Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Dead Man's Switch.

My mind wanders when i write stuff i don't care about.

Here's a thought. You and me, we spend way too much time online, likely as not. Do you have a system for when you die?

I think the name for it is Dead Man's Switch. What happens when you leave? Is your password written neatly in a diary somewhere? I figure, why not program your email so that if you haven't logged on for 3-5 weeks, it leaves you for dead, sends an email with important life data things to your mom, lover, or lawyer, whoever cares the most, pre-composed messages for your friends, "YOU KINDA ARE CRAP, I WILL BE ANGRY WITH YOU FROM THE GRAVE STILL" type messages to your enemies, and a grand finale, swan song piece for your secret masterpiece you have been tinkering for years of your sad little nothing life will be set loose on the world.

Your painting's locale is finally shared. Your son in Greece knows at last that orphan no more, his anonymous and now dead, wealthy benefactor is his father and he'd never know him or why. Your manuscript gets sent to a publisher, care of your favourite person. The key to the lost language of Zacamortien that you've been decoding, long solved and hoarded, sent to the University you detested while living. Or if you are an unselfish, boring person, your meagre life savings are donated to NKF, the first charity name to float to your indifferent mind. Money for the living souls, because you have nothing else to feed it.

So if you ever want to start from scratch - sell your life, give away the cat, pack a rucksack and set off without warning to be a performing, travelling, free-wheeling flame-juggler, don't forget to set the Dead Man's Switch in place to remind you why you aren't.

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