The Great Silence

... humans create such beautiful myths; what imaginations they have. Perhaps that’s why their aspirations are so immense. Look at Arecibo. Any species who can build such a thing must have greatness within it.

My species probably won’t be here for much longer; it’s likely that we’ll die before our time and join the Great Silence. But before we go, we are sending a message to humanity. We just hope the telescope at Arecibo will enable them to hear it.

The message is this:
You be good. I love you.

- Ted Chiang

Monday Night Lecture

S'more from my McLuhan interviews

"You were sitting on the floor in the pool of light. Sworn in, levels of entry. It was performance oriented, great way to keep an audience; the smell of smoke and the brandy a direct reflection of who he was. At lectern he could have had notes, but not during the Monday nights. He had been doing this stuff for years, very familiar with it. Made bad jokes, proud of his triple pun. 'There were three brothers and they ran a cattle ranch they called Focus. 'Cause that's where the Sun's Rays Meet. Or the Sons Raise Meat.' Liked the three words that could go either way, played on words all the time. Talked about strippers, 'They aren't naked, they put on their audience and wear their audience like clothes...' it's published somewhere..."

* Susan Gerofsky April 10, 2012