The bully pulpit and other political devices.........

Definition: According to Wikipedia, a “bully pulpit” is defined as a position sufficiently conspicuous to provide an opportunity to speak out and be listened to.

   I recently came across an article about Theodore Roosevelt, one of our more colorful American Presidents and remembered that he had coined the phrase “bully pulpit”, using the White House as his 'pulpit' from which he attempted to generate public support for his political policies and agendas. For sure, being President of the United States, today more commonly referred to as POTUS on most television shows, is certainly a position of power and of potentially significant influence. But along with the advantage of having 'the pulpit' comes the responsibility and a respect for the influence it yields. And let's not forget to include ethical behavior. Perhaps local 'state houses'  also become 'mini-bully pulpits' for governors and wanna be's too.

   Before going on, however, let me add that in the days of President Roosevelt, the word 'bully' had a much different meaning than it does today, a more positive meaning. 'Bully' was an adjective meaning wonderful, superb, outstanding. When somewhat shouted “bully for you” it meant “good for you!” The word bully even meant 'to be a lover.' 

   Today, however, the term 'bully' has transitioned to a different meaning. A 'bully' is someone who uses 'negative tactics' as a way to force, intimidate or dominate others, bullying tactics.

   From a bit of my past, at a fairly young age in grade school, Timmy Barrett would  bully me on the playground after school in an attempt to get me to give him my baseball glove. No way! Of course, my first name often contributed to additional taunts and name-calling as well from some of his friends.... until the day I picked up a stick and whacked Timmy across his forehead. From that point on and after a trip to the principal's office, Timmy never bothered me again. (The fact that he and his family soon moved away didn't hurt either.)

   From the days of Teddy Roosevelt to 2015, being a bully has evolved from being “wonderful and superb” to being someone who uses force and coercion to get what they want or wish to influence. Sound familiar?

   Having been on the side of one who has been bullied, at the time I was too young to really understand the motivation and reasons why someone becomes a bully. Yes, I had a nice baseball glove, lived in a home with a mother and father, did not live on the street or was not allegedly abused as a child.

   I had goals and dreams. True. I came from a middle class family, although some thought my family was rich. I wanted to go  to college, become successful at a job and raise a family. I felt an obligation to give back to my country and community. I wasn't angry, didn't carry a chip on my shoulder because I had been forced out of my house to live with the neighbors  nor did I feel the need to make fun of others  who I perceived as better than I was or who I sometimes even feared because of the color of their skin, the way they dressed or the language they spoke.

   Today a person can not walk through any school hallway at any grade level in Maine without seeing the signs and posters about “bullying'. “Just Say No to Bullying.” "This is a Bully-Free Zone"

   But I have come to the understanding, over time and life experiences, that the key to whether someone becomes a bully or remains  one as an adult is rooted in having both positive role models and a feeling of being in control of one's life. The prerequisite for success is a matter of self perceptions. If a person feels there is an imbalance in social or political status then that person will use the behaviors they feel necessary to either level the playing field in their eyes or in some cases, even gain the upper hand. And often those bullying behaviors learned and practiced as a child will continue into adulthood.

   I often wonder what motivates someone to run for a political office, a position of power and influence. Is it a desire to serve, to give back in some way to those who had been a positive impact on a life or is it driven by the need to gain or regain control over something which there had been little or no control. Is it to gain the advantage of having a 'bully pulpit' in order to finally "be heard and listened to?"

   It was easy for me to pick up the stick and hit Timmy in the forehead. At the moment it felt good! And although I was frustrated  with Timmy's constant bullying, standing up to the bully may have turned out to be a good thing. I proved to myself and others at a young age that I could take on the bully and win (although the meeting with the principal and my parents was not fun).
   In its original T.R. definition, a 'bully pulpit ' was a position of conspicuous opportunity to speak out and be listened to. But over time that definition has changed. What happens when one uses a  'bully pulpit' to become nothing more than a present day 'bully'? Is that an effective leadership style? And  when the bully finally realizes that no one is listening or cares any more............then what?

Simple observations.......

   I don't need to remind anyone how challenging the winter of 2015 has been to date. Extreme cold and  endless snow storms have blanketed Central Maine with deep, deep snow that seems like it will never melt. I can't remember the last day we had temperatures in the 30 degree range.

   Many have described this winter as 'a good old Maine winter' but to be honest, I must either be too old or possibly too young to remember what a 'good old Maine winter' was like. But if this winter is an example, then I guess I am glad I don't remember what they were like.

   Current condition, the low temps and the constant snow, can bring out the best and the worst in people and as one who likes to 'people-watch' I only need to look around to see some folks at their finest and others, well.....

   I recently stopped  to pick up a cup of morning coffee and a bite to eat before heading off to work. ( By the way, the early morning temp was -7 degrees) A young girl pulled into the parking spot next to me and raced to the door. Although there were several others waiting at the counter to be served, she jumped to the front of the line, ordering a medium sized coffee and a donut.

   Almost back in her car, she returned complaining that she had not asked for sugar in her coffee and demanded another, without sugar. The clerk obliged, with a smile I might add, and the girl went on her way. As she left, the person in front of me in line shouted out to her .....”Will there be anything else deary or can I place my order now?” But by now she was pulling out of the parking lot.

   With the threat of another potentially large storm looming, grocery stores often become places that bring out more than the worst in people. No shopping carts or those little red baskets to put 'stuff' in, what's a guy to do. Pushing and shoving to get the last package of Ring Dings on the shelf....it's a shopping frenzy.

   And those shopping carts people are pushing around seemed to be filled to the top. I wonder if the size of the storm or the predicted amount of snow influences how much people buy to stock up. Maybe there is a conspiracy with food stores and weather personnel. The bigger the storm the more people will buy.

   The lines at the checkout are long and people become impatient, but it is a good opportunity to observe the latest in winter weather attire. This day, the temp was around 11 degrees. Topping the list of what to wear when one goes shopping were the brightly colored fleece pajama bottoms. There were at least five or six different patterns and designs waiting in the  checkout lines. Oh, there's one with the Boston Red Sox logo.

   Most people were wearing some type or winter shoes or boots on their feet, but right in front of me..... the person was wearing pink flip- flops. Now that's got to be cold. But she also did not have on a jacket or coat either. Maybe she was from Florida or some place warm.

   But sometimes the weather can bring out the good side of people too. An elderly woman was in the next checkout line. When told the amount she owed for her purchases, she realized she did not have enough money to pay the bill. (She was actually paying with cash.) Without skipping a beat, the young family waiting in line behind her paid the balance of her bill. No question she was a bit embarrassed and offered to pay them back, but they told her not to worry and they struck up a friendly conversation as they walked to their cars.

   I have been spending some time in several of the area schools recently. The only group more anxious for the upcoming mid-winter vacation than the kids were the teachers. I am sure that as Friday afternoon rolled around you could hear the countdown to the end of the day begin.

   Interesting, though. In talking with some of the staff members, few, if any, were doing any traveling to warmer climates this vacation. There was one cruise, one trip to Disney World and that was about it. Several were going skiing and snow shoeing.

   As winter drags on you can tell that people are getting 'edgy'. There are very few smiles or people saying 'thank you'. Everyone seems to be in a bit of a rush.

    For me, I am waiting for that first 35 degree day, the day when the snow on my roof begins to melt, the day I can begin to see my driveway again, the day I can take my car to the car wash and not worry about turning it into a block of ice. Surely then, people will begin to smile again.

150 miles can take you into a different world......

   Television and radio news broadcasts will often offer “the week in review” and I had thought about that as a title for this week's blog. It was a busy week and coupled with the cold Maine weather, snow and a bit of extra travel... OK, I'll admit it, I was a bit tired on Friday night. But to give you a report of 'my week in review'? How about just one day?

   A journey of only 150 miles can take you into a different world and sometimes we need those opportunities to help put a bit of perspective back into our life. With all the terrible and horrifying news we hear every day taking place around the world it's nice to know there are places and values that time and people still protect.

   Part of my week's travels took me on a journey to almost the end of the earth, or at least the U.S. Border. It's called Route 201 and in its entirety runs from the coast of Maine to the Canadian border, two very unique and distinct regions of our state. It begins at the Atlantic Ocean near Brunswick and takes you to the woods and mountains that make up the northwest corner of Maine. To some, 150 miles may seem like a long ride, especially on roads covered in snow and ice. But this trip, even in the middle of winter, still offers some beautiful sights and a look at the “hearty stock' of people called 'Mainers'.

   This week, I jumped on Route 201 in Skowhegan to head north but I have traveled the route from Brunswick many times as it passes through a number of what some from away might consider small towns. The route, for the most part, parallels the Kennebec River, a waterway flowing with its own rich history and stories.

   But on this day, a right turn at the large wooden statue in downtown Skowhegan and that was the beginning of my journey. Most of the roads were still well covered in fresh snow and ice, requiring an extra cautious drive and a great deal more attention to the road conditions and surroundings. And perhaps, that turned out to be a good thing. It gave me a bit more time to appreciate what was going on around me.

   A few miles from the center of the town the landscape and surroundings change significantly. There are fewer homes, winding roads and ….look at all the pine trees covered in a jacket of snow. Are those fresh deer tracks along the side of the road? You bet! Real fresh!

   Eventually the road and the Kennebec River meet up side by side again and it is easy, even in winter, to experience the beauty of the area. By the way, at this point Route 201 becomes a National Scenic Highway.

   Small variety stores, aging motels, cabins and camps (old, but well maintained) dot the country side, providing places to stop and rest, to pick up a fresh cup of coffee or spend a few days enjoying what the area has to offer. No large Marriott hotels here. This particular time of year the snowmobiles probably outnumber the cars probably 3 to 1.

   My destination on this day was Jackman and once I got to The Forks, I knew I only had about 25 more miles to go.

   The road from The Forks to Jackman is both hilly and curvy as it cuts through the river valley. But I will say that at the top of the last hill before entering Jackman, with a view of the town below and Canada off in the distance, with a bright, clear blue sky, the view was beautiful. Fresh snow, smoke from the chimneys below....it was worth a picture or two.

   My task for the day in Jackman was to spend a bit of time at the local school. Being a very small town, all the kids in town attend school in a building that houses grades K to 12. It reminded me of my first teaching position in W Va, a small mining town with 128 students in grades K-12. And like the school in W. Va. this school, over the years, not only known for some exceptional graduates and educational programs, also usually has a pretty good basketball team too. Right now they are ranked No. 1 in their division going into the tournament next week.

   After a few hours at the school it was time to head 'down state'. The day turned out to be very successful. The students we met worked hard. They were polite, even said “thank you” at the appropriate times, opened doors for us and pleasantly said “good bye” when we left.

   It was obvious the students were very proud of their school. A small town, a small school, a great deal of pride and almost out of reach from the rest of the world. It was for me, on this day, a brief glimpse of a different world.

   There were very few, it any, students walking around with cell phone or IPads or texting their friends. They didn't need to. Their friends were all right there and their families, just down the street. They carried notebooks and textbooks and  backpacks like other kids in other schools, but there was this strange and eerie sense of freedom in their movement throughout the building and.... the front door was always open to visitors and guest.  Maybe it wasn't so bad living near the edge after all.

   I got back into my car and, as if out of habit, reached for my cell phone to see who had called. But I put the phone back down on the front seat and decided to wait until I was a bit closer to home. There was no rush. It was almost like I was living in a different world.

With February comes hope.............

   It seems like it has been snowing for days. The temperatures each day have been like a roller coaster ride and while there is a bit more light in the evening sky, it's still mid-winter. After basically a “flake-free” January (I am not talking about visits from friends and neighbors), the piles of snow on either side of the driveway are now getting pretty high.

   The car is covered in salt and sand. Lucky has a difficult time climbing over or finding a way around the snow banks to get to his favorite 'spots' in the yard and each day I shovel the snow drifts away from the back door. But have no fear. With the arrival of February comes hope.

   February 2 is Groundhog Day and we all know what that means. It means we will soon know just how much longer we must endure the snow and harsh cold of winter before Spring arrives. And this prediction is determined by....? Of course. It is a homely little rodent sticking his head out of a hole in the ground to look for his shadow. Now... what on earth could be more scientific than that? (I wonder if the groundhog is male or female and would that make a difference?)

   Like many other events in history, the early beginnings of Groundhog Day are not without some debate and controversy. 

   The general belief is that the earliest recorded history of Groundhog Day dates back to February 4^th 1841 in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, however a number of other small communities scattered across the northeast claim to have recorded even earlier dates. Who doesn't like a good fight over who is credited with recording the first Groundhog Day in America!

   As tradition has it, if it is cloudy when the groundhog sticks his or her head out of its burrow, it will be an early Spring. But if the furry little creature sees its shadow cast from a bright winter sun, if he needs his sunglasses, then we have six more weeks of winter.

   Over the years and probably the result of several marketing firms, Groundhog Day has become somewhat of a celebration and what American doesn't like a good party. Folks will get up early, wrap themselves in warm clothing and head for the nearest Groundhog celebration. There will be speeches, people running about dressed in groundhog costumes, lots of food and drink, more speeches, maybe an appearance by the Governor and then the announcement will come. Did he or didn't he? And the reaction from the crowd will indicate the result.

   It has been reported that on occasion there have been as many as 40,00 people gathered in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania for the celebration. Now those are some dedicated fans.

   But this is what we know. The celebration in America was a custom believed to have begun within the Germans communities in eastern PA in the early 1800's, from a practice dating back as early as the 17^th and 18^th centuries in Europe. And like many other celebrations and holidays, its origin was based in early folklore about the weather and the changing of the seasons.

   Meteorologically  speaking, whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not, the first day of Spring is seven weeks after Groundhog Day, or on the 46-47 day following February 2nd. In simple terms, it's the middle of March and we know what the weather can be like in March.

   And how accurate are the forecasts? According to many of the celebration organizers, the little furry guy's forecast are somewhere between 75 to 90 per cent accurate. But most other official record keepers believe the accuracy to be more in the 35 to 40 per cent range. The National Climatic Data Center  has even said that the little guy has absolutely no talent for predicting the weather at all. But then, that is a response one might expect to hear from such an agency. Can you imagine if the groundhog were correct in his predictions. Can you imagine losing your job and being replaced by a groundhog?

   Monday is Groundhog Day, but I think I'll skip the celebrating, pour myself another cup of coffee before venturing out to shovel the walkway again and know that it's February, the shortest month of the year. Before long, whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow or not, the sun will become brighter, the temperatures warmer and the plants and flowers will emerge from beneath the ground recently covered by 3 feet of snow and it will be Springtime. With the beginning of February comes 'hope'...........and maybe even a little bit of Spring fever!

                                     

Balls to the wall! Let's get this over with and move on...........

(Sorry.  I just could not let this one pass by.)

   It's full steam ahead (balls to the wall) in the reporting of the important news of the day. There are so many newsworthy events happening around the world it becomes difficult to decide what to include and not include in a broadcast, I would assume. But when one of the items up for consideration to be included with the other world news is a scandal over improperly inflated or deflated balls, that's got to be as important as the terrorist activity in Syria or the continued search for the bodies of those lost in the AirAsia crash. For sure, talking about properly inflated or deflated balls is something most of the population can comprehend and get their hands around. And the burning question here.... Who let the air out?

   There is the potential for so much to be at play here with this story. After all, it is a game, only a game. But what is reflected in all the attention given to the events of who, what, where, when and why surrounding proper pressure in (foot)balls is society's fascination with sports. Come on. We all picture ourselves at some point scoring the winning touchdown and doing the "dance of joy" in the end zone or standing on the foul line, the game tied, no time remaining on the clock and sinking the foul shot to win the game. The crowd goes wild and for a brief second or two we are a hero. What 'hero' wants to stand there holding a deflated ball? Is it really only a game?

   Almost no one likes it when someone else has to cheat to win, except the person doing the cheating. At this point I am not accusing the Patriots of cheating. The jury is still out for me. But ask most kids at play on the playground. Ask a local politician or two. No one likes a cheater, not even another cheater. But the importance of winning at any cost, winning at some point in your life, has become so much a part in our society and who we are that some people will do almost anything to gain an advantage or edge.

   I found it interesting that even our Governor weighted in on deflated balls. I was surprised to learn how knowledgeable he appears to be regarding deflated balls and the ethics and moral character of the New England Patriots, their coach and the players. And his favorite team? Could it be the..... Dallas Cowboys? And why?

   But what if there were no real foul play here, in Foxborough, and this turns out to be “just a lot of hot air"? Maybe the pump didn't work. What if no one tampered with the Patriot's balls? What if the player who intercepted the pass just didn't like the way the ball felt. Do all (foot)balls really feel the same?

   Tom Brady, in his news conference, spoke about his preference for how he likes the balls to feel when he grips them, ready to throw a 55- 60 yard pass to Edelmann or Gronk. “So do the other quarterbacks,” he said, trying to assure the reporters that he might not be alone in caring how balls feel.

   But as of early Saturday morning it appears  the league is getting near the end of it's investigation and that we soon will know the real story behind the deflated balls. The following is taken from the Daily Beast on 1/23....... 

  

        Early evidence has concluded that the New England Patriots used underinflated footballs during Sunday’s AFC Championship victory, though it’s still unclear whether the balls were intentionally deflated (or if the Pats knew). “While the evidence thus far supports the conclusion that footballs that were underinflated were used by the Patriots in the first half,” the NFL said in a statement Friday, “the footballs were properly inflated for the second half and confirmed at the conclusion of the game to have remained properly inflated.” The NFL said the goal of its “investigation will be to determine… whether any noncompliance was the result of deliberate action.” The league said at least 40 interviews have been conducted and video evidence collected. 

   
    (Now I do believe that report speaks for itself and clears things up nicely.)

   And for the NFL, if nothing else, the discussion of deflated or as the article describes them as underinflated balls, takes the focus off the mishandling of other more important issues facing this league and other major league sports. But then again, we do love our games and are often willing to overlook or forget those issues we don't want to remember.

    Underinflated balls will probably not prevent me from watching the game next week as I already have my snacks ready for the game, but I do wonder what will be the next major “scandal”? Perhaps it will be overinflated egos?

By the way.....the spell check on my computer does not recognize the word 'underinflated'. If the word isn't included in a spell check, is it a real thing? Draw your own conclusion.     :)

This ain't your grandfather's second grade class any more........

   As I walked from the living room to the kitchen the other day I passed  by the television. Much of the time the television is turned on just to provide background noise and sometimes entertain the dog, but this particular report caught my attention.

   The news was reporting on the number of schools that are dropping recess for students during the school day. Favorite time of the  day? As a kid... you bet. As a classroom teacher, it was a good break and a time for  kids to get rid of some of that built up energy after all those math problems. But  eliminate recess? Was it now considered unsafe, unhealthy, discriminatory? I pulled up a chair to listen.

   Schools are beginning to eliminate recess because it takes too much instructional time out of the day for more important subjects. It's a waste of valuable teaching time.

   The  broadcast went on to discuss the impact “The Common Core” is having on what is being taught in the classroom, the new expectations of what students need to learn and know for the remainder of the 21^st century. Teachers and schools are finding there is just not enough time each day to 'get the job done.' The obvious solution, do away with some of the 'time wasters' in the school day, one being recess. Could lunch be next?
   The history and development of “The Common Core” is not something that dates back hundreds of years although I think  deep down inside we all know what we should know, a common core of values that should be learned. This new  "Common Core had it's formal conception a few years ago. But it is an issue with strong political agendas and we know what happens when politicians  gets involved in issues and making decisions. It stirs up the 'pot of emotion.' But that may be a  topic for another day.

   I spent a major part of my working life in the field of education, dedicating my career to insure that the next generation would have the skills, the knowledge and training to take society to the next level, whatever that level was to be. But I must confess there were times that I felt that what we were trying to do or achieve... it was almost like driving a car down a highway, except that we were driving the car in reverse to get ahead, trying to move forward but constantly looking back in the rear view mirror.

   American public education is rich with history and traditions. It's goal has always been to provide some level of learning, open and available to anyone  who wanted to take advantage in order to create a better society. With its beginnings in the tiny one room school houses scattered across the country to where we have evolved today, public education set out on task to make this country a better place and one only needs to look at the famous people, political and business leaders, the doctors. scientists and teachers to measure its success, remembering. too, that success is not always measured by fame. But, one  also needs to look at the  failures and struggles  as well in order to understand the mistakes that were made.

   But American education has also become the  great “gate keeper,'” an institution and structure reluctant to change. Some often describe it as 'not stepping out of the box'. And there in lies a great  irony,  "resistance to change". Isn't that what education is all about, the ability to learn, change and grow?

   For example, most students are requires to attend school each year for 175 day, give or take a few days. But do all students learn the same amount of knowledge in that 175 days. What we do know is that some of us take a bit longer to learn than others, yet the expectation for each student is the same, get it in 175 or else.

   For many, the school day begins around 8 AM and ends shortly after 2:30 PM. Recent research shows that high school students are more successful if the day and classes begin around 9:00 in the morning, a bit more sleep. But that schedule would effect the after school activities, the basketball and soccer practices and all the other things teenagers  do after school.

   Originally, if my memory serves me, the school calendar was based upon an agricultural calendar. After the harvest in the Fall and before the Spring planting seemed like a good time to spend in school. There was nothing else to do in the winter months except annoy parents until Christmas anyhow. Late Spring, Summer and early Fall were busy times on the farm and everyone was needed to pitch in and help. Attending school stopped in the summer. Even to this day, there are school districts that shut down in the Fall for a week or two because of the potato harvest. Yet how many kids today help with the harvest. Is it just the continuation of a time honored tradition?

   What I think and hope people are beginning to realize and discover is that with all this new knowledge  that needs to be learned, schools can not operate as they have in the past. Perhaps for some it is a year around activity, of course with a few vacations included. (That does not  mean making all schools charter schools designed 'for profit' as some are proposing.) The world is demanding new standards, new expectations for what kids need to know and perhaps it is time to 'jump out of the box' and be willing to try some new and innovative approaches.

   But... One more thought here. It takes time for ' meaningful change' to occur. In the past we have been too quick to not give “change” a chance. As an institution, 'public education' is often criticized because we start something new and if we don't see immediate results we quickly give up and move on to the next 'new' thing. How many mathematics and reading programs have your children been exposed to in the last ten years?

   I did not attend a one room school, although there are some who may think I may be that old. My second grade classroom with Mrs Graham, the teacher, was very different from the second grade class my grandchildren attended just several years ago. I can only image what the second grade classrooms will look like twenty years from now.

   I know the political debates will continue as to what should be taught, when it should be taught and who should teach it. I  do believe the discussion is a healthy one though and needs to be ongoing. But to drop recess? Come on! It was my favorite time of the day.


PS. If you doubt the importance of a free and open educational system, one only needs to take a look at countries and areas of the world under siege from radicals and terrorists. The first thing they do? Close down the schools. Sounds a bit like history repeating itself, don't you think?  

AAAAA......(Don't worry. Your eyes are fine)

   I was recently part of a discussion in which, for the most part, I had no clue what was being said. Now for me, that might not be that unusual and there will be some who will agree. But in this particular situation, I was somewhat, or I thought I was, familiar with the topic and the subject matter. But the person leading the discussion used so many abbreviations and shortened terms in his presentation it was difficult to follow and understand. In his speech he had forgotten one very important thing, his audience. Many in the room, including myself, needed a dictionary of terms and abbreviations to understand what he was trying to tell us. We were not familiar with all the acronyms, abbreviations and shortcuts.

   Several months ago, with a new cell phone in hand, I ventured into the world of texting and sending messages via my phone and I wrote a blog about the 'new' language and the spelling of words that was quickly taking over the world. One year later, I still often have difficulty understanding some of the messages sent to me, but I'm catching on thanks to an understanding granddaughter.

   Acronyms are a bit different than many of the texting shortcuts and have been used a long time, or so I am told.

   According to Wikipedia, and who would ever doubt Wikipedia, an acronym “is an abbreviation formed from the initial components of a word or phrase.” OMG! The definition goes on to say that while abbreviations for words and phrases have been used for many years, the 20^th century has seen a dramatic rise in their use as we look to find ways to shorten our speech and writing. But does it shorten our understanding?

So let me send you a brief memo..............

To all staff,

The ETS and the HO will be conducting a TBA over the next several months. SV's, AC's and AA's will be assigned a specific ICT during this time. On the forms provide to you, be sure to include your MOB and your HOTs that you generally perform each day.

After you have completed your individual TBA, be sure to E-File the results on the appropriate AIF immediately to your SV.

Thank you for your cooperation, understanding and participation in this very important job assignment study.

FM

   Out of the context from the business or industry from which these acronyms came, you might have no idea what was taking place or what an employee was being asked to do. Even if you work within this group you still might not know.

   I was not surprised to recently learn that in many organizations new employees are given, in addition to all the other paperwork the fill out a sign, a copy of the “The Company Guide to Abbreviations ” in order to help and assist in learning to understand the business language, terms and jargon. And how do I know this? I was given one of those guides at my recent orientation.

   Abbreviation and acronyms have been around for many years. Some are quite funny.

   For example....AAAAA (see blog title) is the American Association Against Acronym Abuse. If you happen to see AATO , know that Acronyms Are Taking Over. If you thought that ABC was a television channel, you might be partially correct. ABC......A Boring Channel. Everyone knows about FAQ's, And maybe with April 1 just around the corner, you may want to think about pulling off an AFJ, April Fool's Joke.

   As the world continues to change, as we move forward toward a total butchering of language and communication, I envision a society where we do very little speaking or writing in full or complete sentences or thoughts, where correct spelling was something taught by Mrs. Graham back in the second grade, rest her soul, and junior high English, where we learned that a sentence must have a subject and verb. What's a subject and verb anyway? Are these  just a distant memory of a missed ALO (a learning opportunity).

   I have come to the conclusion there is a transition taking place. With the increasing use of texting, once easy and understandable abbreviations such as IBM or AT&T are being replaced with a new language and unless someone publishes the 'U.S. Guide to Abbreviations for the Common Citizen,' we may never truly understand what each other is trying to say.... to each other. (Poor subject-verb agreement there.)

   And about that FAQ? We all know that is an acronym for 'frequently asked questions.' So my most frequently asked question is quickly becoming....”What did the memo just say? Did I forgot to submit my QCB on time! What's a QCB?”
  I guess over time I'll start to figure all this out.  UNT........be safe!

Full and fair disclosure... The memo included in the blog was not a real  memo. The acronyms are, however.