More bogus "training" at work today

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Some idiot made the mistake of mentioning at a meeting a few months back that people could use some training. So management checks into it and finds out the company that handles payroll and benefits for them also provides "training" programs. Even better, they're already included in the monthly fee, costing only the travel expenses of the trainer (and paying everybody to attend) to present.

But, as with most things, you get what you pay for, or don't pay for as the case may be. The "training" turns out to be some of the most gawdawful pop-psychology bullshit I've ever encountered, worth even LESS than it's costing, which isn't easy to achieve for something free.

This afternoon's presentation was on "Building Trust" and ended with everyone being asked to fill out an "Action Plan" of real-life situations where they plan to apply the invaluable learning they just endur . . . er, received.

So I'm sitting there thinking, "You know, she's really a nice lady, and I don't want to hurt her feelings. So how do I tell her that my 'Action Plan' is: 'Once I walk out that door, I'm never going to think about this horseshit again for the rest of my life.'"

I'm drawing a blank on the second verse

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Suggestions welcome in comments.

A long, long time ago,
I can still remember
how those politicians were for sale.
And I knew if I had my chance
I'd pull their strings
and make them dance
and maybe throw their useless butts in jail.
But Ronnie Earle made Bugman shiver
with each indictment he'd deliver.
Bad news on the front page
Tom had to leave the House stage.
I can't remember if I laughed
when the new grand jury worked its craft
Tom's smiling mugshot looked so daft
the day
the money
died.

So bye-bye, Mr. Bug-killer guy
You got caught out
bein' bought out
Kiss your bunghole goodbye.
A cell with Bubba
in your future does lie,
Singin' this'll be the first day
you'll cry.
Bubba's gonna cornhole ya dry.

Apologies to Don McLean

I miss my Mom.

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I bought a $1 CD at the discount store the other day. It was a collection of royalty-free midi files designed for use on webpages. I wasn't about to run the install program - who needs an installer to play midi files? - so I was left to decypher cryptic filenames like avsprgm1.mid and fsthlark.mid.

Most of the modern stuff was pretty hokey, but some of the classical pieces were okay. I was about to throw it back in the pile when I clicked on fcnoctn2.mid and was for an all too brief moment, a child again.

My Mom played piano. One of the enduring images from my childhood is of her playing, sometimes singing softly as her fingers caressed the keys. The piece you're hearing now, if you clicked on the link above, is one she often choose, although I don't know if you could honestly call it her favorite. It's one of Chopin's Nocturnes, in E-flat Major, Opus 9, No. 2.

Her house was always full of music, even at the end when she grew unable to play or even sing herself. She gave all five of her children a love of music that still lives today. And I listened to the sweetness of the melody and cried, and thought of my Mom and how much I loved her.

Sony shoots themselves in the foot, repeatedly.

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In the wake of Mark Russinovich's revelations about Sony's rootkit masquerading as DRM, I used their online contact form to send them the following:

That nasty little business with the CD copy protection software, a.k.a. rootkit, was a REALLY stupid move, guys. It's cost you any possibility of me ever again purchasing a Sony product, and I mean ANY Sony product. I suspect that in the end, this mess will wind up costing Sony more than piracy ever could both in lost revenues and damage to the reputation of your brand.

It's really too bad. I've liked your products ever since the days Sony made stereo systems for JC Penneys. I currently own a Sony DSC S70 digital camera, among other Sony products. Now I'm going to have to find a non-Sony replacement when I get ready to replace it.

What a pity. A fine company with superior products, brought down by greed. Truly a shame. I hope you learn something from this so it's not a total waste.

Signed,

A FORMERLY happy customer

I used to recommend Sony products, but no more. And I meant what I said - no Sony movies, games, TV shows, nada. There's only one way to hurt a big company like Sony, and that's if enough people stop buying their products. I plan on doing my part - what about you?