Food Day

Once again, today was Food Day at work.  What is Food Day?  Multiple departments typically agree on a day for each person to bring in one item.   So we're talking 15-25 people, at least.  We arrive to Starbucks coffee, Panera bagels, donuts (from me), brownies (for breakfast), etc etc...  

And then around 11, lunch setup begins with fried chicken, various dips and vegetable plates, more brownies, pasta salads, multiple soft drinks and the list goes on. 

At both my current and previous employer the situation was the same - so it's not a company culture thing.

Depsite the plethora of food, I still bring my standard sandwich, yogurt, apple and diet coke.  I just skipped the chocolate bar.   Call me a creature of habit, but I prefer a reasonably consistent healthy meal.

Here's the interesting part, for me anyway.   I work with a bunch of very analytical people.   And every time the group is always amazed at the volume of food.   "Oh, there's so much here!  How are we going to eat it all?"   The surprise is what really gets to me.   If you asked any of these people out of context how much food you'd need to feed 25 people (keep in mind we don't burn many calories sitting all day), I would think they'd all agree not everyone would need to bring something.   But this never happens.  There's some unwritten social dynamic at work here.  For some reason, it's never an option to have say 5 of the 25 people bring something on one day for five consecutive Fridays.   Guess what, you could have 4 additional food days without the waste. But for some reason, it's socially unacceptable to indulge if you haven't contributed that particular day. 

Today I brought in a dozen donuts.   By 4pm, there were 4 left and I had eaten 3.    I just don't get it.  

Change Is Coming

It may not come immediately as Obama says, but change is on the way!  It's a good day to be an American - young, old, even a baby.  

Give Blood

I donated blood yesterday for the first time.   It wasn't that bad actually.   I was a bit light headed for a few minutes, but it passed quickly.    

How Much Lower Can We Go?

Who knows what tomorrow will bring in the financial markets.   Reading the quarterly mutual fund section of the Times today seemed so out dated.   Last week alone, the major indices were down about 18%.   And we're down 40% for the year.   In any other situation, an 18% decline is a bad year.   

I was skimming a few stocks that might be worth picking up now, like GE.   The Oracle of Omaha thinks GE is a good deal.   But then again, with the whole market down so severely, I figure there's nothing wrong with simply continuing my buy and hold long term strategy with broad based index funds.   As a friend says, "Scott, we're net buyers."   

Long term, assuming you believe in the Capitalism (with an occasional bail out), stocks have been the best vehicle to beat inflation over the long term.   Otherwise, look for for a big mattress. 

I've added a couple more blog links in the right column.  NPR and PRI is putting out some awfully good programming!

Debate #2

It'll be interesting to see what SNL comes up with this weekend.   The most irritated person in the debate was clearly Tom Brokaw.   Get over the stupid time limits!   Seriously, how can 1 minute be labeled a discussion period?

The First Digital Camera

Here's a link to an interview with the guy who invented the first digital camera. Developed in the 1970's, it was a 0.01 megapixel Kodak.

Where's My Shirt?

On August 29, I ordered a Barack Obama shirt. And it still hasn't arrived! I guess Change takes time...