Did you know that German “Kaiser” is derived from the Latin “Caesar” and is pronounced a lot more like it than the English version? We’re stuck with our illogical pronunciation, so we have to memorize the correct spelling. (The Russians messed up the pronunciation as thoroughly as the English, with their “Czar.”) Thousands of menus are littered with “Ceasar salads” throughout America–named after a restaurateur, not the emperor (but they both spelled their names the same way). Julius Caesar’s family name was “Julius”; he made the name “Caesar” famous all by himself.

Looking for a pretty accurate, easy to understand economic indicator?
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Try the pawn shop.

On the Take
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According to a recent survey, at least 200 million shakedowns occur every year in Mexico, a country where bribery remains a key way to get things done.
This may not seem all that newsworthy, but I was given a few bucks for the link…

Not So Fast Forward…
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Several television networks have filed a suit against the makers of ReplayTV. The suit complains that the personal digital recorder enables people to click over commercials and easily share copyrighted material with others. This could be an interesting case to watch. If not, change channels.

Let Freedom Ring?
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The latest copyright battle might be fought close to your ears. Some companies are complaining that cell phone ring tones are being sold without proper licensing agreements.
The hell with it, let’s take to the streets!

which is in no way a reference to the Doobie Brothers song Takin’ it to the Streets.

The Perfect Crime (For Investigators)
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Robbing a store – Cost: $100
Having gun stolen by the store clerk – Cost: -$200
Having coat and mask also taken by clerk – Cost: -$30
Calling the cops and reporting the gun stolen – Cost: 8 years
We’ll hold off on the ‘priceless’ part – the robber in question is still pretty young and should provide us with decades more of such capers.

Today, we’ll see if monkey-boy gets to keep his job or not past the weekend. We changed the building’s locks last night.

I don’t feel bad for him, because his dad will keep him bankrolled, fed and sheltered from the other company that he owns…and this has been a long time coming.

Deleting important files from the server, taking the network toolbox home and never bringing it back (not to mention having company furniture and computer at his house… oh.. I guess I did.) giving working for the competition – his Dad (on company time!), misuse of company resources, working the grueling schedule of 10-4 with only a 2 hour lunch in between…. not to mention making six figures as a general manager while generally managing to do nothing in particular to our company’s benefit. Blaming workers that actually work for goofing off to the detriment of the company… when all of those workers (myself among them) have put in more time and effort towards making thing work, above and beyond the call of a salaried employee. Kevin, Paul, Dale and I have all pulled extra hours without pay or said that we’d be willing to take a 10% pay cut for a few months to help the company get back on it’s feet after our latest disaster (Our mother company is related to the travel industry)… Little boy blue was the only one (and he’s making at least $120k, remember) flatly refused to take a cut in pay, even for three months, to ensure that folks in the mail shop wouldn’t have to be laid off. Derrick has some real nerve talking out of the side of his head about other workers, trying to deflect blame from his failure as a general manager onto some of the people that keep the company functional.

So… that’s one more trouble spot hopefully erased from the environment…one or two more to go, and personnel will be in tip-top shape.

I wonder if he’ll be banned from the premises with the help of the sheriff like his father was.

In other News… Payday! Friday! Hooray! I look forward to a nice comfortable weekend.

Today, we’ll see if monkey-boy gets to keep his job or not past the weekend. We changed the building’s locks last night.

I don’t feel bad for him, because his dad will keep him bankrolled, fed and sheltered from the other company that he owns…and this has been a long time coming.

Deleting important files from the server, taking the network toolbox home and never bringing it back (not to mention having company furniture and computer at his house… oh.. I guess I did.) giving working for the competition – his Dad (on company time!), misuse of company resources, working the grueling schedule of 10-4 with only a 2 hour lunch in between…. not to mention making six figures as a general manager while generally managing to do nothing in particular to our company’s benefit. Blaming workers that actually work for goofing off to the detriment of the company… when all of those workers (myself among them) have put in more time and effort towards making thing work, above and beyond the call of a salaried employee. Kevin, Paul, Dale and I have all pulled extra hours without pay or said that we’d be willing to take a 10% pay cut for a few months to help the company get back on it’s feet after our latest disaster (Our mother company is related to the travel industry)… Little boy blue was the only one (and he’s making at least $120k, remember) flatly refused to take a cut in pay, even for three months, to ensure that folks in the mail shop wouldn’t have to be laid off. Derrick has some real nerve talking out of the side of his head about other workers, trying to deflect blame from his failure as a general manager onto some of the people that keep the company functional.

So… that’s one more trouble spot hopefully erased from the environment…one or two more to go, and personnel will be in tip-top shape.

I wonder if he’ll be banned from the premises with the help of the sheriff like his father was.

In other News… Payday! Friday! Hooray! I look forward to a nice comfortable weekend.

Machine oil and gunpowder. Cold, hard steel. A pulse as calm as the eye of a hurricane.

Recipe for disaster.

And my day got off to such a good start, too…