Dateline: above the garage in Portsmouth RI, 17 December 2004
Going back and forth with Putnam about the title of the second book, while back at the naval station they've officially kicked upstairs the decision about whether I can stay at the college and write PNM-II. So on the one hand I've got Neil Nyren at Putnam arguing the notion that PNM is becoming almost its own brand (sounds good, yes?) while the Department of Navy (actually, the Office of General Counsel) gets to decide whether or not it wants me on their label anymore (sounds bad, yes?).
Funny to feel so owned and disowned at the same time. I mean, how can the question of letting me write the second book be any different than the first one? If the success of PNM is the issue, then the real question for the college is whether or not it wants to own that success or distance itself from it. This is not a question the General Counsel will answer, no matter what the decision.
I'm not mad at the college, just sad that they don't know what to do with me. Then again, according to my own vernacular, when something can no longer be described using the usual terms, then clearly you're in the zone of a rule-set reset.
You know, I've always loved that phrase—rule set reset. It's sort of a social science version of rebooting your computer after installing so much new software that a new operating equilibrium needs to be established.
So that's apparently where I'm at right now, riding out the many horizontal scenarios emanating from the System Perturbation that was PNM's publication. Quelle surprise! Mark Warren and I both set out to make sure PNM had that sort of impact. We wanted to change the world! And so as much as I might want to pretend that I could set off this shock wave and not have it impact my personal path too much, I have been careless in gaining my wish.
Failures are so much easier. I actually enjoy abject failure because it's so liberating. Every time I've hit rock bottom, it's always caused to reinvent myself in some way that I later realize represented a far better scenario pathway. With success, however, there is simply the desire to pull back and say no.
But clearly, there in no alternative to writing the sequel. I just need to create the new rule set required to pull it off.
Being the optimist, I will have to hope that whatever that new rule set is, I will either part ways amicably or establish a different, more suitable relationship with the college. That's the expressed desire of my superiors as well, and I don't doubt them when they say that.
Medianalia:
I wrote an op-ed this morning for the Baltimore Sun. Just popped outta bed and cranked it before heading to work. Sweet little 700-word piece on the future of globalization, with the basic point being that in ten years, no one will be able to equate globalization with Americanization. They faxed me a contract upon receipt, so that, plus the fact that they asked me up front to write it (based on the Ignatius article) makes me feel they'll probably print it. I just love it when publications call me up knowing exactly what they'd like me to write. That's what Wired did. That's been my entire relationship with Esquire. I just love when people know exactly what to do with me.
Keep an eye out for it.
Also, if anyone reads Portuguese, the interview I gave Epoca is slated for the 1 January issue, a special annual edition that wraps up the year, I guess.
Likewise, if anyone reads Japanese, my interview with Mr. Akita ran on 15 December in Nihon Keizai Shimbun, the Japanese Wall Street Journal. If anyone has access to the English-language version Nikkei News, I be interested to hear if it ran there as well. As always, electronic copies of anything are greatly welcomed.
Heard back from CNN's Paula Zahn show. The "future of war" series will run in mid-January. Not sure how much I will appear in that, but it will definitely get me to tune in religiously while it runs, if for no other reason to see who else got interviewed.
Also, still waiting to hear from WorldChanging.com regarding the rather long interview I gave them over the phone. Not sure when that will be posted.
Finally, I am slated to do a Tampa-based radio show on 22 December at 8am EST for an hour to discuss the book with Howard Raines, host of American AM, heard M-F, 7-9am EST in Tampa Bay on WWPR 1490 AM and WDCF 1350 AM. Guess I can stand talking to Bucs' fans now that we're no longer in the same division!
That's all I can think of for now.
Here's today's catch:
■ Today's good, not so bad, and ugly on China
■ Everyone seems in the giving mood on Middle Eastern peace this holiday season
■ Iraq's "democracy": the compromise will always be on social values (re: women's rights)
■ Kremlin move to NOC up its energy sector receives rebuff from U.S. federal court!
■ National Guard: prognosis not good
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