(A number of my high-school friends recently joined a Facebook group dedicated to the memory of another classmate who recently passed away. It was called, approximately, “In Memory of Our Friend”. My first instinct when I saw it was to question its authenticity. I assumed it was some kind of prank in order to generate personal popularity. When I examined the group, I discovered that it was genuine. This has left me with a couple of questions. First, why did I assume it was some sort of joke? That is both unfair and a bit morbid—but it’s where my mind went first.
Second, what is the appropriate reaction when someone on your social periphery dies? I was not friends with this classmate, but I did know him; took a couple of classes with him, graduated with him. I am sure that his family is having a difficult time of it. I feel bad for them in the vague way that one feels bad for child soldiers and Sri Lankan tsunami victims. But unlike those distant humans, there are at most two degrees of separation between myself and this classmate. Is there validity in showing support for a person one did not deeply know? Or is such a gesture hollow?)
![uncertaintimes:
Wayne Martin Belger, Yama, Front [Yama camera] (side view)
Yama is 4x5 in stereo camera made from Aluminum, Titanium, Copper, Brass, Bronze Steel, Silver, Gold, Mercury with 4 Sapphires, 3 Rubies, Asian and American Turquoise, Sand, Blood, and 9 Opals and a 500 year old human Skull. The film loading system is pneumatic. A 300psi air tank in the middle of the camera powers 2 pneumatic pistons to move the film holder forward and lock it into place. The switch to open and close the film chamber is located under the jaw.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly4cq0CEfC1qzs3iqo1_500.jpg)
