I follow many discussions in LinkedIn, and one popped up the other day that really got me to thinking. With the economy taking top billing in the news every day and jobs nearly impossible to come by, How are businesses supposed to plan for the future? What started this whole topic was this posted article […]
Continue ReadingLong term care Insurance: For whom doth the bell toll?
I was approached one day by a huckster for long term care insurance and they dutifully pulled out their prize turkey for all to view: “A common misconception about long-term care is that it is just for the elderly. However, anyone of any age or occupation may need long-term care at any time and for […]
Continue ReadingWorkforce motivation: Where’s the sweet spot?
A workers view: In my experience, there are three things that provide the most motivation for an employee to produce at a higher level. Two of these things can be provided by the employer, but one of them is something that the employee must already possess: Trust: If they trust their coworkers and management to […]
Continue ReadingToday’s newest star employees: Yesterday’s managers?
In today’s fractured job market, a new reality just might become more and more commonplace: Former managers taking entry level jobs, and liking it. It could be that Web designer sitting next to you at work is an MIT Neuroscience graduate, or that lineman climbing the power pole in front of your house; fixing your […]
Continue ReadingThe ethics of workforce reductions
At what point does your conscience take over? When do you reign in that desperate grab for cash before you alienate the very employees who keep your business running?
Continue ReadingOne plywood shelter doth not a home make.
A dear friend of mine is in a rough spot. He’s living in a plywood box with no running water and one outlet with just enough power to charge his shaver. He has access to food, but water sometime runs out to the point of being life-threatening. Most nights he gets little more than a […]
Continue ReadingThe Face of Intolerance in America
I have lived with gay family members all of my life, and I love them for being who they are, not what they do. I simply disagree with some of their choices in life and I hope and pray that they find the kind of peace their hearts truly need. People can have have compassionate disagreements on difficult subjects like this, but that isn’t enough for some people who must punish everyone around them for daring to have a different point of view. This is the exact kind of intolerant hatred that was waged against them so many years ago, and now they too have emerged to become the very same kind of people they feared and despised so long ago.
Continue ReadingNet Neutrility: Why go there?
Why get the government involved? Why legislate the Internet with Net Neutrality? The impetus here was provided by a bit of tampering with the market by the ISP’s in order to undercut those like Vonage and Netflix (among others), who have been in that market all along because more people are consuming their services, causing […]
Continue Reading1984 Olympics Reagan Assassination attempt
He came home all agitated and upset, but at the same time excited. All of us were watching the Olympics on TV, but he stepped in front of the set and turned it off. “I have something really amazing to tell you. I just watched someone try to assassinate the President!”
Continue ReadingWho really supports a repeal of the 17th amendment?
I recently got into a discussion on this topic in the LinkedIn forums with Jeff Stucker.Here’s the text of our discussion: My initial question: Are we truly all that fired-anxious to abdicate voter control over senatorial appointments? Really? Contrary to the latest Tea Party talking points, repealing the 17th amendment actually does nothing to […]
Continue ReadingThe case against tape
Tapes have major disadvantages that disks no longer do. With current disk systems, you have capabilities that tape just can’t match. Still hanging on to that 30% (Verified by 5 or 6 different failure rate studies) failure rate out-of-the box for your tapes? Disks have only a 3-5% failure rate for the first 3 years […]
Continue ReadingOne Nation under God
One Nation Under God Each morning I wake up and go through the morning routines of feeding the horses, getting the girls ready for the day and heading off to work. It’s the mundane everyday tasks like these that nearly everyone goes through each morning, but how many of us stop to really think about […]
Continue ReadingMerry Christmas: The breath drawn in the aftermath
I wish to all of you, a merry Christmas, from our family to yours, as well as the following thoughts: Merry Christmas: The breath drawn in the aftermath The holiday draws to a close as the presents have been given and received, prayers and good wishes spread across the land. Left basking in […]
Continue ReadingHealthcare reform act: Costing you much?
A few months ago I posed this question: New laws just put in place by the healthcare reform act are going to be costing companies significantly more than they have been used to. AT&T, for example, just took a Multibillion dollar hit to it’s bottom line due to these changes. 3COM followed with million charge […]
Continue ReadingFrom the archives: Shelter Skelter
Shelter-Skelter A true story of death, deceit and betrayal of the public trust at the Boise Humane Society. Greetings: Fostering animals for the Boise Humane Society is at best, a dodgy enterprise; take a litter of kittens home with you and they promise total care and support, but bring them in for minor care, […]
Continue ReadingFrom the Archives: To hell in a handbasket
Published 11-01-1997 in “The Why!? Paper.” To hell in a Handbasket. Is that where the world is really going? We hear an awful lot about how today’s society is falling apart around us; rebellions in Africa, mutual genocide in Bosnia, car bombs exploding in England, and retaliations in Ireland. The list is endless. Even in […]
Continue ReadingFrom the Archives: Legalizing Prostitution?
Published Sept. 01, 1997 in “the WHY!? Paper” Should prostitution be legalized? Hmm. Let us ponder this a bit. But first let us take a look at a few of the players. It seems apparent to me (though not to some), that our society’s moral integrity has been under assault as of late by those […]
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