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<div class="ydpb8a678e4MsoNormal" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span lang="EN-GB">Many thanks, Maurice, for your extensive discussion.</span></div><div class="ydpb8a678e4MsoNormal" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span lang="EN-GB">In brief
answer to your two questions—in all their complexity—I begin by
expressing gratitude for the link to ‘The neuronal gene *Arc* encodes…’. The
mechanics explained in that article I believe sheds much light on ‘how stuff
works’ in general. Semiosis in general but especially biosemiosis always
already involves a data-information exchange, and with viruses we are talking
about entities that may be older than bacteria. But you ask, Maurice, after
your in depth 3-part discussion, first of all ‘could we expect a constructive
fight for values as a possible outcome of the virus’. My humble opinion is that
as much as outcome we should speak of continuation. Civilizational
continuation. My basis here might be poetry (elegy) but let me add ‘architecture’
as a one word answer. Second, ‘can the artists be considered as viruses of
social consciousness/awareness?’ I’ve found a lot of references on internet and
in cultural texts I’ve worked on as a commercial translator to art as virus.
Irony is something of a capsid, and saying that I again say thanks for your
extensive and thought provoking texts. </span></div>
<p class="ydpb8a678e4MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">One other
short note has to be added here because others have already discussed these two
questions and also influenced my thoughts. But specifically because, Simon, you
mentioned the St. George’s Day celebrations of 23 April in Barcelona, where I
live and work. It is true that here as elsewhere holiday crowds can sometimes
be rude, but thanks for the Vila-Matas text, also very inspiring. I just wanted
to add that the tradition on Book Day in Catalonia of giving presents of books
and roses could also be considered infection of a life positive sort. In any
case sincere thanks to the List for the great discussion.</span></p>
<p class="ydpb8a678e4MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Best
wishes, William</span></p>
<p class="ydpb8a678e4MsoNormal" style="margin-left:14.2pt;text-align:justify;line-height:17.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/pkemmhk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB">http://tinyurl.com/pkemmhk</span></a><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p>
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