Artist builds a hole in the ocean, hopes BP doesn't screw it up
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted June 26th 2010 8:10PM
posted June 26th 2010 8:10PM
It's easy to get somewhat weepy and introspective when talking about the ocean. After all, it's not only from whence we came -- it's the setting of one of the greatest films ever made. Surfers get their kicks there, Ayn Rand freaks dream of moving there so they can live lives of greed unfettered by democracy, and now a British artist named Andrew Friend has built a device that will allow you to disappear there. From the artist's website:
Disappearing (At Sea) is part of a larger work called Fantastic, a series of projects that allow the user to experience "extraordinary, unlikely, desirable (or not), confusing, or uncanny" experiences. Heady stuff, for sure! Hit the source link to get struck by lightning or become invisible. Or, if you'd rather not (and we don't blame you) get a look at an artist's sketch after the break.This device offers the individual opportunity for a safe, temporary disappearance, experiencing an isolation seldom found on land. The occupier of the device is absorbed into the chasm, disappearing from view beneath the water's surface. The device examines the relationship between the known above, and the unknown / imagined world below sea level.
At this point, it's worth a shot... :(
@MattsZ
isn't there another way to explore the ocean...like scuba diving or snorkiling?
@MattsZ
theres something hot about exploring a dark wet hole
@manofchao5
Yeah...its called splunking...and u need to wear a helmet b4 u go in
@MattsZ
Talk about security here ... One of the two main top floaters explodes, and the inhabitat turns into a closed suffocation box...
I thought you would get balls in your mouth if you went into the ocean?
@SolidSnake
As long as you hide in the hole, I think you're good.
@SolidSnake Only if your in the water because the water pressure will crush you without proper pressure. If your in a hole that is pushing the oceans pressure aside to keep the pressure at land all the way down the hole. You'll be fine.
@SolidSnake Only if Jimmy Fallon is with you :) haha.
@Digi edit: you're
@SolidSnake
How long before people start parking their boats and taking a dump in them while you're asleep inside? It can't be too good if it rains either.
Way to imanatize the eschaton.
@teky
what does 'imanatize' mean? its not in any dictionary i searched :S
@Gaurav42
He meant to say "Way to immanentize the eschaton"...I'll leave google/wikipedia to help you out with that.
@Gaurav42 It means to make Heaven on Earth.
That's a bit...odd.
Don't enough people already disappear at sea....
Wow that must have cost a lot...
That Ayn Rand comment is priceless.
And superficial.
@FauxNews Needlessly included to rile up any conservative readers of engadget. but I guess that's what an apple/obama-shill blog does.
@Shalabi So true. I guess people who believe that you should be able to make your own money are "freaks" by Engadget's standard.
@Tubamajuba Actually, members of Ayn Rand's ideology resemble religious cults in many instances. No one is questioning the value of merit, just the religious approach many of her subscribers take to it. PLZ
@FauxNews
No, many of Rand's readers are normal people that believe in common sense governing. To think that you work for your own money and look out for your family and community does not make you a greedy freak.
@dorothymantooth Maybe you just passively ignored my use of the word "many" or just skipped it intentionally just to have an opportunity to defend your beliefs. Either way, I didn't say "all" of her followers. Btw, no one is arguing with you. I happen to be a leftist on economics, but this isn't the forum to discuss that. So, stfu.
@FauxNews
Well you and Joe clearly brought politics into this, so I defend my right to present the other side. If the mods feel I'm out of place, they can do what they please. That being said, "many instances" does not portray the situation correctly, nor would "some instances" even be fair. I'd love to see some data backing up the claim of many instances. Since Rand's message promotes self-worth, a cult would be condradictive. Notice, though, that I didn't say that you said all, though. Maybe you passively ignored this, or skipped it intentionally just to have the opportunity to defend your beliefs. Either way…
And please don't tell me to leave politics out of it, when you chose your username specifically for one reason.
@Tubamajuba
Engadgets typically good about staying out of stuff like this. Blame the blogger and the editor, not the site.
@Shalabi
Actually I think you're all misinterpreting the comment.
Definition of freak (in this context): A person who has withdrawn from normal, rational behavior and activities to pursue one interest or obsession: a drug freak.
Since he's directing the comment to Ayn Rand freaks in particular, 'normal' people who share her beliefs need not be offended.
@dorothymantooth Rand never promoted looking out for your family and community, she rejected altruism in every sense. She was an egotist, who believed in and promoted caring for one's self, and working for one's self. You might agree with her politically, but that's as far as it goes. Perhaps if you're also an atheist you'd agree with her philosophically and religiously as well, but if you care for anyone but yourself, you wouldn't agree with everything she says.
@Shunoob
Incorrect. She believed that, naturally, the individual would be protective of his family and community, out of his own selfish needs. Even Rand wasn't a true libertarian in practice; that's nearly impossible. She felt that looking out for those immediately around was a much better solution than an all-providing government. You can see this view at the end of Anthem, where the protagonist plots to return to the city and retrieve his peers so that they, too, can live in freedom.
Clearly you are justifying the use of the word "freak." I also don't have to see what my opinions on a news corporation have to do with political stances, but that discussion doesn't belong here.
obviously not one of you has played Bioshock...
lol I'm aware of the subtexts within it, but I've never played it.
@dorothymantooth Fiction will remain fiction. Although it is true that looking out for one's immediate surroundings, and the people in it, will inevitably benefit the individual, Rand's ideals revolve around the individual caring for himself, and the individual being capable. It allows for greater individual freedom, at the cost of those unable to move forward. That's not to say that it is a bad ideal, however in reality it doesn't work because in many cases, the individual lacks the knowledge of when it is beneficial to help the people around.
Simply put, I agree with Ayn Rand as much as I do with Karl Marx: Their ideals work in an ideal society. It is the society one would wish for, and I can see would be great, but it won't necessarily work. Egotism will inevitably crumble a society, because individuals(not all) will cease to understand when altruism is beneficial.
@Shunoob
In Ayn Rand's Objectivism, altruism has a separate meaning.
According to her, and I agree with her on this, selfishness is the source of all good acts. We help others because it makes us feel good. Egotism won't be the thing that makes the world crumble just by itself. It has to be combined with stupidity. I think altruism is fine though, as long as you do it on your own volition. Forcing somebody else to be "altruistic" (via tax supported government programs) is not fine, but evil.
By the way, the Ayn Ran jibe is directed at BioShock's interpretation of objectivism. This makes it "fun" :-)
@Greendogo In that respect I absolutely agree, and I don't believe I argued against it. But to be honest, people aren't too bright, so inevitably egotism will lead to people ceasing to be altruistic altogether. And I do agree that altruism should be of your own volition, but I also believe a society should cultivate a sense of... Natural altruism? Sort of a family unit, you look out for your own because it's beneficial and because they are your people.
Checked out the source, seems there is talk of paranormal energy.
Had the pleasure of swimming with trained dolphins at The Dolphin Research Institute, in Grassy Key , FL. they were ripping with me hanging on for dear life. Well worth the $85 , at the time. Instructor commented that she'd never seen this pair attempt a jump with someone in tow before.
@joelaf ?
@joelaf lol wth?
@joelaf
Cool story bro
art is weird
Ahhh Ayn Rand allusion. I loved The Fountainhead and Anthem. Best books I've ever read, and I agree with her ideals.
@Eggie197 Read We The Living
I'm sure Obama will fix this immediately.
@teky Yeah u broaden the term fix to be sit and do nothing
@Troyb0y29
What do you mean, 'doing nothing'...he's plugging damn holes all over the world:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/06/25/g8-obama-interested-in-huntsvilles-golf-courses-clement/
@Troyb0y29
You misspelled "Trollboy"
That's actually pretty cool, it'd be the perfect stress relief. As long as you have a plan regarding how to get back on land.