Mary Schmidt Marketing Troubleshooter

TGIF has rolled around again (um, TG), so here’s a quick very-unbusiness-like ramble ’round the Schmidt brain, for thought (or not) over cocktails.

Blathering in Blogville “The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” (Dorothy Nevill)

As much as I enjoy cruisin’ blogville and all the different viewpoints on topics from George Bush to the local dining scene – I’m really, really tired of the tone of many blogs and commenters. Way too many people go way too far past rude or snarky to downright nasty and cruel. Now, I’m not – ahem – known for my tact or discretion (I should have the above quote tattooed on my arm for frequent reference) but even I wouldn’t say the things many people post. And, they wouldn’t either – right to each other’s face. This old world would rattle right along without 235 malicious, obscene commenters on a post about an actress – gasp, stop the presses! – appearing in public without makeup and looking like an actual human being!

The Immigration “Debate” Methinks if more people did their own yard work, they’d have a whole different perspective of immigration. I actually enjoy doing basic manual labor – in limited doses (I have a small yard and a push mower.) But, it’s hot, hard, and rapidly gets to be “un-fun” if done for more than a hour at a time. Ditto housecleaning, restaurant line cooking and construction work. (I do or have done all three of those as well, so I do know.) It would also be helpful if the oh-so-vocal pundits and legislators would actually – like, gee, I dunno – spend some time in border states. (And, I mean more than a VIP fly-in/fly-out trip, escorted by border patrol who have to be pulled off their real jobs for the dog & pony shows.)

Weekend Reading Recommendation: If you’re a homeowner and/or DIYer, check out Sheetrock & Shellac : A Thinking Person’s Guide to the Art and Science of Home Improvement If nothing else, you’ll get lots more trivia points with which to amaze your friends during Friday cocktail time! (Did you know concrete isn’t the same as cement? And, that it’s actually a “concrete mixer” not a “cement mixer?” Hello? Are you still there?) Seriously, it’s a charming book, well-written and warmly human.

Geek Alert! The Stargates premiere on Sci-Fi tonight! I’ll be parked in front of the tube with ‘tooni and pizza. I will, however, forego the bouffant hairdo and lovely glasses. (You did know I’m a geek at heart, didn’t you?)

More Friday Posts:
Rainy Friday Ramblings
Finally! A Friday Post
Friday’s Food for Thought
Friday’s Irreverence & Irrelevance
Finally, It’s Friday!
Fried Friday Follies
Friday’s Martini Musings
Martinis with Mancini
‘Tooni Tunes Time!

Tags: blogs, blogging, immigration