Problems, Boundaries and Some Random Thoughts

[djaggard@ccmail.gsfc.nasa.gov]

     Hi everyone!
     
     This is not a "P" discussion, but some of the recent rhetoric has 
     brought it to my mind.
     
     In talking about boundaries, someone (I have lost track who) said: 
     "Boundaries don't keep you from your friends".  I think this is a true 
     statement.  In thinking about it, however, it seems that the most 
     important mixing and mingling that can happen is between people who are 
     not yet friends.  This is what facilitates the exchange of information 
     on medieval times.  Your friends know what you're working on.  You may 
     call them up, or make arrangements to meet them at an upcoming event to 
     show them your latest work.  What about the people you haven't met yet? 
      
     
     Do boundaries prevent me from travelling to the East Kindom? - Not 
     really.  So I thought about it, what does?  I think that it has to do 
     with logistics - not travel time, but incomplete directions, no idea 
     where I would stay, no idea what the schedule is, or what the feast 
     is, or sometimes even more basic information.
     
     Have event announcements become less informative, or have I become 
     less willing to take chances?  I'm not sure.
     
     I do know that rarely is there more than 2 months notice of an event. 
     I do know that fewer event announcements offer crash space.  I do know 
     that many announcements don't say when the site opens (my tally of the 
     current Acorn showed slightly more than half).  And in this month's 
     Acorn only one event gave any idea of the type of food at the feast, 
     and none had any indication of the schedule.
     
     I know I could probably call the autocrat and find out all this and 
     more, but that's a long distance phone call to someone who is busy 
     planning an event.  (Besides, I have a tough time with phones...).  
     Perhaps we should look at how well (or not) we publicize our events.  
     Travel requires significant investments in time and dollars.  It would
     be a definite benefit to me if I had more information to plan from.
     
     It's just a thought ...
     Anyone care to comment?
     
     Siobhan