a writing challenge
 

i like constraints.
constraints are rules or procedures that you follow rather than prompts which inspire---hopefully, they do both, but in the end, it's a procedure.

this one is loose, and i stole is from mixedmedia's blog:

make something from bits of overheard conversations.
you can go as far with this as you like--something in which all the dialogue is made up of bits of conversation you heard between other people---or something in which everything is made from bits of overheard conversation.

[[aesthetic rule: the less you do that is not overheard conversation, the better. ideally, you'd add just enough to make things flow in a curious way. but it's open this time, so]]

the other rule:
what you make should be about overhearing or misunderstanding of garble in some way.

the form is open (prose, poetry. declarations).
you should add something at the end which says how you used the conversation elements you collected.

so go ye forth:
eavesdrop.
manipulate.
enjoy.

Disembodied Voice: "What city and state please?"

Me: "Fond du Lac, Wisconsin."

DV: Did you say "Fortune deity viscosity?, is that correct?"

Me: 'No."

DV: "Try again."

Me: "Fond du Lac, Wisconsin."

DV: "Did you say Cadillac extension, is that correct.?"

Me: "No."

DV: "Try again."

Me: "Operator."

DV: "Connecting to an operator now."


I hope this fits the criteria well enough.
The US, 411 voice recognition system is kinda fun to play with at times, it never works.

I'll write down what I hear at work today and see what I can do...

that sounds like a wonderful adventure, like marilyn monroe.

don't let on we know: i know we don't work with anything.
we show all different kinds of shows.
people line the walls like wallpaper.
at least we're covered.



it's a chair that you wear.
no feet involved, i promise.








where are you now?



i'm right here.




you might be a hologram.






i won't be here another time: i'm only here now.







[[conversation fragments from a sociology convention]]

For a real fun time, try calling 511.

Me: Quantico

511: There are....no....incident reports for Quantico.

Me: Dumfries

511: Did you want the weather forecast for....Quantico?

Me: No.

511: Sorry, I didn't understand that, switching to touch tone mode.

Me: NO.

511: To go back to voice response, dial 88

Me: (88)

511: Okay! Going to voice reponse mode.

Me: Dumfries.

511: Would you like to know the VRE schedule for..... Quantico?

Me: NO!

511: There are no incident reports for....Quantico.

Me: I-95

511: Sorry, I didn't understand that. switching to touch tone mode.

Me: (888888888888)

511: Okay! Going to voice reponse mode.