The leaves they are a-changin’…
From today’s “Production Training” lunch hour.
Update: The Flickr photo set has been updated to include some photos taken by the WAC staff.
Well, Nancy, Brian and I (the OIT team) successfully completed our cardboard boat. Not only that, we successfully raced it around the course laid out for the regatta AND got second place – or the Captain Cook award. That means we scored a $150 prize for the hours of work that went into our “iFloat.” I have to say, I’m completely gobsmacked by the performance of our little ship. It’s amazing that she stayed together, for starters and even more astounding that we were able to beat the ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT to take our spot in the top three.
More photos as soon as someone with a camera at the event gives me a few of them. For now, I will leave you with a four photo, random set on Flickr. Two photos are from boat building: one of Brian using the life-saving, if slightly spray-tarded, adhesive and one of the mysterious sailing vessel that arrived on Friday at sunset. Two photos were just kind of on my iPhone and depict a rose bush that I salvaged in June from the debris behind my apartment building. It’s alive! PHOTOS HERE!
One week on, my iPhone still makes me giddy. Even when I’m wiping fingerprints off of it.
I will never turn my back on you, iPhone.
(Which is always.)
“In the future, so they write, the cars will be made of light and magnets and there will be no traffic, only hope and amazement and peacefulness. Eventually, our planet will explode, and things will have to change. And maybe for the better, the second time around.
When things begin again, we will live pleasantly with our mothers, in cabins on the moon, by empty seas under black, airless skies. To get from place to place, we will only have to run and jump, gliding gently over craters, swimming stylishly through the great emptiness.”
Understanding Traffic: An Expert Account, pp. 20-21
To learn more about this and other Iditots’ Books, visit the e-cyberhomesite.
&I know that most of you are only familiar with my job in so much as it keeps me from talking to you as much as I once did. Dear readers, I admit this is chiefly what my job does. I have been far busier than I’ve ever been in my entire adult life to this point getting ready for this fall semester. Mostly I’ve been dealing with our Fall Training and Storytelling in the Digital Age – getting things ready and marketing the events. There is an upside to all of this madness, though: I’ve had the chance to meet some interesting people and see two enlightening events.
On the 6th, Noah Robischon, managing editor of Gawker Media, came to visit and gave a talk on the “End of the World as We Know It.” This was a really interesting lecture that gave us an overview of trends in the digital world, from Facebook to blogging to gaming. After the show, Noah came back to the Literary House for pizza and a discussion. It was nice to be on the “VIP” side of a gathering like this, sitting on the couch next to Noah and not in the audience. He’s a sharp guy and connected very well with all of us…certainly made me more excited to read Gawker’s blogs, anyway.
On Tuesday, SimpleTEXT came to campus. This was a really rad multimedia performance run by two Brooklyn-based nerds turned artists. The basic idea is that Noah and Tim (the fore-mentioned nerds/artists) collect text messages from the audiences’ mobile phones and computers. They turn these thoughts from words to pictures (gleaned from the internet, of course) and then turn the pictures into music. It was truly amazing, in a very avant garde, New York kind of way. The really neat part of the event was that it was only the second ever performance in the States…of a show that’s only been done 16 times! At this tiny, middle-of-nowhere school, it was quite the event!
So, while I’m completely exhausted, I am happy to report that very enjoyable things have come out of massive amounts of work.
My photos on Flickr.
…is that everyone will want to touch the iPhone. Woe is me, right?
…and realizing how much I’ve missed hanging out with Morgan. I’m ready for next weekend’s trip to Pittsburgh and the adventures that will follow. My itinerary thus far:
I reiterate: I cannot wait for this coming weekend. 🙂
…fucking $700 for car insurance for 6 months?! Are you even kidding, Geico? And that’s seriously the cheapest rate. I’ve shopped around, I swear. So much for having my credit card paid off any time soon. Honestly, every single time I think I’ve got myself picked back up it’s “WHAM!” another ludicrous bill. It sounds petty and ridiculous, but I’m never going to buy a BMW at this rate. I guess what I mean by that is: I’m finally earning a good salary so why am I still feeling like I’m about to go under?
Alright. < / rant >
On the work front: things are finally starting to settle down. Which is good, because I need to start thinking seriously about how I’m going to teach my six workshops and two guest lectures this fall. Like, what am I going to say, how am I going to say it and other logistics. I’ve been planning on the side since May or so, but I really need to get a good “script” together in my head. Not scared, but certainly a little panic-y. I’m really excited for my fall InDesign training in Philadelphia. Master class, ahoy! Six days downtown with Lindsie only a few blocks away and my training center just a few more in the other direction…perfection. Now, if I could just figure out a way to leverage this for Kate’s birthday the weekend following my class. I guess you could be in far WORSE places for finding a birthday gift…
Since I have to work tomorrow, I’m cramming an entire weekend into today. I think I’ll go loiter in my own living room and see how much nothing I can squeeze in to 24 hours. *phew*
I spent a lot of time on America’s highways and byways (and triways?) this weekend. It was a good opportunity to notice how many doucheflakes are commuting to and fro in this great land. I thought perhaps I’d write a list of the most douchetacular things I’ve encountered. Here we go:
I should have written this up the other day when I was still enraged. Sorry for the lack of oomph. However, I know you all have a favorite that you’d like to share. (Lindsie, I’m looking at you and your trips on the 76s.)