JulieLeung.com: a life told in tidepools

Thanks to Doc Searls, this summer I started reading Bernie DeKoven’s Funlog which is certainly a fun blog to read. Earlier this week I noticed his post on The Sack Circle and I couldn’t resist trying a few. I know I’ve written about my conviction for canvas sacks while shopping, but recently I’ve forgotten my bags and brought home some plastic ones instead. Bernie DeKoven has posted a few ideas for simple sack fun, including The Sacky Sack and The Bag Bag.

We haven’t tried those two but Abigail and I have made a few Sack Circles. Actually I made one or two and she made the rest. It’s so easy a six year old can do it. And this week was great timing.

When I imagine Thanksgiving celebrations, somehow the image of the Kennedy clan playing football comes to mind. I’m not sure why. This week I was reminded that our holiday gatherings often included soccer after supper although I don’t know if I ever played, shy athlete that I was.

However, these Sack Circles provide the perfect holiday sport. Gentle toys, they can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors. Tossed onto rings. Or spun like a Frisbee. Or thrown like a ball. Create a new game!

Plus these Sack Circles, unlike balls or athletic equipment, are easy to transport. By bike.

Or bracelet

Or a whole arm.

A friend pointed out that Sack Circles are an efficient way to store plastic bags. Put them on a paper towel holder!

Thanks to Bernie DeKoven and to Doc Searls for linking to the fun.

Speaking of Doc he also linked to the Funlog recently, featuring the The Rolled-up-Blueprint-Pantyhose-Sock-and-Water-bottle Junkyard Golf Club. I’d like to make one of those too, although I suspect they are a bit more difficult than the Sack Circle.

The other day Doc asked

I’ve been wondering why, in spite of all the hype, the term “information superhighway” never caught on.

Here’s my simple answer: it’s no fun! Who wants a highway? On Thanksgiving, driving off the dock and into the city, Ted and I were reminded of the joys of superhighways as we quickly scanned AM stations, hoping for a traffic report to tell us which route to take across Lake Washington to the suburbs east of Seattle. In the van we murmured to each other that we don’t miss the commuter lifestyle at all. We prefer the ferry. It’s more fun!

An information superhighway sounds like something that will overwhelm me, dirty, noisy, filled with obnoxious trucks and vans that block my view. Driving is an unpleasant experience and might as well be done by a robot. The freeway system is run and maintained by the government. It is linear, two dimensional and can be represented by a simple map. The highway knows where it is going and I don’t have any choices or creativity of my own, except exit ramps. The image doesn’t appeal to me and neither do the lengthy syllables in the term. It’s ugly: no rhyme, rhythmn or humor to it.

Besides, to me, the Internet doesn’t feel like a superhighway. That phrase and picture fail to fit fit the experience. I spend most of my on-line time in either email or blogs. Both of these are quieter communications, not freeways of traffic, but rather conversations over coffee, meeting and mingling. Who can talk on the information superhighway above the sound of traffic and trucks?! For me, it’s about the conversation. And it’s much more fun to say Cluetrain! 😉