August 29, 2019
Go Years of Retirement
There are three phases:
1) Go-Go: You retire and are eager to enjoy your newfound freedom, and you spend the time and money to really do the pursuits and travel that you always wanted.
2) Slow-Go: After the initial adventurism and spending, you settle in some more and spend your time on quiet activities, socializing, and relaxing.
3) No-Go: This is the wind down phase, where you spend most of your time at home and at a certain point, may need some assistance to do everyday activities.
Obviously, the last phase is sort of depressing, but it too is a part of life.
Like a bell-shaped curve, we are born, grow, mature, and then decline.
This is the cycle of life for every living thing.
It takes maturity and courage to face it and to make the most out of every single moment that we are blessed with. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 28, 2019
Revolting Bug Food
It says:
"Eat Bugs"
Bugs are a source of high protein.
Crunchy too.
The ones above were Cheddar Cheese Crickets!
There was also Chile-Lime Crickets (with Pumpkin Seeds) and Dark Chocolate Crickets (with Amaranth Seeds).
Then came the BBQ and Honey Mustard Crickets
And to top it all of some Salt and Pepper Mealworms.
OMG folks, we have gone back to the Stone Ages eating this crap.
Or maybe this is all that will be left when Armageddon finally comes. ;-)
(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
Revolting Bug Food
August 27, 2019
Selling By Customer Stereotypes
It categorizes their female shoppers into 4 types:
1. Candy (hearts): Sweet, girly, flirty, whimsy, and femme
2. Ginger (cherries): Sexy, confident, edgy, attitude, and mysterious
3. Lou (baseball): Cool, tomboy, laid back, tough, minimal
4. Meadow (sunshine): Flowy, bohemian, embellished, pattern, worldly
So this is how they stereotype their customers "to be helpful"?
Interesting also that they don't see that people can be complex with: multiple traits that cross categories or even in no category at all.
Moreover, people can have different sides to themselves and reflect these in different situations.
Perhaps in an effort to market and sell more, what they've done is reduce people to these lowest common denominator of idiot categories.
And what makes this worse yet is that it seems to be based just on snap judgment of how someone looks coming into the store and all the biases that entails.
How about we look at people a little more sophisticated than this and treat them as individuals, with real personalities, and not just as another empty label? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Selling By Customer Stereotypes
August 26, 2019
Gucci Sneakers
Thick, thick soles and built up sides.
A strap adorning the sneaker with colored-stones (faux gems).
Very heavy with a durable kick-a*s feel.
All for $1,590 at Bloomingdale's.
As we joke as kids with a eastern European "old country" droll, "It's a bargain!" ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Gucci Sneakers
August 25, 2019
Tyson's Corner Wall Art
Create your own wall art.
People passing by in the mall, just pull over and start drawing with their fingers in these cool colorful shiny sequin tiles.
One way moves the sequins to one color and the other direction to an alternate color.
Some people went up to draw and then took a picture of themselves next to their artwork.
Everyone loves a little creativity (even in between shopping). ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Tyson's Corner Wall Art
August 23, 2019
The Coming Annexation
There has been much talk about Annexation of the Area C settlements in the West Bank (i.e. Yehuda and Shomron), and I believe that we are definitely moving in that direction. According to the 1993 Oslo Accords. Area C is where Israel maintains both security and civilian control. It represents about 60% of the West Bank and is of vital importance to the State of Israel and its future, and therefore is soon likely to be annexed.
Israel is the Promised Land and the one nation state for the Jewish people. Israel has absorbed millions of Jewish refugees from around the world. It is surrounded by hundreds of millions of Arabs in twenty-two countries. Israel captured the West Bank in a war of self-defense and should be prepared to annex it for the peace and security of its people and the region. If Israel has faith, remains strong, recognizes the military, geographical, and sociological realities on the ground and provides for the depth and settlement of its people, while at the same time being compassionate to the Palestinians, then it will continue to survive and thrive as a State, a democracy, and as light unto the nations.
The Coming Annexation
August 22, 2019
A Mosquito Into A Mule
Making a mountain out of a molehill
That's when you make a big deal out of nothing.
So yesterday, I heard the European version of this as:
Making a mosquito into a mule
Honestly, I like that version a lot better.
A mosquito bites and is annoying.
But a mule resists and is a very stubborn animal that can drive you crazy.
You definitely don't want to make a mosquito into a mule! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
A Mosquito Into A Mule
August 21, 2019
The Apollo 11 Mission: 50 Year Anniversary
Thought this model (scale 1:48) of the command ship and lunar lander in the NASA store was perfect.
It truly is miraculous that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldin made this journey.
In just 8 days, they made the round trip between the earth and the moon, traveling about 240,000 miles each way.
And they walked on the moon for about 3 hours--I want to try that!
Even until today, the U.S. remains the only country to have actually put men on the moon (total of 12).
"One small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind."
Now it's high time that we get ourselves to Mars already and colonize it! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
The Apollo 11 Mission: 50 Year Anniversary
August 20, 2019
Shopping Vs Psychiatrist
"Shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist."
Plus it's more fun and you get to take the junk home that you buy.
For many, shopping truly is a form of mental/stress relief--almost like medicine.
Unfortunately, if you think about it, things don't really make a person happy...rather people do and doing good does.
But industry wants you to think a lot more superficially and materialistically than that.
Hence the notion that if you take your daily dose of shopping, maybe you can skip the shrink! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Shopping Vs Psychiatrist
August 19, 2019
That's How You Make A Green Deal
The table and chairs in all the green.
And the green seat cushions works with it as well.
I love the perspective on this. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
That's How You Make A Green Deal
August 18, 2019
In Sderot: Bombs and Birthday Cake
Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and gave it to the Palestinians in a unilateral effort towards peace, but soon after terrorist group, Hamas, took control and has since been raining down missiles on the Israeli civilian population centers around it...Last night, as the missiles came towards Sderot and the Israeli sirens wailed for the people to seek shelter–they have only 15 seconds–the beautiful youth in Noaa’s birthday party ran towards the safe room. What was incredible with these youth, was that rather than stop the celebration and hide in fear and suffering from the missile attacks, instead they courageously continued the party and sang with great strength in Hebrew, Happy Birthday to Noaa!
Let us all learn from these amazing young people of Sderot to have birthday cake in the face of bombs and to celebrate life in the face of death, and let Mashiach soon come and bring us peace in the Promised Land.
In Sderot: Bombs and Birthday Cake
August 17, 2019
Copy Any Key
A automated key copy machine.
You insert your key.
And out pops a duplicate for you.
Home, car, business, whatever.
What is happening to that guy who used to work the key copy machine at the local locksmith?
Who says automation and robotics isn't taking and going to take away jobs.
I still remember that key machine--where the locksmith would put the key on one side and a blank on the other, and the machine would copy the surface grooves of one unto the other.
Now even that is gone.
I guess we're lucky still to have keys (for now). ;-)
(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)
Copy Any Key
August 16, 2019
Boycott The Boycotters
Israel did the absolutely right thing in barring Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from their controversial trip to what they would deem as Palestine. Omar and Tlaib’s trip was not only anti-Israel, but pro-terrorist....Certainly, if someone comes to boycott you, boycott them first. This is what Israel did, and rightfully so: The boycotters should be boycotted! It is only common sense that Israel should not give a platform to and help the anti-Semites who actively seek to harm them. And this is precisely what the Israel law to deny entry to supporters of BDS is for. Make no mistake, no other sane country would permit entry to those who seek to hurt them.
We are no longer “like sheep to the slaughter.” Thank G-d, those days are over! We must have faith in G-d; Israel must fight those that seek to harm them whether from military to economic warfare and more.
Boycott The Boycotters
August 15, 2019
Best Chicken Lo Mein (Kosher)
At China Bistro and Sushi in Hollywood, Florida.
Order the extra chicken for a couple of bucks.
Well worth it!
Steaming hot from the wok.
And don't forget to make it extra spicy! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Best Chicken Lo Mein (Kosher)
August 14, 2019
Goals Vs. Tactics
Be "flexible in tactics, but stay fixed on the goals!"
There are many ways to accomplish the same thing.
And different people have their own approaches.
As in the lyrics: "You take the high road and I'll take the low road."
That's absolutely okay.
In fact, that's one of the strengths and benefits of diversity.
We bring different ways of looking at the world to the table.
Hence, we can bounce fresh ideas off each other and come to a great way forward.
The main thing is that we focus on our goals and progress to achieve them.
Be rigid on goals and flexible in tactics. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Goals Vs. Tactics
August 13, 2019
Born With The Music
Alma Deutscher is a British-born (of Israeli-descent) musical whiz kid who was playing piano and violin at age 3.
And she composed a whole opera by the time she was 10.
They call her the Second Mozart, although she prefers to just be the First Alma!
She literally hears music playing in her head all the time, and she says that there are different expert musical composers in her head that she calls on to solve whatever musical challenge she is facing or sound out the emotion she is trying to get to.
In her interview, she did not seem like a 12-year old, but rather an old soul who has come back perhaps many, many times.
Listening and watching Alma is sort of like watching a walking miracle--as there is no way she learned these skills at such a young age and has "comprehensive mastery" over all the music and instruments.
If there was ever a question about where knowledge, skills, and abilities come from, with a child prodigy like Alma, there should be no lingering doubts about G-d's complete role in everything.
With Alma, G-d graciously let's us in to the mysteries of creation by showing us the source of all is Him.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Born With The Music
August 12, 2019
Bookmarks From Israeli Stamps
He takes these Israeli stamps like the one for Judges of Israel and Social Welfare for the people, laminates them, punches a hole and strings it.
And voila, these cool bookmarks from Israel.
We had just learned the Hebrew word for bookmark and he thought to bring these in for the class.
He was so nice that even though he couldn't make the last classes before the Summer recess, he dropped these off with the teacher for us
Some people are real mensches, and these are the people I personally appreciate. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Bookmarks From Israeli Stamps
August 11, 2019
The Humanity of Routine
They form routines and function with relative comfort and efficiency within that.
And for the most part, we can recognize our own patterns in life.
Get up, brush our teeth, dress, daven (pray), go to work and so on.
After a while, you can do it mostly in your sleep.
We sort of become like automatons.
Flip the switch and we go.
When routine and structure become so rigid that we can no longer improvise or innovate then we have a big problem in higher order functioning.
But also when we break people's structures and habits, we find that they can quickly lose their sh*t.
People need to control their time and maintain their patterns of life.
Therein lies a certain safety and comfort in that repetitive doing.
You know what you're doing--you've done it before, so you can do it again.
If you strip a person of their control over their time and the structure of their behavior, they are truly naked and in much more than a physical sense. (They articulated this in The Punisher, Season One, on Netflix)
All of a sudden they don't know what to do or how to do it.
Do they go crazy, breakdown, or tell you everything you want to know.
Torture is not just physical, but also mental and emotional.
It is not hard to take away something so simple and a person is no longer a full person anymore.
People need solid coping as well as survival skills to deal with the unknown.
Finally, appreciate when everything is more or less under control, because that's truly a blessing. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
The Humanity of Routine
August 9, 2019
Speedily Rebuild The Temple
Tisha B’Av (the 9th day of the month of Av) is on Shabbat this year, so we conduct the day of mourning and fast on Sunday. The destruction of the Temple and our subsequents exiles from the Holy Land are deeply traumatic periods of Jewish history. Needless to say, this is a very sad and scary time of year. However, we are living in the time of redemption, when after 2,000 years, the Jewish people have been blessed to be returned to their biblical homeland, Israel. Next up is the rebuilding of the Temple VERY SOON, please G-d.
Let us hope and pray that we are deserving of Hashem’s blessings and mercy, and that sadness will be completely turned into joy, the world will be healed, and peace will prevail.
Speedily Rebuild The Temple
August 8, 2019
Who's In Charge Here?
Sign around the ape says:
Laugh now, but one day, we'll be in charge
I guess you never know who will be in charge.
- Be nice to everyone.
- Never burn bridges.
All of life is a circle--and everything and everybody goes around and around. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Who's In Charge Here?
August 7, 2019
Ocean of Words
An ocean of words and a desert of ideas.
Too often, we hear people who like to hear themselves talk, think very highly of themselves, show off, or just spout away.
And while they say a lot...
There may not be a lot there.
New ideas, thoughts, ways of looking at things, innovation, creativity, outside the box thinking--that's like a desert!
In Yiddish (and it's always funnier in Yiddish), we say:
A big, big mouth, and a tiny, tiny head.
Similarly, in Hebrew, there is phrase that translates to:
Say a little, and do a lot.
Sometimes, the smartest people are the ones who use their words wisely, strategically, with depth and meaning, and when they really have something to say.
It's at that time that you better be listening. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Ocean of Words
August 6, 2019
Oh Baby, It's Warm Outside?
Truly, a picture is worth a thousand words--probably more.
This was a simple drawing to depict I assume global warming.
- 2000 some nice mountain glaciers.
- 2020 the snow is melted.
It's like the person didn't have to say a word.
But I get it.
Also, I know there is supposedly a lot of scientific evidence for global warming.
But for me personally, I don't see it or feel it.
The summers, if anything, feel cooler and the Winters feel colder to me.
I know that is anecdotal and not representative of the world.
However, it is hard to reconcile what the scientists say, when your own eyes aren't seeing it.
Granted, I'm not in Alaska where, for example, the glaciers are melting,
Still wouldn't we be feeling something here?
Maybe a few degrees really isn't perceptible.
I guess time will tell us for certain.
Hopefully, by the time we do see it, we won't get run over by the speeding train. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Oh Baby, It's Warm Outside?
August 5, 2019
Shootings in El Paso and Dayton
With at least 29 dead and 53 injured in mass shootings.
We still don't seem to be able to get a state of security in our country.
Whether it's gangs and violence in our decaying cities (yes, like Baltimore).
Or mass shootings by racists and nut jobs attacking our schools, houses of worship, shopping malls, and places of work.
People can buy assault rifles with mega mags of ammunition and go crazy.
And they do!
While I was impressed with the response in Dayton especially, they killed the perpetrator within 30 seconds of the start to his killing spree, in other cases it takes considerably longer,
Moreover, while generally the first responders are brave and heroic in going after and taking out the bad guys, in places like the Parkland shooting, the officer apparently hid behind a tree while the students got massacred.
We need a rethinking of how we deal with these terror situations.
Can technology help (and I know these may sound crazy, but we have to think out-of-the-box at some point)?
We have the ShotSpotter technology to pinpoint where shootings are occurring.
Why can't we have persistent armed drones on patrol with AI ready to swoop in (even through an open door or window) and respond and neutralize the shooter (while law enforcement makes their way through our busy city streets).
Other ideas...embedded chips in humans (yes, it is coming) that would drive the privacy wonks nuts, but can identify occurrences of extreme violence and potentially stop it.
I am sure there are other technology ideas out there.
Certainly, we do need to balance privacy with safety, and it will be tricky to make sure the AI is getting it right, but as we figure this out, tragically there are fathers, mothers, children not coming home because they are dead. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Shootings in El Paso and Dayton
August 4, 2019
Reaping What You Sow
If you don't say good morning to the tree, it won't say happy new year to you.
Wow, that is pretty wise.
The love and care you put into something every day is what eventually you will get out of it.
According to you work is your reward.
Yes, (generally-speaking) you reap what you sow...that's the fruit of your labor.
Consequences are real and they can be painful if you don't see the connection between your actions and the reactions. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Reaping What You Sow
Open Your Eyes
G-d has a plan and a reason for everything–not only for them, but for all of us. We are all on a journey, and even if we don’t always readily see G-d, it’s part of our core faith that He is always there, He is guiding us, and that everything is for the best. Yet despite our best efforts to have faith, at times, we may feel that we don’t know what we’re doing here–why we’re at this place, at this time, or even how we got here–we may actually feel a little lost. Maybe we just can rattle off a list of “Well I did this and then that and then this other thing happened.” But exactly how we got to where we are, regardless of our best laid plans, is often a mystery to us as human beings. As I often tell students and colleagues in the planning discipline of enterprise architecture, “Man plans, and G-d laughs.”
While we may think we are going about fulfilling our plans and accomplishing our life dreams, the truth is that everything ultimately comes from G-d. He gives you the strength, the health, the family and friends as support, the talent, the opportunity, and the right thoughts in your head and the right words in your mouth to do what you do. Of course, we must do our part and the hard work to find and fulfill our mission in life and to overcome the challenges we face, but we are flesh and blood and in the bigger realm of things, messengers of G-d in fulfilling his bigger plan for all of us. If we open our eyes, we realize that wherever we end up and whatever happens to us is by His merciful decree.
Open Your Eyes
August 2, 2019
What's Your Relationship?
Level 3: Family/Friends
The highest form of a relationship where you are being authentic (i.e. yourself), you share deeply about yourself (thoughts, feelings, desires, mistakes, etc,) and you are vulnerable.
Level 2: Professionals
The middle level of relationships in which you are seeking to build trust and respect, you share some information (i.e. appropriate), and you expose yourself a little to the other person.
Level 1: Acquaintances
The most elementary of relationships that is superficial in nature, there is little personal sharing of information (i.e. mostly when you are asked a question and you feel comfortable answering it), and you remain guarded.
This is a good way to assess your relationships--is it a level 1, 2, or 3 and are you behaving appropriately within that, so that you trust, communicate, and collaborate effectively. ;-)
(Graphic Credit: Andy Blumenthal)
What's Your Relationship?
August 1, 2019
Being Jewish and Proud
With roughly 15 million Jews in a world of 7.7 billion people, we make up less than .2% of the world population. However, despite our small size, we’ve been recognized with over 20% of the Nobel Prizes for contributions to the sciences, medicine, literature, economics, and peace. Most Jews tend to believe not only in a strong core religious education, but in higher education and lifelong learning, and others excel even when starting out and innovating from their garages. From Abraham and Moses to Einstein and Freud, and even to today’s Jews leading the Technology revolution–such as Steve Ballmer, Sergey Brin, Michael Dell, Larry Ellison, Larry Page, and Mark Zuckerberg–the Jewish contribution is truly unparalleled.
Being Jewish and Proud
July 31, 2019
Be Happy, Have Fun
One person writes:
Be Happy. Have Fun.
Another chimes in:
Ok, I will!
And finally a 3rd person writes:
Me too.Smiley faces and all.
Never take yourself too seriously.
It's true--try to enjoy the ride! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Be Happy, Have Fun
July 30, 2019
Win Rocky Win
And it arrived, all wrapped up nicely, in the mail yesterday.
Rocky working out and training.
His shirt says:
Win Rocky Win
I posed him with his arms up in the air like after a fight in the ring.
Love his fighting spirit, determination, and integrity.
Overcoming against all odds.
Great inspiration.
Some say we actually look alike. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Win Rocky Win
July 29, 2019
Remember 9/11 + The Global War on Terror
How quickly we forget what happened on 9/11.
After 2001, we said:
9/11 was "the day that changed everything" and we shed blood and treasure on a global "war on terror"
In 2019, radical American politicians are:
Referring to 9/11 as "Some people did something"
Laughing at Americans for fearing ISIS
Refusing to condemn terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda or Sharia practices such as female genital mutilation
Calling for Open Borders and Sanctuary Cities, including not cooperating with Federal law enforcement
Promoting Socialism over Democracy, including healthcare for illegal immigrants and forgiving all student loan debt
Urging the release of jailed Muslim Brotherhood terrorist leader
Endorsing corrupt Venezuelan dictator, Nicholas Maduro rather than the democratic opposition.
Blaming the U.S. for "thousands of Somalis killed by American Forces" during Black Hawk Down
Saying "It's all about the Benjamin's baby" and supporting anti-Semitic, anti-Israel practices like BDS
Comparing Immigrant Detention Camps to Concentration Camps
Reflecting on a "calming feeling" when thinking about the Holocaust
Remember 9/11 + The Global War on Terror
July 28, 2019
Cold-Press Fruits and Veggies
This guy weighs a ton and goes on a 60-day all juicing diet.
He stops all the food and just carries his juicer with him everywhere making fresh fruit and vegetable cold-press.
While obviously a little extreme, I like the idea of reducing the food intake (especially everything gluten which is death itself), and replacing it with healthy juice.
I tried one of the super green juices and it literally tasted like eating grass.
Uh, that's not gonna realistically work for me.
So I settled on Evolution's Organic Super Fruit Greens that has a combination of orange, mango, pineapple, cucumber, spinach, romaine, and kale.
I actually like it and am sitting here sipping on one as I write this blog post.
I went into the fridge and threw all the carbs in the freakin garbage--good riddance!
Gotta get and stay healthy! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Cold-Press Fruits and Veggies
July 27, 2019
What's It Worth To You?
Certainly, passion for being your best, determination to succeed, and even some healthy competition are important factors in driving our own success as well as societal progress, but when keeping up with that scorecard against others becomes the essence of your own self-worth then things have gone too far and way off course.
We each have our mission, strengths, challenges, and so forth. It’s okay in life, if someone else has more of something (money, friends, honor, whatever). Everyone has their own “basket in life” as my father taught me, “and you wouldn’t want to change baskets with anyone else.”
(Photo Credit: Andy Blumenthal)
What's It Worth To You?
July 26, 2019
Duck Donuts Don't
Each one weighs like a brick and is so full of carbohydrate good(bad)ness.
I had to use all my self-control and willpower not to eat any (or all) of these.
It comes down to mind over matter--If you don't mind, it doesn't matter! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Duck Donuts Don't
July 25, 2019
@Bagels and Business with CEO Hair Cuttery, Dennis Ratner
Hair Cuttery has 1,000 company-owned Salons in 18 states in the USA.
Dennis Ratner, the founder and CEO is a huge success story.
- Puts people first.
- Gives back to the community.
- Believes in vision, planning, and execution.
- Dennis said: "Effort = Reward" and to be "Relentless" in pursuing your passion.
- Great roles model.
(Source Video: Andy Blumenthal)
@Bagels and Business with CEO Hair Cuttery, Dennis Ratner
Lasting Decisions
Decisions are supposed to represent the conclusion of a process involving the following steps:
- Research of the problem
- Decide on the scope
- Discover the requirements
- Determine viable alternatives
- Evaluate costs, benefits, and risks
- Do some soul-searching
- And then resolve and commit on a way-ahead
While these steps are typically formalized in a work-setting, they may be done informally in our personal lives.
But even after all this, we need to remain adaptive to changes in the environment that would cause us to reevaluate the decision and alter course.
So a decision is a decision until we revisit the decision.
The problem is that in some highly complex, unstable/turbulent environments, or ones where there are a lot of disagreements among stakeholders (such that there was perhaps not a consensus on the original decision to begin with) then "decisions" may be short-lived.
In this case, decisions may be half-baked, not even last until the ink is dried, and certainly not have a chance in hell to be executed on or seen through to determine whether they actually would've worked.
In a way a decision that is so temporal is not even really a decision, but sticking your toe out to feel the temperature of the water, and any commitment of resources can and probably will be a complete throw-away.
We've got to do the investment in the upfront work, really make a good data-driven (and inspired) decision, and give it an opportunity to blossom.
Yes, we need to remain agile and change as we sincerely need to, but too much change and for the wrong reasons leads to going nowhere fast. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Lasting Decisions
July 24, 2019
Excellence Vs. Mediocrity
The long hours, hard work, and grueling repetition to try to reach near-perfection.
Even then, of course, we need G-d's mercy and blessings and a measure of good luck to succeed.
Also, by definition, not everyone can be "the best" at everything.
I suppose the expectation for most people is that they try at least to excel at the things that they need to do or are most important to them, as well as maintain work-life balance.
In this light, it was interesting to hear a story recently about mediocrity (and not excellence).
When asked to step up on the job, one person responded in the negative saying:
C's get degrees (too)!
Of course, this must have sounded pretty shocking and off-putting.
In other words, they weren't going for the "A" or even a "B". A "C" grade was fine for them--as long as they didn't completely fail with a big "F".
Who knows what circumstances may have led this person to settle for mediocrity--just wanting to pass.
Perhaps they had serious personal or family issues--and had good reason to be taking a step back (for a while).
But I think there could also be more tactful ways to say it too--like explaining if there were mitigating or challenging circumstances in their life right now.
If there really wasn't mitigating circumstances and the person was just "slacking off" or didn't care, one has to wonder why--are they just "milking the system" or is there something more fundamentally wrong?
C's get degrees, but to me the real question is: Are you doing your best given your particular life circumstances? ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Excellence Vs. Mediocrity
July 23, 2019
Cool Atom Puzzle
With sections for: composition, atomic model, thermonuclear fusion, periodic table, radioactivity, positron emission tomography, fission of uranium, nuclear reactor, and atomic scientists.
Wow that's a lot of information for a Puzzle and one very nicely designed at that.
Congrats on putting this 1,000 piece beauty together.
These things make me realize how very much I still have to learn--and in this case, it starts with all these small things. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Cool Atom Puzzle
July 22, 2019
I will Survive
G-d gives us strength.
To battle ignorance, apathy, and evil.
To educate, persuade, influence, and fight for what's right.
With a thick skin of battle armor.
And sword and arrows of insight, cunning, and righteousness.
To stand firm even when you feel weakened.
To find the words even when you are mocked.
To see clearly and hear distinctly even when confounded.
The soul and spirit of G-d guides you.
As you traverse a journey through life's winding tests and challenges.
Fight heroically to repair that which is broken.
Say resolutely, I will survive! ;-)
I will Survive
July 20, 2019
Children's Voices and Scars
Unfortunately, we are living in a time when many people are "destroyed" from various forms of abuse: physical, verbal, and emotional. This frequently occurs to those that are more vulnerable in society (e.g. exploited children). It is especially tragic that children--those that are still innocent and defenseless--are made to suffer at the hands of those that are bigger, stronger, and authority figures in their lives (teachers, clergy, etc.).
At the most basic level, we need to:
- Listen (carefully), empathize, and be supportive.
- Don't be dismissive, make assumptions, or jump to conclusions.
- Yes, everyone deserves a fair hearing and for the facts to be known.
- No, we can't as a community run from this uncomfortable issue any longer!
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Children's Voices and Scars