This was a pretty neat experience.
Last night I was in the kitchen whipping up yet another fabulous dining experience for my sweetie and me, when I heard the lead-in to a news story on NPR that made me cock my head inquisitively (you know – the way George Clooney does in just about every movie he’s ever been in).
The story was about education and in particular educational software. Within the first ten words of the story I heard the name of a school I was writing about this week for one of my clients. A few words later, I heard the name of the product which is the focus of these “success stories” I’ve been developing for said client.
A lot of my work is – how to put this – boring. It’s intended for very finite and often small audiences and frequently about things that aren’t particularly interesting to me. Things like medical equipment purchase financing, state sales tax software, mold-inhibiting chemical compounds – I’ve made my point, yes? Of course I enjoy learning about new things and trying to find the best way to communicate them for a specific purpose to a specific audience. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing.
So it is a particular pleasure when I am fortunate enough to work on projects that mesh with a few of my personal passions (education, kids, literacy). And it was a bonus joy to hear the same work I’ve been documenting, referenced in a story on NPR's All Things Considered. I felt sort of famous by association.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Planet Earth
“Astronomers have found the most Earth-like planet outside our Solar System to date.”
This news is really messing with my mental footing. Of course it’s vain and pedestrian to think we are the only living planet in the universe. But still, reading this, I am, for the first time, picturing another entire planet maybe populated by things like us. I put forth this thought in dinner conversation tonight:
Me: “Can you imagine? In our lifetime we may see a new planet with a whole bunch of creatures just like us, with all sorts of different societies, speaking all sorts of different languages!”
Will: (clearly not taking me seriously or nearly as excited about this news as I am) “Maybe they all will speak English.”
Me: “No, that wouldn’t make sense.”
Will: “Maybe they all will speak English with a southern accent.”
Me: “That’s a little scary. It would probably prove the existence of God though, wouldn’t it? Specifically the God of the Bible Belt-ers – Southern Baptists and such.”
And thus the conversation ended.
Song lyrics I now can’t get out of my head
as a result of this news:
“Planet Earth is blue and there’s nothing I can do.”
(David Bowie)
“Bah-bah-bah-bah-bah-bah-bah-bah, this is planet earth.”
(Duran Duran)
This news is really messing with my mental footing. Of course it’s vain and pedestrian to think we are the only living planet in the universe. But still, reading this, I am, for the first time, picturing another entire planet maybe populated by things like us. I put forth this thought in dinner conversation tonight:
Me: “Can you imagine? In our lifetime we may see a new planet with a whole bunch of creatures just like us, with all sorts of different societies, speaking all sorts of different languages!”
Will: (clearly not taking me seriously or nearly as excited about this news as I am) “Maybe they all will speak English.”
Me: “No, that wouldn’t make sense.”
Will: “Maybe they all will speak English with a southern accent.”
Me: “That’s a little scary. It would probably prove the existence of God though, wouldn’t it? Specifically the God of the Bible Belt-ers – Southern Baptists and such.”
And thus the conversation ended.
Song lyrics I now can’t get out of my head
as a result of this news:
“Planet Earth is blue and there’s nothing I can do.”
(David Bowie)
“Bah-bah-bah-bah-bah-bah-bah-bah, this is planet earth.”
(Duran Duran)
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Views from the BDO: Annex Office
Today was the first day I was able to work in the UtterClarity Annex Office (our front porch). Here's just a little sample of the view.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Overheard in the BDO
Summertime evening shrieks
(Even though it's not yet summer.)
Today was the first day of wonderful weather we have had in a long time. Temps were in the high 70s and there was a breeze blowing most of the day. Cool in the shade; warm in the sun – weather perfection. Everyone was out and about, smiling back at that big yellow ball in the sky and letting the wind blow off all the inside staleness.
It’s after 8 p.m. now - nearly 9 - and I am listening to the sounds of summer beginning: the shrieks of little kids playing outside after dark. Maybe tag. Maybe hide and seek. Maybe nothing organized – just blissfully un-orchestrated kid fun. Every time I hear a blast of screams and giggles, I glance over at the clock, thinking that’s got to be the last one. But then there it is again.
It’s the sound of days to come. Only a few more weeks of school. Then we can play out late every night. Just don’t leave the edge of the neighbor’s lawn. And listen for mom to call you in for the night. Then pretend you didn’t hear to get a few more minutes of play. Then inside, warm bath, cozy bed, sweet dreams.
(Even though it's not yet summer.)
Today was the first day of wonderful weather we have had in a long time. Temps were in the high 70s and there was a breeze blowing most of the day. Cool in the shade; warm in the sun – weather perfection. Everyone was out and about, smiling back at that big yellow ball in the sky and letting the wind blow off all the inside staleness.
It’s after 8 p.m. now - nearly 9 - and I am listening to the sounds of summer beginning: the shrieks of little kids playing outside after dark. Maybe tag. Maybe hide and seek. Maybe nothing organized – just blissfully un-orchestrated kid fun. Every time I hear a blast of screams and giggles, I glance over at the clock, thinking that’s got to be the last one. But then there it is again.
It’s the sound of days to come. Only a few more weeks of school. Then we can play out late every night. Just don’t leave the edge of the neighbor’s lawn. And listen for mom to call you in for the night. Then pretend you didn’t hear to get a few more minutes of play. Then inside, warm bath, cozy bed, sweet dreams.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
New toy in the BDO
This news is actually a little old, but a few weeks ago I finally gave up the sixty bucks and got myself a nifty little digital recorder. No more messing around with micro cassettes, worrying about the tape running out or having to flip it in the middle of an interview. On the highest quality recording level I have SEVEN glorious hours of recording time. (Even I can’t gab with someone that long.) And I hadn’t even thought about how nifty it would be to have audio files of my interviews on my computer. It’s so darn handy. I have no idea how I lived without it before.
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