Have you ever gone so far down a path only to discover that it was the wrong path and now you either have no idea how to get on the right path or that it's killing you that you wasted time and have to redirect?
I am experiencing this at this moment.
I know that I am not the only person, who experiences such a malaise of feeling. I was immediately reminded of John Adams and his period as an American representative in Europe during the Revolutionary War. He came out of it, this malaise. He secured a major loan from the Dutch and despite the French ministers and the members of the Continental Congress who defamed him and curtailed his ministerial duties in regards to France, he signed the Treaty of Paris and won the points that were important.
I recognize that I have made a few wrong choices and that no amount of adaptation on my part will change the fact that my current job and life are not a good fit for me. So I must put my hand to the plow and plow my row until I find the place where I belong.
It is frustrating because I would like to spend my energy on other things. However, I made the choice that I made and I must own up to my impulsiveness.
And so concludes our "vague life lesson" for today.
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
August's Random Observations
(Another new feature I introduce!)
-Castro
I noticed that lots of Cuban exiles in the Miami community celebrated Castro's temporary transference of power as if they were liberated. Does that mean should Castro die or abdicate, they will all be going home?
-An Inconvenient Truth
With heat like this, global warming continues to become more inconvenient as time goes on.
-Kronkite
As Greg Kiln said, "they don't write like that any more."
-Castro
I noticed that lots of Cuban exiles in the Miami community celebrated Castro's temporary transference of power as if they were liberated. Does that mean should Castro die or abdicate, they will all be going home?
-An Inconvenient Truth
With heat like this, global warming continues to become more inconvenient as time goes on.
-Kronkite
As Greg Kiln said, "they don't write like that any more."
Monday, July 31, 2006
It's gettin' Hot in Here!
On Wednesday, August 2, 2006 Boston will be 100 degrees Fahrenheit with 100% humidity.
Were I a Judeo-Christian-Islamic sort of a person, I would reckon that Governor Romney upset the Almighty in some way.
Were I a Judeo-Christian-Islamic sort of a person, I would reckon that Governor Romney upset the Almighty in some way.
The Phantom Gourmet
I have quite a few guilty pleasures. Soap operas are one. Those marginal musical movies from the 80s such as "Beat Street" is another.
A third would be the television show, "The Phantom Gourmet." The show is hosted by Dan Andelman and was created by his brother Dave Andelman. The shows consists largely of restaurant critiques made by a critic known only as "The Phantom Gourmet." The brothers insist that neither of them are the purple outfitted caped foodie in disguise. The hook for the show is that the Phantom dines in the establishments that he/she rates as a regular Joe or Jane Diner so that he/she can have the same honest, dining experience as you would.
In addition to restaurant reviews, there are also segments that feature recipes of items that you might find on the menu in many of the restaurants profiled. The recipes are supplied by Newbury College. They also have guests on the show-owners, chefs, bakers, pizzamakers-you name it.
Each show has a theme. Last week's was 'Fast Food.' My fourth guilty pleasure. I was surprised to know that the Phantom felt that Wendy's trumped McDonalds and Burger King. I was also surprised that the Phantom liked Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits. The Phantom stated that this chain needed to expand in Massachusetts.
The Phantom seemed to forget that at least, under its previous owners, Popeye's did have restaurants across the Northeast coast. There was a restaurant in Porter Square in Cambridge and one at Roxbury Crossing in the 1980s. In fact, my mother bought a chicken meal from Popeye's to celebrate the Chicago Bears in the Superbowl in 1986. Both closed and it seemed that the restaurant chain retreated closer to the Mason-Dixon line.
I second the call for another Greater Boston area Popeye's though I must admit that except for the biscuits, which were always popular, the other items on the Popeye's menu can leave a lot to be desired. Depending on the fancy and the skills of the staff and depending on the restaurant, the quality varies from place to place.
In any event, while I like food, I am completely not a foodie. However, I tune in to this show almost religiously because...it's a good show.
A third would be the television show, "The Phantom Gourmet." The show is hosted by Dan Andelman and was created by his brother Dave Andelman. The shows consists largely of restaurant critiques made by a critic known only as "The Phantom Gourmet." The brothers insist that neither of them are the purple outfitted caped foodie in disguise. The hook for the show is that the Phantom dines in the establishments that he/she rates as a regular Joe or Jane Diner so that he/she can have the same honest, dining experience as you would.
In addition to restaurant reviews, there are also segments that feature recipes of items that you might find on the menu in many of the restaurants profiled. The recipes are supplied by Newbury College. They also have guests on the show-owners, chefs, bakers, pizzamakers-you name it.
Each show has a theme. Last week's was 'Fast Food.' My fourth guilty pleasure. I was surprised to know that the Phantom felt that Wendy's trumped McDonalds and Burger King. I was also surprised that the Phantom liked Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits. The Phantom stated that this chain needed to expand in Massachusetts.
The Phantom seemed to forget that at least, under its previous owners, Popeye's did have restaurants across the Northeast coast. There was a restaurant in Porter Square in Cambridge and one at Roxbury Crossing in the 1980s. In fact, my mother bought a chicken meal from Popeye's to celebrate the Chicago Bears in the Superbowl in 1986. Both closed and it seemed that the restaurant chain retreated closer to the Mason-Dixon line.
I second the call for another Greater Boston area Popeye's though I must admit that except for the biscuits, which were always popular, the other items on the Popeye's menu can leave a lot to be desired. Depending on the fancy and the skills of the staff and depending on the restaurant, the quality varies from place to place.
In any event, while I like food, I am completely not a foodie. However, I tune in to this show almost religiously because...it's a good show.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Women are not represented in large numbers in leadership roles in the corporate world.
Diversity Inc. published an article informing the nation that women are not represented in large numbers in leadership roles in the corporate world. They ascribe this disparity to the fact that women tend to be tracked over the course of their career into positions in departments that are largely administrative and human resource-oriented as opposed to sales, which has more of an impact on the bottom.
I almost filed this under the "bleedin' obvious." On second reflection, while this should come to no surprise to anyone who has paid attention to workplace trends, it still seems to be something that continues to happen. I recognized this when I worked in retail and noticed that those that were in charge were men and those who did the grunt work were women. While more women are taking on leadership roles in the corporate world, there are so many that get tracked into positions where they have very little influence and are usually the casualties of any cutbacks that happen. At one company that I worked at, which was women owned by the way, I was surprised at how when a male was hired in a leadership role, it was perceived as a move that will correct the company's plummeting fortunes-even though that male may have come from the outside whereas the women who were equally qualified were congratulated on maintaining morale than for their ability to generate revenue.
I am glad that Diversity Inc. is keeping an eye on this issue. I will be even more glad when they report that they do not need to mention this anymore because it is a non-issue.
I almost filed this under the "bleedin' obvious." On second reflection, while this should come to no surprise to anyone who has paid attention to workplace trends, it still seems to be something that continues to happen. I recognized this when I worked in retail and noticed that those that were in charge were men and those who did the grunt work were women. While more women are taking on leadership roles in the corporate world, there are so many that get tracked into positions where they have very little influence and are usually the casualties of any cutbacks that happen. At one company that I worked at, which was women owned by the way, I was surprised at how when a male was hired in a leadership role, it was perceived as a move that will correct the company's plummeting fortunes-even though that male may have come from the outside whereas the women who were equally qualified were congratulated on maintaining morale than for their ability to generate revenue.
I am glad that Diversity Inc. is keeping an eye on this issue. I will be even more glad when they report that they do not need to mention this anymore because it is a non-issue.
Elfquest
I make no secret of the fact that I am a big fan of Elfquest. Ever since I picked up the hardcover graphic novel collection of the stories from the Forbidden Forest and the Blue Mountain period, I had been a fan. I was even coverted to the cause of wolves. When I recall the comics I collected over the years, after GI Joe, Elfquest was the only non-manga title I had.
The elves and I enjoyed a good 20 years together. I was with them when they found the Palace, lost some good people like Skot and One-Eye and even saw the littlest ones (Ember and Suntop-excuse me, Sunstream) grow up and come into their own (Ember becomes a chieftess of a band of elves in her own right and gets a soulmate while Sunstream not only becomes an avatar for the Palace, but gets his own soulmate and becomes a father).
Elfquest has really been going places lately. For a few years, DC comics have published new and older tales, which has gotten them exposure to more audiences. In addition to having a website, they have online forums and have set about digitizing their back issues of the 'Quest.' They also have moved on the whole 'Elfquest movie' thing, which I may or may not ever see. There are very few film/animated adaptations I will ever see, much less highly recommend. 'The Last Unicorn' is an example of the few that live in this category. I trust the Pinis and their decision making skills, even when I was not thrilled about DC comics partnership though I saw the big picture.
Besides cool, quality storytelling, Elfquest is notable because it is drawn by a woman, Wendy Pini, which in the US was something of a rarity when this title debuted. She also contributed to the story. Lest anyone think that this story much be so sugary that it is diabetic because it is drawn by a woman, I direct them to some of the scenes in the war for the Palace against the Trolls. Some of that stuff is still disturbing, though it was necessary to the plot.
Warp (Wendy and Richard Pini) Graphics also is working on other titles such as Wendy's cool futuristic, cyberpunkish take on Edgar Allan Poe's Masque of Red Death.
2008 marks thirty years of Elfquest. I can't wait to see where the next thrity years will bring us.
The elves and I enjoyed a good 20 years together. I was with them when they found the Palace, lost some good people like Skot and One-Eye and even saw the littlest ones (Ember and Suntop-excuse me, Sunstream) grow up and come into their own (Ember becomes a chieftess of a band of elves in her own right and gets a soulmate while Sunstream not only becomes an avatar for the Palace, but gets his own soulmate and becomes a father).
Elfquest has really been going places lately. For a few years, DC comics have published new and older tales, which has gotten them exposure to more audiences. In addition to having a website, they have online forums and have set about digitizing their back issues of the 'Quest.' They also have moved on the whole 'Elfquest movie' thing, which I may or may not ever see. There are very few film/animated adaptations I will ever see, much less highly recommend. 'The Last Unicorn' is an example of the few that live in this category. I trust the Pinis and their decision making skills, even when I was not thrilled about DC comics partnership though I saw the big picture.
Besides cool, quality storytelling, Elfquest is notable because it is drawn by a woman, Wendy Pini, which in the US was something of a rarity when this title debuted. She also contributed to the story. Lest anyone think that this story much be so sugary that it is diabetic because it is drawn by a woman, I direct them to some of the scenes in the war for the Palace against the Trolls. Some of that stuff is still disturbing, though it was necessary to the plot.
Warp (Wendy and Richard Pini) Graphics also is working on other titles such as Wendy's cool futuristic, cyberpunkish take on Edgar Allan Poe's Masque of Red Death.
2008 marks thirty years of Elfquest. I can't wait to see where the next thrity years will bring us.
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