kerneloftruth

According to AOC, the earth will end in 6 years (she predicted 10 years remaining 4 years ago). I'm not aware of an update to her estimate.

I'm curious when it was you were there. I was in IBM from 1985-1992, and it felt like the ending of an era. At first, it was a place that invested heavily in its people. Private offices, nice facilities, very good pay, and a _requirement_ that you had to take classes related to your field every year. IBM would hire excellent faculty and instructors from universities and other companies to teach them. They sponsored technical conferences that were really good (actual learning, not just sales). When I was in graduate school, my director had me focus on doing my homework and projects as 80% of my time -- literally getting paid to be a student. My colleagues and I were proud to be "IBMers" at that time.

But things started to change in 1990-91. The company lost money for the first time in its history, and then divided into separate parts. My division became what is now the horrible IBM Global Services. In those last 2 years it became clear to me that it was time to branch out of there. Since then, I've know no IBM employee at all who is happy, much less proud.

All these great old institutions ultimately fade or fail. It used to seem more sad to me, but I've grown to favor "fail fast" more. IBM should just go...sell all the IP and branding off and call it a day. Then, new innovation will happen faster.

"84% of all weight that is lost is in the form of carbon dioxide"

1. Question the premise you're starting with (because it's false).

2. Do more physical activity. Ramp up slowly, but ensure movement and cardio every single day.

3. Eat less, and eat healthier.

I've been reading these stories of interview questions for 10+ years now, and it seems to get progressively worse over time. It all reinforces for me the decision to be an independent consultant all my career. I get hired because somebody needs help thinking about their product/design, a project completed, or a difficult bug solved. We talk about what I propose for them to do, and I'll explain what I've done in the past that's relevant or useful. I'm not there to join the family, so I deal with Purchasing and Accounting, not HR.

I know LGB people who balk at the TQ.* additions to the acronym. Their arguments are cogent and logical. There seems to be plenty of room to disagree, because not all the constituents of the acronym are really fighting the same cause, or even see the groups as all being one team.

As it's Women's History Month, and Google being Google, I'm betting there's a plan for a piece like this to be published every day this month. Boring and empty.

Live one day at a time. Consume news to stay abreast of the events and to keep aware, but only sufficient for that purpose -- do not dwell or doomscroll. Eat a healthy diet. Your job, family, and home should fill all your other time. Exercise and sleep. Be deliberate about all these.

We can't control what may come, but maintaining as much of that in our immediate sphere is the best one can do for sanity.