I need some help!

I work for an organization with a little over 300 employees housed in 2 large buildings. There have been a lot of complaints regarding internal communications (specifically, the lack thereof).

Budget constraints prohibit the hiring of a new person to work on internal staff communications, yet something is needed to keep everyone apprised of events that are going on, projects and programs people are working towards, etc.

Does anyone work for a company, association, government agency that employs a simple notification system? What do you do to keep everyone informed? How is information collected? How is it distributed? Does anyone know of any online tools that might give me ideas?

All suggestions are greatly appreciated. Everything I’ve come up with is too time-consuming.

Deadlines

In my real job, I’m fairly good about meeting deadlines. I mean, in the world of 24/7 news when everyone wants everything yesterday, you kind of have to be (unless you want to get fired).

And then there are my *other* deadlines.

I joined this one social group to meet some new friendly singles (everyone turned out to be over 45, married or divorced w/kids and expects ME to bring in the under 35 crowd to the group – that so backfired) and to score complementary (FREE) tickets to the inaugural ball of our future democratic President in 2004 (a would-be grand total savings of about $500).

In exchange for those perceived benefits, I volunteered to layout the monthly newsletter. Which, of course, has turned into the biggest hassle ever.

But I can’t get myself to tell them exactly where to go the next time they have an editorial change. They’re all older, and lonely, with way too much free time on their hands and well versed in laying “le guilt trip.” Of course, the stories provide endless entertainment for my friends late night over drinks.

So here’s my point – I was supposed to get the review draft into the head honcho on Friday morning. It’s Monday evening and I haven’t started putting it together yet. Am I trying to get them to fire me so I don’t have to tell them to find some other sucker to lay out the newsletter? (BTW – ditto goes for the group’s non-existent website that has a launch date of September).

And this isn’t the first time…. I’ll learn about some new group that needs help, get really excited about what I think I’ll eventually get in return. I’ll contact them and ingratiate myself with the group’s leaders, getting them to depend on me in exchange for *something* (like free tickets or meeting hot rugby players). Then my interest wanes as more attractive offers compete for my time. And finally instead of quitting like a grown-up, I do something (like miss deadlines) to get them to replace me with someone less devious and more dependable.

(sigh)

How old am I?

Facelifts

And today seems to be redesign day on the web. Check out the new looks of Spoonfed and Corn Smut.

Who ARE these people?

This post is compliments of Jolichat. Can anything be more disturbing?

I’m on deadline but promise to post more later.

What do you know?

Today’s current events quiz is brought to you by The Week.

I scored 8 out of 10 – maybe better luck next week.

A Rant

I’ve been blessed with good health, support and love from friends and family, and a fullfilling and challenging career. I’m far from perfect but try to live by the Golden Rule, “Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you.”

But there are days when I sit back and wonder what kind of crazy world I’ve been dumped in.

The President of the United States (Leader of the Free World) is paid an annual salary of $200,000 and change. Kobe Bryant, professional basketball player, makes approximately $13 million a year including endorsements.

On one hand you have reporters like David Bloom, who go the extra mile to make sure the real story reaches the American public. On the other hand, you have Jayson Blair, Stephen Glass, Ruth Shalit, Mike Barnicle, among other plagiarizing journos who are already back to work, making up sources and amusing themselves by lifting brilliant copy and calling it their own.

The poverty rate is up with almost 33 million Americans making less than $15,000 a year; unemployment has risen to 6.1%; there’s a war in Iraq – one of over two dozen hotspots around the globe – with American soldiers being shot on a daily basis for trying to bring some semblance of order to the Iraquis chaotic lives; not to mention terrorists full of hate and loathing for the western way of life who would like nothing more than to incinerate all of North America.

Meanwhile, Americans continue to sit in front of tv sets watching countless hours of “Reality Shows.” Kids graduate to higher levels of wonderful games like “Grand Theft Auto” while their health goes down the toilet everytime they consume a Big Mac or pizza or gallons of soda.

Meanwhile, only 60% of US citizens vote – and that figure was from the Presidential election of 2000 (which always draws a higher turnout) and not the last election in 2002 – but everyone gets their pants in a bunch when the politicians start screwing with their lives. If you didn’t vote, you have no right to criticize the job that’s being done now.

I watch good people struggle to make ends meet while individuals completely void of character reap in the wealth. Sports heros and actors are held in higher regard than the public servants in office. The answer to every conflict is to grab an attorney and haul someone (anyone) into court.

It makes me sad.

This is really pissing me off

NOW, Jayson Blair is handling coveted assignments from Esquire and Jane.

Where’s the irony? This in from the New York Post…….

“He’ll be reviewing the new Stephen Glass movie for Esquire and writing about workplace pressures for Jane.”

Why am I so offended? Why are publications employing these liars?

I’m pissed because it makes my job so much more difficult. If Joe Public starts reading everything with a grain of salt, then what’s to stop a reporter from slacking off (because there’s no penalty for getting the record wrong anyway)? What will happen if they stop going that extra mile to verify facts, or contact the source, or publish an accurate quote?

It’s like passing out liquor at an AA meeting

Why did Rolling Stone assign Stephen Glass to write a story?

See plagiarism rants on Blair and Blair.

Amorphophallus Titanum

I’m all with James on this one. WHY would anyone in their right mind voluntarily subject themselves to something that smells like rotting flesh?


A group of my colleagues are making their way to the Botanic Garden to wait in line and experience this phenomenon. To that I say, “Better you than me.”