Silflay Hraka

Hmmm…what direction to take? I’m not feeling it right now so we’ll just go where we’re lead, shall we? It’s the 236th edition of the Carnival of the Vanities and that seems to me to be some kind of milestone. That’s one carnival a week for the past 236 weeks. I can’t suggest that there’s actually been a Carnival of the Vanities every week for the last four-and-a-half years but it’s likely near enough. There’s been some question as to whether the Carnival of the Vanities would continue at various times in the past, but it manages to keep rolling. And look at all the other Carnivals that owe their existence to this one.

I feel good about it and possibly just a bit smug. I’m not the originator of the Carny. That’d be brother Bigwig. Maybe I’ll talk him into taking a turn as Carny administrator again in the future. It would seem fitting to have him revisit his bastard creation at some point in the future. Until then, there’s me keeping this thing on life-support.

Let’s get on with it, shall we?

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I don’t have much commentary for the entries this week, I think. For one, I’m watching “The Lion in Winter” on cable and for two…well, I don’t have much commentary. I think.

Marsha Hudnall says we should use our Intrinsic Motivation for Healthy Weight Loss. My intrinsic motivation led me to crave a chocolate chip cookie today after lunch. I always listen to my intrinsic motivation. My non-intrinsic motivation leads me to have a piece of dark chocolate and a glass of red wine every day. I don’t plan on dying of heart disease.

I did have a dream last night that I had Parkinson’s. That’s more likely to be my future, barring some medical advances or another miracle from Pope John Paul II. Good thing I believe in miracles.

BTW, I lied about the commentary.

Leon Gettler equates Sarbanes-Oxley, Gonzales and the Ken Lay defence. “I didn’t know” has been the en vogue answer since Ronald Reagan forgot about the whole Iran-Contra affair. Methinks Reagan had a better excuse than Gonzales or Lay.

GrrlScientist covers the Rare Bird Captured in Peru. It’s a small owl that has rarely been seen in the wild. My cousin has a similar claim to fame in that he spotted the rare Stygian Owl some years ago in Texas. “Stygian” has graced the license plate of my aunt and uncle ever since.

Madeleine Begun Kane bemoans That Errant List. Perhaps Mad and I have something in common. I make looots of lists. I make lists of lists even. It’s what I do whilst attending meetings in order to keep myself entertained. Thankfully, I generally am able to recreate any list I misplace.

Pushpa Sathish presents 101 Bonehead Mistakes Every Manager Should Avoid. It’s a good list of do’s and don’ts. It seems to be common sensical but I’m always surprised by how many managers don’t know or do most of them.

Hueina Su advises that we should Take Time for Friendships. Good advice.

Wolfie talks tax rates in the U.K. in Brown’s New Pensions Blow.

Lastly, Wayne Hurlbert presents the value of Politeness: Respect for others pays. Also good advice.

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And that’s the 236th edition of the Carnival of the Vanities. Check back next week for the 237th. Barring some miracle or some minor inconvenience, that is. I’m a busy guy, you know.

If you’d like your writing featured in the Carnival of the Vanities, write something insightful and worthwhile and send it in through Blog Carnival.

Until then, I bid you adieu.

Nice line.

Al Gore personally uses more electricity in a week than 25 million Ugandans do in a year – and agitators are telling Africans the biggest threat they face is hypothetical climate change.