I missed out on speed dating by a generation or two, but last night I got a taste of what it must be like. Ted Simons, host of the public affairs show "Horizon" on PBS Channel 8 in Phoenix interviewed me, covering five topics in 9 minutes, 11 seconds. We talked about the Arizona Mining & Mineral Museum, seismic safety of Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, the AZGS-run earthquake monitoring network, earth fissures, and potash exploration near Holbrook. Wow.
The show started out with a lengthy segment on the mineral museum and those who are concerned about the future of the collections or opposed to its conversion to the "Arizona Experience" in celebration of the centennial next year.
The studio is in the new Cronkite School of Journalism building just north of downtown and the facilities are spectacular. ASU students are involved in or running every aspect of the production. Everyone I met was gracious and professional. And Ted is the consummate moderator. I didn't think we could cover all these topics in the time available but he gave all the right subtle hints -posture, tone, gestures - to keep me on track. The gaffes are all mine.