Bag of Randomness

  • I don’t really keep up with any of my friends from college with the exception of maybe three, but one of them is always very good at keeping in touch and sending personalized emails, which are always  blessing to receive.  And it’s fun and rewarding to take the time to reply back as eloquently as I can.
  • During Thomas Jefferson’s life, I wonder if anyone ever called him TJ.
  • Not many presidents could pull off the initial thing, JFK and LBJ probably had the best initial combination – it just rolls off the tongue.
  • Ben Bernanke, Time’s Person of the Year, good choice, and it makes perfect sense if you really think about it.
  • I remember when it was a big deal when Time’s Man of the Year became Time’s Person of the Year back in 1999.  Since that time only two women have made the earned the honor, but only with other people – The Whistleblowers (2002) and Melinda Gates (2005) with husband Bill and some shady guy named Bono.
  • I was reading the LA Times obituary about Roy E. Disney yesterday and now I think I know how all those rumors of a Disney theme park coming to the Fort Worth area started.  It turns out that Roy was good friends with the legendary Bass family of Forth Worth, and they helped him return to the Disney board of directors back in the mid 80’s.
  • It turns out that my college classmate/friend has a malignant brain tumor.  I don’t want to give the impressive that I’m real close to him or anything, but it is local news.
  • The Southwest Conference would be a pretty decent conference if it were alive today.  I always thought its logo was a bit prosaic.
  • FetusGeeding sounds like “feed us, Geeding.”
  • I sent SisterGeeding a package for Christmas and being the geeky kinda of guy that I am, I enjoyed tracking the package.  That’s one thing I love about The Google, all you have to do is enter the tracking number in the search field and you are all set.  But anywho, when it was delivered the message on the UPS webpage ened with “Thank you for giving us this opportunity to serve you.”  I know it’s generic, but it’s the little things that I like.
  • I guess Joe Lieberman is a true Independent – everyone is mad at him.
  • I want health care reform, but not sure if I like this version that’s in the senate.
  • Friday Night Lights continues to be solid this season.
  • Wade Phillips was actually funny in his press conference yesterday when he mentioned that Drew Brees is so good that he not only throws passes for touchdowns, but he even throws interceptions for touchdowns.  Only you that follow the NFL will understand that joke.
  • I really got to start Christmas shopping.
  • Old people using a fax to tweet
  • Pastors debate video sermons
  • Three in Five Adults Are Absolutely Certain There Is a God
  • Study Reveals Why Infants Can’t Walk
  • What’s up with Sarah Palin blacking out McCain’s name?
  • What’s the loneliest number?  Google has the answer.
Posted in Personal | 5 Comments

Let’s just say that I don’t miss that work culture anymore

Fidelity fires four for playing fantasy football

Cameron Pettigrew called himself the “Fidelity Man.”

Working as a relationship manager in the private client group at Fidelity Investments’ Westlake office, Pettigrew says he looked forward to work every day. He even remembers telling co-workers and friends that he planned to retire someday from Fidelity, the country’s biggest mutual fund sponsor and one of the world’s largest providers of financial services.

But that isn’t going to happen. Pettigrew and three other Fidelity employees were fired for playing fantasy football.

“Firing a guy for being in a $20 fantasy league? Let’s be honest; that’s a complete overreaction,” said Pettigrew, who lives in Grapevine and has an MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington. “In this economic time, especially. To fire people over something like this, it’s just cold.”

Said Fidelity spokesman Vin Loporchio: “We have clear policies that relate to gambling. Participation in any form of gambling through the use of Fidelity time or equipment or any other company resource is prohibited. In addition to being illegal in a lot of places, it can also be disruptive. We want our employees to be focused on our customers and clients.”

Pettigrew, who was the commissioner of his league, knew Fidelity had a policy against playing fantasy football at the office. But he said the policy was poorly communicated and ignored by leadership. Pettigrew said there were at least 10 fantasy leagues in which leaders and managers played.

Full Article

Good people, bad management and business philosophy when it comes to work culture.

Posted in DFW, Pop Culture, Sports | 3 Comments

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

They make an unlikely trio, but Baloo the bear, Leo the lion and Shere Khan the tiger have forged an unusually strong bond.

Considering that they would be mortal enemies if they ever were to meet in the wild, it is stunning to see their unique and genuine friendship in these intimate pictures.

Rescued eight years ago during a police drugs raid in Atlanta, Georgia, the three friends were only cubs at the time at barely two months old.
They had been kept as status symbol pets by the drug barons.

Delivered to the Noah’s Ark Animal Rescue Centre in Locust Grove, Georgia, the decision was made to keep the youngsters together, because of their budding rapport.

Full DailyMail Article

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Posted in Cute, Interesting | Comments Off on Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Second-grader suspended over drawing of Jesus

CapturechilddrawingofchristfsadA Taunton father is outraged after his 8-year-old son was sent home from school and required to undergo a psychological evaluation after drawing a stick-figure picture of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The father said he got a call earlier this month from Maxham Elementary School informing him that his son, a second-grade student, had created a violent drawing. The image in question depicted a crucified Jesus with Xs covering his eyes to signify that he had died on the cross. The boy wrote his name above the cross.

“As far as I’m concerned, they’re violating his religion,” the incredulous father said.

He requested that his name and his son’s name be withheld from publication to protect the boy.

The student drew the picture shortly after taking a family trip to see the Christmas display at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, a Christian retreat site in Attleboro. He made the drawing in class after his teacher asked the children to sketch something that reminded them of Christmas, the father said.

Full Taunton Gazette Article

Posted in Spiritual | 1 Comment