Friday, November 16, 2007

The Guys’ Rules

Yes, I know you’ve read this a dozen times already, but I post it here for two reasons:

1) It’s part of a bigger plan. You’ll know all about it in due time ;)

2) It’s always good to refresh your memory either to relearn what you already — intentionally? — forgot (for you women) or for a good laugh (for you men)

So, here it goes! :)



At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down Finally, the guys’ side of the story.
(I must admit, it’s pretty good.)
We always hear “the rules”
From the female side.
Now here are the rules from the male side.
These are our rules!
Please note.. these are all numbered “1″
ON PURPOSE!

1. Men ARE not mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat.
You’re a big girl. If it’s up, put it down.
We need it up, you need it down.
You don’t hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports. It’s like the full moon
or the changing of the tides.
Let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport.
And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want.
Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only If you want help solving it. That’s what we do.
Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.
In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you won’t dress like the Victoria’s Secret girls, don’t expect us to act like soap opera guys.

1. If you think you’re fat, you probably are.
Don’t ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something
Or tell us how you want it done.
Not both
If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.
Peach, for example, is a fruit, not! a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will Be scratched.
We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say “nothing,” We will act like nothing’s wrong.
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don’t want an answer to, Expect an answer you don’t want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear Is fine… Really.

1. Don’t ask us what we’re thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation,
or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this.

Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;

But did you know men really don’t mind that? It’s like camping.


Coming soon: the Women’s rules. Stay tuned!

UPDATE: The Girls’ Rules is now online!

Posted by Waldir Pimenta at 18:28:57 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Islamofascists

“when you cant even bring yourselves to condemn stoning as a punishment, it’s clear that yours is the morality of the cavemen.”

Pat Condell in “A word to Islamofascists

Pat Condell always ends his video commentaries on religion wishing peace to the viewers. This time, since he was talking to the people he calls “Islamofascists”, he closes his speech saying:

“I’d wish you peace, but… you wouldn’t know what to do with it.”

Not-so-funny islam-related news (linked in the video page):

Posted by Waldir Pimenta at 20:00:29 | Permalink | No Comments »

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Lições de Gestão, Lições de Vida

Waldez Ludwig é um psicólogo e consultor de empresas e excelente comunicador (talvez esta característica tenha algo a ver com ter tido formação em teatro…). Foi comentarista económico do programa Conta Corrente (Globo News). Esta é uma selecção do que considerei os melhores de uma série dos seus comentários nesse programa, que foram colocados no Youtube:

Criatividade versus Inovação alt : http://www.youtube.com/v/gDJkbsfT55w&rel=1

Neste vídeo, Waldez explica de forma clara e, como sempre, divertida, a diferença entre criatividade e inovação — a diferença entre ter uma ideia e executá-la. Moral da história? É como a Nike diz: Just do it.


Quando inovar
alt : http://www.youtube.com/v/VVikTIrSOQs&rel=1

Com o seu inconfundível estilo, Waldez demonstra que o melhor momento para inovar e investir é precisamente quando as coisas estão a correr bem. Não mexer numa equipa vencedora? FALSO. O exemplo prático no fim do vídeo tem piada, mas é bem verdade.


Informação como bem econômico
alt : http://www.youtube.com/v/IvJKT-92uDw&rel=1

Muito em voga nos tempos recentes, o quarto poder é um conceito que ainda muitas pessoas não interiorizaram. Já o velho provérbio chinês explica a diferença entre trocar dois pães e trocar duas ideias. Waldez por seu lado produz um sagaz e refrescante remake do ditado, provando a sua actualidade.



Devo acrescentar que estes vídeos devem ser vistos numa perspectiva não só empresarial (que é de resto o público a que destinam), mas como lições de vida gerais, como se pode ver no fim do segundo vídeo.

Nesta perspectiva de aplicar conhecimentos de economia e gestão a temas que geralmente se consideram disjuntos dessa área, recomendo-vos a leitura do excelente livro (não foi best-seller por acaso) Freakonomics, de Steven D. Levitt e Stephen J. Dubner. Vale a pena.

Posted by Waldir Pimenta at 19:55:28 | Permalink | No Comments »

Friday, November 2, 2007

Reverse psychology and Wikipedia

Professor Martha Groom at the University of Washington-Bothell has came up with a creative way to deal with Wikipedia. Instead of letting her students rely on the online encyclopedia as a source (an approach that has proved often controversial), Groom has turned it into a destination for their classwork: in place of a term paper, her students were required to create Wikipedia entries.

Groom’s initial goal was simply to provide some meaning to the college-level term paper, which typically has an audience of one (the professor) before ending its career in a recycling bin. Groom hoped that assigning students the task of creating a Wikipedia entry would make the effort more meaningful, since students were writing for what might be a wider audience and with the intention of providing a general public benefit.

source: Ars Technica

UPDATE: If you liked this post, you should definitely take a look at Wikipedia’s School_and_university_projects
Posted by Waldir Pimenta at 02:49:17 | Permalink | No Comments »