Friday, May 6, 2011
Do We Really Need Government Schools?
Imagine you are an incoming superintendent of schools and your "State of the Schools" speech contains these words and thoughts. Heehee!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Truth
"Do governments and marketers lie to us? All the time. Does that mean that the powerful (reproducible, testable and yes, true) invisible forces of economics, history and science are a fraud? No way. Once you go down that road, you’re on your own, no longer a productive member of a society built on rational thought. Be skeptical. Test and measure and see if the truth is a useful hypothesis to help move the discussion forward. Please do. But at some point, in order to move forward, we have to accept that truth can’t be a relative concept, something to use when it suits our agenda but be discarded when we're frightened or want to score a point." - Seth Godin
The truth works EVERY time it is tried!
The truth works EVERY time it is tried!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Bin Laden
Cogratulations to the men and women of our armed forces for doing their work! A finer group of men and women you will not EVER meet in this lifetime! Thank a service member whenever you get the chance. They do the work that most of us would simply curl up into the fetal position, sucking our thumbs and crying for our mommies! To all the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, I salute you and thank God everyday that you are on our side!
Methinks Obama has all but sealed his re-election in 2012 with this "victory." Well, unless another (God forbid!) terrorist attack occurs on American soil that is. You can all write the campaign ads now...
Methinks Obama has all but sealed his re-election in 2012 with this "victory." Well, unless another (God forbid!) terrorist attack occurs on American soil that is. You can all write the campaign ads now...
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
"Corporate America" Think
I am applying for a BA spot with a local law firm and they sent a questionnaire to be completed as the next steps in their hiring process. Please note that all of the questions but these two were ALREADY asked for in the initial application response. See redundant?
The two questions:
1. Please explain why you would be a good candidate for this position?
2. Tell me about a time when you had to identify a critical issue and provide a solution to the problem. What was the process you went through and what was the outcome?
And TWO questions? TWO? Really? I can write a dissertation on the first one and what the hell will they know? Are they judging me by my writing ability (which is pretty damn good, imo) or my ACTUAL work? GMAFB. No wonder "corporate america" is dying. We waste time by asking adults to posit on silly questions pretending that "we" (the hiring manager/recruiter) are omnipotent and will unearth some deep, dark mystery in a respone that will disqualify them for entrance into their hallowed halls of employment...or even Heaven. When in reality, ANY applicant with a brain the size of a scuppernog seed should be able to answer these questions in a face-to-face interview in 4-5 sentences.
Can we please do away with the "Tell me a time when..." questions? Especially in written form. I can make shit up with the best of them and they will NEVER know the difference! I am going to memorize it or use a DIFFERENT answer if asked again in person. Do these people really think we are that stupid? I think my answer is going to be the response supplied by "Gunny Highway" (portrayed by Clint Eastwood) in the movie "Heartbreak Ridge" when asked about how he handles situations by a "desk jockey" Major that has just come over form supply to lead a group of Marine infantry men: "Improvise, adapt and overcome." Next stupid question, please?
It reminds me of "How do you handle a difficult person?" Really? Does anyone REALLY respond with "I called him/her a rat bastard, urinated on his/her desk and marched out of his/her office calling him/her every name in the book."
But then again this is a law firm; what should I expect?
The two questions:
1. Please explain why you would be a good candidate for this position?
2. Tell me about a time when you had to identify a critical issue and provide a solution to the problem. What was the process you went through and what was the outcome?
And TWO questions? TWO? Really? I can write a dissertation on the first one and what the hell will they know? Are they judging me by my writing ability (which is pretty damn good, imo) or my ACTUAL work? GMAFB. No wonder "corporate america" is dying. We waste time by asking adults to posit on silly questions pretending that "we" (the hiring manager/recruiter) are omnipotent and will unearth some deep, dark mystery in a respone that will disqualify them for entrance into their hallowed halls of employment...or even Heaven. When in reality, ANY applicant with a brain the size of a scuppernog seed should be able to answer these questions in a face-to-face interview in 4-5 sentences.
Can we please do away with the "Tell me a time when..." questions? Especially in written form. I can make shit up with the best of them and they will NEVER know the difference! I am going to memorize it or use a DIFFERENT answer if asked again in person. Do these people really think we are that stupid? I think my answer is going to be the response supplied by "Gunny Highway" (portrayed by Clint Eastwood) in the movie "Heartbreak Ridge" when asked about how he handles situations by a "desk jockey" Major that has just come over form supply to lead a group of Marine infantry men: "Improvise, adapt and overcome." Next stupid question, please?
It reminds me of "How do you handle a difficult person?" Really? Does anyone REALLY respond with "I called him/her a rat bastard, urinated on his/her desk and marched out of his/her office calling him/her every name in the book."
But then again this is a law firm; what should I expect?
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Friday, September 3, 2010
Ruh Roh, Shaggy!
How's that hopey changy thing working out for you?
I am not naive enough to believe this is all PBO's fault...it's not. But because he is the current "BDD," (with all do respect to Toby Keith's song but I am changing the middle "D" for another term) he gets (and deserves some) all the blame. Along with Congress and the rest of the "do gooders" in D.C.
An acquaintance of mine once said "If what you're doing isn't working...do something else. If what you're still doing isn't working...do something else." Can anyone, other than me, see the simplicity in that statement?
Can anyone tell me why we continue to do the same thing over and over again, vis-a-vis government, (ALL government!) and expect different results? Can anyone tell me WHY you have ANY confidence in government whatsoever? Please? I am all ears...er eyes and want to know why you honestly believe, logically, that government can continue doing the same thing over and over and arrive at different results? Please leave the "I feel..." lines in the pen. This is not a time for feelings but a time for factual, logical and meaningful debate. And before ya'll go and get your panties in a wad, I am a raging "feeler" according to the Myers-Briggs type indicator so if I am not offended then you should not be offended.
Please espouse away. I have to run; my phone just rang. Recruiter trying to find me a job...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703946504575469331075476058.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories
I am not naive enough to believe this is all PBO's fault...it's not. But because he is the current "BDD," (with all do respect to Toby Keith's song but I am changing the middle "D" for another term) he gets (and deserves some) all the blame. Along with Congress and the rest of the "do gooders" in D.C.
An acquaintance of mine once said "If what you're doing isn't working...do something else. If what you're still doing isn't working...do something else." Can anyone, other than me, see the simplicity in that statement?
Can anyone tell me why we continue to do the same thing over and over again, vis-a-vis government, (ALL government!) and expect different results? Can anyone tell me WHY you have ANY confidence in government whatsoever? Please? I am all ears...er eyes and want to know why you honestly believe, logically, that government can continue doing the same thing over and over and arrive at different results? Please leave the "I feel..." lines in the pen. This is not a time for feelings but a time for factual, logical and meaningful debate. And before ya'll go and get your panties in a wad, I am a raging "feeler" according to the Myers-Briggs type indicator so if I am not offended then you should not be offended.
Please espouse away. I have to run; my phone just rang. Recruiter trying to find me a job...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703946504575469331075476058.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
All Time 100 Novels
Been awhile...I have given up on the political fodder; it just doesn't matter. We have allowed our government to grow exponentially in order to give us what we want and that has no end in sight so I am no longer going to beat my head against the proverbial wall. Take care of myself, my family and those I care about. It is all about survival now and for those of you who do not fall into one of those categories, I pray for you and I hope you can survive because it is going to be ugly in the next few years. Keep on believing what comes out of DC...is it worth your life and those of your family?
Anyway, this is an interesting list. Feel free to debate the inclusiveness as you will. Sadly, I have only read 6 of these 100 novels so I have some work to do. Fortunately, books go well with frosty cold, malt, barley and hop beverages!
I also did a breakdown of the decades for this list; because I am just curious how they broke down. More fodder for the fold:
1920's - 10
30's - 13
40's - 12
50's - 18
60's - 22
70's - 7
80's - 13
90's - 4
00's - 5
*NOTE: The 80's also had 3 of the novels listed as "All time Graphic." The 00's had 7.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1951793,00.html
Anyway, this is an interesting list. Feel free to debate the inclusiveness as you will. Sadly, I have only read 6 of these 100 novels so I have some work to do. Fortunately, books go well with frosty cold, malt, barley and hop beverages!
I also did a breakdown of the decades for this list; because I am just curious how they broke down. More fodder for the fold:
1920's - 10
30's - 13
40's - 12
50's - 18
60's - 22
70's - 7
80's - 13
90's - 4
00's - 5
*NOTE: The 80's also had 3 of the novels listed as "All time Graphic." The 00's had 7.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1951793,00.html
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