" ... Determinists think of the universe as a huge clockwork; I think it is a pinball machine," says Heinz Pagels, an American physicist-- he's refering to the nature of randomness of quantum physics (from his book, _The Cosmic Code_) I think of "life" as a pinball machine. Palying pinball requires total concentrantion, the right combination of skill and chance, a mastery of indeterminacy as the ball moves across the playboard and interacts with bumpers and cushions. You can cheat a little by shaking the machine, but not too much lest it tilt. Scores keep going whether you get satisfied or not. Play continues till it ceases to be coined; then forgotten. Highest score may remain there, shyly or proudly. There are formalities, pure chances, finger-slip mistakes, attention lacking mistakes, rewards for skill and devotion, and so on. Sometimes you have no idea why you're playing or should play it. Questions like "Where does it come from?" and "What is the meaning of this?" really don't matter. It has just been there and you happened to insert coins in. Don't blame the inventor; it's you who started it. Don't do your parents, either; they didn't give you coins for the very pinball game you chose. Here, I'm standing alone, playing my own pinball. Would you hit one of Eric Clapton's in the jukebox for me? Thank you. Keep inserting coins... -------------------------------------------- 혹시라도 어쩌다가 아픔같은 것이 저며올 때는 그럴 땐 바다를 생각해 바다 ... ----- 김민기의 <봉우리> 중에서 ----------- J jhan@ucsd.edu