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January 25, 2010

Document 07: L’événement

Non-Events I

Morning turns inside out. The engine
        is diseased, as it floats along
        approximate ice. High contrast
geometry of persons straightens out from
        meandering road. Desperate focus
never looks back. Progress makes possible
        a paralyzed attendant, set apart
        an end to himself (moral noise).

 —Frame: 1971–1990 (Sun & Moon, 1997), 13

Avenue Poupelard in the center of this devastated city pulses with life and reeks of death almost two weeks after the earthquake. Before what Haitians call “the event,” it was a chaotically bustling street of lottery kiosks and cybercafes, gated homes and shacks, churches and schools. Now, a coffin maker spends the day hammering wood as fast as he can get it, while the body of a 6-year-old boy decomposes in the ruins of a school. … More

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January 24, 2010

Document 06: Haiti and Ideal II

The astonishment (aftershocks) bordering on terror (tremor), the (tin) horror and awesome shudder (shaking), which grip the spectator in viewing (victims) mountain ranges towering to (of) the heavens, deep ravines (research) and the raging torrents in (to) them, deeply shadowed wastelands (Wednesday) inducing melancholy reflection, etc. (but), is in view of the safety (shaken) in which he (we) knows himself to be, not actual (agency) fear, but (and) only an attempt (article) to involve (injured) ourselves (otherwise) in it by means of the (not) imagination, in order to (be) feel the power of (by) that very faculty, to combine (crumbled) the movement (measures) of the mind (more) thereby aroused with its (her) calmness (collapse), and so to be superior (seismic) to nature within us, and thus (toll) also that outside (ongoing) us, insofar as it can (who) have an influence on our feeling (fearing) of well-being.

—Kant, Critique of the Power of Judgment, trans. Paul Guyer (152);
“Fierce Quake Devastates Haitian Capital,” New York Times, 13 January 2010

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January 23, 2010

Document 05: Haiti and Ideal

To Toussaint L’Ouverture

 Toussaint, the most unhappy man of men
   Whether the whistling Rustic tend his plough
   Within thy hearing, or thy head be now
Pillowed in some deep dungeon’s earless den;
O Miserable Chieftain! Where and when
   Wilt thou find Patience? Yet die not; do thou
   Wear rather in thy bonds a cheerful brow:
Though fallen thyself, never to rise again,
Live, and take comfort. Thou hast left behind
   Powers that will work for thee; air, earth, and skies;
There’s not a breathing of the common wind
   That will forget thee; thou hast great allies;
Thy friends are exultations, agonies,
   And love, and man’s unconquerable mind.

—William Wordsworth

… More

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January 8, 2010

Document 04: Malacosa Sighting

Location: Ozarks region; date: circa 1516; time: various.

In the 1530s and 40s, the Spaniard Cabeza de Vaca and his conquistadores followed the Mississippi River and came in contact with various Native American tribes of varying dispositions. Upon befriending the Avavares further westward they were told a most unusual tale. According to the Indians, approximately sixteen years earlier the region had been visited by another “bearded” character of unusual aspect. This fellow was called by the Indians “Malacosa” or Mr. “Bad thing” (according to the Spaniards) an accurate appellation given his proclivities. Even though bearded his facial features were “never seen clearly” or where otherwise indistinct or else clouded by a mist. This character “invaded” Indian homes by night, accompanied by a light and an electrical sensation that would make the hair of the inhabitants “stand on end.” Apparently paralyzed, the poor tribespeople would stand helpless as, armed with a “blazing brand” or wand the bearded creature would rush inside and perform intrusive surgeries upon its victims. … More

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January 5, 2010

Document 03: Citing “Complete Thought”

A direct citation of my poem “Complete Thought,” without permission or credit (by “permission” I mean some form of notice or request) could be found (until I posted the link), at: http://withhiddennoise.net. It has since disappeared; I would be happy to have the poem online, but just with some credit and communication.

A direct citation with permission (accompanying translation into Dutch in the print journal Parmentier):

http://www.literairtijdschriftparmentier.nl/pop.php?id=65

The second meets the “alterity” test of my previous post. In the first instance, it was not clear whether this was an extract or the whole poem (twenty-five of fifty sections were printed), nor where the complete poem could be obtained. There are also at least two parodic rewrites of “Complete Thought”: one by Lisa Jarnot, “Complete Hog,” Night Scenes (Flood Editions, 2008); and a second in an ephemeral chapbook which I will post when I find it.

… More

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January 3, 2010

Document 02: Notice

Hinweis zum Unweltschutz

Ab dem Zeitpunkt der Umsetzung der Europäische Richtlinie 2002/96/EU in nationales Recht gilt folgendes: elektrische und elektronische Geräte dürfen nicht mit den Hausmüll entsorgt werden.

Der Verbraucher ist gesetzlich verpflichtet, elektrische und elektronische Geräte am Ende ihrer Lebensdauer an den dafür eingerichteten, öffentlichen Sammelstellen oder an die Verkaufstelle zurückzugeben.

Das Symbol auf dem Produkt, der Gebrauchsanleitung oder der Verpackung weist auf diese Bestimmungen hin.

Mit der Wiederverwertung, der stofflichen Verwertung oder anderer Formen der Verwertung von Altgeräten leisten Sie einen wichtigen Beitrag zum Schutz unserer Umwelt.

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January 2, 2010

Document 01: Dialogue

Jennifer_ > Hi Barrett. Welcome to Online Support. I’m Jennifer. Please allow me a moment to review your concern.

Barrett > You want me to run support software? If I do, my chat session will end. Please advise.

Jennifer_ > Thanks for waiting, Barrett. I’m sorry that the Wireless Device does not appear in the Device Manager Window. I’ll be glad to assist you with this.

Jennifer_ > That’s not required, Barrett.

Barrett > OK.

Jennifer_ > Have you changed the preinstalled Operating System in the Computer?

Jennifer_ > I didn’t receive a response. Are you still with me?

… More

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