Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind ? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne ?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne. And surely you’ll buy your pint cup ! and surely I’ll buy mine ! And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes, and picked the daisies fine ; But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine† ; But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend ! And give us a hand o’ thine ! And we’ll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.
Palin had claimed her phrase death panals was metaphoric and accurate.
"To me, while reading that section of the bill, it became so evident that there would be a panel of bureaucrats who would decide on levels of health care, decide on those who are worthy or not of receiving some government-controlled coverage..it would therefore lead to harm for many individuals not able to receive the government care. That leads, of course, to death."~ Nov 17 interview with National Review
"The term I used to describe the panel making these decisions should not be taken literally," said Palin (same interview)." Is it possible for a metaphor to be accurate?
A metaphor suggest that X is akin to Y. It doesn't mean that X is Y. For example, Shakespere, in saying that "all the world is a stage" does not mean that the physical world is a physical stage but rather there are qualities in a theatrical stage that transfer to our realm of existence. In that sense, the metaphor is accurate and illuminating.
The problem with Palin's self-described metaphor is that it is not accurate, in that it is an inflamatory projection of right-wing extremist paranoia. All hospitals use insurance utilization experts that define to the dollar and the day acceptable limits of resource expenditures for patients. The free-market model of health care presupposes rationing based on your ability or the insurance company's ability and willingness to pay the hospital for services rendered and also their fear of law suits. It is disingenuous and dishonest to accept the rationing and triaging that is a function of capitalism while demonizing rationing and triaging that is a function of socialized medicine.
John Stuart Mill, letter to the Conservative MP, Sir John Pakington (March, 1866) I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative. I believe that is so obviously and universally admitted a principle that I hardly think any gentleman will deny it.
With two teenage boys, the Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas was the ideal Christmas vacation for us. They enjoyed rock climbing, ice skating, and their teenagers-only clubs, Fuel and The Living Room. There was plenty to do and the food was first rate. It is more adult-oriented than the Disney Magic with its casino and drinking venues. However, the smell of smoking rarely penetrated the more public areas. I also appreciated its well-stocked library.
I thought their food was equal to if not better than Disney. However, there is no availability of food on the swim decks and they charge for colas. I enjoyed the buffet on Windjammers and the more Asian food in Jade. We had wonderful dinner partners at our dinner table in Rhadsody in Blue.
Entertainment was inconsistent as compared to Disney. The singing and dancing was polished and the ice skaters were terrific. However, the comedy stylings sometimes fell short. The exception was Yakov Smirnoff, who was touched me in his love for the ideals of America. Later, we with 24 other couples took a seminar directed by Smirnoff "The DNA of Happily Ever Laughter". It was his effort to salvage from the wreckage of his own divorce how to build an enduring relationship. DNA stands for discovering how we are sometimes performers or audience, notice each other's needs ("Happiness is when our needs are met"), and agree on a way forward. It was a rare combination of both of insight and and humor.
Another special moment was when we danced on stage with Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Coasters ("Yakyty Yak" , "Charlie Brown").
We enjoyed the European spa and I had "frangipani scalp treatment", that I had won in a raffle.
A much apprecated moment of pure sentiment is when we joined the staff and officers in singing Christmas carols on the Grand Promenade with an enormous Christmas tree in the background. That next morning in a nearby lounge, we opened our presents.
We had a tiny cabin on the second deck. It took some creativity to squeeze our luggage into that room, but we were able to do so.
Crowd control was generally efficient. This was true in getting on and off the ship, and in the use of a conveyer of tenders at Cabo San Lucas. Things got hectic at Windjammers in midday and we were were sometimes displaced to a later seating for the ice shows.
We enjoyed visting Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallerta. Cabo is the most Americanized and touristy, and the people who live there are not embarrassed to hustle for our dollars. Mazatalan, a city of 400,000, is a combination of squalor and affluence. Our boys played at the El Cid resort. But my favorite Puerto Vallerta. We took a bus trip into the hills away from the beach to see a different side of Mexico and its people. The mountains and gorges were lush and verdant and the people who lived their were friendly. Strung over those gorges were fourteen ziplines. I and the boys enjoyed zipping hundreds of yards through the air from platform to platform.
On the 1,000 mile return trip, the ship headed into a stiff wind. However, I sensed little movement in the ship because of its size.
Upon leaving the ship, we found we left a pillow behind. Although we didn't have success in retrieving the pillow while we were at the terminal, we subsequently got a call from Royal Caribbean saying they had found the pillow and promising that they would mail it to us. When it comes to customer service, they did walk the walk.
All in all, I thought this was a wonderful vacation and I think the Mariner of the Seas is an excellent choice for other families.
When I was a teenager, I used to collect old phonograph records from flea markets, garage sales, and antique stores in Bucks County, Pennslvania. Some of these were from the 1920s and 30s. They were fragile and sometimes etched on just one side. Here is one such record.
Whern it comes to staying employed, this is not the time to be complacent or to rest on your laurels. Managers are no longer people-oriented. They are tough and exacting and are expected to make ruthless calls that effect large groups of people.
While it is impossible to shape decisions three levels above you, it is possible to position yourself so that you are perceived as a valuable employee. This is especially important for people in staff positions that don't have a direct impact on profits and people who are consultants.
My conclusions:
1. Discern the real organizational chart in distinction to the paper organizational chart. It is important to have face time with those who have real decision-making ability as to your long term viability as an employee. I do this by meeting bi-weekly with my managers. Recognize the power of the spoken word. Learn to control your behavior and shape the behavior of others by your behavior. Act the part.
2. Never let anyone else define you in a way that is at odds with what has really happened. Respond aggressively to wrong information about ypu. Protect your reputation with facts and truth.
3. Play to your strengths. Repair weaknesses.
4. Don't operate under the radar. This has the effect of making you stand out negatively.
5. Strive for Janus-like duality and flexibility. Work hard at what is in front of you but also plot your next move, try to see the big picture but also be detail oriented, be a technocrat but also be a generalist, work within your role but also across and outside your role. Don't allow yourself to be labeled. Cogs are expendable.
6. Survival is more a function of personaility and psychology rather than knowledge and hard work. Try to understand motivations and feelings of the main players.
7. Courtesy and integrity are power plays. Drain off grievances, admit mistakes, and give spiritual strength and affection to others when appropriate.
8. Information is reality. Perception is reality. Psychology is reality. The trick is to integrate information, perception, and psychology in such a way to protect your career.
9. Cover yourself. Document everything. Translate effort into metrics. Advertise or the sheriff will do it for you.
10. Get honest feedback on your performance. Make sure your performance is in alignment with managerial expectations and goals. Put in extra effort to make his happen.
