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Friday, April 29, 2016

THE DUMBING DOWN OF MEN

BRYCE ON SOCIETY

- But what purpose does it serve?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

My wife recently made the observation men are being portrayed as idiots on television, a phenomenon that seems to be occurring more and more. I hadn't considered it before, but I believe she is right. I think both television and movies are depicting men as fools and Neanderthals.

You see this in several television ads, particularly in the insurance field, such as the wife in the "Jake from State Farm" ad who falsely accuses the husband of having a relationship with another woman.

In other State Farm ads, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has to deal with an obnoxious cheesehead fan obsessed with "Discount Double Check." He also consoles an NFL referee who had made some unfortunate comments while his mic was left on during a game.

State Farm is not alone. Liberty Mutual features a couple where the wife corrects the husband. Also, Flo from Progressive Insurance often corrects incompetent men.

I know this is all meant to be humorous, but you'll notice women are never characterized in this manner. No, it's men, be it black or white. This is happening so frequently, you cannot help but believe it is premeditated, that someone has an agenda to emasculate men. Maybe it's spearheaded by angry feminists who want to be in charge of the world.

Back when I was in college and studying Radio-TV, we learned nothing appears in an ad by accident, everything is done for a specific purpose, either to attract more viewers or send a subliminal message. To illustrate, there was the old Ajax ad featuring a white knight on horseback shooting his lance at people with the jingle "stronger than dirt." The ad series was finally pulled from the air when people discovered the lance was a phallic symbol. There was also the "Honeycomb Kid" who was allegedly driving "6 white horses"; in reality, there were only four horses which the kids were quick to point out to their parents (and increase sales). So, everything has a purpose in advertising, there are no accidents, and quite often, its more than just selling a product or service.

Humor is one thing, devising a subliminal message is quite another. Thanks to Hollywood, what we are witnessing today is the dumbing down of men in America. Gee, this couldn't possibly be related to Hillary Clinton's campaign for president, could it? Hmm...

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  APPRECIATING SALESMANSHIP - How the little guys can win the business away from the mega stores.

LAST TIME:  WATCHING THE CLOCK - Do we watch the clock or the work product we're producing?

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern); WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

WHAT IF TRUMP LOSES TO THE ESTABLISHMENT?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Is it the end of the GOP as we know it?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Let's suppose for a moment that Donald Trump lost the Republican nomination to someone else, be it one of the former nominees or an opportunist such as Mitt Romney. By doing so, it will represent the end of the Republican Party as we know it and the birth of a new political party. It would also mean at least four more years of Democratic rule including more social engineering, and continued decay in American Exceptionalism. To people weary of government incompetence and gridlock, this will be unfathomable.

Businessman Donald Trump is being surrounded and attacked by the Washington Triad, representing politicians, lobbyists, and the press, an incestuous relationship more concerned with money and control, than doing what is best for the American people. To the Triad, an outsider like Mr. Trump is perceived as a genuine threat to this lucrative arrangement. Consequently, he is vilified and constantly under attack by the Triad.

Now we add the GOP establishment, members of Trump's own party who seem to be plotting a coup d'état even if Trump wins the delegate count by the time of the Republican convention in July, now less than four months away. Should Trump make it to Cleveland with less than the required number of delegates (1,237), the nomination will surely be wrestled away from him even if he has the most delegates. If he doesn't have it by then, Trump will have to negotiate a deal with one of the candidates who possess delegates to push him over the top, such as Sen. Cruz, Sen. Rubio, or Gov. Kasich. This is difficult to imagine as there are strained relations between Trump and the other nominees.

The Cruz/Rubio/Kasich grouping will attempt to rally into a coalition of some kind, but even if they are successful, it is unlikely they will have the necessary delegates to win the nomination. One of them will likely split away and negotiate a deal with Trump. My guess is, it will be Gov. Kasich.

If none of the current candidates win, and the party selects a dark horse like Mitt Romney, who has already lost two campaigns for president, the GOP will have committed suicide and will never rise again. This is why either Trump or the coalition must win.

The GOP has to maneuver around this problem delicately. Frankly, it's not certain party chairman Reince Priebus is up to the task, and his political legacy depends on whether or not he can keep the party together. It is disheartening the party gives the appearance they would rather be governed by the elders of the GOP as opposed to the will of the voters. This is a common phenomenon in the 21st century where nonprofit institutions are ruled by power hungry people as opposed to bending to the will of their constituents. Its all about money and control, and you see it everywhere.

A change to the corporate culture scares the hell out of people, be it in a corporation or nonprofit. Personally, I made a lot of enemies over the years as I challenged the Good Old Boy networks. Not surprising, they went after me much like they are going after Trump.

Mr. Trump is changing the corporate culture of the Republican Party by taking a tough no-nonsense, business approach to his campaign, something American voters have not seen in quite some time. The Triad paints him as an ogre but his supporters appreciate his candor and bluntness, thereby causing the Republican ranks to swell.

What we are witnessing with Mr. Trump today is essentially no different than what occurred in the early 1800's with President Andrew Jackson who transformed the Democratic Party by giving the power to populists. Trump is doing the same to the GOP, and party officials do not like it as this is a threat to their authority.

Here is the simple reality the GOP establishment has to come to grips with; if Donald Trump wins the nomination the party will stay together and could very well capture the White House. However, if Trump is not the nominee, the party will implode and likely never come back, ever. It's that simple.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  THE DUMBING DOWN OF MEN - But what purpose does it serve?

LAST TIME:  WATCHING THE CLOCK - Do we watch the clock or the work product we're producing?

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern); WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Monday, April 25, 2016

WATCHING THE CLOCK

BRYCE ON MANAGEMENT

- Do we watch the clock or the work product we're producing?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

I don't wear a wristwatch anymore and, frankly, don't really miss it. I never really liked wearing one and now consider it more of a status symbol as opposed to something practical for me to wear. When I need to know the time, I can get it from a number of places, such as my computer, cell phone, or in the car. I still manage to make appointments and am considered rather punctual. Other than a scheduled meeting, I am not very cognizant of time during the day other than knowing it is either morning, afternoon or evening. I tend to be more consumed with what I am working on as opposed to watching the clock which I think runs contrary to a lot of people today.

When I joined the workforce, it was made clear to me to concentrate on getting the job done, regardless of how much time it took. True, there were established hours of work which, in our case, was 8:30am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, but I don't ever remember working such hours. You came in early, you stayed late, and coming in to work over the weekend was never considered unusual. This was the price you paid for being an exempt employee. I found I was not alone or unique in this regard. The many companies I visited on consulting assignments, both near and far, also had people who worked the same as I did. Maybe it was a generational thing.

Recently, I overheard a young worker lament to a friend how he had worked 50 hours for the week and was upset his boss asked him to come in over the weekend to finish an assignment. He was quite outraged by all of this. I just chuckled as I cannot remember the last time I only worked 50 hours in a normal work week.

I tend to believe exempt workers in this country are now more concerned with the amount of time they spend at work as opposed to what they produce. This signals a shift in our priorities and values. I realize we should be cognizant of both time and our work products, particularly for project management purposes, but if it is a choice between watching the clock and putting my name on something I produce, I will concentrate on the latter and not the former, at least that's how I was trained to think as I entered the workforce. Over the last few decades though we have sacrificed craftsmanship for bean counting, and our perspectives have changed as a result.

To me, watching the clock means someone is not truly interested in his job; it is laborious and uninteresting. Conversely, not watching the clock and putting in extra time means a person is committed to his craft. In other words, the employee is taking his work seriously and considers it a natural extension of his personality. This is where our personal lives and professional lives become blurred and indistinguishable. This is hard for those who exclaim "Thank God it's Friday!" on Facebook to understand. Workers nowadays tend to carefully delineate their personal and professional lives and keep them separated. To me, they are indistinguishable. Then again, this is not the first time I've been accused of being old-fashioned, and certainly not the last.

I am not so much concerned about keeping the boss happy as I am about producing something of value and quality. It is called "pride in workmanship," something we traded in for wristwatches and other such status symbols a few years ago.

Originally published: February 16, 2011

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  WHAT IF TRUMP LOSES TO THE ESTABLISHMENT? - Is it the end of the GOP as we know it?

LAST TIME:  BRYCE AMERICAN HISTORY QUIZ - And the results are in...Just how well do we know our own country?

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern); WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Friday, April 22, 2016

BRYCE AMERICAN HISTORY QUIZ

BRYCE ON HISTORY

- And the results are in...Just how well do we know our own country?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Sometime ago, I asked my blog readers to take a simple quiz regarding American government and history. I wanted to see just how well we knew some of the basics, such as our governing docs and some historical events. Nothing elaborate, I just wanted to take a pulse of our knowledge in general. 134 brave souls took the quiz for which I give my thanks. I didn't want the quiz to be complicated which is why I tried to keep it as simple as possible. I could have asked for such things as age and political party affiliation, but I didn't want to muddy the waters and turn people off.

Out of those who took the test, probably 25 people got a perfect score. I was not surprised by this as I didn't try to invent a complicated quiz, just something that could give us some fundamental idea of what we know and what we don't.

The quiz was far from scientific, yet I believe I can draw some conclusions from it based on the input. But first, let's review the responses to each question. I'll show both the number of responses and the percentage of the total, followed by my comments.

PLEASE ANSWER ALL 10 QUESTIONS - AMERICAN CITIZENS ONLY

1. Signed in 1620, it is the first governing document of Plymouth Colony as written by the colonists, later known to history as the Pilgrims. It was in essence a social contract in which the settlers consented to follow the document's rules and regulations for the sake of survival.

22 - 17% - Magna Carta
92 - 69% - Mayflower Compact (CORRECT)
06 - 04% - Pilgrim Declaration
12 - 09% - Plymouth Compact
02 - 01% - Standish Consent and Decree

Comment: I considered this a tricky question as most people are unaware of any American history prior to 1776. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many people got it right. Those that answered "Magna Carta" disappointed me; even though it is an important document that influenced others, it was still developed in England, not America. I consider it significant that people recognized its name though. By the way, the last three, Pilgrim Declaration, Plymouth Compact, and Standish Consent and Degree were figments of my imagination.

2. How many "separate but equal" branches are there in the U.S. Federal Government?

000 - 00% - 1
002 - 01% - 2
131 - 98% - 3 (CORRECT)
001 - 01% - 4
000 - 00% - 50

Comment: People may have gotten other parts of the quiz wrong, but somehow the concept of "three separate but equal branches of government" representing the checks and balances of government has been successfully stamped into our brains. Only three people missed this.

3. What is the following quote from?
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

27 - 20% - Bill of Rights
94 - 70% - Declaration of Independence (CORRECT)
06 - 05% - Gettysburg Address
00 - 00% - Oath of Office
07 - 05% - US Constitution

Comment: The lion's share of answers went correctly to the Declaration of Independence, but I was surprised to see how many people picked the Bill of Rights. As an aside, many of us had to memorize this section of the Declaration in elementary school.

4. Which U.S. President was NOT impeached?

34 - 25% - Bill Clinton
20 - 15% - Andrew Johnson
80 - 60% - Richard Nixon (CORRECT)

Comment: I expected this kind of response to the question. Richard Nixon resigned before impeachment proceedings could begin. The other two were impeached, meaning to hold trial in the Senate, yet were found not guilty. No U.S. President has ever been forcibly removed from office through peaceful means (assassination is another matter altogether).

5. What is the following quote from?
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,..."

04 - 03% - Bill of Rights
32 - 24% - Declaration of Independence
02 - 01% - Gettysburg Address
00 - 00% - Oath of Office
96 - 72% - US Constitution (CORRECT)

Comment: Most people got this correct, but notice how many confused it for the Declaration of Independence. This particular quote is from the Preamble of the Constitution. Like the Declaration, many of us had to memorize this in grade school, but I don't think they do so anymore.

6. What U.S. President served as commander-in-chief during World War I?

11 - 08% - Calvin Coolidge
07 - 05% - Warren Harding
18 - 13% - Theodore Roosevelt
03 - 03% - William Howard Taft
95 - 71% - Woodrow Wilson (CORRECT)

Comment: I expected this question to be a little tougher as a lot of us have forgotten the events of nearly 100 years ago. Baby boomers may still be familiar with World War II, but I thought they would surely have problems with the first war, "The War to end all Wars." I wasn't surprised that Teddy Roosevelt captured the number of responses that he did simply because of his strong name recognition. By the way, William Howard Taft was the only President who also became Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (and the first to throw out a baseball on opening day).

7. What is the following quote from?
"...and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

001 - 01% - Bill of Rights
000 - 00% - Declaration of Independence
000 - 00% - Gettysburg Address
127 - 95% - Oath of Office (CORRECT)
006 - 04% - US Constitution

Comment: I was flabbergasted that anyone got this wrong. The six who answered "US Constitution" should have read the question more carefully.

8. What is the following quote from?
"...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

005 - 04% - Bill of Rights
002 - 01% - Declaration of Independence
122 - 91% - Gettysburg Address (CORRECT)
000 - 00% - Oath of Office
005 - 04% - US Constitution

Comment: I was pleased to see most people remembered Lincoln's speech. Interestingly, Lincoln was not the keynote speaker that day and, because of this, his words were almost overlooked by reporters in attendance. Thank God somebody was paying attention.

9. It stated that further efforts by European countries to colonize land or interfere with states in the Americas would be viewed as acts of aggression requiring U.S. intervention. It asserted that the Western Hemisphere was not to be further colonized by European countries but that the United States would neither interfere with existing European colonies nor meddle in the internal concerns of European countries.

009 - 07% - Emancipation Proclamation
002 - 01% - Kansas-Nebraska Act
000 - 00% - Kennedy Doctrine
116 - 87% - Monroe Doctrine (CORRECT)
007 - 05% - NATO Accord2

Comment: I was pleasantly surprised by this one as I had assumed many people had forgotten about the Monroe doctrine, an important document which, to this day, is still in effect. I wonder if those who answered "Emancipation Proclamation" really understood the significance of that document. Probably not.

10. Which U.S. President was NOT directly involved with the Vietnam War?

81 - 60% - Dwight Eisenhower (CORRECT)
49 - 27% - Gerald Ford
01 - 01% - Lyndon Johnson
03 - 02% - John Kennedy
00 - 00% - Richard Nixon

Comment: This was perhaps my most controversial question as some of you argued that Eisenhower sent advisers to Viet Nam. True, but we send advisors to a lot of places. Viet Nam was Kennedy's "line in the sand" to stop the proliferation of Communism. As to Ford, he inherited the Paris Peace talks from Nixon following his resignation and was in charge when we finally pulled out in 1975. Interestingly, I find younger people have no clue about this war whatsoever.

Conclusion

A few things occurred to me as I was compiling the results. First, the Gettysburg Address is better known than the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The Gettysburg Address is a moving speech but it certainly doesn't bear the significance of our governing documents.

Second, it seemed to me that a lot of people cannot distinguish between the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. They view them as synonymous documents. For what it's worth, the Declaration was used to sever Britain's authority over its American colonies. The U.S. Constitution specifies how the government is to operate. The Bill of Rights is an attachment to the Constitution and specifies the basic rights of the citizens, specifically the first ten amendments. It was greatly influenced by such documents as the "Magna Carta." All three documents, the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, are important reads that all citizens should be familiar with, not just students in grade school.

Finally, here are the number of correct answers versus incorrect answers submitted on the quiz:

1034 - 77% - Correct Answers
0306 - 23% - Incorrect Answers

In most schools, a 77% would represent a "C" which is probably not as bad as we think. Actually, this number is probably higher than the national average as I like to believe my readers are smarter than most.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  WATCHING THE CLOCK - Do we watch the clock or the work product we're producing?

LAST TIME:  UNDERSTANDING TRUMP'S ANTAGONISTS - The louder they get, the stronger the candidate gets.

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern); WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

UNDERSTANDING TRUMP'S ANTAGONISTS

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- The louder they get, the stronger the candidate gets.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

As the Republican candidates shrink in size from 17 to three, attention understandably focuses on the front runner, businessman Donald Trump, a candidate depicted by the media as an outsider and threat to the Washington triad; the press, lobbyists, and politicians. He is a legitimate threat to the political status quo where each member of the triad scratches the back of the other, thereby allowing each to prosper. This also explains why the press defends Secretary Hillary Clinton vigorously, because she is very much in tune with the Washington establishment and wants to keep the money machine rolling.

Not surprising, Mr. Trump's popular rallies have suddenly become regular targets for protests from the far left bent on silencing the candidate and derailing his chances for winning the White House. Whereas Trump is a capitalist who believes in the US Constitution, his critics are socialists who do not, and can best be described as anarchists.

Now, the liberal left and media liken Mr. Trump to a modern day Hitler, but this is a very weak comparison. Hitler was known for suppressing the freedom of speech, even going so far as to burn books. This is certainly not Mr. Trump's policy as he believes in the right to peaceful civil disobedience. The only group trying to suppress freedom of speech is the liberal left who feels they are the only ones entitled to enjoy such freedom and nobody else, including Mr. Trump.

Like Hitler, the left claims Mr. Trump is a racist due to his positions on illegal immigration and terrorism. The reality is, Trump believes in the rule of law, unlike his detractors. He considers our sovereignty and security is threatened simply because we refuse to enforce existing laws and secure our borders. The racist accusation is, of course, a joke as his business probably has every minority on his payroll.

So who is organizing the Trump push back? It is much too organized to claim it is nothing but random individuals. Two organizations have been reported; MoveOn.org and Black Lives Matter, who have mobilized to support left wing activities. The protestors themselves are simply naive pawns.

Behind MoveOn.org is billionaire business magnate George Soros, a well known supporter of liberal political causes and a major donor to Hillary Clinton's campaign.

Another major player among the antagonists is Bill Ayers, the former leader in the counterculture movement who is best known for his 1960s radical activism. In 1969 he co-founded the Weather Underground, a self-described communist revolutionary group intent on overthrowing American imperialism. In the 60's and 70's, his group was responsible for bombing public buildings, including police stations, the U.S. Capitol Building, and the Pentagon. This doesn't exactly sound like peaceful civil disobediance, does it? Today, he is considered the elder statesman of anarchy at the Trump protests.

Mr. Trump's Democratic opponents also shoulder some blame for the agitators. Mrs. Clinton through her connection to George Soros, and Sen. Bernie Sanders for his socialist supporters.

Even President Obama bears some responsibility for the agitation. He has been very critical of Mr. Trump's rhetoric. More importantly, he sees Trump as someone who will undo all of the president's social engineering initiatives.

In a recent Washington Times article, the president said of Trump's rhetoric, "As a citizen who will still be leading this office, I will not support somebody who practices that kind of politics." He went on to lament, "any effort to spread fear or encourage violence, or to shut people down when they're trying to speak, or turn Americans against one another."

However, as candidate Obama in 2008, he used some violent rhetoric of his own, saying to his supporters, "I need you to go out and talk to your friends and talk to your neighbors, I want you to talk to them whether they are independent or whether they are Republican. I want you to argue with them and get in their face." (June 2008).

Just as Jimmy Carter beget Ronald Reagan, Barrack Obama will beget Donald Trump. The incompetence of the incumbents is simply intolerable to the majority of Americans, thereby forcing the country to turn to an entirely different ideologue. And this is what concerns the president most, as well as the antagonists.

The reality is, the louder Trump's opponents become, the more the country will take notice, and get behind the GOP candidate. No, they will not derail the Trump Train, they are only stoking the engine.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  BRYCE AMERICAN HISTORY QUIZ - And the results are in...Just how well do we know our own country?

LAST TIME:  INFORMATION DRIVEN DESIGN - a return to basics in system design.

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern); WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Monday, April 18, 2016

INFORMATION DRIVEN DESIGN

BRYCE ON SYSTEMS

- a return to basics in system design.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

PREFACE: A few months ago I made a promise to some of my techie friends I would describe the concept of "Information Driven Design" as used in our "PRIDE" Methodology for system design. This concept originated in the original version of our product in 1971 and was successfully used by our customers to build enterprise-wide systems. The reason I bring this up is that it appears to me people still have trouble defining information requirements and, as such, they are at a loss as to how to build total systems. Thereby, they are content building either a single business process or a program. Therefore, here is the conceptual foundation for all system design...

Information Driven Design begins with a simple concept:

INFORMATION = DATA + PROCESSING

Information is the intelligence gained from the processing and/or analysis of data. This means information is a product based on two variables, data and processing. We do not store information, we produce it based on these variables. Whereas data represents "what" is to be processed, processing (or systems) represents "how" it is to be processed, using formulas, algorithms or calculations. An invalid calculation is just as misleading as invalid data; both will produce erroneous information. From this perspective, both data and processing must be carefully designed and controlled as resources for producing information, and as resources, they can be shared and reused to produce information for other uses. In this way they should be identified and controlled like any other resource, hence the need for "Information Resource Management," a concept very much akin to "Materials Resource Planning" as found in manufacturing.

Since the intent of an information system is to produce information, the more we understand about information requirements, the better we can accommodate its implementation. This is why we refer to this concept as "Information Driven Design," a system design derived from the inherent properties of information.

INFORMATION DRIVEN DESIGN CONCEPT

Information requirements should be defined in such a way as to explain the Business Functions they serve, their Business Purpose, the Actions and/or Business Decisions they support, and the benefits derived from the use of the information. In this way, it a textual justification for the information. Now let's take it further...

There are three types of information:

Policy Information - To implement executive decisions.

Control Information - To monitor policy and manage operations.

Operational Information - To implement the routine day-to-day activities of the business.

Information is a dynamic and perishable commodity. It only has value at the time it is required. Whereas the definition of data is constant, information requirements can change for a variety of reasons, such as politics, government, competition, economics, people, etc. Ultimately, corporate survival depends on providing users with accurate and timely information.

TIMING

In order to properly specify information requirements, it is not sufficient to merely determine what data is required to support it; it is also necessary to define the timing of the information (to support the actions and/or decisions). This timing will ultimately dictate how data will be collected, stored, and retrieved to produce information.

Failure to recognize timing as an important element of design will result in the data base being out of synchronization with the system. For example, consider a situation where data is collected on a routine weekly basis (just once a week). Daily analysis of the data will be inappropriate since the data will remain constant until the next weekly update. To resolve the conflict, data collection should be changed to at least a daily basis.

All information systems operate in time frames, such as instantaneous, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually, etc. If this is true, why not make use of this timing consideration during system design as opposed to discovering it afterwards while trying to correct the data base design?

There are three aspects to timing: frequency, offset and response time.

FREQUENCY defines "how often" the information is required, e.g., upon request, hourly, four times daily, once a week, twice monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, etc.

OFFSET defines when processing should begin, such as the beginning of the week, end of the month, etc. However, if the frequency is 'upon request,' then there is no scheduled offset; this is because the information can be requested at any point in time.

RESPONSE TIME defines how fast the information must be delivered to the user. For example, five seconds, two hours, one day, etc. This should not be confused with computer 'response time' or 'throughput' which is concerned with machine speed. Rather, response time is concerned with the maximum amount of time that will transpire between the request and delivery of the information, so the user can make the necessary decisions and/or take action. This implies that if the response time is exceeded, it is no longer information, only historical data.

Timing ultimately defines data availability and accessibility issues. Availability specifies, "Is the data there when I need it?" (a function of Input/Data Collection). And Accessibility specifies, "Can I get to the data when I need it?" (a function of Output/Information Retrieval). Understand this, you cannot access data (retrieve information) if it has not been made available (collected) in a timely manner.

DATA

Data comes in two forms, Primary and Generated. Primary data is what is collected and inputted into the system. Generated data represents calculations derived from primary values. To illustrate, suppose we need the generated data element, "Net Pay," as used in payroll. It would be necessary to define all of the other data dependencies, e.g.;

NET PAY = GROSS PAY - FICA - CITY TAX - UNION DUES - (ETC.)

Other data elements used in the formula may also be generated, such as:

GROSS PAY = HOURS WORKED X PAY RATE

What this means is that in order to arrive at the correct value for "Net Pay," we must be able to reach all of the primary values, such as "Hours Worked" and "Pay Rate," in a timely manner. If we cannot do this, "Net Pay" will be incorrect.

Defining these data dependencies has typically defaulted to the programmer who redefines the relationships with each application and buries it in the program source code, making maintenance and change considerably difficult. Consequently, It is not unusual to find "Net Pay" defined differently in multiple applications throughout a company.

The timing nuances of the Information Requirements ultimately dictate the various sub-systems of the system (the business processes). Some will be used to exclusively input data (aka "maintenance"), some to produce information (aka "queries"), and some for both maintenance and query purposes.

The basic operations that can be performed on data include "create," "update" and "reference" ("delete" is the opposite of "create"). In programming terminology, a "create" represents a "write," an "update" represents a "read/write," and a "reference" represents a "read" only.

The timing and data specifications resulting from the information requirements will ultimately dictate the type of sub-systems to be created. For example, if information is needed upon request and within a matter of seconds, this will probably result in an "interactive" type of process. However, if the information is required upon request but within a few hours, this will probably result in "batch" type processing (it may even be processable manually). These specifications are the basic building blocks for all systems and software design.

Producing an information system design that correctly satisfies requirements is a vital part of Information Driven Design. If the information requirements are correct, the resulting system design will be correct. However, if the information requirements are wrong or incomplete, the resulting system design will be incorrect. With this approach, the emphasis is on business analysis as opposed to technical detail.

This approach to system design ultimately recognizes, "No amount of elegant programming or technology will solve a problem if it is not defined or understood correctly."

Keep the Faith!

MB - "Est superbia"

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  UNDERSTANDING TRUMP'S ANTAGONISTS - The louder they get, the stronger the candidate gets.

LAST TIME:  JURY DUTY: A NECESSARY EVIL - Why we hate to be called for duty.

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern); WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Friday, April 15, 2016

JURY DUTY: A NECESSARY EVIL

BRYCE ON LIFE

- Why we hate to be called for duty.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

I've been summoned for jury duty twice. Both times I had mixed emotions about serving. On the one hand I understand and appreciate the need for a jury of your peers, which I consider an important responsibility for being a citizen of the United States. There are still a lot of third world countries out there who do not provide for such jurisprudence and believe you are guilty until proven innocent, as opposed to the other way around. On the other hand though, we are always summoned at the worst possible time. For example, you are called to serve just as you are preparing to go out of town either on important business or an expensive nonrefundable vacation. I think it's a "Murphy's Law." In my case, I had some important projects I was working on at the time and felt the summons to be an imposition. Although I dutifully presented myself, I was not in the best of moods. Fortunately I was never actually selected to a jury and allowed to leave. Good thing for the defendant too as I was in a hanging mood by the time I got to the court house.

Here in Florida, you are given a few weeks notice to appear for jury duty. Frankly, I would prefer to get a notice six months or more in advance so I can effectively schedule around the jury duty. Unfortunately, county bureaucrats couldn't care less about a person's time.

Down here in Florida, you can be compensated $15.00 per day for the first three days of service if you are retired, unemployed or your employer does not pay your regular wages while you are serving. It's not that I personally need the money, but I don't know too many people who can get along on just $15 per day. A daily bus pass in my county costs $4.50, leaving you $10.50 to go wild on. No wonder people begin to diet when they are summoned for jury duty. By the way, your jury payment is considered taxable income. You just can't win.

There is a lot of "hurry up and wait" involved with serving on a jury. In my neck of the woods, you are first asked to check in, take a number, fill out a form, and wait in a holding pen where you watch a brief video on your responsibilities as a juror. Next, you are called from the pool by ticket number for the various cases on the docket that day. If your number is not called, you can go home (with no apology for the inconvenience). However, if your number is called, you must go through a jury selection process whereby you may be interviewed by counsels for both the prosecution and defense. In my case, I was asked a lot of strange questions about this or that. So much so, I thought I was the one on trial and not the defendant. Whatever I said, I must have answered incorrectly as I was excused from serving, again with no apology for the inconvenience.

I believe my grandmother in Buffalo, New York set a record for serving on juries as she was called at least a dozen times over the years, leading us to believe she worked for the courts up there and not her regular job. Actually she was a model jurist and enjoyed listening to the various cases. She was also proud to serve as she saw it as her civic duty to do so.

We would all probably like to serve on the types of juries we see on TV's "Law & Order" where we are dazzled by lawyers like Jack McCoy, or perhaps pick an argument apart as the jury did in the movie, "Twelve Angry Men." The reality though is most trials lack the drama and histrionics as portrayed by Hollywood. You are probably 100 times more likely to serve on a case involving theft or an automobile moving violation than to serve on a juicy murder trial.

Most people tend to roll their eyes whenever you bring up the subject of jury duty, including myself. I wish I had my grandmother's zeal for serving, but the bureaucrats have turned it into an imposition as opposed to something you want to proudly perform. I guess no matter how you slice it, jury duty is a necessary evil.

Originally published: January 28, 2011

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  INFORMATION DRIVEN DESIGN - a return to basics in system design.

LAST TIME:  WHAT MAKES US HAPPY? - Is it how we act or how we perceive life?

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern); WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

WHAT MAKES US HAPPY?

BRYCE ON LIFE

- Is it how we act or how we perceive life?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

The Gallup organization recently published a study on "The Happiest People in the World?" This was a global analysis as to who are the happiest people. Interestingly, they had to define happiness as either how you live life versus how you perceive life. If you believe in the former, Latin Americans are considered the happiest people as they are often laughing and smiling regardless of their economic situation. It you believe in the latter, Europeans are considered the happiest as they are more content with their station in life.

Personally, I look upon happiness as how you perceive life. If everything is going your way, you are happy, but if you seem to be at odds with everything, you're unhappy. This is why I believe the United States is generally unhappy; nobody has faith in the government anymore and are constantly complaining about social injustice, and this goes for both sides of the political spectrum.

It seems we rarely laugh anymore, particularly in the workplace. Jokes are no longer told as they are now considered politically incorrect. Even common courtesy is uncommon. For example, when I say "good morning" to a stranger at the post office, I typically receive a glare in return. Kind of like saying suspiciously, "Yea, what do you want?"

What makes me particularly happy is to see a job well done, be it menial labor or a specially skilled craft. It occurs whenever a person takes on a professional attitude. In other words, someone who commands confidence in what they are doing and successfully produces quality work products on time and within budget. I very much appreciate it when someone is straight with me (no BS) and creates "win-win" scenarios where both parties benefit, not just one.

Unfortunately, instead of working cooperatively, we tend to operate more as self-centered narcissists, be it in the workplace, the highway, in neighborhoods, or even in stores and restaurants. Some of my happiest moments in life were team related, be it on the football field, coaching kids, or working on a major project charged with complexity. By everyone pitching in and doing what they are supposed to, it always seemed the sky was the limit. Or is this just me?

Maybe happiness is nothing more than how content we are with our lives, like the proverbial expression, "life is what we make of it." If you are consumed by such weaknesses as jealousy and greed, you will likely be socially dysfunctional and consumed by unhappiness.

By the way, one of the key takeaways in the report, Gallup claimed that despite all the things we see in the news, the world isn't doing too badly. We just need to learn to laugh and smile more regularly. Perhaps the key is to simply turn off our televisions, computers, and smart phones, and learn to socialize again. It's that simple.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  JURY DUTY: A NECESSARY EVIL - Why we hate to be called for duty.

LAST TIME:  IS THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG? - Do we have enough Systems Analysts or too many programmers?

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern); WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Monday, April 11, 2016

IS THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG?

BRYCE ON SYSTEMS

- Do we have enough Systems Analysts or too many programmers?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Whenever I'm asked to discuss the subject of Information Systems in the corporate world, I am inevitably asked, "Where does the programmer fit in?" I think this is an odd question as I see programming as only a small part of the overall puzzle. People are startled when I mention this, particularly programmers, who tend to see themselves as the center of the systems universe. I counter by asking, "What exactly does a programmer do?" After much discussion, we end up with the same answer, "a programmer takes human understandable specifications and converts it to a machine executable program, either by writing and compiling source code or through some interpreter capable of generating the program." This, in turn, leads to an interesting discussion as to what is meant by "requirements" (it seems everyone has their own spin on this). More importantly, it leads to a discussion as to what exactly a system is.

I like to follow this by posing the question, "How many programs make up a system? One? Two? Three? Is a suite of programs a system?" Again, after much discussion we conclude there is no finite number of programs in a system, it is as many as satisfies the system's needs (and again we're back to "requirements").

I finally ask if a system can be implemented without computer assistance (without programs). The programmers typically balk at this one, but grudgingly admit an information system can be implemented manually or through the use of other equipment. Actually, information systems have been used for hundreds of years, well before the advent of the computer. As one of our more famous Bryce's Laws points out, "The first on-line, real-time, interactive, data base system was double-entry bookkeeping which was developed by the merchants of Venice in 1200 A.D." In other words, computer programming is but one way to implement an information system, but certainly not the only way. This premise implies information systems are much larger in scope than programming, and that systems have two dimensions, a logical side and a physical side. The logical side defines the various business processes comprising the system (aka, "sub-systems"). These processes can be implemented through manual processing, use of other equipment, with computer assistance, or combinations of all three. The physical processing changes more dynamically than the logical simply because technology changes.

To pull this all together requires a type of person more knowledgeable about the business than about computers. Historically, this type of function has been referred to as a "Systems Analyst" or more recently a "Business Analyst." Regardless, the analyst is a precursor to the programmer. In the absence of an analyst, programmers must try to understand the overall system architecture, a talent they are not necessarily well versed in.

The day a company starts its business is the day when its systems are born. Even a company in name only requires systems support in order to report to the government on their activity (or inactivity). As businesses begin, a "natural" system is devised whereby work is distributed among employees, hopefully in a cohesive manner. Without orchestration though, there is a tendency for the natural system to develop inconsistencies and redundant work effort, particularly if the business blossoms. Data duplication is unavoidable thereby causing inconsistencies in information. If the information is "dirty" inferior business actions and decisions will ensue thereby causing an adverse affect on the company's bottom-line.

The point is, no amount of elegant programming can solve a system problem without someone who understands the overall system architecture, someone who understands how the business works. Attacking systems development without such orchestration, such as one program at a time, will not produce the desired results. That would be like trying to build a bridge without a set of blueprints; it would probably be disjointed and one end would likely not connect with the other in the middle. I for one would not want to travel across such a bridge. Yet, this is precisely what is happening throughout corporate America today. If we built bridges the same way we build systems in this country, this would be a nation run by ferryboats. If you consider how counterproductive it would be to try and build a bridge without a set of blueprints, you get a good idea how counterproductive a lot of systems development organizations are. A lot of time and money is lost simply trying to deduce what is to be built in a concerted manner.

It is the Analyst's job to understand the business, not the programmer's.
It is the Analyst's job to develop and maintain the system architecture, not the programmer's.
It is the Analyst's job to develop the specifications for programming, not the programmer's.
It is the Analyst's job to develop the data specifications for the Data Base Administrator, not the programmer's.
And it is the Analyst's job to test and install systems, not the programmer's (although they should be performing unit and string tests of their software prior to system tests).

Programmers should be consulted to review the feasibility of a system design, but make no mistake, it is up to the Analyst to develop such plans. And if the Analyst performs his job properly, he will greatly simplify the life of the programmer, thereby making that person more productive. Regrettably, corporate management has little appreciation for the Analyst's duties and responsibilities. Consequently, the Analyst is pressured to short stroke his work effort and turn it over to programming prematurely, thereby causing the programmers to act on poorly defined specifications which inevitably results in project delays and increased development costs.

So, is the tail wagging the dog in your company or the other way around? Do you have a sufficient number of Analysts to properly design systems before turning the specifications over to programming? Consider this, if done properly true programming should take no more than 15% of your development time and costs. If you are expending more than this, I suspect you do not have enough Analysts.

Remember this, anytime you have a systems development project involving multiple business processes, multiple people, and multiple programs, you damn well better design a system architecture first.

Originally published: Febraury 9, 2011

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  WHAT MAKES US HAPPY? - Is it how we act or how we perceive life?

LAST TIME:  MY LAST PUFF - Quitting is not easy.

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern); WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Friday, April 8, 2016

MY LAST PUFF

BRYCE ON LIFE

- Quitting is not easy.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

I have smoked cigars for over 45 years, starting with a White Owl Classic behind my friend's house in Chicago. I smoked at least one a day, mostly a strong blend with a Maduro wrapper, a cigar-smoker's cigar. Smoking helped me concentrate on composing an article, working outdoors on my lawn, fly-fishing in a cool stream, or just sitting and hobnobbing with friends. I richly enjoyed it, but on September 10th, 2015, I took my last puff and stopped cold turkey.

I hadn't planned on stopping that day, I just did. It wasn't because of the anti-tobacco wackos on television, or because of any disease, something inside me simply said it was just time to stop. I'm now coming up on seven months without smoking and my friends are amazed at my will power. Sure, when I smell the aroma of a good cigar I would love to puff one, but those days are gone.

I understand the worst anti-smokers are former smokers, but having come from a family of smokers, I certainly do not look down my nose at anyone who enjoys tobacco. Interestingly, friends act embarrassed when they want to light up a cigar or cigarette around me, but I assure them I am not offended and request they enjoy their smoke.

People have said to me that quitting cigars is a lot easier than cigarettes. Maybe, but I can assure you it still takes considerable will power to stop.

I have known only two other people who quit cold turkey, my father and father-in-law. My father smoked four packs of cigarettes a day for years, until he suffered a mild heart attack and finally quit. We were all amazed by his will power to stop. Then again, a heart attack can be a strong deterrent. He particularly missed it after dinner over a cup of coffee. Likewise, my father-in-law smoked a few packs of cigarettes a day, and he also quit, not because of any health issue, but because, "They (the cigarette companies) have gotten enough of my money."

Other friends have told me how hard it was for them to quit. They've tried the nicotine patches, gum, e-cigarettes, even hypnosis, all to no avail. However, when they do manage to drop the habit, most have fond memories of smoking but glad they are finally off of it.

You may remember one of our Bryce's Laws that states, "Never trust a person who doesn't have at least one known vice (e.g., drinking, smoking, swearing)." I may have given up smoking, but two out of three isn't bad.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  IS THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG? - Do we have enough Systems Analysts or too many programmers?

LAST TIME:  THE DILEMMA OF THE DEMOCRATS- Some very good sleight of hand by the press.

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern); WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

THE DILEMMA OF THE DEMOCRATS

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Some very good sleight of hand by the press.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

While the rest of the country has been preoccupied by the GOP follies on television, there has been relatively little said about the Democratic race, and I believe this to be by design.
On the one hand we have Senator Bernie Sanders who is an admitted Socialist popular with young people and the remnants of the Occupy Wall Street movement. On the other hand we have Secretary Hillary Clinton who is leading in the delegate count, yet possesses a low "trustworthiness" rating by the American public, including her own party. For example, a recent Quinnipiac Poll shows 67% of voters do not find Mrs. Clinton "honest and trustworthy," that includes 74% of Independent voters.

It is rather ironic the Democrats are willing to elevate someone to the highest office in the land, yet do not trust her. Couple this with her other scurrilous affairs over the years, and a blank track record for accomplishments in office, and you have a flawed character easily prone to attack. Mrs. Clinton tends to laugh such accusations away and blames conservatives for the attacks, but sadly, nobody else is laughing.

In the popular political book, "This Town," by Mark Leibovich of "The New York Times Magazine," the author confirms the incestuous relationship between the media and the Clintons who are treated as American royalty. Government officials, journalists, and lobbyists, all scratch each other's backs in order to climb their respective totem polls and grab as much money as possible along the way. He paints a picture of unadulterated collusion and makes it clear Washington exists not to solve the problems of the country but to line the pockets of the residents there. From this perspective, we shouldn’t be surprised how widespread the problem really is. Whether you are a government official, lobbyist, or a member of the press, it's about making money and control of the system. This is why Mrs. Clinton is staunchly defended by the press; she get's it.

So the challenge becomes how to distract the public away from Hillary's foibles. The answer is rather obvious, create a diversion by focusing on the rivalry of the Republicans. By doing so, not only does the public overlook Mrs. Clinton's indiscretions, it causes a serious rift in the GOP. Frankly, this "divide and conquer" strategy offers a brilliant win-win scenario.

Added to this is a take-down of businessman Donald Trump who is the one person, an outsider, who could potentially disrupt the system in Washington. We have already seen the media pull out the stops to knockout Mr. Trump, such as creating misinformation about his Trump University, his bankruptcies, and any other trivialities designed to assassinate his character. Remarkably, he keeps winning in spite of all this.

The biggest fear of the media and the Democrats is that Mr. Trump might very well become the Republican candidate and would dice up Mrs. Clinton in a debate.

So, if you have heard little about Mrs. Clinton's problems, you can thank the media for defending her.
If you are a conspiracy theorist, you've got to love the 2016 presidential election.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  MY LAST PUFF - Quitting is not easy.

LAST TIME:  INSUBORDINATION - When is it time to be insuborinate, and when to remain loyal?

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) "The Town Square" with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern); WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Friday, April 1, 2016

HAVING A BAD DAY

BRYCE ON LIFE

- Thank heaven it doesn't occur often.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

When I come home at night after work, my wife and I typically talk about what we did that day. My wife gives me a journal description of her day from the time she got up until we finally meet at night. She's quite articulate in her adventures of the day which may explain why she looks puzzled at me when she asks me how my day went and I respond by saying simply "Fine" or "Good." Actually, I have a "Bad" day now and then, but not too often. I usually have but one a year, and I don't mean a type of day where you run into some problems at work or a key decision doesn't go your way. I'm talking about a day where everything consistently unravels before your eyes and you are powerless to do anything about it. Maybe a better adjective would be a "Rotten" day. I had one a couple of weeks ago.

It began on a cold Wednesday here in Florida, which may sound like an oxymoron, but on this particular occasion a cold Arctic blast came down from Canada. We may have not gotten the snow or frigid temperatures that the Midwest received, but getting into the 30's is still cold by my estimate. As I was leaving for lunch I noticed my car had a flat tire on the left-rear side. "Oh, great," I lamented to myself.

A friend mentioned my mechanic probably had a spray can containing compressed air which may be able to inflate the tire long enough for me to drive it into the shop where it could be fixed. This sounded like a good idea, so he drove down and retrieved the can for me. The can was rather old and strange looking. Actually, it looked like a rusted and overgrown Jiffy Pop machine turned on its side and built around the time of the first World War. I had visions of Dough Boys using it in the Battle of the Marne to fill their gas masks. Nevertheless, I took the Jiffy Pop machine and hooked its hose to my tire stem. "Pffffst" and only a small puff of air came out of it before it died. I think I should have given it a military funeral in my dumpster right then and there.

I then resigned myself to the fact I would have to change the tire myself with the spare I had in the trunk. Now most people would call AAA or a local service station, but my masculine ego kicked into gear and I was determined to do it myself. After all, I had changed many tires over the years, "What is one more tire?" I said to myself. Unfortunately, I had never changed a tire on this particular vehicle, a Kia from South Korea. Dutifully I took out the tools packaged neatly in the trunk. So far, so good. There was a screwdriver and wrench, as well as a jack and tire iron. However, calling it a "tire iron" would be overly generous. It looked more like an overgrown silver Pixie Stick, approximately ten inches in length.

Before you jack-up a car to remove a tire, it is a smart idea to first loosen the lug nuts. I used the Kia screwdriver to remove the plastic lug nut cover from the wheel, a feat in itself as it stubbornly did not want to come off. I then took the Pixie Stick and tried to turn the lug nuts much to no avail, they were on simply too tight. It was about this time that I noticed sweat developing on my forehead and removed my jacket as I was becoming too warm even in the cold weather. After fifteen minutes of pushing and bending the Pixie Stick (which included some choice expletives on my part), I concluded this was a futile effort. Still determined to see this job through to completion, I borrowed a car and drove home to get an industrial strength tire iron I had in my garage. My house is only five miles from the office, but it wasn't until I was halfway home when I realized I left my house key in my jacket back at the office. Not surprising, there were more expletives.

I turned around and returned to the office where I picked up my keys and headed for home again where I performed a frantic search for the tire iron in the garage. It was, of course, in the last possible place to be found in the garage but I was pleased nonetheless that I had found it. I then drove back to the office where I applied my tire iron to the lug nuts. Even with the considerable leverage afforded me by my tire iron, the lug nuts openly resisted my attempts to loosen them. By this time, I noticed my shirt was no longer tucked in my pants which were now drooping as I was bouncing up and down next to the tire like a pogo stick. Just when I was convinced the people at Kia had welded the lug nuts on to the wheel they finally started to loosen with a rusty squeak. One-by-one, squeak-by-squeak, lug nut-by-lug nut, curse-by-curse, they finally surrendered to me.

With the lug nuts loosened, I then went about positioning the jack under the car to raise the vehicle. Actually, it looked more like a toy than a jack. Years ago, cars came with jacks that were made of big hunks of steel you used to raise the vehicle, and it was actually fun to do so. My Kia jack though was no bigger than my two hands put together and was based on a screw mechanism which came with another Pixie Stick to turn it. This required me to use my first Pixie Stick tire iron to turn the other. Since the two were so small, I found myself kneeling on the ground spinning the two Pixie Sticks like you were rapidly peddling a bicycle. I'm sure it was quite comical to watch. Slowly but surely, the jack raised the car up until I could replace the old tire with my spare. I then lowered the car and tightened the lug nuts.

Afterwards I returned to my feet, straightened myself up and was sharply reminded of the arthritis cultivating in my back. I was sweating, my clothes a mess, and my hands soiled with tire filth. Did I mention it was still freezing outside?

After cleaning myself up, I put the tools away in the trunk, along with the flat tire and the Jiffy Pop air can from World War I. Finally, I drove my car to my mechanic's shop to drop off the air can and have him replace the tire. Elapsed time: two hours, not to mention my afternoon was shot down as it took me some time to regain my composure. The experience: priceless.

The lesson here is that you should always carry a proper set of tools in your car, have a change of clothing, and wait for proper weather conditions to change a tire. Either that or lose the ego and call a mechanic.

As mentioned, I don't experience "Bad" days often, but when I do it has been my observation they are defined by the domino effect that takes place whereby a series of interrelated screw-ups cascade from one to another. Such events are incredibly frustrating thereby testing your patience.

When I got home that evening, my wife as usual asked me how my day went. I answered "Fine" as I didn't want to see the dominoes progress any further.

Originally published: January 17, 2011

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com
For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

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