Reading is easy for me, generally. I had a good education, particularly in Catholic grammar school in the 50s and 60s (1954-1964).The Sisters of Mercy (not all were), were hard on reading, writing and arithmetic (and catechism). And I'm so fortunate they were. Perhaps that's why I still remember and still rattle off 40 prepositions that I memorized in third or fourth grade (there's 70 now - things change). Also in those early grades, the nuns taught English using two main methods: the Latin roots of words, and phonetics.
Latin roots. Easy to learn 'cause I knew no different. Prefixes and suffixes became very easy to recognize and separate from their roots, for example, in-doctrin(e)-ation. In later years, I learned Christ's prayer, the Our Father, in Latin (and can spout half of it now), and recited it in 1964 at the baptism ceremony of my converted Boy Scout troop leader. He had chosen me as his Godfather. We quickly lost touch.
Then there's phonetics, a boon to my learning and reading abilities. It was discarded by the 70s, but to me, it was a fantastic way to learn, especially how to read aloud and guess right most of the time. I firmly believe phonetics should still be taught, especially in those early grades. My wife Janet has taught English as a Foreign Language to immigrants attending Mercer County College and elsewhere, and swears by roots of words and phonetics in those environments. Between grasping both of them myself, and not being stymied by big words, my vocabulary isn't half-bad (hah!).
Maybe that's why Janet and I like the movies like Spellbound and Akeelah and the Bee. However, I am not nearly as good as those young students, nor am I a motivational speaker either. I do help Janet often with her spelling needs tho. And being in Sacred Heart Catholic School, memorizing words and their spellings became second nature. I was in our school spelling bee, in front of an audience, on stage, and was defeated by my misspelling "mischievous," which would be a perfect description of me in my youth.
Altho Mom has told me I didn't speak much until age six, I've always liked to read. Circa 1963 (or earlier?), Mom bought a complete set of Encyclopedia Brittanica's (now online only I think). The main set consisted of thirty or so 4-inch tomes, mostly composed of topical essays. I certainly looked thru them. But I was attracted to the Brittanica Juniors, fourteen red-covered smaller books, only two inches wide each. Over a period of a few months I read every word of all fourteen books when I wasn't in school or playing outside or getting into trouble. That, shooting pool, and building model cars were my pastimes during that period, TV-watching not so much. I don't remember any specifics I read, but somehow reading them helped my comprehension and language skills (and probably intelligence too). They still sit in Mom's den, barely touched and horribly outdated (but not all by any means).
As an aside, I've had two IQ tests: the first c. 1983 and the latter c. 1994. Both given by my bosses. The first when I begged Charlie Burrows at the Bureau of Data Processing to see if I was computer programmer material. After all, my title was DP Programmer II, even tho I didn't write one line of COBOL for work. I took that first test and achieved 132. In 1994, our Treasury Admin Director, Chuck Chianese, had all his managers take one (very similar test I might add). I achieved 131. But when seeing results, I questioned the grading on a couple, and so one answer was deemed correct, giving me 132 again. Who knows what it would be now. Janet and I almost match exactly.
So I've never shied away from reading. Its criminal that girls and women (and boys too, but less so, often 'cause they (and girls), must work at a young age), are denied education under some misguided regimes or philosophies. Criminal. Education - reading, writing etc. is to important to human development and potential to be neglected, let alone banned. "Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education
can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to
benefit therefrom.”
— Bahá’u’lláh
And I do like to read and study Baha'i, religious and spiritual writings almost every day, at least a little something. I've "read" the highlights of the Old and New Testaments all my life, and the Quran twice, but have much further study ahead of me. I am a third done another book I'm writing called Islam for Westerners, because I feel so strongly that the western mind and heart has paid little attention to the tenets of Islam (except for a bad TV show set in L.A., and a half-decent one made in Canada), and the life and teachings of the Apostle and Prophet Muhammad, whom Baha'is also believe is a divine Manifestation and Messenger of God. Can 1.3 Billion Muslims all be wrong? Get serious! How many believers does it take to convince you there's truth there? And to set the record straight, true Islam has always been, and is today, a Faith that has only defended itself. And like all faiths, it has that right. Today it must be in words and discourse, not force and violence.
Sorry, back to reading. I got on my high horse for a minute. I've stated elsewhere I rarely read newspapers for news. NPR and News 4 every night are my basic sources. But I had to read (and write), every day during my last 35 year's with the State, mostly technical and business reading and writing. On the literary side, ever since being a kid and reading Asimov's I, Robot, Ray Bradbury's Farenheit 451, and similar sci-fi stories, its been my primary reading interest (and watching movies). (Oh, and no book burning, especially not the Word of God as in the Quran.) I also read eight books of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time until I just couldn't take the protagonist Rand al'Thor's ineptness. Science fiction, and sci-fi fantasy whether Le Guin, Ellison, Heinlein and many others, especially now with George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels (I'm reading Clash of Kings now), I've also liked. Terry Goodkind was my favorite for his epic series. And since 1960 or so, since I saw a rerun of the original 1951 The Day the Earth Stood, sci fi movies don't go unwatched.
Movies also teach language, and that's the only reason I mention these other interests as well. (Of course, Sesame Street's a good example also.) But reading and education has to be our biggest priority as a nation (along with providing universal healthcare -- but not free, per se; ending poverty, corruption etc.).
I earn a lot of cheap books from our Hamilton Twp.
Free Public Library where I work Mondays, the most recent being Plato in
90 Minutes, a fun read. I also love reading magazines. I skim the ads, pictures and titles, but like to peruse Time, AARP Magazine, Parade Magazine, Consumer Reports, and especially The Week. My son Jesse bought me a subscription years ago for my birthday, and we've been enjoying its dual viewpoints (in some cases), since. And online reading? I can't list all my digital magazine and report subscriptions, over 100, centered on energy, information technology and writing/publishing.
In fact, my next "Joy of" blog will be on writing, then math, and finally this mini-series will be capped by one on Education.
By Rodney Richards, NJ
Like you, I've had many ups and downs, and quite a few sideways experiences. I firmly believe everyone should write theirs and share them, whether just for themselves or their kids. Here are some from my memoirs, observations and thoughts.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
The Joy of a Future World without Politics
I ruminated about how to start this blog series -- so many possible topics that interest me, and which I hope will interest you. So I debated with myself about this first subject. It's not a topic I would normally choose, the future, I mean. But why not just put some of my thoughts, feelings and beliefs, out there? Nothing stopping me but common sense and the threat of libel, so I'll be gentle this go-round.
Where to start. Here's my interpretation of what might be...
One. In the future they'll be no need of political parties. They'll be obsolete, thrown away for a better method closer to true democracy. And what do I think is true democracy? Essentially the freedom of thought and the ability to express oneself thru considered words and actions, not just words alone, unlike all the political ads, advertising copy, magazines and TV, mobile and news outlets, do everywhere. Granted, all the media outlets (and more), will still be there, but no political ads. The media focus will be on expressing the truth and not "spin," half-truths or outright propaganda. The media will be judged heavily according to the "pants on fire" barometers of Politifact and many others in the world of the future. Disinformation and misinformation will be exposed for what they are, and who's behind them, unlike now with faceless PACs hiding behind their concocted rhetoric.
Why no political parties? Is it even possible or practical? Well indeed its both if you change the ground rules slightly. We'll never change one person, one vote, although the legal age may become less than eighteen, worldwide. That right is sacrosanct. We'll still have polling places (bad word), I mean voting places, to accommodate secrecy and a degree of anonymity. (Polling will be obsolete as well, for this.) Also sacrosanct. The rest of the details will be worked out by worldwide experts, by locality, region, state, nation and world, but the system will be similar with a number of notable exceptions and guiding principles. Someday maybe I or someone else will write a book explaining well the best systems of human governance and Divine Economics.
A. No "running for office." No election campaigns, slush funds and anonymous donors. None. Hence, no political advertising of any kind. No signs on lawns, back-to-back commercials, bumper stickers -- none of it. Wouldn't that be nice.
B. Every citizen in good standing will be eligible for election at all levels of government (businesses will follow later), much like it is today, with, perhaps, elections extending to Cabinet officers, department heads, or even division heads. Most certainly to governing bodies like boards, authorities, colleges etc., and to judges and their administrators. In other words to all the governing institutions of humankind. How? Based on individuals demonstrated (not just spoken), public, and private, words and actions (and writings), education, knowledge, competence and above all -- honesty and trustworthiness.
Wouldn't that be novel -- voting for the best woman or man for the job (with equal opportunity of course, including race which goes without saying). Based solely on their capacity, reputation and qualities. Their "character" as Dr. Martin Luthor King Jr. stated. And term limits will apply, except for universal acclaim like we had for FDR, and even then, "Emeritus" would do. Whether three or four years, with one reelection only? That will have to be worked out. But gerrymandering will be absolutely forbidden. Independent boards with watchdog organizations will draw up districts based solely on population, civil boundaries, and community unity.
C. Here's the toughest part, but a part I know exists and works well nonetheless. Here I'm talking about the absolute prohibition against nominating and electioneering. Simply not allowed, with social and civil penalties when discovered. How in the world can this system work you ask?
Well, I'm bias, and I admit that and declare it. But this system exists right now in the Baha'i worldwide community of over five million members. I've participated in the system I've just described above at the local, national and international (indirectly), levels since 1975, just after we had our first Hamilton Twp. local Baha'i community election. These are conducted on an annual basis every April. Local elections are followed by election of a delegate(s) for the larger region. In October we vote in annual national election of our continental U.S. Baha'i council (governing over the 150,000+ American Baha'is), then those national members vote for the international council once every five years. Everything I've just described has been in place and functioning for Baha'is since the Faith's earliest days in the late-1800's, and on an international basis since 1963. Voting for council members in the first place is accomplished thru simple plurality.
Oh, and one more "slight change." Those elected vote their own conscience. They do not represent those who elect them in the same sense that we elect politicians today. In other words, they're not politicians. Our goal as elected members is the general welfare of the community, the whole, not its sometimes discordant parts or individual's plans and schemes, especially not big business. Yes, as elected we listen to suggestions, recommendations, even criticisms intently, but then make up our own minds. And there are ample opportunities and ways to make recommendations, including the 19-day Feast when all community members gather for spiritual and physical refreshment, and to conduct community consultation and business.
Their are no lobbyists of vendors who can necessarily sway those elected, especially not more than community members themselves. But our bodies of nine adults consult before every decision, gathering the facts and circumstances first. On our local Assembly (council), rarely do we have to vote on a decision when our personal goal is purity of motive and not self-aggrandizement. 98% of our decisions are made by consensus, and if voting at all, a simple majority rules.
All I'm trying to say is that this unique system of human governance can work when done with pure intentions and a pure heart. I'm still working on those for me, but our history has proven over and over again, year after year, that somehow the right individuals are naturally elected, and the entity itself, our little local community for example, is the better off for it. And it is healthy and functions well, without debt or overspending. And there is no dearth of qualified, capable, stable and upright individuals to choose from.
Basically, what I'm saying is that unity of thought and action with good intentions and right outcomes is not only possible but inevitable, with just a little faith in the nobility of man.
By Rodney Richards, NJ
Where to start. Here's my interpretation of what might be...
One. In the future they'll be no need of political parties. They'll be obsolete, thrown away for a better method closer to true democracy. And what do I think is true democracy? Essentially the freedom of thought and the ability to express oneself thru considered words and actions, not just words alone, unlike all the political ads, advertising copy, magazines and TV, mobile and news outlets, do everywhere. Granted, all the media outlets (and more), will still be there, but no political ads. The media focus will be on expressing the truth and not "spin," half-truths or outright propaganda. The media will be judged heavily according to the "pants on fire" barometers of Politifact and many others in the world of the future. Disinformation and misinformation will be exposed for what they are, and who's behind them, unlike now with faceless PACs hiding behind their concocted rhetoric.
Why no political parties? Is it even possible or practical? Well indeed its both if you change the ground rules slightly. We'll never change one person, one vote, although the legal age may become less than eighteen, worldwide. That right is sacrosanct. We'll still have polling places (bad word), I mean voting places, to accommodate secrecy and a degree of anonymity. (Polling will be obsolete as well, for this.) Also sacrosanct. The rest of the details will be worked out by worldwide experts, by locality, region, state, nation and world, but the system will be similar with a number of notable exceptions and guiding principles. Someday maybe I or someone else will write a book explaining well the best systems of human governance and Divine Economics.
A. No "running for office." No election campaigns, slush funds and anonymous donors. None. Hence, no political advertising of any kind. No signs on lawns, back-to-back commercials, bumper stickers -- none of it. Wouldn't that be nice.
B. Every citizen in good standing will be eligible for election at all levels of government (businesses will follow later), much like it is today, with, perhaps, elections extending to Cabinet officers, department heads, or even division heads. Most certainly to governing bodies like boards, authorities, colleges etc., and to judges and their administrators. In other words to all the governing institutions of humankind. How? Based on individuals demonstrated (not just spoken), public, and private, words and actions (and writings), education, knowledge, competence and above all -- honesty and trustworthiness.
Wouldn't that be novel -- voting for the best woman or man for the job (with equal opportunity of course, including race which goes without saying). Based solely on their capacity, reputation and qualities. Their "character" as Dr. Martin Luthor King Jr. stated. And term limits will apply, except for universal acclaim like we had for FDR, and even then, "Emeritus" would do. Whether three or four years, with one reelection only? That will have to be worked out. But gerrymandering will be absolutely forbidden. Independent boards with watchdog organizations will draw up districts based solely on population, civil boundaries, and community unity.
C. Here's the toughest part, but a part I know exists and works well nonetheless. Here I'm talking about the absolute prohibition against nominating and electioneering. Simply not allowed, with social and civil penalties when discovered. How in the world can this system work you ask?
Well, I'm bias, and I admit that and declare it. But this system exists right now in the Baha'i worldwide community of over five million members. I've participated in the system I've just described above at the local, national and international (indirectly), levels since 1975, just after we had our first Hamilton Twp. local Baha'i community election. These are conducted on an annual basis every April. Local elections are followed by election of a delegate(s) for the larger region. In October we vote in annual national election of our continental U.S. Baha'i council (governing over the 150,000+ American Baha'is), then those national members vote for the international council once every five years. Everything I've just described has been in place and functioning for Baha'is since the Faith's earliest days in the late-1800's, and on an international basis since 1963. Voting for council members in the first place is accomplished thru simple plurality.
Oh, and one more "slight change." Those elected vote their own conscience. They do not represent those who elect them in the same sense that we elect politicians today. In other words, they're not politicians. Our goal as elected members is the general welfare of the community, the whole, not its sometimes discordant parts or individual's plans and schemes, especially not big business. Yes, as elected we listen to suggestions, recommendations, even criticisms intently, but then make up our own minds. And there are ample opportunities and ways to make recommendations, including the 19-day Feast when all community members gather for spiritual and physical refreshment, and to conduct community consultation and business.
Their are no lobbyists of vendors who can necessarily sway those elected, especially not more than community members themselves. But our bodies of nine adults consult before every decision, gathering the facts and circumstances first. On our local Assembly (council), rarely do we have to vote on a decision when our personal goal is purity of motive and not self-aggrandizement. 98% of our decisions are made by consensus, and if voting at all, a simple majority rules.
All I'm trying to say is that this unique system of human governance can work when done with pure intentions and a pure heart. I'm still working on those for me, but our history has proven over and over again, year after year, that somehow the right individuals are naturally elected, and the entity itself, our little local community for example, is the better off for it. And it is healthy and functions well, without debt or overspending. And there is no dearth of qualified, capable, stable and upright individuals to choose from.
Basically, what I'm saying is that unity of thought and action with good intentions and right outcomes is not only possible but inevitable, with just a little faith in the nobility of man.
By Rodney Richards, NJ
The Joy of.... A New Series of Blogs
While driving my jet to the Broad Street Diner for breakfast yesterday, a really exciting idea struck me for writing my blog posts. Why not write a series of blogs on things that make me happy? So I started with a few, like The Joy of Yardwork, or Owning a Home, or Dating and Marriage, or Having Kids etc. etc. You get the idea.
I've been blessed in so many ways I can't count them. And my disposition has always been to take things as they come, and as they are. I never felt, and still don't, that the world owes me anything, and I learned long ago from my mentor Bill Foster, it's not important how the world treats me, but how I react to it. Not coincidentally, Janet shares this same philosophy. She'd say, "It's past, get over it." And that went for any of our outstanding accomplishments, as well as the glaring mistakes -- mostly mine.
Perhaps that's why I'm a little cold or reserved about most things now. Yet, I can remember a time, from my childhood until just after my first bipolar episode in 1979, where I could get excited, and rowdy, and involved, in just about anything. I started Mercer County Community Community College that year with a class in Philosophy, which I had to withdraw from when i ended up in hospital for a month after the episode. Those days and earlier I could get high from drugs or good news, and had many more fancies and interests, like our new son Jesse.
But then I started my pill regimen: anti-psychotics, mood stabilizers, Lithium and sleeping pills. All geared toward slowing me down, calming me down, and preventing nasty highs and depressing lows. And over 30+ years of them, they've taken thier toll on my spirit. But I'm certainly not complaining, and explain it all in my forthcoming book Episodes of A Blessed Life in America. Yet I must be truthful and say, that because of my mild bipolar mental illness, I've never had those debilitating clinical depressions so often read and heard about in others. Again, I've been fortunate.
So I'm going to give this blog series a try, and hope you'll feel free to comment and add your joys. In fact, better yet, you should start your own blog! It's free, and very easy to do, especially when you get into the routine of writing and sharing. I use Google's Blogger and am very happy with it. You need to have a GMail account, but I'm biased, and really like GMail for any number of reasons, particularly for its excellent spam filters. Blogger only requires a little intuition, because, like 99% of the apps on the Internet (and mobile phones), there's no instructions or good labeling. Well, either way, Blogger's not to bad. There's other free blog platforms as well.
So, hope to read your comments or read your stories soon...
Best,
Rodney Richards, NJ
I've been blessed in so many ways I can't count them. And my disposition has always been to take things as they come, and as they are. I never felt, and still don't, that the world owes me anything, and I learned long ago from my mentor Bill Foster, it's not important how the world treats me, but how I react to it. Not coincidentally, Janet shares this same philosophy. She'd say, "It's past, get over it." And that went for any of our outstanding accomplishments, as well as the glaring mistakes -- mostly mine.
Perhaps that's why I'm a little cold or reserved about most things now. Yet, I can remember a time, from my childhood until just after my first bipolar episode in 1979, where I could get excited, and rowdy, and involved, in just about anything. I started Mercer County Community Community College that year with a class in Philosophy, which I had to withdraw from when i ended up in hospital for a month after the episode. Those days and earlier I could get high from drugs or good news, and had many more fancies and interests, like our new son Jesse.
But then I started my pill regimen: anti-psychotics, mood stabilizers, Lithium and sleeping pills. All geared toward slowing me down, calming me down, and preventing nasty highs and depressing lows. And over 30+ years of them, they've taken thier toll on my spirit. But I'm certainly not complaining, and explain it all in my forthcoming book Episodes of A Blessed Life in America. Yet I must be truthful and say, that because of my mild bipolar mental illness, I've never had those debilitating clinical depressions so often read and heard about in others. Again, I've been fortunate.
So I'm going to give this blog series a try, and hope you'll feel free to comment and add your joys. In fact, better yet, you should start your own blog! It's free, and very easy to do, especially when you get into the routine of writing and sharing. I use Google's Blogger and am very happy with it. You need to have a GMail account, but I'm biased, and really like GMail for any number of reasons, particularly for its excellent spam filters. Blogger only requires a little intuition, because, like 99% of the apps on the Internet (and mobile phones), there's no instructions or good labeling. Well, either way, Blogger's not to bad. There's other free blog platforms as well.
So, hope to read your comments or read your stories soon...
Best,
Rodney Richards, NJ
Friday, May 10, 2013
You Can't Bid Everthing
One thing I learned early on working for NJ Government for 39 years, is that nothing is free. Everything comes with a price, even if its hidden initially.
Take for example the practice years ago of offering people like me (contracting and procurement officers - well managers anyway), box seats at a Phillies, Giants or Jets game. Or the free trinkets and pens (with company logo) offered at the ubiquitous trade shows, some just blocks from my office, or those I attended at the Philly Convention Center or New York City hotels. Scarfing down the trinkets was a favorite past time of us government attendees until the State Ethics Committee finally said (correctly), "No more." Ah, what's wrong with a pen for God's sake? Well, when you use it around the office, or heaven forbid outside, it can give the wrong impression with IBM in big letters on its side. Now that's picayune. That's crushing the mice while the elephants stomp past. "How's a pen going to alter my judgement?" all the managers would ask.
Case in point, "The Pilot Project." Someone gets a bright idea and just happens to know of a vendor who can implement it. The vendor comes in with six flunkies in suits, sometimes with a pretty woman in a business suit, and gives a big dog and pony show - glossy folders and handouts, maybe a Powerpoint, either way, no matter how carefully crafted, its a sales pitch. Some in state government trusted positions have committed fraud for thousands or even millions of dollars. Yet vendor meetings are above board. And vendors come in and do this for managers, assistant directors and directors all the time. Especially legislators. Almost weekly. Why? Supposedly its free, no obligation, and the excuse is always given "We're just investigating options. We need to be informed since we don't have the expertise ourselves." In Washington they're called lobbyists; in New Jersey they're just "vendors."
And I was the guy that had to write the special request to the Treasurer's Office (but if he or a deputy was involved, it was all a snap), to the Office of Management and Budget to approve the funding, and to the State Purchasing division to procure these "pilot" products and services. Illegal? Certainly not. Fair and free competition? No.
One example: The electronic device that attached to the base of any light bulb, and cut electricity use by 10%. It cost $1.80 each. Supposed payback less than six months. How did they demonstrate this miracle? With a black box with two lightbulbs, one with the device attached, the other without. And the vendor's question when he flipped the switch on? "Notice how you can't see any decrease in lumens (light output). Its not even noticeable, but yet its saving energy." That's a hell of a proof, isn't it? And I had to write-up and walk-thru the paperwork for $25,000 worth of these "miracles." Personally, as an energy manager, I tried to stay mum about the whole fiasco. After all, the Chief of Staff of a major state agency was pushing this -- let him tell the other agencies.
These types of backroom deals, especially with big vendors like Microsoft and others, resulted in millions of dollars in expenditures. Why? Because someone up above was sold on the idea. "It will save you money in the long run," the vendors said. Only problem? No one, no one, ever did the follow-up to prove their savings estimates.
I was lucky. The thirty folks in Treasury Fiscal and Administration I dealt with on a daily basis were all honest. Yes, we might bend the rules, or force them to the outer limit, but never break them. And those bendings were rare -- and justified, and signed off at the highest levels. And they cost millions of dollars. None of my contracts were for less than $1 million. These "pilots" always ended up being much bigger within months; thousands of software licenses bought initially for example, then tens of thousands within months. All necessary to keep the State running. Yes, without a doubt. All necessary.
So what do you do? My motto for me and staff was to know more about a product or service then the vendor. Dealing with a vendor, when using state funds, is a matter of trust. We knew they had something up their sleeve, but could rarely catch them in the act of deception. All vendor reps had great explanations when questioned. Hell, they were trained to overcome objections; we weren't trained in recognizing untruths, or how to verify their claims. Oh, we did our homework on comparison products and costs when we could, talked to agencies or other companies that dealt with the vendor to see how above board they were, and if they were fairly priced. Of course, we could never know as much as the vendor -- they always had the advantage. But we could ask the hard questions. I was the bad cop to my staff's good cop. After all, it was my name (and others), on Form PB-129 "Request for Waiver of Advertising" which authorized these procurements.
Most of the deals I dealt with were "Sole Source." By definition there was only one source of supply. Hard to believe in today's world of innumerable shopping sites, huh? But this system of requesting waivers and justifying sole source, or technical compatibility, for me, went on prior to 1979 when I started. Way before the Internet, Wikipedia or Google searches. And the waiver system is still in place today. Regrettably, a necessary system because, bottom line "You can't bid absolutely everything."
Take for example the practice years ago of offering people like me (contracting and procurement officers - well managers anyway), box seats at a Phillies, Giants or Jets game. Or the free trinkets and pens (with company logo) offered at the ubiquitous trade shows, some just blocks from my office, or those I attended at the Philly Convention Center or New York City hotels. Scarfing down the trinkets was a favorite past time of us government attendees until the State Ethics Committee finally said (correctly), "No more." Ah, what's wrong with a pen for God's sake? Well, when you use it around the office, or heaven forbid outside, it can give the wrong impression with IBM in big letters on its side. Now that's picayune. That's crushing the mice while the elephants stomp past. "How's a pen going to alter my judgement?" all the managers would ask.
Case in point, "The Pilot Project." Someone gets a bright idea and just happens to know of a vendor who can implement it. The vendor comes in with six flunkies in suits, sometimes with a pretty woman in a business suit, and gives a big dog and pony show - glossy folders and handouts, maybe a Powerpoint, either way, no matter how carefully crafted, its a sales pitch. Some in state government trusted positions have committed fraud for thousands or even millions of dollars. Yet vendor meetings are above board. And vendors come in and do this for managers, assistant directors and directors all the time. Especially legislators. Almost weekly. Why? Supposedly its free, no obligation, and the excuse is always given "We're just investigating options. We need to be informed since we don't have the expertise ourselves." In Washington they're called lobbyists; in New Jersey they're just "vendors."
And I was the guy that had to write the special request to the Treasurer's Office (but if he or a deputy was involved, it was all a snap), to the Office of Management and Budget to approve the funding, and to the State Purchasing division to procure these "pilot" products and services. Illegal? Certainly not. Fair and free competition? No.
One example: The electronic device that attached to the base of any light bulb, and cut electricity use by 10%. It cost $1.80 each. Supposed payback less than six months. How did they demonstrate this miracle? With a black box with two lightbulbs, one with the device attached, the other without. And the vendor's question when he flipped the switch on? "Notice how you can't see any decrease in lumens (light output). Its not even noticeable, but yet its saving energy." That's a hell of a proof, isn't it? And I had to write-up and walk-thru the paperwork for $25,000 worth of these "miracles." Personally, as an energy manager, I tried to stay mum about the whole fiasco. After all, the Chief of Staff of a major state agency was pushing this -- let him tell the other agencies.
These types of backroom deals, especially with big vendors like Microsoft and others, resulted in millions of dollars in expenditures. Why? Because someone up above was sold on the idea. "It will save you money in the long run," the vendors said. Only problem? No one, no one, ever did the follow-up to prove their savings estimates.
I was lucky. The thirty folks in Treasury Fiscal and Administration I dealt with on a daily basis were all honest. Yes, we might bend the rules, or force them to the outer limit, but never break them. And those bendings were rare -- and justified, and signed off at the highest levels. And they cost millions of dollars. None of my contracts were for less than $1 million. These "pilots" always ended up being much bigger within months; thousands of software licenses bought initially for example, then tens of thousands within months. All necessary to keep the State running. Yes, without a doubt. All necessary.
So what do you do? My motto for me and staff was to know more about a product or service then the vendor. Dealing with a vendor, when using state funds, is a matter of trust. We knew they had something up their sleeve, but could rarely catch them in the act of deception. All vendor reps had great explanations when questioned. Hell, they were trained to overcome objections; we weren't trained in recognizing untruths, or how to verify their claims. Oh, we did our homework on comparison products and costs when we could, talked to agencies or other companies that dealt with the vendor to see how above board they were, and if they were fairly priced. Of course, we could never know as much as the vendor -- they always had the advantage. But we could ask the hard questions. I was the bad cop to my staff's good cop. After all, it was my name (and others), on Form PB-129 "Request for Waiver of Advertising" which authorized these procurements.
Most of the deals I dealt with were "Sole Source." By definition there was only one source of supply. Hard to believe in today's world of innumerable shopping sites, huh? But this system of requesting waivers and justifying sole source, or technical compatibility, for me, went on prior to 1979 when I started. Way before the Internet, Wikipedia or Google searches. And the waiver system is still in place today. Regrettably, a necessary system because, bottom line "You can't bid absolutely everything."
Boarding Passes Please
I have a lot to share about my recent trip to Ireland with my 81 year-old mom, so I'd thought I'd start here -- boarding the planes to and from the Emerald Isle. And it is mostly emerald, a deep, rich, fresh green, dotted with two story houses and gray castle ruins, with herds of cattle and horses, and flocks of white sheep -- all grazing contentedly in the serene undulating hills. But getting there and back by plane was a challenge -- for me anyway, a novice, not an experienced international traveler (well, not since 2005 and my pilgrimage to the Holy Land). I had forgotten everything I had learned about flying and its practices and procedures.
My siblings and I had chipped in to send Mom to her native land as a birthday present. Having never been, it was her lifelong dream. I volunteered to go to make things easier for her, since none of my two brothers and sisters, or their spouses, could do it. Anyway, I am retired - I had free time on my hands. No writing for a week, which would turn out not to be true, but small price to pay for Mom to meet her cousins in Clonmel and Carrick-an-Suir, birthplace of the Cavanaugh clan.
After researching Ireland online, emailing our host cousins, checking out travel companies etc., I discovered my good friend Chet, a past co-worker, was a Travel agent. Ah, this made it much easier - a human on the other end of email and the phone who could answer my picky questions and ease my concerns. After speaking at length together, I hired him, a good decision. We settled on Gate1 Travel as the tour company. Chet and I fleshed out a bare-bones itinerary, which I would later fill in, and picked the dates - April 29th, departure, and May 6, 2013 return. We were to fly nonstop out of Philly Airport, equidistant from Newark Airport from our home. (Newark would have been easier in hindsight.)
I sent Gate1 a deposit online, and we were on our way to an affordable trip (we thought - more later). After back and forth's with Chet, Mom and I agreed to make Dublin our base of operations, and also signed up for a one day trip to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher (pronounced "More"). I got separate tickets online to visit the famous Guinness Storehouse and tasting, as well as Dublin Bus Hop-on, Hop-off passes to tour the city for a day. Our hotel, the Camden Court, in center-city, was also booked for us. After making the final payment two weeks before, I received online a twelve-page detailed description from Gate1 of all aspects of the trip, including, most importantly, our US Airways ticket numbers. I only had to do three things before leaving: pack my bag with Janet's help, print the boarding passes within 24-hours of departure, and pick up Mom. Janet would drive us there and pick us up. All set. Almost.
A day before leaving I hurriedly emailed Chet.
"Jan told me I need the plane boarding passes. Do you do that or do I?'
"You do, Rod. remember my last email and the link I sent? You go to US Airways website, click Manage Reservations, and print your passes."
"Oh, okay, I'll do that tomorrow then?"
"Absolutely, within 24 hours.Got it?"
"Got it. Thanks Chet!" I had exchanged over a dozen emails with Chet, and a long phone call, during this process. He was kind and responsive to my every need.
I went online. Their main page had the tab I sought. I clicked it and entered the special code Chet had given me. It confirmed departure time and seat numbers. I clicked "print" for the passes and all was done neatly and cleanly. Success! However, Without Janet having recently flown to London with friends, and having done this herself, or without Chet's help, I don't know how I would have figured out to print the boarding passes.
As good as the Internet can be, it assumes to much. Way to much. It expects me to intuitively know how to do all this. It expects me to click on tabs or blue letters, even though it doesn't say "click here" like it used to in the early days. "How to obtain boarding passes" wasn't a clickable item. (FAQ pages are notorious for decent explanations, but no clickable links to the solution -- one still has to search the site.) Nothing explicit or helpful to me, a novice, at all. I've found this time and time again with the Internet. Supposedly good, even well-established websites have these communication problems. They assume I know how to do it, and what to click when. Hogwash. Without external help, I challenge anyone to say this process is intuitive. In a complex world, I need explicit directions.
Coming back was more traumatic. Janet had told me the hotel would print the passes for me. I asked them, and the clerk kindly printed something -- a bar code -- not passes. What do I do with this? I even went on the hotel computer for three euros for thirty minutes (cheap), to try it myself. Once on US Airways website I could not find our departure passes. Nada. I got anxious, and was anxious from that moment until I saw a kiosk in the ticket line at Dublin Airport's US Airways terminal later that day.
I certainly didn't want to frighten Mom. But I vaguely remembered using a kiosk to print my own boarding pass years earlier. I saw others using the four nearby stations. While Mom waited in the long ticket line, I waited for a kiosk to open up. I didn't see a scanner for the bar code -- the only thing I had. I almost panicked. But I saw "Enter special code" on the screen. I had written down the code Chet had given me a week earlier. I was worried it might not work, but I entered it. Quickly the two passes printed. Hurray!
I am not sophisticated. I'm an average Joe. I don't travel by plane much. How was I supposed to know all this? No signs at the airport helped, either. A simple sign on the kiosk "Print Boarding Passes Here" would have been a tremendous help. But no, nothing explicit.To add insult to injury, I got back in line with Mom and waited 15 minutes to see a ticketing clerk. I showed our passes and passports.
She said, "Do have any luggage to check in?"
"No, just carry-ons."
"Then you're all all set, just go to the USPC Gates marked on your boarding pass."
"Uh, that's it? Which way?" I didn't tell Mom we had wasted our time in this line.
"Oh, take the elevator to floor 2."
"Uh, thanks."
There were no signs to the elevators or to the gates that I recall. I guess I'll just have to develop more intuition if I'm to survive in an online or machine-driven world.
My third company will be a sign-making one.
My siblings and I had chipped in to send Mom to her native land as a birthday present. Having never been, it was her lifelong dream. I volunteered to go to make things easier for her, since none of my two brothers and sisters, or their spouses, could do it. Anyway, I am retired - I had free time on my hands. No writing for a week, which would turn out not to be true, but small price to pay for Mom to meet her cousins in Clonmel and Carrick-an-Suir, birthplace of the Cavanaugh clan.
After researching Ireland online, emailing our host cousins, checking out travel companies etc., I discovered my good friend Chet, a past co-worker, was a Travel agent. Ah, this made it much easier - a human on the other end of email and the phone who could answer my picky questions and ease my concerns. After speaking at length together, I hired him, a good decision. We settled on Gate1 Travel as the tour company. Chet and I fleshed out a bare-bones itinerary, which I would later fill in, and picked the dates - April 29th, departure, and May 6, 2013 return. We were to fly nonstop out of Philly Airport, equidistant from Newark Airport from our home. (Newark would have been easier in hindsight.)
I sent Gate1 a deposit online, and we were on our way to an affordable trip (we thought - more later). After back and forth's with Chet, Mom and I agreed to make Dublin our base of operations, and also signed up for a one day trip to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher (pronounced "More"). I got separate tickets online to visit the famous Guinness Storehouse and tasting, as well as Dublin Bus Hop-on, Hop-off passes to tour the city for a day. Our hotel, the Camden Court, in center-city, was also booked for us. After making the final payment two weeks before, I received online a twelve-page detailed description from Gate1 of all aspects of the trip, including, most importantly, our US Airways ticket numbers. I only had to do three things before leaving: pack my bag with Janet's help, print the boarding passes within 24-hours of departure, and pick up Mom. Janet would drive us there and pick us up. All set. Almost.
A day before leaving I hurriedly emailed Chet.
"Jan told me I need the plane boarding passes. Do you do that or do I?'
"You do, Rod. remember my last email and the link I sent? You go to US Airways website, click Manage Reservations, and print your passes."
"Oh, okay, I'll do that tomorrow then?"
"Absolutely, within 24 hours.Got it?"
"Got it. Thanks Chet!" I had exchanged over a dozen emails with Chet, and a long phone call, during this process. He was kind and responsive to my every need.
I went online. Their main page had the tab I sought. I clicked it and entered the special code Chet had given me. It confirmed departure time and seat numbers. I clicked "print" for the passes and all was done neatly and cleanly. Success! However, Without Janet having recently flown to London with friends, and having done this herself, or without Chet's help, I don't know how I would have figured out to print the boarding passes.
As good as the Internet can be, it assumes to much. Way to much. It expects me to intuitively know how to do all this. It expects me to click on tabs or blue letters, even though it doesn't say "click here" like it used to in the early days. "How to obtain boarding passes" wasn't a clickable item. (FAQ pages are notorious for decent explanations, but no clickable links to the solution -- one still has to search the site.) Nothing explicit or helpful to me, a novice, at all. I've found this time and time again with the Internet. Supposedly good, even well-established websites have these communication problems. They assume I know how to do it, and what to click when. Hogwash. Without external help, I challenge anyone to say this process is intuitive. In a complex world, I need explicit directions.
Coming back was more traumatic. Janet had told me the hotel would print the passes for me. I asked them, and the clerk kindly printed something -- a bar code -- not passes. What do I do with this? I even went on the hotel computer for three euros for thirty minutes (cheap), to try it myself. Once on US Airways website I could not find our departure passes. Nada. I got anxious, and was anxious from that moment until I saw a kiosk in the ticket line at Dublin Airport's US Airways terminal later that day.
I certainly didn't want to frighten Mom. But I vaguely remembered using a kiosk to print my own boarding pass years earlier. I saw others using the four nearby stations. While Mom waited in the long ticket line, I waited for a kiosk to open up. I didn't see a scanner for the bar code -- the only thing I had. I almost panicked. But I saw "Enter special code" on the screen. I had written down the code Chet had given me a week earlier. I was worried it might not work, but I entered it. Quickly the two passes printed. Hurray!
I am not sophisticated. I'm an average Joe. I don't travel by plane much. How was I supposed to know all this? No signs at the airport helped, either. A simple sign on the kiosk "Print Boarding Passes Here" would have been a tremendous help. But no, nothing explicit.To add insult to injury, I got back in line with Mom and waited 15 minutes to see a ticketing clerk. I showed our passes and passports.
She said, "Do have any luggage to check in?"
"No, just carry-ons."
"Then you're all all set, just go to the USPC Gates marked on your boarding pass."
"Uh, that's it? Which way?" I didn't tell Mom we had wasted our time in this line.
"Oh, take the elevator to floor 2."
"Uh, thanks."
There were no signs to the elevators or to the gates that I recall. I guess I'll just have to develop more intuition if I'm to survive in an online or machine-driven world.
My third company will be a sign-making one.
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