Never assume...

...that a Google search can be too esoteric or arcane.

Feht called a couple of minutes ago, asking how one might pronounce the name Sarbanes (just the same way I call to ask how to pronounce Russian names from time to time), as he was translating something about the "Sarbanes-Oxley" law into Russian.

I hit Google with the query "Sarbanes pronunciation" and was vectored to a document that describes how to pronounce the names of the members of the 110th Congress (and in particular, how to pronounce Jeff Sarbanes' name).

Initial impression: That's pretty neat.

Second impression: Some people have too much time on their hands.

:^)

Cheers...

Hmmm...

On the heels of reports that Linden Labs is set to open source the server code to Second Life (as well as the client code that's out there, according to reports), I'm thinking this is an excellent outlet for folks (yes, like me, from time to time) who would like to build a virtual "memory palace."

Sure, the idea falls short of the ideal memory palace, which is created entirely in the memory, but the idea of building one in virtual space has two aspects that have appeal: (1) it's easier for some people to memorize using an aid that involves visual, audio, and tactile involvement, and (2) it's be something you could share with others.

Cheers...

Not much pressure...

Things have a way of working out, in the end.

The deadline for the huge push that I anticipated having to do today suddenly moved by considerably more than a few days, which put me in a position to be able to start working on the project received a couple of days ago, which - it turns out - is due not next week but Friday, the fact of which was brought to my attention in passing when I was called to find out if I was available for a 300-page translation/editing job, due in the first ten days of May.

In the meantime, I've been taking pleasure in accompanying Galina everywhere: shopping, to the bank, to the FedEx drop box, and so on. I did it because I could, today, and because I wanted to.

Much of the rest of the day was spent chasing paper, including some recent stuff. Among other items, I went back and looked at a list of payments for 2006 that I had requested from this one client whose history seems a little "light" (there's a couple of invoices from this year that stick out at the bottom of my "need to get paid" report as overdue, which is why I asked for a summary of last year's payments... call it a hunch).

So it turns out that, of the 22 invoices sent, 12 were paid and the rest... were not. Aaarrggghhhh!!

Yes, I know: my fault. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!

Still, they owe me the money, so I spent time this afternoon crafting a clear explanation of what's been paid and what hasn't. I just hope this doesn't get "interesting."

* * *Despite all the distrations, I've finished nealry 10% of the documents due Friday just before my sim starts, and I'm confident I can nail the rest tomorrow after the sim and on Friday morning.

Apropos of which, I should probably get to bed pretty soon so as to be adequately rested for tomorrow's sim, which starts early, and where my function will be to interpret space-to-ground comm (i.e., in simultaneous mode).

Cheers...