OK, for about two days now we have had the “pleasure” of spending time with a management consultant firm that is supposed to help us in terms our focus and productivity.  Well I have to say, for the first part of yesterday I found myself struggling just to stay awake let alone trying to decipher that ridiculously annoying “consultant speak!”

I have heard from several sources that this is norm as far as consultants go, and to be honest I pretty much thought it was an old wives tale but “partie deux” did not disappoint!  To give you an example of the nonsense, the guy today kept referring to ridiculous acronyms such as: TOTB (think outside the box) and DM (daily milestone).  Now it is not like these phrases are difficult to comprehend or pronounce for that matter, which begs the question just why the heck do they have to come up with such silly acronym’s
in the first place!

Perhaps I’m overacting here, but I’m a scientist (well I would like to think so!) and really have no time for such time wasting, after all, for all of us in the team our work is research base, and it’s bad enough when your original hypothesis turns out to be incorrect without some fresh out of business school graduate putting on the additional pressure of requiring me to learn a new language just to be productive, give me a break here!

I don’t want to give the impression that I’m annoyed or anything, actually I’m more amused by such daftness.  On the other hand, I might try to get a job doing this stuff as I’m told they get paid pretty well, and I could come up with a few “catch” phrases myself! 

Plain English please!

 This evening I was confounded by the fact that a charity that purports to support Palestinian children made us aware of their presence, with their request for money.

Normally my personal care attendant (PCA) Rebecca just chases them away, but I was intrigued with this particular charity and dispensing with my normal “modus operandi” on issues as such and against my better judgment I invited them in to explain what they do, and more importantly how the money is spend.

Well, the guy proceeded to explain to me, and I’m being very generous here in my use of the term “explain!”  This guy had the audacity to tell me and I quote: A donation here will help support children in Palestine whom are victims of Israel’s brutality and State sanctioned violence against innocent!”  For a moment to borrow a phrase from former Sectary of State Colin Powell – “I thought I was going to have an aneurysm!” I’m still shaking my head at the mere recollection with the solace that can now be found through my laughter at such nonsense.

I honestly can’t believe that people could honestly believe that the State of Israel actually goes out of its way to try cause harm to innocent civilians.  Believe me, I am under no illusion that actions that Israel take leads to innocents civilians being harmed or killed in their defence of the state.  What I find totally repugnant is the belief that somehow Palestinians are victims of Israel with intent, while unabashedly overlooking the striking fact that Muslims on Muslim death maiming and destruction accounts for the majority of these incidents.

With the risk of sounding superfluous, you can be assured that I did not give once penny away, and while the notion of trying to understand where this guy was coming from philosophically was an interesting proposition, I figure it was not worth the energy, to even contemplate entering into a discussion.  I mean, I know I’m Jewish and have a predilection to defend and support Israel, I am not however totally oblivious to common sense and facts.

Sometimes it pays to listen to your parents, ok most of the times!  I decided in my “wisdom” to support England in the world cup football, going against my dad (German American) and to the horror of my mom (she was supporting team USA).  Well needless to say, a couple of drinks and a hangover later, my first pick has just fizzled out of the championship.

Much too my horror on Saturday, I found a nice pub in London to watch the game with some friends, and I was so utterly disappointed with the performance of the British team. I mean between David Beckham’s injury Owen pulling a “sickie”, ok his was real, and leftover team doing what could only be described as “going through the motions” We lost to Portugal on a Penalty shootout!  Well all I can say is that it’s now down to Germany tomorrow in the match against Italy – this time I will support the Germans!  Honestly! At least the weather here is just great!