Even the other night while we were taking a 1st stab at axiomatizing FRBR, which is mostly what sent us into the philosophical discussions, there were points when I just wanted to say, “Just get on with it then! Let’s stipulate what we need to prevent that being allowed, and move along.”

Mostly that was from some of the conversation–which admittedly was some of my fault for asking certain questions–that was about modalities that have no impact in the “real” world concerns of FRBR.

Once we begin talking about the possibility of a bibliographic universe with no flesh and blood entities to be concerned about it then I’m bored. At best.

And do we really need to worry about the possibility of works with no expressions, even if allowed? Of course, we DO need to be concerned with allowing all extant items/manifestations/expressions of a work to no longer exist. So let’s stipulate and get on with it.

None of this was/is Allen’s fault, by the way.

I guess I have a tiny intellectual crush on Allen, too. I mean he is the main person I stayed here for another degree so I could take classes with. But he’s just so down-to-earth and likable for someone so brilliant that it’s hard to maintain a crush for long.