Month: September 2004

News

“Debates”

I was asked a short while ago if I had watched the Presidential debates tonight on television. Honestly, spending two hours watching the debates isn’t something I find interesting, least of all because nothing of importance is likely to be said anyway. The key ideas will be communicated by the pundit/blog class, while the performances will be critiqued in all the press writeups over the next several days and weeks. Considering the influence the post-debate spin from the political and media classes, the debates themselves will likely not have much value taken alone.

Of course, if you’re my friend Dave, who’s enjoying an evening of debauchery somewhere in Virginia, I might be willing to tune in.

Work

The Return of Layoff Watch – II

Post author By cdymek
Post date September 30, 2004
No Comments on The Return of Layoff Watch – II

As publically stated, the current plan is to redeploy staff associated with Vioxx to other areas where possible while “eliminating” staff that could not be redeployed. At the moment, a large scale headcount reduction isn’t planned. Of course, this can change in an instant, and the rumor mill will be alive and well over the next few weeks to months.

Of course, everything posted here is my own opinion. Since I don’t know anything about anything and have no official capacity to know anything, what I doesn’t reflect any official policy or program.

Personal

The Man and I

The man and I, we don’t get along. There’s a history there that causes us some friction. After all, last night was just the latest in an extended line of infractions.

1. Attmepted fall guy for bomb scare – Spring 1995
2. Moving Violation – Fall 1996
3. Speeding Ticket – Spring 1998
4. Speeding (Warning Only) – Spring 1998
5. Speeding Ticket – Summer 1998
6. Moving Violation (Warning Only) – Spring 1999
7. Movie Production Arrest – Spring 1999
8. Speeding (Warning Only) – Summer 2002
9. Car Accident (At Fault) – Fall 2002
10. Car Accident (Not at Fault) – Fall 2003
11. “Driving on a Closed Road” – Fall 2004

Work

Layoff Watch Returns!

With today’s announcement that Merck will be voluntarily taking Vioxx, one of its five key products worth $3 billion in annual sales worldwide, off the market, it makes a fitting time to resume the Layoff Watch. With the quarterly earnings report coming up on October 21st, idle chitchat turns to the obvious question: will we all still be here in a few months?

Personal

Raindrops

A little over 24 hours ago, I was napping in my living room, dozing off while the pitter-patter of the steady rain beat against the side of the house.

Amazing what a different a day makes. Now I’m wound up, tense and stressed. I wanted to nearly throttle someone at work, whose passive-aggressive behavior has been thwarting and delaying a project I should have had completed days ago. I’ve had a new car for all of four hours and have already received my first summons (TITLE 39:4-94.2B, driving on a closed road. Any idea if this is a point violation?).

Some days, I shouldn’t bother waking up.

Personal

Sundays

Every other Sunday I’m reminded of why I should start dating again. Freshly ironed sheets are so much easier to fold with someone there to help.

Travel

Travel 2005

As we fade in to Fall 2004, it’s time to begin the annual destination selection for the following year.

For 2004, the plan was to visit London, South Korea, Brussels, Rio de Janiero, and Istanbul. Of those, the trips to London and South Korea have occurred roughly as planned. The trip to Brussels instead became a trip to Barcelona, while Rio (random Flyertalk thread of guy drugged and robbed while there) and Istanbul (proximity to Iraq, random bombings around Turkey) were postponed.

Now that 2005 is “around the corner”, it’s time to begin the planning. The short list of travel candidates this year include the following:

Brussels
Italy (Rome and environs)
China (Beijing)
Thailand (Bangkok)
Argentina
South Africa (Capetown)
Turkey (Istanbul)
Egypt (Cairo)

And, if possible, I’m going to attempt to organize a group trip to Costa Rica.

But first, London in November.

Personal

Sunday

Phone calls. Meetings. Driving. Spreadsheets. Car dealerships. Glasses. Dinner meetings. More Driving. Grocery shopping. Party supply shopping. Cleaning. Cooking. Friends. More driving. More cleaning.

The past week has been a whirlwind.

Personal

I am a Rock

I saw this quiz in a friend’s blog this morning. Only about 5/16ths awake, I took it, and as it turns out I’m a Rock of Gibraltar.

You are loyal, kind, thoughtful and conscientious. You’re a good person. You make everyone around you happier and better, even if you yourself are not at your happiest or best. You just care so much about your friends and loved ones that you can’t help giving them everything of yourself. It can wear you out, but you’d never let on.

You’re successful, smart and fun to be with, but your self-esteem could use some boosting. You don’t like conflict, and you don’t like demanding things for yourself, so you can feel unappreciated. But then you wonder if you don’t deserve to be appreciated. You do!

You have many small crushes, but it takes you ages to get to a serious stage with someone. You get so caught up second-guessing yourself and worrying if the other person really *likes* likes you that you never dare to make the first move. Generally you end up with another clever RPIG who knows one when s/he sees one. This adds up to one long courtship. Fortunately this also adds up to one long marriage.

You would never cheat. You would never hurt anyone’s feelings. You are so sympathetic and give so many second chances that it takes a lo-o-ong time for anyone to get on your bad side.

Your only problem is you can be *too* thoughtful — you can end up worrying and getting hung up over nothing.

How boring. 🙂

News

Whatever happened to…

…missile defense?