Scott: The CD player in our car is dead
Scott: I’m gonna have to bust out the old cassette adaptor for the ipod
KT: we have a radio adaptor
Scott: nice
Scott: does it work well?
KT: sorta
KT: I guess.
Scott: haha
KT: I don’t really pay much attention to it.
Scott: What I want is a super-charged radio adaptor that can override the radio signals in other cars
KT: Interesting…
Scott: So I can inflict what I’m listening to on other people on the road
KT: That’s kind of you
Scott: Some guy’s cruising along, listening to Yanni gets an earful of Metallica
Scott: You know, or the other way around. Whichever
KT: Whichev.
Scott: Maybe I should just mount a big speaker to the top of our car instead
Scott: that would be easier
Scott: Shouting at people the whole way
Scott: HEY YOU IN THE DATSUN
Scott: YOU’RE UGLY
Scott: EXCUSE ME
Scott: DO YOU HAVE ANY GREY POUPON?
KT: That would probably be acceptable.
Scott: LIFE IS A HIGHWAY AND I WANNA RIDE IT
Scott: ALL
Scott: NIGHT
Scott: LONG
KT: hahahhahahaha
KT: that’s hilarious.
Scott: No musical accompanyment
Scott: It’s just me out there
Scott: yelling
KT: you’re the best
Scott: Well, I have a gift, and I think it’s important that I share it with the world
Scott: at high volumes
Scott: and higher speeds

I have been working as a nanny to make money. The two little baby girls are 3 months and 18 months old. The older one is just starting to say words, so I ask her questions like, “Do you think Catholic priests should be allowed to marry?” and she shrieks and pokes me in the eye and says hi, which I find to be a profound answer and commentary on the state of the Catholic church. The younger one cannot talk yet, so we just go out drinking together to avoid awkward pauses, or we ride dirt bikes. Her motor control isn’t great, so I worry about her steering and braking abilities, but she has been doing alright so I will probably let her try some jumps soon.
– Leighton Davis

In an episode of “Star Trek” (maybe you remember it), the senior offices of the Enterprise were contaminated by low-level radiation from a comet, which caused them to age rapidly and prematurely. Fourty-five minutes into the program, Kirk, Spock, Bones and Scotty had aged to the point that they could no longer carry out their duties. They were confined to the sick bay while the crew feverishly sought an antidote.

The situation was pretty bleak, and grew worse. While upper management was thus incapacitated, the Romulans attacked.

Remember the scene on the bridge? Sulu, Uhura and the other remaining officers nervously looking at each other while the force field screens were taking a pounding. Nobody knew quite what to do. Then, just in a nick of time, an antidote–adrenaline–was found in the sick bay, and the senior officers were back in action.

Maybe you remember the feeling of relief as the door to the bridge swished open, and there was Captain Kirk, young again and ready to take charge. I cheered. Within minutes, the Romulans were no longer a problem. No question about it: James T. Kirk knew how to handle a Romulan attack. What a manager! Or was he?

Years later, when I became a business consultant, I remembered this “Star Trek” episode and began to have nagging doubts about Captain Kirk’s management style. Why didn’t other officers know what to do during a Romulan attack? It seems that Enterprise, Inc. had a few problems developing the skills and responsibilities of middle management.

…The episodes of “Star Trek” were usually designed to leave the viewer pondering questions of morality or ethics. In that spirit, I’d like to leave you with a question to think about. What would happen if you were on vacation and Romulans attacked your company?
– excerpt from Dinosaur Brains by Albert J. Bernstein