Saturday 31 January 2009

Powerpointers - A Possible Occasional New Series...

Ever since the term "workshop" ceased to become a place with tools in and started to become a seminar on "coping strategies for the networking narrative" or "how to maintain equilibrium in the work space" our language has had to be toughened up to compensate.


Just like Gordon Ramsay has to swear a lot to cover up the fact that he's just doing girly cooking, modern working lives have to contain macho stuff like "bullet points" and "power point" to make up for the absence of proper "manly" manufacturing references. I once went to a Librarians' Conference which featured "break out workshops" - I led a platoon of 6 plucky librarians armed with chisels and hacksaws along a corridor before we were beaten back by a "robust initiatives" group from the Large Print directive.


Anyway, all I wanted to say is that I had an idea that I could combine my passing familiarity with Powerpoint and spreadsheet charts with the fact that I'm now one of the oldest people in Blogland and use these modern tools of communication to impart gems of ill-gotten wisdom to you, dear reader. No, please don't thank me ... it's a public service.


Anyway, here's Powerpointer No 1:

17 comments:

Dave said...

I note I'm on the cusp of 'couldn't give a t***'.

I'd assumed it was to do with not having a job, and needing to keep up appearances.

Rog said...

You've still got a long way to go to catch up with me Dave!

Geoff said...

Spot on Rog, though I think I actually worry more now than I did in my teens. I suppose that comes from going to an all boys school. All I had to do to be anonymous there was not to wear a cap after my first day at school. Now when I send an email I worry whether I've said the wrong thing and when I buy a new tie I worry that I may look like Colin Hunt.

Z said...

I'm already there, Dave. You've got a year to go.

Magwitch said...

Of course on a Friday and Saturday night the segment from 15-30 inextricably inverts.

Sadly this year I reach the precipice that sends me freefalling into WGAS* territory.

*WGAS a no holds barred game of basketball (from my teenage years) without any rules or scoring criteria. So called because whenever anyone asked what we called this free-for-all mayhem someone usually retorted "Who Gives A S**t."

Malcolm Cinnamond said...

The definition of workshop may have changed, but they're still full of tools.

Liz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Liz said...

I thought I was only in my early 40s, but according to that graph I'm over 60!

Nice new blog by the way, and I love the picture at the top.

KAZ said...

Well I don't think I'll be going to the library again.
There seems to be a little worry peak in the late 40s - that's Geoff isn't it.
He'll soon get over it.

Rog said...

Geoff: You should worry - I went to an all girls school. Kaz has pointed out the spike which refers to you!

Z: People never catch up - it's all relative!

Magwitch: You're right - alcohol stands the graph on its head and we all head for "WGAF" territory.

Malc: How very true. And most of them blunt.

Liz: You could change your blog to "Suffolk 'n What" to balance things out.

Kaz: Geoff's an honorary pensioner without a pension. This reminds me of the stupid old US comic Mad Magazine with the "What me Worry?" face on the front. I think it was modelled on the young Dubya.

Richard said...

Why have I felt 60 for the last 10 years?

Christopher said...

I seem to be on the second most precipitous slope. I'm really quite worried by this and am seriously looking forward to my 90th birthday.

(Thanks for link and for joining ultra-select band of followers. Much appreciated. I'll try to live up to Norfolk standards, although I've only ever been there twice.)

Billy said...

According to that chart, I'm on the decline. Which is fortunate.

Unknown said...

I couldn't give a s***!

Rog said...

Richard: I dunno. You've got the Scrabble brain of a 21 year old.

Christopher: There are very few precipitous slopes in Norfolk (outside of Dave's garden).

Billy: Join the club Master William.

JonnyG: "Steradent Capsule"?

Zig said...

what is 60 worth of worry? Should I worry that I'm not worrying enough or worrying too much?

Rog said...

Ziggi: The scales runs from 0 (Keith Richard) to 100 (Robert Peston). I hope that's clear.