a little page (#2453)

          14   Sol Yurick
     
          and even in time, fall in love with far-distant
          strangers,  perhaps  even  mate  with  the gods
          . . . as  the  ancients  were  reputed  to have
          done.
            People seated at their terminals forget time,
          sitting   mesmerized,   their   fingers   jerk-
          ing spastically at the keys,  their eyes blear-
          ing.  In time, so the sales pitch goes, comput-
          ers will achieve  artificial intelligence  (and
          perhaps  even  use   "biochips"  and  so  live)
          and  what's  more,  they will be more rational,
          organize   knowledge  more  neatly   than   our
          poor  brain   can,  once  certain  problems  of
          miniaturization,  heat,  switching speeds,  and
          the  development   of  sophisticated,   "human-
          like,"  or  artificial  intelligence  languages
          have  been solved.  Perhaps then  they will  be
          able  to attain  that kind of "randomness"  and
          "intuitive" leap  humans make  so easily  with-
          out having  to scan and compare  lists.  Having
          been talked  into surrendering our spirit,  our
          knowledge,  our  bodies  will  become  useless.
          We will,  like Jesus,  like Faust,  like Dante,
          achieve  immortality  and " evolve"  into  com-
          puter   compatible   and   re-programmed   his-
          tory,   one   with   Bablon,   Nineveh,   Rome.
          Our essences  will be  preserved  in that great