ztraffer

Not far from us, mentally or physically, there is a whole new world. It has long been a subject of science, mythology, fiction, and hope. Its desert landscape has inspired plans for engineering on a scale that would give pause to his namesake deity. Its red sands have fueled countless books about adventures and romance. Today we have more detailed maps of its surface than of the bottom of our oceans. Aside from capturing the imagination of scientists and dreamers, it has inspired works of fiction where words like human, alien, or Martian, have their meanings reversed. Yet in spite of being so present in our culture, we don't know what it will be like once we begin to make it our second home. No doubt it will be a test of character and skill for our civilization -and an opportunity: perhaps the biggest we've ever had-to see how much we have learned from the bitter lessons of history; to leave behind the obsolete concept of nationality and tribalism; to build a truly enlightene...

Walking down the street Yesterday morning gave me an eerie feeling. It was more than the unusual snow -I couldn't figure it out at first -then I realized that in Seattle, snow, sun, and silence are seldom seen in sync -ah, another annoying alliteration.

Last Wednesday night, as I was about to fall asleep, I realized I had forgotten about a pending task, so I decided to enter it in my calendar. I was surprised to see the date: Thursday, Jan 4 th , 07. The time was still before midnight -puzzled, I got up and checked the time on my computer -same date. Well, if it was an error on my computer clock, it could have easily transferred to my calendar, so I did an update with the time server -the date and time were correct. Even though I now had proof that it was Thursday, I had a very strong feeling it was Wednesday, so still unsatisfied, I checked the date on several websites - Thursday still. How could this be? Whatever happened to Wednesday? Where are my 24 lost hours? And the most interesting part: how could I miss a day and still not have any missing entries in my calendar? Well, the logical answer seems obvious now -I was transported to a parallel universe by some kind of freak natural event. other than the missing Wednesday everythin...

Of all human activities, appointments with dentists are amongst the most pleasurable. Tell me something I don't know, you say. Well, I'm not just talking about the obvious enjoyment of laying down with your jaws wide open for what it seems like hours on end, while two strangers probe with drills, water jets, suction tubes, steel hooks, UV lamps, needles, x-ray contraptions, and other charming utensils evocative of the inquisition. There is also the gentle soundtrack (weeeeeeenkrrkrrweeeeeeenkrrkrr...) of the drills boring into your teeth, that you not only hear, but also feel as the drilling machine vibrations reverberate from your jaws to your skull. Accompanying this music, is the delightful scent of tooth ejecta -pulverized calcium. Still, the best part of this experience is being completely trusting (not that you have a choice), hoping that the inquisitor -I mean, dentist- knows what he's doing, doesn't accidentally perforate the wrong tooth, or otherwise commits a ...

Well, a new year has arrived, again. Welcome, 2007! Looks like this will be a pretty intense one for me. I have a few major resolutions and some specific deadlines... 1. Get in shape -not just excercise and eat right, but be in optimal condition by July 1st. 2. Not get a car before June 1st -and consider finishing another year without one. 3. Fearlessly complete all necessary dentist sessions no later than July 1st. 4. Complete detailed plans for a major 2+ weeks West Coast, Southwest & Mountains road trip. 5. Put in place a new, functional SIC website by spring. 6. Find ways to make my job more fun and dynamic. 7. Redesign, rethink, and reactivate my business by February 1st. 8. Complete at least half of the stages of my special project. 9. Do volunteer work on a regular basis I actually have 2 or 3 other goals, but they are either too boring or too personal to share with the world. Well, better get to work now :-)