Thursday, August 02, 2007

Whew! It's not terrorism II

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Washington said there was no indication of terrorism in the disaster. Six killed in Minneapolis road bridge collapse

Perhaps we ought to think about initiating a war against these pesky infrastructure gremlins who are, at least these days, far more lethal than al-Qaeda.

One interesting quote I found on the tragedy:

Catherine Yankelevich tumbled into the Mississippi River. "Cars started flying and I was falling and saw the water," she said. She climbed out the driver's side window and swam to shore uninjured.

"It seemed like a movie, it was pretty scary," said Yankelevich. "I never expected anything like this to happen here."

I don't know anyone who has fallen into a river while watching a movie.

3 comments:

Ruby said...

We're living in such a dream world, it's hard to believe that anything will happen other what already happened yesterday. Isn't that the "simulacrum"? I don't know for sure; I've never been able to get through Baudrillard, though I tried. I do know that there is a mass dreamstate going on, with zombie gangs are moving through each day as if we could just keep on taking steps, going nowhere, and not caring that we're going nowhere.

Maybe that's why most people are unable to see the huge changes that are about pull the rug out from under our bare zombie feet. It's too much like a movie, and surely in an hour and a half, it'll all be over.

Thank god I have the capacity to follow the steps, connect the dots, and look ahead. If I had to react in the moment, I don't believe I would do humanity justice.

I remember once when I was in my 20s, in Philly. A couple of friends and I were walking back from Penn's Landing on the Delaware River after the 4th of July fireworks. Huge crowds closed the streets, except for the trolley on Delaware Ave. I just happen to notice the trolley coming down the track, and a little toddler toddling down the tracks right in its path. It took me a second, and I'm thinking to myself, this doesn't look right. What.....? And I say to my friend Dan, "Dan, that trolley is going to hit that little kid on the tracks". And he ran immediately, scooping up the kid, and shouted for the mom who had been walking ahead, not paying attention, and reunited them.

I didn't react well. I was lucky to have friends that did. At least I noticed the problem. And I see plenty now. Call me Ms. Doom and Gloom. And I'm preparing, best I can, so I can respond best i can.

Maybe you can read that Baudrillard garcon, and write some impressions on the simulacra.

Dude said...

I wrote a longer post on Baudrillard; Bumming out with Baudrillard late in 2005 and a short mention here

Ruby said...

the dude is a step ahead!

I'm gonna read it and get back to you. Hopefully I'll understand it better then the B-garcon himself....