Apparently. it’s encoded into our DNA not to hang all over one another when we converse. I’m glad someone took the time to write this gem of an article. It’s been a long time coming; and I, for one, have been losing sleep.
Filed by JP at 9:28 am under Technology, Idiots
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I don’t think were too many tears (except the ones clowns paint on their faces) when this story hit the news ticker.
Yes, some people have the guts to do what most of us only dream of doing.
Filed by JP at 5:37 pm under News Clippings, Odd Lot, Humor
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It’s exhilarating to read stories like this one where people take matters into their own hands rather than let hell-bent jerks win. That pilot deserves some kind of medal — even if he is French.
Filed by JP at 3:11 pm under Miscellaneous
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I can (and plan to) shovel my guilt to the sidewalk with the rest of the trash now that I have been pardoned.
Actually, I think Dr. Williams is a pretty smart old codger with plenty of wisdom to boot. Here’s his official GMU faculty page.
Filed by JP at 2:55 pm under Opinions, Humor
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Worry no more. Now there is a new service called Jangl (www.jangl.com) that will let you stay in touch with transient acquaintances without having to disclose your real contact information.
Maybe you just met a hot girl in the club, but you want to be able to ditch her before next weekend. If I had a dollar for every time I wished I had a service like that…I’d have at least two dollars. But that’s not the point.
This service is cool, and if you’re some kind of social animal you will definitely want to set aside a few bucks a month for this service.
Filed by JP at 11:47 am under Worthwhile Websites, Technology
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Remember when the Mexicans helped the Commies split the USA down the middle in that awesome Patrick Swayze movie that became an instant 80’s classic? Reading stories like this one from IHT.com makes me wonder if that movie was not so far-fetched?
If you’re having recruiting problems, don’t bring in non-loyal foreigners just to be your mercenaries. Do these foreigners have to swear the same oath to defend our Constitution? Do they even know what the U.S. Constitution says?
[via International Herald Tribune]
Filed by JP at 1:59 pm under News Clippings, Questions, Government, Conspiracy
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My family and I are looking forward to living the good life with no more commute. I have never been fortunate enough to live and work in the same community since I had a tiny, albeit expensive upper in Fort Lee, New Jersey. There, I was only a 5-minute drive to work. At that time, though, my wife was commuting to NYC every day.
Now I can happily say that we both now live and work in the same community. Now my commute is between 15 and 20 minutes, and my wife’s commute is even shorter than that (unless she’s dropping the kid off at Grandma’s).
I have gone from spending over $500/month on gas — and over 65K miles on my car in the past 18 months — to now only filling up the tank once every 10 days or so.
Needless to say that the new work situation is a welcome twist of fate, and I am excited to see where this goes. I now work for a dot com that has been around for awhile, but still has the dot com feel that I used to love so much — no dress codes, casual atmosphere, fast-moving, and little bureaucracy.
I’m sure I’ll keep you posted, but I’m losing some of the ire for middle management that I so commonly used to project; simply due to the fact that I’m no longer dealing with middle managers. This is another welcome change.
Filed by JP at 4:45 pm under Personal Drama, Work
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I’m guessing my multi-part series on the banality and and ineffectiveness of middle management will go on for awhile, so I’d like to keep from piling on all at once. I’ll attempt to keep my comments focused on a few key points in each of the posts of this series.
For now, back to the show…
Remember the movie Jerry Maguire? Remember when he wrote that memo called “The Things We Think and Do Not Say”? Well I want to write a memo to middle managers everywhere. I think I’m going to call it “The Things You Say that Nobody Really Believes”.
There’s a new project coming, and I think you’re really gonna like it!
Middle managers are usually dismally deficient when it comes to the ability to inspire. Chances are if this project is going to be managed in much the same way as the project I’m currently working on, my top priority is going to be contemplating new and exciting ways to kill myself.
We have great opportunities for advancement here
Oh really? Do you mean it? Someday I may actually get to be just like you?
This company has an open-door policy
Is that supposed to be a perk? Let’s be honest. Do any of you really feel comfortable with the idea of going over your manager’s head to gripe to his superior? When has that ever ended well for anyone?
I don’t want to sound cliché, but…
Then you should probably just stop talking right now.
Of course there are worse things about middle management than their pathetic attempts at inspiration, but the point still should be made that people — normal people who actually do the work — respond to leadership by example, not a social class of professional elites incapable of drawing their own conclusions or formulating ideas of their own.
Filed by JP at 9:20 am under Opinions, Business
3 Comments
I’ve been a bit of an addict. I drink way too much Coke. I’m also one of the first people to judge others with compulsive tendencies — chain smokers, alcoholics, crackheads. I’ve pointed the finger and expressed disbelief at how someone could be such a slave to a paper tube with plants inside. Now I’m calling myself out.
I’ve gained weight steadily since graduating from college back in the 90’s. I’ve become lazy and complacent, often opting for fast food since it’s easy, accessible, and well…fast. I’ve been drinking Coke steadily since becoming dependent on it in college as a means to stay awake typing papers for money during the nights.
Today my eyes have been opened to the utter excesses of our society, and it is not a pretty picture. Regardless of the fact that it happened in Texas, it is a shameful and telling occasion when you can now find deep-fried Coke at the Texas State Fair.
I think this is symptomatic of just where we’re at in this country when you can take one of the most unhealthy beverages in the world and turn it into a deep-fried blob of fatty goo. One word: “GROSS.” If this is evolution, then I want out.
The sad part is that a family history of heart failure and high cholesterol, having a baby girl and a beautiful wife, and just wanting to live on this earth for awhile longer apparently weren’t enough motivation for me. That was then. This is the new me.
If you haven’t yet discovered it, check out Traineo — a free weight-loss tracking website with a community component that allows you to enlist friends to keep you accountable and motivated. I would encourage you to try it out.
It’s going to be a hard road to recovery — and that’s really what this is. I don’t mean recovery in the sense that I am copping out and calling my gluttony a disease. Rather, I am referring to the recovery of my health and youthful vigor. I’ve tried quitting Coke before and have dealt with the typical headache and withdrawal symptoms. I tell you now, though, that I will not be one of those people that I used to be so judgemental of. I won’t be the 300-pound, out-of-breath guy who calls in sick when he finds out the elevator is out of order. I won’t leave orphans and a widow because I was too lazy to care about my well-being.
I feel better already.
Filed by JP at 9:17 am under Personal Drama, Worthwhile Websites
1 Comment
Recently, at my job, I was asked to take a personality profile test. This test was given with the premise that “there are no wrong answers,” of course. Isn’t that typical of any test where the results are based on total quackery?
Filed by JP at 3:24 pm under Rants
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