Digimeter, Boonen and dermatoglyphics

06:15h

It is way too early tot get up, but a quarter past six I am leaving for Ostend on a trip of 213 kilometres, single ticket. Luckily for me, my friends from the band Balthazar brought out a new amazing CD yesterday which is now pouring into my ears at full blast. Around a quarter over eight, I arrive. At nine o’clock, everything is set.

9:45h

The working students arrive just in time and by a quarter to ten we are up and running. We are hoping for a nice, dry weather and enough people willing to cooperate. The goal is 50 interviews today, with men and women between 20 and 60.
While my colleague is powdering his nose, I stand guard inside. The meter already counts 5 people in less than half an hour, which is more than on the yearly ikebana meeting on the ground floor can count on. Meanwhile my intestines wonder why I still did not ordered a toasted ham and cheese sandwich. I totally understand their growling; I could grab a bite.

On the side: Tom Boonen wins Milan-San Remo today – according to Tim’s prophesying. He also predicts that Cavendish will die on the Cipressa, that Jan Backelandts will ride a somewhat nondescript round and Lady Linn’s mouth will keep getting bigger and bigger.

13:20h

A great day in Ostend, only the face to face interviews are a bit awkward. Just before, we came across a middle aged lady who took pleasure in randomly putting syllables together. Those syllables were usually preceded by an enthusiastic ‘ooooh yes’. And IF the syllables – rather by accident than goodwill – turned out to be a word, this word was as a rule not at all relevant as an answer to the question. When we asked her if she was afraid of the radiation effects of wireless technologies, she answered that her radiator was broken. The last words she murmured before limping back to the market place were “you have hooch”. We made our most friendly smile and hoped that that was not a question…

And life can be beautiful in Ostend because now the sun is shining… on our way to lunch.

After a fresh grilled tuna steak, we continue our battle with the quota and I have to say that our students make a great job, because they do not even make time for a little afterglow… Suddenly the weather proofs its mighty influence on a day like this. Clouds come out and the sun disappears. The wind starts to blow and suddenly starts blowing inside and outside again.

16:20h

After a slight dip we are back on track, starting with a big family that joyfully takes part in the survey. Daddy is very interested in our metering project because he has his own Mobil home park. Mummy does not have a clue. ‘But, sir, can’t you ask me something about cooking?’ Luckily darling daughter can help. Grandpa in his turn, is completely into digital television and starts to sing Belgacom’s praises and how ‘cool’ it is to be able to watch all football matches of the Jupiler league. To conclude, Grandma thinks it all goes quite too fast. She would rather read an exciting book.

The magic eight ball Tim bought yesterday disappears in the garbage can. Damn you Boonen. Backelandts did ride quite unnoticeable (he was even unnoticed on the list of contestants, go figure), Cavendish did die on the Cipressa, that stupid Spaniard does not grant us a party. In case you have not noticed, Tim is quite a fan of Tom Boonen. If only because Tom is not reluctant to share his bed with a sixteen-year-old. But in between two exciting radio comments: many people take a seat behind our computers in Ostend. Let this be a ray of hope on Tim’s last IBBT workday.

A second short and mainly unrelated intermezzo: dermatoglyphics (study of fingerprints) is the longest English noun with unrepeated letters. To whom it might concern.

A third and unfortunately enough much related intermezzo: it starts to rain heavily again. Against all reason, we hope that this does not mean the end of the last productive hour.

Another half an hour till Tim’s glorious IBBT career comes to an end. He is greatful for the fresh fruit every morning, for Royco Minute Soup (Curry) and the fact that the office was built so close to his bed (4,5 minutes from home to work, or one ‘I Think I Like It’ on his MP3), but especially for hiring him at the time!

18:45h

A quarter to seven and the last costumer leaves our operating base on the Wapenplein. Tired yet fulfilled we lower ourselves into our seats and contemplate about the fun we had in the past months. A cooled pint of beer works magic and thus the urban legends follow up at top speed. I will miss him, our Tim… All the best at your new job at AVS, mate.

Thirteen down and one to go… Up to Ghent next week for the last recruiting action for the Digimeter of Wave 2!

This blog was written by Koen Vervoort, panel manager at iLab.o and counsellor of the recruiting actions for the Digimeter project.