Just saw it on the TLS web site. The very fine poet Archie Markham died on Easter. I was waiting to hear back from him about a third person to make up a volume of Caribbean poets for a future Ahadada Reader. Rest in peace, Archie.

We’re in the midst of the famed Golden Week here in Japan–a holiday during which many people make a final flying trip to their home towns or to the hot spring of their choice, before buckling in for more gray days at work. The big question always is: what are your plans for Golden Week? My answer this year: “Apato de goro goro shtai!”–”I’m just going to stick around the apartment.” This answer always bring a smile to my J-work mates and students. Yes, they know that feeling well. Today’s weather is a bit overcast, but not too bad. The ever-present projects call from my office: I have books to finish, translations to polish, work-related writing to do, tomes to read and think about. Today’s also “Children’s Day,” and the kids are excited. They’re on the phone right now with their grandmother. Goro goro indeed! And one more Golden Day left before it’s back to the grind.

Just a small note about an important event from the Glass clan here in Japan to the Sendecki clan of Canada. Best wishes for a happy married life together Dan and Katie! We’ll be around in spirit when the wedding happens. Love to you both.

More startling stuff from YouTube this morning! I caught a glimpse of what promises to be the future of at least one form of musical expression: the ReacTable! The instrument is deceptively easy to use: simply by placing objects suggestive of the Platonic solids (!) in conjunction on a flat computer, one generates complex electronic sounds. The interesting thing is that the pulsations and Tesla-like flares of “influence” are all visible as lines and circles on the flat blue background. The pulsating sounds, the conjunctions of geometric forms, the auras and flares of connection, are worthy of Jules Verne, but are even more suggestive of Huysman, Rimbaud, Levi and before. Bjork has already incorporated the instrument into her concerts–but as witnessed by the YouTube clips–not very convincingly. The question remains, will the ReacTable go the way of the Glass Armonica and the Theramin, also rather mystical instruments, now seen, unfortunately, as novelty instruments, or will it become the work horse–the piano, if you will–of the future? The manufacturer of ReacTable says that it will begin mass production later this year. I imagine that the price will be astronomically high for the average musician. Let’s hope that cheaper models will become available within the next several years.