I admit it, we’ve
had a bit of a slow start to the month here. I’m not going into
details, but suffice to say there has been a lot to take care
of around the house. For now, we’re back, and still heading
down the path to get an essay a day average moving.
Just one link today,
and then a few special posts joining the site.
Apparently, Japan
is doing research on making a satellite out of wood.
You read that right. Not an article with a ton of details, but
the concept is very interesting.
Today we’re going
to make the first posts of the From the Backpack material on
the site in some time. Understand that these essays may have
a couple of limitations to overcome, not the least being that
they were written well over a decade ago.
The first one comes
from 2003. I know it was based on an idea that had been kicking
around for several years, and eventually seems to have found
a final draft around December.
“Maybe
I’ll try to write for Playboy after all”
The second one comes
from the first half of 2006. The fun (and timely) part is the
essay kicked around the ideas of government rebate checks, and
at least dipped a toe into the idea of it being a bit of a vote-for-us
gift disguised as support for difficult times. It caught my
eye for what I think are pretty obvious reasons.
“If
we’re being led by idiots, but they give us money, will we care?”
And then there’s
a third essay I’m going to post.
Honestly, it’s awful.
It doesn’t express
the ideas I wanted to explore that well, and what it does say
is horribly dated. I tried re-writing a few things, but had
troubles deciding what I wanted to even attempt.
Still, from May
of 2006, there’s three reasons I’ve decided to post it: (1)
The Sports area here on the site has dropped off the map. Really
haven’t posted anything in that section. This could be a nice
kick in the pants. (2) I’ve often said this web site is never
about getting things smooth and perfect as it is about experimenting
and having conversations. (3) Each time I read it over, a few
things make a strong enough connection that I can’t bring myself
to refile it away in the archives, delete it, or anything else.
Something keeps it kicking around and I find I want to tinker
with it.
“Of
all the meaningless…”
And just like that,
we’ve got seven essays in place by the ninth day of the month.
It’s behind the pace we’re looking to set, but not too far off.
More
in a day or two.
