Today I received two requests for information. One was about an obscure piece of history about one of our local universities (the one at which I studied) and the other was for advice on a business case. It reminded me of a while back when I had unexpected information requests about manipulating digital images and the proper use of a semi-colon.

I was able to answer those questions. I like the idea of being to answer or find answers to questions because it encourages people to ask me and allows me to connect with people about various challenges they face.

Even with so much information available, it isn’t always accessible to people because they are unempowered or unable to search for it. Networking through people is still a good way of finding information.

An example is that how I was unable to find the correct term for the thing that the Droste effect describes. I had to find out from Papa who had it clipped out in an old newspaper article.

Another way to find out from people is through the toll-free telephone network. Once, in the mid-nineties, I was having an argument with someone abou the composition of Canadian one cent pieces, pennies. He said they were copper and I said that they were not all copper. To determine the truth I walked over to the payphone and dialed toll-free directory assistance, which is a toll-free call, and asked for the Royal Canadian Mint. I called the mint and asked them the question and got the answer.

Even in a time when there is so much information that is reachable, it can be hard to find and hard to filter. Knowing how to filter and analyse information is similarly important to finding it.

Another thing I like trying to do is trying to find the meaning of foreign words that I don’t know. One strategy is to search for it on an image search. The answers you find may be instantly translated in the images you find. For example, you can probably find out what language and what thing a “cidian” represents with that method. Yeah, I like that word.

I helped serve drinks today at a reception for my boss four levels up. I know what you’re saying ‘You served drinks at a reception for the prime minister?’ ha ha. No, it was for the leader of a local concern.

So, I met Ada, Simon, and Kim. As guests I saw Anne L, Barb H, John M, Robert T, Carl Z, John T, and a few others. Also, Lynn, Dana, and Melinda were there.

No one drank any beer though we had stella, sleeman original draft, and sleeman cream ale. We served about three bottles of yellow tail shiraz, two of wolf blass yellow label carbernet sauvignon, and half bottles each of sacred hill sauvignon blanc and the little penguin chardonnay.

There was food too. All sorts of crackers, antipasto, cheeses and fruit. It was all barely touched, so we had a snack after the event.

At the end we had to set down the room.

It is interesting to meet other people in the organization. When it was done we took the food upstairs and people working late were grateful. It was fun and reminded me what I like about F&B.