Happy Saturday! Lots to discuss.
First, coffee. Papachay Coffee Co. in San Carlos, California. Bought a bag of magic (I hope) beans, light roast from Peru. Plus, there’s nothing finer than a good nitro brew (no milk or cream needed) on a hot day.
Next, local politics. Posted above is the silliest (and perhaps most toxic) political mailer I have seen in some time. If I did not know better, I could conclude that Ms. Hale, a Democrat, supports Donald Trump. Apparently, Hale “Has Taken Over $150,000 from Facebook & Big Tech Who Give Extremists Like Trump a Platform for Misinformation.”
Let me try to unpack this. Facebook and Big Tech cannot directly give to individual candidates, and I doubt the Facebook PAC (Political Action Committee) would be giving money in support of a California State Assembly candidate. So, if not Facebook or a Facebook PAC (unlikely), then who? Facebook employees. If Facebook and other Big Tech employees give to Hale, whom I have not met, so what? Hale worked at Facebook for eight years. Is anyone surprised that Facebook employees form a not insignificant part of her donor base? Not me. Do Facebook employees generally support misinformation? Doubtful. Is there misinformation on the platform? Yes. Is Trump the only “extremist” on the platform? No.
The ad continues: “Vote NO on Giselle Hale for Assembly.” You don’t vote no for a candidate. This is plain silly. Who funded this silliness? Housing Providers for Responsible Solutions, Sponsored by Housing Providers. Committee major funding from: California Association of Realtors® and California Apartment Association. I cannot imagine that social media platform misinformation is a top issue for any of these entities. Hale is the Mayor of Redwood City and served on the Planning Commission for 4 years. Perhaps some of her housing policies were not well-received. Someone must have concluded that Facebook/Big Tech do not poll well with local voters, who, I am sure, use Facebook, if not begrudgingly. Last, but not least, I am now intrigued by this potentially viable candidate and will do some more research. Some time ago, I served on a committee with and formed a positive impression of one of the other candidates (Diane Papan), but it appears that I may now need or want to broaden my aperture. By the way, Papan is supported, indirectly, by some of the same funding sources, namely the California Apartment Association. Hmm. Last, but perhaps not least, I believe Jerry Hill held the same State Assembly seat, before Kevin Mullin, who is now running for Congress. I saw Hill at a local charity fundraiser some years ago; he was the auctioneer.
Up is down, and down is up.
Next item, motivation theory. Mind you, I am somewhat of an expert in this space, having blogged about it: https://johnpavolotsky.com/2020/11/06/motivation-theory-and-practice/. Seemingly most literature on this important topic has focused on the positive, that is, how to motivate an employee and keep them motivated. What about a different approach, focusing on how to demotivate an employee and then doing the opposite? I have done some quasi-scientific research and will share my findings in a future post.
Serenity now.
Let’s move on to some lighter fare. COVID-19 is still alive (and well). Local infection rates are increasing. Each night at the dinner table we play “Close Exposure Bingo”; period one – Rooms 24 and 34 (no); period two – Rooms 30 and 36 (no); period 3 – Rooms 15 (no) and 20 (yes – darn it!), and so on, through eighth period. BINGO (COVID). Back to the drawing board, it seems. I have told more than a few that I have a good feeling, about 2023.
Inflation is still real. Yes, the gas in California is exceptional, superior to that anywhere else in the Union, but $6.79 per gallon? More than $100 for a full tank of gas? Thank you, in part, and as well, Vladimir Vladimirovich; by the way, we’re on day 87 (or so) of the special military operation, in case you’re still keeping track (which I hope you are). $40B Ukraine aid package passed by the US Senate. Finland and Sweden possibly joining NATO. Yet another night of not being able to sleep, due to sustained bombing and/or air raid sirens. Apparently, my friends on the other side of the pond are feeling the pain as well, at the gas pump and generally. Still, deals are to be had. Credible sources tell me that Costco hot dogs are still $1.50, the same price since 1980. My lunch plans are set.
Our Fiero Book Club will be discussing The Castle (Kafka) in a few weeks. Finishing this unfinished book (more like a stream of consciousness) has to be one of my biggest accomplishments this year. Some have called it incredibly boring and tedious, slow. A friend tried to listen to the audiobook version and couldn’t. IMHO, parts of it – the opaqueness of officialdom and authority, internal indecision, running around in circles in your mind, getting dizzy, and then ending up in the same place you started – are brilliant. Read on, and try to enjoy the ride. What’s next? Alice in Wonderland? Open to suggestions.
Last, but not certainly not least, the end of the European football (soccer) season is upon us. Frankly, and apologies to my friends who are Liverpool FC or Man City fans, I could probably care less which team wins the English Premier League (EPL). For those wondering, a Man City win against Aston Villa would clinch it. Far more interesting are the remaining matches where one or both teams are fighting to avoid relegation (or have the opportunity for promotion). I watched one such match yesterday, on ESPN+, a treasure trove for football fanatics. The Bundesliga is unusual in that the bottom two teams are automatically relegated, and the third worst team (Hertha BSC) is entered into a 2-leg playoff against the third best team in Bundesliga 2 (Hamburger SV). Relegation 2022. No joke. Hamburger won yesterday, 1-0. Sunderland AFC is pitted against Wycombe at Wembley tomorrow, with the winner to be promoted from League One to the Championship, the second tier of English football. Mind you, Sunderland was in the first tier (EPL) as recently as 2016-17. Last, but not least, my now favorite Bundesliga club, SC Freiburg, will be at Olympiastadion Berlin tomorrow, matched against RB Leipzig in its first appearance in the DFB-Pokal final. Exciting times (really, day) indeed.
I think that’s enough for one day (week). Time for a hike.
Comments welcomed.
The Peninsula Hiking Club 