Hey Huntsman! Over here!

'Does it matter' George? ... of course. Given the monolith was a 'tool' of some sort, does this presume the 'higher intelligence' controlling it is unable to think results? ... I wonder.

Maybe they don't care about the results... they just intended on giving the human race a starting point! The results are up to us to find them.

"Dios mueve al jugador y este la pieza, que Dios detras de Dios la trama empieza?" Jorge Luis Borges

Which in a very free translation means

God moves the chessplayer, the chessplayer moves his pawn which God behind God made the game start?

I still say it doesn't matter. 2001's story is not about "them", it's about "us". The important bit is not how or why a strange civilization from outer space decided to teach some about-to-be-exctint apes how to use a tool but what we made out of that first tool (hence that "bone-to-spaceship" cut).

Ah, my spanish friend! Borges, a very interesting read! What do you think of "Aleph"?

God behind god is the ultimate question, like what happened before the big bang? - what caused life? ... I doubt we are capable (yet) of asking the right questions, the question isn't what is controlling god, and in turn what controls the controller or parent of god, I imagine the question is something very different. I haven't the intelligence to even imagine what the ultimate question might be, or what the answer is. Logical and lateral thinking by some great scientific or poetic mind should provide the answers, if not, then presumably the intelligence behind the intelligence is far too intelligent to offer us a hint.

George the bone-to-craft shot is quite arresting. It does describe through images a great many meanings and metaphors. Maybe Arthur and Kubrick were keen for the viewer to draw their own personal conclusion. Unfortunately I see this as a cop out, I want to know what was controlling the monolith and for what reason (specifically). I want to know why a god even needs a tool with which to accomplish tasks. I'd really enjoy reading what Arthur really thinks, as his imagination is a great source for possiblities in the future.

Have you read 'Unweaving the Rainbow' by Richard Dawkins? ... some intriguing concepts within this book. Along the lines of asking the correct questions and dispelling thinking along the wrong track.

One of my favourites, together with the Immortals and "Tlon Uqbar, Orbis Tertius". Very funny and very clever. I love tha way in which he takes a story about the central point of the Universe and gets it sideshowed by the pathetic poetry of Carlos Argentino Danieri. There are more layers in this story than in a New Order song.

By the way... did you know that the spaceship on the "bone" cut is ment to be a nuclear weapons platform? For Budvar: I'm afraid my only knowledge of Borges' work is my reading of "Aleph" a long time ago. It hit something on me, though, so I've been trying to find more of his books but my research as been vain so far... haven't yet found that Big Library of his, I'm afraid!

The 2001 discussion usually breaks down at the point of what the Monolith is. It seems that neither the film makers or the film viewers know what's going on. The nuclear platform is something I was not aware of, another mysterious 2001 entity.

Originally posted by JORGE TEIXEIRA By the way... did you know that the spaceship on the "bone" cut is ment to be a nuclear weapons platform?For Budvar: I'm afraid my only knowledge of Borges' work is my reading of "Aleph" a long time ago. It hit something on me, though, so I've been trying to find more of his books but my research as been vain so far... haven't yet found that Big Library of his, I'm afraid!

Can you read Spanish? In that case send me via email your addy and I shall post you one of his books.

Originally posted by Budvar Huber > Originally posted by JORGE TEIXEIRA> By the way... did you know that the spaceship on the "bone" cut is ment to be a nuclear weapons platform?> For Budvar: > I'm afraid my only knowledge of Borges' work is my reading of "Aleph" a long time ago. It hit something on me, though, so I've been trying to find more of his books but my research as been vain so far... haven't yet found that Big Library of his, I'm afraid!

Can you read Spanish? In that case send me via email your addy and I shall post you one of his books.

Claro que si, amigo (speaking it is another matter...)! As I've been experiencing some problems with my s-nail, here goes my adress: Rua Sao Salvador, 205, R/C dto 4430-536 VILAR DE ANDORINHO

Ooops! My email: hvadillo@hotmail.com

My last post for the next few weeks (no, I'm not going on a Grand Solar Tour, I'm just going away for my much deserved hollydays!): The Monolith... is it the Single Most Important Thing on 2001? What about... Man? See Ya then!