Vol. II No. 37

Just for Today Department:
A check of the morning headlines reveals way too many stories about people hurting other people. Why is that? Why do so many people feel it necessary to hurt their fellow travellers? When will we stop? How about today? What would happen if you and I decided that “just for today” we wouldn’t do anything to cause harm or heartache to another human being? Just for today we would seek only good things in others, help anyone who needed it, and encourage someone who was hurting? Just for today! The entire planet may not change dramatically, but our wee corner of it might be a better place . . . Just for today!
Your thoughts welcome: alan.speak@yahoo.ca

In Case You Haven’t Seen The Gopher Department:
Once in a while something appears in the InBox that’s fun, doesn’t require you to send it to 10 people in order to find true happiness, nor does it try to sell you anything. This is one of ‘em. If you figure out how it works, do let me know. And thanks to David for sending it to me.
http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/games/magic-gopher-central.swf

Butterflies Department:
Friends attended a wedding recently at which the guests were all given a small box containing a butterfly in recognition of the bride’s love of the creatures. After the ceremony, the groom’s uncle read a Native legend about how the creator gave us butterflies to carry our prayers to Him. Then everyone released the butterflies back to the Universe. Now is that a cool idea? It’s also a gentle reminder of another ancient wisdom on the topic of change: What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the butterfly knows is a miracle.
Inquiring Minds do wonder who trained all the butterflies to climb into little boxes, but that’s a subject for another time.

Royal-watch Update Department:
Seems Prince William and nice lady friend are dating again, after a brief separation. Best wishes to both of them. May the tabloids leave you alone for a while. Just for today!

Vol. II No. 36

What Happened to Tony? Department:
Old time radio drama was often referred to as “Theatre of the Mind”. Listeners all knew what the characters looked like, but everyone had a different image. Sound effects created much of the tension, and again, it was different for everyone. Even comedy had a similar bent. I was raised around the British Goon Shows that featured Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Harry Secomb playing a wide range of off-the-wall characters. We knew exactly what they looked like.

The closing episode of the Sopranos borrowed this dramatic license when the final scene faded to black. Everyone who saw it has a different idea about what happened to Tony. Did he get wacked? Escape to fight another day? Leave town with his daughter? Brilliant.

Clinton Looks to Canada Department:
Hilary’s run for the US Presidency will feature Celine Dion’s You and I as her campaign theme song. That’s the same song Air Canada used for an ad campaign some time ago. Not sure what that means, but it did get Canada a small mention on CNN. Whoopee!

Scientist and Man of Faith Department:
Newly released documents reveal Isaac Newton as a deeply religious man who, among other things, calculated the exact dimensions of the ancient Jerusalem temple, the likely end of the world (according to the book of Daniel) and even wrote on Jewish law. He died 280 years ago, yet his influence is still being felt. Now we know the man many call history’s greatest scientist combined his scientific skills with a profound faith.

Yemima Ben-Menahem, one of the curator’s of the newly released papers offered an intriguing comment: She said they complicate the idea that science is diametrically opposed to religion. “These documents show a scientist guided by a desire to see God’s actions in the world.”

Your Intrepid Reporter notes that’s something to cause pause among those who try to explain everything with science.

By the way, in case you’re worried, Newton decided the world would not end prior to 2060, and probably not even then.

Bill’s Out, Bob’s In Department:
Liberal Bill Graham is quitting politics and resigning his seat. Does anyone not think space is being made available for Bob Rae to run in that riding?

Your Comments Always Welcome Department:

Love to hear from you, with agreement, disagreement, ideas, fun stuff. alan.speak@yahoo.ca

Vol. II No. 35

Mission Statement vs. Reality Department:
Ever since Bob Waterman and Tom Peters published In Search of Excellence more than two decades ago organizations have wrestled with the idea of a “purpose” or “mission statement”. Untold hours are spent at retreats to craft a statement that reflects the reason the organization exists. Such statements find their way on to nice plaques, annual reports, T-shirts and coffee mugs. Unfortunately the reality is often that the meaning and sentiment are conspicuously absent from the daily behaviours.
This subject appears with regularity during our weekly Solve-the-problems-of-the-Universe Breakfasts. The latest incarnation is connected to an ongoing discussion of why the basic purpose of a hot meal program and shelter for the homeless continually finds itself embroiled in politics and “the system”. Various parties to the exercise spend a ton of time discussing options, studying the problem, filing reports, and holding meetings. In the meantime, the few folks who actually make it work keep serving dinners to people who probably wouldn’t otherwise eat.
A kid of about 8 is clutching a small bag of cookies as she leaves aforementioned public meal program. Grinning like the proverbial cheshire, she is blissfully unaware of the politics, meetings, studies, and analysis going on far away from this place of caring and love. She just knows somebody cares enough to feed her and give her a bag of cookies.
Your Intrepid Reporter suggests that, on some level, the kind person who gave her the cookies just lives the mission without fanfare. Those who wrote the Mission statement don’t get that reality, they’re much too busy at their meetings. And how about your organization? Nice plaque, T-shirt, coffee mug . . . or a group of people living day to day in the service of others?

What Does it Really Mean Department:
Inquring Minds (I.M.) wonder who spends the hours to create phrases that say nothing while sounding as if something is actually happening. You probably know the Russians are ticked at the U.S. Mister Putin said some unkind stuff about President Bush, and the two attended the same meeting this week in Germany as participants in the G-8. At a brief press conference Bush said “We agreed to have strategic dialogue and discuss our concerns.” He noted that “our representatives will be meeting to have further conversations, and find some solutions.” It is to be noted the two are in the same place at the same time, they both know what the issues are, and I can’t help but wonder why they don’t just talk about it NOW.

Deer Me Department:
New Brunswick’s legislature had an un-announced visitor recently when a deer found its way into the hallowed halls, romped around for a while, and was eventually escorted out by a security guard. There was no word on whether the deer watched Question Period, or voted on any matters of great importance.

Off and Running Department:
The Ontario Legislature has packed it in for the summer, which means we’ll now be subjected to a guhzillion (that’s a lot) promises, as the run to the October election heats up. Already this week the Premier promised a ton of money for farmers, closely on the heels of the Conservatives promising a ton of money for farmers. Is there a pattern here? Hmmm! Next, watch for “help for ordinary working families” from the NDP, and lots of environmental stuff from the Greens.

And One More Thing About "Mission Statements" Department:

A chap we know who used to own a few donut stores had a simple way of teaching his staff how the business ought to work. Each team member was required to sign a small commitment card that read: "Every customer will leave here feeling better than when they came in". How tough is that? Too easy. Sadly, the fellow no longer owns the places and they haven't been the same since he sold them.