the best things in life aren't things
Music
Business talk 101
Here are some business lingo translations that I think will be most helpful for all of you out there looking for a job. No, currently we are not hiring.
Job offers lingo:
“COMPETITIVE SALARY” = We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors.
“JOIN OUR FAST-PACED TEAM” = We have no time to train you.
“CASUAL WORK ATMOSPHERE” = We don’t pay enough to expect that you’ll dress up; well, a couple of the real daring guys wear earrings.
“MUST BE DEADLINE ORIENTED” = You’ll be six months behind schedule on your first day.
“SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED” = Some time each night and some time each weekend.
“DUTIES WILL VARY” = Anyone in the hospital can boss you around.
“MUST HAVE AN EYE FOR DETAIL” = We have no quality control.
“CAREER-MINDED” = Female applicants must be childless (and remain that way).
“APPLY IN PERSON” = If you’re old, fat or ugly you’ll be told the position has been filled.
“NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE” = We’ve filled the job; our call for resumes is just a legal formality.
“SEEKING CANDIDATES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE” = You’ll need it to replace three people who just left.
“PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS A MUST” = You’re walking into a company in perpetual chaos.
“REQUIRES TEAM LEADERSHIP SKILLS” = You’ll have the responsibilities of a manager, without the pay or respect.
“GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS” = Management communicates, you listen, figure out what they want and do it.
As a little confession, I must tell you that my first job ever, implied all of the above requirements. Funny as it may seem, in this country – it’s more of a trend. Businesses are changing, but people never will. Be careful out there!
Old habits die hard..
What have I got? Really? Some money in my pocket. Some nice threads. Fancy car at my disposal. And I’m single. Unattached. Free as a bird. I don’t depend on nobody. Nobody depends on me. My life’s my own. But I don’t have peace of mind. And if you don’t have it, you’ve got nothing.
A tune a day..
One of Jaques Brel’s undisputed masterpieces, it was first performed at the Olympia in Paris in 1964 and received a three minute standing ovation. It’s Brel’s vision of freedom , the freedom of sailors to sing, dance, eat, carouse, whore and take pride in virility, the joy spoiled only by unfaithful women (who probably have their own vision of freedom).
“Amsterdam is the symbol of the adventure which begins tomorrow which men dream of. It’s kind of a song of virility, in truth.”
You may have heard Mort Shuman, David Bowie, Dave Van Ronk , Robert Cuccioli and countless others sing the English adaptation by Shuman/Blau, but if you haven’t seen Brel present it in French, you’re missing the real thing. Here it is.