Observations From Hadleyville: GOODBYE ARCHAEOLOGY

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

GOODBYE ARCHAEOLOGY

The Brita water filter people are currently running a series of commercials which show people going about their earth-destroying, negligent daily lives. Prominently featured in each commercial is a plastic water bottle--AKA Brita's arch nemesis. In one, an evil, uncaring, earth hating person is depicted blissfully sleeping while the ice caps melt and the seas burn; an evil, plastic water bottle is perched on the bedside table, waiting to strike. Over the person a seemingly innocent caption appears: "Eight hours in bed." Then a truly frightening caption appears over the water bottle: "Forever in a landfill." GASP! We're Doomed!!!!

Excuse me, what's so horrible about landfills? Landfills are where Archaeologists do much of their work. No garbage, no archeology.

Guilt IS the gift that keeps on giving, but I'll give Brita a big raspberry on this one.

1 comment:

Eric said...: Shhhh! All your facts are interrupting the hype I'm trying to hear while riding the bandwagon.; August 14, 2008 at 8:35 AM

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WORDS OF WISDOM FOR WRITERS

The secret of becoming a writer is that you have to write. You have to write a lot. You also have to finish what you write, even though no one wants it yet. If you don't learn to finish your work, no one will ever want to see it. The biggest mistake new writers make is carrying around copies of unfinished work to inflict on their friends.

I am sure it has been done with less, but you should be prepared to write and throw away a million words of finished material. By finished, I mean completed, done, ready to submit, and written as well as you know how at the time you wrote it.
-Jerry Pournelle

WHAT'S THIS HADLEYVILLE THING?

Those of you familiar with Mark Twain’s works might recognize my blog title. As Samuel Clemons grew older, he became increasingly disillusioned with humanity. Towards the end he began referring to the Damned Human Race; employing the secular and religious epithet at one stroke.

I find I’ve not reached that level of despair myself. I still believe in redemption and I still see signs of nobility even among we fallen, damned creatures. So, I could not bring myself to call this blog “On the Damned Human Race.” I do however, resonate with another of Clemmons stories; “The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg.” And viola, there you have it. “Observations From Hadleyville.”