Framing the Dialogue

Archive for February, 2009

Fish

The good news about Fish is that you learn how to bring energy, passion, and a positive attitude to your job everyday.  The bad news is that you probably work for someone who does not encourage energy, passion, and a positive attitude.  I would not let that stop you from reading this book by Stephen C. Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen.

I do not happen to work in a place that emulates the principles in Fish, but I found this book encouraging and entertaining.  I always try to have fun at work.  It is either that or go crazy. 

Read more…

The Problem With Authority

I have worked for a number of people over the years.  Some were good and some not so good.  Ok, they were bad, but I am trying to be nice.  I have not climbed very high on the company ladder, but have watched many others scramble along its rungs and there are a number of observations that almost always hold true.

One common theme that seems almost always to hold true is the Peter Principle. People always seem to rise to their level of incompetence. 

Read more…

The 5000 Year Leap

I often listen to the radio at work, but cannot always pay really close attention.  A while ago, I heard Glenn Beck discussing a book and though I did not catch much detail about the book, I bought it based on Beck’s recommendation. 

I finished the book a week ago and was trying to find a way to write a review.  The book was great, but I have so many notes that I did not know which of the themes to select for my review.

Read more…

Super Bowl XLIII Results Overturned

Tampa, Florida:   In a surprising move, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced this morning that the Pittsburgh Steelers would NOT be awarded their sixth Lombardi Trophy.  Goodell and the league seemingly bowed to pressure from the Justice Organization for Losing Teams (“JOLT“) to spread the trophies around and award the trophy to the Arizona Cardinals.  The Cardinals have never won the Super Bowl.

JOLT President, Trevor Sexton hailed the decision as he protested in front of Mr. Goodell’s home with the four other members of JOLT; “This is a great day for sports justice.  The Pittsburgh Steelers already had FIVE Lombardi Trophies and that is just not fair to the other teams.”  Sexton added;  “It is great that the NFL is embracing the issue of fairness.”

Read more…

Going Nucular

Last June my daughter brought home a summer reading list for her upcoming AP U.S. Government class.  She went through the list and picked the books that she wanted to read and Going Nucular by Geoffrey Nunberg caught my eye too.  It’s a book about “Language, Politics, and Culture in Confrontational Times.”  The title is an obvious take on the way President Bush pronounces “nuclear.”

As far as nucular goes, Mr. Nunberg seems to think that President Bush’s pronunciation is a “thinko”  (or on purpose) rather than a “typo” (because he is unable to pronounce it).  I tend to agree with that assessment, as I am not one to fall into the “he’s really dumb” stereotype of our president.

Read more…

Running With Scissors

One of my favorite t-shirts shows a stick figure in a running motion holding a pair of scissors with the caption “Runs With Scissors.”  That is my kind of humor. 

When I saw this book I thought it was a creative title for a humorous book.  While the book is written with a certain sense of humor, I would not call it a light or funny book to read. 

As Augusten Burroughs tells the bizarre tale of a young boy’s life I kept thinking that this author has a really twisted imagination.  The events that happen to this kid could not happen in real life.  As I finished the book, my daughter told me that the book was based on Burroughs’ life. 

Read more…