Friday, July 11, 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fairness, ethics, and more stupidity.....
Cynthia Good, founding editor of Atlanta-based PINK Magazine, has had it with the injustice that women have been receiving for years with the signs all over our country which wrongly depict the status of working women. It stems from her hatred for the signs used by the highway departments all over the country that have the wording “Men Working”. She has successfully had the Atlanta highway departments pull all the signs and either have then covered and re-worded to “Workers Ahead” or totally replaced with new signs since many times the workers happen to be women. It’s not a moment too late since women all over our country have had to endure such demeaning treatment for so long. Also when our country is on the brink of a financial meltdown it’s comforting to know that $144 will be spent to replace each sign. Considering the staggering number of these things, the cost will be astronomical, but well worth it to correct the egregious injustice. Speaking of work ethics, though, “Workers Ahead” still may not be the correct rendering considering that holding a sign and turning it around occasionally does not constitute “work” in my old-school mind. Not to mention the many times I've seen one person digging and four more persons leaning on their respective shovels. Maybe a better slogan would be a sign that read “ Humans ahead that may be doing tasks that could fit the definition of work who need your safe consideration”. Although these new signs may be a bit bulky and cost considerably more ( $788 ea), as well as take at least two people to handle them safely, they will remove all derogatory language and ambiguity concerning weather one is “working” or not.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your Mom Has A Work Ethic
Ah, work ethic. Dictionary.com defines it as "a belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and its inherent ability to strengthen character." This seems like a good definition, and Calvin's Dad would certainly approve. Now that it has been defined, let's examine this a little more closely:
My work ethic appears to be flexible. There are times when my subconscious cries out to be useful, and others when it constantly tells me not to reinvent the wheel. One occasion that springs to mind would be many summers ago as the lead summer intern in the TECH department. That particular summer was the great "Cable Pull of '04." It was a horribly inefficient use of cat-5 (my idea!) that saved us at least three weeks worth of pulling. Manteca threatened to "Rock* our world" if my crazy plan did not work. Alas, the crazy plan worked, but it was the equivalent of rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic; someone almost burned down the school a few months later.
Given that our hard work ended up being in vain, the question becomes do I feel better as a result of formulating the path of least resistance to get there? More appropriately, do the ends justify my means? If I say yes, then I am saying that I was forseeing the possibility that our hard work would be destroyed by acts of malice, stupidity, or God. I guess that's not too much of a stretch; the school is situated in tornado alley, employs individuals who intentionally hide computer components from the tech department, and has some pretty abysmal standardized testing scores. Sure, why not. It's certainly not inconceivable that some idiot would burn down the school, in fact, it's very probable.
So there, four years later I have rationalized taking the lazy way out of pulling over three miles of cable because I foresaw the possibility that some idiot would be ruining all of our hard work in a fit of pyromania.
What's your rationalization?
It's all just a bunch of distractions until we die anyway...
Jeff C.
*He didn't say "rock," but it did have four letters and kind of rhyme.
**Instead of the hammer of justice, might I reccomend THE FUBAR.
Monday, July 07, 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethics...stop laughing!
Today I was hit with a small splinter that stuck in my soul. Nothing big and painful...just small and deep. You know that splinter that only hurts at first because you know its there and then you only feel it when you move a certain way later. I was told today "...blah, blah, blah, because you have a bad work ethic." This came from one of my summer students. (No, I did not kill them instantly with the Hammer of Justice) Now many of you have worked on the 'ol tech team during the summer. Yeah, we work hard and we play harder. I did not realize that my 15 years in this ridiculous school district was all backed by a bad work ethic. Do you realize how many silk purses were made out of sow's ears? Wait, not even the ear of the sow...head south.
I think I was offended by the comment and I needed to let it out. My work ethic, no not that of my fathers, nor the chicken farmer down the road, is one that has been modified constantly (approximately every 3 months) for the past 15 years. I do not believe anything is accomplished chasing your tail each and every day 9 to 5, and if you can't have fun and be happy, then what's it worth? Do you realize how many people believe a work ethic consists of doing the same thing every day with the same result so that you can make it better for you children to get a job and do the exact same thing? WORK ETHIC! Ohmmm... Ohmmm... Ohmmm... Ok, the watch has stopped beeping rapidly and I think I am better. This Deepak Chopra method of Brazilian Tantric Yoga and free form jujitsu with the Fung-Shui chaser is really working for me. Well, that and the consecutive slamming of 4, 24 oz. Red Bulls with a mouth full of Good and Plenty.
So there it is, I feel better. i just needed to put it down with several misspelled words and hideous grammar. So if you feel I have a terrible work ethic then come out play me, out tech me, out talk me and out laugh me. I consider it an honor for many of you to have crossed my path (tada...) and in turn, me yours. BOY, this is so much better than Paxil and Jack Daniels.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've been a baaaad boy.
Today I burned some leaves and braches which raised the temperature over south Hempstead county approximately 0.00000000187 C for a total of 45 minutes. Also during this non-green infraction 85 unsuspecting fire ants were killed and many injured as they were caught unawares of my wrong doing; not to mention 2 earthworms, four moths and six rolie-polies. My grief and shame are more than I can bear so to counter this willful disrespect for our dear earth I pledge that for the remainder of this week I will use only one square of toilet tissue for each “brown event” unless said “event” is a messy one in which case two squares will be forfeited so that my carbon footprint may be reconciled. It is my heartfelt hope that no one will contact the authorities of this as I will endeavor not to do this ( until next time ).
This is a great article written about Rush Limbaugh, with his permission and complete cooperation with the author Zev Chafets. I highly recommend you read it. I learned several things about Rush that I did not know. He definitely wants to make sure that this country is taken care of by a conservative and not one of the many tree huggers.
One of my favorite sections is below.
Recently, I sent Limbaugh an e-mail message, his preferred means of long-distance communication, asking what his own presidential agenda would look like. His answer reflects his actual concerns. A Limbaugh administration would seek to:
1. Open the continental shelf to drilling. Ditto the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
2. Establish a 17 percent flat tax.
3. Privatize Social Security.
4. Give parents school vouchers to break the monopoly of public education.
5. Revoke Jimmy Carter's passport while he is out of the country.
6. Abandon all government policies based on the hoax of man-made global warming.
So Equipt (Microsoft Equipt is $69.99 (U.S.) estimated retail price for a one-year renewable subscription.) is a big deal. Those of you with little $$ and big computers, especially college students, this one is for you. Now you can have all the best that Microsoft offers and any of the new bells and whistles to boot. I wonder if this is in honor of or celebration of the retirement of Bill Gates? Maybe they need some quick cash and want to get you hooked on their crack...er product so that when they mothball Equipt in two years you are forced to purchase office 2010 for $800 just to open those lame Powerpoints? Click the link below and read...
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Looks like change is a comin', and everybody loves change... and Raymond.
This was sprung on the Denver Mayor and the city as they prepared for the mayor's state of the city address. The singer was invited to sing the National Anthem. When it was over, there was talk... just talk.
