The Daily Grill

Doth Protesting WAY Too Much

Judging by the frantic damage control coming out of White House Resident Bush's administration in advance of the release of "“What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception,” former press secretary Scott McClellan's new tattle tell-all, the thing must be just rife with truth. I particularly like the quotes from people like Karl "Puppetmaster" Rove, who said the book, "Does not sound like Scott -- it just doesn't." You think Rove ever even gave McClellan the time of day? I ran into McClellan last year backstage during an appearance he made on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" and, although he wasn't saying much, the guy was like a cat with a mouthful of canary feathers. Now he's finally gotten to spit them out...

Interim Solution

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The Überpace Of Business

As I was having a drinks-n-dinner meeting with a writing partner at a bar in Los Angeles last night, I stood witness to something truly awful to behold. The place was packed but I wasn't paying much attention until an insistent bell began ringing every few minutes. Each time the bell rang, half of everyone in the place got up, shifted to the next seat over and sat down. "Speed dating?" I asked my writing partner. "Are people still speed dating?" "Only if they've gotten very progressive", he said, pointing out there were not just men chatting with women, but men on men and women on women. And none dressed to kill -- they were all dressed for business.

Speed Networking.

Here it was. A phenomenon borne of something that should have been allowed to die a quiet death -- Speed Dating -- is now being broached across the land. Regular networking is desperate enough but add the element of speed and it takes on a whole new aspect. Business cards fluttering, drinks clinking, the decibel level of the chatter is almost deafening. To which the organizers of this particular event had added loud club music, making it necessary for the participants to yell at each other.

At one point the action got so frenetic that even we were approached to "Jump in!" by one of the organizers, who breathlessly was trying to explain the concept as she waved her card around wanting one of us to take it and relieve her of her businessly burden. (It took three polite deflections and a final forceful "NO" to get her to leave the table.)

With the economy wavering in PREcession mode, it's plain that desperate times are calling for desperate measures. But can any good truly come of frantically pressing flesh, trading cards and fever pitching your wares to a barful of strangers? More likely it's a way to beg the worst in people to come out quick, rather than a solution to the challenge of finding new opportunities.

Even for those who might not have been drinking last night, speed networking seemed like a guarantee of waking up with a hangover this morning: out of sorts, uncertain of what happened and with a firm resolve to never do it again.

(As swiped from myself at my business blog, I Hate People...But It's Nothing Personal)

Western Oregon Style

For 24 hours I'm in Grand Ronde, Oregon, which is about an hour and 20 years from Portland. The predominant look among males about 25 to 40 years old is a shaved head and goatee thing.Trying to think what it reminds me of and it just struck me -- it's like being surrounded by a legion of young mad scientists.That smoke.

Child-Proof Saps

Instead of Food & Drug Administration, maybe the FDA should stand for Faulty Determination Again. From the same folks who gave Vioxx the thumbs up, this time they've declared that there's no reason to advise consumers to stop using baby bottles and other plastic products made with the controversial chemical bisphenol A, or BPA. At least the lunkheads in the Senate passed a bill banning using the crap in kid's toys and other items. There's a draft report floating around saying BPA could contribute to neural and behavioral disturbances in fetuses, infants and children. Oh yeah, and evidence about links between BPA exposure and early puberty and prostate and breast cancer. But the FDA says "Full speed ahead!" I guess until enough people end up crippled or dead. And then, of course, there'll be a ceiling placed on how much the manufacturers can be sued. And the FDA will, as alway, remain in the clear. And why not? As Dustin Hoffman's character in The Graduate was advised in terms of investing in the future: "Plastics."

Gas Gouged

I am hereby putting a hex on the Pacifica Shell gas station on Aura Vista Ave. in Pacifica, CA. Highest gas prices yet. My fuel needle was crawling toward E. Sure, I shoulda filled up earlier, but who knew? And then I had no choice. Pulled off. Pulled up. Jaw dropped: $4.50 a gallon for "V-Power", their premium Unleaded. The flavor my car likes. Total fill-up: $71 bucks and change. I shall never sip from their pumps again. And the way they sucked the money out of my wallet makes me think the "V" in "V-Power" stands for "Vampire".