“Thirty days have September …”

Okay, I will begin with the shameful admission that I am cramming in this (literally) eleventh-hour post so that in some future state I can look back at the archives and not see a missing month this year. (Something I did not manage in 2006.)

Part of my problem is an inability to post short missives throughout a week (or a day), as many ‘bloggers do. Oh, I get inspired by topics all the time, but very often they are concepts and ponderings that require a morning’s worth of surfing and thinking in order to coalesce. I am (at least as far as work like this is concerned) a slave to FLOW.

When I first read about “flow” as a theory, I had one of those “familiarity events” – where you recognize a thing you have long known, but have not seen described or articulated in any adequate sense. Of course, much of my career has been spent in activities requiring an intuitive (or learned) ability to make productive use of flow. (Editing being just one good example.)

As it relates to my writings here, those familiar with the concept will likely recognize that flow requires a certain amount of uninterrupted and uninhibited time and focus. It can’t be forced, and it is fragile to maintain. Hence the difficulty in bringing the aforementioned complex musings to a presentable state.

Aside from that valid observation, however, there is also the sad fact that I believe I may be pathologically unable to release what I deem to be incomplete thoughts … unless I happen to be in a particularly surly mood.

From the “Abrupt Left-Turn Department” – there was an interesting item on Slashdot today about the Olin College of Engineering building a new-fangled program emphasizing the decidedly non-engineeerish goal of “stressing creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurship.” Where was all this when I was in school? I wanted to be Burt Rutan, but all they wanted at Enormous State University was fodder for research, meaning a steady stream of graduate TA’s.

But who’s bitter?

Just to round things out, a few other odds & ends. I’m hoping to host another movie get-together in October, so anyone who has theme ideas should feel free to write. As of this writing, the Irish still suck this year. The annual trip (come November) may not have the same passion, but the game itself is only half the reason for going. As we once again rush headlong into the “Holiday Season”, I’m feeling pretty bullish on life in general. So everyone raise a glass!

See you in October.