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February 27, 2007
Minor Musings on the MLP
When Youngna and I first wrote about the Modern Letter Project, I received a great response: This is a fine idea. I am just amused at the irony that it needs use of email to work. This concept has become highly apparent over the past few weeks as Youngna and I have worked to finalize all of the participants, group them and figure out the best method for sending out 140 emails once a month for a year.
Who knew that a project that emphasized hand written correspondence would rely so heavily on technology in the background? Both Youngna and I have been incredibly busy with general life- busy enough that we have not had time to sit across the table from one another and discuss matters, let alone sit face-to-face with a spreadsheet to make decisions. Instead, we have relied almost entirely on Gmail- email for long thoughts, chat for brief check-ins and the document/spreadsheet function to work together on consent and grouping issues. Now I am working out the kinks with MS Outlook (yuck) to import our Gmail account so that I can create an email mail merge in MS Word that will generate monthly emails to each participant.
It is crazy that so much web work has been used to get a paper-based project off the ground. Maybe it's the perfect melding of new and old. Or, perhaps it's just a combination of irresistible tools that today's society provides us with, elements that while allowing us to work in the seclusion of our own rooms or offices, will ultimately draw us all closer together.
MLP Note to Participants: We're sending out your first address (hopefully) tonight.
Posted by callalillie at February 27, 2007 5:00 AM | Fun Projects
, Geek
, Introspect
, Modern Letter Project
yay! I bought new stationary this weekend. Can't wait. :)
Posted by: carrster at February 27, 2007 10:08 AM
I'm interested to see if I can still express myself of paper because now I have to concentrate so much on making sure my handwriting is legible. Maybe I should also search for a pen that is in proper working order. I'm excited!
Posted by: Marcia at February 27, 2007 10:35 AM
I completely relate to Marcia. I won't be able to use spell check on paper. When I post something, I usually hash over it long and hard, even though it may not be apparent, before I hit publish or submit. No can do on the ol'stationary.
I need to go buy some stationary so that I can get that first letter off.
Posted by: Jenifer at February 27, 2007 11:00 AM
I think I can speak for everyone when I say we all appreciate the effort and energy you and Youngna have put into the project.
Funny that all of our first thoughts so far have been about stationery (it was mine too). =)
Posted by: Beth at February 27, 2007 11:19 AM
Imagine how long it would take to coordinate this project without the use of email/web!
I heart stationary.
Posted by: lesterhead at February 27, 2007 11:47 AM
No relation to the post: Who's the pretty calico cat?
Posted by: Divaah46 at February 27, 2007 12:51 PM
That is Little Girl, aka Brenda Starr. She is Alexis' family's cat.
Posted by: corie at February 27, 2007 12:54 PM
We need more pictures of Frieda. Isn't she interesting? It seems that Olive, Irving, and Olga get the lion share of photos.
Posted by: Vic at February 28, 2007 8:50 PM
Very true. Here's the issue(s) with Frieda: she's a black cat and it's hard to make out her facial features most of the time (or get her in focus) and she doesn't sit still very often. But we'll try.
Posted by: corie at February 28, 2007 9:06 PM
