Eclipse images on Tasso St

Eclipse images

Another old photo, taken 10 June 2002 during a solar eclipse.

When light shines through leafy trees onto the ground or a wall, the little circles you see are images of the sun. And when the sun is (partially) eclipsed, the little circles become little moon-shaped crescents. Who needs protective eyewear?

Tigger

Another cutesy photo from 1999.

The kids are going to thank me that I've saved these when they get to high school.

Ladybug

I'm in the middle of trying to get all the digital photos I want to save onto flickr. This one is from 1999 or so.

Software, a play in three Acts

I'm cleaning up my laptop, deleting old stuff. I'm finding lots of long-forgotten and abandoned projects, such as this play.
* * *
Software
A Play in Three Acts

Anonymous

CHARACTERS
USER ONE
AUTOMATED RECEPTIONIST
TECHNICAL SALES LEADER
TECHNICAL SALES MEMBER I
TECHNICAL SALES MEMBER II

ACT I

Stage Left: The curtain rises to reveal an utterly exhausted and disheveled User One in his home office, seated at a desk in front of a computer. He is cradling a thick computer manual in his lap, and is looking at his telephone with resignation.

User One places the manual softly down on the desk, looks up a telephone number from the back of a software box, and dials.

The rest of the stage is initially dark. As User One completes dialing, Stage Right is suddenly illuminated to reveal the Automated Receptionist, nattily dressed and standing on a small platform, unencumbered by software, telephone, or other technological trappings. He speaks in a loud, overly pleasant voice.

AUTOMATED RECEPTIONIST: Thank you for calling Computer Software Company. "Computer Software Company—Because There Are People."

We've reorganized our automated teleservices to better serve you, so listen carefully.

For automated web enquiries, Press One.

For automated technical support options, Press Two.

To browse our on-line collection of automated pre-recorded technical advisory notes, Press Three.

[Long pause]

[Very quickly] Or, to speak with a technical support person, press Star Pound 2 7.
[Lights momentarily dim on the Automated Receptionist as User One presses four buttons on his telephone.]

AUTOMATED RECEPTIONIST: Thank you for choosing Computer Software Company Technical Support. Your call will be answered in the order in which it was received. Your call will be answered within [Long Pause] five [Long Pause] minutes.

Lights dim on User One and Automated Receptionist.

Far Stage Right, Enter the Technical Sales Team (Leader, Member I, and Member II). All three shoulder computer laptops or other suitable computing devices.

TECHNICAL SALES TEAM LEADER: Are you absolutely sure?

TECHNICAL SALES TEAM MEMBER I: Yes.

TECHNICAL SALES TEAM MEMBER II: It never was even on the schedule!

TECHNICAL SALES TEAM LEADER: Are you absolutely sure?

TECHNICAL SALES TEAM LEADER: [Pauses. Turns to TST Leader.] Yes.

TECHNICAL SALES TEAM LEADER: How can we sell something that we don't even have?

I'll spare you the rest. I wrote it in 1995. Poof! Deleted.