HerbEly

Shaidle's Law of Studies

Thanks to Kathy for this: IF you substitute the phrase "studies show..." with the phrase "grandma says..." or "everyone knows..." and the sentence still rings true, then that study is scientifically sound.

Snubbing the Hand that Feeds Her

This is from America (subscription required)

Should the celebrity commencement speaker be paid? The University of Oklahoma paid Katie Couric $115,000 for her commencement address. The university’s president insisted that the funds for the fee had been raised privately. When Miss Couric announced that she was donating her fee to her alma mater, the University of Virginia, those supporters of the University of Oklahoma may have had second thoughts.

Exaggerating for Effect

From an interview  by David Roberts with Al Gore on his forthecoming film "An Inconvenient Truth":

There's a lot of debate right now over the best way to communicate about global warming and get people motivated. Do you scare people or give them hope? What's the right mix?

I think the answer to that depends on where your audience's head is. In the United States of America, unfortunately we still live in a bubble of unreality. And the Category 5 denial is an enormous obstacle to any discussion of solutions. Nobody is interested in solutions if they don't think there's a problem. Given that starting point, I believe it is appropriate to have an over-representation of factual presentations on how dangerous it is, as a predicate for opening up the audience to listen to what the solutions are, and how hopeful it is that we are going to solve this crisis.

Over time that mix will change. As the country comes to more accept the reality of the crisis, there's going to be much more receptivity to a full-blown discussion of the solutions.

Thanks, Kathy.

Flexibility and Procrastination

Just heard these:

"Procrastination is best done one day at a time."

"The key to flexibility is indecision."

Ethics: Senior Leader’s Responsibility

Some comments from working level professionals prompted me to post this quote from Army FM22-03 LEADERSHIP and COMMAND at SENIOR LEVELS

"Senior leaders and commanders have specific ethical responsibilities to their organizations. These responsibilities flow directly from the attributes required of senior leaders to successfully implement their vision. First, they are worthy role models. Second, they promote the ethical development of their subordinates by teaching them how to reason clearly about ethical matters. Finally, they sustain an ethical climate that promotes trust and professional commitment." (Page 18)

Senior, in this context usually means three star general officers.

Is this quote from Kierkegaard?

"Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved." Wikipedia attributes it to him. Just wondering. Our former pastor used to use it as a tag line for his homilies. It has been helpful to us more than once.

Death and Taxes

"The difference between death and taxes is death does not get worse everytime congress meets." Will Rogers

NASA Cultural Failures

"We dropped the torch through our complacency, our arrogance, self-assurance, sheer stupidity, and through continuing attempt[s] to please everyone. It is time to adjust our thinking." Wayne Hale, NASA executive

What would Samuel Johnson Do?

"No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money." Samuel Johnson

Requirements Analysis

According to yesterday's Daily Progress University of Virginia President John Casteen has said "the university also would pay closer attention to faculty and student needs when designing buildings,".