MD-5

The acquisition and collection of things is as old as time, as is their relationship with death. The recreated burial chambers - shaft tombs - at the Museo Nacional de Antropología in CDMX stick with me, they were captivating...

Couples (I assume) were buried in chambers dug deep in the ground. A narrow shaft with one or more chambers, dug out with all manner of possessions placed inside, alongside the bodies. You get the sense they're just having a long nap and will soon arise to get on with their day – the relationship between death and stuff is as old as it is universal.

Michael Cholbi's article "Freedom over Death" in Aeon, explores our relationship with death and emerging freedoms: "Death is a certainty. But choosing how and when we depart is a modest opportunity for freedom – and dignity,"

Freedom over death makes it possible for dying to more fully reflect our selves. And a shorter life sometimes is a better reflection of what we care about, and thereby has greater integrity, than a longer life. Being helped to die is sometimes essential to achieving such a life...

If assisted suicide represents a hubristic attempt to usurp nature and replace it with human judgment, then why is it not equally hubristic to try to delay death through medical means, or to hasten it by choosing hospice care, rather than further treatments aimed at extending life? Assisted dying’s opponents draw arbitrary lines concerning which exercises of freedom over death should be permitted.

Stonemaps Research...

A trip across CDMX to research the possibility of working with someone here on a production aspect of the Stonemaps project was fruitful, fun, and promising. A technical discussion conducted with the intervention of cell phones, Google Translate, pictures, videos, samples, and a good dose of gesticulation... Communication floats on the tide of goodwill.

I almost forgot my umbrella, which came in handy for the customary downpour later that evening. ⛈️⛈️⛈️⛈️⛈️

As always, thanks for reading and indulging!
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