Happy Memorial Day

I just finished watching the HBO mini-series The Pacific and realized that today happens to be the celebration of Memorial Day in the United States.

America have had its share of wars and Memorial Day is the time of remembering those who have sacrificed their lives for liberty and the American way.  I am no soldier and I have not experience being in a time of war but I have read a lot about wars to say that it is no walk in the park.  Those who have fought in them and survived are scarred physically, mentally, and spiritually.  I do believe that those who died fighting are more fortunate than those who lived because they bring with them all the traumatic experience through their remaining lives.

I pray that the world leaders embrace peace more than war and should their be conflicts between nations let the words of the philosopher Sun Tzu prevail:

"The supreme general is he who defeats his enemy without fighting."

Picking Fights

"The good general knows when to fight and when not to fight."---Sun Tzu, The Art of War

When faced with adversity fighting is not always the right course of action. Blind action almost always ends up a disaster. When a war is needed to be waged a thorough assessment of one army's chances of winning need to be the primary consideration. Why bother fighting if there is no chance of winning? However, let us not mistake sheer number as a source of strenght. Superior fire power can only be an advantage if you can see your enemy. Case in point: the American invasion of Iraq. Why is it that after many months since the American led coalition forces moved in to "liberate" Iraq have they yet to secure the country? The so-called superpowers are virtually impotent in dealing with the war versus terror because they have no idea where they are. In the movie "300" it was three hundred soldiers versus a hoard of invaders. Just as it was with Emilio Jacinto's last stand in Tirad Pass. Clearly, strategy would play a vital role in each battle that needs to be won.

A co-worker told me that you should never to complain about the food in a restaurant or any food establishment for that matter. If your complaint is legitimate provide the feedback and leave. If you're complaining in the pretense of "the customer is always right", never demand for a replacement unless you can witness the actual preparation of the product---who knows what you'll get in return. Believe me, it may seem you've won with the power play but once you've known the "extra special ingredient" in your soup...well, you get my drift!

If you have an asshole of a boss, you need to evaluate your options---you can resign and wish him good riddance. But you need to think this through very carefully specially if your boss is a ver well connected asshole! If you're tied to a contract you can just suck it up and be the best you can. For all it's worth, the wheel of fate will turn and you may find this assholeof a boss in a situation where you can just smack him in the head! What goes around comes around, right?
Good thing I have a good boss! Nighty!