Chaos Magnet

Things I haven't done yet

I'm working on my blurby-blurb for this week's XML Reference Guide and ran across What is a Death March Project and Why Do They Happen?

Having worked on nothing BUT death march projects during my time at Site Dynamics, I was definitely interested. But I found this interesting note:

Science fiction aficionados will recognize the similarity between Zahniser's advice and the wonderful aphorism from Robert Heinlein in Time Enough for Love: the Lives of Lazarus Long (Ace Books, re-issue edition, 1994): "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

I've never been a big Heinlein fan, but I do love the quote. I figure I've got to work on planning an invasion, butchering a hog (which may happen in the next year or two), conning a ship, designing a building, writing a sonnet (which is probably the least likely to be accomplished), and setting a bone. I'll leave dying gallantly to chance, thank you.

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