Rose Colored Glasses

It’s one of those metaphors we all know and understand, but don’t know where it originated. Well I’m not about to tell you because I don’t know either. But I do know that it may be more misapplied than we think.

Standard usage of the “rose colored glasses” metaphor is to point out how someone else is blinded by something so much that they can’t see reality. Problem is that when we look for rose colored glasses, we are looking though our own pair. We may be correct that they don’t see right because they have a skewed view of the world, but do we really see any better? If their glasses had been colored just like ours, we wouldn’t even notice that they had any on because we would probably see the same things. Maybe our glasses aren’t skewing “this” particular thing, but what do they skew (or better, skewer)???

Your Results Are Guaranteed

Everything has some sort of guarantee. On the radio, I heard an advertisement for a dietary supplement that would help you lose fat and create lean muscle. I always listen to those ads with some amount of skepticism. Each one has some sort of guarantee. I know there’s got to be a catch, but often can’t figure it out.

It’s Cool

I first heard the term “cool” on “Dobie Gillis” (the show had a much longer name that I can’t remember.) One of the regular characters was a semi brain-dead beatnik named Maynard G. Krebs, played by Bob Denver of Gilligan’s Island fame. Seems that in the beatnik era, everything positive was either “cool” or “groovy” – typically followed by “man” as in “cool, man.”

They say that history repeats itself, but I didn’t expect such a literal repeat. Everything is “cool” again.

Two Thumbs Up

Just added the movie list and wanted to comment on my choices. Some may suggest that there are too many chick flicks and not enough “manly” movies. But while I love James Bond, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Die Hard, We Were Soldiers, and a lot of other action or adventure films, few of them rise to the level of greatness that the better thought-out dramas do. I’ve seen a lot of “great” films that I would never own. Unfortunately, I also own several films that should be used as trade-ins at Blockbuster for better options. I also own other films that I will also revisit periodically, but won’t put on this list.

Who’ll Stop the Pain

(With apologies to CCR)

It’s already beginning. Stores had the Christmas stuff out long before the goblins came by for candy. At least then the songs were confined to the decorating section. But even before the turkey was cooked, they hit the airwaves.

I’ve always liked the Beatles, and Paul’s music is typically excellent (IMHO). But if I never hear “simply having a wonderful Christmas time” again, it will be too soon.

I really enjoy the Christmas season, but the sappy songs are going to drive me insane. (Did you say insane? I was insane once...)

In God We Trust

We say it. We put it on our money. But do we believe it?

Digital Drivel

Only my second post, so I'm getting to it quickly. I doubt this will happen often.

The Spring rendition of Table and Fire Live brought Rex Miller who spoke on the shift in paradigm brought about by digital communications.

One of the significant premises was that we can all be publishers since the internet has allowed us that opportunity. That began me to thinking about one of these blogs. Took about six months, but here it is.

My only fear now is that I will fall into the pit that I first suggested was awaiting us all – instant publication of unedited drivel.

Reply to All

In the business world, hitting “Reply to All” indiscriminately on your emails is often on the top ten list of career limiting moves. It is especially bad when the IRS or a client is on the list, or when you see an email from someone you want to give some juicy gossip to (ignoring the other recipients). It doesn’t even matter if what you say is entirely true. If the wrong person gets it you might as well dust off your resume and start you job search.

I recently took a “reply to all” emailer to task because he suggested something that never happened. I kept getting calls from others in the office asking if I was going to respond to [no name]. I replied that I had, but privately. I could have made it a “flame” war by replying in kind – to everyone – but knew that I would just be guilty of the same error. By the time we went to lunch together a week later, it was ancient history and no longer worth mentioning.