management taxonomy

I need to get this down before I forget it all again...

There are three basic management styles:

1. Deer in the Headlights (D-H);
2. Squirrel in the Road (S-R);
3. Bunny in the Bushes (B-B).

D-H management sees the oncoming apocalypse, stands firm until the very last moment, and then bolts headlong into it. The S-R types notice something amiss and then rush from pillar to post trying all the possible escape strategies until they are exhausted. B-B's sit safely by the side of the road until the last second and then bolt into oblivion.

I only mention this because, on my way home these last few days, a number of Bunnies have attempted to execute on their environmental management predilections (unsuccessfully, so far).

First World Re-Gifting

Been a long time here...lots going on...in my mind...mostly of no interest to the world at large...but...the holiday spirit has taken hold...so...

Amongst the soon-to-be-excruciating deluge of snailmail crap, I recently received a giftalog from worldvisiongifts.org which offered me the chance to send a cute furry bunny rabbit to some un-specified-but-probably-third-world-personage(s) for only $19 (plus, undoubtedly, tax and license) :

Since I am still in the process of recovery from the March loss of my rabbit-companion, Bonbon lil'Bubba Badbunny, I am somewhat sensitive to their presentation in the world.

Now.

I'm sure this charity means well. Based on vetting by various online adjudicators they even seem to be doing pretty well  -- OkOk, 53 out of 70 and 3*s is the lowest in their "highly-rated" category on Charity Navigator, but they are after all a "Christian humanitarian organization", and I guess Jimmy Carter would approve, so it can't be all bad.

But...

In the accompanying text is the statement, "Not only is this a way to feed hungry children..." which sorta-kinda sidesteps the actual-fact-of-the-matter that little Kenyatta's gleeful smile here is not the result of having found a life-long companion, but more likely because he/she is looking forward to a nice stew and a pair of furry moccasins.

And pretty much the same, maybe minus the moccasins, goes for happy Maria's piglet too:

This catalog offers me so many ways to share the wealth of sheep, goats, chickens, and partridges in pear trees while never once admitting that most of those pear trees are destined for the killing floors within months if not days of receipt. This is of course the way of the world, and feeding children is a more noble cause then coyotes, but...can't we just face the gdm facts once in a while? Do I really need to abuse the concept of cute mammal companionship to convince little Sally to forgo her next GTA-FuckBall upgrade so some distant, theoretical, Kenyatta can have one decent meal? And some nice shoes?

Maybe that's the only way it will work...

Bonbon l'Bubba B'day

Another milestone for the bunny: 7 years and counting:

Is breakfast ready yet?

And his birthday present? A trip to the vet for a checkup.

The good news is he's doing pretty well and got a nice mani-pedi. The bad news? No treats, eat more hay. Just like my doctor...

More Rabbit Ears

The white lines move...

Rabbit Ears

Bonbon's ever changing antenna

Career Ending Moves

Wednesday night -- after spending 4 hours driving a tanker around a burned field east of Stanley in the dark -- I realized that by moving to S.Fe I initiated a career ending trifecta:

1. No more software engineering (took one year and good riddance)
2. Failed at robot research (took five years and too bad)
3. Complete disconnect from the art/sci/tech world (took ten years and who cares) 

In order to cement #3 above I have written a second-opinion review of  The Due Return, S.Fe's Summer Rave Installation: Lost in Space-Time -- A D-Ticket Ride. I'll never work in this town again.

In trade I have met a few [emphasis added] new and lovely friends, gained a food-snob rabbit companion, and become a volunteer fire-fighter. In the summer when the wind is not howling it sometimes seems worth it.