About This Blog and the Author
March 7, 2004
This blog combines two blogs, A Thousand Furnished Rooms, which has been active since March 2004, and a second blog, Ideas in Technology and Publishing, which I wrote from August 2003 to January 2005.
A Thousand Furnished Rooms was a personal blog with a specific focus. Over the last several years, I have been developing narrative nonfiction. I hesitate to call it “memoir,” because, well, that seems too precious to me. “Narrative nonfiction” seems both more accurate and less precious, yet also somehow less limiting to me.
My professional blog, Ideas in Technology and Publishing, focused on the subject matter of my business, New Millennium Publishing. New Millennium is a consulting practice focused on emerging technical issues for publishers — including content management, XML, and digital rights management.
Like its two predecessor blogs, this will be a work in progress. I will post a mix of new materials, recent materials, and past materials that I am revisiting.
I realize that in combining the two blogs, I run the risk of alienating readers who come here expecting one or the other blog. Some of you may only be interested in the entries related to technology and publishing, and some of you may only want to read the more personal entries. To that end, my developer, Aaron Schutzengel, added a “switch” that allows you to choose “personal posts only,” “tech posts only,” or “everything (default).” It seems to work really well, so if you feel strongly about such things, by all means, avail yourself of it.
About the Name of the Earlier Blog
The earlier blog's name, A Thousand Furnished Rooms, comes from a favorite poem, "Preludes," by T. S. Eliot. (For an accurate copy of the poem online, please see the copy on Bartelby.com). The specific image is:
One thinks of all the hands
That are raising dingy shades
In a thousand furnished rooms.
The poem is jammed with such wonderful urban imagery ("a lonely cab-horse steams and stamps"), and I love both the image and the sentiment. I still love the poem even though it was swallowed whole by "Cats."
About the Author
My day job is running a small, specialized consulting practice called New Millennium Publishing. In that role, I work with publishers implementing content management and other kinds of electronic publishing technology. I also write quite a bit on these topics for publications such as The Gilbane Report and The Seybold Report, and have co-authored two books.
Prior to running New Millennium Publishing, I held a variety of writing and technical positions, and have been an adjunct writing instructor at a number of Boston area colleges. I have a B.A. and M.A. in writing.
I live in greater Boston with my wife and two sons, and I live and die with the Red Sox.
Posted by Bill Trippe at March 7, 2004 9:04 PM
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Bill, I recently heard that your mom died. My condolences to you and your family. As you probably know I am not in touch with Mary and have no contact with anyone in Winthrop. My mother mentioned the other day that she saw your mother's obituary some time ago in the Globe. She did not mention it to me when she saw it for reasons known only to her I guess. I looked for your mother's obituary on line and found your website. Your tribute to her in your writing is very moving, and I just wanted to let you know that it was nice to read them. Your mom had a very difficult life and raised you and your siblings to be successful, strong, and well educated individuals. You all are a tribute to her and her memory. My best to you and yours, Joani
Posted by Joan Stoller Kleger at April 25, 2004 8:47 PM