Posthuman Blues

The following letter was sent to the New York Times by a fellow member of a Mars group:

To the Editor:

Re "Iconic Rock Face Succumbs to Age and Gravity" (national, May 4):

New Hampshire's Old Man of the Mountain feature may now R.I.P. ("Rest in Pieces"). But once they've gotten through their grieving for this important part of their state identity, New Hampshire residents might want look ahead toward twenty-first century icons, and consider adopting the Face on Mars as an alternative symbol.

According to analyst Mac Tonnies, "While the Face has yet to be proven artificial, data acquired since it was first photographed by the Viking mission in 1976 has strengthened the case for a non-natural origin." Despite their purely subjective responses to the Face on the Cydonian plains that have led some scientists to reject any ideas of its artificiality, when examined more objectively it has consistently shown more signs of artificiality than the more random features as exemplified by many "Old Man of the Mountains" profiles on Earth.

Heavy weather

Tornados scoured the Midwest last night, leaving about 40 confirmed dead and, as of this morning, a few missing. Kansas suffered the brunt of it. I live in Kansas City, Missouri and was untouched, although a siren was tested nearby. There was a barrage of hail last evening. The sky took on a smoky, ominous look that vanished about as suddenly as I noticed it.

NPR reported 83 independent tornado sightings; I don't know how many actual tornados there were. I have a perverse desire to see one up close.