Wanted – A Story

“We’ve heard of you.”

I resist the temptation to make the usual joke about hearing only good things. I wait.

“You met a friend of mine at an open mic, Nathalie.”

Which Nathalie?

“She said it was an unusual place to meet a fellow techie.”

I make a noise to let her know I am listening. Where is this conversation going?

“We’re looking for someone with your experience and background.”

I lower my voice a little. “Do you get all your candidates this way?”

She laughs. “Oh, no. No! It’s just that … Well. I was talking to Nats, uh, Nathalie, telling her that we were having trouble finding the right person and she said she knew someone.”

“And what is it that I am perfect for?” I am enjoying myself. Maybe not the smartest thing to do with someone with a job for me.

“Australia.” The tone said playtime was fun. She lets it hang there just long enough for me know that it was now time for business.

Quote of the Day

“I’ve always been careful never to predict anything that had not already happened.” — Marshall McLuhan, Interview, Tom Wolfe, TVOntario, August 1970

Quote of the Day

“It is true that the nature of society is to create, among its citizens, an illusion of safety; but it is also absolutely true that the safety is always necessarily an illusion. Artists are here to disturb the peace.” — James Baldwin, “An interview with James Baldwin” (1961)

Quote of the Day

“I have complete faith in the continued absurdity of whatever’s going on.” — Jon Stewart, Six Degrees of Stephen: Jon Stewart interview and upcoming performance, Philadelphia Inquirer (2007-04-22)

Quote of the Day

“Fiction has to be plausible. All history has to do is happen.” — Harry Turtledove, “Da Toastmaster Guest of Honor,” Chicon 2000 Progress Report 2

Quote of the Day

“I give myself what we call USA – unconditional self-acceptance, just because I’m alive and human, for no other reason.” — Albert Ellis, An Interview with Albert Ellis, Psychotherapy.net

We Can Edit This Out Later

I like hearing the words “we can edit this out later” in a podcast. I have heard it in every series with two or more people talking.

It is said jokingly to cover for a candid moment and that is what I like about it. They are saying this is a podcast and we can control what goes out. Ironically, it makes the podcast sound more like live radio.

When it is two co-hosts talking, it is usually after a revealing or politically incorrect statement. It gives me a glimpse of the people behind the podcast. It gives the show intimacy.

When I hear it in an interview, it is the host communicating to the interviewee that he can speak freely. If he says something he regrets, it can be edited out later. That tells me that the interview was more of a conversation.

The part that I like best about it is that the statement itself is left in. It is a cue that they had second-thoughts after saying something and still decided to keep it in the podcast. The reasons behind those second-thoughts are usually more revealing than what was said.