What you see when the company has a party

Last Sunday our company had a little party after work. Most employees attended. I almost skipped it as it was a long work day. I was glad I went, some close work friends were there and it was a fun couple of hours.

We do have a diverse work place with people from 19 to 72 years old. What surprised me was how people dressed for the occasion. If you think you are up on the current fashion trends and styles, let me tell you, you have no clue. I certainly don't.

It was hip hop heaven. I was totally surprised by the fashion statements, not that it was bad, but I was blown away.

As I looked around I felt very old.

But now for the funny part. You would not believe how many guys in their forties and fifties were trying to blend in. It was funny and yet a bit sad. I understand we wear shirts and ties all day long and this is a chance to look different, but still.

I still wish I had thought to bring my new Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd t-shirt.

Now that would be age appropriate!

old Ray

happy birthday to me!

Jon Stewart Interview

A very interesting man.


http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/10/jon-stewart-rosewater-in-conversation.html?wpsrc=nymag

Simple things make me happy

sometimes 

it doesn't take much

being alone

nothing pending

sitting

with a 

book in hand

playing 

old tunes

tickling the ears

soft breeze

caressing the face

feet up

relaxing

sun streaked skies

natures palette

sounds

of water

gently cascading

downward

four paws

come

closer

head scratch

looking

for tidbits

game of catch

sipping

the drink 

of the moment

eyes

grow heavy

close for a 

moment

smile

Send out the clowns and the tigers too!

It is almost 2015 and it is time to stop the use of a couple of relics of the past.

The Zoo

Really, do we need to see animals in captivity any more? The world has changed much over the years and what was once a curiosity about the world around us is very passe. More and more reports come out on how devastating it is to the animals to live in captivity. I would add in Sea World also. Orca and the gang need hundreds of square miles to roam and hunt and instead they are held captive in the equivalent of a bathtub to live their lives out in.

There was an episode of Twilight Zone where the main character is kidnapped by aliens and transported to their planet. He awakens in what appears to be a house. It turns out to be a display of his normal habitat. He is an attraction in a zoo. Touche!

The Circus
How many more reports of animal cruelty do we need before they are ordered to shut down. Elephants balancing on a ball? Abusive treatment to keep them in line? Whips to train the lions and tigers? I always root for the animals.
The circus coming to town was a big diversion years ago, adding a bit excitement and side shows designed to separate the money from the marks.

Vote with your feet and wallet. Don't go.

ray

He used to write a lot remember?

first year
2009

237 posts

second year
2010

237 posts not planned, just worked out that way

third year
2011

308 posts

fourth year
2012

246 posts

fifth year
2013

78 posts

sixth year
2014

67 and counting

It is not that I have run out of ideas, it is just, I don't know....something, work, health, maybe.
On the plus side, six years is a long time and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon!

coffee time

ray
xo

Gore Vidal

I recently watched a documentary on Gore Vidal on Netflix. If you never read any of his writings you owe it to yourself to pick one up and read it. He went toe to toe with William F. Buckley in a debate of sorts and left Buckley gasping for air, brilliant stuff. The following are some of his best quotes.

Gore Vidal: 'Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn'. Photograph: AP

"I never miss a chance to have sex or appear on television."

"It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail."

"A narcissist is someone better looking than you are."

"Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically by definition be disqualified from ever doing so."

"Democracy is supposed to give you the feeling of choice like, Painkiller X and Painkiller Y. But they're both just aspirin."

"Envy is the central fact of American life."

"Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little."

"The United States was founded by the brightest people in the country — and we haven't seen them since."

"Every four years the naive half who vote are encouraged to believe that if we can elect a really nice man or woman President everything will be all right. But it won't be."

"Andy Warhol is the only genius I've ever known with an IQ of 60"

"A good deed never goes unpunished."

"All children alarm their parents, if only because you are forever expecting to encounter yourself."

"Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates."

"Fifty percent of people won't vote, and fifty percent don't read newspapers. I hope it's the same fifty percent."

"Some writers take to drink, others take to audiences."

"The genius of our ruling class is that it has kept a majority of the people from ever questioning the inequity of a system where most people drudge along, paying heavy taxes for which they get nothing in return"

"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn."

"The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes."

"The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so."

"Congress no longer declares war or makes budgets. So that's the end of the constitution as a working machine."

"We should stop going around babbling about how we're the greatest democracy on earth, when we're not even a democracy. We are a sort of militarised republic."

"As the age of television progresses the Reagans will be the rule, not
the exception. To be perfect for television is all a President has to
be these days."

"Sex is. There is nothing more to be done about it. Sex builds no roads, writes no novels and sex certainly gives no meaning to anything in life but itself."

"Think of the earth as a living organism that is being attacked by billions of bacteria whose numbers double every forty years. Either the host dies, or the virus dies, or both die."

"There is no such thing as a homosexual or a heterosexual person. There are only homo- or heterosexual acts. Most people are a mixture of impulses if not practices."

"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise."

The journey continues

I mentioned I have an idea that I am working on. What I didn't mention was that I tried to get the attention of Elon Musk and Richard Branson. No success, obviously there are too many buffers between them and me. But I do aim high. My little brain is working on this all the time. I am not an engineer, I suck in math, but that is okay because I can hire those people to make things work.

What I have realized is that people aim to low. There is the fear of failure mixed in with the fear of success. Everyone can imagine the fear of failure. But success? If one achieves what you are shooting for and succeed, what next? Is success what you thought it would be?

When you are blazing your own trail you can only guess what is next. If it is something new, your map that you are drawing only shows where you have been and the starting point and the ending point of your journey, well you don't know where it will lead to.

That is an idea worth pursuing all on its own.

ray

Parenting, long hours, no pay

It is true you know. Just out of sight, never out of mind, the job of a parent is never done.

We have our own personal challenges daily, day in and day out and yet our children no matter what age lurk in the background. As a parent we hope for the best and yet best has several stages and levels.

At a certain point there is nothing we can do.

It becomes burdensome at times, yet we all give and give until there is no more. And give some more. You stand on the shore with a lifeline, realizing it is too short, hoping they can swim closer, hoping you taught them how, fingers crossed. Hoping for a happy ending, fearing for a bad ending.

A parent is supposed to be the rock, stoic, unshakable, it is just a mirage as a parent knows.

And the wait. see how it turns out. Hope for a happy ending, a soft landing, no crash and burn.

fingers crossed.

ray

Thought Process

I have read many biographies of famous and or important people over the years. Two recent examples are Nikola Tesla and Elon Musk. I like the fact they wanted/want to do something to benefit mankind.

That is the thought that surges through my mind and controls my thoughts, not money or fame but to help everyone, to come up with a game changer idea. My strength is my ability to envision something, my mind goes through the pros and cons of an idea. My weakness is the inability to proceed.

I am sure that I will find what I thought were insurmountable problems will be laughable down the road. Publicly stating a course of action and documenting the course of events will be exhilarating and scary, there will be butterflies a plenty for sure.

There will be applause and handshakes from some and head shaking from others as I continue along this journey. But this time there will be not failure from not trying. That alone will make me successful.

I will start a journal of sorts and at some point in time share it.

Time to draw a map and get started, no gps needed!

ray