Teeth: skinless

My new year's resolution to be more organized didn't even last a month.

Scenario: hard deadline for a paper submission, enforced by a cold unfeeling electronic door, 15.45, Jan 31st. Submission is final action required for passing a 6 credit course. 6 credits is many.

Our hero idiot decides Jan 30th is a good time to start writing said paper; has realized he has once again cut things a bit too fine when, after 4 hours sleep, paper is the best paper it can be under the circumstances. With 40 minutes to go on deadline. 8 miles from cold unfeeling electronic door. In a snow storm. Quick calculation - never get there by bike in fresh snow. Public transport is round-about, takes ages. Bugger bugger bugger. Only one gamble available...

Final 40 exciting minutes spent thus:
*sprint to taxi stand ......................................... 3 minutes
*wait for taxi ..................................................... 5 minutes
*tense taxi ride, snowy roads, traffic............. 30 minutes
*toss taxi driver wallet, franticly .................. >1 minute
*sprint to cold unfeeling electronic door ....... >1 minute

By this stage it's all up in the air. I'm terrified to pull the door handle, but I do... and it gives. I love you, cold unfeeling electronic door.

I say it every time, but *never* again.

The Last Question

I read a lot of early science fiction, including Asimov starting when I was 10 - I was a serious kid, and his mix of real science, philosphy, and futurism appealed to me greatly. I burned out on SF pretty completely by the time I hit college, but this story reminds me why I loved him.

The Last Question by Isaac Asimov

It's also pretty interesting as a "computer [technician]" of sorts to see how near and far from the mark mid 20th century SF was regarding the little box of tricks you're using to read this.

Enjoy.