Employee Unions, who needs them anymore? 25th September, 07

Slave labour, underground coal mines, 3rd world exploitation…  I can see the value in employee unions there.  Where I don’t get it is at places like BC Hydro, Telus, Translink, Vancouver Municipal Workers, Teachers, etc.

Now, this isn’t that I don’t respect any of those places or their employees, it’s just that each of those organizations are respectable, and exist in a society and time where mistakes and disrespect get exposed and the repercussions are very real.

So, why is it we need these unions again?   Over the past few years we have seen a transit strike,  a teachers strike, telus strike, and currently a Vancouver Municipal workers strike.  Strikes have a tendency to drag on (at least lately) which cause significant inconveniences for all: the workers go with significantly less (or no) pay, the customers make compromises with little or no service and the companies suffer in brand image (or worse).

All this hassle, and it’s usually over a few issues such as job security, vacations time and of course money.  Money of course that the company pays out in wages.  Of course, it’s these wages that the union members are loosing all while on strike.

Now, to put this in perspective, I have worked for both BC Hydro and Environment Canada in the past.  Each have their unions, and I can tell you with certainty that the employees in those offices are extremely spoiled.  To the point where they wouldn’t know reality if it hit them.  I’m serious, in the ‘real’ world, if you feel you need a raise you talk to your boss.  If you want more vacation, you negotiate with management.  If you want job security, then do your job well, provide value to the organization and prove your worth and you will get the respect and job security you deserve.  Now, if you do all these things and you still don’t get what you deserve then feel free to go looking for another job elsewhere.  If you truly deserve the rewards, I’m positive you won’t have any trouble finding a better place to work, where you get the respect you rightfully deserve.

One more thing, if you are one of those union members voting for a strike, you might want to consider what it is you are actually voting for.  I had an interesting encounter with a friend of mine recently.  She was mentioning how she had just voted for strike action in her workplace.  Curiously, I asked her why she was in favour of the job action.  Disturbingly; she didn’t have an answer, she didn’t even know what the issues were on the table.  I’m sorry, but if this is the same attitude and understanding as the rest of those union workers I am incredibly disgusted.   You’ve lost what very little sympathy I once had for you.

Perhaps instead of bickering about the percentages, you should drop those union fees and be free, and better off.   And we can all get back to work!!

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Chill out, it’s beer league! 25th September, 07

Ok, so I play in a recreational (aka:beer) hockey league, I have for years. Over the years I have had my share of fun, exercise and unfortunately, injuries from these leagues.Which leagues do I play in, or have played in?

Each of these are respectable leagues, some better than others. I personally liked my spring league at the Great Pacific Forum the most. The team I was on was competitive enough where we actually won the playoffs (and the ‘cup’). However, what was most enjoyable was the league, and how the referees were consistent and cracked down on the cheap shots.

Getting to my point; (as the proverb goes) there is always a few bad apples. In Richmond, unfortunately one of those guys was on our team. So it wasn’t uncommon for our games to get rough. It’s the Richmond League I can thank for why I now play with a full face mask. My first game as one of the ‘Ice’ saw a fight and some nasty work with the stick. Specifically, one of our players ended up with a stick bruise across his back. That’s right, from one corner to the other, he had a bruise in the form of a diagonal line across his back.

Fast forward to UBC; where I joined the Iceholes (and still play with these great guys). Last game of the regular season, we’re winning our game by a goal or two, seconds left and I collide with the *&%@wad on the other team. We both go down, and as I turn to get up he swings his stick to hit me on the back of my thigh. I tell you, I could barely get up after this. Turns out I ended up with a bruise that resembled a full-size football. With a distinct mark where his stick made contact. Definitely not cool. The ref gives him a penalty; big deal. That was it.

Since then I’ve played fairly regularly and again I’m with the Iceholes for this winter at Burnaby 8-rinks. Just last game, there was yet another jerk on the opposing team. All game he was lippy and passing threat s to a couple of our guys. Unfortunately for me I had a run-in with this guy in front of our net where he continued to bark pissy remarks (common in hockey). Big deal, who cares… I just ignore that bullshit. What came next, was his stick, leaving some pretty ugly bruises on the arm and a nice gash on the back of my knee. So the ref gives him a 2 minute penalty for his lame use of the stick. Big deal.

So, what is it with the few that can’t manage to control themselves? It’s inevitable, once you get out on the ice (or any game for that matter) the blood is pumping and the adrenaline has all on edge. Of course, one has to assume some risk when you play sports but gimme a break, it’s beer league!

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Be happy, The Law of the Garbage Truck 24th September, 07

as seen around the internet….

LAW OF THE GARBAGE TRUCK – Let the garbage go by. By David J. Pollay

How often do you let other people’s nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you’re the Terminator, for an instant you’re probably set back on your heels.

However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly she can get back her focus on what’s important.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here’s what happened.

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when all of a sudden, and I mean without warning, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded and missed the other car’s back end by just inches.

Here’s what happened next. The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. How do I know? Ask any New Yorker, some words in New York come with a special face.

Now, here’s what blew me away. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!” And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, “The Law of the Garbage Truck.”

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you.

When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You’ll be happy you did. I guarantee it.

So this was it: The “Law of the Garbage Truck.” I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, “I’m not going to do it anymore.”

Well now “I see Garbage Trucks.” I see the load they’re carrying. I see them coming to drop it off.
And like my Taxi Driver, I don’t make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

One of my favorite Football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best. Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses.

Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?

Here’s my bet. You’ll be happier. I guarantee it.

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Top Four Adult Jokes – 2006 23rd September, 07

fourth place

A man bumps into a woman in a hotel lobby and as he does, his elbow goes into her breast.

They are both quite startled. The man turns to her and says, “Ma’am, if your heart is as soft as your breast, I know you’ll forgive me.”

She replies, “If your penis is as hard as your elbow, I’m in room 221.”

Third Place

One night, as a couple lays down for bed, the husband starts rubbing his wife’s arm.

The wife turns over and says “I’m sorry honey, I’ve got a gynecologist appointment tomorrow and I want to stay fresh.” The husband, rejected, turns over.

A few minutes later, he rolls back over and taps his wife again.
“Do you have a dentist appointment tomorrow too?”

Runner Up

Bill worked in a pickle factory. He had been employed there for a number of years when he came home one day to confess to his wife that he had a terrible compulsion.

He had an urge to stick his penis into the pickle slicer. His wife suggested that he should see a sex therapist to talk about it, but Bill said he would be too embarrassed. He vowed to overcome the compulsion on his own.

One day a few weeks later, Bill came home and his wife could see at once that something was seriously wrong.

“What’s wrong, Bill?” she asked.
“Do you remember that I told you how I had this tremendous urge to put my penis into the pickle slicer?”
“Oh, Bill, you didn’t” she exclaimed.
“Yes, I did.” he replied.
“My God, Bill, what happened?”
“I got fired.”
“No, Bill. I mean, what happened with the pickle slicer?”

“Oh…she got fired too.”

Winner

A couple had been married for 50 years.
They were sitting at the breakfast table one morning when the wife says, “Just think, fifty years ago we were sitting here at this breakfast table together.”
“I know,” the old man said. “We were probably sitting
here naked as a jaybird fifty years ago.”
“Well,” Granny snickered. “Let’s relive some old times.”
Where upon, the two stripped to the buff and sat down at the table. “You know, honey,” the little old lady breathlessly replied, “My nipples are as hot for you today as they were fifty years ago.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” replied Gramps.
“One’s in your coffee and the other is in your oatmeal.”

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All that is wrong with the (disposable) Auto Industry 22nd September, 07

I’m sick and tired of the North American Auto Industry. Supply and demand seems to mean nothing to General Motors, Ford or Chrysler. Each year is the same old same old, pushing cars off the lot with massive marketing campaigns, huge deals and incredible incentives; rather than having them pulled off the lot.

Short and simple, they work in an industry of slim margins and high capital investment (the R&D to keep efficiencies high) which is a vicious cycle. Which combined with commodity expectations, the domestic auto makers are doomed and just don’t see it.

Don’t buy it? Check out the long term debt for any of those three companies. GM for instance is sitting at a long term debt of $190Billion [and growing]. Each year they invest incredibly in R&D and in highly depreciating and dating capital. The kicker is they operate with a net loss in revenue of billions (just under $2billion this year). So, that $190 billion just keesps growing. How depressing, and these guys just keep digging a deeper hole each year. Brilliant!

Now really, the technology and reliability of our vehicles has been improving over the years. Sure there is the age-old saying “they don’t make them like they used to’; while true, it’s not something you can consistently generalize with quality and reliability. Ultimately, most of us don’t have to give our vehicles anything more than a regular oil change and car wash every 3-6 months. Besides that, vehicles generally run very well, and for a long time.

So why is it then, automakers flood the market with more than enough new (but the same) product each year? Sure, North America is disposing of perfectly good automobiles on a regular basis (thanks to a disposable society), but not nearly at the pace the big automakers can produce them.

Is it really any surprise that Detroit city is in such financial ruins lately? Talk about mismanagement and lack of forsight!

Links

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The Dixie Chicks take the long high road 22nd September, 07

I must admit, I wasn’t really following the Dixie Chicks over the past four years.  While I am a big fan (I have most of their music), I was only vaguely following the famous free speach event in London in 2003.  And the unforgettable american public outlash against them.

I just finished watching the Shut up and Sing documentary they produced, telling the story from their perspective.  Boy I tell you, what an inspiring show, even if the blind ignorance of the American public is clearly apparent and almost unbearably frustrating.

What needs to be remembered here is the facts and the context.  It’s no secret that the war was based on false statements.  Those which many doubted but the American Military was destined for a fight.  To this, it’s now clear Natalie was frustrated as a member of and for the American public.

Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.

Which we must remember that directly after Natalie’s statements on stage, co-band member Emily Robison reportedly remarked that the band supported the American troops 100 percent.

The damage was already done, and boy was American public not impressed. The rest is history; you should watch the documentary.

I truly admire the girls, not only for sticking through the tough times, but also for sticking together, period!  Most importantly though, is keeping their integrity in tact to emerge a few long years later, a stronger and ever more powerful group.

In my opinion, this is a story that will be forever remembered for having demonstrated the power and (unfortunately) danger of free speech.

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Simulated Minesweeper Video 22nd September, 07

KABOOM!

These guys did an amazing job re-enacting what the classic PC game, minesweeper would be like in real life.

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Addicting Online Games 22nd September, 07

It’s no surprise to see the emergence of the addicting online puzzle game. These days it seems like they are popping up everywhere. One of the recent games I got hooked on (thanks Ryan!) is the Bloxorz game (via albinoblacksheep). I did manage to finish the 33 levels, but it wasn’t before a couple evenings were lost to the game.

It’s interesting what makes a good game from an average game, and what is the tipping point to when a game becomes truly addicting. Over the years, we’ve seen the snowball game, elf bowling, penguin baseball and even mini golf. I’m sure I’m missing some classics as well.

So, from simple sports to challenging puzzles, these games keep rolling in. I tell you, we’ve come a long way from Lode Runner on the Apple IIe.

filed under Games. Comments (1)

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