The Tao Of Paul

I find it amazing that there are actually people out there that believe the best way to make someone agree with you is to insult the shit out of them. Not just here in the ozone, but at work as well.
Then there are those who defy logic. Literally.
Co-worker: You’re wrong.
Me: No, here’s some facts that…
Co-worker: I don’t need facts. I know what I’m talking about.
My favorite? The conspiracy theorists. The “Why bother voting, it’s all rigged/ Hillary has a secret network out to get Obama,/ it doesn’t matter how you perform at work they only promote their buddies” type. When you look at them incredulous as hell, and ask them where that came from, do they have a source, a reference, anything, they say they don’t need no stinking source. They just smile and say “I just know”,smiling and tapping their temple with an index finger.
When that happens, I smile, nod my head knowingly, and make a mental note to avoid this person when looking for decent conversation.

Working a couple of doubles this weekend, sleep will be at a premium. So posting will be lighter than normal, if that’s possible. And if I do post, I cannot guarantee that I will be rational.
But it beats the hell out of Christmas shopping.

First, it’s a case of the usual hyperbole. Williams says “We have to lay everyone off!” Rumore says “Your poisoning the waters!” and calls off negotiations. In the interim, the board hasn’t decided on whether or not to appeal the ruling, The Control board is getting ready to re-impose the wage freeze and the kids, they live with the results. Anyone out there trying to find the middle ground?

Second, Seems that Rod Watson feels that ethnicity should be the primary qualification to be on the transition team. There are a hell of a lot of Poles in the county and I don’t see much representation for them, and my Hispanic relatives are not in a tizzy over this. One month gone and here comes the Race Card. I thought he would at least wait until Collins took the oath of office, but I guess not.

Our friend Hardy is up from Florida on business and is staying with us for a couple of days. Quite a handy guy, remodels apartments, great at design, all that cool stuff. We came home from work today to find that he had installed our new sliding glass doors as a sign of his appreciation. My son in law was here helping him. Now I am not a real handy guy when it comes to things like this, so I was really appreciative, believe me.
And my son in law is one of those computer geek types. Nice to have, especially today. Seems that Dub Central:

is having a hardware problem (first one that starts singing “Viva Viagra” dies) and he is going to take care of it this weekend for me.
Life is damn good…

At Least for me. I made a vow not to post concerning the transition team. I will visit this issue on April 1st, when hopefully the dust will be settled, and an informed opinion can be made.

So with that in mind, I give you my head on a stick in front of a bake shop near London with my name on it:

I promise to do better tomorrow.

I know everyone has plans for this one…
Our guest list has dropped from around 20 to 5 this year. Kids out of town, in - laws heading to their in - laws, has that effect. Of course, all are saying they will drop by for dessert, but that’s a little different. Looks like I won’t have too much competition for the couch for the sleeping - through - the football game tradition.
Working Black Friday, which is also my wife’s birthday.
Saturday is my brother’s 25th wedding anniversary bash, and I have a bowling meeting in the evening. Something is going on Sunday, but I can’t remember for the life of me what it is.
Who has the biggest crowd coming to their house this year?

Overslept Friday, so the usual weekend post was not in play. Actually, this way I can show how little I really did!
Friday I worked at the local library book sale. You learn a lot about people when you see their reading preferences
Saturday was housecleaning and groceries. Such excitement!
Sunday was a trip to the craft store with Kate, then to the AKAG because she knew they carried a certain brand of writing paper. Which they did, but not the style she wanted. Checked out the Panza collection while there, it was okay, not awe inspiring. Nice if you are really in to color.
The Gallery is changing up a bit, more of a mix, and I’m thinking I like it. Touch more contrast.
I fell asleep watching the pre - game, did not see the Bills game. That did however put me in the position of being wide awake for last night’s edition of Robot Chicken. I was pretty pleased with that. Re run that I had seen. Sumbitch, can’t win sometimes.
Anyone do something cool?

And not real chipper about it either. Why? I can’t think of that many things about myself. At least other than the eight I had to do earlier. So here goes:

I do not like being ignored (or the impression of being ignored) when it comes to email. Now I understand that I have a helluva lot more free time than most. But if I send an email that requires a response such as request for data, verification of information or a meeting, I think a reply should be forthcoming within a week at the most. I usually send a follow up to make sure the mail went through. I figure that within a week you can read your email, unless you are physically incapacitated. If you’re too busy, send a one liner to that effect and tell me to kiss off. Whatever.

I used to teach Sunday School.

I find “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” or whatever the real title is, to be possibly the most depressing song ever. And I have absolutely no idea why.

I put garlic or onions in just about everything I cook.

Up until I was about 23, I was convinced I would never mount to anything and would spend my short life living out of a refrigerator box.

I cannot comprehend Reality shows. To me they are perfect examples of appealing to the lowest common denominator. People from all walks of life are put through totally bizarre shit, and at the end of each week they eat their own young so to speak by voting some poor soul off the island, out of the house, off the show, whatever. All for a big chunk of cash.

But I really, really like Robot Chicken.

Thanks Jen…

Talk about stretching logic and scamming taxpayers. Asking for more positions in order to keep others open so you can count that as savings? Perhaps one of the most idiotic practices I have ever heard of. I guess it would be too much of a stretch to fill the current positions. You know, actually do something that would make the county a bit more efficient? How about cutting the jobs that aren’t needed (if any) and actually align that money with where it is needed?

The workload never goes away. The numbers of people served by Medicaid, welfare and food stamp programs has climbed steadily this decade. The staff consumes about $200,000 a month in overtime expenses, Social Services Commissioner Michael Weiner said.

Yep, 1.4 Million dollars a year in overtime so they can claim the salaries of the open positions as savings to be used to balance the budget.
Does this sound like sound fiscal behavior to you?

Okay, This is a start. A plan of action, fairly specific goals. And this is just for the transition.

Collins said one of his first priorities will be hiring a deputy county executive, and he repeated his promise of a national search.

I imagine there is already a list in hand of potential candidates. He already has a fairly good idea of what he has to work with budget - wise to fill this slot. I don’t think he will be making calls to the effect of “Accounttemps? This is Chris Collins calling from Erie County. Do you have anyone who knows this Six Sigma, Sigma Six stuff”?
As for going nation wide with the search, I think it’s great. Find the perfect fit for the job.

I’m kind of optimistic right now. Why? Because I’m seeing someone who has goals, a plan, and is acting on them.
What I don’t see is someone sitting back basking in the glow of their victory and trying to figure out which supporters get which patronage spot.
Who knows, That may come later, but for some reason I don’t see it happening.