In Tel-Aviv…

So I’m in Tel Aviv, to give a presentation for IBM Israel. Richard Stallman was also supposed to show up, but he left a one line message saying he couldn’t make it for some reason (although he would show up in Haifa the following day). This has the conference organizers in a bit of a frenzy.

Unfortunately I won’t have much opportunity to do any sight-seeing. Due to corporate security restrictions, I’m not allowed to do any sight-seeing, and technically I’m not supposed to go to any restaurants other than the hotel one. But if the locals take me some place, I’ll assume that it’s safe….

I found the following poem by W.H. Auden in a magazine I picked up as reading material for the flight to Tel Aviv. I thought it pretty much summed up my social life for the last couple of years, for better or for worse. I’m not sure whether or not that’s good or not, though….

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well

That, for all they care, I can go to hell,

But on earth indifference is the least

We have to dread from man or beast.

How should we like it were stars to burn

With a passion for us we could not return?

If equal affection cannot be,

Let the more loving one be me.