Slackers

[Eagle43]

Just saw CBS SUNDAY MORNING item about slackers.*

This type of program usually is promoting a book and this one was no different.* It interviewed: Tom Lutz author of "Doing Nothing: A History of Loafers, Loungers, Slackers, and Bums in America, whose son was a slacker and inspired the book.

Did an interview with a couple of surfers, who seem to embody the term.*

They did mention that the average worker dithers away about two hours daily, surfing the internet and socializing.* Some hard workers resented the slackers while others envied them.*

Here's a quote I liked:* "I do think that there's (an) enormous amount of energy spent looking busy in the average workplace. I can work all of the time, and I think if everybody in the country played as much computer solitaire as I do, the world would grind to a halt," Lutz says. BTW: It turns out that Lutz himself was a slacker during the Hippie era.

I looked for NORDS during the entire program, but alas, nowhere to be seen.* Must have been slacking er surfing.*

[maddythebeagle]

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I looked for NORDS during the entire program, but alas, nowhere to be seen. Must have been slacking er surfing.

I saw it and was thinking the same thing.....

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle43 I looked for NORDS during the entire program, but alas, nowhere to be seen.* Must have been slacking er surfing.*

Well, if they'd seen the surf that I've seen during the last couple weeks then the entire project would've been postponed... that book's on my reading list. I'm just waiting for the library to get their copy in.

I have fitness reports praising me as a "hard-charging, goal-oriented taskmaster" with "early flag potential" (those used to be considered good things).* Now I'm described as Doonesbury's "Ol' Surfer Dude".* The stereotypical implication is that, just because we're surfers, somehow we've discarded all our energy & initiative to emulate Spicoli*.

The reality is that dedicating one's attention to surfing requires an even higher degree of organization, effective time management, and productivity.* When I read the surf forecast at 5 AM and discover that I must spend the next three mornings in the water, then I'd better be caught up on honey-dos, family chores, the stock market, and anything else that can't wait.* I'd better have strong shoulder muscles and good legs.* The consequences of begging, pleading, & groveling* family abandonment* spaghetti arms missing epic gnarly curls would just be too severe.

By no means will I ever be in anyone's surf video with longboard lip-smashing helicopters.* But last week, in a surprising confluence of coincidences that may never be repeated, I managed to turn a late takeoff into an off-the-lip elevator ride that was followed by a bottom turn and another frothy cutback before cruising all the way to the beach and hopping off into the shorebreak with a "Yeah, I meant to do that" smile at the crowd.* It's taken me four years to get to that point.* I'd surf for another decade just to recapture that feeling.

So I sympathize with the term "slacker".* Maybe it's because this generation is discovering that there are more important things in life... just like us Boomers did in the '60s.

*Sean Penn's character in the movie "Fast Times At Ridgemont High", one of America's first & still foremost slackers.

[kcowan]

I prefer to use the term "taking a break from gainful employment" to ER. I also use the term part-time portfolio manager. But I feel like a slacker compared to Nords. My idea of outdoor activity is hiking up a mountain, biking or playing bocce in the park by the ocean. Nothing like the physical endurance just described...

[bow-tie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle43 Just saw CBS SUNDAY MORNING item about slackers.* ..."I do think that there's (an) enormous amount of energy spent looking busy in the average workplace...

Now THAT would be worth some in-depth study.* - - > The amount of energy expended to LOOK THE PART of being busy.

The best quote that I ever heard from Ronald Reagan was:

"Hard work never killed anyone, but why take the chance"

[Scrooge]

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Originally Posted by Cut-Throat The best quote that I ever heard from Ronald Reagan was: "Hard work never killed anyone, but why take the chance"

As far as I know (and I can see at least 4 googlebooks that concur), the first person to formulate this important principle was Edgar Bergen

[Nords]

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Originally Posted by Cut-Throat The best quote that I ever heard from Ronald Reagan was:

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Originally Posted by Scrooge As far as I know (and I can see at least 4 googlebooks that concur), the first person to formulate this important principle was Edgar Bergen

Yeah, but which one was the ventriloquist and which was the dummy?

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Originally Posted by Scrooge As far as I know (and I can see at least 4 googlebooks that concur), the first person to formulate this important principle was Edgar Bergen

You're probably right and that is not the only instance where
Reagan took credit for something he didn't do!

[Scrooge]

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Originally Posted by Cut-Throat You're probably right and that is not the only instance where Reagan took credit for something he didn't do!

Hey, Reagan was an actor and a politician by trade, reading scripts written by other people is what they do! 8)

[2B]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle43 Just saw [url=http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/sunday/main3445.shtml]They did mention that the average worker dithers away about two hours daily, surfing the internet and socializing.* Some hard workers resented the slackers while others envied them.* Here's a quote I liked:* "I do think that there's (an) enormous amount of energy spent looking busy in the average workplace. I can work all of the time, and I think if everybody in the country played as much computer solitaire as I do, the world would grind to a halt," Lutz says.* BTW:* It turns out that Lutz himself was a slacker during the Hippie era.

I goof off far more than 2 hours per day and I'm frequently complimented on how much I produce. Every time I hear that I do about an hour less. Pretty soon I won't have any time to actually work at work. I got a "competitive equalization raise" today so I won't spend less time being productive for someone else. If I went somewhere else I'd feel obligated to be production for 5 or 6 hours a day until I could recalibrate.

BTW -- My paid vacation time was increased last month, not that it kept me from taking off unpaid time before then.

[Eagle43]

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Originally Posted by Cut-Throat You're probably right and that is not the only instance where Reagan took credit for something he didn't do!

Yeah, he really didn't invent the internet.* Oh wait, that was Algore.*

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Originally Posted by Eagle43 Yeah, he really didn't invent the internet. Oh wait, that was Algore.

Actually if this was funny (which it isn't), it would not matter what the truth is. But this has been told so many times by the right-wing nuts, that most folks think it's actually true, which it isn't. Kinda like the 'Swiftboat veterans for Truth' - A complete Lie.

So if you are really interested in what the truth is, you can check out this link.

From the link:

In May 2005, the organizers of the Webby Awards for online achievements honored Al Gore with a lifetime achievement award for three decades of contributions to the Internet. "He is indeed due some thanks and consideration for his early contributions," said Vint Cerf.


http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp

[Eagle43]

http://www.gargaro.com/algore.html

Gore and the Internet
"During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet" Gore said when asked to cite accomplishments that separate him from another Democratic presidential hopeful, former Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey, during an interview with Wolf Blitzer on CNN on March 9, 1999.
Gore supported technological advances related to the advancement of the Internet, but to say that HE took the initiative in creating the Internet is a bit much.
(Sources: Transcript http://www.wired.com/news/news/polit...ory/18390.html )
(Note: Lots of people seem to enjoy e-mailing me, professing that my information about Gore saying he "invented" the Internet is wrong, that he did support things which helped get the Internet moving, etc. First, I know he never said he "invented" the Internet. Please notice the quote above. Second, saying that he took the initiative in CREATING the Internet is still a funny statement since the Internet was already created and being used (ex: file copying via the UUCP protocol and e-mail) by the time he was elected to Congress. One can't take the "initiative" to "create" something which has already been created.)

while we're at it, the tobacco hypocrisy:

Gore loves tobacco.
"Throughout most of my life, I raised tobacco. I want you to know that with my own hands, all of my life, I put it in the plant beds and transferred it. I've hoed it. I've dug in it. I've sprayed it, I've chopped it, I've shredded it, spiked it, put it in the barn and stripped it and sold it.
(Source: [New York] Newsday, 2/26/88

Oh wait.. I didn't mean that...
"Sometimes, you never fully face up to things that you ought to face up to." -- Al Gore, discussing why he accepted checks from his family tobacco farm and contributions from tobacco companies for years after the tragic death of his sister that he spoke about so emotionally at the 1996 Democratic convention.
(Source: "'Numbness' Let Gore Accept Tobacco Help," San Francisco Chronicle, August 30, 1996)

This man is wooden, deliberately misleading, sanctimonious and utterly unbelievable.* But, thanks to 5-4, he's not president and never will be.*

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First, I know he never said he "invented" the Internet.

Thank you!

[rs0460a]

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Originally Posted by Eagle43 http://www.gargaro.com/algore.html Gore and the Internet "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet" Gore said

Well, it's published that it's an outcome of work done at CERN:

http://public.web.cern.ch/Public/Con...ements-en.html

[youbet]

Let's not underestimate Al's ability to sell himself to his followers. *He did successfully sell them on the idea that he "took the initiative in creating the Internet." *That had to be at least as hard as a certain religious prophet selling the idea that he was/is the son of god and would lead his followers to grace and eternal life.

A "tip of the hat" to Al, a good ole tobacco growing southern boy who has made quite a splash and developed a cult following equal in zeal, if not numbers, to a major religion.