No new car this year, rather we’ll fix the old Dodge ‘89.
Upgrades are up, complete systems purchases are put on hold, projects are being killed.
No more Starbucks cup every other day, the supermarket has a 907gm ground Arabica coffee can for just $6.00...
...and The Big Three Losers are receiving an injection typical of what happens in the once demonized socialists’ countries.
I can just barely imagine a similar scenario 10 years from now when Apple, M$, and ...er... Dell? Ask for a bailout of such proportions.
Us? Well... we purchased way more than what we could afford, and now that it is payback time we feel as if someone else has betrayed us.
Not to worry. We all big spenders are now HEROES.
That’s right, just check the headlines for the past dozen years and you’ll notice that all those soldiers, firefighters, policemen and civilians that have died being victim of top-layers politicians are not being called for what they are: victims. Rather, they have attached the HERO label on each of their last-time-written-somewhere names.
So, please do not feel bad. We all are heroes now. Although it was a self inflicted wound, we can consider ourselves saviours of our own self.
Give yourself a pat in the upper back, and next time you see yourself in the mirror state a heartfelt “Thank you for making me a hero.”
Now... the solution to this mess? Well, you know it, they said it: go back shopping and pay it all with the money you do not have. That’s what credit cards are for.
Duty calls. We all heroes have to chip in.
Happy spending!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
I swear
Yesterday, one of my teammates said something to which nobody had an answer to. She swore in front of 9 other people.
A few months ago I watched the news and a politician was apologizing because she swore in public; or her words were caught by the microphones of the media.
Today, early morning the anchor guys at one of the radio stations my spouse listens to said that on average parents swear six days a week.
What all these people have in common is that they all think it is alright to swear; my teammate said, after a penetrating look asking her to refrain: “oh! Come on, don’t you ever swear?”
The politician did not apologize for swearing, her apology indicated that she was sorry she did it in public, remarking that WE ALL swear.
The radio anchors went on saying that it was normal, one of them said that he easily went over and above such average, while the other agreed that it is fine to do it from time to time.
Well... my dears, I do not do it.
The last time I remember doing it consciously was 20 or more years ago, when I was very young and therefore very s%$&#d.
Please know that, like me, there are thousands of people that do not use such language. We do not see the need, neither we find it appropriate in any way, not even to vent frustrations or anger.
Personally, it just is not part of my individuality.
So, swearers of the world, be aware NOT EVERYBODY SWEARS.
I am sorry I cannot swear that.
A few months ago I watched the news and a politician was apologizing because she swore in public; or her words were caught by the microphones of the media.
Today, early morning the anchor guys at one of the radio stations my spouse listens to said that on average parents swear six days a week.
What all these people have in common is that they all think it is alright to swear; my teammate said, after a penetrating look asking her to refrain: “oh! Come on, don’t you ever swear?”
The politician did not apologize for swearing, her apology indicated that she was sorry she did it in public, remarking that WE ALL swear.
The radio anchors went on saying that it was normal, one of them said that he easily went over and above such average, while the other agreed that it is fine to do it from time to time.
Well... my dears, I do not do it.
The last time I remember doing it consciously was 20 or more years ago, when I was very young and therefore very s%$&#d.
Please know that, like me, there are thousands of people that do not use such language. We do not see the need, neither we find it appropriate in any way, not even to vent frustrations or anger.
Personally, it just is not part of my individuality.
So, swearers of the world, be aware NOT EVERYBODY SWEARS.
I am sorry I cannot swear that.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Printed world is dying.
I have in my hands the last PC Magazine printed issue, January 2009.
I received a few other business and technically oriented magazines for free. I mean, the subscription would cost something for someone that did not “qualify” for them, and one by one they were getting slim and sending out notices that the printed edition no longer would be available, and that I needed to opt-in for receiving such issues on-line.
But PC Magazine? My gosh! I was a regular subscriber to it for years! How am I suppose to read the subsequent issues when I want to read something while on the bus, the park, or the WC?
I just keep thinking about the implications this Internet revolution brings. I have seen such magazine get thinner and thinner in recent years, and heard about newspapers cutting editions to only three a week, or simply disappearing.
I live in a place in which Internet, middle class and telecommunications (i.e. BB, iPhone, etc.) abound. But what about those other places that do not have such luxuries? When I was a student, the only way I could get latest information about my studies and trends was by going to the public libraries, or getting to doctor’s offices and asking for two-month old magazines and the like. What about those countries in development which computer per person ration is less than 1/100?
I can’t imagine what it is going to be when printed products such as Time, The Economist, Vanity Fair and others simply can’t keep up with the cost and go entirely online. Somebody (are you RIM, Apple and Sony reading?) has to come up with a gadget similar to the one for eBooks; or adjust the existing ones for magazines, advertising included.
One thing is certain, we’ll save a lot of trees now. :) That is not bad at all.
I received a few other business and technically oriented magazines for free. I mean, the subscription would cost something for someone that did not “qualify” for them, and one by one they were getting slim and sending out notices that the printed edition no longer would be available, and that I needed to opt-in for receiving such issues on-line.
But PC Magazine? My gosh! I was a regular subscriber to it for years! How am I suppose to read the subsequent issues when I want to read something while on the bus, the park, or the WC?
I just keep thinking about the implications this Internet revolution brings. I have seen such magazine get thinner and thinner in recent years, and heard about newspapers cutting editions to only three a week, or simply disappearing.
I live in a place in which Internet, middle class and telecommunications (i.e. BB, iPhone, etc.) abound. But what about those other places that do not have such luxuries? When I was a student, the only way I could get latest information about my studies and trends was by going to the public libraries, or getting to doctor’s offices and asking for two-month old magazines and the like. What about those countries in development which computer per person ration is less than 1/100?
I can’t imagine what it is going to be when printed products such as Time, The Economist, Vanity Fair and others simply can’t keep up with the cost and go entirely online. Somebody (are you RIM, Apple and Sony reading?) has to come up with a gadget similar to the one for eBooks; or adjust the existing ones for magazines, advertising included.
One thing is certain, we’ll save a lot of trees now. :) That is not bad at all.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Microphones are a powerful thing
Went to a Windows 2008 seminar, something related to the main advantages over previous versions and all the good new innovations and blah blah blah
Not that I know anything deep about such servers or their differences, but I was very close to the event place and they were offering free pizza and drinks.
While waiting for the start time, a few of us started a discussion on Microsoft’s latest products. Obviously Windows Vista popped up. The presenter (Frankie) had extol and nothing else for such a beast, praising its security features, new interface and a plethora of “under the hood” capabilities.
Windows 7 was obviously mentioned, and a good discussion started, with very good points from some of the attendees.
In my technology obtuse understanding of business, I mentioned the fact that Windows 7 equalled Service Pack 2 for Vista. Barely able to complete my sentence, Frankie snapped saying that they were different products and that there would be a SP2 for Vista - apparently before the V7 launch- and then an SP3 further down the road.
He might be right. After all he’s an MCSE (Micro$oft Certified Systems Evangelist)
But... is anybody in their right mind even believing that SP3 for Vista will ever see the daylight? Is there a serious business user that will wait for SP2 for Vista knowing that Windows 7 is already available?
After people switch all Vista computers to W7, and the older XP ones are replaced with new ones carrying W7, other PCs and more and more are swapped for Linux based and/or Macs, is there a remote possibility that Windows 8 will ever make it to our laptops and Nettops? (No more Desktops in 2012, except those that require a specific card for running a very specific application or device)
Coming back to the original issue. No matter who among the six of us was right, no matter who did his homework, has more experience, is smarter, or simply has a long term vision. The one that has the mike, has the power.
You notice it everywhere: radio talk shows, presenters, singers, comedians, etc.
They might not be the know-it-alls, but surely think they are because they hold the mike.
My suggestion? Next time you have to ask for a loan, make your point across, praise the superiority of the Amiga computer, or simply ask for a raise, do it with a microphone in your hand.
HAPPY SHOUTING!
Not that I know anything deep about such servers or their differences, but I was very close to the event place and they were offering free pizza and drinks.
While waiting for the start time, a few of us started a discussion on Microsoft’s latest products. Obviously Windows Vista popped up. The presenter (Frankie) had extol and nothing else for such a beast, praising its security features, new interface and a plethora of “under the hood” capabilities.
Windows 7 was obviously mentioned, and a good discussion started, with very good points from some of the attendees.
In my technology obtuse understanding of business, I mentioned the fact that Windows 7 equalled Service Pack 2 for Vista. Barely able to complete my sentence, Frankie snapped saying that they were different products and that there would be a SP2 for Vista - apparently before the V7 launch- and then an SP3 further down the road.
He might be right. After all he’s an MCSE (Micro$oft Certified Systems Evangelist)
But... is anybody in their right mind even believing that SP3 for Vista will ever see the daylight? Is there a serious business user that will wait for SP2 for Vista knowing that Windows 7 is already available?
After people switch all Vista computers to W7, and the older XP ones are replaced with new ones carrying W7, other PCs and more and more are swapped for Linux based and/or Macs, is there a remote possibility that Windows 8 will ever make it to our laptops and Nettops? (No more Desktops in 2012, except those that require a specific card for running a very specific application or device)
Coming back to the original issue. No matter who among the six of us was right, no matter who did his homework, has more experience, is smarter, or simply has a long term vision. The one that has the mike, has the power.
You notice it everywhere: radio talk shows, presenters, singers, comedians, etc.
They might not be the know-it-alls, but surely think they are because they hold the mike.
My suggestion? Next time you have to ask for a loan, make your point across, praise the superiority of the Amiga computer, or simply ask for a raise, do it with a microphone in your hand.
HAPPY SHOUTING!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Recession and the fired people
I got to the office late. And saw one of the doors that are never closed, closed.
I was partly curious aside from the fact that I needed to do some work in that place, so I went straight to open it, it was locked. I took the key to it and before I could open the boss went out and told me to please wait a few more minutes before I went in. I knew there was something going on in there.
Half an hour later I was able to get to the office and greeted Marisa. She was obviously upset, but tried to disguise her discomfort with a nice “good morning, how is your day going?” Atypical of her.
She was the kind of person that does not make teams. Most of the people in that particular office did not like her much, and my impression is that she never even noticed that. Of course, she’s not to blame for the way she was, despite being already in her thirties. I am pretty sure the environment she grew up in made her be such a person. It’s one of those things you notice when you meet someone for the first time: it is not easy to explain, but you just know their schooling or education at home was far from the best; but they can’t help it.
What stroke me the most was this: once I fully understood she was just being fired, I sat down and talked to her trying to convince her all changes are for better; I was cheering her up making her see all her blessings she counts on. She interrupted and changed subjects abruptly, and started explaining that she was the one that took the decision to leave, that she disagreed with the path the company was taking and a myriad of other observations that made me just stand there in awe and silence.
How is it that not even in these incidents of life we are not able to be a little more humble and accept our vulnerabilities? I’m sure if I was the one in that position I would be crying all day and all night and realizing how weak I am. It would be a life lesson that most certainly made me appreciate my family and other good things more, and surely would have taught me the fragility of work structures and the big hole we are getting in when somebody on the other side of the world screws up, affecting everybody else.
When I was finally able to say something, I wished her luck in her new endeavours, and left the place. I wish she thought long and hard on her way home about such attitude, and that her kids saw and heard a hurt person instead of a “winner.”
I just don’t get society.
I was partly curious aside from the fact that I needed to do some work in that place, so I went straight to open it, it was locked. I took the key to it and before I could open the boss went out and told me to please wait a few more minutes before I went in. I knew there was something going on in there.
Half an hour later I was able to get to the office and greeted Marisa. She was obviously upset, but tried to disguise her discomfort with a nice “good morning, how is your day going?” Atypical of her.
She was the kind of person that does not make teams. Most of the people in that particular office did not like her much, and my impression is that she never even noticed that. Of course, she’s not to blame for the way she was, despite being already in her thirties. I am pretty sure the environment she grew up in made her be such a person. It’s one of those things you notice when you meet someone for the first time: it is not easy to explain, but you just know their schooling or education at home was far from the best; but they can’t help it.
What stroke me the most was this: once I fully understood she was just being fired, I sat down and talked to her trying to convince her all changes are for better; I was cheering her up making her see all her blessings she counts on. She interrupted and changed subjects abruptly, and started explaining that she was the one that took the decision to leave, that she disagreed with the path the company was taking and a myriad of other observations that made me just stand there in awe and silence.
How is it that not even in these incidents of life we are not able to be a little more humble and accept our vulnerabilities? I’m sure if I was the one in that position I would be crying all day and all night and realizing how weak I am. It would be a life lesson that most certainly made me appreciate my family and other good things more, and surely would have taught me the fragility of work structures and the big hole we are getting in when somebody on the other side of the world screws up, affecting everybody else.
When I was finally able to say something, I wished her luck in her new endeavours, and left the place. I wish she thought long and hard on her way home about such attitude, and that her kids saw and heard a hurt person instead of a “winner.”
I just don’t get society.
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