“If patterns of ones and zeros were ‘like’ patterns of human lives and death, if everything about an individual could be represented in a computer record by a long string of ones and zeros, then what kind of creature would be represented by a long string of lives and deaths?”

—Thomas Pynchon

… or whatever shape the holo-grid takes when you’re 79! That’s what you need to pledge, actually — to roll with the punches. (Which may be what you’re saying, above, in which case, I need my afternoon coffee, and now.)

Yes, definitely meant roll with the punches. And of course it will be something crazy — not just a super-internet but some almost unimaginable othernet.

Then again, maybe there’s something to be said for rocking it like Donald Knuth and giving up on email. Er, holo-mail. Whatever.

Where did pynchon say what he did in your quote? Was it him in one of his few remarks or one of his characters?

You’re kidding, right? I’ve *never* read Pynchon coherently enough to remember the context. I feel proud and amazed that I am ableto glean any lasting effect at all.

But I think this was Pynchon, writing the inner thoughts of a character in Vineland, which amazed me but which I didn’t finish.