Fill 'er Up

I started the day yesterday as I usually do with my pot of coffee.  However it wasn't enough so on my way to my first appointment, dressed in beautiful suit and mink coat, I stopped at Dunkin' Donuts for another cup.  Th eguy filled it right to the top and then did not fully snap the cap in place.  As I put it into the cup holder, the first splash hit the car.  As I picked it up, it spilled all over my coat and skirt.  Why the hell does the cup need to be filled to the very top?  Am I going to complain because I missed a sip?

Stop for lunch, order soup.  Again, it it filled to the very top of the bowl so as I walk it is spilling onto my paperwork and hands.  Yet another mess.

To add insult to the extreme, I then make dinner for the boys. Boiling milk, unattended, also spills all over the top of the pot and makes a complete mess of my recently cleaned stove. Now I am to blame.

The final straw came that night as I fill the bathtub with water for a relaxing hot bath, glass of wine at hand.  Well the phone rang, I forget about the tub until of course I notice a puddle in the doorway.  The water must have been running for 1/2 hour.  Yet another mess.

I blame the coffee guy for all my excess problems yesterday.  Talk about needed to set limits!

Keep Focus on Message

HBR blog had a terrific post on staying on message to win.  Although the point is to address nah-sayers and arguments while presenting a new idea or approach, I find the advice in this post to be relevant in any type of meeting.  I experienced a perfect example a few weeks ago.

We attended a mandatory kick off meeting comprised of about 20 teenagers and their parents, run and monitored by two highly capable teachers.  The scheduled time was 3 hours. I see no reason for a three hour meeting.  Just hearing the time frame makes me tired.  Who can maintain concentration for that long of a stretch?  However, I assume the meeting will be run smoothly and efficiently because of the massive amounts of material expected to be covered in that time frame.

Amongst problems like starting late, unknown technology and cramped facilities, the biggest challenge came about an hour into it when the meeting moderator experienced a complete loss of control. I really respect and like the moderator but the poor thing was over her head.  The aforementioned blog would have really helped.  You see the meeting was hi-jacked by two very loud and frankly obnoxious individuals.

Let me set the stage.  It is 6:30 pm, a storm is blowing outside, I am tired and am sitting in a room full of strangers with little in common.  The meeting starts late and no agenda in place.  It appears the parents at this meeting are very proud of their kids and really feel the need to express their pride so as to make a connection.  Note that is not my reason for being there.  I am not interested in making friends or connections.  I know bitchy, but come on I am a fairly busy person.

So the first hi-jacker decides she wants to help by bragging about her child's paper forming abilities.  It is essential to this woman that she describe the process and patterns in excrutiatingly painful detail.  Hey lady, why don't you set up a table after the meeting and anyone who gives a rat's fanny about it can meet you after the meeting to hear more of this fascinating child's skills set?  But for now SHUT UP.

Next up comes the 150 year old man who decides to present his recollections in the form of what the kids will experience.  Guess what grampa, time marches on and things change.  Your advice and experiences are old.  They may be interesting but not when we have important topics to review.  Set yourself up next to the crazy lady above and beguile your audience after this meeting.

I can somewhat empathize with the moderators, who obviously felt they needed to give everyone a voice and to be kind in faking interest.  But what about the rest of us who are ready to slit their wrists if these hi-jackers don't pipe down?

Maybe I am too aggressive and insensitive, but here is a little help for you wonderful moderators who do not want to hurt a potential hi-jacker's feelings.  Try saying "BE THAT AS IT MAY, we need to move on".  If that does not stop them, ignore them.  Eventually they will shut up.

Something is Wrong with our Justice System

Actually, there is a lot wrong with our justice system.  I am not a lawyer nor do I have any formalized education, outside of a few intellectual property and privacy classes for my masters program.  But I am a reasonable person who i slightly outraged this morning.

I'm not going to address malpractice suits or the insane ability of certain people to waste tax payers money for frivolous lawsuits.  I am not even going to focus on this abused Idaho woman who won the lottery but will most likely need to give half to her abusive spouse.  Instead I want to rant about Loughner, our recent Arizona killer.

Yes I can call him a killer because the man brutally murdered innocent 6 people including a 9 year old girl.  There is no question here.  It was witnessed by multiple people (I even think some of it was on film).  He was tackled down and held while the authorities.  So why can he plead not-guilty?  Why is a public defender assigned to him?  Why is that defender allowed to petition the court to move the trial from Tucson to ensure an jury that is not tainted?

This is not justice.  This is ridiculous.  It is process for process sake.  Fine, if we need to determine what to do with him - life sentence, insane asylum, death penalty.  But do we need to pretend that this is our judicial system working to protect the innocent before they are proven guilty.

In our current economic times does Arizona need the cost of this trial?  I cannot believe the media as tourists will bring enough money into the community to justify the cost.  Do the families of the deceased and injured need to relive the ordeal via trial over then next 5 - 8 years?

This entire thing sickens me.