Labor Day

{I discovered a drafted (or at least partly drafted) note from last fall that was never sent. So I'll rework that one for a few weeks from now, and maybe actually send it this time. I've also tried to start something for this at least 3 or 4 times over the past few months, but never got it written and sent, so here's another try. And, for a couple of you who have contacted me about missing addresses for us, we are now back in our house on Washtenaw in Ypsilanti.}

Thinking about my present work sitch on a Labor Day. One of the aphorisms I've followed for work over the years is the three-legged stool for job prospect evaluation (if it meets at least two of: make a little money - have a little fun - learn something, then it's worth considering the job); and that still holds, perhaps just at a very basic level, though, on all three fronts, for my current job.

But another one that I've thought should be followed is "If you're the smartest person in the room, you need to find another room." There's hubris in identifying with that statement, though, which is why I've been loath to cite it frequently, if at all.

But, even as we recognize that there are numerous kinds of intelligence, there is also a basic truth of needing to stretch oneself. And I'm not really in a situation where I feel like I'm doing that. I still get to work on some unusual projects, but it does not feel like the challenge is there.

I'm thinking about retirement and post-retirement. I'm not ready to retire for a variety of reasons, but I am thinking again about connecting to some side work again, to start to make some connections on that front once more. Or maybe I do need to move on to something else now. And this is not exactly a time to be shifting jobs with the economic upheaval on the horizon. I recall going into a new job back in 2008, with optimism for new frontiers, only to get swept up (or out) in the cratering of 2009, and quickly found myself trying to stand up something of a solo practice (very badly) in the midst of that wasteland. I'm very leery of repeating that cycle again.

But I'm certainly looking to improve my circumstances. Maybe finding some solo projects can engage the languishing parts of my brain, and I can keep on with the golden handcuffs for a few more years.

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Brewed an English Bitter style ale today. First batch I've brewed in a year. Harvested the hops from the yard for this, and it was just about the perfect amount to do a batch of fresh hops in this one. (At the old house, the hops loved the side of the garage they were planted by, and I got some ridiculous yields. This wasn't nearly the volume, but was perfectly adequate for what I needed.) We also have tomatoes producing for us like never before. We set up raised beds in a better spot in the middle of the back yard, rather than in the corner of the yard. I'm not sure if it gets any better sun, but it has certainly been a productive garden for us this year.

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Earlier this summer, Stacia and I took a road trip to western NY and stopped in Toronto for a night on our way back (not quite on the way, but not that far out of our way, either; and it had been years since either of us had been there). As we were making our way to the weird little hotel* we are staying at, we passed Ursula Franklin Street, which caused a surprised exclamation from me, and then I had to explain why I was so excited about that street.

I started the year with some notes on my blog (https://www.psproefrock.com/2025/01/01/ursula-franklin-the-real-world-of-technology/) about a program on CBC Ideas I had just listened to that introduced me to the work of Dr Ursula Franklin. I was taking notes throughout (and since it was a podcast, I could stop and rewind). The program was a highlighting of some of her work and her most influential concepts, so there was a lot to take in, just from that. And, as an introduction, it was excellent; it made me very aware that I wanted to find out more about her work and understand the ideas summarized in the program. I got her book - "The Real World of Technology," which was adapted from her series of Massey lectures in 1989 - from the library and have been reading at it. But I keep running into things that I want to discuss with other people. One part is to put her ideas in front of other people and say, "Hey look at this; this is relevant to today!" and another part is to discuss how, more than a third of a century on, these ideas fit in to our contemporary world.

Then, a couple weeks ago, that same episode about Ursula Franklin came up again in my podcast feed. I'd dropped a couple notes about some especially apt Ursula Franklin quotes in my social media, and engaged with a couple people who were also intrigued. And this was enough to now push me into (quasi-) organizing a reading group for the end of 2025 to read and discuss "The Real World of Technology" (https://www.psproefrock.com/2025/08/14/ursula-franklin-book-club-2025/). The first installment (or waypoint, if you prefer) was last weekend, and there are 4 more to come, scheduled at 3 week intervals. (Originally, I thought the book had 5 or 6 chapters, to correspond with the 5 Massey lectures, but, at least for the revised edition (now that I have picked up my own copy, rather than relying on the library ebook), it is actually more, so we'll work it out.

(If this is interesting to you, it would be great to have you join in!)

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I haven't said a lot, especially given the lapse since the last note, but I'd rather get this sent out now, short as it is, instead of having it sit as another draft needing a couple more things added to it. And I'll have further news in the future.

Happy Labor Day

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*My wife has a number of superpowers; finding quirky, unexpected, wonderful places for us to stay is one of them. This time it was an old 19th century house turned into a small hotel with the front desk run from the bar (in another old house) next door.