Since retiring almost three years ago, I have been watching CNBC’s ‘Nightly Business Report’ on PBS. I was disappointed to see that the December 27 installment marked the end of the program.
I assume CNBC thinks this will get more people watching their cable network, but I won’t be one of them. Oh, well, there’s still ‘Marketplace’ on NPR… I hope.
In my view there are two ways for a working person to think about a routine task they have done countless times. One way is to become bored and careless. The other way is to use the repetitive nature of the work as a way to spot inconsistencies, even tiny things that are out of the ordinary, and use that insight to fix, and preferably prevent, problems. It’s the moment of thinking to yourself, “Hey, wait a second, that doesn’t look right.”
Unfortunately, many people take the former approach, which is why tasks that are based on a fixed routine, and are repeated every day, can and do go wrong. Like renewing my medical plan, for example. Will my coverage, with its $1234.25 monthly premium, be effective as of January 1, or will it be associated with the incorrect member ID that was assigned to me by mistake? I have been told there is no way to know until after a monthly database update has been completed on January 3, which means I’d better not need to see a doctor tomorrow or Thursday. Gee, I wonder if anything ever goes wrong with database updates for third-party billing systems?
A Neil Innes Bonzo tune will cheer me up.
As I predicted, back on Inauguration Day, Trump is being impeached.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Impeachment charges against President Donald Trump went to the full House on Friday, following approval by the House Judiciary Committee.
The House is expected to take up the two articles of impeachment next week.
Republicans say that Democrats have wanted Trump impeached since election day, but the real problem is a zebra can’t change its strips. Or, in this context, Donald can’t help being Donald, making impeachment inevitable.
Only a month into his Presidency, Trump said, “Nobody knew health care could be so complicated.” By itself, that one statement was proof he wasn’t competent to hold office; but it’s corruption, not incompetence, that leads to impeachment.
Trump’s abuse of power has been clearly established in the House. Republicans in the Senate won’t convict him, but I suspect it will be to their everlasting shame, once the full extent of Trump’s toxic presidency is revealed.
I’m home from a drive to Boston. Massachusetts is contemplating a law that would ban drivers from using hand-held devices. Texting is already banned. Today was typical of what I see on the road, with many drivers holding and glancing at their smartphones. Based on my observations, made not only while driving but when running, I would say that 75% of the offenders are women.
The lady in the late-model Cadillac Escalade I saw a few minutes ago had one hand on the wheel, her phone in the other hand. She was paying attention to her phone as much as she was keeping her eyes on the road. Her car undoubtedly has Bluetooth integration with voice command. Heck, my late father’s base model 2014 Kia Soul had that feature, and I used it.
That woman apparently hasn’t gone to the trouble to figure out how to use Bluetooth. If a strong law is passed — and enforced — people like her in MA will get ticketed and have an incentive to learn how to take full technical advantage of their phones. For those who insist on texting and browsing the Internet, they should give up driving and use Uber, or wait until self-driving cars are a practical reality.
Trump thinks he’s superhuman, but he isn’t winning, he’s spinning, and all he’s succeeding in doing is trapping himself. I recall seeing something about that from a long time ago.
Batman’s right. Let’s not interfere with the process!
