corporatespeak

"We have purposely fast tracked the standing up of the [division] Website to provide a tool for you use to make it easier for you to access the information you need."

Ugh. Maybe it's just me, but I wince when I see this manner of using language. Some how, it wouldn't seem nearly so bad without the neologisms and the tautology (supplied at cost by the Department of Redundancy Department...) Why not just say

"We will create this website quickly so that you can more easily find the information you need."

life's little jokes

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on the other hand

I highly recommend the program Bravo's shown called TV Revolution. It's a look at how TV treatment of controversial and important topics in American life (sex, violence, race, gender issues, women's rights) has changed over time. They aired it the last week of May, but I expect they'll be showing it again, and I'd encourage people to watch it if they're interested in issues of popular culture and society. I found it fascinating, much of it in a "I had forgotten how much the world has changed since I've been alive" way. Fascinating.

"For Gay Episcopal Couple, Path to a More Perfect Union"

This is a very moving story.

I particularly appreciate Bradley's remark that "God didn't stop talking to the church when the Bible was finished." This is the part of conservative Christianity (and Judaism, and Islam) that I have the biggest problem with: the idea that G*d created a book (a physical, mortal object), placed very specific strictures in it, and expected people to live by its laws and guidelines without change or interpretation for millenia. That just doesn't make sense, on so many levels. Even the religions thmeselves recognize that societies change and mores shift: each claims to be the successor to the others (Judaism believes that the Talmud extends and interpolates teh Torah; Christianity explicitly says that Christ's teaching is to replace and supersede the Torah; and Islam--as I understand it--treats Judaism and Christianity as limited and slightly off-track versions of the True Faith).

priceless

from our boss:

As most of you are aware, the Government has declared Friday, 11 June, a Federal Holiday. This does NOT affect [our] holiday schedule. In other words, you are to treat this day just like you would the other holidays the Government gets that we do not (e.g., Veteran's Day, Columbus Day). You will be expected to either work a normal work day, or if you are unable to get access to your work location you must work with your PM and/or Division Manager to make other arrangements such as working at [our main office] or making up the 8 hours at some other time during the two week pay period.

I swear, there's nothing like working in an employee-owned company, where every day employees take of is seen by management (the only people wealthy enough to own substantial stock in the company) as a hit to pructivity and therefore a drop in potential stock price.

OTOH, this is someone who apparently, on taking over our branch, discovered that the previous manager had been paying everyone below-market rates to as to generate higher earnings figures. Her reaction? Across the board salary hikes, to match market rates. It had sound business sense behind it too (looking more long-term than the previous manager), but I have to appreciate that.

But would it really kill us to get a day off? OTOH, I'd hardly spend it mourning Reagan, so I suppose I might as well work...

OK, this better not be someone's idea of a good prank...

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