So far, 2009 looks remarkably like 2008, but with more flies. I’m disappointed. Then again, I haven’t been outside yet. I have an urge to write a reflective piece like last year — though not an urge strong enough to overcome my inertia. I’ve already looked back at my predictions for 2008 and delivered His Benevolence Stilgherrian’s Christmas Message. What more can I say?
Vermin to be slaughtered
As I slowly recover from the mysterious viral fever, an interesting juxtaposition of advertising and news story (pictured) caught my eye today.
Staff are leaving Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s office in “droves” — that’s one of those newspaper-only words, like “wed” as a verb instead of “married”, isn’t it! But are they really “vermin to be slaughtered”?
Over the last couple of years I’ve become increasingly concerned about the unhealthiness of modern Australian work practices. There’s so much focus on short-term “productivity” and false urgency, on quantity over quality, and so little respect for people as actual humans. Now the world financial crisis looms — yes, chickens, it really is as bad as the Great Depression. The danger is that employers will turn up the pressure to be “productive”, meaning “working harder”, instead of working smarter.
How business managers respond to the challenge will reveal much of their character as human beings.
Still cold, and shaking
Last week I speculated that it was a rhinovirus. This week I’m not so sure, ‘cos I’m still sick and feverish and incapable of work. There will be no Stilgherrian Live tonight, sorry. I can barely stay awake, let alone talk.
Still Cold
Our dear friends the rhinovirus continue to make their presence known. So there’s no Stilgherrian Live tonight and no follow-up to today’s Internet censorship forum — though the liveblog material is still there. My promised backgrounder on Thai politics will just have to wait too, sorry.
Cold
Sadly there’s been a lack of longer original posts lately, thanks to our dear friends the rhinovirus. This will be rectified very soon.
Bring on the olive oil, Patty!
While my Predictions for 2008 were mostly full of FAIL, there is one bonus. I did correctly predict Barack Obama as the next US President. Which means I won a bet!
Patty wrote:
If he wins, I will spank you with a feather duster and call you blinky all night long while rubbing your body with Four Seasons jam and olive oil. We must be playing Madonna’s Papa Don’t Preach in the background.
You’ll have to bring the feather duster, Patty, but the olive oil is a’warming…