Maybe I shouldn't have taken the corporate jet

Well done. CEOs from the big American car makers went to Washington this week asking for money to keep them afloat. They flew in on their corporate jets and didn't bring a plan that outlines what they plan to do with the money. Scott Simon (NPR, Weekend Edition Saturday) likened this cluelessness to showing up at a soup kitchen in a top hat and tails.

Don't these people have minders? Trusted advisers that would at least counsel that if you're asking for $25 billion to get you out of dire financial circumstances perhaps you should fly commercial? Let alone showing up without a plan. "I need 25 billion dollars." "What do you plan to do with that money?" "I need 25 billion dollars."

Or is it just plain arrogance?

Ximena Sarinana

Scott Simon interviewed Ximena Sarinana on Morning Edition Saturday. She has a crooner style and her voice is gorgeous! Take a listen.

Video from YouTube for "Normal" below



You can hear more, beautiful full-length songs from her CD Mediocre on her MySpace page.

A Dumb Dare that needs to be tried

Phone a colleague's extension and ask if you can ring them right back in a moment. Put the phone down and don't call back.

From my Dumb Dares for the Office calendar. This really would mess with someone's mind. That is extremely appealing to me.

Photography inspiration

This inspires me to take and display more photographs of everyday objects (from 20x200). I purchased this and will hang it in my bathroom.

10 best RV commercials according to Facebook users

Includes this one from FedEx


Via Silicon Alley Insider
Posted using ShareThis

Word of the day: skive

I heard this new-to-me word on The Bugle podcast. I like it very much.

skive
Noun. An evasion of one's tasks, a period of shirking.
Verb. To evade doing one's work or duties, to truant. E.g."Every Friday afternoon you can guarantee he'll be skiving and getting drunk down the pub.

Former London Mayor, (Red) Ken Livingstone used it to describe diplomats who are refusing to pay London congestion fees.

My horoscope via The Onion

I usually pay no attention to horoscopes. The Onion is the exception. Here's today's.

Horoscope: Libra
They say you have the kind of a face only a mother could love, but that's mainly because she feels guilty about all the drinking.

Silly toothpaste

I love Toothpaste for Dinner.


toothpastefordinner.com

Miriam Makeba

Miriam Makeba, the beautiful voice of South Africa, died today. Her voice against apartheid led to the revocation of her citizenship in the 1960s. She returned after Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990. Rest in peace.

Home

Last night I got back from a tech conference in Tampa. I loved the conference -- and the great catch-up time with my colleague CloEve -- but I was so glad to be home. I got in my car started it up. The radio came on and Prairie Home Companion was just starting. Audio substantiation: I am home.


*Snaps to the airport shuttle drivers for TEAM Parking (on Shepard and Davern). Their drivers are always so friendly and helpful. I won't park anywhere else.

Cool stuff from Veer

Veer has a lovely assortment of things you don't need but want. You can get this on a t-shirt. I would like one that says, "I write stuff all day." Maybe I'll have to wander over to Cafe Press and make my own.









They also sell a shirt with this on it. But I think I'd feel too pressured to prove myself all day.

Puppy love

I just love these sweet, silly pups.

Sunbathing beauties.

Completely knackered after trick-or-treating with Tori & Katy.

Best inventions of 2008

Surprise! Non-election news. Time's 50 Best Inventions of 2008 (via psfk on Twitter)

Invention of the Year: The Retail DNA Test
2. The Tesla Roadster
3. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
4. Hulu.com
5. The Large Hadron Collider

Thank goodness for Hulu*. Otherwise I'd be totally clueless about the top 5. OK, I know about the Large Hadron Collider but cannot get my brain around it.

The rest of the list.

*Full-length episodes of great shows like Bones, The Daily Show, The Simpsons, etc. -- all in one place. Some movies, too.

Fab-u-lous

A talented video editor + lots of time = very funny video. Thanks hmatkin! (Via zeFrank)

Boy bands & the election

Best campaign video. Ever.

Who are these people?

Great story in the The New Yorker about the undecideds, by the brilliant David Sedaris. It is a wonder of the universe. Who are these people? {Said in a an exasperated, slightly condescending tone.]

Undecided
David Sedaris
The New Yorker, Oct. 27, 2008
I don’t know that it was always this way, but, for as long as I can remember, just as we move into the final weeks of the Presidential campaign the focus shifts to the undecided voters. “Who are they?” the news anchors ask. “And how might they determine the outcome of this election?”

Palin as President

This has been almost everywhere but I still want to share the love. When you get to the site, click all over the photograph. Lots of lovely surprises!

Vote on Tuesday! Vote on Tuesday!