Jeff Likes to Tell Stories

Welcome to my blog. I haven’t kept up with it in a while. But I hope to get back to writing the types of stories you’ll find here. If my life was a sitcom, these might be considered scripts for the show. I write about my life, my interactions with my family and those strangers I encounter on a daily basis. My more serious writing can be found in various places. But I often post them on Medium.

Book Reports, Commuting with Nature / 09.01.2003

I was deep into Howard Rheingold's new book, Smart Mobs, when I looked up and discovered that twelve other people in the subway car were reading it as well. As I raised my eyes, everyone lowered their books to give me a knowing glance. Was this a peer-to-peer network Howard and Cory Doctorow were talking about? Persistant and ubiquitous communication. The wireless net on the Red Line just coming into Union Station. Howard's books were the nodes. Parts of my new community got off, but more walked in. Almost everyone now sported a turquoise-covered hardback up against their nose. I was...

News Outta My Control / 01.01.2003

"Make no mistakes about it, Lake Superior State University issued its 28th annual extreme List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness, which the world needs now, more than ever." People are encouraged to nominate their favorite overused words or phrases throughout the year. LSSU has been issuing this list since 1976. Its Public Relations Director W.T. (Bill) Rabe began the effort as a publicity device for the little-known college near the tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Media interest immediately followed. Personal favorites from this year's list: Undisclosed, Secret Location: "Redundant stacking of adjectives often used to...

Undeniably Uncategorical / 29.12.2002

M. O. decided she wanted a change. Most of us would go shopping or perhaps look for new apartment. M, however, decided to really make a change so she took a job as a Country Director for Internews (an organization to promote independent media) in Uzbekistan, a land-locked former state of the Soviet Union. Earlier this month, she moved from Atlanta to Tashkent, the capital of Uz (not to be confused with Oz) to spend the next year and a half. And she has set up a blog to record her experiences: when West meets Central Asia. I recently mentioned that...

Book Reports, Fairly Odd Parents-Present, Idiosyncratic Celebrations, Worker's Comp / 26.12.2002

Was it visions of sugarplums that made my Christmas Eve day commute to work so sweet? Or was it President Bush's "pardon" for all us Federal workers one half day of freedom for the upcoming holiday? No, as I looked around the subway car I realized everyone was contentedly reading the Health section of the Washington Post. More specifically, they were reading The Happy Heretic, an article about Dr. Martin Seligman's new book, Authentic Happiness. Wellbeing saturated the underground air. With Christmas just past and New Year's up next, the burden of marking time (more specifically, marking this point in my...

Fairly Odd Parents-Present / 09.12.2002

This morning was our first commute of the snow season. Like most mornings, the natural state of affairs is rushed as my youngest and I leave the house. But, given the weather conditions, I am aware of how cautious I must be in order to make it to the car. I decided to wear my normal office shoes to work, rather than my heavier snow boots. I figured I was taking a chance walking down our now icy path to the driveway but if I could make it, it would be clear sailing the rest of the day until my return. I...

Fairly Odd Parents-Present / 08.12.2002

I am a Snow Curmudgeon™. I hate the snow. Well, I actually don't hate hate it. It's very pretty when you are inside looking out a large picture window with a fire blazing in the fireplace. It's so quiet and peaceful. It could be like reliving my childhood when my children wake up to find the outside world completely white. Their excitement is unbridled and even infectious. It could be like reliving my childhood if my childhood included snow. But I grew up in Southern California. Yes, we had snow every so often in the mountains above my house. And, yes, it...

Medicinal Properties / 01.12.2002

December 1 is World AIDS Day. Today I'm taking some time to remember those we've lost to this disease, those who are suffering now, and those who are working hard to eradicate it. During this season of miracles, take a moment to visualize how much work it will take to create one more. Related Links: AIDS 101 The Access to Essential Medicines Campaign AIDS: A Century From Now Bush's Stance on AIDS Education Visual Aids The NAMES Project ...

Artistic Tendencies, Fairly Odd Parents-Present, Idiosyncratic Celebrations, News Outta My Control / 23.11.2002

I have always been interested in the social aspects of technology: that is, how new ideas brought on by technological development seep into the everyday lives of regular folk. In the last few months I've been contacted with greater frequency by subjects of my writing or from those who have been alerted to my stories in the process of a doing a web search. Googling is becoming a natural process. And the interactions I'm having because of it add to my sense of the enlarging net community. In September I began my 9/11 story with a quote by Jenna Jacobs, wife...

News Outta My Control / 05.11.2002

During yesterday's Kojo Nnamdi Show on DC's public radio station, WAMU, the show was interrupted with a news flash that five people had been shot in Montgomery County. Listeners were understandably upset. Was this becoming a disastrous pattern? Well, no, actually, it turned out to be a War of the Worlds mistake. Kojo, who recently hosted NPR's syndicated Public Interest show, called in sick at the last minute and technicians had to quickly find a past show to air. Without thinking they grabbed the October 3rd tape. That was the day the sniper first struck in the DC burbs. Kojo was...

Idiosyncratic Celebrations, News Outta My Control / 30.10.2002

I don't think we'll ever be ready for John Allen Muhammad or John Lee Malvo Halloween costumes. But if you're still undecided about who you would like to be tomorrow night, there is still a overabundance of very scary public figures who just may fit the bill. But please, be careful not to frighten your kids (or your significant other) too much. Scaring the begeezus out of your stockbroker is ok (via Forbes). ...