The football (soccer here in the US) team that I support is having a tough season. They are in the bottom three of the Championship, the second division of English football, and are thus in danger of being relegated to the third tier, a place they have not been since 1960. I have previously written blog entries about missing the football banter at work, but with the way this season is going, I think I may be glad that no one knows or cares about the results in the second tier of English football.
So Few Lions
I never found the idea of live eternal sat on a cloud plucking a harp an appealing vision of heaven. It would seem that the reality is worse, far worse. I saw a license plate holder on a car today and it said: “The way to heaven – turn right and stay straight”. Assuming the truth of this statement, eternity must be full of reactionary homophobic bigots; not a place to spend any time at all, let alone eternity. I guess they are playing Country and Western music on those harps
Fast Food
I had to spend Saturday morning in the office. I was working with on of the managers who report to me. We accomplished what we was required and headed out around 12:30 for lunch. My colleague suggested a nearby diner. Whilst parking I noted a sign on the back of the building which stated that parking was for patrons only and was limited to one hour. One hour maximum for a meal, unless you want dessert to be followed by vehicle clamping. Granted this was not a fine dining dining establishment, but neither was a fast-food outlet. This seems to show the American attitude to dining-out; it is an opportunity to acquire nutrition as rapidly as possible rather than a social experience to be savoured.
Propaganda
The walls at work have been plastered in the last few days with corporate propaganda posters. These brightly coloured items sing the praises of the company, its customer focused attitude, and the dedication of its staff.
It could be worse, at least we are not subjected to those facile “motivational” posters that are advertised on the pages of in-flight magazine. These motivational posters feature a photograph, a headline, and then a aphorism intended to inspire staff. A typical example shows a Lion, with the headline of Leadership, and the phrase: “Live daringly, boldly, fearlessly. Taste the relish to be found in competition—in having put forth the best within you.” (See poster here)
They are presumably used in companies where a glossy photograph offers more inspiration and guidance than the management. I would have thought it unlikely that any company would actually use these, but on my first ever visit to the US, I saw them all over the office walls of a Fortune 100 company.
There is an antidote to these posters and their vapid statements, offered by Despair, Inc. They offer posters with a similar style, but with very different messages. You can purchase a poster with a lion here too; it has a headline of Arrogance and the phrase: “The best leaders inspire by example. When that’s not an option, brute intimidation works pretty well, too.” This has the advantage over the real one of being funnier and far more accurate.
March
March has arrived, with heavy rain and the first working day is starting far too early. Living in the US, but working with colleagues in the UK, gives us very few working hours in common. This morning, I have a 7:30am video conference meeting. I am not a morning person.
The last working day of February ended well. The weather was beautiful and I had lunch sitting outside a local Mexican restaurant with a group of colleagues.
A Brit in California 