acid, phenylmethyl ester
2H-Cyclopropa[g]benzofuran, 4,5,5a,6,6a,6b-hexahydro-4,4,6b-trimethyl-2-(1-methylethenyl)-
Bicyclo[4.1.0]hept-4-en-3-ol, 3,7,7-trimethyl- [1S-(1-alpha,3-alpha, 6-alpha)]-
2-Propen-1-ol, 3-phenyl, acetate
Phenoxy ethyl isobutyrate
Benzene, 1-methoxy-4-propyl-
2(3H)-Furanone, dihydro-5-pentyl
2(3H)-Furanone, 5-heptyldihydro- ...

Listed above is about just the first few the chemicals identified from a popular perfume (it's currently remaining nameless, until the analysts who produced this list verify a couple additional compounds contained in the perfume).

It's baffling to me how long this list is (click through the link to see the full deal). I'm in no place to verify the accuracy of their list, and I don't know whether it's a conservative or liberal guess at the true composition of the fragrance. Regardless, the multitude of monomolecular odorants put into this fragrance is impressive. Now, I'm wondering about the exact contribution of each of these molecules to the impression of the smell. Do all of them contribute perceptibly to the fragrance, and to remove one is to, however subtly, change the character of the product? Or, do some molecules serve as carriers, whisking others into the air faster or slower? Do these molecules need to be grouped together to give a fairer impression of the creative process, i.e., to get a musky aspect, are 15 different musk molecules added to achieve just the right balance and warmth? I don't even know where to begin learning about this art, but I'm going to try.