The Tipping Point

I have to come up for air long enough to recommend The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. It is a fascinating look at how social epidemics happen.

I Bet the Left Wouldn't Be So Outraged Now...

Remember when this was a hot issue, way back in January 2003?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/15/politics/main588582.shtml

(CBS) Vice President Dick Cheney and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia spent part of last week duck hunting together at a private camp in southern Louisiana, just three weeks after the court agreed to take up the vice president's appeal in lawsuits over his handling of the administration's energy task force, the Los Angeles Times says in its Saturday editions.

While Scalia and Cheney are avid hunters and longtime friends, several experts in legal ethics questioned the timing of their trip and said it raised doubts about Scalia's ability to judge the case impartially, the newspaper pointed out.

Expect more sunshine than clouds today as temperatures warm into the low 70's to near 70 degrees in most communities.

Will your weekend be as nice?

The Pseudo Olympics!

Well, the "Olympics" are here... the winter games, that is. I think that only the summer ones should count. but anyway, Madagascar is being represented...

Tomorrow

The fun continues tomorrow as I go to sign some paper work to get hired. I was informed that I won't start working though until after I take my drug test. I hope that it's not multiple choice though, because I am bad at multiple choice tests.

My Daughter's Thought of the Day

"nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn jnmkmj bhg v v" (As IMed to me while she was staying with her Aunt).

From the Archives

These are from a long time ago, but are some of the probable thoughts of certain people about customer service. I wasn't intending to make fun of them, just highlight certain aspects of their personality. I don't know why this was originally written unless I need to stay awake during an FP lecture.

Karl

Some [Certain] People on Customer Service/Professionalism

Dr. F: Inspire other people with a vision, train and motivate them, and then take back the popular item by redeeming it through cultural change.

Bob B: You can actually submit your request online now, but make sure you get it in before the add/drop deadline.

Paul P: Sure, I’ll do what I can and give you 5 other people to ask too who work on the Hill.

Dr. Sillars: Please compose 300-350 words and submit your request to the editor.

Mr. Jardines: Because of the sensitive nature of the request, you'll never know when it is fulfilled.

Dr. Bullard: All your requests can be fulfilled using only a straight edge and a compass. Do not include any numbers in your query.

Dr. Gruenke: Your request is transmitted through electrical pulses that one's brain translates into directions sent to the various members of your body to make the fulfillment of the request possible, scientifically speaking.

Dr. Brandly: It's not worth the opportunity cost to fulfill your request.

Dr. Sanders: Use all necessary paper to make your request, supplying appropriate information to buttress the inquiry and specify a red-letter date for final delivery of the product. Don’t ever do anything illigull to fulfill it.

Dr. Noe: All customer service requests must be properly conjugated and understood from the Greco-Roman perspective.

Dr. Watson: Deliver what they want, but most importantly make sure they can cite where their request came from, give them a response in about 3 months.

Dr. Hake: Serve the customer in a highly original manner, even if it's not what they wanted.

Dr. Bouchoc: Provide material that not only meets physical needs, but edifies them, resulting in spiritual growth too.

Dr. B.: Give the customers what is possible, and realize that in the real world we can’t always get what we want in the ideal sense.

Mrs. MacLeod: I knew someone on the Hill once who asked for that same thing. Why don't you write out a formal proposal and we'll talk next Tuesday.

Rachelle: If you help me with this request you could win the weekly drawing for coffeehouse gift certificates.

Avril: What kind of request is that, goober! :-)

Dr. Snyder: The reason you're asking for this is because you come from a Judeo-Christian heritage.

Dr. Stacey: Your request must provide a sufficient learning experience that will make you a well-rounded citizen able to participate in a democratic society. Then you should stick it.

LTE in Today's Paper

http://www.macon.com/mld/telegraph/news/editorial/letters/13814625.htm

Cagle campaign

The Cagle campaign for lieutenant governor likes to talk about the candidate's experience in representing the interests of Georgia's citizens. Perhaps they would like to talk about why Sen. Cagle walked out on Georgia's property owners last March, when the Senate was voting on S.B. 86 which would bar local governments from condemning private property "solely or primarily" for economic development purposes.

Although the bill passed, when you look at the record, you'll find that Sen. Cagle didn't bother to vote on this critical constitutional issue. As a civic-minded Georgian, I find this abdication of leadership very troubling. I think that we all want to have a lieutenant governor who believes that private property is worth protecting and who will be there when it comes time to put rhetoric into action.

In that spirit, citizens have a shared responsibility to examine a candidate's record and make sure that we elect a true leader, not someone who takes a walk on property rights.

Karl A. Kilgore
International City

Tax Time!

Well, my wife has been doing our taxes (because I'm too impatient to deal with all the forms). We got TaxCut to do the Virginia and Federal taxes, which seemed to go pretty easily. Then there was the GA forms to fill out... she did those manually because it would be another 25 bucks to add another state. Well, after hours of trying to interpret the instructions, figure out the formulas, and filling in the information, she determined that we're going to get a refund of... drumroll... $7.

Today

Today I attended an event hosted by the Bibb County Republican Women organization. Gary Black who is running for Agriculture Commissioner spoke, and I think I am pretty impressed by him. His demeanor and personal style seem to be very different from the typical Georgia politician. I think that I'll vote for him.

I also came home and took my final exam for a grant writing course I have been taking. I now have my very own precious "certificate of completion." Isn't that nice?

In other news, a certain college president stepped down from his position to become the chancellor. This is a very positive move for the institution and all who are affiliated with it, not to mention the former president himself and his family -- Good luck!

Oh yeah, I also got a Jury Summons in the mail the other day. Not sure what all it entails, but it looks like I'll at least have to go in to report in March to be considered for part of a jury. Weird huh?

Today's Closing Hymn at Church

The Chorus, anyway:

Drop kick me Jesus through the goal posts of life
End over end neither left nor to right
Straight through the heart of them righteous uprights
Drop kick me Jesus through the goal posts of life.

An Offer!

Well, folks, I went to an interview today and it turns out that someone else who was in the room and overheard me talking decided that they wanted to pick me. So it looks like I'll have a job starting next Thursday. Still a part-time gig, but doesn't look like it would be dead-end and has the potential to have more hours than the position that I was actually interviewing for.

So things have really looked up the past couple of days.

And right now even my books seem to be selling over the internet.