fire drill

[jay]

Is what we call a sudden flurry of activity, often with some decision at stake. Here, I had 25 minutes to come up with several information technology projects that would be harmed if our Arctic field season was cancelled. Thanks to a bunch of phone calls, contacts, a hallway conversation and x.500, I found two more (plus my own), wrote them up with substantiating information, principal investigators, and sent this all off just in time. One of the projects was one I'd never heard of before... I'm fast. And good at marshalling arguments and people in last-minute, high-stress efforts. (blows virtual smoke from fingertips ;)

We are now better than 50/50 to get funding, IMO. Tomorrow's the drop-dead date.