Falling off the edge of current trends

I'm just starting to crack the spine of The World Is Flat, the new book by Thomas L. Friedman. Friedman is one of the few reasons to keep reading The New York Times these days. Actually, his column is syndicated in almost every major newspaper in America, so go ahead and cancel that subscription right now.

I enjoy reading Friedman and watching him in his specials for the Discovery Times channel. The hallmark of his work is that every sentence, almost every word seems imbued with a deep level of understanding and intelligence. Its comforting to read the work of someone who keeps the big picture in mind and can write thematically without losing focus.

The World Is Flat is an examination of how the digital age is collapsing the walls of business, social class and even military hierarchy. The book describes Friedman's journeys around the world documenting the effects of business outsourcing from both sides. Again, his use of context and history in tackling this subject matter makes for very thoughtful and provoking reading. Friedman's fundamental argument is that change is inevitable and that change is good for some people, bad for others. Read the book to find out which group you're in.

Shortwave: Still tops with dial-up sufferers

I'm listening to the BBC Worldservice on shortwave as I type this for the latest news on the London commuter bombings. Yes, I know, I could listen to it through its website but old fashioned shortwave will have to do since my blazing fast 33.6 connect speed isn't quite up to the job. A note to the BBC: please don't eliminate your shortwave service entirely. The digital divide still forces people in developed nations to use it.

I find it somehow comforting that in the midst of this unspeakable tragedy, the world has united behind the United Kingdom in much the same way that they did during the September 11 attacks here in the United States. In my view, the UK government has every right to raise some serious hell in tracking down the people responsible for this monstrosity. The people of London need and deserve a rapid, decisive and accurate administration of justice. I hope they get it, and I hope the US government does everything it can to help in this work. As President Bush said succinctly, "The war on terror continues."

Audioblogging: A fad or here to stay?

This new feature I've been toying with has serious potential. Posting an .mp3 file using the phone is so easy that as a dial-up user I can no longer stave off a post because I'm too lazy to connect to the internet. So, what's the point of continuing to use text if posting via phone is so easy? I suppose conventional blogging will continue in the face of this voice alternative, just as newspapers and magazines continued long after the popularization of radio broadcasting. Audioblogging is just another trick in the bag to play with when the occasion strikes.

I was surprised to hear that the finished product sounded good. I figured that the combination of a long distance call and computer encoding would make it sound muddy or distorted, but it didn't. AudioBlogger records .mp3 files in 64kbps bit rate and 22khz sample rate. These are acceptable parameters considering its telephone quality voice. The end product is something I don't feel bad about other people on the web hearing.

A mother of a day OR A redhead to remember

It's not often that I spot attractive women at my place of work. Approximately 90% of my customers are male, and for that 1 in 100 that are of the opposite sex very few appeal to me. That's why it was such a pleasant surprise to see a beautiful young redhead flirt with me.

She pulled up on a faulty diesel pump in her jet black Volkswagen and managed to pump less than two gallons before she realized it wasn't going to work for her. She came in to find out about the problem was.

I was taken by her immediately. She had cute face, shapely body and a dynamite smile. She was wearing a very attractive flower print dress that complimented her nice legs. It was a bright, sunny day and she gave the sun a run for its money in terms of sheer radiance. I was animated with her, anticipating her questions and helping her in the most polite and gentlemanly way I could. I was really attracted to her, but there was none of the hesitation or the anxiety I usually encounter when feeling attraction to a woman.

She went back out to pull her car around to the proper pump and finished topping off her tank. Meanwhile, I engaged my co-workers in witty banter of a non-specific nature. Then one of the highlights of our encounter was when she bent forward from the waist over her passenger seat to find her purse. I had a pure, unobstructed view of this beautiful woman's proffered rear. Normally in these situations I get called away to pay attention to someone wanting to pay for gas or groceries, but not this time. No, she took her time looking for her purse and I savored every last second of it. I would like to think she did it on purpose, but only she knows for sure.

Finally she got her pocketbook and came inside. I made sure I opened the door for her. Trust me when I say I NEVER open the door at work for anyone, EVER. As she paid with a credit card we chatted about nonsensical things such as how sticky diesel fuel can be. She seemed flustered. Ah, now we're getting somewhere. She kept making gestures with her hands, as if the fuel on her hands could be scrubbed off by the air. "The ladies room is down the hall," I said, before she could ask. She flashed her million candlepower smile and left to wash up.

Now, there are a lot of things I could've done when she came back. I could've stopped her in a casual way and asked for her phone and/or email address. I could've slapped a GPS locator on her car and tracked her via a Java applet on the web. I also could've poured flourescent orange paint on myself and begged for her love on my knees.

Alas, all I did was smile and hold the door open once more as she passed me by, into her car where she drove back into her life and out of mine. Sigh. . .