Crossroads

I’m standing at the crossroads
There are many roads to take
But I stand here so silently
For fear of a mistake
One road leads to paradise
One road leads to pain
One road leads to freedom
But they all look the same
(lyrics by Calvin Russell)

The Universe

The universe is blind  to the events in our lives. Events that occur to us are assigned no polarity, either positive or negative, by the universe. They just happen either by our own design or by the design of those around us. The impact or the significance of these events is assigned by ourselves. We break the neutrality of the universe. We give priority and value to each and every event that we experience.  To maintain the neutrality of the universe we would have to adopt a cold and dark ambivalence. Be void of all emotion. Unconscious.

It is only through the constant assessment of the events in our lives that we are able to grow. Looking analytically at these events with an eye to understanding their significance, hopefully honestly and objectively, gives depth and life to the void that we might have become.

Crisp twenties!

Doing Time

“A good friend will come bail you out of jail, but a true friend will be sitting right next to you saying,’Damn! That was fun.’” – Unknown

I’ve heard the hardest thing about doing time is reconciling the fact that you are going to do the time. The longer you resist the reality of your circumstances the more difficult it is to get on with fulfilling your sentence. As the adage goes, “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.”

Prisons are not meant to conform to the will and desires of their inhabitants. The environment is structured such that you will have no choice but to conform to its harsh and cold nature. Reform is never an easy process. Typically those that are able to allow themselves to be molded, positively, come away with a new spirit. A spirit that is repentant for its wrong doing but refreshed in the fact that for lack of a better term, as been born again.

I give major respect to the men and women who are able to undergo these major life transformations. They successfully ignored the environment that surrounded them with familiar vices and many new ones. Emerging perhaps a little battle weary but stronger and focused on the new life ahead of them.

“Only in quiet waters things mirror themselves undistorted. Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world.” – unknown

Or as I like to say, “If your head is up your ass the whole world looks like shit.”

Perception is really one of those odd things in life that we know what it is but it’s context changes from person to person. I’m sure there is more to it but I think perception is dictated by three things:

1. Reality. This would be the baseline by which perception is compared to. The deviation from reality determines the degree to which perception is innaccurate.

2. External influences to the reality. These would be anything that is not a part of us that would alter our view of the reality.

3. Ourselves. We distort reality to some degree based on our experiences and handicaps.

Number 1 is immutable. 2 and 3 are what cause the problems. Overcoming our own lenses and compensating for distortion out of our control is very challenging when looking to bring the truth into focus.

I guess you have to start by pulling your head out of your ass if you want the world to be less shitty.

Bullshit bag

Perhaps you can relate to this and if not maybe you will just catch a glimpse at what I suspect is not a new phenomenon just one that is being cleverly packaged and marketed to unsuspecting workers.

It seems today in order to do business and especially in corporate America one has to find a way to create and perpetuate bullshit. I suspect that this is accomplished by hiring one asshole manager that has become proficient in generating copious amounts of bullshit which in turn affects everyone else down the ladder. For you see, those beneath the asshole now perceive that the way to get to the upper rungs is by producing enough bullshit to fertilize a small agricultural nation. Perhaps not a rule but the perceived path to advancement appears to require the ability to shit and shit as often as possible. Thereby  the entire corporate culture is polluted with foul, nasty bullshit.

You see the problem with this approach is that eventually management is up to its ears in bullshit and the only way to get themselves out of it is to remove not only the bullshitters they helped to create but themselves as well. Fat chance of that happening! What else can they do? Reality is about perception. If you can control the environment then you can easily convince those around you that the bullshit is actually the proper way to conduct business. That bullshit is necessary and valuable. That ridding yourself of those who do not want the bullshit is actually better for all.

Ah yes the sound logic of management. Lets accept the bullshit because its the only thing that hides our own ineptness.

I’m tired of all the “how to increase productivity ” bullshit. Do want to know how to increase productivity? It’s simple, have zero tolerance for bullshit. People are happier with the less bullshit they have to deal with at work. Happy people work harder.

I’m tired of all the “analyze, strategize, synergize, align,…” (add any other corporate jargon bullshit word to the list) bullshit. The mission is clear. Work hard so we and hopefully you can make more money. Whats wrong with saying that? Why do we need these grandiose mission statements that are really bullshit dressed as manure?

I’m tired of you creating bullshit because you have nothing else to do. Yep, we all know busy work or work based on not having a clear direction. The, “Hmmm what can I ask my staff to do on top of their existing workload that might me look like I have a vision for…”. Just stop it. See point one.

The greatest insult to the modern worker was saying that management was a discipline that was to be separate from the labor force. If managers continued to do the work of their subordinates they would be less inclined to heap on piles and piles of bullshit. Productivity is easily measured and does not requires bullshit to analyze it.

Courtesy of solea

Yes I need to be stimulated until I come and recover. It’s not what you think though. Unless your a $1000 call girl named Juanita Epstein then it is exactly that.

Seriously though folks I have been incubating this one for a couple of weeks and I think I am ready to let it hatch and take flight. I know they have some major Brainiacs there in Washington D.C. working hard on solutions to rejuvenate this stalled economy. However I’d like to put my idea, as simplistic as it may be, out there for consideration. After I’m done then you guys can tell me what you think. OK? Alright here it is.

Since the government is in the mood to give money away and bail out every greedy bastard and their wayward industry why not try this stimulus plan and see if it helps.

1. F*** the banks! They’ll always find a way to make money. Instead why not do something worth while with that $80 billion dollars. Lets really stimulate the economy by paying 1/2 of all mortgages written in the last 10 years. Why? This way the banks get an infusion of cash, mortgage debt is lowered and home owners have more spendable cash.
2. F*** the auto manufacturers! Let them fail this way they can get rid of the unions. In this day of litigation the unions are not really necessary to protect the interests of the common laborer. Believe me, people know where to go when they feel their rights are being trampled upon. Also if step 1 were followed then people would have some money to purchase new automobiles. Hell they might even cost less now that the domestic auto manufacturers do not have pay those exorbitant hourly wages, pensions and medical benefits.
3. Legalize marijuana. Admit that you were wrong and start cashing in on Americas multi-billion dollar crop.

There you have it, 3 easy steps to stimulate the economy until it recovers. After it recovers let it bask in the warm after glow of triple digit profits and capitalist short sightedness for a while before you go and f*** it again.

Why must we as a society label and categorize every aspect of our existence? Moderate, conservative, liberal, the left, the right, gay, straight, bi, black, white, and other.

We have created so many buckets to contain ourselves that we will eventually lose sight of what we were trying to set ourselves apart from. Dang it we even have buckets within buckets.

What’s wrong with just existing? Living each day to the full and accepting and if need be rejecting people as you encounter them? Life is for living not subdividing!

Ugly Sluts

Courtesy of gwalton1

Out and about this weekend I came across two young women. Probably in the their very early 20s. What caught my eye, from a distance, at night with very bad lighting, were curvy bodies, high heels and the chatter of young women. Like any male I had to investigate. So I did. I felt like a fish that swallowed a lure. So like most men that have been let down by their own foolishness I to had to blame the women.

Slip-On Uggs

Courtesy of Moodahocka's camera phone

Really what is the point of an Ugg slipper, slide, or mule? Isn’t the rationale behind Uggs is that it’s a very warm boot or shoe? If it’s cold enough outside to wear Uggs then wear Uggs. Does having your heel hang out really make that much of a difference?

Follow the Leader

This is the first time in my career where I have the opportunity to work with some one who has climbed up through the ranks and is willing to share their experience with those subordinate to them. However I must say  that not every manager is a leader, despite how well they manage their staff.

Leadership and management are not always synonymous. I guess when you really break down the definitions of each this becomes even more apparent. Would you agree with me in saying that leadership is about having vision and being able to work with a team to accomplish that vision? Whereas management would be more of keeping a team working but not necessarily working towards a greater purpose. I think leadership, at least good leadership, will encompass management skills. Management perhaps is a discipline that may not have leadership.

Leadership often involves taking risks. The willingness to go out on a limb to acheive an objective. Whereas management is more about keeping the status quo, making sure that things continue to run as smoothly as possible. That said I can see why CEOs and other high ranking executives are considered the leadership of an organization. The vision rests with them and they coordinate the efforts of the organization to realize that vision. They lead the organization to the vision. Much like a general will lead his troops to victory or defeat. The vision is either realized or not.

There are countless books on leadership and how to lead and strategies for leading. I think what it all really comes down to is having a vision and being willing to accept the risks, consequences and rewards of moving to fulfill that vision. Without that you are still following in the footsteps of others.

Starbucks vs. Dunkin Donuts

Image courtesy of Seattlepi.com

Now that I have your attention, the real title of this entry is Starbucks vs. Dunkin Donuts.

I know you guys are smart enough to realize this is by no means a taste test comparison of two the nations leading coffee brands. This is more of a look at the mind set that often comes into play when discussing ones favorite brew. Just for full disclosure I prefer Starbucks.  I have tried the others, D&D, 7-11, various diners, break room and even instant coffee. It does not bother me that the majority of the folks do not like Starbucks. Is it not about choice? What does bother me though is that the non Sbux drinkers will deride us for spending more on something that we enjoy. As if all pallets were the same. Should that be the case why not a monochromatic world and season less food? There is no comparison, for better or worse, between the various brews.  Yes it is all coffee just like $100 sex and $1000 sex is still sex. But what do I get for the $1000 that I do not get for the $100.

• Environment – I can enjoy my cup of joe in an environment that suits my lifestyle.
• Choice – Sbux provides me with a constant variety of new flavors and blends to try.
• Class – This is not about the people per se but more about the experience. Sbux educates its customers. You either get it or you don’t.

You see my point. Although ultimately sex is sex and each provider will produce the same outcome (snicker snicker) but perhaps for the $1000 I am in a posh hotel and not in the back seat of a car. Perhaps for the $1000 I am with an educated, worldly and entertaining host. For the $1000 I had the chance to pick from a selection of the most beautiful and talented women for which to satisfy my carnal desires.

Continuing with my prostitution metaphor. Perhaps I tried the $100 street walker and by some good fortune also got to experience the $1000 call girl. Yes they both performed the same service but as I described above what made the difference was how it was offered. Maybe for some those differences are irrelevant but for others they are deal breakers.

I guess all I am saying is that there are choices out there.  The ones you choose are just that, the ones you chose. Let me enjoy my $2 cup of coffee and I’ll let you enjoy your $1 cup of coffee. After we are done with our hot aromatic beverage we can bask in the warm after glow of post consuption satisfaction.

With the tough economic times perhaps making it yourself is actually the best course of action. If you choose to do so why not learn a little bit about how to make a really good cup of coffee. Here is a good place to start…

Connect by Underestimated

“Many people spend more time developing their excuses than developing themselves.  Would you like successful excuses or a successful self?” Jihan Thomas

Quickly, folks. That’s how I feel about religions and their followers. They spend more time focusing on what not to do than actually doing something worth while. Religion is an obstacle to spirituality and humanity. Being spiritual has nothing to do with what arcane laws you choose to follow because you feel that is how your salvation is secured. Spirituality is the process by which you connect with and better the lives of the people around you.

Nuff said. Peace!