Liberty Is Not Arbitrary
Troy Mosac
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Between the Lines
I took this photo at the West Hernando Branch Library. Every year, we have a list of photos we are required to take, one of which is of a patron browsing the collection (this is actually a staff member). The original is fine; it covers that requirement, but it does not follow the rule of thirds. Cropping the image, I aligned the subject along one of the vertical guidelines. The lines of the shelving units guide the viewer to the subject but also extend out towards the viewer. The prominence of the poster on the end cap was unintentional, but it makes for a creative promo image for Libby
Terminal Rhapsody
“But it doesn’t matter. The electric things have their lives, too. Paltry as those lives are.”
― Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
As I sat down to begin this assignment, I was listening to my Chill playlist (just a collection of relaxing, atmospheric tunes). I often use music as a form of emotional regulation, using it to encourage whatever emotion I want to experience. Or, as in this case, enhancing an emotion I’m already experiencing. Before I even began looking for an image, I knew exactly what type of image I wanted. After struggling to come up with some keywords to describe my mood, I settled on the term “lo-fi”. The first hit on Wikimedia Commons was Lofi Cyberpunk by David Revoy. That was it, that was my mood.
I knew I wanted to enhance the image. So, I needed to find a title that would add some depth. The “lo-fi” term just wasn’t giving the vibe I wanted. I thought about the image. Who is she? What type of world is she in? My mind settled on the movie Blade Runner, a futuristic detective noir film from 1982 based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick. I needed some chill jazz vibes to enhance the image. Eventually, I settled on “Cool Vibes” by Kevin MacLeod, a jazzy, laid back, atmospheric piece that helps to enhance the vibe.
Terminal Rhapsody by Troy Mosac is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Unexpected Journey
Salutations. My name is Troy Mosac, and this semester marks the halfway point of my MSI program. Currently, I am the Systems Assistant for the Hernando County Public Library System, where I support the Systems Librarian with the library’s IT needs. If you had asked me 10 years ago if this is where I’d be, I would have been surprised. I got my undergrad in Geology from the University of West Georgia and even went so far as to become state board-certified. However, when I graduated, geopolitical changes made locating a job all but impossible. While waiting for the geology market to stabilize, I took a job with Apple as a Tier 2 Senior Technical Advisor, serving as an intermediary between consumers and engineering teams. I had to relocate to Florida to help take care of my family, where I took my current position.
I have no formal background in IT; it’s always been a hobby. Growing up in Silicon Valley, my friends and I would dumpster-dive at tech companies for spare parts to build a computer. We spent our spare time tinkering and figuring out how programs worked, something I still do today.
As much as I love technology, music has always been my passion. Transitioning from the gloriously awful pop music of the 80s to the grunge scene of the 90s, I found myself embedded in the goth scene. Contrary to what you may hear in the mainstream media, goth music is surprisingly diverse. Though dark and atmospheric aesthetics persist, it can draw on other genres, significantly diversifying its offerings. My musical tastes have evolved and expanded since those days, but I always find my way back, and I still update my goth/industrial playlist from time to time.