Just Pisses Me Off, Thats All

President in front of paid for  $4.5 million building, but killing jobs.

Just got an email from the CFO of my former University. The bottom line is this: TU is outsourcing maintenance. As I understand it, all the maintenance staff will go as of the end of June. Then a company takes over. They may or may not hire some of the staff back.

Doesn’t matter. This is a small-minded nasty decision at any time, but in this economy even more so. Even worse with so many of the staff long-time employees.
This is strictly business, someone will say. This is bullshit I say. Loyalty should count for something, even if it costs a bit more. The de-personalization of TU began several years ago with expedience favored over compassion. My advice to everyone left up there is this: Watch your back, because for sure no one else is. And job hunting probably wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

Just saying.

Image: http://www.thomasu.edu/uploads/images/president-in-front-of-s-b-hall-cupola-web.jpg

Thank Everybody for Helping Me

I got an email from a Ph.D. student wanting help with a dissertation. She ended her email with the following:

"Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God."

This, I think, is part of what is wrong with things in this country. Now wait a minute. I am not about to take off on religion. I am about to take off on individual responsibility. In this woman’s life her god takes care of everything. Where is her personal responsibility? Praise, seek, worship trust and thank. No room for responsibility.
The thing is, if someone wants to give their life to their god, great. Unfortunately I think that leads to mindlessness of the worst kind. You see it all over the place; “God’s Will”; “Maktub”; “Karma” etc. No point in thinking because some god or other has already taken care of the details. So don’t bother to think. Just Praise, seek, worship trust and thank. I would offer the following secular version of the above:
Happy moments, enjoy them and be glad you have them
Difficult moments, seek guidance from experience and friends
Quiet moments, worship nature and your partner
Painful moments, trust your self, your partner and your friends.
Every moment, be thankful for your life, health and relationships. AND THINK!!!

Lots of places in the above to personalize, but you get the idea. Personal Responsibility.

Image: http://rlv.zcache.com/personal_responsibility_try_it_button-p145143719044086676b2378_328.jpg

 

Ten Tors A SUCCESS!!!

Wet, tired and happy

If you don't remember the first Ten Tors post, you probably should review it here (http://searchesworld.blogspot.com/2013/04/ten-tors-not-outing-for-casual-walker.html) before going on.
There, up to speed? Ok, so the team of 3 men and 3 women set off in what some described as the worst conditions ever for the Ten Tors event. Rain, fog and cold. Visability often down to 100 meters or less. In this morass of weather, the team set off on a Saturday to hike and finish the 45 mile course in 2 days. They had to carry all their gear, navigate and get to the finish line by 5PM local time the next day. It was a miserable 45 miles. Wet gear is heavier than dry gear, and by the time they broke camp Sunday morning everything was wet. Wet feet are awful for walking, and everybody had wet feet. But they persisted.
Five hundred of

Team dried off on podium for award

 the 2400  who started dropped out during the event. Our team had no dropouts. Everybody finished. And, they finished 10 minutes before the deadline, at 4:50 local time. Wet, tired, hungry and exhilarated at the same time. Finishing within the time with no dropouts is the Prize. Knowing that they gave their best effort, and overcame awesomely bad conditions and finished intact is the Prize. The ages of this team are 16 and 17. Tough little buggers, eh?
A gigantic "WELL DONE TEAM" to all.
YOU DID IT!!!!!
Images from Godfrey family