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Re: mills.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 10:59:44 -0000

That might be true of us, Harold: the wage is what keeps us going. But you're kidding yourself if you think that simply acquisitive greed or actual financial need is what drives upper management, who are the subject of the post.

Many of them have quite a lot of money already and can easily make more; moreover, if you interact with them, you can tell quickly that there is a level of credulity in their minds that is unmatched in lower levels of management and employees. For example: they believe in business speak. They get excited about "paradigm shifts." They trumpet the importance of the "core values of the company." Etc.

They aren't paid to do that; it is more like the higher levels of a totalitarian regime: everyone is trying to out-do their peers by showing the most dedication to the cause and its propaganda.

It becomes less about the money and more about fealty to the whole business ideology, including its silly minutiae like Cyber Monday.

Re: mills.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 01:22:18 -0000

He's actually rather short, even abnormally so; I'm not sure if there's something wrong with him, precisely, but he's far out of the range for a healthy male.

It's kind of sad.

Re: mills.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:24:13 -0000

That certainly seems to be the case here! They've managed to hire a skilled rhetorician, a provocative wannabe-demagogue, a dialectical extremist; but mostly I just sit around and draft angry emails.

Re: mills.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 11:41:16 -0000

This is absolutely true: young people and their rage have all the ignorant moral purity a demagogue needs.

Re: mills.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:30:18 -0000

I agree with much of this logic, but it is not ethical to terminate them without warning just before Christmas. There is no business need so pressing as to justify the human suffering that entails; it's chicken-shit and immoral.

Also, a large part of HMD's issue is its inability to recruit and retail talent; it's why our customer service is poor and why our higher-level strategy and execution are poor. These sorts of anti-employee decisions are not going to help with morale, nor will they make others want to sign up with the Orange Box.

Consideration of employee well-being isn't a luxury of successful companies; it's a competitive differentiator that makes companies successful. Doing the right thing is proftable, over time; this sort of garbage isn't.

And the Values Wheel is offensive, demeaning bullshit.

Re: mills.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:17:11 -0000

You know what he means: everyone knows damn well that presidents don't get involved over there out of altruism or concern over Islamofascism in the abstract; we need the Middle East to be stable because of our dependence on oil.

Even the arguments about Israel are disingenuous; we've not always cared much about them, and as recently as the 1950s they are reputed to have engaged in combat against one of our naval ships.

It is not for them or for Iraqis that we keep bases in the Persian Gulf arena. Centcom exists so we can fight for the nationally-critical oil Friedman wants us to wean ourselves from. If we did so, you'd see us relate to the Middle East like we do to Asia: "Man, a dictator murdering his people? Sucks! See you later!"

Re: mills.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:38:13 -0000

Fucking hippie.

Re: mills.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:51:15 -0000

I don't think so, because I don't describe myself in those terms in places or manners that ad-servers would know; it is more likely that something about (1) my browsing habits themselves and (2) what I click on within sites (say, which NYT articles I choose to read) is responsible. So wacky.

Re: mills.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:17:49 -0000

I agree, but I lack courage; also, when one elects to change one's life, one assumes agency and responsibility for the change. My present predicament has one advantage: I didn't do it! I just fell into this career, these relationships, these habits; I went to school and everything just happened (note: that's how most people arrive at adulthood).

If I moved, busted the cycle, changed myself, I'd have the problem of being totally in control of myself and my life. Scary.

Re: Meta is Murder. Writing and lesser things by Mills Baker. DDS != MD.

Mills Baker — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:22:02 -0000

There's no reason for me to try being a dentist; I've already found a field in which I can earn money without doing anything meaningful. Moreover, like a dentist, a member of management can waylay people, usually subordinates, and speak at them unilaterally without fear of reply.

See the Woody Allen story "Pinchuck's Law" for his thought's on dentists (I've linked to it on the main page).

Re: mills.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 23:16:20 -0000

Unfortunately, it serviced far too little of our great nation. Further proof that the market doesn't always reward the best ideas; that they should be gone while Delta remains is absurd.

Re: http://mills.tumblr.com/post/21756883

Mills Baker — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:55:02 -0000

Typical fratty response.

Re: On Periods

Mills Baker — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:37:43 -0000

Then who would drive to lunch?

Re: On Periods

Mills Baker — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:58:28 -0000

Officially the most incomprehensible post in this blog's history.

Re: http://mills.tumblr.com/post/22950500

Mills Baker — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:30:01 -0000

I was wondering the same thing; it's almost impossible to believe.

Re: http://mills.tumblr.com/post/22989617

Mills Baker — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:33:52 -0000

Why will dad die? Whom does he support? I thought he actually liked that creepy lisping adulterer Giuliani, a man they might have deported in the 50s.

Re: sydvish.tumblr.com - Comments away!

Mills Baker — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:19:56 -0000

I check it religiously and am rewarded religiously for doing so. Word up, Sydvish!

Re: sydvish.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 01:14:25 -0000

I can't understand how you don't realize that No 3. is an overt reference to septuagenerian adultery.

Re: http://mills.tumblr.com/post/23027991

Mills Baker — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:03:45 -0000

What's up, George? I like the abbreviation for the word 'elevator,' which has always bugged me with its unjustifiable length; if anything, the word should have more height.

Re: mills

Mills Baker — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:39:02 -0000

You're both dorks.

Mills Baker
http://mills.tumblr.com

Re: sydvish.tumblr.com - So much for that...

Mills Baker — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:12:08 -0000

Nerdy itenerary, yo!

Re: sydvish.tumblr.com - Sydvishy McBragsalot

Mills Baker — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:02:42 -0000

Best fake Irish name ever.

Re: sydvish.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:39:01 -0000

Syd! All I can say in my defense is that I certainly wasn't playing Rooster.

Re: sydvish.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 12:48:29 -0000

I bet they only use that packaging in the South.

Re: sydvish.tumblr.com

Mills Baker — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 12:50:14 -0000

If perception were reality, we wouldn't need two separate words to describe them. I perceive that the coach in question was parroting the "wisdom" of M. Caboner and is a complete twit.