On retirement
With so many people unemployed and desperate for a job, a part of me feels guilty for thinking this way; but I do, so here it is:
In March 2012 I was 65. I had planned to retire at 65 but didn’t because the thought of sitting in my study, fiddling with computers and being paid to do so seemed like too good a thing to cavalierly toss away.
I had hoped that the company I work for – AT&T and, indirectly IBM – would pay to put me out to pasture. In fact, I have been working diligently to make my betters see the virtue of this by being a little more odious at every passing year; alas, to no avail.
It is like a game of chicken: who will capitulate first? Since I have accumulated 38 years of what is laughably known as “service”, my employer would have to pay me to depart – unless I do so of my own volition. Thus, as my 65th birthday approached, I imagined numerous VP’s rubbed their hands in delirious glee at the prospect of ridding themselves of a 38 year irritant. Anticipating that, I gritted my teeth, stayed the course, grasped the nettle and – here I remain.
So, dear management, in the unlikely event that any of you are reading this: I am holding fast until you bribe me to go. Call me and we will discuss terms.
I love capitalism.
Mercedes-Benz Uses Communist Madman to Sell Luxury Cars
Oops, sorry, wrong photo.
This is the one I meant to post:
The fact that Mercedes thought it could use the image of a murderous thug to help it sell cars goes to show that those afflicted by Capitalist Greed will stoop to any depths to make money. The fact that Mercedes has been compelled to apologise goes to show that Capitalism works in spite of itself.
From here:
Che Guevara, the famous Argentinian-born revolutionary and military theorist, wore many hats – including that of physician, author, and guerrilla leader.
But he almost certainly never wore one with a Mercedes-Benz logo.
The high-end car company, known for its impeccable – and pricey – motor vehicles, used the late leader to promote a new car-sharing program, much to the horror of Cuban activists and political conservatives.
[….]
Cuban-American Ernesto Ariel Suarez launched a Facebook page that says: ‘Tell Mercedes-Benz that it is NOT OK to use the image of a mass murderer.’
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative political group based out of Washington, wrote a post entitled ‘Mercedes-Benz Uses Communist Madmen Che Guevara to Sell Luxury Cars.’
Mercedes-Benz’s parent company Daimler AG offered an apology for using the altered image after outrage over the use of the revolutionary’s likeness, saying the image was ‘one of many images and videos in the presentation.’
‘Daimler was not condoning the life or actions of this historical figure or the political philosophy he espoused. We sincerely apologise to those who took offense.’
