Friday, August 27 2010, 03:35 PM Thursday, August 19 2010, 11:17 AM Sunday, August 15 2010, 03:58 PM Thursday, August 12 2010, 10:06 AM Wednesday, August 11 2010, 10:49 PM Tuesday, July 27 2010, 11:07 AM Friday, July 16 2010, 04:38 PM Tuesday, July 13 2010, 09:29 PM Saturday, July 10 2010, 06:32 PM Wednesday, July 7 2010, 10:53 PM
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Bitter Seeds Audiobook & A Pop-Cultural Interview - 8/27/2010, 03:35 PM Remarks Delivered at the 34th Annual Williamson Lectureship - 8/19/2010, 11:17 AM Research Materials - 8/15/2010, 03:58 PM Interview at Pat's Fantasy Hotlist - 8/12/2010, 10:06 AM Thank You, Alice Ann, Wherever You Are - 8/11/2010, 10:49 PM The Perils of Fantasy Alternate History - 7/27/2010, 11:07 AM The End - 7/16/2010, 04:38 PM The Joy of a Weight Lifted - 7/13/2010, 09:29 PM New Story Appearing in AFTER HOURS: TALES FROM THE UR-BAR - 7/10/2010, 06:32 PM Further Proof We Live in the Slow Zone - 7/7/2010, 10:53 PM
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I walk to work almost every day. But I frequently use that time to daydream about my various writing projects, so maybe I don't notice my surroundings quite as closely as I should.
Several months ago, a bit of road maintenance and landscaping work forced me to alter my route slightly. That lasted for a week or two. Then the work trucks, barrels, and yellow tape disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. Other than a new 3' x 3' square of chain-link fence surrounding something wrapped in plastic, the workers left nothing behind. I assumed they would be returning for more work at some point, and that the new chain-link cell contained equipment or supplies. Never occurred to me to actually read the sign on the fence, even though I've been walking past it twice per day for months.
I did look yesterday. The sign says
Caution: Radioactive Material
Truthfully, I'm unconcerned about the health and safety aspects. (After all, practically everything is radioactive, if you look closely enough. I probably receive a higher dose of radiation from cosmic rays in one year, owing to the fact I live at 7300', than I would receive from 100 years of walking past that whatever-it-is every day.)
But, you know, kinda feels like I should start paying attention to my surroundings. That seems like the kind of thing a person should notice.
Close PermalinkOne time driving in Czech hills near the German border I passed a sign that read "close windows when lights are flashing". I can only imagine what would've been escaping from the underground bunkers that could've required that warning. And I have a watch with tritium on its hands, which makes me feel like I'm cheating death every day. Welcome to the club.
