Tuesday, August 24, 2010


"The cost of good intentions is high," said Brian Williams (NBC Nightly News) in a recent sitting with late night talk show host David Letterman.

He was making reference to the numerous donations made to Haiti (I think he said something like 37 million people made a donation via text message) that we do not see the results from. In other words, a lot of the money that gets donated is used to cover the overhead costs. And you do not necessarily see the money get used to buy food, build shelter, or provide clean / safe water.

I'm definitely in favor of seeing more of the money go towards the necessities, but where is the line drawn between necessity and overhead? I'm not sure. Do you have a clue?

Friday, August 20, 2010

Piece of Advice

If there's one thing that I would tell new graduates it would be... don't be in a rush to jump into the workforce. Take some time off. See the world. Experience new things. Enjoy life before you have to work for the rest of it.

If you were to ask me for how long... I'd say 6 months.

For those of you already working, you should try to really take a long vacation. Try to leave all the thoughts of work at work and enjoy yourself. Everyone needs a little time away... I heard them say... from the stressful environment that is work.

I've always wondered why the United States' attitude towards work is that much different from any European country. I constantly hear that European have a better work life balance.

In any case, my recent departure from my last job has given me this time to reflect on the idea of "vacation" and time away from "work." We will all work some 40-50 years. What's wrong with taking a few weeks to relieve yourself? Anyway, it's nice to have this time off from work and not have to think about tax or any work related responsibilities. You should all try it...

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

I don't understand...

Why do doctors have terrible handwriting? How do pharmacists know how the prescription reads? Is there just a mutual understanding?

Why is it that when you are late (to arrive, to pay, etc.) you have to pay a late fee, but when a servicer is late (on pick-up / delivery, on reimbursement, etc.) they don't have to pay you a fee or discount the amount due? For example, I used to request for car service going home after a late night at the office. I would set the pick-up time to be, let's say, 3AM. If I walked out of the building at 3:15AM, I was penalized for "waiting time." On the contrary, if I stepped out at exactly 3AM and had to wait until 3:15AM for the car to arrive, there was no discount on my service. What's up with that?

Why is the subway system in New York City so hot during the summer months?! I thought that being underground always meant that it should be cold... or at least cooler than street level. You know, under the same concept as a basement...

As a daily commuter on the NJ Transit bus line, I've noticed something that I find to be contrary to law. The moment that all seats on a bus become occupied, the driver announces that there is standing room only. What this means is that people can stand in the aisle until the vehicle fills up to the very front, at which point, there is a skinny white line just beside the driver as if to indicate that the bus is "full." Question: Why is it that you can stand on a bus just behind this white line which is 2 feet from the front window, but you can't sit in the back of a car without a seat belt legally?

The word "regretfully" is often falsely used... how unfortunate. The truth hurts, but lies hurt even more...........

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Answer The Phone

Someone recently said to me, "Education is that one thing that no one can take away from you." I'm glad they said that. It's a great reminder as to how important it is to find a take-away in everything you do.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Elevator Etiquette

Working in New York City has forced a majority of the local population to spend at least 1 minute of their day in an enclosed capsule that transports them to another level. Yes, I'm talking about an elevator. And yes, that level is the office (unfortunately).

With the frequency of this event, you would imagine that everyone has this move memorized and done with grace and efficiency. Unfortunately, you were mistaken. People lose tact and common sense when it comes to using elevators.

Why do people hold the doors? Why do people rush to catch the elevator when there are 6 others that can be called? Why don't people organize themselves within the elevator to allow for ease of exit? Why do people cram into an elevator when they know everyone is running late? Why do people hit the call button more than once? Why do people talk about confidential information in the elevator?

Here are a few things to remember for the next time you want to ride the elevator:

1. Unless there is only 1 elevator in operation, you can wait. There are other elevators available, and you don't need to cram into one of them.

2. Do not hold the doors. When you hold the doors too long, that annoying beep / siren starts fussing. Elevators have numerous complex timers and answering systems. Let them do their work as they have been programmed to do. You may think holding doors is the polite thing to do...for that one person...but not the rest of the people already in the elevator. Don't piss them off.

3. There is no need to press the call button more than once. It does not make the elevators move quicker. The system is automated. It will never forget that you've pressed it. If anything, you are only changing your position in the queue.

4. If you know that you are getting out on one of the first floors that the elevator stops at, then situate yourself towards the front of the elevator. Hiding yourself in the back only causes difficulty in your exit plan. People either have to get out of the elevator completely, or if you're like the people in my building, they just move over and smoosh people against the elevator walls in fear of the elevator door closing on them while they step out of the elevator to kindly let someone from the back of the elevator out.

5. And finally, conversations should come to a halt once you step into an elevator. Needless to say, but necessary (oxymoron, right?), conversations that are work related should be considered confidential. No one wants to hear that you fired someone or how badly someone is performing or how much you hate your boss or your peers. That kind of talk will definitely just get you in trouble. Further, no one wants to hear what you got your girlfriend for Valentines Day or what you did over the weekend that was "so funny." Those conversations are for your breaks at work at your desk or the privacy of a close-proximity conversation. And if you're ever in an elevator with me, and there's no one talking, please don't begin dialogue with me. I get embarrassed when the entire capsule turns to look at me for a response. I will ignore you.

Trust in these suggestions that I am making. It will make for your elevator experience to be as quick and painless as possible.