What a Difference a Foot Makes

Dear Members and Constituents,

I think it was Albert Einstein who said time is relative. I have to assume this truism also applies to the other half of the time-space continuum (namely distance). Whether Sunday’s Super Bowl match becomes game of inches remains to be seen, however, in building the case for the relativity of space, I have a couple of examples for you.

After six years in the same office, I will be moving twenty five steps away from my current desk next Wednesday (to 32C-510). To most FDC members, that will mean your round trip to grab a donut will be extended by 30 steps. I have to believe this change in your morning donut commute will have little or no effect on your consumption or willingness to partake (if anything, the added exercise should encourage you to compensate for those extra burned calories with an extra donut).
On the other hand, I’m willing to bet the foot of snow we had overnight and the prospect of another foot today (admittedly a much smaller “distance”), had a large impact –both for those deciding to work from home as well as those making it to the office. Adding insult to injury, the impact on those of you foolhardy enough to brave the commute is compounded by the fact that your efforts will not be rewarded with a donut this morning. This is the first non-holiday Friday since March 27^th, 2009 for which snow has prevented donuts from being at my desk.

Regardless of whether you have an alternative means to get your hands on a donut, I hope you are able to stay warm (no matter how far you are).

Happy Friday!

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