The past week remains only as a blur in my memory. Because of memorial
day for many reasons, invisible sequalia of the Memorial day that
was discussed on xmca-- a short work week because Monday was a holiday;
an emergency trip for a day on family business (outcome non-toxic),
unexpected visitors, etc. I failed in several professional responsibilities
as a result of being knocked so off course.
Now another short week and a long flight to Aarhus, and that week
the final week of classes for the academic year. Its enough to make
one forswear email!
As I sit down to prepare for the last week of classes, and, if lucky,
for Aarhus and the discussions there, my mail queue has been reduced
from 200 to 18. A lot of erasure. But memories of the Memorial
Day discussion remain.
How fragile communication is in the best of circumstances,
but how wildly volitile it is in this inter-medium. Some
fragments stand out: pain first of all, perplexity (I am
among those who did not interpret John's comments as either
being directed specificially toward Naoki or as hostile),
recognition of difference in a way that was more deeply
and multi-voicedly discussed than, perhaps, we have ever
achieved before.... and more.
And in the focus on those issues, Alfred's long and
thoughtful message (essay) on non-exclusivity of categories
vis a vis the artifactual, the description of the Discovery
program with its provocative observations of non-human
animals "acting like humans", and more, jostle for attention.
Thank you all for the important life experience.
mike