“He described the sensory flood of the modern media culture as ‘the ecstasy of communication.’”

	From roger Fri May  8 04:01:19 1998
	Subject: dispatch from Paris
	To: undisclosed-recipients
	Date: Fri, 8 May 1998 04:01:19 -0700 (PDT)
	
	Baudrillard et moi
	
	
	 Upon discovering that the Max Ernst exhibit at the Centre Pompidou wouldn't
	open until the next day, Mel & I repaired to nearby Cafe Beaubourg for coffee
	and a snack.  A man I thought I recognized as Jean Baudrillard passed our
	table on his way in.  He returned my glance with the slightly hunted look of
	a slight celebrity, increasing my suspicions.
	
	A few moments later, he brushed by us on his way to a table, knocking a piece
	of baguette from Mel's plate onto the sidewalk.  "I'm pretty sure that's Jean
	Baudrillard," I told her.  "Well, Monsieur Baudrillard just knocked the bread
	off my plate," she retorted, scowling.
	
	We continued with our coffee.  A French woman entered with a companion.
	Speaking in English, she gestured towards "Baudrillard" and said something
	like "he iz very famouz."
	
	Excitedly, I followed the pair into the cafe and asked, "excuse me, but is
	that really Jean Baudrillard sitting outside?"  "Yes," replied the woman,
	who later told me her name was Frederica.  "Do you enjoy his work?"
	
	"Very much."
	
	"Let me introduce you."
	
	"You know him?!"
	
	"Yes.  Come with me."
	
	"Oh, no.  I'd have nothing to say."
	
	"Don't be silly.  He's très gentil."  She swooped me up and led me to his
	table.  After greeting him and introducing her friend ("Todd"), she presented
	"votre admirateur américain."  He offered his hand.  I shook it, then stammered
	"tell him I named my Internet site `ecstatic.com' after his book."  She tried
	to convey this to him, despite not quite understanding it herself.  I heard
	"Internet" and "ecstatique."
	
	JB (bewildered): Qua?
	
	Frederica: "Ecstatique."
	
	Todd (helpfully): Dot com.
	
	JB (thoroughly disgusted): Oui, oui, oui.  Très bien.
	
	He turned from me to Frederica, and they proceeded to catch up.  I retired
	sheepishly to my cafe crème.  Mel rolled her eyes.
	
	
	Roger