If it had been his head. he'd be a darwin winner

the gator that ate the arm with the arm in its mouth

of course they killed the gator - might not have been the one who deserved it

removing the arm from the dead gator

The lesson: Don’t stick your arm in a golf course pond in gator country.

Well, I’ve got a short list of very simple, easy things each of us can do that will actually result in a safer environment for us and everyone around us.

1) Use your turn signal. Ever wonder why turn signals aren’t optional equipment on cars? It’s because the law requires their use. Why? So that the people around you know what you’re going to do so they can be prepared. I made this argument to someone who told me that he refuses to use his turn signal because it does no good. In his experience, whenever he puts on his turn signal the people around him speed up and don’t let him in so he has decided not to use it all. So, the problem with this logic – I use that term very loosely here – is that it presupposes that engaging one’s turn signal suddenly gives one the right to occupy another lane. However, that isn’t the case. Engaging one’s turn signal – at least when using it to attempt a lane change – is a request. No where in the Colorado driving laws does it say that one driver MUST yield to another whose turn signal is engaged. But even if that were so, my friend’s argument actually uncovers a deeper issue – a general lack of consideration for those around us. He believes he doesn’t have to tell the people around him what he is going to do – he doesn’t owe it to them. While I agree we don’t owe anybody anything, when we live among this many people all driving large vehicles – usually too fast – it’s in everyone’s best interest to be considerate and telegraph what we intend to do. And on the other side of this, if someone signals let them in if you can. This might actually create an environment where more folks used their signals – and it makes you feel good that you’ve done something to help your fellow road warrior.

2) Turn into the correct lane – the one nearest you. I can’t tell you the number of accidents and near accidents I’ve witnessed caused by someone turning into the far lane rather than the nearest. I’m not sure what goes through people’s minds when they do this. I can only imaging that they care only about their own situation and getting where they’re going as quickly as possible. That’s understandable, we all want to get where we’re going but I think we’d all agree it would be better to get there unscathed though. I know it’s hard to think about others when you’re driving down the road behind the wheel of a powerful machine – one that makes you feel invincible and powerful – but come on folks. Have a heart. We’ll all get where we’re going faster if there are no accidents.

3) Move out of the left lane. Colorado law states that slower vehicles MUST move to the right on ALL multi-lane state highways. Here again, not only is this the law but it’s the considerate thing to do. If I had a nickle for every time I saw some chuckle head doing 50 in the fast lane I’d be a lot wealthier. I don’t get this one at all – what goes through someone’s head that allows them to justify parking in the fast lane? It can only be lack of consciousness or lack of knowledge – which is why I think this should be a question on ever driver test in states where this is the law.

The basic theme here is – Think about others not just yourself. If all of us could think just a little bit more about the world around us and the people in it we could make dramatic changes in quality of life. We would reduce stress, reduce road rage, reduce tension, smile more and just generally be happier. Who doesn’t want that?

I’ve been defending the President up to this point. No more. To say I am disappointed does not do justice to how I feel. We hired (elected) to affect change. Part of the change he was supposed to affect is health care reform. The legislation that will come out is neither reform nor meaningful change. If any of us mere mortals failed to achieve objectives we were hired to achieve we would be out of a job. That’s what I propose for Obama – we vote him out of office in 2012. I’m not planning to vote for him again. In fact, I may just vote Republican next time – as long as it isn’t for that twit Sarah Palin who is just an absolute joke.

I have many friends who are Christians and I love and respect them and their beliefs. They try and get me to come over to their side and I respectfully explain that it will never happen. I don’t judge them for their beliefs – if it weren’t for Christians and their good works the world would have much more suffering that it does.

That said, my favorite quote of all time is one by Ghandi – “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.” That quote is on a bumper sticker on the back of my vehicle. Pat Robertson personifies this quote. He is the least Christ like person and every time he opens his mouth I imagine Christians all over the world groaning.

The guy is plain and simple – a moron. His latest idiotic statement is that the earthquake in Haiti occurred because , and I quote:

“When Haiti was still a French colony its leaders swore a pact to the devil to get out from under the heel of the French.

They said, ‘we will serve you if you will get us free from the French.’ True story. And so, the devil said, ‘OK, it’s a deal’.

But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It is cut down the middle on the one side is Haiti the other is the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etc. Haiti is in desperate poverty.

Not only is he unlike Christ, he’s just plain stupid or crazy or both. I really don’t understand why the 700 club keeps this old codger on the air. He can’t be doing any good at all for their recruitment. Unless of course they want to recruit old, fat, moronic, judgmental fools. Maybe that’s their target audience.

Whatever the case, Pat Robertson continues to prove Ghandi’s point.

Here’s a link to a news story

Here is the response I send to each and every one of them:

Dear Recruiter,

As a candidate I don’t work with recruiters who don’t have the professionalism to address me by name in an email about a possible job.

As a hiring manager who typically spends ~$2 million a year on contract staff I also don’t work with the companies who employ recruiters who lack the professionalism to address potential candidates by name. In my experience companies who do so are body shops and only interested in making a fast buck not in finding quality talent.

Best of luck.

James Sweet

It may sound crabby or worse but let me tell you, as a hiring manager for many years I can tell you that never once has a staffing firm that employs recruiters who employ these tactics provided me with a candidate that was even remotely close to what I was looking for. This is why I keep proselytizing the benefits of a company like Tek Systems that focuses on building a partnership with hiring managers. I don’t say this becuase I’m currently on a project through Tek. In fact, it is because of the way Tek treated me as a hiring manager that I’m with them as talent. They truly get it. I knew if I put out a requirement that Tek Systems would send me 2-3 candidates and that I would chose one of them because Tek took the time to learn about me, my company, the culture and the need.

If you need talent, please call Tek Systems. You cannot do better.

I was shocked. I’m still shocked. I am so pissed at the big food companies like Monsanto for what they’ve done to the individual farmer – for what they have conspired with congress to make legal. I’m so angry I can’t even see straight.

I have been pretty committed for a quite a while to buying local and supporting sustainable production methods but I’m even more committed now. Cristina and I will no longer spend our money on products that support big agriculture. I urge everyone out there to make the change, to vote with your dollars and help to make meaningful change happen. You’ll be healthier, happier and live longer.

The free web-based tool is nice and simple to implement. All you need to do is add your profile information, a picture, a short bio, and contact information. After that, you can add links to your blog, company website, and all your social media accounts. The beauty of Magntize is that it can automatically detect new content within your links and add them to a social stream that appears on your digital card. Once you’ve added links, you can pick from a set of 9 unique themes and countless color schemes.