Archive for October, 2009

The Human Experience

There are a couple of shows that I watch quite regularly. I have found that some of them are quite repetitive and even monotonous in certain contexts.

However it’s a strange phenomenon that human’s can find some comfort in the monotony of certain events. Knowing the script and even how the show will end can give one a sense of confidence and a certain degree of ego.

I recently watched a fascinating anecdote documentary called “The Last Beekeeper”. It’s all about three commercial beekeepers and the struggle to maintain their livelihood. Firstly, what struck me about the show was how much the number of bees in North America has declined over the last thirty years. It was quite astonishing. Secondly, I was surprised to learn that scientists haven’t a clue why the bees are dying. It seems that a combination of factors are contributing to the demise of these creatures, but no one has been able to narrow it down enough to form a practical diagnosis.

So what on earth does this have to do with the human experience? Well I watched the show and sort of knew where we were going to end up. However you couldn’t deny the heart of these very normal people trying desperately to survive and provide for their families.

In spite of the trials of the bees, the demise of the key characters in the show was the real story – “the human experience”. It makes sense to use anecdotal visages to garner interest in an environmental plight. In this show it was used to maximum effect. It got me thinking and doing a bit of research about this little known “industry”. It also made me realize that we are all part of this human experience, no matter where or what kind of business we are engaged in.

Scientists will invariably find out why the bees are dying and hopefully create a cure or prevention. It’s how we humans maneuver through these difficulties that is the real story, however monotonous and boring that may seem.

Rain

It has rained all day today and twice on Monday, therefore I have decided to knight this week’s word as “rain”.

Reminds me of England. Reminds me of back home. In 1997, I visited family and friends in the driest of months in the UK. Yes, the month of October. Of course I am being sarcastic because for the entire three weeks I was in England it either, drizzled, misted or tipped down! I was not spared one minute of damp weather. And you’d think I would be used to if after all, I am British.

As miffed, as I might seem about the incessant rainy weather, it’s more because it reminds me of home. Another little anecdote... On rainy days at primary school, we would spend out breaks indoors, listening to the drops pitter-pattering outside. Our teacher would have us sit down on the floor and we would listen to her read some Beatrice Potter or Mr. Men stories.
We would press our noses up against the classroom window and chant:-

Rain, rain go away
Come again another day
All the children want to play
So rain, rain go away

Sometimes as quickly as the downpour had started it would vanish and we could catch the last fifteen or twenty minutes in the playground. But by then the climbing frames would be soaking wet and the grass just as treacherous.

Will I ever get used to the dark, damp, rainy days ahead? I doubt it but the memories will go a long way to warm my heart and turn this girl’s frown upside down!

Thor’s Day October 29

The following anecdotes occurred on October 29.

1886 – The first ticker-tape parade in New York City history. The parade was dedicated to the Statue of Liberty.

1929 – The Great Depression begins after the stock market crashes.

1969 – The humble beginnings of the Internet are underway when the first computer-to-computer link is made.

1929 – The Great Depression begins after the stock market crashes.

EtaBlog is happy to bring you anecdote examples and anecdote samples every week on Thursday. This section is entitled Thor’s Day in tribute to the history of October 29. Each anecdote story may not have occurred on a Thursday but sometimes they do. If you have a funny anecdote that you would like to contribute to our site, please use the contact page and send us an email.

The Perks Game

For years I worked for a stockbroker firm in New York. During my tenure there in the Accounting Department I became very familiar with company perks and “kick-backs”.
Why am I so enamored with this event all of a sudden when it’s been around for centuries?

Well after the US Government bailed out several high profile companies with our hard earned money, there are rumors amok that several offices in these companies are still being “perked”!

It is my understanding that one such CEO received “gross-ups” (where a reimbursement, award or bonus pay is adjusted to account for income tax) on a bonus after the company had received bailout cash. There were also cases where company officers were reimbursed for home renovations and other personal expenses. All of this after the mismanagement of company funds in prior years.

This has prompted the White House to introduce legislation, prohibiting these types of transactions for firms that have received government money under the Bailout agreements.

In my view they should send the lot of them packing. It’s hard enough to sit back and watch some of these Wall Street Vultures get slaps on the wrist for their egregious and selfish actions, when it comes to their clients’ future welfare. I’ve witnessed a lot of these greed-motivated actions first hand and I can tell you it isn’t pretty.

Unfortunately there’s little that we can actually do to stop the “perks game”. Let’s just hope that there’s room left for the “little man” to eke out a living, at the end of the day.

Happiness

This week’s word may be the completely opposite feeling of our society’s current state of affairs. However I strongly believe that “happiness” is a state of mind and not a state of matter.

What do I mean by this statement? Simply that you can transform your feelings of sadness into happiness by what I call, “changing your mind”. It’s a concept that I “borrowed” from my other half and I think that it works quite well.

So how does one “change their mind”? It involves convincing yourself that you are indeed happy. The mind is a powerful instrument and the majority of us only use a minute percentage of its capabilities. Whether you sit quietly and repeat silently over and over what needs to change in your life to make you happier or just put yourself on a path that will lead to happiness, it doesn’t really matter. The most important thing is that you are the one making the change. You are making yourself happy.

As silly as it sounds, it‘s as simple as that. It has worked for me on many occasions, when I have fell into that slump of sadness. Yes times are hard and the world may not be as beautiful as it once was. But that doesn’t mean that you are not that happy, beautiful person you once were. It’s hard work, but making “Happiness” the focus of your life will translate into all aspects of your world and that’s what it’s all about in the end, isn’t it?

Love Affair with a Cell (Mobile) Phone

There’s something to said about cell phones (mobile phones or mobiles to us Brits). I for one am a bit of an addict. I don’t know how, why or when I became addicted to cell phones but it happened quite unexpectedly.

My first phone was an Ericsson I believe back in the early nineties. It was rather clunky and had no Internet or texting capabilities. I loved that phone and every night I would set it on it’s little charger and wait for the red light to turn green. Why? Well everyone knows that if you over charge the battery will deplete and you will eventually deplete talk time. I would never allow that to happen to my “baby”.

Then came my Nokia phase. In my mind, no one but no one could surpass the superior quality of those phones. They were smaller, sleeker and great to flash about. They were the status symbol of my generation and untouchable by any other competitor.

As I grow older, I find myself using my phone less and less, however my desire to have a nice sleek one hasn’t diminished. My Motorola Razor is two years old and I could probably do with an upgrade, but when I look at the usage and see that it’s less than twenty minutes a month, I balk at the idea.

Still the desire to have that delicious new Apple iPhone beckons and pulls at my heartstrings. Do I need it? Of course not, but a girl can dream, can’t she?