had last night's conversation been about poetry, something in which I participate, I would've been just as irritated. the program of the leader was so outright, and as I say trained. the science responses were Pavlovianly predictable. theory and anti-theory, with no juice. 1st thing Beth said out the door: that was stupid. for such an oddly gracious conversation, there was no intimacy of perception. there is no reply to the faith argument, and frankly none to the science argument. both were niches without provocation. both sides were settled in suburban quiesence. theory talks to theory in serious oblivion, or something. I don't mean to be snotty, I just expect some excitement surrounding that which seems so essential.