I have been following The Long Now Foundation for around 20 years now, the clock was still just an idea when I first found out about them and the first model had yet to be built. From the first time I found out about them I wanted to contribute in some physical way, I wanted to have something that I made to be a part of it but for what ever reason I never pursued it. And now for what ever reason I decided to finally pursue it, I just wrote them a letter and that letter is now in the mailbox waiting for the mailman to pick it up.

I think they are right in the idea that humanity lost something important when it ceased building monuments and I hope I will be able to be a part of their monument in some way beyond the rather antithetical monetary fashion.

The thing I want to make more than anything for them is the actual key cap on the button people press or the knob on the lever which they pull to get the time, that thing which people will touch for 10,000 years to come. It is a tiny and ultimately insignificant piece of what they are doing and ultimately I would be thrilled to make anything related to the movement, but to make that insignificant piece that everyone who wants the time has to touch but has no real impact on purpose seems more meaningful than building the clock itself.

I don't expect to get anything from them beyond a form letter, but maybe I will get to make the completely useless knob that sits on top of the lever which allows people to get something as banal as the current time for generations to come and that is their point. They succeeded in their goal when it comes to me, they got me to see humanity beyond what it is for me but for what it is I can offer them 10,000 years down the line even if all that is is a fleeting touch at the push of a button or a bench where they can rest their weary legs after hours of waiting in line to pull a lever or push a button so they can know what time it is.