If it wasn't written down...

[alexpgp]

A light-hearted post at Open Loops reminds us that

If it wasn’t written down, it didn’t happen.

A commenter provides a corrollary:

When dealing with the FDA: if it isn't signed, it's just graffiti.

I'm sure something equally nutty could be crafted for the space launch industry, but the point of this post is to draw attention to the basic concept, which played an key role - ain't it strange - in Tom Clancy's Debt of Honor.

Reading this 'rule of thumb' evokes conflicting responses in me. On the one hand, I can appreciate the truth of what's being said: proof is important. On the other, I feel vaguely annoyed that written documentation of things is elevated to the status of Arbiter of Reality™.

Or maybe I just haven't had enough coffee this morning.

* * *I filled an index card with to-dos rather quickly this morning. Fortunately, most of them have to do with my outstanding translation assignments. (One is done and needs checking/sending/invoicing; the other is 50% complete and needs finishing/checking/sending, with invoicing not really due until early next week owing to my client's payment schedule.) As for other things that need doing, I was lucky enough a couple of days ago to complete virtually all of the tasks that required my presence elsewhere (like, at the supermarket).

I probably need to walk around and collect some books I can "release in the wild" (see: bookcrossing.com), the way I released a book - I forget the title now - in the waiting area at the airport in Frankfurt during my last trip to Moscow. (I was a little nervous when I did it, as innocent actions like leaving a paperback book in a public area could be easily misinterpreted, but then again: I was in Frankfurt, Germany and not LAX.) The point, for me, of releasing books is this: I'm going to have a lot of layover time on this trip, and as I read books fairly quickly, I don't want to be dragging books I've read on the way to Kazakhstan the rest of the way there and back.

I'm babbling. I really do need more coffee. :^)

Cheers...

Comments

And don't forget...

[astroprisoner.livejournal.com]

Catch 22, where the records showed that Doc Daneeka was on an airplane that crashed, killing all on board. The fact that Doc had never actually gotten onto the airplane didn't matter. The fact that he walked around the base for all to see didn't matter. The fact that he talked to people didn't matter.

The records showed that Doc was dead...so he was officially dead.