notes from the wayback machine

I've been writing stuff since before blogs were invented. That is a long time in computer years.

Why? I'm not exactly sure to be honest. It's just something I've always been compelled to do. A lot of these things were written on computers and I still have the files. What does that give you? Notes from the wayback machine! Because what's the internet if not a repository for all the crap you don't want anymore?

Here is an exercise from a book I read. It's was supposed to be an argument. Enjoy.

Two teenage boys sit on a house’s deck. There are slotted wood supports on both sides of the stage and upstage. They are sitting in lawn furniture, the waterproof kind with floral padding. In front of them sits a gallon jug of iced tea. They are smoking cigars, cheap ones.

JOE
There’s no way.

SAM
I’m telling you man. They would have to bill it as a big civic undertaking - make it a national goal. The president would need to give a speech about it to get everyone all worked up and excited. Like Kennedy did for the landing.

JOE
It wouldn’t matter. It’s impossible.

SAM
Even if we devoted all our resources to it, even if we put our top minds on it, scrapped all our other spending – military, social programs, infrastructure, even if we made this our solitary goal as the most powerful nation in the world, you’d still think it was impossible?

JOE
Completely obliterated?

SAM
Like it was never there. I’m talking GONE.

JOE
I just don’t think we could do it.

SAM
You’re crazy dude.

JOE
Because I don’t think we could blow up the moon?

SAM
Yes. Where’s your imagination? It’s hard on visionaries like me to deal with the shortsighted masses.

JOE
Oh yah. Blowing up the moon is such a mind- numbingly brilliant vision. You’re right up there with the visionaries of our time, dreaming up cures for cancer and artificial hearts.

SAM
Not everyone can cure cancer.

JOE
Besides, there’s nothing visionary about pipe dreams. I’ve envisioned myself sleeping with hundreds of women – at once – but we both know it’s never going to happen.

SAM
Spare me your doubt. Our only obstacles are a willing legislature and pessimists like you. After that, it’s only a matter of time.

JOE
Only a matter of time?

SAM
It’s just like the Grand Canyon. It was created by a stream of water, over millions of years, etching away at a giant rock. All that subtle energy over all those years and look what it gave us?

JOE
A giant hole in the ground?

SAM
Exactly. It’s all about persistence. Giant hole in the ground – giant hole in the air – same thing. I’m not saying it would be easy, but we’d definitely succeed. It’s like that flowerpot over there. If I had an infinite number of these cigars and an infinite amount of time, I could throw cigars at that flowerpot and eventually, it would be whittled away to dust.

JOE
You could never turn that flowerpot to dust.

SAM
Really?

JOE
Yes really. For one, you’re too lazy. Besides, your aim is really bad.

SAM
Is that so?

Sam reaches over and rips Joe’s cigar from his mouth. He throws the cigar off stage.

JOE
You missed by 6 feet.

The two are silent for a moment.

SAM
Maybe it’s for the best ... probably just knock the earth off its orbit.