Fast Talk Response -

Ray Gardner — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:58:10 -0400

There is no pat answer for this.
It totally depends on the work being performed.

Comment on Node ant

Ray Gardner — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:56:08 -0400

Okay, let's see.
We have two pompous, arrogant, and dishonest young men who sought to perpetuate their own lust for power - presumably by policing other people's good intentions - which only magnifies their own hypocrisy.

And Fast Company does a puff-piece on them.

This says what about this site and their magazine?

I've only been coming here a short time, but since I find myself repeatedly exasperated with the quality and content of this site and the magazine, I suppose I'm on the way out.
I keep coming back hoping to see a discussion to really get into, but instead. . .

Comment on Node ant

Ray Gardner — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:12:29 -0400

Anyone read the numerous recent articles on Europe turning to the Right? Seems that their central planning is failing, and the only glimmers of economic hope are from the free-market minded reforms.
Corky;
Your idealism is admirable, but it's simply not realistic.
In short, your world view requires subjectively imposing your definition of "a better life" on those who are otherwise free to make their own choices.
Who are you to say that people shouldn't be free to work 50 hours a week so they can afford as many toys as they want?
Really.
Who are you to say such a thing?

Comment on Node ant

Ray Gardner — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:04:09 -0400

For reference, I'm a planner for a company that supplies to a much larger, international behemoth of an aerospace company.

As if by plan, we routinely make the mistake of hiring someone from the "big" company only to see them crash and burn within weeks.
In short, the big companies foster a bureaucratic like mindset that inculcates their people with a very narrow vision for themselves and their role in the company.
A smaller company requires that nearly everyone - in management anyway - pick up whatever responsibility that happens to fall in their lap that day.

Fast Talk Response -

Ray Gardner — Fri, 02 May 2008 21:36:03 -0400

In one of my favorite books, "Fooled By Randomness" the author makes a sharp observation that "leaders" simply tend to be non-blinking sociopaths that are self-confident, and insensitive whose main talent is influencing people.
Car salesman can influence people, but it doesn't make them leaders, and simply gravitating to the top of a corporate ladder doesn't make a person a great business leader.

Fast Talk Response -

Ray Gardner — Fri, 02 May 2008 21:18:33 -0400

How would it sound if someone said "Women need extra help since they are not capable of doing better on their own accord"?

It's just as asinine as the posted question, but not euphemistically worded.

Fast Talk Response -

Ray Gardner — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:33:15 -0400

A good way to think of an economy is to think of a runner. Or perhaps two runners racing. One runner has a very overprotective doctor that insists on his athlete wearing various protective garments.
This runner has ankle braces, knee braces, a helmet, shoulder pads, and he’s eaten too much fiber because that’s healthy as well and so he’s feeling a little bloated.
The other runner is dressed as we would expect a marathoner to dress. Very little.

Fast Talk Response -

Ray Gardner — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:00:48 -0400

Charles:
Sorry if I offended you. You seemed to be genuinely solicitous of answers, and so I obliged with good objective sources that are too lengthy to quote fully here.

More to the point however, the data you seek is the world and its economic history that lies at your fingertips.

Fast Talk Response -

Ray Gardner — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:46:44 -0400

The American auto industry was undone by union labor, and New Deal era deals struck with the unions.

Major points:
As Rob mentioned, the other countries couldn’t field a team.
That means that the Americans didn’t have any real competition.
And what happened?
When Japan finally got a team together, the Americans were slow, sloppy and lazy.

Fast Talk Response -

Ray Gardner — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:34:39 -0400

Good point. Less is ultimately the friendlier for the environment.
Witness the external costs of recycling.
I would try to support a company that was genuinely behind an effort of conservation i.e. weyerhaeuser or the like, but anyone touting "green" or any kind of global warming as scientific fact immediately puts the "huckster" antennae up.