This Just In..

John McCain latest campaign strategy: blame the Congress as well as Bush for everything bad that has happened to this country during the past 8 years. Did he forget he was prominent part of the Congress for the past 26 years? And isn't it his experience that makes him a better candidate?

Our new corporate "people" strategy hit a snag when we discovered we had almost no employees under the age of 30 on which to pass our boomers' knowledge and experience. Oops!

Grey's Anatomy has hit new heights of lowness. This TV show used to be a sweet, often touching story about struggling young interns growing up professionally and emotionally. That storyline worked well for about a year. Progressively, the show has turned from a hospital into a 'ho house' where everyone gets it on with pretty much everyone else!

For instance, this past episode featured one of the dreamy male doctors teaching a inexperienced lesbian doctor on how to go "down" on another lesbian doctor. He had to demonstrate, of course, because this is a teaching hospital! Quoth he to fellow physician seeking guidance: "take your pants off." Doctors orders will never be the same. BTW, this is not one of my must see TV shows -- I just happen to be around when is is aired. :-)

The financial difficulties the nation faces now are huge. It might not affect each of us, but it will affect some folks you know. I am not a macro-micro economist but it seems to me this breakdown is the result of several factors.

1. We all wanted more of everything but the bill for everything came in the mail yesterday.



2. Alan Greenspan -- who looks like he can't grow grass, grew our economy?How could this old fool have hung on so long? Was he really babbling in front of Congress last week? How much damage did he do on his watch?



3. Our government leaders are far more concerned about their partisan affiliation then they are for the people who elected them.



4. The banks disregarded their fiduciary interest on our behalf -- for more profits on their behalf.



5. The appointed regulators -- like the SEC --just went along for the ride.



6. Oh, and did I mention greed?

Who will pay for all these transgressions? I think the most affected will be the housing and financial industries, followed fairly closely by everyone else. We'll see. How far into your individual pocket will this recession reach? Again, we'll see.

My beautiful and politically astute wife blames the failing American Car industry for victimizing itself. It made the wrong kinda cars all along sez she.  Point well taken, but excessively large gas guzzlers was what America wanted and expected from Ford and Chevy. As recently as 2 years ago, massive behemoths like the Ford Expedition roamed the highways. The American car industry really wasn't serious about a plan "b" and really didn't have to be. If you wanted trucks or truck type cars, you went to them. However, if you wanted reliable, cost-effective transportation, you chose foreign esp. Honda or Toyota. Along the way, the foreign car builders did build a plan 'b.' And some of their branding as efficient reliable car builders transferred to the trucks and SUVs they made as well. As it turns out, Japan may have the last dealership standing.

Whenever I want to get mad, I tune into Sean Hannity on the way home from work.  He usually makes my stomach churn within minutes.  Today he was harping on an interview done by a newswoman in North Carolina with Joe Biden.  

Newswoman:  Here's a quote from Karl Marx (reads a quote about redistribution of wealth to everyone).  Does Karl Marx and Obama have the same philosophy?

Biden: (with a laugh in his voice) Is this a joke?  Is this a real question?   Are you serious? 

Hannity goes on about how Biden was reactive and angry (but he sure didn't sound angry) and he ducked the question all Americans should have an answer to.  I really want to throw up now so I change the channel. 

How can people -- republicans or democrats -- listen to crap like this? Sean Hannity sounds like a skinhead too much of the time and its frightening to me that he has an audience! There really ought to be a line drawn somewhere about how far these "pundits" both dems and republicans can stretch and twist words. 

It's coincidental that two young man described as skinheads by the FBI were picked up in Tennessee.  They are accused of having a plot to kill black people and Obama while they were at it.  

You're Been De-Massed? Sorry!

It's finally come to my intention that my communication skill -- esp. the verbal type -- is crappy. And most often this comes to light when I communicate with my family.

For example, if I say to my lovely wife "wow, you look really hot today" there is a chance (maybe a great chance) that she'll interpret that to mean "gawd, you usually look awful but today not so bad." And so it goes pretty much with the rest of the people I love. Ya know, being a person that who has made a living from words, you would think I would be better at it.

I've searched to understand how these miscommunications can happen. I have arrived at an indisputable conclusion. It's the corporation's fault. I've worked in one for 35 years or so and have been irreparably damaged. I am communication challenged. I really can't get it right in a personal way anymore, but in a "personnel" way, I am mad good. Especially when it comes to delivering bad news to employees!

I have advanced my skills beyond the tired worn-out "downsizing", "outsourcing," "reorganizing". I am even beyond "offshoring" now. Employees know what these mean without a doubt.

So, I recommend that embrace creativity, put some verve and obfuscation in your messages especially when you are foreshadowing bad news. Following are some not so clear yet not so obscure messages that foretell a reduction in salary (to $0) for employees but keeps management feeling they've kept the employees "in the loop." My comments on each follow each message in parens.

New Ways to Say You Are In Danger of Losing Your Job

We are not going to downsize, but we are looking at an "adjustment of skill mix" based on a rigorous analysis of customer needs. (This is the "Rightsize" gambit, thinly veiled.)

We should always hone and develop our skill set so we can examine and advance our career alternatives. (Especially now. And soon.)

We need to make a "correction of sub-optimal sales force deployment." (Means your sub-optimal salary may stop soon.)

We're entering a "De-recruitment cycle." (Means you will have to post for your own job.)

Although we don't anticipate a reorganization, we may pursue "enterprise delayering." (You can might be one of the "layers!")

Using the principles of "force deployment rationalization," we'll reach new heights. (This insinuates that your employment is holding the company back.)

We'll promptly notify all those who will receive "involuntary offers." (It will be an offer you can't refuse.)

We need to make "knowledge-based assets" corrections. (This means if you know someone important, you may not be fired.)

After a period of resource transitioning, we'll enter one of selective de-massing with vocational relocation. (If you can figure this one out early, perhaps you can avoid being de-massed.)

So, you can see I can really deliver the best head-scratchin', forehead slappin' messages to inform and amaze the corporate audience thus keeping management pleased and the employees confused.

So why can't I tell my wife she looks hot, my daughters that they look like they lost weight and my sons that they are making better decisions-- without insulting the whole pack of them!??

The Older I Get...

The more I like work (!)


The less I like commuting to work.


The more I find people fascinating.

The less I like large get-togethers.

The more I like prefer small groups of people.


The less of think that "more" of everything is better.

The more I appreciate birds. and nature in general.

The less I trust government.

The more I like football and baseball.

The less I watch basketball and hockey.

The more amazed I am at how heroic average people can be (check the front page of any major newpaper during a catatrophe).

The more disappointed I am at how greedy people can be. (Check the financial sections of your newpaper).

The less I think that law is about justice.

The more I think justice can actually be prevented by lawyers.

The more I like independent films.

The more I like Hollywood films, too.

The more I realize that you can't get peace through war.

The less I like politicians who claim we can.

The more I realize that the truth is not absolute but lies are absolute.

The less I like political races.

The more I like the concept of life.

A Visceral Response to the VP Debate

The presidential debates never fail to depress and bore me.  However, last night's VP debate was a bit different. Here are some of the emotional reactions I had in response to the event:

I was impressed:

Sarah went to "school" and memorized a whole lot o' crap AND Joe went to "school" and has learned to cut down on the crap.

I was exhausted:

because both candidates are hyperactive talkers and it made me tired just listening to them for 90 minutes.

I was stymied:

because both debaters agreed on so much.

I was disappointed:

that both campaigns believe the American voter is so stupid that eventually they'll believe anything if you say it enough. (e.g. Obama wants to raise taxes! McCain and Bush are the same!)

I was depressed:

that American voters are so stupid (see 2004) that we fall for the same partisan lies election after election.

I was stupified:

that noted journalist Glen Iffel didn't follow up on some of the more outrageous statements such as "John McCain knows how to win a war."  Sarah, we lost in Vietnam and John was a prisoner for most of it!

I was astounded:

that it was the man that choked back a tear and the woman that was hard as nails!

I was puzzled:

that Sarah had five kids and that Joe is just an average Joe. Neither of them look like that is possible.  In fact, from their appearance and speech alone, Sarah looks and sounds like a Democrat and Joe looks and sounds like a Republican.

I was amused:

that the women who are most like Ms. Palin (focused, driven, overextended with family and career) are the most vociferous against her. I saw some of their reactions on Twitter during the debate.

I was flabberghasted:

when Sarah said -- right at the beginning -- that she is not going to answer the questions but she'll "speak directly to the American people!"  I guess we have no choice but to listen.

I was entertained:

when Sarah did her Tina Fey impressions so well!  :-)

And finally, I was unconvinced:
that anyone would change their vote because of this debate. Sarah didn't blow it, neither did Joe but at the end of the night, there were no revelations.

What did you think?