raison

I have to attend a "Are we making progress? Come on people, we have a deadline coming up!" meeting at 10 today. I think meetings are a waste of time. But wait, let me further substantiate that view so we don't jump to conclusions. I present for your appraisal a rational, cost-benefit analysis of work-related meetings:

Cons

1. I will be asked what I accomplished in the past two weeks. (Acquired a blog is not the best answer to this question.)

2. My boss (and other people who incorrectly believe I work for them) will dump more work on me.

3. Nothing of substance will be accomplished.

Pros

1. Instead of doing actual work, I get to sit in a room with semi-bored people and draw little beasts on a notepad for a full hour.

2. Nothing of substance will be accomplished, which means there will be another meeting a week or two later. (See pro #1.)

It looks like the cons kind of win. But that doesn't mean anything, because I still have to go to the meeting. In the words of the great Red Foreman (That 70's Show), "If it wasn't work, it wouldn't be called work, damn it!"

Do they have cars in your country?

This happened a while ago, but it's well worth a serious discussion. Minnesota state senator, Mady Reiter, R-Shoreview, proposed a bill requiring driver's license tests to be administered only in English and banning the use of interpreters. Apparently, she was concerned about people cheating through interpreters on these tests. Here's a quote from the Star Tribune story:

"There are some places where folks may drive through a stop sign," Reiter said. "I have to believe that they just don't read English."

The bill was killed, but let's dig deeper so we can understand Ms. Reiter's thought process a little better. When someone runs a red light or crosses the intersection without stopping at the Stop sign, this is how those of us who are normal would respond:

"[Expletive]!"

This is how Mady Reiter would respond:

"Non-English speaking immigrant [expletive]! I am so talking to the Senate Transportation Committee about this today."

Or at least that's what she used to say before the bill died.
In other news...

China's Narcissistic Personality Disorder

The Taiwanese demonstrated in huge numbers this weekend in protest of a recently passed Chinese law calling for the use of "non-peaceful means" should Taiwan attempt to declare independence. Perfectly reasonable, right? Not for some. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported today:

"Beijing's official New China News Agency criticized the march before it began, carrying a prominent story on Saturday morning contending that Taiwanese advocates of independence 'malevolently distorted' the anti-secession law."

Ok, China, try putting yourself in Taiwan's shoes for a moment. Just pretend, ok? So, what message does Beijing's anti-secession law send to you? That's right, "Be afraid. Be very, very afraid." See what I mean? And now you don't even want them to protest! Well, bit of a control freak, aren't we?

That's it, folks. I'll be back with more news later.

Disclaimer: If you think I lack historical perspective on these issues and therefore don't know what I'm talking about, you're exactly right.