HYPOCRISY

 Carly Fiorina, a former Hewlett-Packard chief executive left the troubled company with a severance package worth an estimated $21 million to $42 million. Including her severance, she was paid nearly $180 million during her five-year tenure at Hewlett-Packard. After she was forced out, shareholders sued, claiming that the board of directors should have let shareholders decide her severance.

 

Fiorina also bucked the populist tide against lavish corporate salaries by denouncing President Obama’s effort to cap annual pay at $500,000 for leaders of banks taking federal bailout money.

Now this is hypocrisy.  “When somebody makes $40 million a year for failure, we cannot defend that,” Fiorina said. “On the other hand, I believe the solution should be, every CEO‘s pay should be put up for shareholder vote each and every year. Let the shareholders decide.”  This quote was in the Los Angeles Times.

BTW

This all started because I wanted to know what the letters BTW meant on a Business Week summary page on the week’s events.  I thought it meant “Business That Was” or something like that.  Apparently I was wrong.  The most common definition is “by the way.”  I ran across this listing that someone on E-Harmony had posted on their Advice Board who said she received it from someone else.  Thanks to pinz in Canada.  This is her list of acronyms.  Are these the abbreviations used in text messaging?  

@TEOTD At the end of the day
143 I love you
2G2BT Too good to be true
404 I don’t know
4EAE Forever and ever

A

A3 Anytime, anywhere, anyplace
AAF As a matter of fact
AAK Asleep at keyboard
AAMOI As a matter of interest
AAP Always a pleasure
AAR At any rate
AAS Alive and smiling
ACK Acknowledge
ADD Address
ADN Any day now
ADR Address
AEAP As early as possible
AFAIK As far as I know
AFK Away from keyboard
AFPOE A fresh pair of eyes
AIGHT Alright
AISB As it should be
AKA Also known as
ALCON All concerned
AML All my love
AOTA All of the above
ASAP As soon as possible
A/S/L Age/sex/location
ASL

Age/sex/location
AT At your terminal
ATM At the moment
AWOL Away without leaving
AYEC At your earliest convenience
AYOR At your own risk
AYSOS Are you stupid or something
AYTMTB And you’re telling me this because

B

B/F Boyfriend
B4 Before
B4N Bye for now
BAK Back at keyboard
BAU Business as usual
BB Be back
BBIAF Be back in a few
BBIAM Be back in a minute
BBIAS Be back in a sec
BBL Be back later
BBQ Be back quickly
BBS Be back soon
BBT Be back tomorrow
BC Because
BCNU Be seein’ you
BCOS Because
BF Best friend
BDN Big damn number
BFN Bye for now
BG Big grin
BGWM Be gentle with me
BFG Big f***ing grin
BIOYN Blow it out your nose
BLNT Better luck next time
BM&Y Between me and you
BOL Best of luck
BPLM Big person little mind
BRB Be right back
BRT

Be right there
BTA But then again
BTDT Been there, done that
BTW By the way

C
CMIIW Correct me if I’m wrong
CMON Come on
COB Close of business
COS Because
C/P Cross post
CR8 Create
CRB

Come right back
CRBT Crying really big tears
CU See you
CUA See you around
CUL See you later
CUL8R See you later
CWYL Chat with you later
CYA See ya
CYO See you online

D
D/L Download
DL Download
DEGT Don’t even go there
DIKU Do I know you?
DQMOT Don’t quote me on this
DTS Don’t think so
DV8 Deviate

E
EBKAC Error between keyboard and chair
EF4T Effort
EG Evil grin
EMA

E-mail address
EMFBI Excuse me for butting in
EMSG E-mail message
ENUF Enough
EOD End of day
EOM End of message
EVA Ever
EZY Easy

F
F2F Face to face
F2T Free to talk
FBM Fine by me
FC Fingers crossed
FICCL Frankly I couldn’t care a less
FISH First in, still here
FOMCL Falling off my chair laughing
FITB Fill in the blank
FRT

For real though
FWIW For what it’s worth
FYEO For your eyes only
FYI For your information

G
G Grin
G/F Girlfriend
G2CU Good to see you
G2G Got to go
G2R Got to run
G9 Genius
GA Go ahead
GAL Get a life
GB Goodbye
GBU God bless you
GDR Grinning, ducking, and running
GD/R Grinning, ducking, and running
GFI Go for it
GG Gotta Go or Good Game
GIAR Give it a rest
GIGO Garbage in, garbage out
GL Good luck
GL/HF Good luck, have fun
GLNG Good luck next game
GMTA Great minds think alike
GOI Get over it
GOL Giggling out loud
GR8 Great
GR&D Grinning, running and ducking
GT Good try
GTG Got to go
GTRM Going to read mail

H
H&K Hugs & kisses
H2CUS Hope to see you soon
H8 Hate
HAGN Have a good night
HAGO Have a good one
HAND

Have a nice day
HF Have fun
HHIS Head hanging in shame
HOAS Hold on a second
HRU How are you?
HTH Hope this helps
HV Have

I
IAC In any case
IANAL I am not a lawyer
IB I’m back
IB I’m back
IC I see
ICBW It could be worse
IDK I don’t know
IDTS I don’t think so
IDUNNO I don’t know
IG2R I got to run
IIRC If I remember correctly
ILBL8 I’ll be late
ILU I love you
ILY I love you
IM Instant message
IMHO In my humble opinion
IMNSHO In my not so humble opinion
IMO

In my opinion
IMS I am sorry
INAL I’m not a lawyer
IOW In other words
IRL In real life
IRMC I rest my case
IUSS If you say so
IYKWIM If you know what I mean
IYO In your opinion
IYSS If you say so

J
j00r Your
JAC Just a sec
JIC Just in case
JJA Just joking around
JK Just kidding
JMO Just my opinion
JP Just playing

K
K8T Katie
k/b Keyboard
KB Keyboard
KISS Keep it simple, stupid
KIT

Keep in touch
KOC Kiss on cheek
KOTC Kiss on the cheek
KOTL Kiss on the lips
KNIM Know what I mean?

L
l33t Leet, meaning “elite”
L8R Later
LD Later, dude / Long distance
LERK leaving easy reach of keyboard
LMAO Laughing my a** off
LOL Laughing out loud
LTM Laugh to myself
LTNS Long time no see
LYLAS Love you like a sis

M
M8 Mate
MFI Mad for it
MorF Male or female?
MoS Mother over shoulder
MSG Message
MTF More to follow
MTFBWU May the force be with you
MUSM Miss you so much
MYOB Mind your own business

 

 

N
n00b Newbie
N1 Nice one
NBD

No big deal
NE Any
NE1 Anyone
NFM None for me / Not for me
NIMBY Not in my back yard
NLT No later than
NM Nothing much / Never mind
NMH Not much here
NO1 No one
NOYB None of your business
NP No problem
NRN No response/reply necessary
NVM Never mind
NW No way
NW) No way out

O
OIC Oh, I see
OMG Oh my God
OMW On my way
OO Over and out
OOH Out of here
OOTD One of these days
OP On phone
OTB Off to bed
OTL

Out to lunch
OTOH On the other hand
OTT Over the top
OTTOMH Off the top of my head
OTW Off to work
OVA Over

P
PCM Please call me
PDQ Pretty darn quick
PLMK Please let me know
PLS Please
PLZ Please
PM Private Message
PMFI Pardon me for interrupting
PMFJI Pardon me for jumping in
POAHF Put on a happy face
POS Parent over shoulder
PPL People
PROLLY Probably
PRT Party
PRW People/parents are watching
PTL Praise the Lord
PTMM Please tell me more
PXT

Please explain that
PU That stinks!

Q
Q Queue
QIK Quick
QT Cutie

R
RL Real life
RP Role play
RME Rolling my eyes
ROFL Rolling on floor laughing
ROTFL Rolling on the floor laughing
ROTFLUTS Rolling on the floor laughing unable to speak
RSN Real soon now
RTFM Read the f***ing manual
RUOK Are you okay?

S
SAL Such a laugh
SC Stay cool
SETE Smiling Ear-to-Ear
SICNR Sorry, I could not resist
SIG2R Sorry, I got to run
SIS Snickering in silence
SIT Stay in touch
SLAP Sounds like a plan
SMHID Scratching my head in disbelief
SNAFU Situation normal all fouled up
SO Significant other
SOL Sooner or later
SOMY Sick of me yet?
SOTMG Short of time, must go
SPK Speak
SPST Same place, same time
SRY Sorry
SS So sorry
SSDD Same stuff, different day
SSINF So stupid it’s not funny
STR8 Straight
STW Search the Web
SUITM See you in the morning
SUL See you later
SUP

What’s up?
SYL See you later

T
T+ Think positive
TA Thanks a lot
TAFN That’s all for now
TAM Tomorrow a.m.
TBC To be continued
TBD To be determined
TBH To be honest
TC Take care
TGIF Thank God it’s Friday
THX Thanks
THNX Thanks
THNQ Thank-you
TIA Thanks in advance
TIAD Tomorrow is another day
TLK2UL8R Talk to you later
TMB Text me back
TMI

Too much information
TMOT Trust me on this
TMWFI Take my word for it
TNSTAAFL There’s no such thing as a free lunch
TPM Tomorrow p.m.
TPTB The powers that be
TSTB The sooner, the better
TTFN Ta ta for now
TTTT These things take time
TTYL Talk to you later
TTYS Talk to you soon
TU Thank you
TY Thank you
TYT Take your time
TYVM Thank you very much

U
UCMU You crack me up
UGTBK You’ve got to be kidding
UKTR You know that’s right
UL Upload
UR Your / You’re
UV Unpleasant visual
UW You’re welcome

V
VEG Very evil grin
VFM Value for money
VGC Very good condition
VIP Very important person
VM Voice mail
VSF

Very sad face

W
WAM Wait a minute
WAN2TLK Want to talk
WAYF Where are you from?
W/B Write back
WB Welcome back
WC Who cares
WCA Who cares anyway
WIBNI Wouldn’t it be nice if
WDALYIC Who died and left you in charge
WDYK What do you know
WIIFM What’s in it for me?
WISP Winning is so pleasurable
WITW What in the world
WIU Wrap it up
WK Week
WKD Weekend
WRT With regard to
WOMBAT Waste of money, brains and time
WRK Work
WRUD What are you doing?
WTB Wanted to buy
WTF What the f**k
WTG Way

to go
WTH What the heck? or What the hell?
WU? What’s up?
WUCIWUG What you see is what you get
WUF? Where you from?
WWJD What would Jesus do?
WWYC Write when you can
WYLEI When you least expect it
WYSIWYG What you see is what you get

X
X Kiss
XLNT Excellent

Y
YA Your
YBS You’ll be sorry
YCMU You crack me up
YGBKM You’ve got to be kidding me
YKWYCD You know what you can do
YMMV Your mileage may vary
YR Your
YR Yeah right
YRYOCC You’re running your own cookoo clock
YSYD Yeah sure you do
YW You’re welcome

Z
ZZZZ Sleeping (or bored)

 

 

Good luck !!

EARMARKS

According to Take Our Word For It  earmarks were notches clipped out of the ear of a hunting dog pack so that each owner could easily identify his dogs.  OUCH! This would be the equivalent of branding steers in the old west.

  

Earmarks in government are the add-on items by representatives and senators for the projects they want in their district or state.  The President’s Office of Management and Budget has defined this term in similar words.  Let’s face it, some of these expenditure are payments to election contributors, some are fanciful programs that a representative thinks will improve his chances for re-election, and some are just plain payoffs for bribes.  There are also some really good programs that need federal support because the cost is too high for local governments to afford.

 

Examples of worthwhile earmarks are pubic transportation systems, museums, parks, and airport improvements.  To make these expenditures acceptable they are called infrastructure allocations.  Rebuilding the I35 bridge near Minneapolis or the Oakland Bay Bridge over San Francisco Bay would be examples of infrastructure projects that most people would support.

 

 As best as I can determine earmarks amount to 1 to 2 percent of the Federal budget.  Listening to John McCain during the campaign you probably thought they were a major part of government payouts.  They do attract lots of attention.  They are a wonderful diversion from real issues.    

PAY TO PLAY

What a shock!  We need lots of money to run for political office but the people with the money want to be rewarded for their contributions!  The funniest part of this system of American politics is that most people are surprised by all of this.

It’s really a bribe.  We call it Pay to Play because it sounds so much nicer.  New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is just one of many who have been accused of participating in this activity.  Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is being charged with trying to sell a senate seat.  The former mayor of Los Angeles was accused of Pay to Play activities in his run for office and his campaign to keep the San Fernando Valley from separating from the city.  These three people have not been found guilty of any crime.

When it’s a crime then it’s usually called a bribe.   Randy “Duke” Cunningham, the former congressman from the 50th Congressional District for California was found guilty of taking $2.4 million in bribes. Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska was found guilty of failing to report gifts that most of us would call bribes.  Massachusetts State Senator Diane Wilkerson and Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson are two others being charged with accepting bribes.

Campaigns are won with lots of money.  The process goes something like this. “If you will donate money to my campaign I might be able to help you with a city contract.”  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California has been accused of supporting business interests that supported his campaign.  This is no surprise to me.  It has always been this way.  It’s the American way!

CYNICAL

Many of us are suspicious of the motives of other people.  This is particularly true about our view of politicians. Many of us tend to believe that our boss, entertainers, and most politicians have an ulterior motive for their decisions and their words.  In many cases that is true.  When I call you cynical I believe you are on of those suspicious people.

 

We have every reason to be cynical.  So many people have lied to us about many things.  After all former president Bill Clinton said, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms Lewinsky.”  By most interpretations the president lied.

 

Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois appointed former state Attorney General Roland Burris to Barack Obama’s former Senate seat and wants everyone to believe that he has no special motive in that selection.

 
The Big Three auto makers have asked the U.S. government for a bailout loan of $34 million.  They are having a difficult time competing with foreign cars manufacturers.  We ought to be cynical about their ability to resolve their competitive issues without asking for more money.  I am most definitely suspicious about their performance.  Weren’t the CEO of those companies acting cynically (a synonym for contemptuous) when they flew to Washington in separate private jets?

 

 I hold a cynical view of entertainers who appear on the tabloid television shows like “Access Hollywood” and “Entertainment Tonight” and plead for their privacy.  If they really want to keep their lives private they would by not appear on those shows.  There are many who rarely or never appear.  Paris Hilton clearly wanted publicity. 

 

Should we be cynical of most people because we think they have an objective in doing what they do?  No!  There are some people who do for others simply because they feel a moral imperative or they are just plain kind.

PONZI SCHEME

“In a Ponzi scheme, not all investors lose. The first investors gain much. Those who manage to get out in time retain their investments and some of their gains.”
TAMAR FRANKEL, a law professor at Boston University, on the Madoff scandal.

 

A ponzi scheme has also been called a pyramid scheme.  In fact the first item I see when Googling the words ponzi scheme are “pyramid scheme.” The most prevalent that I am familiar with are the multi-level marketing businesses.  Those entering at the top floor convince their friends to buy in to the sales plan. They buy “sales kits” that are filled with product.  Those friends then sell their friends to buy in to the sales plan.  This process goes on and on.  Each person receives a commission for everyone in his network that sells participation.  The problem is that there is very little selling of product outside of the group who keep buying into the sales plan.  Eventually these schemes run out of friends.  Those people at or near the bottom earn relatively little but those at the top of the pyramid have “earned” significant commissions.

 

It has been suggested that Bernard Madoff really did not hold investments that earned 10-12% per year.  I personally do not believe that those kinds of earning are possible on a continuing basis.  Mr. Madoff is accused of paying his clients that return from new money that was invested in his firm.  The scheme worked well as long as redemptions were low and more investors were added to the list of clients.  Declining stock values brought a wave of redemptions that his company was unable to fulfill.  The SIPC and the Securities and Exchange Commission obviously did not monitor the Madoff investment company.  This will likely cost the government significant money.

 

“There’s a sucker born every minute” is an expression that was attributed to P. T. Barnum.  Whether he did way those words I do not know.  ‘A fool and his money are soon parted ‘is an idiom from an unknown source that is probably the definition of someone that falls for a ponzi scheme.

SCAPEGOAT

There are so many people to blame for the economic meltdown.  It’s difficult to know who the real culprits are.  We must find someone or some entity to take the blame.  As you read all the columns of the “experts”, you can take any side you want and find sufficient support for your personal view.

 

With 300 million people in America it’s easy to find blame.  What is hard to do is know whether we are personally part of the problem.  It’s not just the current economic crisis that needs a scapegoat.  We could blame all our problems on someone else.

 

My Dad, may he rest in peace, blamed much of his lack of success in his career on others.  His contention was that he was discriminated against because of his religion.  Many Blacks in America blame their plight on discrimination by White people. 

 

There are ads on radio and television that tell you that you are not to blame for you excessive credit card debt. “It’s not you fault” is what they say.  Well if that debt was caused by being out of work or serious medical bills the ad is correct.  However running up a $40,000 debt as the result of a buying spree is your fault.  Yes, $40,000 was spent by my daughter’s friend who makes herself happy by going shopping.

 

Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem.” The words of Ronald Reagan.  He was using the government as the scapegoat.  President Reagan was the great communicator.  It was a great rallying cry.  He was wrong!

BIGOT

December 20,2008

Item 3. below was edited to provide a clearer understanding.

—

This is a commonly used word when politicians and talk show hosts want cast opponents in the worst possible light.  Most recently it has been used against Sarah Palin.  Blogs like this are very hurtful and are rarely repeated by the mainstream media: “Did Sarah Palin REALLY call Barack Obama “Sambo”?”  No wonder, most of these postings are filled with innuendo and have no basis in fact or are serious distortions.

 

You may ask, Will I know a bigot when I see one?  I have known too many bigots in my life.  One is really too many.  I am Jewish and Jews are subjected to bigotry.  I will re-tell you about a few events I witnessed or was the victim.  There are many more than the four listed below.

 

1. It was 1949 and I was 10 years old.  My parents bought a home in an all White neighborhood in Los Angeles.  At that time all neighborhoods were segregated. The seller, an army colonel, told my father, “You understand that you are not to sell this house to a Nigra.”  I remember those words as if they were spoken yesterday.  “Nigra” is a polite word for “Nigger.”  My father’s face turned paper white.  In a very low voice he responded “Yes.”  I wish he had said “No” and not bought that house.
2. When I was applying for a job at a major aerospace company the interviewer simply asked, “Are you Jewish?”  Surprise! I did not get that job.  Well it was no surprise to me.
3. As a stock room supervisor at a major manufacturer, in a discussion with a company salesman about Thanksgiving, he asked “Do Jews celebrate Thanksgiving?”  My response was “What, aren’t I an American?  What does my religion have to do with celebrating Thanksgiving?” I almost hit him in the face.  I did tell that man to leave the area and never return.
4. The best man at my wedding was not Jewish.  I selected him because we got along so very well.  I met the man in college. We shared an apartment for six months after graduation.  We got together at least once every week.  We shared the trials and tribulations of life.  About 20 years later he started making disparaging remarks about many minorities including Mexicans and Blacks.  I told him that he should stop those remarks on many occasions.  It went on for ten years and then one day he started a barrage of remarks about every minority group.  I asked him his view of Jews and it was all those things you have read and heard.  I told him he was a bigot.  I emailed him the definition of a bigot.  Of course he denied my accusations.  I have not spoken to him since.  To stop a friendship of 30 years was excruciatingly  difficult.

 

From Webster’s New World Dictionary

1  a person who holds blindly and intolerantly to a particular creed, opinion, etc.

2  a narrow-minded, prejudiced person

 

From The American Heritage Dictionary

One who is strongly partial to one’s own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.

WEALTHY

What does it mean to be wealthy?  Is wealth measured only in money and accumulated worldly goods?  Many Americans seem to think so.  After all look at all the expensive cars so many of us drive.  According to Edmunds the Acura TL is listed as the 8^th most popular car.  Edmunds calls it an entry level luxury car.  The BMW 3 Series is the next luxry car on the list and it’s in 14^th place.  Then there are the big houses.  They seem to be everywhere.  My parents never owned a home larger than 1250 square feet.  My own home is about 1700 square feet and that is small by today’s standards.    

 

If we aren’t wealthy many of us want others to think we are.  Some years ago an acquaintance of mine suggested I buy a Thunderbird because I would be “as good as anybody else.”  I didn’t so I guess I failed that test.

 

I have known a few people who seem to be happy with less worldly goods and are focused on just having a good time.  The problem is that having a good time costs money and you have to be somewhat wealthy to do that.  I have a feeling that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is one of those people.  She seems to be happy with Moose burgers and hunting and fishing in the wilds of Alaska. 

 

There are many people who feel wealthy just because they are healthy.  I will have to settle for that.  Oh yes, I do have this old computer that enables me to write this blog.  I feel wealthy for this.  “Count your blessings instead of sheep and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings.”

COWBOY DIPLOMACY

Remember those Western/Cowboy movies and television shows?  They were the rage back in the 1940s 50s and 60s.  My favorite movie of that genre is “How the West Was Won.”  I along with many other loyal viewers watched “Gun Smoke” and “Have Gun Will Travel” every Saturday night on CBS.

 

The basic theme was the same in every one of those TV shows and movies.  It was the good guys against the bad guys.  Every issue was solved by using a gun.  There were no negotiations, no discussion, and no persuasion (except through the use of a gun).  It was the people who could shoot faster and straighter than the others who would win the fight.  Somehow the good guys always won in the end.

 

“Canadian Bat Masterson was one of the most feared and respected “Shooters” of the Old West. He employed a cross-draw pull, and his skill with a hand gun was such that everyone kept theirs holstered with Masterson around.”   

 

“You’re either with us or you’re agin us” was a common line in those old movies.  It sounds a lot like George W. Bush‘s remark, “You’re either with us or you’re with the terrorists.”  It sounded tough and was meant to rally Americans and it did.

 

No doubt there are people who do not understand anything but force. Perhaps Vladimir Putin is one of them.  We should talk first.  Talking is not appeasement.  If the occasion has come to make that decision then the next president of the United States will have a difficult time in office.