GRABBINGSAND

“Are you sure I’m supposed to be here?”

They come looking for permission or confirmation. Receiving either according to their own desires, the new arrivals would nod silently to themselves, then shuffle on through the awaiting gates. Nobody was turned away, not having come this far.

And so, the man in the white sport coat looked up from the Ledger, nodded quickly then went back about his business. But this arrival was not going quietly.

“So I just go on in? No goons from security to pull me out of line, give me the twice-over with an electric–?”

“Security,” the Accountant interrupted calmly, “is not so much of a concern here.” The grin that followed was meant to be comforting. “There is not a soul here to harass you, challenge you, discourage you.”

The new arrival cursed soundlessly.

“There’s none of that either, I’m afraid. Do enjoy your stay.”

The Accountant returned his limitless attention to the Ledger. His hand moved so deftly, a ritual of writing interrupted only by the turning of pages.

Originally posted to Ficlets on May 30, 2008. What’s a Ficlet?

(A review, just posted to LibraryThing, re-posted here with some minor adjusting and additions …)

I’ve made a point of keeping this one within arm’s reach. If I’m making pancakes on a weekend morning, why not learn a bit about America’s pre-NASA space program at the same time? If I’m grilling a rack of turkey burgers, perhaps the blue flames will put me in the perfect mood to read all about Dr. Von Braun and his rocketing aspirations?

After all, this is a National Geographic book. I had a subscription to National Geographic World for most of my pre-teen and teen years. And my parents would buy me these bi-monthly hardback books, large and in-color and full of information about inventions or nature or computers or robots. Most of my nascent trivia knowledge can be traced most likely back to one of those National Geographic volumes.

However, I think I’m ready to call it a day on Epic Rivalry: The Inside Story of the Soviet and American Space Race. The writing is well-meaning, but cloudy. The American side of the race is treated cursorily and off-handedly, as if the reader is supposed to have already heard most of the stories previously. For those rare times when an event is really something spectacular, the authors quote from Tom Wolfe’s The Right Stuff instead of attempting their own narrative. The Soviet side of the race is presented as some Great Journey of Mystery. All of the Soviet scientists might as well be presented with wizard hats and magic wands.

(Okay, that was hyperbole …)

All in all, Epic Rivalry is a decent book, but it deserved to be an even better one.

I would go on to say that one would be better off getting the American side of the story from a first-hand account. I read Gene Krantz’s Failure Is No Option just prior to starting Epic Rivalry, and Krantz comes off as the superior storyteller. Of course, Krantz is concerned almost entirely with the American side of the race … and I guess there is a certain lack-of-availability where hands-on Soviet space engineers are concerned … so maybe I’m being a bit unfair.

But come on. Remember who published this book. And so I say …

National Geographic: Step Ya Game Up!

My blogroll has been out-of-date for months. I’m guessing this is yet another side effect (much like the recent drop in comments) of using Google Reader to keep up with various discussions and distractions. So today, I decided to compare my old blogroll with an OPML export from Google Reader. Conveniently, WordPress makes short work of OPML XML, placing all of my Google Reader selections in my blogroll in no time.

Of course, these were all dropped initially into the general (and usually unused) “About Me” category … but sorting them out into other categories took little time at all. I ended up with a few new categories and others that have been renamed.

So take a look at the new or updated links, give them a visit. I don’t believe I eliminated anyone that might be offended, but if you find yourself missing, let me know. Also, if you know of a link similar to those listed, somewhere that I must visit (or add to my feed) at all costs, leave me a comment.

Cheers.

April was always so cruel, signaling soon he’d have to leave his lucky jacket at home. That jacket was his armor, his security blanket. But only teens and punks can get away with leather in the summer. Grown men? No, lest they become “that guy.” But this morning was too brisk to go without.

He quit smoking months ago, but kept a pack all winter. He liked the way a pack balanced that coat, resting in an inside pocket. He’d dropped the habit, but someone might need one, and there he’d be: A Boy Scout on loan from RJ Reynolds.

Hands in pockets, head down, he hiked the three blocks from his apartment to the train station turnstile, then cursed quietly. The monthly pass was sitting on his kitchen table, exiled from his other inside pocket the night before. No pass? No ride? And no ride meant late to work.

Cursing again, he turned and steamed into a curious girl in a battered leather jacket. She wasn’t hurt, was laughing actually, but still he apologized as he offered to help her stand.

“Nice jacket,” she said.

Originally posted to Ficlets on May 18, 2008. What’s a Ficlet?

Rusty has put together a tutorial on how to create your own podcast channel on Georgia Podcast Network, then upload content (audio or video) to that channel.

If you’re having trouble viewing the video, try upgrading your Flash player. You can also download the file and watch it on your desktop.

After about 13 minutes, you will know pretty much everything you might need to know about how to get your own podcast up and running on GAPN. Sure, you’ll need to do your own recording and decide what your podcast is all about and so on, but the usually complicated technical bit has been made so simple. Basically, if you can write an email with an attachment, you can make a podcast.

(Oh, and you’ll need to follow a few simple rules. In particular, as this is the Georgia Podcast Network, you’ll need to live in Georgia or your podcast should focus on Georgia-related topics.)

Speaking of … the latest podcast for North Fulton Drama Club was uploaded to the new and improved Georgia Podcast Network just this morning.

Written as a Ficlet sequel for A Loaded Gun in the Mailbox by Will Hindmarch. The original Ficlet ended thusly:

He goes inside, past his wife, who’s doing dishes, and gets the phone. He dials 911. She asks what’s wrong.

“There’s a hand holding a gun in our mailbox,” he says.

“Finally,” she says.

“… and hang up the phone,” she said, heading out to the mailbox.

She’d been expecting it? Why would she ever need a gun? Unless …

“Oh, God.” His knees gave out, then met the floor.

No sooner had she stepped out, she returned. Over his pulse, he’d heard her steps on the sidewalk, the way she’d opened the screen door and held it to close slowly behind her. He always let it slam. She hated that.

“Honestly, I should leave you down there. But I haven’t the time.”

He was crying now, shaking, stem to stern. To confirm, he peered up through tearful eyes to know for sure and there it was, cradled in her arms. “I’ll do anything, be a better husband, just don’t — !”

“This one isn’t mine, you fool! Pull yourself together!”

He stood, bolt upright, as if his posture might save his life.

“Good,” she smiled.

She opened a closet, fetched a bag marked Avon and placed it inside. As she stepped out the front door, she said simply, “This Hand Of Glory™ is for Ms. Monday in #314. She’ll be so excited, won’t she?”

Originally posted to Ficlets on May 14, 2008. What’s a Ficlet?

The hardest part of writing a Ficlet isn’t the writing. The challenge lies in the editing. 1024 characters doesn’t give one much room for rambling, redundancy and so on. I love so many words, often for the way they sound one after another as much as for their meanings. Writing in a limited space goes against my loquacious nature. But Seth threw down the gauntlet ever so politely some time ago. And Rusty published his second ever, just this morning.

So today, I decided to step up to the plate and swing over lunch. I called it “Yesterday Girl.”

As it sits, I’m not sure entirely that the idea in my head made it entirely into the story. But it will do. Contributing audio influences included, but were not limited to: Burial’s Untrue (the track “In McDonalds,” especially), The Roots’ “Rising Up,” John Coltrane’s “Too Young To Go Steady” and James Taylor’s “Another Grey Morning.” The story’s title is also the name of a Smithereens tune, but one really has nothing to do with the other.

And now that I’ve completed one, another should be a walk in the park. Shouldn’t it?

Inspired by this Ficlets-provided phrase:

Sunshine flooded into the room. It collected in pools at her bare feet and washed against the nightstand.

Quietly, she stood and stepped to the window. A downtown, by looks and sound. Car horns and sirens offered clues. But today’s geography lesson would have to wait.

With her left hand, she untied a black ribbon from around her right hand. The ribbon had held her hand in a fist all night. The cramp is always awful, but she couldn’t sleep otherwise. Her fingers uncurled, revealing a bar napkin and a stack of Post-It notes. On the topmost is written a girl’s name and an address. On the napkin is a boy’s name and a phone number.

Later, she’ll step out onto the sidewalk, then turn back, look up and write today’s address on the next Post-It. She’ll learn today’s name later.

Later still, she’ll buy a postcard from the post office. She’ll address it to the girl on the topmost Post-It. Napkin, name and number close at hand, she’ll stand at the counter and write:

“Yesterday, when I was you …”

Originally posted to Ficlets on May 8, 2008. What’s a Ficlet?