Frag - Mints

DAH.


I have fallen behind for whatever reason.

Working on a complete re-recording of my old radio show back in college (the awkwardly named, The Paba Free Show). It's quite ambitious actually. I am editing clips and songs to create one massive WAV file that will be as if the listener (that will be me pretty much) is listening to a old tape - in order to move forward you will have to just wait or fast forward. No skipping tracks. I know, I know, kinda weird but sometimes I miss the 20th century.

I'm Free baby - I'm not the chair.

Started getting obsessive about the Spurs again. Re-read newspapers from 1999 and started tracking down old NBA games on YouTube. Cracked up the Dynasty DVD's as well. Cool beans, yo.

Revamping all my classes for the fall except World Civ I. Fun but challenging.

Weezer Concert Review Coming this Week (maybe Thursday or Friday).

Gotta run, I need clean my room, desk and do laundry, etc. It's a good thing Netflix has Star Trek :TNG on streaming. Boy o Boy that made me happy. The other day my wife called it Star Wars. I had the typical reaction. "Uh honey - no - it's MUCH different". Luckily, I like both (keep in mind, I pretend the whole prequels were never made).

Actually watching Darth Vader at the Beach would be better than watching any of the prequels.

Thought of the Day

Why does my ear hair grow so fast? What if this rate of growth for my ear hair could be transposed to hair growth for bald men? It would make a lot of people very happy.

I'm just glad I have light hair because I would have to cut those damn hairs everyday if they were black.

What I Learned As Chair....

I am three days away of not being academic chair of my department at work.

Here are some bullet-points of wisdom that I learned:

(Note: I have never figured out how to use bullet-points on this blog, so just imagine them there with each little paragraph or sentence)


(Side note: Why are they called "bullet- points" -- why is our language so inundated with the culture of violence?)


Your organization is only as good as its processes. The college district I work for either does not follow its processes and policies or just reacts ad hoc to problems with no real strategy or planning. This really amounts to headaches, finger pointing and a general malaise that does not create a positive working environment.

Most people that complain just need someone to listen. They need someone else to let them know they understand how they are feeling and that someone cares. Sometimes this involves acting like you understand or care.

When people complain they want to feel like there is a "game plan" going forward. Even if said "game plan" doesn't have a shot at them actually getting what they want. (It sure as hell makes it easier getting them out the door).

"So you're saying there's a chance?"

Telling people they aren't doing their job right is a hard thing to do.

Never underestimate the power of those "below you" on the totem pole. Treat everyone nice and you will see rewards all the time. I don't say this in a Machiavellian sense - although I would be lying if I wasn't unaware of the positive outcomes of following the "Golden Rule".  

Sometimes it's best to apologize, even when it's not your fault. You just got to do it sometimes. There's not enough time or effort to fight worth less battles for your ego.

That's about it in a nutshell...

"You SPIT in MY face!"

It was twenty-two years ago this summer at church camp when I spit in someone's face for the first and hopefully last time. The details are blurry - although the face is not. This kid was up in my face for something, I honestly don't remember what it was all about and it happened. It was totally thoughtless and pointless...its just something that I thought about doing and did because I was insulted. It's a good thing this kid was slightly smaller than me as well because he didn't take it very kindly.

He just kept saying "You SPIT in MY face!" over and over - it was so bad he had me apologizing by the third or fourth iteration, which of course resulted in another, incredulous, "You SPIT in MY face!".

This was the first day of summer camp and I can't remember how it all settled out - except to say, with a few friends I can still say, "You SPIT in MY face!" and we can start giggling again.